Issue 688 / 15 October 2018 by Exeposé

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ISSUE 688 15 OCT 2018 exepose.com @Exepose

THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987

EXCLUSIVE Edd Church Online News Editor

The bitter end? Lemon Grove club nights facing changes after low turnouts Damn Good and Propaganda club nights suspended

EMON Grove club nights Propaganda and Damn Good Tuesdays have been suspended for the foreseeable future, Exeposé understands. Student club nights at the Lemon Grove are currently facing changes due to low turnout since the beginning of the 2018-19 academic year. Propaganda, a club night which other University Student Unions like Lincoln and Bristol host, was launched at the Exeter Guild venue at the end of Freshers’ Week this September. The club nights contain, according to the Propaganda website, “around everything from Arctic Monkeys to The 1975, Paramore to Ed Sheeran, The Killers to Pale Waves and much more” and have been running across the country for over a decade.

Numbers fluctuate week on week, but have remained consistently low Anonymous student

The night was introduced to the Lemon Grove after it was shut down during the 2017-18 academic year, again, as a result of low turnout and so the venue could be renovated. A removal of the stamp system on Saturday nights early last year, alongside changes to the DJ roster, did not help save the club in its state at the time. Despite good turnout during arrivals weekend this year, the club struggled to attract the numbers it has in previous years. “The numbers fluctuate week on week but have remained consistently low”, said one student who had been in

Image: University of Exeter Students’ Guild

Black History: more than just a month

page 7

Image: Denis Bochkarev

Image: Bristol Evening Post

COMMENT

regular attendance at Propaganda this year. “We’re talking less than Saturday Night Lemmy last year here. The clubs in town for example, they’ve capitalised on the Lemon Grove’s poor performance. We had promoters from Unit [Unit 1] and that in the Ram during Freshers’ Week.”

The Damn Good nights have been put on hold whilst we look at if the type of events is a good fit

Students’ Guild

A representative from Exeter’s Students’ Guild said the following when asked about the changes to the club’s schedule: “Following on from the changes in the Lemon Grove last year, we have been working with a number of promoters and third parties to put on an exciting and varied program of live music, events and club nights in the Lemon Grove. Part of this is trying new nights and seeing what works and is appealing to Exeter students. “As part of this process we have [changed] and continue to change the schedule and frequency of events and the third parties we work with until we find a set of nights that is a good fit for our members. The Damn Good nights have been put on hold whilst we look at if the type of events is a good fit and we are in discussions with the team at Propaganda to look at the schedule of events to increase the availability of Saturday night slots to other promotors and types of event.” Promotional flyers, posters, and window adhesives were used to promote the new nights at the start of this year. For Propaganda, material stated that it would be “every Saturday.”

MUSIC

Celebrating 45 years of hip-hop

pages 24-25

News Editors Print: Jaimie Hampton & Gwyn Wright Online: Edd Church & Hannah Stevenson news@exepose.com

Features Editors Print: Niamh Elstone & Neha Shaji Online: Chloë Edwards & Bryan Knight Foreign Correspondents Co-ordinator: Ellie Cook features@exepose.com

Arts + Lit Editors Print: Lauren Newman & Tabi Scott Online: Emily Pirie & Kristina Werner artsandlit@exepose.com Music Editors Print: Aaron Loose & Alex Wingrave Online: Jaysim Hanspal & Jamie Moncrieff music@exepose.com Screen Editors Print: Ben Faulkner & Chloe Kennedy Online: Harry Caton & David Conway screen@exepose.com Science Editors Print: Scarlett Parr-Reid & Gabriel Yeap Online: Lara Andreski & Finn Candy sciandtech@exepose.com Sport Editors Print: René Bahar & Josh Brown Online: Luke Clarkson & Ben Hart sport@exepose.com Chief Photographer Chelsea Lee photography@exepose.com Copy Editors Peter Firth, Charlotte Forrester & William Harrop Proofers Charlotte Forrester, Sophie Chapman, Alex Wingrave, René 'Fozz' Bahar, B. 'Can't Read' Lang, William Harrop, Harry 'Middle Name James' Caton, 'Hugo from Surrey', Ariane Joudrey, Daina Auzins, Bryony Gooch, Isha 'Please Put Me On The Proofing List' Gurung, Aakz Karri, Richard Ainslie, Ben Faulkner, Deepa Lalwani, David Conway, Tabi Scott, Lauren Newnman, Dorothea Christmann, Aaron Loose, Billy Narrop.

@exepose facebook.com/exepose issuu.com/exepose Advertising Kate Watkins kate.watkins@exeterguild.com (01392) 722607 The opinions expressed in Exeposé are not necessarily those of the Exeposé Editors nor the University of Exeter Students’ Guild. While every care is taken to ensure that the information in this publication is correct and accurate, the Publisher can accept no liability for any consequential loss or damage, however caused, arising as a result of using the information printed. The Publisher cannot accept liability for any loss or damage to artwork or material submitted. The contents of this, unless stated otherwise, are copyright of the Publisher. Reproduction in any form requires the prior consent of the Publisher.

Exeter supports JEP pension recommendations PAGE 4

COMMENT Is it fair to grade on seminar participation? PAGE 8

FEATURES Does Kanye have a point? Arguing the 13th Amendment PAGE 11

SCIENCE 'Not the bees!': on the trail of our declining pollinators

Image: Maciej A. Czyzewski

Lifestyle Editors Print: Bethan Gilson & Rhiannon Moore Online: Katie Baker & Rowan Keith lifestyle@exepose.com

you're not quite ready to let go of the wider world, then Lifestyle are taking a look into how issues around the globe like the Kavanaugh hearing can have far-reaching effects, indeed in our own lives (page 16). Elsewhere, Arts + Lit discuss whether mental illness is glamorised in the media, and the implications that may follow particularly for women (page 21). We also take a look at hyper-sexualisation and 'alpha male' archetypes in the superhero genre, and the damaging effects these tropes can have (page 20). It's been 45 years since DJ Kool Herc introduced the world to the drum loop that started it all, and hip-hop was born. Music have gone all in this issue, celebrating 45 years of a genre that has come to be a definitive force in modern music and culture (pages 24-25). They also found time to look back on the Mercury Prize, and Exeter's recent BBC World Music Day event (page 26). Tinie Tempah once asked us to "tell J.K. I'm still rolling", but maybe someone should have warned J.K. herself about rolling out retroactive representation - at least, that's the issue we're looking at over in Screen (page 30). If you've been doing a little too much rolling yourself, then Science have got your back. Quite literally, in fact, as we look at exciting new treatment for spinal injuries (page 36). Sport, meanwhile, are less about injuries and more about successes (if you're an England fan, at least), as they take a look back on the reviving effect Gareth Southgate has had on the England team (page 38). We hope some of that takes your fancy - and we'll see you next time! Much love, Megan and Graham

Image: rodrigoferrari

Comment Editors Print: Isabelle Gray & Deepa Lalwani Online: Bea Fones & Josh Gammage comment@exepose.com

HE weather may be taking a turn for the worse, but here at Exeposé we like to look on the bright side. When life gives you lemons, we say head on down to the Lemon Grove. Just don't try on a Saturday, perhaps - not for now, at least. Citrus fruits and student venues aside, we have another action-packed autumnal issue of awesomeness for you all this fortnight. Whilst the world outside may be drab, dreary, and full of responsibilities, the world inside is full of prime newspaper content - and it's all for you. Yes, you. We printed 3,000 copies specifically for you, dear reader - maybe you can make a fort out of them all or something. Or perhaps you could build a chapel, like our University did 60 years ago this month - for more details on the Mary Harris Chapel's diamond jubilee commemoration event, check out News (page 4). If you're less interested in religion and more interested in crime, then Comment is the place for you - we ask, is there a moral argument for shoplifting (page 9)? And if you're struggling to choose between the two options (helpful hint - crime is bad, don't do crime) then boy do we have the meme for you over in Comment's new alternating feature, Meme of the Month, where we deconstruct the Distracted Boyfriend. We at Exeposé love a party - and as we all know, there ain't no party like a Brexit party, 'cause a Brexit party has a very limited snack selection and raises troubling questions about who we are as a nation... or so Features are saying, as we ponder any problems inherent in Theresa May's proposed 'Brexit festival' over on page 13. If - like the Remain voters among us -

NEWS

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Editors Print: Megan Davies & Graham Moore Deputy: Fenton Christmas & KatieJenkins Online: Harry Bunting & Natalie Keffler editors@exepose.com

Editorial

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EXEPOSÉ

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Worldwide university news Students to sign anti-drug pledge

UCKINGHAM University announced that they will begin asking incoming students to sign a contract pledging against taking drugs on campus. The university’s vice-chancellor, Sir Anthony Seldon, announced the plans in a column in the Daily Mail, with the aim of becoming Britain’s first ‘drugfree’ campus. Seldon told the Daily Mail that it is “insane” to allow drug-taking in universities to carry on, but that Buckingham would only ask students to leave after several offences, with help offered first for those who are struggling. Seldon said: "I asked myself what kind of moral leadership university leaders were providing in colluding in the mass consumption of illegal drugs on our premises." This announcement follows on from criticism of the University of Sheffield’s website which gives students advice on how to take drugs safely, a decision that they have since defended as a realistic precautionary measure.

UCL to publish sexual misconduct data

FTER an investigation by the Guardian and the Observer, University College London (UCL) has vowed to publish annual data on sexual misconduct, harassment and bullying. UCL stated that it is proactively working towards better transparency by sharing this information. This follows an investigation by the Guardian, which revealed that almost 300 academics in the UK had been reported for bullying. Although UCL initially declined to provide figures for this investigation, an email sent by Professor Ivan Parkin, Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, stated that UCL were working on plans to make sure that this data will be made public. Parkin added that the FOI team had difficulty gathering the information within the investigations timescale, however they are now working to proactively publish the data. UCL now intends to improve its response to sexual harrasment and bullying claims.

US consider student Students reveal sexual assault experiences visa ban

ARLIER this year, White House Hawks encouraged President Donald Trump to stop providing student visas to Chinese internationals, as an attempt to combat intellectual property theft. The proposal was abandoned after Terry Branstad, US ambassador to China, highlighted that the ban would affect smaller colleges much greater than leading universities. Currently Chinese students account for more than a third of a million international students in the United States. Another factor contributing to the abandonment of the proposal was after US embassy officials in China warned that most US states benefit economically from the spending of Chinese students. Although the proposal was dropped, the White House may reintroduce the proposal at a future date.

REVIEW led by Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick found that 93% of students at the University of Canberra who admitted they had experienced sexual assault on campus hadn't officially reported it to the University. Several reasons for this were unveiled — the most common reason was that students did not believe the sexual misconduct was severe enough to be reported, while 61 per cent of them also admitted that they would not even know how to report it. Following the review, a proposal in favor of a compulsory online consent training course was made, while students made sure their concerns were heard by the university and that tools for a safer working environment were to be established on Image: romanboed on Pxhere campus.

Stories by Deepa Lalwani (Comment Editor), Iwan Evans, Jodie Coughlan and Typhaine Autier (News Team)

News

NEWS EDITORS: Jaimie Hampton Gwyn Wright

Academic misconduct increases by 70%

Katie Jenkins Deputy Editor

IGURES obtained by Exeposé have shown a 70% increase in academic misconduct cases reported during May and June this year. 106 cases were reported, compared with only 61 over the same period the year before. This figure marks the sharpest increase in the last three years. Defined by the University as “academic dishonesty”, misconduct includes plagiarism, collusion with another and/ or cheating. Within exams, misconduct can consist of the possession of unauthorised materials and/or impersonation. The University has stated that it takes “all instances of academic misconduct seriously”, and that “Most misconduct recorded in exams has been for minor offences such as writing before the start of the exam or possession of correction fluid. In May and June 2018, 83 of the 106 cases were classed as minor. In the same period in 2017, 34 of

the 61 cases were classed as minor misconduct. Penalties for exam misconduct range from a warning letter for minor cases and up to and including expulsion for the most severe cases.” The most recent figure comes after a 20% decrease in misconduct cases earlier in the year. Only 29 cases of misconduct were reported in January of this year compared with 36 in January 2017 and 33 in January 2016. Speaking to Exeposé, Warren Bing-

ham-Roberts, VP Education, stated: “It’s troubling to see the recent rise in the number of cases of academic misconduct, and I’ll be asking the University to investigate the causes of this rise. Any measures taken to address this issue must take these reasons into account to assist in preventing further misconduct.” One student, who wished to remain anonymous, was accused of plagiarism earlier this year. They claimed that the misconduct was committed “acciden-

Image: Hiriadhi

N celebration of Black History Month, the Students’ Guild is running a range of events in partnership with Exeter African and Caribbean Society (ACS). These events are part of the Guild’s annual celebration of black excellence in the UK and beyond.

This is a month where we recognise and celebrate the African and Caribbean diaspora

Nasara Al-Hassan, ACS President

ACS plan to dedicate each week of Black History Month to an important aspect of black culture that is often overlooked, but they believe should be recognised. The first week was dedicated to black minority groups, such as black LGBTQ+ and the second week was dedicated to black mental health. The third week of Black History Month will be dedicated to black British Caribbean culture and the final week will end with a celebration of black creatives and inspirational figures. ACS said: “In the UK, black people

an extension. Due to the psychological stress I was undergoing, I felt unable to write the essay in time, and I never heard back regarding this. The second is that I would advise anyone accused of academic misconduct to go to the Advice Unit. I had a lovely lady who gave great advice and came to the meeting with me to take notes.”

I’ll be asking the University to investigate the causes of this rise

Warren Bingham-Roberts, VP Education

The University, however, has promised to remain vigilant on the issue: “Academic integrity is a key part of undergraduate and postgraduate study, and expectations of conduct are made clear through a range of different methods, including directly from the academic staff, through the module on academic honesty in ELE, by Academic Misconduct Officers and in the Guidance for Candidates provided to students regarding examinations”.

ACS and Guild collaborate for Black History Month Jaimie Hampton News Editor

tally”, attributing it to “stress”. “I essentially didn’t leave myself enough time to write a summative essay and as a result accidentally forgot to reference a source found through Wikipedia. I was invited to attend a plagiarism meeting where I had to explain that I had plagiarised accidentally due to the pressure of the two days I had given myself to write a 2500 word essay. “Two key things to highlight are the following: over Easter I applied for

make up under 4% of the population, so or use the Guild’s website. Exeter Students’ Guild are holding a this is a month where we recognise and celebrate the African and Caribbean dias- number of events relating to Black Hispora. We plan to celebrate and acknowl- tory Month, including an ACOS showedge the richness and obstacles of our case in the Forum, a discussion on mental health within the black community black experience.” Events that are taking place through- featuring special guests, a series of panel out the month include debates, movies, discussions at Exeter Phoenix on BAME workshops, exhibitions, poetry and tours. women in Exeter, Gender and Race, and ACS are also introducing new Guild affili- a discussion on intercultural communicaated events, such as ‘Spilling The Tea: The tion in the United Kingdom. A spokesperson for the Students’ Mental Health Edition’, an ACS social night, a nationwide Great Debate Tour. Guild told Exeposé: ‘‘We hope that black ACS are also planning to wrap up the students learn more about how to report discrimination if they experience it and month with a chilled movie night. know that their voice is valued, with a Throughout Black History particular focus on academic Month, VP Education Warrepresentation, that sturen Bingham-Roberts is dents learn more focusing on tackling about black cultures the #BlackAttainand expreiences mentGap, whilst from the range of VP Welfare and events, and that Diversity Rose students use the Ahier is focusing Black History Colon mental health lection to diversify and wellbeing in their study and know Exeter’s black comthat they can talk to their munity. Image:Deepa Lalwani academic reps if they expeTo stay updated on rience structural barriers in their events occurring throughout the month, follow Exeter ACS’s social media education.’’

Image: Arnaud Jaegers

New Guild officers elected Megan Davies Editor

OSTGRADUATE officers and NUS delegates were elected last Friday. Josip Martinčić was elected as VP Postgraduates, and Tom Allars was elected Pro Vice-President for PGT. The new NUS Delegates are Warren Bingham-Roberts, Jack Morewood, William Yarwood, Rose Ahier, Aysha Seed (both women’s places), Penny Dinh (Women’s Liberation Campaign Delegate) and Margus Menert (Mature/ Part-time Section Delegate). Tom Allars was elected Pro Vice-President for Postgraduate Taught. The deadline to vote was extended by a week, which caused some concern. A complaint was rejected by the NUS, which was acting as the returning officer, about a “Conflict of interest between Rosie McDonagh and candidates Rose

Ahier and Warren Bingham-Roberts.” The decision appears to have been made by the Deputy Returning Officer and not McDonagh, whose remit as VP Activities includes Democracy. Candidates were originally informed that the deadline was extended in order to increase turnout. Exeter Students’ Guild said: “We are aware that the decision to extend the elections has resulted in a complaint being ultimately referred to the NUS as the organisation’s external Returning Officer. The Returning Officer deemed the complaint to be unfounded, and no further action has been taken. The University is aware of the situation and we are keeping them informed. The decision was made by the Deputy Returning Officer, who informed VP Activities of the action as the Sabbatical Officer responsible for democracy. They were not involved in the decision making.”

15 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

NEWS

University awarded autism research grant Carys Wilkinson News Team

HE Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) has awarded Professor Jonathan Mill of the University of Exeter a three-year international research grant of US$975,000 (almost £750,000). Johnathan Mill is Professor of Epigenetics at the University of Exeter Medical School and heads the Complex Disease Epigenomics Group. His group has been researching how specific genes are controlled in certain mental health diseases such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and, of particular significance for this study, autism. SFARI was launched in 2003 as a specific scientific initiative within the Simons Foundation, a private foundation founded in New York City that funds research in maths and the basic sciences. SFARI aims to improve the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Autism is a condition more common than many people know; just over 1 in 100 people in the UK are on the autistic spectrum. If one considers families and loved ones, that means that autism is a part of daily life in some capacity or another for 2.8 million people. This new project, which Mill’s team will undertake in collaboration with a group of researchers at the Genome Institute in Singapore, aims to characterise the changes in gene regulation across human brain development. Professor Mill said “The origins of autism are thought to occur very early during development of the brain. Characterising the genomic changes occurring during this period gives us a fantastic opportunity to understand the complex genetic underpinnings of autism.” The team will be building on previous work done in Mill’s lab that examined gene changes during neurodevelopment and neuropsychiatric conditions such as autism. The team aims to explore and investigate differing types of gene function in the developing brain and by using new methods, they hope to analyse changes in individual brain cells. SFARI’s Director Louis Reichardt said “SFARI is pleased to be funding these investigators and supporting their labs’ efforts to better understand the neurology of autism. We look forward to seeing the outcomes of these projects and hope that the new insights can help accelerate the development of improved diagnostic tools and treatment options for individuals with autism.”

Chapel celebrates Diamond Jubilee Megan Davies Editor

LUMNI, students and staff attended a weekend of celebrations marking the Mary Harris Chapel’s Diamond Jubilee. These included Choral Evensong, a concert and a Choral Eucharist with guest preacher the Rt. Revd. James. Speeches honoured both the chapel’s history and the chaplaincy’s modern outlook. Dr Brandon Gallaher, Eastern Orthodox Christian Chaplain, said in his speech that “Students come to the university from a secular non-religious background open to exploring a variety of religious paths and they no longer necessarily go to the Church of England as the default religious option. The multi-faith Chaplaincy is here to meet the student body where it is now in contemporary Britain: to welcome students with the diversity of their different needs and help them along the path of their spiritual exploration. The roots of the Multi-faith Chaplaincy though, and this weekend we honour this history, are in the Anglican Chaplaincy and its 50 years of worship in its Mary Harris Chapel. It is this tradition of warmth and openness and the ‘beauty of holiness’ seen in the Chapel services to this day that will guide the university as it rethinks the shape of its Chaplaincy for the 21st Century in a multi-faith British society.”

No matter what your faith [...] this chapel is here for people to come to Revd. Hannah Alderson

Alumni in attendance included some who had been in Exeter for the chapel’s consecration. Revd Hannah Alderson told Exeposé: “It’s lovely to welcome such a variety of people, people that span the length of the chapel’s history (…) Everybody’s got their own memories of being involved here, some of them in the choir, some of them in the community, some of them serving as chaplains – all sorts of different things. So it’s lovely to have that kind of shared memory based around this place. (…) “No matter what your faith, your beliefs, your background, this chapel is here for people to come into to just to have quiet time, perhaps to come to services, but actually just to come and take some time out and have some space here. Whether it’s for prayer, if you call it prayer, or just for thoughts. So I think the chapel’s place here is a place where actually, lectures don’t happen, work doesn’t happen, study doesn’t happen, but it’s about us and about our spirituality. That is something that should be celebrated.”

She said she was excited for the Chapel Choir, “who are really making a name for themselves in terms of sacred music at universities. So that’s really exciting and we will watch this space.” In her speech, she spoke about her personal experience with the Chapel as a student: “There will always be students who, like me, arrive at University lonely, bemused and homesick. In need of a friendly face, an accepting community. And here will also always be students who, along with their academic discoveries, want to make sense of the height and depth and breadth of the world in a more spiritual way. Ask the big questions. Chaplaincy is, therefore, indispensable.” The Chapel Choir welcomed 11 new Choral Scholars during the evensong service. Imogen Hanvey, Pastoral Assistant, told Exeposé: “I think the evensong this afternoon was really special, because we had 11 new choral scholars, so 11 new people in the choir. It’s a choir of 26, so that’s quite a big proportion. And we had what’s called the installation, so they were given their robes and officially made part of the choir. As someone who used to be in the choir myself, that was really moving to see because it’s so exciting to see them at the beginning of that journey (…). “It’ll be something that’s very special for them, as well, to remember.” Agnes Chapman Wills, who was welcomed into the choir on the weekend, said: “It’s still relatively new for me, but as a second-year I was too afraid to do anything last year. It’s like a new spout of confidence – I joined on a whim and I’ve actually loved it so much so far. This week has been insane, but amazing. So much interesting music and music I’ve heard but never sung. “Everyone’s so warm and welcoming. I’ve always enjoyed choral music, but being able to sing it is so amazing. My mum’s very proud!

So much interesting music and music I’ve heard but never sung

Agnes Chapman Wills, Choral Scholar

“I sort of had no knowledge at all [of the chapel’s history] before, but it really is quite heart-warming hearing everyone’s experiences of the church, and obviously it’s joined people. So it’s really nice being a part of that.” Grace Davie, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Exeter and Chair of the St Luke’s College Foundation, spoke about the student body becoming more secular and more religiously diverse, and how central religion has remained to University policies, citing Prevent, Equalities legislation, and international students.

Image: heartypanther

Exeter ‘supports JEP recomendations’

HE University has circulated a draft response to the Joint Expert Panel (JEP) to contracted staff, saying that it “strongly supports the JEP recommendations,” and that it is willing to increase its contribution rate to 29.1%. This reflects an increase from 8% to 9.1% for employees, and from 18% to 20.1% for employers. The University has shared this with staff asking for comment. A Freedom of Information request submitted by Exeposé has found that the University of Exeter did not submit any evidence to JEP. The report, which evaluated the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS – the pension scheme that was the focus of last year’s strike), invited universities to submit evidence and received 55 submissions. They did raise that this would be “an additional cost pressure and will lead to changes to [their] budget and investment priorities and plans”, alongside concerns about finding “a sustainable solution.” A University of Exeter spokesperson said: “The University of Exeter will contribute to the UUK consultation on pension reform and staff have been invited to comment on a draft response. “The University of Exeter has submitted evidence to every formal consultation from UUK or the USS with respect to the valuation. This evidence informed the response UUK gave earlier in the year to the Joint Expert Panel.” Megan Davies, Editor

Students raise £10,000 for Ethopian water supply Anna Romanovska News Team

GROUP of Exeter medicine students have successfully raised £10,000 to provide clean water to the town of Nekemte in Western Ethiopia. The link was established in 2014 as a collaboration between the Truro-based medical school and the medical faculty of the University of Wollega. One of the core aspects of the partnership is to allow for the exchange of medical knowledge between the respective University teams, aiming to enhance the research prospects of both parties. Throughout their visits to Nekemte, the visiting students witnessed the critical need for a clean water supply. Many of the inhabitants of Nekemte have never had access to clean water. Approximately 70% of the local secondary school students suffered from gastrointestinal infections as a result of drinking water from the surrounding lakes which are contaminated with animal and human waste. A partnership was formed between the Exeter University team, the University of Wollega and the Nekemte branch

of the International Red Cross in an effort to help battle the issue of water contamination. Weyesa Olijira, who heads the Nekemte branch of the Red Cross, said; ‘‘Thanks to the money raised by the University of Exeter Medical School we have built two handdug pump wells for Toleera elementary School and Kewiso Shano Secondary School. The wells have provided access to water for 12,000 more vulnerable people.’’ The project consisted of building two hand dug pump wells to supply water to 12,000 people living in the town. They are located on the grounds of the Toleera Elementary School and the Kewiso Shano Secondary School. The Exeter University team aims to visit the Nekemte-based University once or twice a year, helping to maintain the strong connection within the partnership. A small group of students is planning to visit Nekemte in November. They will be arriving with another £2,500 worth of funds for the possible construction of a new pump well that would have the capability of supplying uncontaminated water to more Nekemte locals.

NEWS

EXEPOSÉ | 15 OCT 2018

Exeter prison ‘very violent’, inspection reveals Jaimie Hampton News Editor

REPORT has revealed that HMP Exeter is “very violent” and has overt drug use. Inspectors stated that staff did not view this drug use as exceptional, prompting the chief inspector of prisons, Peter Clarke, to invoke an urgent notification protocol. The report of the inspection, which occurred in May, revealed that the inspector discovered a strong smell of drugs emanating from one cell. The report also highlights a number of serious, violent incidents that involved weapons. For instance, prisoners had thrown boiling water, containing sugar, at staff and other inmates at least 25 times in the previous six months.

Clarke’s report also reveals that around a quarter of the 430 inmates tested positive for drugs and that 60% of prisoners told inspectors it was easy to obtain them. Following the inspection, Clarke invoked the Urgent Notification Process in order to demand immediate government action.

[One cell] contained two prisoners who were clearly heavily intoxicated

Peter Clarke, Chief Inspector

The report, published by the president of the Prison Governors Association (PGA), accused the government of failing to respond quickly enough to the jail safety crisis. The PGA has also claimed that government underfunding

is a significant factor hindering prison safety. Peter Clarke reported that as standards had deteriorated so sharply, staff now see widespread drug use and poor safety conditions as normal. Clarke said: “[One cell] contained two prisoners who were clearly heavily intoxicated by drugs, surrounded by obvious signs of smoking, food waste, and other detritus.” Clarke also stated that living conditions for prisons were very poor, and that “there had been six self-inflicted deaths since the last inspection.” Responding to the report, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service stated that it had provided extra funding, following the urgent notification in May, to improve living conditions and stop drug entering the prison.

Andrea Albutt, PGA President, said: “The government do not have the humility to admit that they got their policy completely wrong this decade in our prisons. We have crumbling prisons and an inability to give a safe, decent and secure regime.” Prisons Minister, Rory Stewart announced last week that a team of specialists were sent to transform HMP Exeter’s safety approach, as part of the response to this report. Stewart stated: “We’ll be building on this momentum over the coming months, ensuring each prisoner has dedicated support from a specific prison officer and reviewing incentives to reward good behaviour. This will make relationships between offenders and prison officers more constructive, reducing violence and improving

efforts to steer them away from crime.”

We have crumbling prisons and an inablity to give a safe, decent and secure regime

Andrea Albutt, PGA President

This indicates a larger crisis involving England and Wales’ prisons, with prison officers reporting low staffing levels that resulted from government cuts. In September, Exeter prison staff walked out over significant levels of prison violence. At least 20 prison staff were seen protesting outside the building. This action was part of a nationwide protest, with the Prison Officer’s Association claiming that 20,000 members were involved in the surprise walkout.

Image: Roger Cornfoot

Research reveals 16 to 24 year olds ‘loneliest’ age Ketamine used in psychology trial Rhiannon Moore Lifestyle Editor

EW research into loneliness developed by academics at a number of universities, including the University of Exeter, has revealed that 16 to 24 year olds experience the most loneliness compared to any other age group. In the survey conducted by Radio 4, it was found that 40% of 16 to 24 year olds often experience intense loneliness. More than 55,000 people over 16 completed the survey which is the largest to explore the issue of loneliness so far. 29% of 65 to 74 year olds and 27% of over 75s reported high levels of loneliness, which was typically associated with older generations. The study looked into how loneliness is experienced and gave valuable insights into when it strikes most - revealing that there are strong links between loneliness, responsibilities, employability, and discrimination. The study also found that those who feel high levels of loneliness tend to have more Facebook friends and that dating and pursuing romantic relationships is

not helpful in overcoming these feelings. However, 41% of individuals believe that loneliness isn’t always a negative experience and is often productive and positive. People hope the study will be useful for understanding feelings of loneliness, and will be essential for young people who are at the highest risk. The study looked into ways in which people overcome loneliness which have been compiled into what Professor Pamela Qualter of the University of Manchester has called “a whole toolkit of potential solutions that we can try”. BBC Radio 4 is working with the Welcome Collection on ‘All in the

Mind’, with a series exploring loneliness based on the results from this study. The episodes will discuss why 16 to 24 year olds are experiencing the highest levels of loneliness compared to other age groups, how social media and relationships impact loneliness, and how long-term loneliness can lead to health problems and poor sleep. Additionally, there is a discussion on genetic factors associated with loneliness. These findings will hopefully be utilised across the country in schools and universities and will lead to further resources to combat loneliness amongst young people.

Image: Bert Kaufmann

Edd Church Online News Editor

UNIVERSITY of Exeter psychology trial for the treatment of alcoholism has attracted attention for its unconventional methods. The Ketamine for Reduction of Alcoholic Relapse (KARE) trial employs the use of ketamine, a Class B drug, alongside psychological therapy to assist people suffering from alcoholism. KARE aims to find out whether or not small doses of the drug can help prevent recovering alcoholics from descending back into excessive consumption. Funded by the Medical Research Council, KARE is the product of very recent experimental research and studies. The science behind such a trial builds on research which had previously been done regarding ketamine, the results of which determined that the drug can facilitate the creation of new neural paths within the brain. In turn, these changes to the human brain can aid in learning new behaviours. As far as KARE is concerned, an effect like this may be the key for some people to

finally kick booze. Ketamine has also recently proven useful in combatting symptoms of depression. Ketamine, despite being known for recreational use, is not addictive. For patients taking part in KARE, a small dose of the drug is injected to the hand over 40 minutes with. This is opposed to the large, faster, dosage which those abusing ketamine would be taking for its sense-numbing effects. In 2016/17, hospital admissions in which the main factor was alcohol were down by 1% from 2015/16, according to the NHS. However, the NHS also reports that in 2016/17 around 80,000 people were in treatment for ‘problematic drinking’ and KARE claims that alcohol abuse ‘affects nearly four million people in the UK.’ The experts in charge of KARE are motivated by what they suggest are currently insufficient alcoholism treatment programmes: “treatments to help people stop drinking alcohol have been shown to be limited in their effectiveness”, reads the KARE webpage. “People often return to drinking after only a short time of being sober.”

15 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

Comment

COMMENT EDITORS:

Deepa Lalwani Isabelle Gray

Meme of the Month

Amelia Chisholm Contributor

N 2017, the internet was rocked by the Distracted Boyfriend meme. One man, his arm around a supposed girlfriend, staring at the backside of another girl while the first woman looks on, furious at this supposed betrayal - but let’s start from the beginning. The original image was part of a stock photo series, taken on 2 November 2015 (that’s right, I did the research). It’s entitled ‘Disloyal man with his girlfriend looking at another girl’. Perhaps not the most concise title, but it certainly does the job. And for two odd years, this weirdly comical, literally titled image lay in the metaphorical depths of the internet’s basement. Then, it was dragged into the meme-y limelight… by Phil Collins fans, no less. On 30 January 2017, a Turkish Facebook page posted the photo that started the tsunami. The man is labelled Phil Collins, being distracted from ‘prog’ (progressive rock) and drawn to the genre of pop. I’ve had

minimal interaction with Collins’ music, but after a quick consultation with my dad, he assured me that this was indeed funny. Somehow, this joke made by a generation that is, presumably, not entirely familiar with memes, spread like wildfire. It fits the same format a lot of memes take - choosing something ‘inferior’ or ‘unhealthy’ over something else. Basically, it’s funny when someone

does the unexpected, like choosing the obviously wrong option. Netflix binging instead of sleeping, fruit instead of curly fries, and, apparently, pop instead of prog (I still don’t fully understand). There have been many, many, many, many, many reworkings of this meme. So, so many. I really can’t stress how many. And one of them is the reason I’m able to talk about this seemingly ancient meme with some modicum of relevance. I’m talking, of course, about the distracted wedding photo. On 29 September 2018, a Redditor posted a photo of a newlywed couple, the groom distracted by a shirtless man

in the water. Happy 20gayteen, folks. It is this image, above all other reworkings, that has sparked a small resurgence of both the original and reworked format - and why wouldn’t it? Throughout this year, the LGBTQ+ community has finally gotten a few wins - at least, in the pop culture sphere. Janelle Monáe came out; Rosa Diaz, Petra Solano and Valencia Perez (from Brooklyn NineNine, Jane the Virgin, and Craz y ExGirlfriend respectively) were revealed to be bisexual, and the gay rom-com blockbuster Love, Simon was released. And why wouldn’t the community get excited about another form of representation, even if it is in meme format? Some may claim that this meme is recycled or unoriginal due to this repeated format, but it’s essentially the same as the majority of memes out there. The John Mulaney ‘yes/ no’, the cartoon man in the desert crawling in one direction instead of the other - they all involve rejecting the expected for the unexpected. And to me, that’s what’s just so appealing. We should

strive to enact healthy behaviours; eating well, looking after ourselves, and being kind to others. That urge to act in an unhealthy manner can be satiated with this - for lack of a better term gallows humour. Joking about how you should be studying instead of spending time on social media means awareness of what you, in fact, should be doing, and that’s a start.

Some may claim this meme is recycled or unoriginal On top of that, these memes can get meta. Like, incredibly meta. This is an article rather than a listicle, so I’m not going to attach all the examples I can find (you’re welcome, editors), but trust me. Spend five minutes googling the distracted boyfriend meme and you’ll find people labelling the man as themselves, the annoyed girlfriend as ‘new and interesting memes’, and the unassuming other woman as ‘the distracted boyfriend meme’ - so on and so forth. Now go, my friends, and meme on.

AGONY AUNT

We need to get rid of all the metaphors around harassment

ACADEMIA IS LIFE

avocado is life

DEAR AGONY AUNT, I’ve been with my boyfriend since I was 16. However, since arriving at uni, I’ve moved in with the most beautiful man I’ve ever met. I love my boyfriend, but I’m not sure how to recover from this passion. What do I do? Yours sincerely, Happily Dating.

DEAR AGONY AUNT, I’m in my final year of University now and am desperate to graduate with a 1st. I got a 2:1 last year, though. Does this mean I can’t get a 1st overall? Please help. Yours, Academia Is My Life.

DEAR AGONY AUNT, I’m not sure how to phrase this, gosh it’s so embarrassing. I have...a brunch addiction. The avocado, the poached eggs, the smoothies, mmmmmm. The problem is, I hate being so stereotypically ‘Exetah’. Please fix me! Your friend, Avocado Addict

DEAR HAPPILY DATING, Try not to worry too much – it’s normal to appreciate a good-looking man even if you’re happy in your relationship. There’s a phrase for this very situation; I think it’s something like, “I’m taken, not dead!” With that being said, if your feelings towards “the most beautiful man [you’ve] ever met” are more accurately described as lust (particularly if this lust is something you have urges to act on), you may want to re-evaluate how in love with your boyfriend you really are.

DEAR ACADEMIA IS MY LIFE, Firstly, don’t put so much pressure on yourself! Grades aren’t everything, despite how it may feel this way when you’re constantly in the uni bubble. However, I can understand your desire to get the highest grades you can! Make sure you’re attending all of your contact hours, and make use of tutor office hours too where you can. Do all the required work for your course and cover as much of the secondary content as you can. It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway; don’t leave any of your work until the last minute, especially not summative assessments. And don’t dismiss your formatives, they can be incredibly helpful, especially the feedback you get from them. Good luck!

DEAR AVOCADO ADDICT, Honestly, the best thing for you to do is to accept yourself as you are. Love yourself! Plus brunch is the best meal; there should be no shame in a love of brunch, no matter how ‘Exetah’ you may feel.

dating is life

Much love, Agony Aunt P.S. Don’t s*** where you eat x

Much love, Agony Aunt

Images left to right: Nevit Dilment, OpenClipart-Vectors (Pixabay), eggib (openclipart), asi24 (Pixabay), Gerald_G (freestockphoto)

Image: Deepa Lalwani

EXEPOSÉ | 15 OCT 2018

More than a month Mubanga Mweeba Contributor

OR most of us it would be an awkward task: attempting to find the exact moment in our lives when we absorbed the data that comprises the broad spectrum of general knowledge. Christmas, tig-andtag, the Olympics - our knowledge of these things arises from osmosis and are generally picked up through our childhood. Alas, knowledge and celebration of black British history were absent from my formative years. Such negligence revealed itself in the times where I would wrap a towel around my scalp when playing pretend as a child, the material askew on the crown of my head, but a passable substitute for the gravity abiding hair of my classmates.

I had buried the shame and the discomfort of being black Being the only black family in my community for a decade, and only one amongst a handful of ‘others’ for just as long, was difficult enough. Certainly, every child feels like an alien amongst their peers, feels desperate to fit in, but most of my juvenile insecurities were able to be addressed and tamed in time. Yet up until my adolescence, I had buried the shame and the discomfort of being black - to voice these insecurities would be to wound my parents and their heritage, and I had no understanding of how to take pride in something that I was ignorantly teased about. However, in concealing these aspects of my identity, I rendered certain parts of myself illegible. I was not a part of this intricate commu n it y whose histor y I

Images (from left to right: Anonymous; Paul New

am still learning; a history that is being honoured in the month of October. Rather I existed as an individual, an anomaly, an abnormality. That kind of isolation erodes the individual’s idea of normalcy and forestalls one’s sense of belonging.

I needed the black and the British to coalesce Black History Month is important today and tomorrow, and it has retroactive significance as well. It recognises the monumental and the everyday contributions of the black community to Britain. In order to validate my experiences, I needed both of those heritages, the black and the British, to coalesce. I especially needed my comprehension of blackness to exist beyond that of the African-American experience. Too often do we abridge black history to the events occurring across the Atlantic. What it does is create a myth that Britain’s history with African and Caribbean peoples was nonexistent up until 50 years ago, and even then, that history is barely discussed in classrooms or shown in our media. I don’t think I can recall a single instance in my primary or secondary school where I was taught about black British history. I can remember only the situations where slavery was brought up; my teachers and peers making pointed efforts to glance at me with guilt in their eyes, and I, catching the impression that to be black was to exist in the parameters of exploitation, op-

pression, and injustice. My knowledge of black history arose from the need to self-actualise and it was not until I read Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman that I knew that there were black writers working in Britain - and a woman to boot! Encountering that text and that author made a profound impression in my life, as did the succession of black writers, artists, politicians, and scientists whose histories represented my future.

country is to pride itself as being multicultural, it must be accountable for when these mixings of culture were not only fraught but unbalanced. It must take responsibility for the hostility and failures of the Windrush scandal. It must change its curriculum across all stages of education. For this history is not just important for the black community, but for Britain as a whole. Black history is important because it informs

h Bl m ist ac o o k n r th y

our prejudices, and these prejudices cause catastrophic and microscopic damage. Widening access can only go so far if, when these spaces are occupied, they lead to vitriolic criticism, denouncement and even death threats. The price of ignorance can cost people their lives; we cannot afford to reduce the opportunity to combat myths and beliefs that eject black experiences from society.

31 days is not enough time to focus our attention History helps corroborate our personal narratives; it gives us routes for our dreams and the courage to carve out spaces of our own. The fact that Black History Month is celebrated for a mere month should register as to how our experiences and contributions in the culture are peripheral. The recent decision of the Wandsworth council, and the Hillingdon council in 2007, to change Black History Month to a celebration of “diversity” and “multiethnicity”, is one I not only condemn but also mourn. These actions do not reflect a progressive and inclusive community, rather they dictate that celebrating difference should be kept within strict confines. It also makes it clear how little these matters have integrated into the mainstream if we must sequester diversity into a specific time of year. Most marginal communities are already struggling for visibility, and 31 days is not enough time to focus our attention on all of these groups. I will be more accommodating for such changes when our culture actually makes considerable strides to transform dominant attitudes with policies that protect the welfare of all. If this

Images (from left to right): -Jillian Tamki; nickon

Continuing the fight Bryan Knight Online Features Editor

OR far too long I remained oblivious to black British history. I learned about the Civil Rights movement in the USA, was in awe of Rosa Parks’ defiance, and recited the ‘I Have A Dream’ speech. But as I got older I recognised my ignorance in believing that Britain had no black history. I know I was not alone in this false belief. The truth is that Britain’s education system continues to fail black people due to its omission of our past. Never has there been a more important time to highlight the contributions made by black people. When reflecting, I think of all the hurdles that black people in Britain have had to endure and overcome. The Enoch Powell speech. The Notting Hill Riots. Theresa May’s “Go Home” vans. Of all the injustices, there is one I never forget: the Stephen Lawrence case. This unprovoked and racially-motivated murder exposed the underlying racism deeply embedded

within British society and its institutions. However, remembering an uncomfortable history such as this enables me to celebrate the pioneers who fought against racism and broke new ground – in some cases sacrificing everything they had. Paul Stephenson. Diane Abbott. Mary Seacole. The list is endless. Their contributions must not be forgotten or undermined.

This month encourages me to claim my identity For me, Black History Month is not only a time for Reflection and Celebration, but also a reminder of the responsibility I have to continue the fight and keep marching on. This month encourages me to claim my identity and unashamedly honour the beauty and power of my community. I am commanded to stay alert to all injustices, speak out, and put action behind my words. Above all else, this month is a reminder of the people who came before me - the giants whose shoulders I stand on. Maya Angelou summarised my feeling best: “I go forth alone [but] stand as ten thousand”.

COMMENT

15 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

The participation paradox Tabi Scott Arts + Lit Editor

OR the majority of students in the College of Humanities, 10% of your module grade is on seminar participation. If you are a confident, self-assured individual then this is an easy way to boost your module mark, and could be the difference between a second-class and first-class degree. It’s become a key measure of academic success: you can excel in essays and exams but your overall grade might be dragged down by a low seminar participation mark. These courses have been skewed to favour the extroverted, with quieter students having to combat personal anxieties just to keep up. In some cases, there does need to be an incentive to attend classes, as a reduced group size affects the quality of the discussion and the learning of everyone who has bothered to tackle Forum Hill for an 8:30. There have been plenty of mornings where this 10% has rallied my ill or overly-tired self to an early seminar, knowing that just sitting there will somewhat contribute to my overall grade. Attendance of seminars can also help the university ensure the wellbeing of students, by sending follow-up emails to absent students to offer any mental health support if re-

quired. If the reason for marking seminar participation is to monitor students’ mental wellbeing, isn’t it paradoxical to have a form of assessment so likely to cause anxiety?

Participation has become a key measure of success

It seems like tutors may have forgotten the pressure of trying to formulate an intelligent point on a topic on the spot, especially when surrounded by a bunch of students equally as clever as you. Some tutors have said that if a student’s anxiety hinders their ability to take part in presentations, then an alternative form of assessment can be arranged. Yet there is no alternative form of assessment to seminar participation. Surely this presents the same obstacles to those suffering with anxiety? It isn’t the lazy students complaining about this form of assessment; it’s the conscientious yet quiet students pouring all their energy into their essays because they know that this 10% is a lost cause. In the first few weeks of term, already faced with the likes of Derrida, homesickness and freshers’ flu, it’s daunting to have to voice your thoughts to a room full of strangers and an academic expert on a subject you’re only

just starting to get your head around. ideas, and others will have you jumpThe pressure of knowing that you ing through hoops to scrape 60%. In should be speaking overrides the desire the instance that quieter students like to make a carefully thought-out, valu- myself do vocalise their thoughts, you able contribution to the discussion. You can be disheartened three months later end up sweating through your first few when you are given the same amount of seminars in the midst of your more ar- credit as those who have said nothing ticulate peers who are navigatat all. There is a twinge of guilt ing the discussion with if I am given the same ease while you feel grade for seminar too intimidated participation as to talk, and my friends you evenwho contually tribute leave f a r feeling more, hor on ly ribly leadinading to equate. more And quesif semit i o n s nar parabout how ticipation is this grading going to feature system actually so heavily in assessworks. The final Image: Irina.stelea ment criteria, then why mark is seemingly unprehasn’t the marking been standarddictable, with the same incredulous ised? In some seminars I have said next comments surfacing whenever grades to nothing, while contributing substan- are released for seminar participation: tially in others, only to receive the same “They gave me what?”. grade for both of them at the end of Since the grades achieved in first the term. Some tutors will generously year do not count towards your degree, award 75% or even 85% just for turning it could be used to establish the expecup every week and sharing a couple of tation that these seminars should not

be dominated by a tutor talking. But in second year, should there still be this symbolic gun to your head to offer any random opinion you can twice a week? In third year seminars so far, I have only heard comments about how nice it is that the pressure to speak has been lifted, even from my naturally more talkative peers. And we’re not sat in silence for two hours; the seminars are equally as engaging with the majority of students still contributing ideas, and an air of calm around the ones who prefer to listen. It is a far more inviting space in which you can offer a point or ask a question, without the pressure of being assessed for every moment.

Should there still be this symbolic gun to your head?

When I started this course, I thought my assignments would revolve around the work of the likes of Shakespeare and Austen, not realising that a segment of every module would be based on social prowess, confidence, and the mood of the tutors on my timetable. Sharing our thoughts and bouncing ideas off of each other should be enough, rather than having to compete to say the most in the hope that you’ll stand out in your tutor’s mind.

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Degrees and disabilities

Olivia Powell Contributor

NLY when coming to university did I discover I had a learning disability – no thanks to any seminar leaders or professors, but thanks to one of my best friends who has the same learning disability as I do, who recognised himself in me and urged me to seek a diagnosis. It affects a whole range of aspects of my life, but I was only officially diagnosed as of March last year, and as of a few days ago I have been given an Individual Learning Plan – meaning I will receive mitigation when being assessed and in exams.

It affects a whole range of aspects of my life

This hasn’t been an easy journey, not least because I didn’t actually realise I had any kind of disability until

about a year ago. Whilst technically I am high-functioning and have been able to counteract the ways in which my disability makes life more difficult for me, it hasn’t exactly been easy being in a perpetual state of ‘but why does this on l y

of people at the University who were seeking help, I had to wait a long time to get diagnosed. By the time I was diagnosed last year, it was too late for me to get provisions for the exams I needed.

gling, this could massively affect their university experience. In addition, the diagnosis process involved meeting with an educational psychologist – a few-hour-long appointments that cost me over £350. Luckily, I could afford this, but with the cost of the assessment only being refunded (fully or partially) by the Hardship and Retention Fund if a diagnosis of a disability is made, this simply isn’t accessible for some students, especially since you can only apply for the refund after you have been diagnosed.

happen to me?’ for essenEven Image: ElisaRiva tially the entirety at the start of of my education. the year, I could only The University was excellent with get an appointment to get these diagnosing me, and were very accomprovisions two weeks after I rang to modating when getting me the help I arrange it. needed - but because of the amount For someone who is really strug-

This simply isn’t accessible for some students

I can’t help feeling as though if there had been some kind of information on learning disabilities included in the information I was sent when I was accepted into the University, I could have been helped a lot sooner. Obviously, I have survived this long without any support, but I will always

wonder whether or not my university career could have been a lot better if I had been supported from the start. Overall, I think there needs to be more support and information for those with learning disabilities, and those who suspect they made have learning disabilities, both with regard to being diagnosed and making help more accessible, through giving monetary support to those who need it. The disabled students’ allowance means nothing if you can’t access it, because you weren’t able to be diagnosed due to the cost in the first place.

For further help and information on this topic, Accessibility AccessAbility@exeter.ac.uk 0300 555 0444 The Wellbeing Centre 01392 724381 wellbeing@exeter.ac.uk https://www.nhs.uk/

COMMENT

EXEPOSÉ | 15 OCT 2018

Exam adjustment: a guide Wellbeing Services Team

HE exam period can be a particularly stressful time in your studies, especially if you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance. If you have previously had exam adjustments at school or college, please be aware that these do not automatically carry over to Exeter, so it is crucial that you book an appointment with Wellbeing Services now to get these adjustments in place. The deadline for having an appointment to get your exam adjustments in place for the January 2019 exam period is Friday 2 November. Mental health conditions

If you have a mental health condition, please fill out our Mental Health appointment request form in order to book an appointment to discuss your support options: https:// www.exeter.ac.uk/wellbeing/mental_ health/appointment-request/.

You will need to upload relevant medical evidence to the online form, and Wellbeing Services will then be in touch with you to book you in. Specific learning difficulties & physical health conditions If you have a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia or a physical

health condition or disability, please call 0300 555 0444 to speak with the SID team and book an Access Ability Advisor appointment. Please send any medical evidence to accessability@exeter.ac.uk prior to your appointment. If you have a specific learning difficulty, you will need to provide a Post16 Educational Psychologist report that confirms your diagnosis. Please see our exam adjustments webpage for more information on the medical evidence needed: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/ wellbeing/examadjustments/ General support Wellbeing Services run a number of workshops throughout the term that can help with the pressures of studying and exams. Anyone can book

onto these sessions via the CareerZone, and the workshops include “Stress Busting”, “How to Just Do It”, and “Busting Exam Stress”. One of our Study Skills advisors also runs sessions for students who are accessing support from Wellbeing Services, such as “Developing Focus When Studying” – “Time Management”, and “Using Extra Time in Exams.” In order to book a place on these workshops, please go to our Workshops webpage to find links to the CareerZone booking pages: http://www.exeter. ac.uk/wellbeing/workshops/ If you have any questions, please get in touch with Wellbeing by calling us on 01392 724381 or emailing us at wellbeing@exeter.ac.uk.

reasons. A lot of people I spoke to shoplift as a form of protest. They went into a large amount of depth about how capitalism is unjust, the entire concept of having to pay for a

margins will be far greater for a more expensive item. Also, items of a higher monetary value tend to be non-essential, and therefore it could be argued that stealing these kinds of items should be

easy for store employees to attribute their job dissatisfaction to shoplifters increasing their workload, there are far greater forces at play here – excruciating low pay that doesn’t even come close to the value that each individual store worker adds to the store itself, small work forces stretching workers even thinner, the threat of automation and self-checkouts. For unhappy store workers, shoplifters aren’t the problem here; it’s a callous and cold economic system that cares far more about numbers and profit margins than individual happiness. On the whole, it can therefore be concluded that shoplifting is an individual value judgement, which comes down to a simple benefitto-risk ratio that for some people may be skewed according to their own financial situation. If people are willing to accept the risks but believe that they have more to gain from doing it than not doing it, then I propose that these people should not be criticised for having to do what they can to survive in an uncaring capitalist world.

Wellbeing Services run a number of workshops

Is shoplifting ethical?

Amber Mott Contributor

HOPLIFTING as a concept is one that is very easy to dismiss Image: Libreshot as being wrong in every conceivable situation. However, upon further inspection and investigation, one may find that the reasons why people shoplift call into question the entire ethical argument against it. I decided to embark upon such an investigation, asking people who have shoplifted why they did it, and also asking retail workers how it affects their jobs. First of all, the majority the people that I spoke to who do shoplift, cited poverty and not enough money to buy food. These basic necessity is disgusting, and how people form their own category: one small-scale shoplifting has an almost which is defined by hunger and need, negligible effect on manufacturers since they only steal food and only and supposedly has a greater effect on when they genuinely really need to eat stores. Whilst this may be true, given and cannot afford to purchase food. the fact that stores buy in bulk directly Whilst it may be easy to tell people in from manufacturers and gain most this situation to just go to a food bank of the profits from the huge mark-up or go on benefits, this does not take price that their items are then sold at, into account the bureaucracy that these shoplifting occasional small bits of processes entail, which takes time and food will only have a very small effect can only be available to people that on a store’s profit margins that will still fulfil certain criteria; many students, ultimately favour the store. for example, cannot use food banks, as being on government benefits is often A lot of people I a requirement and most students aren’t spoke to shoplift as on government benefits. Therefore, if a form of protest a student steals a loaf of bread from a large scale supermarket, for example, it could be argued that this is less ethically However, stealing more items of questionable and in some cases even a higher value, such as alcohol, has a acceptable. much greater effect on stores, given the But not all people steal for these fact that the dent in the store’s profit

heavily discouraged. However, the people that are ultimately affected the most by shoplifting are store employees. Some store employees reported being forced to work extra hours, sometimes unpaid, to account for any stolen items that affect the calculations involved in the stock-taking process. However, it is worth noting that the employees that reported this all worked for chains, especially chains that sell cheaper and lower value items, and that some of these chains underpay their employees.The minimum wage in this country varies depending on your age, but the younger you are, the lower it is, and many store workers of all ages can barely afford to pay rent and feed themselves without having to take extra hours or another job to supplement their pay. Therefore, whilst it might be

The people that are ultimately affected the most by shoplifting are store employees

Instead, focus on creating a world where people do not have to turn to crime in order to feed themselves. As for those who steal non-essential items compulsively, out of greed, or just for kleptomaniacal thrills, I have no sympathy for you, and strongly discourage you from doing so.

THE SABB

Image: Students’ Guild

Warren Bingham-Roberts VP Education Academic Representation Academic Representation is the process by which all students can provide feedback on their educational experience, so that it can be voiced to and acted upon by the University. There are students on each course who act as representatives for their peers’ academic interests, and make up a “Subject Council” consisting of reps and a “Subject Chair”. These students are recruited, trained and empowered by the Students’ Guild so that they can effectively listen to, gather and discuss students’ feedback with the relevant members of staff, in order to drive change. You can find all the information, and the details of who your reps are here: https://www.exeterguild.org/ academicrepresentation/ Leadership Conference On Saturday 20 October 2018, the Students’ Guild and University are hosting the very first Academic Representation Leadership Conference, open to all Academic Reps, Subject Chairs and College Officers. The conference will focus on current issues within Higher Education, with a series of talks and workshops delivered by guests, including Exeter alumni who were AcReps themselves, that speak to various aspects of the role, and provide further training and skills development that will help all reps to fulfil them effectively throughout the year. Examples of some of the workshops we’ll be running include “Effective campaigning – how to drive change” and “Representing students who aren’t like me”. These will run throughout the afternoon in the Forum, and will be followed by our ‘AcRep Hello’ networking event, where reps and staff can come together at the end of the day and get to know one another over some refreshments. We’re really looking forward to the event, and the experience our reps will gain for their roles as a result, as we look ahead to working together closely in what promises to be an exciting year for Academic Representation as a whole!

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EXEPOSÉ | 15 OCT 2018

Features

FEATURES EDITORS: Niamh Elstone Neha Shaji

We need to talk about Kanye

Bethan Gilson, Lifestyle Editor, discusses Kanye’s controversial tweets and the political arguments they evoke have never truly escaped it. This is the argument of Ava DuVernay’s 2016 documentary, 13th. These assertions are brought to life by statistics released by the NAACP, which reveal that in 2014, AfricanAmericans constituted 2.3 million - or 34% - of the correctional population and that African-Americans are incarcerated at more that five times the rate of white Americans. The development of the Black Lives Matter movement and its social media presence have thrust personal testimonies of crime-based racial injustice into the limelight. These events have dominated public discussion; but in order to deconstruct Kanye’s argument, the theme of historical racial oppression must be explored.

N 30 September 2018, Kanye West tweeted a photograph of himself wearing a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat, a phrase associated with President Trump. He has come under fire for the accompanying tweet, in which he suggests that in order to make America great again, Article 13 should be abolished. It is the latest in a string of controversial remarks made by the rapper on the subject of race in America.

The judicial system is stacked against people from communities of colour The 13th Amendment states that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States.” It is perceived by many to be the great liberator of AfricanAmerican people, having been the legislation that freed them from years of enslavement. With an understanding of the historical significance of the amendment, it’s unsurprising that West’s comments have caused public

Image: shinobi344

outcry, with actor Chris Evans accusing him of perpetuating a “terrifying rhetoric”. The rapper responded to public criticism by expressing regret for his choice of the word “abolish”, instead he claims he wishes to ‘amend’ Article 13. Although at first glance West’s comment seems uneducated and incredulous, he elaborated on his tweet positing that Article 13 created “slavery in disguise meaning it never ended”. Maybe a 280-character tweet wasn’t the best platform to explore such an argument with the appropriate level of nuance and complexity, but that’s not to say that West’s argument should be completely disregarded. He echoes the sentiments of countless activists and academics who believe that at both a cultural and structural level, blackness has been associated with criminality. They argue that the judicial system is stacked against people from communities of colour, as it is built on preconceived notions that black people are criminals. These institutions are then supported by the American electorate whose imaginations are based on racist stereotypes. As a consequence, due to the clause in the constitution that allows slavery on the grounds of criminal conviction, African Americans

Trump’s so-called ‘Great America’ would only perpetuate and build on this racial opression In the aftermath of the American Civil War and the subsequent passing of the 13th Amendment, the Jim Crow laws were established, which resigned African-Americans to a second-class citizen status. They were an equal and opposite reaction to the emancipation of African-Americans and mostly took effect in the Southern and border states. They implemented formal and informal segregation of blacks and whites, excluding persons of colour from certain schools, jobs and neighbourhoods, toilets, public transport etc. It is off the back of this cultural moment that racist perceptions of African-Americans were formed. Contemporary films of the early 1900s, such as Birth of a Nation, depicted black men as violent and posing a sexual threat to white women - there are countless examples of representations of these kinds of interracial sexual relations in the contemporary literature and popular culture. When white and black Americans were segregated it created social distance. Politicians were able to capitalise on this distance and shape perceptions of black Americans that were deemed legitimate by white audiences as they had

no direct knowledge of the culture of the other group. Therefore, key figures in the Civil Rights Movement such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X., Angela Davies and so on were depicted as criminals and enemies of the state. This had an implication on how white audiences were perceiving these figures and the groups they emboldened such as the Black Panthers. White America now believed that the Civil Rights Movement had given wave to a new era of permissiveness that had to be controlled through ‘law and order’. Building on this, in the 1970s, Nixon launched his ‘War on Drugs’ which has increasingly seen to be understood as a war on communities of colour, and ushered in a period defined by mass-incarceration of black people. Through exploiting fear of drug abuse, figures like Nixon and Reagan were able to create an association of drugs like heroin and crack cocaine with black communities and especially black men. This made it easier for the public to accept black men as criminals. Black people don’t seem to be afforded their 14th Amendment right of ‘innocent until proven guilty’. Black people become their crime. They are described as murderers, rapists, and drug dealers in the media, before they have been fairly tried. Bill Clinton’s 1994 Federal Crime Bill has been criticised by Black Lives Matter for including policies that led to the mass-incarceration of black people, and continues to infringe on their freedoms today. It included policies like mandatory minimums, ‘three strikes and you’re out’ and ‘stand your ground’. These are all policies that have been used to justify recent cases of police brutality against black people and have been used to prove their innocence in the case of murder. Stop searches, police brutality and in some cases murder, are part of the daily experience of black people in America. So often, these murders are based on assumptions of criminality because a person has black skin, rather than being based on evidence of crime. This builds on the idea of people of colour being denied their 14th Amendment right. The Jim Crow era saw black people portrayed as rapists and posing a sexual

threat to white women. The Civil Rights era and the presidencies of Nixon, Reagan and Clinton saw them as drug dealers, gang leaders and murderers. Even at a sub-cultural level, hip-hop and rap are associated with aggression and crime. The clause that allows slavery under the condition of a criminal conviction has been exploited by those in power and by making black people criminals, they have kept them as metaphorical slaves. Corporations using the free labour of inmates has kept them as literal slaves.

These murders are based on assumptions of criminality because a person has black skin With all this considered, Kanye’s suggestion of amending Article 13 seems justified. But, if this is the backbone of Kanye’s argument, then why is he associating himself with President Trump? He is a man who took out a whole page spread in the late 1980s during the Central Park Jogger Case, putting pressure on the court to imprison five black boys for a crime they didn’t commit. A man who echoes the sentiments of Nixon and Reagan in calling himself the ‘law and order candidate’. A man who encouraged violence towards black protestors and spoke of the ‘good old days’ when they were beaten and lynched. Can he not see that Trump stands in complete opposition to his outlook? That Trump’s so-called ‘Great America’ would only perpetuate and build on this racial oppression. If Kanye wants to create real change, he should align himself with figures like Colin Kaepernick, who are challenging Trump and highlighting the issue of racial injustice in a thoughtful and positive way. If progressive policy is to have any real effect in America, it needs to be accompanied by a radical social and cultural change in terms of the way black people, and in turn black culture, is viewed, with a move away from an association with criminality. With President Trump’s influence, that kind of future seems impossible.

15 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

FEATURES

The price of beauty

Amelia Chisholm talks about the dangers of women stepping outside the norm

N Thursday 27 September, gunmen opened fire on a 22-year-old woman because of her refusal to bow to expectations. Her name was Tara Fares. In 2013, age 17, she won the title of Miss Baghdad, and was the runner up in the Miss Iraq pageant. Following this minor notoriety, she became a model and beauty blogger, with 2.7 million followers on her Instagram account. Through this visual social media, she shared her fashion, tattoos and many hairstyles with her fans. One post, dated 9 July, is captioned “I’m not afraid of those who deny the existence of God, but I’m afraid of the one who kills to prove the existence of God.” She had good reason. Whilst the murderers have not yet been identified, the attack is understood as the latest in a series of killings of women who are challenging the modesty-culture that they are expected to conform to. Doctor Suad al-Ali, a prominent women’s rights activist, was shot dead on the streets of Basra two days before. In August, Rasha Hassan, and Doctor Rafifi Yasiri were both killed in the space of a week. The police have not released the official autopsy,

and originally claimed their death was due to diet pills causing both of their hearts to stop. Both beauticians were prominent social media figures. Shimaa Qasim, a former Miss Iraq, has also received death threats; on 4 October comments were posted during one of her live streams, reading “You’re next”. There is no proof whether this is a legitimate threat or a cruel joke, but her terror is valid. These women are being targeted because they are not afraid to express themselves by wearing more revealing clothing, changing their hair colour, or employing more ostentatious make up styles. These ‘Western’ beauty standards they are following are certainly problematic in atheir ge: Im own right, but that debate is not necessary here. The fact remains that women are getting shot for how they choose to display

Image: aiilolo

themselves, and that is the terrifying side of the patriarchy. It should be noted that the ‘rebellious’ nature of these women was not limited to their self-expression. Dr. al-Ali’s defiance as a human rights campaigner is self-explanatory. She brought a notable female presence to protests against clean water shortages, power cuts, and government corruption. Throughout this, Dr. al-Yassiri travelled the world at her own expense to find cures and aid Iraqi children who were victims of recent wars. Ms. Fares spoke out about her abusive marriage, which began at age 16, and now lives unashamed and unapologetic as a self-supporting divorced mother of one. As Jenni Murray stated on the BBC’s Women’s Hour: “These women are comfortable with having been divorced, living alone, wearing more revealing clothing, owning themselves and challenging conservative beliefs.” It’s clear that women rejecting one aspect of cultural oppression (e.g. expected appearance), is synonymous

with them rejecting others (speaking out about past abusive marriages). If, therefore, all resistance is linked, then all oppression is linked. The criminals who are murdering innocent women are doing so because they recognise these rebellious presentations of the self for what they are - a reclamation of female power. Women are demonized, rejected, and judged everywhere in the world because of how they choose to dress. But there is a difference between being cat-called and being shot in the head. Both are disgusting. One is far more terrifying. It’s becoming more and more obvious that everywhere in the world, men who hurt women are not facing the consequences. I have no answer for what we can do to help our sisters, except resist. And to those who want to ‘play devil’s advocate’, to provide any ‘benefit of the doubt’ to rapists, to murderers, take stock of Ahmad al-Basheer, “Anyone who finds excuses for those who kill a girl just because she had decided to live like most other girls on the planet is an accomplice to her murder..”

I saved every letter you wrote me James Sutton discusses the possible political advantages of Trump’s apparent love for Kim Jong-un

FEW days ago, Trump declared that he and Kim Jong-un “fell in love” through letters the two had exchanged - a relationship that would presumably have to be polyamorus, in order for there to be room for Putin too. However, should the president receive such harsh criticism for his comments? Answer: Yes, he probably should. But I would argue that there is room for maneuver there. Cross-party and cross-faction friendships are something which we need to see more often in a world where politics is becoming increasingly divisive. These days there’s a real sense of ‘them and us’ when it comes to political allegiances, most strongly apparent in the US’ two-party system, but also evident here in the UK. The Conservatives and Labour are the two largest parties, and whilst there is some in-between, it’s on the decline, with the Lib Dems somehow becoming even more forgettable with each passing day. Society is split, and no number of political leaders declaring they are “for

the many” is likely to change that, unless, they show that they are willing to lead by example, reach across the divide, and build bridges. A good instance of this

is Chuka Umunna and Anna Soubry. As described in an article the two wrote for the Evening Standard in March, whilst they have their political differences, “on Brexit we are as one”. Despite diverging opinions on a wide range of issues, they have recognised that when it comes to this issue, their shared opinion should count for something because they sit on opposite sides of the house. Together, they campaign for a shared belief. In doing so, show that there is strength in unifying with an individual who, on another day, may be your enemy. Cross-party

collaboration isn’t weakness, and it isn’t a betrayal of your core values - it’s progress. Political rhetoric is becoming more and more

aggressive, and in this day and age it’s very easy to hate the Tories, or to despise Corbynites; an approach fostered by a lack of understanding and a lack of empathy. I think we need to consider whether this approach is helpful and conducive to a sustainable society, or if engaging with your opposition in a civil manner may in fact be a better way of reaching solutions that appeal to both sides.

There’s a real sense of “them and us” when it comes to political allegiances Trump’s peculiarly close relationship with Kim Jong-un is questionable, given North Korea’s history. However, I do appreciate his efforts to build bridges with a hostile state, not walls. Seemingly all Mexico needs to do to avoid the border wall is start a rogue nuclear missile program.

Image: Dan Scavino Jr.

EXEPOSÉ | 15 OCT 2018

FEATURES

I do believe in Brexit, I do, I do! A

Natalie Keffler, Online Editor, talks about the Brexit festival and its implications

S many may already be more than aware, and may already never want to hear about again, Theresa May has recently revealed her plans to hold a festival in 2022 to celebrate post-Brexit Britain. This will apparently cost £120 million, and will be held with the purpose of showcasing our nation’s talents. This idea has apparently been inspired from the 1951 Post War Exhibition, which had previously taken its inspiration from the Victorian Great Exhibition 100 years prior. However, this is ironic in itself, due to the Post War Exhibition occurring to celebrate the end of fighting, and thus further peace agreements between countries, uniting them further.

The money could be spent on a more deserving cause However, Brexit is a stark polar opposite. The very act of Brexit itself

isolates the UK from the rest of Europe, with little regard for helping other countries in need, due to Brexit bringing all the focus onto Britain and absolving the UK of responsibilities and promises to the rest of Europe. It is absurd that Theresa May apparently suggested this idea in a bid to quieten discontent from Tory MPs, which essentially plays out as May having to host a party to appease petulant children, who will otherwise throw a tantrum and stamp their feet further into the decaying foundations of the current state of government. It has also been

noted that this celebration in 2022 will coincide with 100 years since Ireland’s official partition was put into

Image: Ian Pegg, Momentmal, Evan Amos, Petr Kratochvil, 919th Special Operations Wing

place, which appears far too convenient as a ploy to keep Arlene Foster content than to just be a mere coincidence. The controversy behind the festival increases further, as it has been suggested that wellknown Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg was the one who originally put the idea forward. From this context, the question must be raised as to if a Brexit festival further celebrates the prejudice that is clearly still incredibly prevalent within British society, and which continues to plague all political decisions. It therefore appears incredibly clear that the money could be spent on a more deserving cause, for

example the NHS. The £350 million that was supposed to be spent on it if we left the EU has miraculously vanished, and it has become clear that this was a bed of lies all along. Therefore, it is not to question the validity of Brexit as a significant enough event to warrant a festival, because clearly we are all more than aware of the huge impact this decision has made on our country. However it is rather the concern that by celebrating Brexit we are celebrating the wrong things our country should want to be known for. Celebrating Brexit could be equated to an affirmation that prejudice, racism, and bitterness should be praised, whilst unity should be shunned. A celebration of talent is of course a celebration that is warranted, however although I know it is becoming increasingly clear that we must accept Brexit for what it is, there are other important events we could hold a festival in honour of, like celebrating our amazingly diverse country that makes Britain what it is in 2018.

Mummy goes hungry tonight F

Olivia Powell discusses the depressing reality of food poverty in the UK

OOD poverty in the UK is reaching crisis levels. Government figures show that 30% of children are currently living in poverty, and whilst the UK may be one of the wealthiest countries in the world, it also has one of the highest rates of childhood food insecurity in Europe. The sad reality of it is that the government is failing the children of this country in an incredibly dangerous way. Malnutrition in childhood can lead to a multitude of health issues later in life, and not just physically – food insecurity can have long-lasting mental effects too. Additionally, while children live in poverty and food insecurity, so do their parents.

The government is failing the children of this country in an incredibly dangerous way As a parent, your job is to provide, and some parents simply do not earn enough to do this. This impacts on the whole family – to make sure their children have enough to eat, many parents will simply go hungry. This

causes a chain reaction – when starving, we are less attentive, more easily fatigued and less able to function as well as we could do when we are wellfed. In 2017, it was revealed that some nurses must go to food banks in order to feed their children – their jobs rely on them being in the best state they can be physically, so they can be there for their patients as much as possible.. As people who administer medication, a mistake could cost a life. In a society like ours, no one deserves to go hungry, and no one should – yet, people are. Celebrity chefs claiming that ‘anyone can eat well cheaply!’ are not helping either. For people who say this, they are assuming that a family has at least Image: Heinz Inc

some form of disposable income to put towards a food shop every week. For those in poverty, this is often not the case. Jack Monroe, the ‘Boostrap Chef ’ knows this very acutely. In 2012, they posted a blog post called ‘Hunger

Image: Chris McAndrew

Hurts’. It told the tale of their housing benefit being inexplicably £100 short. They had no food in, but some leftover pasta, some cheese and a lump of stem ginger, so they gave their child the pasta and brewed some ginger tea in an attempt to stop their hunger pains. The next morning, they could only give their child a Weetabix mashed up with water. Again, Jack went hungry. Now, Jack is a successful chef who posts recipes that can be made incredibly cheaply – they often cost less that 50p per portion and are nutritionally healthy. Jack understands what it means

to be in poverty because they were, but those who have never been in poverty often cannot comprehend what it means to exists in perpetual anxiety about your finances. Additionally, whilst these recipes are excellent and a lot more helpful than suggesting those in poverty simply live on rice and beans, food poverty is not being caused by those in poverty – it is caused by the government simply not providing for the people who live in this country.

Some parents simply do not earn enough to provide Those who collect benefits should not be going hungry, as the amount that they are given should cover their living costs. The living wage should be a wage that can actually be lived on – especially for those with families. The poor are not at fault for being poor; they aren’t going hungry because of some kind of moral failing, and therefore they should be helped out. It should be a source of deep shame that, in one of the richest countries in the world, the people who live here can barely afford to survive.

lifestyle

ARTS + LIT

E X H I B IT MUSIC

STUDY BREAK

screen

Image: Pixabay Image:495756, Amir Clark

Image: Rich Grundy

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT NIColas

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Image: Gerald Geronimo

WHAT MAKES A CLASSIC?

EXEPOSé’S HIP-HOP EXTRAVAGANZA

DIVERSITY IN THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY

study break

Image: Focus Me

16 -18

20 -22

24 -26

28 -30

LIFESTYLE EDITORS Rhiannon Moore Bethan Gilson

ARTS + LIT EDITORS Lauren Newman Tabi Scott

MUSIC EDITORS Alex Wingrave Aaron Loose

SCREEN EDITORS Chloe Kennedy Ben Faulkner

STUDY BREAK Puzzles by Alfred and Katie 15 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

lifestyle I believe her

Ellie McGarahan discusses the implications of the Kavanaugh sexual assault case

N Saturday 6 October, Judge Brett Kavanaugh was appointed Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court. He was confirmed after one of the most combative Senate hearings in American constitutional history – a confirmation beset by allegation, which gained a global audience after the man in question was accused of historic sexual assault. Professor Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony against Kavanaugh caused a Republican outcry. Notably, at a rally in Mississippi, Trump mocked Ford’s statement made against his Supreme Court nominee, which was met with laughter and rapturous applause from the crowd. Described by Ford's lawyer as "a vicious, vile and soulless attack", Trump’s words confirm why so many assault survivors are afraid to come forward. With attitudes such as his being so prevalent, the fact of whether Kavanaugh is innocent or guilty becomes almost irrelevant. What comes to the fore is the significance of a woman’s attempt to make her voice heard, a fact Ford recognised when she described her testimony as a “civic duty”. Trump’s comments sparked the #WhyIDidntReport hashtag on Twitter, with people sharing the reasons it can be difficult for sexual assault survivors to voice their stories. 675K tweets were generated in under

48 hours, citing fears of not being believed, failures of law enforcement, and debilitating psychological conditions, such as PTSD. As part of the campaign, Patti Davis explained why many are reluctant to speak out: “Telling our stories means being vulnerable to public attacks and ridicule when our only “crime” was to be assaulted in the first place.” Since the hearing, it has been reported that Dr. Ford has been unable to return home due to the “unending” hateful comments and death threats she’s received. There is a sense that she and her story have already begun to recede from view – the hours spent reliving her trauma out of a sense of public obligation under the belief that it might actually

Image: @mobulis

mean something diminishing in significance all too soon. Meanwhile, the newly titled Justice Kavanaugh is preparing to hear his first case. But for Ford, all is not lost. As commented on by Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal, Ford has “inspired and given courage to women to come forward” and “enlightened men in America to listen respectfully, and that is a profound public service.” Though perhaps reductive in his separation of women as victims and men as listeners, he is not wrong: since Dr. Ford’s initial allegations came to light, two other women have offered their stories of Kavanaugh’s inappropriate behaviour – one detailing him exposing himself while drunk at university, the other highlighting his involvement in the drugging and assault of girls at house parties in the 1980s. More widely, there has been a 57% spike in calls made to the US National Sexual Assault Hotline since the claims emerged, with cases of both recent and historic abuse being reported. On the Thursday of the hearing, the hotline saw a 147% increase compared with a normal weekday. The implications of this case reach far beyond Capitol Hill. It’s about making sexual assault survivors feel able to come forward and speak about their experiences if they wish without fear of being belittled and disbelieved. It's

about recognising the sacrifice taken when one decides to come forward in a system that has fostered these attitudes against them - a system that elects a President who was recorded admitting his sexual misdemeanors.

IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURVIVORS FEEL ABLE TO COME FORWARD It’s not yet known if the effects of the past few weeks will be felt in the voting boxes of the US mid-term elections on 6 November, but one thing is certain: Brett Kavanaugh knew he was right when he said “your effort to destroy my good name will not drive me out.”

If you have been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this article, the following resources are available: DEVON RAPE CRISIS Helpline: 01392 204 174 Email: support@devonrapecrisis.org. uk REED MEWS WELLBEING CENTRE Phone: 01392 724381 Email: wellbeing@exeter.ac.uk Website: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/

To Tinder or not to Tinder Exeposé Lifestyle writers give their opinions on dating apps

The argument for WILL admit, I was fairly anti-dating app beI must say that I am slightly biased as to why fore university. I’d given Tinder a try in colI’m pro-dating app – I actually met my boylege and I was woefully unimpressed with the friend on Bumble. My friends made a joke cheesy pickup lines and very forward sugwhen I first downloaded the app, that I’d meet gestions from the lads on there, and so someone, go on one date and that would essentially swore off dating apps be it. Whilst at the time I said they for a good while. Then, after a were just being silly, I did techbreakup, when I was ready nically only have the app for to get back out there, my a few days before I met friend suggested Bumsomeone. ble. It’s an app where As someone who is a the girl has to send the dating app success stofirst message, or in 24 ry, I think they’re great – hours your match disI never would have met appears. As someone my boyfriend if it weren’t who’s not always the best for one, and it was a nice, a starting conversations, this low-pressure way to put myaspect was a little daunting, but self out there. Being able to date Image:@brucemars not having any messages that just without trying to arrange a rom-com said ‘casual sex?’ was actually really nice. style meet cute at a Tesco is one of the benWhilst there was a little more pressure on efits of being a part of our generation, and if me to think of something to say, it did mean you want to take advantage of that, then go that I was in charge of the conversation, so I ahead! only spoke to people about what I wanted to. Olivia Powell

The argument against URELY, in half a decade, we must have more in the way of discovering lust than love. realised that looking for love through datFor those who know how to play ‘the ing apps is not the answer to our solitary crisis. game’, dating apps become a stepping stone However, we continue to use them, suggesting into Snapchat messages, followed by an undigmany are still yet to find love. It is apparnified meeting on a night out. ent that they are not worth your Recent studies show your time - with their loathsomely Tinder relationship potential lazy approach, swiping away is doomed if you do not through a conveyor belt meet your virtual match of virtual strangers based in person in a matter upon a shallow focus of of days. Within a week their physical appearof chatting, small-talk ances. conversations run dry These dating apps and any excitement from give ‘judging a book discussing mutual topics by its cover’ a new cyber of interest will be worthplatform. Many swipe away less. Chatting over text is until they find what one might simply too limiting. Image: @rawpixel class as at least a ‘7-out-of-10’. Hidden Ultimately, dating apps seem a behind their phone screens, users feel emlittle lazy. Fewer of us are finding the conpowered to be critical of every physical feature fidence to ask out someone you have met they see in a person’s profile. It will most likely offline, who you fancy based on both their be the pictures that predetermine the direcunedited appearance and personality. tion of swipe, not a bio. Dating apps provide Lizzie Frisby

exhibit

lifestyle

The beauty revolution

15 OCT 2018 |

Deepa Lalwani, Comment Editor, discusses diversity in the beauty industry

ERE'S the thing: I love make-up. It’s fun to put on, fun to experiment with, fun to buy with money you probably shouldn’t be spending – and yet, the entire reason for the existence of the beauty industry is essentially to make women feel bad about the way they look. As if that wasn’t bad enough, women of colour (WOC) aren’t included in ad campaigns or product lines; instead, we’re faced with the issue of the darkest shade of foundation available being the same colour as Kim Kardashian when she’s piled on the fake tan.

W.O.C. SHOULD BE EMBRACED BY THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY Now, none of this is to say that progress isn’t happening. As with all things in the realm of diversity, there are some significant steps being made. In the past few years, brands like Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty have inspired more affordable brands like Revolution and Maybelline to diversify their foundation ranges to include between 20 and 40 different shades. This is a vast improvement, especially because it’s usually only high-end brands that provide products for women of colour, making the job of finding your colour match not only difficult,

but expensive. So what can be done about it? Giving feedback to companies seems like the most effective way to induce change, particularly today, as social media movements have the ability to make or break a brand’s image. Take the recent controversy with Tarte Cosmetics’ new foundation, where of the 15-shade collection, only three were suitable for people of colour. Backlash quickly ensued and the company apologised and promised to add more shade options – perhaps too little, too late. Cases like these should hopefully convince companies that people of colour need to be catered to just as much as white people do. In the meantime, we should strive to support

and purchase from brands that are doing their best to be inclusive and mindful. With regard to the models they hire for marketing, the range of shades they sell, and the ingredients they include – mica, a mineral that is crucial to so many beauty products, is often mined by child labourers. As irritating as it may be to pull out your phone and do some quick googling while you’re standing in the queue at Boots, it’s a small act that will make a difference. Even if you can’t manage that, it’s not exactly hard, to take a look at the ads for most popular make-up brands and to be able to easily see which have bothered to use models that are not just conventionally attractive white women. Diversity in the beauty industry should be Image: Calvin Lupiya about embracing

Part-time job struggles

EDITORS: Bethan Gilson and Rhiannon Moore

Alexandra Luca debates having a job at uni

'VE had my fair share of experience with part- tired for that society bar crawl you promised time work and, according to a 2015 survey, I you would go to. Some jobs won’t allow you the am not alone: almost eight out of ten students flexibility you may want, especially around deadwork part-time alongside their studies. The most lines, so prepare to be stressed! obvious upside to this is the extra cash, but a When you start looking, aim for university part-time position can be so much jobs, as they will cater to students the more than that. best. Town jobs can also be great It can be a great opif you start looking early before portunity to meet new all the good ones disappear. people, especially offTo make sure your studies campus where you and social life don’t suffer, can mix with locals. look for something with A job can keep you flexible hours and limit moving, get you out your hours per week to of the house and a manageable amount give you something be honest with yourself to put your energy about what you’re able to into. They offer transdo! This is where time manferable skills for later agement comes in: schedule work but also life experiyour time well each week and ence. Although hopefully we communicate with your manager Image: Brooke Cagle all treat people working in retail or and everyone involved so you don’t let hospitality with respect, working a part-time job people down. in these sectors can give you renewed appreciaTo avoid wear and tear, try to find something tion for how hard it can actually be. you will enjoy. Otherwise, when the work piles However, along with the extra cash comes up, it will get old very fast. No matter what type less free time for you to use it, and sometimes of job you choose, remember to put your studies the struggle of juggling it all can leave you too and wellbeing first.

and including women of colour, yes, but we need to start celebrating people of different genders, ages, and body sizes too.

WE CAN RECONFIGURE THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT BEAUTY It may seem like there is far too much work to do and too many issues to consider when all you want to do is buy a new concealer. By the nature of the products it sells, the beauty industry may always be caught up with false images of perfection, so far modelled after white women so that women of colour have been pressured to whiten their skin, remove facial and body hair, or use tape or contour to essentially reshape their facial features, from eyelids to noses. The cynic in me doubts whether these Eurocentric perceptions of beauty will ever truly change. At the same time, the hopelessly optimistic, eyeshadowhoarding side of me wants to believe that if we can reconfigure the way we think about beauty (there must be some level of truth in the eye-ofthe-beholder cliché), and encourage brands to diversify, protect, and stay conscious, we’ll have an industry that no longer relies on shame or embarrassment, instead thriving on concepts of experimentation, enjoyment, and self-care.

Moving-in mac 'n' cheese, by Cleo Gorringe INGREDIENTS: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

300g macaroni 4 tbsp butter 40g plain flour 500ml milk Salt and pepper 1 tsp Colemans mustard 60g Cheddar 30g Red Leicester 30g Gruyere Large splosh of white wine 400g smoked bacon lardons Sprinkle of breadcrumbs Sprinkle of mozzarella and cheddar mix

METHOD: 1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Image: Petr Kratochvil, Ronmar Lacamiento

Image: Becca McHaffie

Preheat the oven to 200 ° C. Cook the macaroni according to the packet's instructions, al dente. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large pan. Add the flour and mix thoroughly together. Add the milk and stir until thick. Add the salt, pepper and mustard to taste. Add all the cheese to the mix. When melted, splash with wine and mix. Cook the bacon lardons until crispy in another pan. Mix the bacon, cheese sauce and macaroni together and add to a large pyrex dish. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs, cheddar and mozzarella. Cook in the oven until golden brown.

exhibit

lifestyle

EDITORS: Bethan Gilson and Rhiannon Moore

No body's business

15 OCT 2018 |

Izzy Cole discusses the presentation of body positivity in popular media

HERE'S no doubt the notion of body positivity is becoming more apparent, but what does it actually mean? Is it accepting your body no matter its size? Loving yourself unconditionally? For me, it’s all of the above and more. Body positivity is about self worth.It’s realising that the girl who works out here and there and enjoys a good pizza is worth just as much as the girl who runs ten miles a day and lives off of green smoothies and kale. It’s accepting the equality of bodies and embracing what you have. Yeah we all have bad days when we feel a little gross and start picking out every possible flaw, but let’s be honest, who doesn’t? It should be about looking in that mirror and thinking 'Hey you, you look mighty fine, and you're going to take on the world today.'

Furthermore, the fact that Sierra initially has to hide her appearance from her love interest doesn’t scream body positivity to me; instead it fuels the assumption that you have to look a certain way in order to be viewed as attractive. Hollywood seems to have drummed into us that actresses such as Jennifer Aniston and Megan Fox have the ideal body type, and

while there’s no denying that their bodies are nice, I can’t help but think the majority of Hollywood leading ladies ideal are slim, white women.

WHO DECIDES WHAT SIZE A PLUS-SIZE IS, ANYWAY? Race, nationality, and sexuality seem to

IT FUELS THE ASSUMPTION YOU HAVE TO LOOK A CERTAIN WAY There has been a big debate over body positivity and how it’s perceived in films such as Sierra Burgess is a Loser, in which a bigger girl catfishes the boy she likes by using her skinnier, more attractive friend to meet up with him, thinking it’s her. While it’s refreshing to see someone over a UK size six playing the lead role in a teen romance film, I was frankly disappointed by her portrayal and how her bigger size fits into the storyline.

Life on track

Penny Dinh shares her life admin top tips

OMETIMES things get a little hectic and it module a week and create a series of recurring feels as if you have a million commitments events to form a habit of studying. and about seven seconds to fit things in. Here 3. Learn to say no - When you have a comare a few of my tips on managing your time mittee position, or when you join a volunteerand balancing your studies with jobs and a ing project, it is often tempting to agree to social life. take on a lot of responsibilities at a 1. Have an organised, time; however this is not always synchronised calendar - Our efficient and in your best university timetable can interest. Before agreeing to be synced to personal take on a task, you should calendars, be it iCalendar, ask yourself the following the Outlook Calendar, or questions: Google Calendar. I find - Do I have the right skills it useful to have a single for this task? calendar app that I can - Is this task necessary for my e d access on my phone with my role within the organisation? o ssm inbo @ : e timetable, society events, and Do I have any other tasks of Imag meetings. I set alarms so that I get a higher priority? reminder about any event 30 minutes be4. If your answer is no for the first two fore it happens, to account for travelling. For questions and yes for the final question, you extra special events, I also set up a reminder should definitely not agree to take on the for the day before the event. responsibility. Importantly, even if the task 2. You can now work out a routine of time is within your role, but you have other high off, and time studying. This would allow you priority tasks, or you are unwell, always know to schedule in time to study on your calendar. that you can delegate and ask for help from I personally set a two hour session for each your colleagues.

Image: Clarke Sanders

be forgotten in the debate of body positivity, but it’s important to acknowledge that these factors are just as important as weight, and contribute to what makes you, you. Whilst there’s reference to body positivity in the film industry, it’s also becoming more apparent in fashion, though there’s question of whether it’s being used genuinely in some circumstances. Brands like Boohoo and Missguided are well known for branding larger size clothes as ‘plus-size’. While it’s good to acknowledge different body types, we all know the models used don’t truly reflect your average plussize person, which creates a distortion of sizing in the fashion industry. Who decides what size a plus-size is, anyway? In a world of online shopping and social media, we seem to be looking for that 'ideal', that ‘perfect’ body, using fad teas and diets to get there, but what we don’t realise is that it doesn’t exist. We are all guilty of comparing ourselves to one another regarding our physical bodies and in all honesty, it’s hard not to. But life’s too short to be dwelling on the negatives; it should be about learning to love what you’ve got and embracing it, because once you start to love yourself, it’s easier to start loving the world around you – to quote Ed Sheeran, "remember life is more than fitting in your jeans - its loving, understanding, positivity".

Image: Suhyeon Choi

Hibernation preparation

Catherine Lloyd helps you prepare for autumn

KALEIDOSCOPE of colour. You stroll along the many nooks and crannies of Exeter campus, bathing in the dappled sunlight. A carpet of amethyst, ruby, and burnt embers crunch underfoot. Ablaze with foliage, you observe the spectacle of the leaves falling, almost melancholic. As if a technicolour dream, with the passing of summer, autumn has finally arisen from its hibernation. Dumbfounded as to how to make the most of this autumn? Heed this advice and look no further than these top tips: 1. Rejuvenate. Dissertation woes? First-year flatmate drama? In a second-year rut? Out of sight; out of mind. Amidst the chaos of university life, reflection and self-care is a must. Let’s avoid any existential crises, eh? As the days become shorter, don’t miss out on the tranquil early morning mist, with the dew settling, anointing the hedgerows – always an excuse to whip out that camera! 2. Join the festivities. This season is an opportune moment to plunge into the traditions and customs of the West Country. With pumpkins carved in

tense anticipation, encounter the ghost of Cutty Dyer in Ashburton, who is rumoured to throw revellers in the neighbouring river. Or, follow – at a distance, use – the Red Coat Guides Exeter Spooks and Broomsticks Tour to delve into the history of Exeter’s most haunted sites. Also, you must visit Ottery St. Mary for Guy Fawkes Night to witness the spectacle of flaming tar barrels. 3. Explore the quirks of Exeter. Yearning for that daily caffeine dose? Nostalgic for childhood conker matches? Visit Magdalen Road Bakery! With a quintessential autumnal aesthetic, this café is perfect for a typical Instagram post. You can almost hear the crackle of a log fire. Layer up! Slurp that pumpkin spiced latte! For surely, this autumn will be the best yet!

Image: @ClementM

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arts + lit Comic or tragic?

Alex Wingrave, Music Editor, discusses the social impact of the hyper-masculine hero

VERYONE knows the traditional superhero comic-book narrative; good vs. evil, where the hero always wins the day, possibly by being smarter, but normally by being better at punching than the villain. In the 80 years since Superman burst onto the scene, a lot has changed in comics. Narratives are more complex, art more varied and creative, and superheroes have become part of mainstream culture through the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite all this evolution, it remains incredibly difficult to determine whether heroes have escaped a toxic hyper-masculine mould, or if readers still value their idols for their toughness and biceps.

EVERY MAN IS CAST AS AN ALPHA MALE, WHILST WOMEN ARE DEMURE SIDEKICKS

using erotic photography as references, creating dangerous visuals for an impressionable young male audience and feeding a cyclical sexist attitude among comic readers. Strong and complicated female characters like Wonder Woman, Ms. Marvel and Starfire certainly do exist, but are seldom allowed to flourish without the looming shadow of misogynist criticism and fetishisation. As the graphic novel became an accepted form of literature in the early 1980s and onward, there was an influx of works that challenged traditional societal ideas. The narratives of Fun Home, Maus and Persepolis all deal with complex issues of humanity, and even a superhero work like Watchmen sought to question hyper-masculinity Image:

ros

B Warner

The values of an archetypal superhero clearly match those of the societal masculine stereotype - strong, brave, protective and independent. Name any major superhero from Green Lantern to Iron Man and they’ll tend to embody confidence, whether it’s a commanding purity or brash hotheadedness. You only need to pick up any early issue of

Justice League or The Avengers to see that every man is cast as an alpha male, unable to work in a team until someone proves they are the biggest and best, whilst women are demure sidekicks. It’s not just personality that adheres to these standards - comic book art throughout the decades has portrayed the bodies of both men and women as an u n re a c h a b l e ideal, covered in muscles or with grossly exaggerated hourglass figures. The majority of depictions of female superheroes invite the male gaze and an unhealthy sexualisation of characters. Artists like Greg Land and Frank Cho have frequently caused controversy by not differentiating between teenage and adult women and

and its consequences. While the critically acclaimed work like Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns climaxes with Batman and Superman beating the living daylights out of each other, and this does reflect on many modern day comic books, more sensitive and character-driven work has slowly but surely crept into the medium.

FEMALE SUPERHEROES INVITE THE MALE GAZE AND AN UNHEALTHY SEXUALISATION Undeniably most comic book throwdowns still involve hulking figures punching each other until one proves their dominance, but stronger elements of plots involving Superman, Captain America or Spider-Man explore solving problems with thought and compassion. Wimpish civilians like Peter Parker, Bruce Banner, Barry Allen and Steve Rogers may only be given agency when they gain abs, but their strongest traits remain their intelligence and empathy. Superheroes will always be associated with athleticism, courage and physical conflict, but hopefully we’ll see a future where young boys are more impressed by their thoughtfulness and desire to help rather than their brute strength.

Malevolent or misunderstood? Evanna Kappos explores the mind of the antogonist in popular culture

HE stories which stay with us within literature, or even theatre and film, are often those which have nothing to do with the hero or heroine. We stay for the subsidiary characters; those additional voices, calling out in the darkness to be heard. Jane Eyre’s Bertha, Sherlock’s Moriarty, Othello’s Iago, Gone Girl’s Amy, the eponymous Mr Hyde, Bruce Wayne’s Joker; these characters are often so much more lifelike than our heroes, as we struggle to justify why the plot is not dedicated to them.

WE STRUGGLE TO JUSTIFY WHY THE PLOT IS NOT DEDICATED TO THEM To suggest we should demonize literature because villains often have ‘sociopathic’ tendencies or symptoms of mental health issues is to catastrophically and naively misunderstand not only literature, but mental health as a whole. Dr

Jekyll and Mr Hyde represent both sides of an inlian narrative device in order to kill off Sherlock dividual’s nature, the evil and the good, Holmes, and to suggest, as some have, but it succeeded because of that this represents bipolar the audience’s need for a lovdisorder, is a shocking able antagonist. This idea oversimplification of is why the BBC’s Sherlock the condition. and other film and TV Sherlock’s Moversions of Conan riarty achieves the Doyle’s cult classic same idea in two have been so ramentirely separate pantly popular. individuals. Apart We would much from the actions of rather see a characMoriarty and his role ter less than perfect, within society, are his representing something motivations and characcloser to ourselves but ter really so different from without all the burdensome Image: Igiss/BBC our beloved Sherlock’s? Are and exhausting constraints of sothey not simply two sides of the same ciety. This, in a story world where suspencoin? The BBC ‘s reimagining of such a classic sion of disbelief is the silken thread upon which character was potentially risky, as in the original the entire work is cradled, looks, for a second like series Moriaty was introduced as a Machiavelfreedom. In truth, these characters could never

exist so attractively.

WE LIVE, BREATHE, HATE, BLEED THROUGH THEM This very point shows that assigning them mental health issues, and claiming literature depicts these unsympathetically, seems odd to me. These types of characters are entirely alien. We live, breathe, hate, bleed through them, but even so, they cannot be real. Furthermore, this is exactly why we cannot claim literature as a whole demonises mental health issues. Instead, we should accept the fragile nature within which characters operate, and campaign, if anything, for more characters who deal with mental health issues directly. Ignorance breeds prejudice. Correct usage of mental health issues in the context of a story is not only eye-opening but extremely empowering. Let them speak.

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arts + lit

EDITORS: Lauren Newman and Tabi Scott

Glamorising mental health

15 OCT 2018 |

Olivia Powell discusses the presentation of mental health in literature

Content warning: discussion of eating disorders and depression

ONE Girl is a wonderful piece of fiction. It’s an incredible novel, and Amy Dunne is an amazingly smart character. She is also mentally ill. For all its merits, Gone Girl is also deeply flawed. Amy falsely accuses not one, but two men of rape and kills one of them. The idea that women falsely accuse men of rape as a kind of revenge is a dangerous one, even if mental illness is out of the picture. With it in the picture, mentally ill women are painted as irrational, terrible people who will do anything for attention, or to ruin people’s lives. In a society full of ‘psycho ex-girlfriend’ accusations, this simply exists to demonise women even further, for things they are unable to control. On the other hand, mentally ill women are often infantilised – in The Yellow Wallpaper, Charlotte is seen to be hysterical, and is treated almost like a child by everyone in her life. Whilst The Yellow Wallpaper is by no means a modern

what is shown to the audience. We simply see the heart-achingly beautiful sadness in this, and so, ignorantly, depression becomes a personality trait of the artist.

DEPRESSION BECOMES THE PERSONALITY TRAIT OF THE ARTY Another way, in which mental illnesses are glamorised is that when they are depicted, they are often shown to be easily fixed by a simple confidence-boosting conversation, rather than years of therapy and medication. One aspect of this that is particularly troubling is the glamorisation of eating disorders – teen literature is filled with girls skipping meals and having very obviously disordered eating habits, that they seemingly develop overnight after a snarky

anxiety just need to calm down. Those with other mental illnesses are swept aside – they are not often glamorised, so people are less familiar with them. They are reserved for horror or thriller literature – you might not be able to make a woman with schizophrenia beautiful or exciting because of her mental illness, but you can make her into a monster. The demonization and glamorisation of mental illnesses go hand in hand.

WOMEN WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES ARE TREATED AS DELICATE FLOWERS Whilst it is important to have depictions of mental illness in media in order to de-stigmatise mental illnesses themselves, if these depictions are not accurate, then they are worthless.

Image: Petar Milošević

WRITERS’ CORNER

Under the Kitchen Table Lauren Fawke Content warning: discussion of eating disorders I do not recognise the girl standing in my mirror; She has hollowed eyes and sharp collar bones, fur on her arms and blue markers down her spine that whisper victory from the exercises she performs on her wooden floor: hourly; daily; weekly. Downstairs my mum calls the family to dinner but she knows not to call me. I don’t want to invite it to the table in case it condescends each bite and chew - I’ve allowed it to control everything I do. These days the dog is the only one who looks pleased to see me and he wags his tail eagerly before sitting routinely at my feet. “Good boy.” Good girl. He licks my hand thank you.

Image:Friedrich Wilhelm Theodor Heyser

novel, the way that Charlotte is treated is in no way dissimilar, to the way women with mental illnesses are treated in the modern day – as poor, delicate flowers who must be coddled, lest they simply fall apart. They are not given their own agency, as they are clearly too affected by their illness to have rational opinions, so their doctors and other people in their lives must just take over from them.

MENTALLY ILL WOMEN ARE PAINTED AS IRRATIONAL This infantilization is often where glamorisation happens – those with certain mental illnesses, like depression or anxiety, are tortured yet beautiful artists. The black and white image of a sad-eyed girl with tears in her eyes, quietly smoking a cigarette is one that everyone in familiar with. These women are to simply be viewed, rather than interacted with – after all, the reality of mental illness is far less exciting than the two-dimensional, glamorised version. The sad girl with the cigarette may be struggling with thoughts of killing herself, and she may have not showered in days, but that is not

comment from a friend, bully or family member. These issues (fasting, binging, purging) arrive as quickly as they leave, and often by the end of the novel the girl is completely fixed with a bright future ahead of her and absolutely no issues whatsoever, even though just a few chapters ago she was rapidly spiralling into an illness which is incredible hard to recover from. An illness that is mentally devastating is reduced to what is, in essence, a very dangerous diet.

OFTEN WOMEN WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES ARE CONVENIENTLY SAVED Additionally, often women with mental illnesses are conveniently saved and made better by men they fall in love with. Whilst having a supportive partner can make mental illnesses a lot easier to deal with, falling in love does not fix them. This aspect of glamorisation can contribute to the stigma around mental illnesses, as people tend to believe that mental illnesses have quick fixes that don’t involve doctors, therapists or psychiatrists. Those with depression simply need to take a walk, those with

Women with mental illnesses deserve more than to be seen as ‘psychos’ or delicately sad women in need of saving. Women who suffer with mental illnesses are incredibly strong individuals who carry on despite the hardships they may face because of their mental illness. Their stories deserve to be told in a compassionate and balanced way, rather than reducing them to stereotypes. The reality of mental illness may not make for a very exciting read, but it is imperative that we no longer rely on mental illnesses to make literature exciting.

These articles have been compiled to celebrate World Mental Health Day on 10 October

One time my mum told me to stop feeding him or she would because I was “making him fat.” But she quickly excused herself from the table, upset, for dropping the F-word. Since then she said she started feeding him after dinner although, I know, mum stopped giving him his dog food a long time ago. I have noticed that everyone tries very hard to pretend not to notice what they are continually noticing except for me and dad. Oh, look at you, you’re so skinny Alice - soon there’ll be nothing left of you. I drop my last 16 calories of oven chip to the floor and I think I keep feeding it, this thing, under the kitchen table.

If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised in this week’s edition, please consider visiting these links for support or advice: Wellbeing at The University of Exeter http://www.exeter.ac.uk/wellbeing/ Mind - mental health charity https://www.mind.org.uk/ Image: Flachovatereza

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arts + lit

EDITORS: Lauren Newman and Tabi Scott

15 OCT 2018 |

Time after time Megan Groves explores what makes a literary classic

N the 21st century publishing world, the constant cycle of new literary releases can seem relentless. Anything from autobiographies of reality stars, to nauseating romance novels and contemporary philosophies compete weekly for the bestseller title. But whilst the competition for immediate monetary titles rages, one wonders how many of these novels will become timeless literary classics? Texts which will one day sit on reading lists alongside Austen and Dickens? I would argue a small portion.

HOW MANY OF THESE NOVELS WILL BECOME LITERARY CLASSICS? Classic works wield their influence through their unique messages, inspiring ideas, and legendary characters. Thought-provoking sentiments which seem relevant to the reader in any historical period fill people with a sense of discovery which is never exhausted; they alter how we perceive the narrative, but also the world around us. This is the crux to a literary classic. Although texts are often extremely specific to their contemporary societies, often acting as exploita-

tions, social critiques or celebrations, literary classics often evoke ageless principles which can be applied to most societal circumstances. They repeatedly possess surface stories with deeper layers, in which authors interact with conventions essential to their coexisting lives: this rooted layer often leads to encounters examining gender relations, class divisions, and racial injustices. S h a k e speare, for example, focused his plays Othello and The Tempest on racial and gender conventions of the Renaissance. Othello and Caliban particularly are degraded by their fiendish portrayal and diabolical attitudes honed by surrounding characters. The Bard’s texts mirrored the societal principles of his period. The depiction of such discrimination, whether unintentional or otherwise, rarely

exploited and criticised Renaissance society, marking them as works of literary significance. Such interaction with pervasive societal principles makes Shakespeare and his works timeless. Issues addressed by his work are always relevant, and the critique or celebration of such principles makes these texts essentially immortal. Their commentary leaves a mark on culture, and on the reader, and dramatically alters how we perceive societal behaviors of today and the past. These texts consequently become groundbreaking and eternally important. Such timelessness does not pervade every work of literature today. Many surface stories of soppy romance novels in which the plots appear synonymous are definitively not timeless. These texts can still be exhilarating and engaging, but they lack the thematic, thought provoking layer with personification and allegory. Surface stories fail to

Top image: Garageband/Pixabay; books: Plum Leaves, Brian Drew

resonate as mind-altering texts, explaining why many novels disappear after publication.

THESE NARRATIVES STIMULATE VIBRANT CRITICAL DISCOURSE However, this cannot apply to all modern publications. Authors still come into dialogue with contemporary society by addressing both ceaseless and novel problems specific to our age. Hosseini’s exploitative narratives on the Afghanistan conflict engage with the war and terrorism culture appropriate to old and new societies. McEwan’s Atonement harnesses on the immortal trope of coming-of-age, while Ishiguro’s narrative in Never Let Me Go criticizes the reliance on science developed in the 21st century. These narratives stimulate vibrant critical discourse and share the same thematic layer with the world’s timeless literature. The narratives engage in the ageless and modern principles which are conventional of our community, criticising and celebrating them. Most importantly, they discover the enduring behaviours within - it is these texts that will become classics.

The perks of being a teenager Arts + Lit writers discuss the presentation of mental health in Young Adult fiction

OHN Green’s books are loved by teenagers because they are relatable. His popular texts Paper Towns and Looking For Alaska involve the boy-next-door falling in love with the mysterious, beautiful and complicated female character. Green’s books heavily focus on the mental state of the male protagonist who ‘finds himself’ through his relationship with the idealised girl. Through the characters of Quentin and Pudge, Green explores the isolation and confusion constituting the anxious life of a teenage boy. Yet, Margo and Alaska’s mental health is not explored in the same way. The female characters’ unhappiness renders them more attractive and mysterious. These serious issues merely serve the purpose of augmenting the character’s appeal: Margo’s dissatisfaction with life makes her fascinating to Quentin, and Pudge finds Alaska’s emotional instability alluring. Although Green’s books do initiate conversations about mental health through the male protagonists’ struggles, the romanticising of the female characters’ depression could be problematic for young readers.

Jess Irving Image: Netflix Image: Netflix

Rosalind Tickle Image: 20th Century Fox

TEPHEN Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower subtly and beautifully addresses issues of mental health including PTSD, social anxiety and depression. Despite various high schools, particularly in America, outrageously banning the book due to its sensitive nature and explicit content, it has captured an audience of young adults through its skilful teaching qualities about mental health. Through Charlie’s life experiences and being a ‘Wallflower’ (defined as a “shy or excluded person”) he has suffered immensely, yet when he learns to talk about his traumatic past to his new friends, Patrick and Sam, his happiness and overall wellbeing is better than ever before. The book ultimately narrates and teaches us what it feels like to grow into who you are, to acknowledge but let go of the past and to live the life that you want to lead. With its quirky characters and indie appeal, The Perks of Being a Wallflower acknowledges that there is no such thing as ‘normal’, that it is healthy (and cool!) to speak out to friends and family, and that it is okay not to be okay. Ariane Joudrey

Image: Summit Entertainment

HERE are many pieces of literature within the ‘Young Adult’ genre that address issues of mental illness, with Jay Asher’s novel 13 Reasons Why being one of the most powerful. Asher’s novel tells the tragic story of young high school student Hannah Baker who, after being harassed, assaulted and betrayed, commits suicide. In the aftermath of her death we follow protagonist Clay Jensen’s own struggle with coming to terms with her death. The book was demonised for being controversial, and then the TV series received backlash for showing graphic content like Baker’s sexual assault and suicide. But although there is a lot of criticism surrounding narratives that address such horrific issues, they need to be talked about. Novels like these are opening the door for a better knowledge and understanding of teenage mental health and how it actually affects them. Furthermore, narratives like these could be seen to help young adults not only understand the consequences of their words and actions, but also what behaviours to look for if they believe someone they know is suffering and needs help.

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Images: brinksnaps, Urbandworld Film Festival, Chealse Vo

MUSIC

ETAILS always get flattened out when you trace a cultural movement to its source. Rapping, you could say, is rooted in the black cultural rite ‘The Dozens’, where two accomplished wordsmiths crossed sharp jibes in a contest of fiery trash talk. The sound, on the other hand, was imported from Jamaica. Caribbean immigrants introduced the South Bronx to the sound system, lumbering audio rigs powerful enough to shake entire villages. These massive noise machines helped popularise the block party, underground dancehalls that doubled as laboratories for the rhythmic tinkerers of the age to reinvent modern chart music as we know it. But hip-hop scholars usually agree about one thing; the real fun begins in 1973 on Sedgewick Avenue. It was during a regular performance at the popular party spot that the Jamaican-American turntablist DJ Kool Herc realised he could extend the drum break - the instrumental part of the song where the drummer plays a short solo - by constantly switching between two copies of the same record. He branded his new trick ‘The Merry Go Round’. You might have also called it the bedrock of a all modern rap; a 4/4 funk drum loop that was as delicious to rap over as it was to dance to. A new genre was born and its rise was headspinningly swift. At first the Master of Ceremonies, or the MC, was the DJ’s pet, bellowing simple slogans about sex, nightlife, and funky music. It didn’t last. Soon, new poets like Rakim, MC Lyte and Ice Cube turned thumping drums into punctuation for knotty rhymes and chewy similes. Granted, hip-hop isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Misogyny, homophobia and violence are systemic to its artistic development. But it is also about how a subculture, rooted in black vernacular, Jamaican radio, and underground dance music, became the mainstream. It is a story about a liberated people demanding access to their fundamental right for a inner world and a representation to reflect their reality. And it's a story that still matters, 45 years later. I hope you appreciate our little salute. Aaron Loose, Music Editor

It's been 45 years since the most influential genre of the 21st century was bor

We Still Love H.E.R - the classics

Y the time I got into OutKast, the group had been split up for six years. I still had their multiple definitive records to devour and savour, the duo delivering the unapologetically weird with the bombastic in the way only they could, but knowing no more was coming was bittersweet. It still is. Granted, Big Boi has provided, but what of the G.O.A.T.? Andre 3000 released one EP in 2018, but mostly he manifests in guest verses, contemplating with his complex cadences seemingly just to remind us he’s still there, watching over us, like a rap Obi-Wan. It’s great, but I remain unsatisfied and craving more. I wait every day for Andre’s album. Sam Reid

ITH its multiple one-man verses, iconic bass and and feel-good vibe, 'Rapper's Delight' is now regarded as having brought hip-hop and rap to the masses. Sugar Hill Gang took to the mic in 1979, with help from the producing talent of music industry legend, Sylvia Robinson. 'Rapper's Delight' reached 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980. It has since featured on many an 'all-time' chart lists due to its cultural significance. You will have undoubtedly heard Sugar Hill Gang's seminal record somewhere else. Be it in Tony Hawk's Underground, or even in Scrubs, 'Rapper's Delight' has a lasting legacy unmatched by most other songs. Edd Church, Online News Editor

ROWING up, I listened to a lot of hiphop. I have two elder brothers who were always playing Kanye West's The College Dropout, constantly saying to me that 'Jesus Walks' is the best hip-hop song of all time. I wasn't interested, however, as I was too busy blasting the likes of Ed Sheeran. When my brothers and I finally became 'friends' (in other words, them not beating me up and actually starting to converse with me), I would properly listen to music with them, and it sat so well with me. We bonded, and it truly became my thing. And now, I'm the one telling my brothers about new hip-hop I've listened to that they should check out. Isabelle Gray, Comment Editor

The miseducation of hip-hop Noname is the sound of the future, argues Agnes Chapman Wills

N a world that is often full of hatred, anger and despair, we turn to music as a means of escape; hip hop is a prime example of this. It is empowering, expressive and it motivates its listeners to see beyond the horrors of the world and take action. Noname is amongst this crowd: the 27-year-old Chicago-born rapper now has two projects to her name and, in both, she inspires a positive outlook on life. With her second album hot off the press, she is paving the way for new forms of hip-hop. Noname is first and foremost a poet - she is able to string words together that have power, meaning and, above all, wit. What Noname does is far more unexpected and emotive than much of the mainstream rap we praise. It appears to come straight from her mind, like a lyrical stream of consciousness, inviting us to become engrossed within her thoughts about the world and her environment. Whether the topic is drugs, love or family, her words speak volumes and her triumph is in the partnership between those words and her music. Whilst smooth jazz chords, a capella voices and steady beats are usually at the foundation of Noname’s music, her observations of the world set her apart. Sometimes hard hitting and painfully true, the

lyrics - paired with her smooth voice - only amplify meaning as we tune into her thoughts over the melodic beats of her music.

NONAME IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A POET Noname has important things to say and pertinent points to make: reflections on her own life and also wider issues that are affecting Chicago and fellow black Americans. She raises these issues through her words with modesty and charisma. There is no sense of entitlement about her; she simply voices her thoughts on the world and, through her emotive, often abstract and complex words, we want to listen. What Noname is doing is so familiar to us as emotional beings. We are personal creatures and we feed off of one another, regardless of whether we have the same struggles. Noname is taking what humans do best and amplifying it through music. She uses personal experiences to reflect on the world, empathising with those around her and creating art that a range of people can relate to, enjoy and admire as a result.

Noname is a powerful young woman, with a massive future of music ahead of her, as she channels positivity and hope. She will no doubt rise to be be one of the key faces of hip-hop. So long as the world keeps spinning, I don't think her content will cease to be a complete joy to listen to. With everything she's already achieved, it’s high time that Noname becomes a household name.

Image: Nicolas Volcker

A note from Aaron

HIP-HOP

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MUSIC

EDITORS: Aaron Loose and Alex Wingrave

15 OCT 2018 |

HOORAY

rn - Exeposé Music writers reflect on some of hip-hop's greatest achievements

Richard Ainslie unpacks Kendrick Lamar's staggering magnum opus

UBLIC Enemy made rap political. Nas told complex stories. Eminem stunned listeners with his technical skill. On To Pimp A Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar does all three. Seamlessly mixing a scathing critique of modern America’s institutionalised racism into a partially fictionalised account of his struggles with fame and depression, it is pure gonzo: fear and self-loathing in Compton. Let’s start with that title. Part tribute, part metaphor, it was originally named Tu Pimp A Caterpillar in homage to Tupac, who Kendrick ‘interviews’ in the album’s final track. Lamar changed it to To Pimp A Butterfly as he realised the metaphor that shapes the album, of Kendrick’s evolution from caterpillar, to cocoon, to butterfly, symbolising his journey as an artist. The title cannot help but evoke Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill A Mockingbird as well, and the criti-

cism of racism in America that it presented. Like Mockingbird, the narrative and political elements of Butterfly are impossible to disentangle. Kendrick’s story starts with him finding success, but also the trappings that accompany it. He wastes the dollars he earns and is exploited by the character of Uncle Sam – a clear symbol. Like Wesley Snipes (‘Wesley’s Theory’), who was arrested for tax evasion, his ignorance with money is exploited by the industry as he is pimped out. He is the king of the rap game, while also a slave like Kunta from the slavery novel Roots – hence ‘King Kunta’. As the narrative progresses we see him abusing his power for revenge in ‘These Walls’ and the depression that follows. ‘u’ is perhaps the most disarmingly honest and brutally real track on the album. Kendrick lays bare his depression and suicidal thoughts and

Image: Gregory Phillips, Fuzheado @ Wikimedia

Long live the king

drowns them in whisky; his delivery on the later verses is soaked in ethanol and despair.

LAMAR'S POLITICAL MESSAGE IS BLENDED WITH HIS NARRATIVE Kendrick wraps up his story with his rebirth as the butterfly, abandoning greed and irresponsibility. He even controversially points a finger at the black community for the violence that keeps blacks criminalised, and calls for reconciliation amongst themselves. Finally, he issues a royal decree of self-love on ‘I’; an irrepressibly positive ending to an album full of internal conflict. Lamar’s political message is blended with

Feeling like a rockstar

his narrative to the point where they are inseparable; Butterfly is a story – Kendrick’s story – and a call for unity. The part that the music itself plays in the tapestry Lamar has woven is clear as well. The record is influenced by jazz, soul and funk, all genres deeply ingrained in black culture and political protest. The rambling piano on ‘For Free’, the soaring sax on ‘These Walls’, the sinewy bass lines that run through the whole album; all these can’t help but bring to mind Marvin Gaye, Sly Stone and Curtis Mayfield. Kendrick’s lyrical skill is evident too, his rapping on ‘For Free’ affirming his place amongst the technically greatest rappers. There is a reason Butterfly was called historic. It is everything a rap album could be; poignant, complex and musically ingenious. This is the album that rightfully earned Kendrick his crown.

Alex Wingrave, Music Editor, analyses the symbiotic relationship of rap and rock

APPERS are frequently referred to as modern-day rockstars. Stories of hiphop artists trashing hotel rooms, going on binges and generally living it up call to mind the actions of Mick Jagger decades earlier, a relationship which Post Malone explores on his chart-topper 'rockstar'. However, the links between these two genres don't end here: since hip-hop emerged, the two have quite literally been riffing off each other. The year 1984 is seen as a seminal period for the emergence of rap rock, with RunD.M.C., the Beastie Boys and LL Cool J all releasing hit songs that mixed hip-hop vocals and hard rock instrumentals. The genre flourished through the rest of the decade, as major rock bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Faith No More incorporated rapped verses on singles like 'Give It Away' and 'Epic'. The turn of the century also saw a rise in rap and metal crossover; known as nu-metal, the new genre mixed heavy guitars with the trendier sound of rap and record scratches. Though acts such as Papa Roach and Limp

Bizkit found success, the commercial pinnacle of nu-metal was undoubtedly Linkin Park.

ROCK HAS BEEN KEY TO KEEPING HIP-HOP FRESH Blending Mike Shinoda's smooth lyricism with Chester Bennington's screamed delivery, Linkin Park became a household name with smash hits 'In The End', 'Crawling' and 'Numb', helping bringing heavier music to a wider audience. All these songs were included on Collision Course, a 2004 EP which saw Shinoda and Jay-Z mix their songs together. The surprisingly cohesive collection once again proved that rap and rock are comfortable bedfellows, with the multi-platinum single 'Numb/Encore' laying Jay-Z's vocals atmospherically over the ear-worm synths of Linkin Park. Though the group successfully experimented throughout their career, the blend

of the two genres fell out of the limelight for years, along with many other alternative forms of rock. However, influences have slowly crept back into rap and hip-hop, helped by a generation of artists who grew up on Linkin Park and blink-182 Post Malone began his musical career by auditioning for metalcore outfit Crown the Empire. Whilst artists like Kid Cudi have been experimenting with alternative rock and rap for years, many young rappers are using elements from heavier guitar music to anchor their songs. Pioneers of the genre known as 'emo rap' like Lil Uzi Vert have not just taken musical inspiration from rock, but

also lyrical themes; the genre is so named due to artists moving away from traditional hip-hop subject matter towards talking about mental health. Often called a dying genre, rock has in fact been absolutely key to keeping hip-hop fresh. As trap continues to grow darker and more aggressive, artists like Scarlxrd, Ghostemane and even 6ix9ine are using screams, growls and beats distorted enough to sound like a crushing metal breakdown. Though it has evolved far beyond its origins, the connection between rap and rock remains as strong as ever, with the two genres continuing to use influences from each other to create new and exciting musical directions. Image: veld @flickr

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EDITORS: Aaron Loose and Alex Wingrave

music

Bringing the Kay House down

Bryony Gooch reports on XMedia's celebration of BBC Music Day

CROSS the United Kingdom on 28 September, the annual BBC Music Day celebrated the power of live music, with local events taking place across the country. Exeter was no exception to this, with a Kay House concert showcasing some of the best that Devon has to offer, coordinated by the XMedia team. The evening began on the main stage, with a promising set from seasoned campus band Pedrick; they opened with thoughtful songs such as ‘Crimson’, written like something from Coldplay’s Parachutes. Following the opening set, the audience moved to an ethereally lit alternative stage for an intimate concert with singer songwriter Sadie Horler. Heartfelt songs such as ‘Solivagant’ particularly captivated the audience. With lyrics detailing restlessness and wanderlust, feelings I’m sure everyone who has left their hometown for university can relate to, it was a standout moment. Later in the evening she would return to that stage for a duet with lo-fi musician and recent Exeter graduate, Ciaran Austin, whose homegrown synth sounds were hypnotic. Milo Gore provided a festival-worthy set of

15 OCT 2018

Image: Liz Greenberg

indie rock bangers with surprisingly poignant lyrics. This was especially evident in songs like ‘State’ which, whilst lyrically vulnerable, have stadium potential. Following them, bluesy duo Ferris & Sylvester brought a lively atmosphere to the stage. Beguiling tracks such as ‘Better in

Yellow’ found equilibrium between Jack White and Simon & Garfunkel, and their warm stage patter quickly brought the audience round. Arthr was another standout act, with electronica juxtaposed alongside intellectual animation. His creativity captivated people

Mercury rising

from the beginning; songs such as ‘Whisperings of the World’ were intriguing in sound, whilst the visuals were darkly thought-provoking. He certainly sounded like nothing else you would hear that night. The evening drew to a close with local heavyweights Tors playing a bittersweet set, scattered with heartbreak and loss. ‘Won’t Remember’, a song about dementia, was especially touching to listen to, especially at a time where the illness affects 850,000 in the UK – a statistic set to rise. Indeed, they interacted deeply with the theme of music and wellbeing. Yet despite exploring melancholic topics, the night ended on a high with a song that celebrated their beloved county - ‘Wilder Days’. Overall, the event was an eye-opening look into Devon’s local music scene. Yet it isn’t enough to say that the event was enjoyable: it was diverse in sound, well organised, and enlightening. It goes without saying that the members of XMedia, who organised the event, deserve all our gratitude. Thank you for proving that Devon is not just the home of Chris Martin and The Rumble Strips: It is also a hotbed for exciting upcoming artists.

Despite some notable snubs, Stephen Ong is still satisifed with the Mercury Prize winner

N recent years the Mercury Prize has taken a contrarian approach towards winners, overlooking critical successes like Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool and commercial titans such as Ed Sheeran's Divide in favour of less popular albums. However, this year's winners, Wolf Alice, are at the forefront of British rock music – they headlined the BBC Radio 1 stage at this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival, have a strong, diverse fanbase, and continue to receive critical acclaim across the country, making Visions of A Life a somewhat unexpected Mercury Prize winner. Having said this, when you look at the other nominees, there aren’t many other albums you would expect to win. Only Everything Everything’s hazy A Fever Dream and King Krule’s richly diverse The Ooz might have fitted the recent formula, with both albums' bold reinventions recieving little media coverage. In my opinion, the rest of the nomination list lacks authenticity; Sons of Kemet's Your Queen Is a Reptile and Novelist's Novelist Guy are the

token jazz and grime albums, respectively, and obligatory big names like Lily Allen round out the list. Looking at the albums missing from the list reveals what could have been. Bicep’s selftitled debut album is immaculate electronic music, a genre that is sorely missing from the nominations, and albums like SOPHIE’s Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides and Let’s Eat Grandma’s I’m All Ears are the most forward-thinking collections pop music of the year, certainly deserving a place over many of the albums which were nominated. When bassist Theo Ellis pointed out Noel Gallagher's inclusion in Wolf Alice’s acceptance speech, you must ask yourself, ‘what is his album even doing there?'

WOLF ALICE REPRESENT A REVIVAL OF THE BRITISH ROCK SCENE

Wolf Alice will be grateful that this year, experimentation is not one of the criteria that makes a winner. While Visions of A Life may not be the most innovative album, it’s easily the most impressive nominated album front-toback, spanning a wide range of genres while remaining cohesive. Ellie Rowsell’s lyrics reflect a sincere emotional journey, especially after coming off the hype of a huge debut album. For those doubting of Wolf Alice’s creativity, one need only watch their Mercury Prize performance of ‘Don’t Delete the Kisses’. It’s shoegaze-pop bliss, with spoken-word lyrics straight out of a diary entry, managing to be entirely dreamy yet not at all soppy. Visions of A Life represents a revival of rock in the British scene – despite high profile past nominees like Royal Blood and the 1975, Wolf Alice are the first group since alt-J in 2012 to win a Mercury Prize – which is a well-deserved result of the band’s friendship and work ethic.

Image: Raph_PH

Editors' Picks Imagew: Chrysalis Records; RCA; Epitaph Records; Schorle

3 Years, 5 Months, and 2 Days in the Life of... (1992) by Arrested Development

iridescence (2018) by Brockhampton

Best Single: 'Royal Beggars' (2018) by Architects

Best in Show: Toots & the Maytals, Bristol O2 Academy, 17 October

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The Cage conundrum Exeposé Screen debates Nicolas Cage’s baffling career

What’s the hype?

Image: Gerald Geronimo

ICOLAS Cage is in tremendous debt, thanks to blowing his $150 million fortune on a dizzying array of possessions including: a dinosaur skull; over 50 cars; two Caribbean islands; a first edition Superman comic and two castles. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that - it’s his money to spend. However, as a remedy for said debt, he’s appeared in TWENTY feature films over the last four years, including such highlights as 2014’s religious sci-fi ‘movie’ Left Behind, and Pay The Ghost – a horror movie so utterly lacking that it’s unclear whether it’s an intentional parody or not. National Treasure MAY fall within the purview of so-bad-it’s-good, but you have to question the decision-making process of someone who would voluntarily appear in a Ghost Rider reboot, or voice a secret agent guinea pig in G-Force, or appear alongside Hayden Christensen in Outcast as a disgraced crusader. It sounds like I’m making these up, but he’s appeared in every one of them over the last decade. Even if there was a good actor buried somewhere underneath that inhuman smile and awful hair, I doubt he could shine as an animated guinea pig. Even if we give him the benefit of doubt by assuming that he’s a good actor let down by the scripts he’s forced to take, it still wouldn’t excuse some of his performances. Take 2016’s USS Indianapolis (which I forced myself to watch, Clockwork Orange-style, for this article, so I’m damn well getting some use from it), where he ‘stars’ as a naval commander whose ship is sunk in the shark-infested Pacific. As water begins to flood into the hull, he

has the sheer nerve to stroll across his cabin and laconically gives the order to prepare lifeboats as if ordering at Starbucks. Even now, just thinking about the lack of effort he showed throughout that film infuriates me in some oblique way - at least he got paid to suffer through it.

YOU CAN’T EXCUSE SOME PERFORMANCES

So, Cage is intolerably boring when he doesn’t try. However, I would contend that he is almost worse when he IS trying. Now to my obvious trump card - The Wicker Man. This film has attained a sort of mythic status, revered much like The Room as a film so terrible that it’s perversely engaging. This is Cage at his ‘finest’, gurning through every scene and over-acting at the slightest opportunity. The ending is a masterpiece, as he literally just screams for the entire final scene of the film (dementedly yelling “noooooo, not the beeeeeeeesssss” is a particular low-light). There is just no middle ground with the man; either he is Ben-Affleck-in-Batman-v-Superman checked-out, or horrendously overegging it. The films he chooses don’t help, but I’d contend that the seeming obsession with him is a sort of morbid fascination, like continuing to watch Planet Earth even as the gazelle teeters into the lion’s den. That’s totally understandable, but please don’t pretend it’s because you like or enjoy his work. Will Byford

Image: BagoGames

ICOLAS Cage began his career in 1981 at the age of 17. After starring in Peggy Sue Got Married (a film directed by his uncle, Francis Ford Coppola) and Raising Arizona (an early Coen Brothers comedy), he was already established as an auteur favourite before he even reached his mid-twenties. In the 1990s, Cage became a mainstream star, taking the lead in the films Face/Off and Con Air, and even earned academy attention with his performance in Leaving Las Vegas. But now, Nicolas Cage is a meme – a joke amongst film viewers. His eccentric personality and tendency for odd roles has tarnished his reputation completely. Problems with debt, taxation, and overspending starting in the late-2000s, and continuing into the 2010s, required Cage to take any and all roles offered to him, resulting in a slew of straightto-DVD action flick garbage and further dirtying his public image. So how can one defend the quality of such an actor? See, Cage is simply unrivalled in his star power. His last lead in a mainstream studio film was over seven years ago, yet he has remained part of the filmic zeitgeist despite that. His presence, both on and off screen, is of such idiosyncrasy and magnitude that pretty much everybody in the Western world knows his name, for better or for worse. He has appeared in over 25 films since Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance in 2011, and nearly all of them fail to understand how to properly utilise his talents. Cage is a hammy, over-the-top character actor with the charisma and marketability of a leading man. Cage’s acting ability is determined by the quality of

In defence of the script, and he is at his best when allowed to let loose. Caster Troy in Face/Off is easily one of his most celebrated characters; he is psychotic, hypersexual and ridiculous. He is Cage at his most Cage. Other classic films have taken advantage of Cage’s image in a similar way; Raising Arizona has him play a lovable southern fool, and Wild At Heart features one of my personal favourite Cage roles as an overly romantic, snakeskin-suit wearing Elvis singer. Neither of these characters are your conventional leading man, and they’re a far cry from any of the characters you’ll see in Justice or Left Behind, but they work because Cage makes them work. Though many of his latest films have failed to realise this potential, some recent indies have a more ambitious vision. Mandy, a film by independent filmmaker Panos Cosmatos, combines Cage’s ability as a film-carrier and as a large filmic presence. He is crazed, bloody, and erratic, and his performance supports the violent nature of the film as a whole. A recent comedy-horror indie film, Mom and Dad, takes advantage of Cage in a similar way, with him playing a father driven to kill his own child by a static signal. Cage is definitely at a low point in his career, but this does not necessarily mean the man himself is a bad artist. He is maligned by a reputation he himself created, but his recent roles show a positive future. Cage is slated to star in the English-language debut Sion Sono film, another stylistic independent director that I am sure will manage to utilise the actor’s screen presence in a way similar to his recent indie output. And the positive critical reception for Mandy shows he still has it. At this rate, Cage is set to make a comeback in no time, and I honestly cannot wait. Ryan Allen

Image: Nicolas Genin

Editors’ Picks Days of Heaven (1978) Images: Michael Ochs Archives; Tobis; Bossy

Paris, Texas (1972)

Glow (2017-)

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EDITORS: Ben Faulkner and Chloe Kennedy

15 OCT 2018

A tentative evolution

Finn Candy, Online Science Editor, evaluates the popluar film category at the Oscars

AM a fan of cinema, but I will openly admit to having never sat through the entirety of an Oscars ceremony. This is mainly due, of course, to the eight-hour time difference and the fact that I struggle to stay awake past midnight. I do, however, religiously scroll through the list of winners the following morning. I was always rather ambivalent about the Academy Awards; that is until they introduced a new award category, ‘Achievement in Popular Film’. According to CEO Dawn Hudson, this decision was made to show that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) were “evolving”, but the backlash received from the public caused a complete Uturn; and less than one month later, the category was laid to rest. This was a monumental PR disaster for AMPAS, who clearly wanted to bury the issue and pretend it had never happened. Unfortunately for them, the public are not so quick to forget. The controversy has polarised opinion, almost along political lines. The left believe the Oscars are judged by white, elderly men who fail to represent minorities

within the film industry. Whilst the right beindustry? I think their annual profit figures lieve that only films with the appropriate PC demonstrate that perfectly well. credentials are allowed to win. But the one I do not take the same side as those thing both sides can agree upon, is that the people who are calling for the Oscars to be Oscar format has grown stale and the falling abolished, but major changes do need to be audience ratings are testament to this. made in order to restore its reputation. I can appreciate the reasoning beFirstly, the panel of judges who dehind a ‘Popular Film’ category, as the cide which films are nominated each movies which top the box office each year should be diversified. Not only for year are rarely nominated for an Acadthe sake of equality, but also to allow emy Award (unless for one deemed for a greater variety of viewpoints to “less prestigious”, such as ‘Best Cosbe represented. One only needs tume Design’ or ‘Best Special Effects’). to read a small sample of There does seem to be a consenreviews about the same sus that the Oscars are elitist. film, to see how wildly However, I think a categothey can differ. Bringry rewarding the best Popuing in people from diflar Film does nothing to adferent backgrounds dress this problem. Surely and cultures will help the very fact that these hits to produce a better ashave made hundreds of sortment of nominees. millions of dollars is reward Secondly, no catenough. Does Marvel really egory should be considneed an Oscar to show off their ered inferior to another. I Image: Eddy Chen achievements within the film understand that the ma-

Review: Cold War

jority of the viewing public care more about who wins ‘Best Leading Actor’ than say, ‘Best Sound Mixing’; but films require a lot of people and work to create, and no one should be undermined for their individual effort and contribution. If producers want to make the show length shorter in order to keep the public’s attention, instead of excluding certain award categories, perhaps don’t spend as much time dedicated to the forced banter between presenters. The point of the show is, after all, to celebrate the year’s greatest achievements in film - not to inflate Jimmy Kimmel’s ego as we all pretend to laugh at his supposed ‘jokes’. That bloated four hour run-time could easily be cut down to a concise hour and a half. But why would the television company want to do that, when a 30 second ad space sells for as much as $2 million? And herein lies the inherent flaw of the Oscars. They are and always will be, a business, driven only by money and viewing figures. Sadly, the love for film-making in Hollywood has fallen by the wayside.

Chloe Kennedy, Screen Editor, explores Pawlikowski’s latest piece of art COLD WAR Director: Pawel Pawlikowski 2018, 85 minutes

AWEL Pawlikowski, Oscar-winning director of Ida, brings us another stunner: Cold War, a beautiful and bittersweet romance set against the backdrop of Cold War-wrecked Europe after World War II. Musician Wiktor (Tomasz Kat) and singer Zula (Joanna Kulig) fall destructively in love whilst under Soviet rule and attempt to leave for Paris, both making a decision that will dent their lives forever. After winning the award for Best Director at the Cannes Film

Image: Łukasz Żal

Festival, Pawlikowski unsurprisingly makes every frame a painting, whilst simultaneously and strikingly melding the personal and the political. Cold War, further adding to its bittersweet nature, is dedicated to his parents, whom the film is inspired by. Cold War takes us through a rough 15 years, from the countryside of Poland to various parts of Europe. Beginning in Poland, we meet Wiktor and Irena (Agata Kulesza) who look to recruit musicians and dancers to showcase Poland’s rural sound as part of the “Mazurek ensemble”. Here’s where we meet Zula, an enigmatic “colourful” young woman who apparently killed her father (“He mistook me for my mother, so I used a knife to show him the difference”), who makes her mark by singing a duet learned from a Russian film; Wiktor is instantly infatuated. The film opens in rural Poland, 1949, where we intimately (often in close up, with characters looking directly down the lens) engage with folk songs – which habitually contain mournful themes of lost love and hardship. Pawlikowski’s style is particularly distinct in his opening, with its 4:3 frame (academy ratio) and use of black and white not unlike Bresson’s Diary of a Country Priest. This is also why it feels like an instant classic – a piece of art that people will gaze and study for years; its boxy frame and reminiscence of classic Hollywood feel perfectly composed, with everything purposely in frame. Cinematographer Lukasz Zal’s frames are truly pieces of art; beautifully transitioning from static frames to free-form move-

ments, echoing the musical changes in the film – from folk song to jazz, and turbulence in-between. Subtly, we see Zula transition from a young enigmatic woman to a sultry jazz singer and drunken showgirl; yet ultimately ending up in a similar place. Kulig truly owns this role as Zula, expressing much of her emotion through her eyes and, of course, her melancholy singing which is riddled with loss and desperation. Joanna Kulig is sensuous, reminiscent of Léa Seydoux and Jennifer Lawrence, knowingly mischievous and sexy, whilst keeping a front of naivety and innocence – the perfect Bond girl. Furthermore, Tomasz Kat carries a conscious charm yet

sinister look that perfectly suits his cigarettetoting, melancholy character. Cold War is a musical that leaves much of the meaning to its songs. Its tone and pain stems from its voices and silences. The literal darkness from its black and white tone reflects the gloomy folksongs and hardship of the years following World War II, leaving it undeniably haunting. It is no doubt that Cold War is a deeply personal story that Pawlikowski gives us the joy of watching unfold in the most strikingly artful way. Thanks to Exeter Phoenix for providing this screening.

Haifaa al-mansour

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HE first woman ( and first person!) to shoot a film in her native Saudi Arabia, Haifaa Al-Mansour is a director working in oppressive political circumstances: restrictive dress codes and laws forced her to direct most of her first feature Wadjda (2012) from the back of a van. Despite this, she never allows this restrictiveness to encroach upon her films. Wadjda in particular is a simple yet wonderfully insightful story about a young girl who craves a bicycle, something frowned upon for women in Saudi Arabia. Her recent English-language films, including Mary Shelley (2017), explore the hardships involved in becoming a woman while retaining her deceptively light directorial touch. Already an innovative (and history-making) director, Al-Mansour has just finished directing a Netflix film, Nappily Ever After, about the importance of accepting one’s own appearance and racial identity in present-day America. Al-Mansour’s sensitive and subtle spotlight on women and their everyday struggles makes her a compelling director. Chris Allen

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EDITORS: Ben Faulkner and Chloe Kennedy

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15 OCT 2018

Director Spotlight: Taika Waititi

Will Richardson and Will Sampson discuss the wonder of Taika Waititi

Image: Gage Skidmore

Oscar-nominee for Best Live Action Short (2005) Initially a comedian and actor

OOKING at the synopses for Taika Waititi’s films, it is hard to find a common theme or plot-type drawing them together. An absurd love story between two dysfunctional people, a mockumentary on vampires living in Wellington, a man and his foster child fleeing a manhunt in New Zealand, a Nordic god fighting for his home – these plots do not represent a director sticking to his comfort zone. However, these movies (Eagle vs Shark, What We Do In The Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Thor: Ragnarok) were indeed directed by Taika Waititi - who manages to infuse into each of his many diverse works a poignant yet never pretentious examination of the bitter-

sweet experience of being human. In his films, Waititi studies the lighter side to the tragic events that accompany us through life. He places focus on the outsider, featuring absurd characters living in a mundane world that offers little sympathy to their complexity. His films celebrate how, through unlikely relationships, these extreme characters can overcome their demons. Despite treating these touching themes, his films are still characterised by their distinctive deadpan humour, providing relief in what should be deeply sad moments. This is a motif throughout Waititi’s first feature film, Eagle vs Shark, following the story of Jared and Lily, an isolated and deeply disaffected pair, who slowly fall in love. Despite this seemingly dreary description the film is full of humour; the climax of the movie has Jared confront his childhood bully, challenging him to a fight only for it to be revealed the bully has been confined to a wheelchair two years prior. This does not hinder Jared, who in a hilarious slow-motion sequence first attacks from behind and is then beaten by his now disabled childhood nemesis. Through such scenes Waititi alleviates the emotional bag-

gage the film could otherwise carry and leaves the watcher feeling not deflated but refreshed after viewer the film. This is even more true for Waititi’s later work What We Do In The Shadows, a mockumentary following the lives of a group of vampires based in Wellington, New Zealand. Co- directed by Waititi and Jermaine Clement, who both star in the movie, the film is truly hilarious, encapsulating Waititi’s deadpan humour. With lines such as Clement’s ‘I go for a look which I call “Dead but Delicious”’ while dressed only in a furry red silk dressing gown, said completely seriously, Waititi here makes a masterpiece out of his characters’ delusion. However, the film also deals with heavier themes such as loneliness and a loved one’s death, yet never sinks into saccharine pretentiousness; the concepts are instead treated with an admirable humour that in many ways increases their poignancy.

WAITITI PERFECTLY MERGES TRAGEDY AND HUMOUR

Accio diversity!

Arguably, this style continues into Wai-

titi’s masterpiece, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, a film where Sam Neil and Julian Dennison play “Uncle” Hector and Ricky Bacon respectively, a father figure and foster child who unwittingly become the targets of a manhunt after trekking into the New Zealand bush. Waititi perfectly merges tragedy and humour to create a beautiful saga of two outsiders finding belonging, not in a place, but in their relationship – all the while never expressing this in such terms but only hinting at it in gruff affection. By not having his characters openly tell each other exactly just how much they mean to each other, Waititi creates a quintessentially human and deeply relatable story – we all have people in our lives who are more important than we like to admit. Through the use of deadpan humour and the placement of absurd outsider characters into the mundane everyday, Waititi has consistently explored the human experience with a bravery and humour few directors of recent years can match. He creates stories and characters to which we can all relate, and his films leave us uplifted; not because they don’t acknowledge the tragedy of life but show how even the most absurd of us can overcome it.

Neha Shaji, Features Editor, questions J.K. Rowling’s handling of representation

.K. ROWLING and the Fantastic Beasts movie series recently announced that Voldemort’s loyal snake, Nagini, was actually an Asian woman to be played by a Korean actress, Claudia Kim. The internet, however, did not take Rowling’s latest retcon very well, with jokes popping up about how Crookshanks was actually a Nigerian woman in disguise, and Hedwig was in reality a bisexual Pakistani man named Haroon. This is, as aforementioned, not Rowling’s first attempt to push her beloved series alongside the advancingly progressive times. She had previously stated, after writing all the books, that Dumbledore was gay, and Hermione could have been seen as black since her race was not explicitly mentioned. But Rowling shoehorning diversity into the books seems more a lazy publicity grab than an actual attempt to correct any issues the initial books may have had. Dumbledore had an intense friendship with Grindelwald, which Rowling later stated was homoerotic,

and Hermione was never said to be black at Gone With the Wind should not be read as havall, with a white actress playing her in the ing any racial issues whatsoever – the stereomuch-acclaimed films. Similarly, there were typical Mammy figure was not really menno references to Nagini being human in any tioned as being black, after all – she sense, and indeed her humanity makes elecould have been a white servant! ments of the earlier books grotesque – as Representation involves a there are mentions of her being milked character that is unapologetically and Voldemort drinking said milk to reand explicitly the intended idengain his strength. tity, rather than a shoehorned Putting diversity into books afterthought, or a washing over and films after the fact seems of recent sins. A black Heathcliff both a way to absolve authors would be both a homage to the of any issues in the original character and a revitalization of text, as well as ensure that a book written over a hundred representation is not ensured years ago – an Asian Nagini in the future. Such measures seems to make a mockery of diwould only encourage writversity in itself. ers to engage in lazy charThis might not, however, acterisation and say that a apply to films and series that character “could have been” have a history of changing any race, so to criticise them actors, or a reboot of an enfor a lack of diversity would tire franchise. Idris Elba as a be wrong. If that was the case, possible James Bond, or Jodie Image: Gage Skidmore

CAMPUS CINEMA PRESENTS

TAG DATE - 16/10 DATE - 17-10

TIME - 6:30 & TIME - 6:30 & 9PM

CAMPUS CINEMA PRESENTS

christopher robin

Blackkklansman

DATE DATE- 21/10 - 17-10

TIME - 6:30 & TIME - 6:30 & 9PM

DATE- 23/10 - 17-10 DATE

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Whittaker’s Doctor seems perfectly plausible and extremely well thought out; instead of shoehorning diversity, they use existing plot points in order to portray the character as someone other than a white male. Even reboots, such as Ghostbusters, could factor into the realm of well-done diversity insertions, as the errors of the original film or series are acknowledged. Rowling, on the other hand, seems to insist that said characters were intended to be POC, or LGBTQ+, thus absolving her of any issues her initial writing may seem to have. Perhaps an added sin with Nagini and Rowling’s tendency to retcon diversity is this: she is only politically correct when sensationalism and free flow of ticket sales are involved. A black Hermione, Asian Nagini and a gay Dumbledore are all well and good – but this is from a woman who insisted on keeping the famous Johnny Depp as Grindlewald, a man who has been in court for domestic abuse and violence towards his wife. CAMPUS CINEMA PRESENTS In

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| 15 OCT 2018

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Across

1 British town and site of the first official 11 7 1 Dutch city - bread (anagram) (5) 2 Large vase (3) tournament in 1968 - bet on humour 3 Of the nose (5) (anagram) (11) 4 Silenced - quietened (7) 7 Racket sport (6) 5 Plain - simple (9) 8 European country that hosted the first 6 Keen computer operators (informal) (7) official major 11 7 in 1968 (6) 10 Nuisance - pest (9) 9 Line of latitude (or parking?) (8) 13 Wise - coil tip (anagram) (7) 11 Free - public (4) 14 Guarantor - runs ‘ere? (anagram) (7) 12 Aquatic animal absorbing the washing-up? 18 Undue speed (5) (6) 19 See 22 15 Ruler - and sty (anagram) (6) 22/19 Australian who completed 11 7’s 16 Soft, wet earth - surface that the first 11 7 first Grand Slam in 1969 - Vera Lord? tournament was played on at 1 Across (4) (anagram) (3,5) 17 Itinerary (8)

20 One who makes up - on rate (anagram) (6) 21 Attempt - try (6) 23 Team sports supporter? (11)

ANSWERS

trivia corner 1. in which year did superman debut? 2. in which american city did rosa parks famously refuse to give up her seat? 3. which children’s game inspired the weeping angels in bbc’s doctor who? 4. which are the only two hip hop albums to win album of the year at the grammys? 5. In which year was the mental health charity mind established? 6. Which hit sitcom will be opening as a west end musical in february?

Love Below; 5. 1946; 6. Only Fools and Horses Wolf? 4. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and SpeakerBoxxx/The Trivia: 1. 1938, 2. Montgomery, Alabama, 3. What’s the time, Mr 10 Annoyance, 13 Politic, 14 Ensurer, 18 Haste, 22/19 Rod Laver. Down: 1 Breda, 2 Urn, 3 Nasal, 4 Muffled, 5 Unadorned, 6 Hackers, Cheerleader. Sponge, 15 Dynast, 16 Clay, 17 Schedule, 20 Atoner, 21 Strive, 23 Across: 1 Bournemouth, 7 Tennis, 8 France, 9 Parallel, 11 Open, 12

15 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

Science

SCIENCE EDITORS:

Scarlett Parr-Reid Gabriel Yeap

Buzz-ted

Scarlett Parr-Reid, Science Editor, asks where all the bees have gone

ZZZZZ Bzzzzz. The ambient mumbling and fumbling of the humble bee makes for a splendiferous spring stroll through the park. But, imagine, if at your own will, as if by some extreme version of the trolley problem, you were faced with the choice of killing one powerful pollinator or five with a single spray. It sounds horrific, doesn’t it. Sadly, this is already the story for farmers across the globe, as they spritz their fields with the renowned weed-killer, Monsanto’s Roundup. Contrary to popular belief, new research supports the commonly used herbicide as being a factor in the devastating decline in bee populations worldwide, dubbed an ‘ecological armageddon’. Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin (UTA) have delved deep to try and answer a question that’s plagued the minds of scientists and wildlife experts for a long while. It’s believed that a key factor in what’s known as ‘colony collapse disorder’ is a chemical called Glyphosate, an active ingredient in the flagship weed-killer, Monsanto’s Roundup. Since being introduced in the 1970s, a staggering ten million tonnes of the product have been doused all over famers’ fields. Its mode of action is to disrupt the enzmymatic pathway, named the Shikimate pathway, in the metabolism of plants and microorganisms. As

Treated bees saw a 90% fall in numbers after eight days Researchers at UTA exposed 2000 honey bees from their university hives to varying levels of the chemical: a low dose, a high dose and a glyphosate-free syrup, respectively. After releasing the bees and sampling 15 from each group before and after three days back in the hive, some intriguing results were obtained. Among the samples, numbers of the gut bacterium, snogdrassella alvi (needed for food-processing and pathogen defence), decreased. Meanwhile, portions of other bacteria, gilliamella apicola, actually increased in number, whilst the overall bee count declined for both the groups of bees exposed. At the same time, only the group of bees

exposed to a low dosage of glyphosate showed a statistically significant reduction in number, suggesting that the effects of glyphosate tapered off at a certain level, ordering further research to be done at levels around this mark. There’s also a possibility that the sampling method didn’t account for bees that died or abandoned the hive. With the support of earlier research, it was also found that glyphosate hindered the navigational abilities of the bees, meaning fewer

o, Arn Leo ge: a Im

bees on the higher dose were able to make it back for testing. What does all of this mean? At this moment, it’s merely speculation, but the

experiment does make an important point: to look at the bigger picture of the declining bee population. For example, countries that allow for genetically modified crops are showing weaker populations of bees, and these are the areas where farmers are spraying herbicides like glyphosate more liberally, comments Walter Farina, a biological scientist focusing on bee communication at the University of Buenos Aires. Even if the chemical doesn’t directly kill bees, its indirect effect on their gut microbiome is to increase their susceptibility to opportunistic pathogens, that will likely bring about their demise. This was investigated by the team of UTA researchers, as they treated both the glyphosate-exposed bees and the control bees to the same opportunistic pathogen, serratia marcescens, leading to very different survival rates. Control bees ‘‘saw their numbers halved after eight days’’, whilst treated bees saw a 90% fall in numbers after eight days.

The indirect effect is increased susceptibility of the microbiome to opportunistic pathogens Bayer, a pharmaceutical giant deploying Monsanto’s Roundup, dismissed

the study, claiming that there is still no large-scale study to show the link between glyphosate and honey bee health issues ‘‘the paper does not change that’’. Nevertheless, the study is part of an increasing trend towards identifying ‘more complex interactions between animals, their microbiome, and…stressors’, says evolutionary ecologist Adres Race from Imperial College London, independent from the study. Understanding these interactions is vital to realising the hazards linked with herbicide use and is important for developing strategies to allow us to pursue the use of herbicides in modern agriculture, whilst reducing their effects on the natural world. Even if colony collapse disorder is multifactorial, it’s worth remembering that herbicides may not be harmless to animals. Amro Zayed, a biologist researching bees and genomics at York University, maintains that the authors of the UTA report, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, ‘‘eloquently show that [glyphosate] doesn’t directly affect the bees’ biology’’. So, despite the backlash received by Monsanto- claiming that there is ‘‘no unreasonable risk for humans, animals and the environment generally’’- scientists maintain a speculate-to-accumulate approach to identifying the causal factors involved in dwindling bee populations.

Roving the cosmos

Image: Yuri_B

animals do not possess this pathway, it’s been long believed that glyphosate is non-toxic to them. This isn’t the case.

Ludovico Vermier details the Japanese Space Exploration Agency’s newest mission

HILST first and older years partied their nights away on the Friday of Fresher’s Week, DJs across Exeter inevitably shuffled to Earth, Wind and Fire’s famous 1978 hit ‘September’, with the opening lyrics: “Do you remember, the 21st night of September”. Many students in those nightclubs knew the lyrics and even a few understood that the date marked the autumn equinox and officially the last day of summer. Nonetheless, nobody knew that 160 million kilometres away in the quiet and dark expanse of our solar system, something very peculiar was happening. Yes, it is no lie that as a a second year Law student from Surrey, prepared to bolt their final VK of the night, the Japa-

nese Space Exploration Agency (JAXA) had simultaneously executed one of the most ground-breaking space missions of our time. Thank you, Law student. Thank you.

The Hyabusa2 spacecraft travelled over three years to reach the Ryugu asteroid. Unlike said student’s late night drinking, the JAXA mission was years in the planning. The Hyabusa2 spacecraft travelled more than three years to reach an asteroid only about a kilometre in diameter named Ryugu. Once Hyabusa2 reached its target orbit it

proceeded to deploy MINERVA II, which contained two rovers. These two robots, each the size of a biscuit tin, then used their kinematic levers to perform a series of ‘hops’ to sample and image different locations on the asteroid. The gravitational pull of the asteroid was enough to keep the rovers on the surface but the average human would weigh the same as a drop of ink back on earth. Just over two weeks later, on 3 October, aforementioned Law student indulged in Exeter’s nightlife once again. This time it was their final shot of tequila before hitting the TP dancefloor one last time. Interestingly enough, back on Ryugu, Hyabusa2 was also taking shots. Specifically, copper shots. The mothership deployed its

German-French device MASCOT only hours earlier and now a 2kg copper bullet was being shot into the asteroid’s sub surface using controlled explosives to obtain samples. Once again we have Law student to thank. Although this mission has occurred on a small, barren rock in the middle of our solar system, the samples that will return by 2020 will have a huge impact on our understanding of the early universe.

The samples can offer clues about the early earth Fresh samples of materials that have been protected from millennia

of wind and radiation may offer clues as to the origins of life on Earth. This carbonaceous asteroid is expected to preserve the most pristine materials in the Solar System, a blend of minerals, ice and organic compounds that interact with each other. The famous theoretical physicist Michio Kaku once said: “We humans are made of atoms, and so a human is an attempt by an atom to understand itself ”. The mission on Ryugu, in this way, could explain how some of the base organic compounds that make up you, me and even Law student made their way to Earth. Obtaining the answer to this question will not only help us understand the origins of the universe but the origins of us.

EXEPOSÉ | 15 OCT 2018

Beneath the canopy

Ruth Braham unveils how scientific technology can give us a blast from the past

ENEATH the thick canopy of the Yucatan Peninsula in Central America an ancient people once dwelt. Now a study reveals, on a new scale, the complexity and size of the ancient civilisation.

Mayans had a highly developed civilisation

But firstly, just who were the Maya? The Maya were an ancient civilisation based in the Yucatan peninsula. The earliest records suggest their origins can be traced back as early as 2,000 BC, however the development of larger settlements and cultural expansion only occurs much later,

Image: Aladecuervo

SCIENCE

with the rise of the 'Classical Period' ranging from about 250-900 AD. Mayans had a highly developed civilisation, with fantastic structures, a pictographic writing system which meticulously details their history and, yes, their own complex religion which may have involved some elements of human sacrifice. The scale and style of government at the peak of their civilisation could be compared to that of Ancient Greece. The Maya are much older than their cousins, the Inca and Aztecs, whose empires rose, and fell, during the Renaissance. Mayan civilisation began to collapse long before the arrival of certain problematic Spaniards. The exact cause of collapse is unknown, but suggestions involve over-

population, drought, political upheaval or some combination of all three. Cities in the southern lowlands were abandoned as the population began to move north. This period was marked by warfare and the collapse of the central government - the gradual fading of a great civilisation. In the 1500s the final blows were arguably dealt by the Conquistadores, which stripped away many of the final vestiges of the civilisation. However today Mayan traditions live on in the remote villages of the Guatemalan and Chiapas highlands. A new study earlier this year has revealed the extent of this once great civilisation, using new LIDAR technology to peel back and take a look below the thick canopy. LIDAR, which stands for “Light

Detection and Ranging”, uses a similar technique to SONAR, except with light instead of sound. Aerial surveillance was carried out on an area of 810 square miles to look for structures indicative of the civilisation and the scale of what was revealed is quite surprising. LIDAR is also being applied in areas such as Angkor in Cambodia and other areas of Mesoamerica.

The population could have been as much as 11 million Some 61,480 structures were discovered across the area studied which, when extrapolated to the total area of the Mayan civilisation, suggest that the population

A study in stripes

Laura Butula unravels the mystery of the enigmatic lowland bongo

UST last month, a set of motionsensor cameras logged an invaluable moment into the memories of a group of conservationists from Uganda Wildlife Authority and Chester Zoo: rare and cryptic, a lone lowland bongo (Tragelaphus e. eurycerus) decided to make an unanticipated appearance in Semuliki National Park, enriching the tropical rainforest aura. This mysterious western subspecies has never been documented in Uganda before; unfortunately, the striking animal is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red

Image: Baluda

List, with roughly only 30,000 individuals surviving in the wild, and none dwelling in any zoos. In recent years, populations of the lowland bongo have declined due to rainforest exploitation and illegal hunting practices, in which the large mammal is increasingly perceived as a bongo trophy prize. In fact, rising demand for chestn u t colored coats, along with poor regulation, has led to over-hunting of the species in central African forests. Consequently, the camera snapshots retrieved from Semuliki during a conducted survey couldn’t be more optimistic. The investigation aimed to explore the

national park and the biodiversity occupying the 220-square-kilometer area. Scientists sure do get lucky sometimes. But, is it luck? Semuliki National Park is actually the only lowland forest in Uganda, and though over thirty mammal species- including leopards and chimpanzees- were spotted during the survey, the remote forests still have plenty of uncharted territory waiting to be discovered. The question remains: how- and why- did the lowland bongo appear in Semuliki? The park is near the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, meaning that it is relatively close to the Virunga National Park.

The two parks are acting as a wildlife corridor Experts have suggested that the two parks are acting as a wildlife corridor to sustain the populations of lowland bongo, as they travel alone from one area to the other in search of food and mates. Furthermore, the Albertine Rift surrounds parts of Uganda and

the DRC, and supplies the migrating animals with their favourite fruits and leaves. Although it seems like an ideal route for the bongo, the combination of anthropogenic forest fires and a dangerously declining species population waves a red flag, signifying the importance of focusing on protection and conservation of the world’s largest forest antelope.

Only 30,000 of these are surviving in the wild, with none in zoos Regrettably, the lowland bongo is not protected by the U.S Endangered Species Act. Nevertheless, this snapshot of the sporadic animal has provided optimism to local conservationists, enough to continue partnership with the Chester Zoo, and explore the elevated biodiversity of Semuliki National Park. What we can now expect is for management efforts to be specified in order to “protect this forest in addition to ecosystem services and resources to support community livelihood."

could have been as much as 11, or even 15, million. While this estimate has been suggested before it was widely thought the population was much lower, an estimated five million. The study also shows signs of large scale, complex engineering, modifying the unhospitable environment for agriculture. The presence of 60 miles of causeways was also identified, linking population centres and suggesting a highly integrated network of trade and bureaucracy, challengeing the idea of isolated cities. While this study seemingly provides a new perspective on the ancient cities, it is also important to note that “Boots on the Ground” are, and will always be, needed to confirm these findings.

EXTINCTION IN NUMBERS

Image: Hal Cogger

According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2017: 40% of amphibians are endangered One of four mammals are threatened with extinction due to human activity The Christmas Island Pipistrelle and the Christmas Island Whiptail-skink were both declared extinct

Image: Lindy Lumsden

15 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

Breaking the habit T

Typhaine Autier investigates the dark genes behind addictive behaviours

HE phrase “be smart, don’t start” is one of many lines you have heard when you were a kid that taught you how drugs and alcohol can harm your body and easily trap you into addictive behaviours. We all know about the negative effects, but few of us really know why some people are more likely to fall into addiction than others.

The gene was first discovered in our ancestors’ genomes millions of years ago The underlying explanations for this have been uncovered by recent research initiated by the University of Oxford and the National Kapodistrian University of Athens. After a genetic screening of chosen participants, scientists could better understand the origins of a human retrovirus gene, the HK2, that infects a host’s cells by replicating into its DNA. Researchers have found that this gene, located in our DNA and

said to be responsible for addictive behaviours relating to alcohol and drugs, was first discovered in our ancestors’ genomes millions of years ago. You are now surely wondering how a simple gene that we have been carrying around for millions of years can affect our body, and thus be responsible for addictive behaviours among drug and alcohol users. Well, although this virus appears to be innocuous for most people, 5-10% of the population carry a variant responsible for producing a particular protein called RASGRF2. The HK2 retrovirus gene previously mentioned then interferes with this dopamine neurotransmitter (RASGRF2) by sending pleasure signals to the brain, and is acting as a stimulus of the brain’s reward system, which can increase the risk of addictive behaviours for people who carry the gene. Nowadays, many drug or alcohol addicts are facing a harsh reality, firstly because of a self-stigmatisation, but also the social stigma associating negative stereotypes with addiction. However, because of new research similar to

that mentioned above, linking addiction with a genetic trait, we are witnessing a change in people’s view of addiction and other mental health issues. It is also because of a rising number of influential personalities that started to come forward and openly talk about their own struggles with addiction and mental health problems that a revolution is possible. Personalities like Demi Lovato and Russell Brand are speaking out about their own struggles with drugs and alcohol, hoping that more openness about it will change public opinion and smash the stigma.

If you have been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this article, you can contact:

TOGETHER DRUG AND ALCOHOL SERVICE Phone: 0800 233 5444 81 Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LX

Many drug or alcohol addicts are facing a harsh reality

Despite these efforts, many people still struggle with addiction and there’s a long way to go before we fully understand all the underlying implications of drugs, alcohol, and addiction. Image: PublicDomainPictures

Spine-tinglingly good

Fenton Christmas, Deputy Editor, reveals a miraculous treatment for spinal cord injuries

OR so many of us, the walk up Forum Hill remains one of the most exasperating parts of any trek to campus. Yet, it is all too easy to forget the ease with which our ability to walk can be taken away from us. Those with spinal cord injuries experience that reality every day, but new research from the University of Louisville appears to show a huge shift towards a permanent solution.

Research continues to push the boundaries of what’s considered an irreversible injury

Image: Taokinesis

Doctors and research teams at the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Centre recently published their findings in the New England Journal of Medicine, following extensive tests on a group of patients with no voluntary movement below the site of a spinal injury. Alongside extensive physical training, patients were implanted with a device at the site of their injury to electronically re-stimulate their spinal cords.

This process, called epidural stimulation, essentially rests on the theory that the small signals from the brain still pass through the area around the injury, even if they cannot generate movement. An array of 16 electrodes were implanted around the area of injury in the lower back of four patients that had been paralysed for several years. This allowed for enough coverage of regions of nerves to permit sensorimotor signals to be carried through to the legs. A battery implanted in the abdominal wall allowed for the frequency, intensity and duration of stimulation to be altered remotely. The results showed three out of the five people tested saw positive results in the return of sustained control of movement to previously paralysed areas. Two patients were able to walk unassisted after significant physical rehabilitation alongside the technology: one after 15 weeks and another after 85 weeks, but the latter did manage a much greater distance. Two other patients were able to stand and sit autonomously. Other similar reports from the University of Minnesota and UCLA

also showed positive results. However, the trialled device does not repair the damage of the injury, but rather allows the re-stimulation of damaged spinal cords. The patients retained little to no sensation in the paralysed areas, nor could they move when the device itself was switched off.

Three out of five people tested showed positive results Nevertheless, this research represents a huge development in treatments for people following spinal cord injuries. The external control of internal technology could be considered as problematic in terms of the secure nature of the access to that control and the mere fact that previously paralysed patients are able to walk unassisted at all sounds eerily close to science fiction. Yet, this type of research continues to push past the boundaries of what can be considered as an irreversible injury and into a world in which even the most disastrous of injuries can be reversed.

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SPORT

Captain, leader...legend?

15 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

Philip Hadley discusses the legacy of John Terry's playing career as the defender moves into management

HERE is a trend to underestimate the unspectacular that extends far beyond sport. It’s the reason why charismatic frontmen get the attention whilst their less exuberant bandmates create and control the music. And it’s the reason why John Terry – the best English central defender in decades – has never truly received the credit he deserves for his on-field performances. Whilst the on-trend opinion places excessive emphasis on the ‘showier’ aspects of defending that were the forte of Terry’s contemporaries such as Rio Ferdinand and Ledley King, this analysis forgets the very essence of defending – to defend. This view may sound overly simplistic, but football is a simple game made complicated by people that seemingly have a desire to overcomplicate things. When the game is stripped back to its core defensive elements – heading, tackling, leadership, strength – it is clear that John Terry is the ultimate defender’s defender: a tenacious, ferocious leader who terrified opponents and elevated his beloved Chelsea to unprecedented success. Terry is certainly a man who would struggle to keep the achievements section of his CV to a single page: five Premier League winner’s medals, five

FA Cup triumphs, European glory in to the back four. Ricardo Carvalho never both the Champions League and Europa looked as comfortable without Terry League, as well as a string of individual alongside him – nor in later years did honours - most notably featuring in the Gary Cahill – whilst fullbacks such as FIFA FIFPRO World XI five years in a Ashley Cole and Paulo Ferreira enjoyed the best years of their career under Terrow. What’s most impressive about this ry’s watchful eye. Chelsea were simply not the same glut of success is just how essential “JT” was to the all-conquering Chelsea team team without him, as was shown in the of the mid-00s. Terry was essentially the 2006/07 season when injuries to their unchanged ingredient at the core of Ro- skipper led to the Blues failing to comman Abramovich’s expensively assem- plete a hattrick of successive league title bled mercenaries, forming the spine of wins. As a veteran, he remained the sort of player everyone the side alongside Petr Cech, wants to play with Frank Lampard and Diand nobody wants dier Drogba. to play against. From the He played in heart of deall 38 games fence, he of Chelsea’s offered victorious stability 2014-15 amidst a Premier revolvLeague ing door campaign. policy on Even managers presenting and raised Terry as the the standard of Image: Aleksandr Osipov essential back-tohis fellow defendbasics deers by providfender fails ing structure Terry, pictured here leading his side out in Russia, captained to do him and guidance Chelsea in 580 of his 717 appearances for the London side.

justice. He is Chelsea’s highest scoring defender and a brilliant reader of the game. In 2011, Terry completed over 1,000 passes – at a 91.6% completion rate – making him, statistically, the third most accurate passer in world football behind only Xavi and Leon Britton. Of Terry, Xavi said "I have not always been complimentary about how Chelsea play … but I can’t deny that Terry is one of the most committed players I’ve played against, a great leader."

Terry's career was not without its controversy The praise amongst his peers tells a story of a player respected by all, with perhaps the most enlightening comments coming from former boss Carlo Ancelotti. "John Terry is the captain of all team captains, he was born with the captain’s armband on his arm" stated the Italian. "One word from him, and the locker room holds its breath. He’s the first one to sit down at meals, the first one to stand up. He works twice as hard as everyone else, he has the sense of responsibility of someone who runs a company … a philosophy that above

all has to win." Of course, Terry's career was not without its controversy. In February 2010, allegations about an extra-marital affair that Terry had with teammate Wayne Bridge's then-girlfriend, Vanessa Perroncel, threatened to destroy Terry's reputation. It culminated in Bridge leaving Chelsea, and he notoriously snubbed Terry's handshake when Chelsea hosted Bridge's new side, Manchester City, at Stamford Bridge. City would win 4-2 on the day, giving Bridge some kind of redemption. Terry's racial abuse directed at Anton Ferdinand in 2012 - for which he received a negligible fine and a small, four-match ban, also cannot be ignored. Having been stripped of the national captaincy, the incident was another blight on Terry's international career; part of England's so-called "golden-generation", expectations were high - but the squads failed to deliver any significant results. With his move into coaching as the new assistant-manager of Aston Villa, Terry has all the skills necessary to achieve success off the pitch, but he’ll have to go some way to match his exploits on it, where he’ll always be remembered as a captain, leader and legend – at Chelsea, anyway.

Southgate, you're the one

Ben Faulkner, Screen Editor, looks at the impact Gareth Southgate has had on the England set-up

S the 23-man squad limped back from Russia in July, they returned wounded – a common sight for us overly-expectant spectators. But, for once, these wounds weren’t from beatings: they were battle scars. We turned up with style, conviction, and a pluckiness that I’d only ever previously heard in my dad’s recollections of Lineker and Gascoigne. Suddenly it was all there to see: an England side who strutted their way to a World Cup semi-final because – in simplest terms – they absolutely wanted to.

This is the first England side with any ounce of identity Yet, because we reached a World Cup semi-final, many England fans have still been left unconvinced and unsatisfied. This makes complete sense, as England fans work on their own, utterly distinct and disruptive systems of logic. So, because much of the discourse surrounding the national side is consumed by those very loud pockets that will just never be pleased, it’s hard to keep up any sustained optimism - but we really, really should.

Southgate recently signed a new contract to see him through to the 2022 World Cup, which, really, is no surprise. He steered the national side to their first World Cup semi-final in 28 years: the contractual vote-of-confidence was beyond logical, it was vital. If this side has any chance of replicating (or, god forbid, improving on) the dizzying success in Russia, the whole setup needs to keep doing what they’ve done so well so far: buy into Southgate. Beyond tactics and star-power, this is essentially the cornerstone to success. Manchester United’s shaky start to the 2018/19 season is a prime example of a squad of genuine world-class talent that's reduced to underperforming when those players don’t believe in the manager’s system. We all laughed along to the Southgate-themed re-hash of Atomic Kitten’s 'Whole Again' – but seriously, Southgate is the one. This is the first England side I’ve seen with any ounce of distinct identity. Sven-Goran Eriksson’s may have carried a recognisable style with his industrial 4-4-2, but it didn’t leave the national side with any hint

of character. The Golden Age that never was, Sven managed to steer us nowhere of note for the first-half of the noughties, despite boasting a legitimately worldclass squad. Why did Southgate’s England – a side certainly inferior in raw talent – achieve more, and do so far more convincingly? The cynics among us will tell you that it’s because of a remarkably easy draw. After all, we lost to Belgium and Croatia, arguably the only real challenges we faced in Russia, right? Sure, this system

Image: Soccer.ru

needs to be refined and developed before we can actually expect to beat these teams, but let’s not ignore the real reason this England side has so much potential to flourish.

It's hard even now not to be romantic about the tournament Gareth Southgate and the national side are a perfect marriage; and it’s not just his dynamic, expansive 3-5-2 - it’s the man himself. Humble, honest, and pragmatic, he’s both an ideal brain to systemise a side with a convincing and exciting direction, and a perfect, calming antidote to the volatile media coverage. And – most importantly – he’s been there. He missed 'that' penalty at Euro 96, and has himself admitted that the slating he got then has now made him numb to the intense scrutiny. He’s a pair of hands that you can sense the players trust, and it’s no surprise they do. His team selections are consistently bold and progressive. I berated him no-end when Adam Lallana and Jack Wilshere were left out the World Cup

squad, yet was left red-faced when their replacements ran rings around Tunisia. He was brave enough to take youngsters Loftus-Cheek and Alexander-Arnold (with the former providing some of England’s most exciting moments from the bench), and has continued in the same vein by calling up Maddison, Mount, and Sancho (among many other youngsters) for the upcoming games. These don’t just feel token – having managed the under-21s for three years previously, there’s a confidence that Southgate trusts the youth on equal stead. With an under-17 and under-20 World Cup under their belts in the last two years, it would be an insult not to trust them. Even now it’s hard not to be romantic about the exhilarating, ethereal tournament we were all intoxicated by only a few months ago. Sure, if you look at results and performances since our semifinal loss, it’s been disappointing; but, for once, we’re losing the right way. No matter whether this young squad manages to turn-over Croatia or Spain, the fact that they’re trusted to give it a go is exactly why Southgate’s England is going to enthral us even more in the coming years.

EXEPOSÉ | 15 OCT 2018

EUMHC 1-1 Bath 1s

Something new?

LTHOUGH known around the world as the fastest game on two feet, lacrosse is relatively unheard of in the UK. Exeter Lacrosse is a unique breed on the UK university lacrosse trail, successfully blending elite sporting performance (Exeter are ranked 2nd nationally) with a relaxed and inclusive social atmosphere. The club supports players who aspire to international success (the 1s Captain, Diego Larraz, played in the FIL Men’s World Championship this summer) as well as those who just want to stay active and meet new people at university. The men's 1s play in the BUCS Premiership league, despite all having picked up a stick for the first time in Freshers', which makes lacrosse the obvious choice for sportsmen wanting to try something new but still compete at a high level. Being one of Exeter’s 9 'Focus Sports', EULC's men’s and women’s 1s also benefit from the university’s High Performance Programme. Beginners receive two coaching sessions per week and have match opportunities throughout the year whilst mixed lacrosse is a weekly affair and arguably the club’s best feature. With a new Head of Lacrosse, Don McGraw, on the scene from the USA ready to share his wealth of coaching experience, the future is looking bright for EULC. If you missed EULC's taster sessions during Freshers Week but would like to give lacrosse a go, email lacrosse.captain@ exeter.ac.uk.

Rules of the Game •

There are ten players on each lacrosse team.

•

Four of the players must stay on the defensive half of the field.

•

The game is typically divided up into two halves and four quarters with each quarter being 12 minutes long.

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Only the goalkeeper can touch the ball with their hands. All other players must use the lacrosse stick to carry, pass, shoot, or catch the ball.

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There is an area around the

CONTINUED FROM BACK However, a quick turnaround had Exeter rushing to their own defence. A couple of missed tackles and an outnumbered D saw Bath’s Daniel Verity cross for the visitors’ Sam Whitefield to put it in in the 29th minute - a pivotal moment in an game Exeter had otherwise dominated. 1-1. Exeter came fighting back, gaining a short corner in the 32nd minute, with James Carson and Hooper both stood waiting to flick. The Bath defence, unsurprisingly, looked flustered. Hooper’s bullet of a flick was saved by the goalkeeper, only to be elevated to a dangerous height awarding Exeter another short corner. Credit has to go to the Bath goalkeeper for making a superb save; anticipating where Hooper was going to flick for a second time, subsequently saving it with ease.

Scores were level, but Exeter dominated possession

At half time, scores were level at 1-1 - which did not reflect the possessional play within a very one sided half. Into the second period, Hooper’s

composure with a short corner as an attempt on goal was made but goalkepeer Harry Mellows swiftly saw to that and put the ball out of play.

Conversion was an issue, and Exeter fluffed their lines

Manic possession, missed passes and poor trapping were on show from both sides in the closing stages of the game. The drama peaked in the dying seconds as Patel scored a screamer; a touch on the edge of his stick sending the ball into the top of the net. It was initially given - Exeter’s league title hopes had appeared to have been restored by one of the club’s newest members - only to be let down as the umpires were badgered by the Bath players, and after consultation, decided that a foot had occurred resulting in the goal being disallowed. Time was running out for both sides to secure the all-important win. A final short corner gave the boys and the crowd hope; a 65th minute goal would have been the dream, leaving Bath no opportunity to reply. Textbook ball handling from Winter saw it pass into Hooper’s safe hands, but a conversion to a goal just seemed too much for the exhausted Exeter boys. The final whis-

tle blew shortly after a yellow card for Thomas for what looked to be a result of verbal disagreement with the umpires. The draw stands the 1s in good stead for a very exciting season ahead of them. Their determination and efforts during the game cannot be faulted - they put in their all and unfortunately the score did not do them justice. They will travel to Nottingham on Sunday to face Beeston in the National Premier League, who lost 2-1 to Hampstead and Westminster last weekend.

Both images: Ben Blethyn

Spirit of the game

Josh Brown, Sport Editor, discusses intramural sport at the University

NTRAMURAL football was one of my favourite things about my first year. After a medical condition forced the premature retirement of a mediocre playing career – the highlight of which must either be being nominated runner-up in the Haverhill Borough under-11 supporter’s player of the year, or finishing equal top scorer in the 2016/17 season for Bishop’s Stortford Saints u18s, level with own-goals (both on 4) – intramural seemed an ideal way to resume playing the beautiful game. So it proved. After an inspirational tactical move took me from playing up front to playing as a goalkeeper, I soon found that my lanky 6”6 frame was ideal in the unique goals used in the 6-a-side football leagues. My team, lifted straight from FIFA, was FC Banterlona. The stage was set as several freshers were up against Exeter’s finest Wednesday teams, in a heroic attempt to defy the odds and

goal called a crease. An opponent is not allowed to enter the crease, but they can reach in with their stick to pick up the ball.

dominating form continued - chucking an aerial into the D from deep, a mean feat by anyone’s standards. His strength was rewarded as the men in green were given another short corner off a Bath foot. Winter executed his injection perfectly, and when the ball was trapped by captain Will Carter Keall, Hooper dummied it past the defence and was awarded another short corner for a dangerous ball. However, a story similar to the previous short corners emerged – conversion was an issue, and Exeter fluffed their lines again and failed to re-take the lead. Things started to get messy as the teams became desperate. A cynical green card for Exeter’s Tomek Bruml in the 35th minute followed shortly by another green for Bath’s #2 epitomised the feeling around the pitch. James Carson brought the game back into order by presenting seamless play in the midfield allowing for a reverse attempt on goal from first-year Kiran Patel, but to no avail. Further attempts from James Carson, Hooper and Harry Butler, showed how Exeter were dominating play and creating chances. Exeter’s possession was compromised as Carter Keall was given a yellow after a scrap over the ball, thus leaving ten men without a captain to fight the hungry Bath team, who surged back into the game in the closing stages. Bath regained

SPORT

Image: Theologians The Theologians - one of Exeter's six-a-side clubs - side that took part in a 12-hour charity match for Sport Relief.

stave off relegation. It was great fun, even if the rules were not strictly adhered to. Games are typically frenetic, end-to-end with an alarmingly high intensity. Playing in such a confined space allows the better players to stand out, though strong defensive displays are a necessity to keep the ball as far away from your own goal as possible. We quickly learned from our mistakes and finished, very respectably, in mid-table.

Officially, nobody's allowed to slidetackle...but this is why half of us signed up Part of the fun is the variety of teams that you play against each week. Teams typically vary from a group of mates that live together that happen to have someone who plays BUCS 1s - because of course they do - to academic societies such as PPE Society and Theologians United, who have a fantastic media team. To be brutally honest, however, it’s a totally different game to what the rulebook would suggest. Officially, nobody

is allowed to slide-tackle, yet anyone that’s played six-a-side on the rubber crumb knows this is precisely why half of us signed up to play in the first place. Goalkeepers are both allowed and not allowed outside the penalty area depending on what team you’re playing against. The ball not being allowed to go above headheight depends on whose head is closest to the ball. Some teams even go as far as having actual training sessions ahead of their games. I’m just not all that sure such preparation is justified ahead of games that are ultimately meaningless. Sure, a bit of pride is at stake, and I’m just as competitive as the next player. But a blatant ignorance for the rules – which I’ve witnessed first-hand and am probably guilty of myself – isn’t really in the spirit of the game. At the end of the day, losing these fixtures really doesn’t matter, and winning doesn’t either, yet some people celebrate like it’s the Champions League Final. No, you’re not Lionel Messi or Kylian Mbappé. You’re some 20-year-old from Surrey, who’s just scored against a hungover teenager still recovering from last night’s trip to Timepiece. Get a grip. In the only other intramural experi-

ence I have – netball with the Exeposé team, who break gender stereotypes by having a majority of male players - the atmosphere is, on the whole, much more enjoyable. We’re still guilty of not knowing, or understanding, the rules. Competing in the lowest division, teams take a similar attitude to ourselves – most of the time. Occasionally – as in any walk in life – it really is surprising how low people will sink in terms of treatment of people enjoying themselves.

You're not Messi or Mbappé. You've just scored against a hungover teenager We certainly have nothing against people wanting to play netball to a high standard. Within our ranks, we have one or two players who could play on the BUCS teams. But, let’s be real, most of us are horrendous. Don’t treat our games in Division 6 like you’re trying to win a place on the England team. We don’t care about winning, or losing, and for me, that’s the only correct approach to take for most intramural fixtures.

Sport

15 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

SPORT EDITORS: René Bahar Josh Brown

Stalemate

EUMHC 1s held to a draw despite a dominant display against Bath at the Sports Park

Image: Ben Blethyn

Men’s Hockey Exeter 1s.....................................1 Bath 1s........................................1 René Bahar Sport Editor

XETER University Men’s Hockey Club’s second BUCS game of the season saw a 1-1 draw to Bath 1s on the water based astro on Wednesday afternoon. The scoreline did not reflect Exeter’s dominance of play, leaving the men in green suitably frustrated as they walked off the pitch. Exeter started the BUCS season

strongly last week with a 4-1 win over Bristol 1s, positioning them at the top of the South A league. Their success in the Saturday fixtures last season saw them promoted to the National Premier League, and this success continued as they fought strongly to draw 1-1 to Surbiton, last season’s champions, at the weekend. Notably, they are the only university team competing in the premier league of English hockey. The side sorely missed their magician in midfield, Duncan Scott, who is currently in Malaysia representing GB U23s. With such high-

quality players, it came as no surprise that manager Simon Tyson stated before the game that the 1s are gunning for the BUCS title. Exeter started a scrappy game with defiance. Both teams presented well in the first 15 minutes, breaking solidly into each other’s 25 yards line, although nothing could be converted. The deadline was broken, however, when a scrap in the D in the 19th minute resulted in Exeter’s James Ferguson sweeping the ball from the floor towards the bottom right corner, allowing for George

Carson to tap it in and see it home. Establishing an early lead inside the first 20 minutes was a promising sign for both the team and supporters, which should have been the catalyst for more.

Manager Simon Tyson stated before the game that the 1s are gunning for the BUCS title

But Bath responded well with a couple of breaks into the Exeter

defensive line, however the sturdy hands of Sam Hooper at centre-back kept the visitors at bay. A quick counter attack in the 23rd minute allowed for Ferguson to have a reverse shot on goal, which unfortunately went wide. Nonetheless, putting pressure on the Bath defence seemed to be paying off as Ferguson was awarded a short corner soon after. Archie Winter solidly injected and James Thomas provided a sturdy castle at the top of the D, though Hooper’s flick got intercepted swiftly by the onrushing Bath defender.

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