11/12 Week 25

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Think the Forum needs a bookshop?

If you do then cut out, sign and post this coupon in one of our boxes around campus. See Comment, page 7

Exeposé

Monday 9 May 2011 Issue 579 www.exepose.com

Free

81% say £9k is poor value Photo: Henry White

Joe Johnston News Editor

OVER 81 per cent of home undergraduates disagree that an Exeter University degree is worth £9,000 per year, according to an Exeposé survey.

The results come just a few months after the University announced a trebling in fees to £9,000 for UK/EU students starting in 2012.

The sample group of students were asked if they agree that their academic university experience is worth £3,375 per year to which only 57 per cent agreed, and when asked if it is worth £9,000 an overwhelming 81 per cent disagreed.

Over half of the anonymous respondents disagreed that their contact hours provide good value for money, and 57 per cent stated that they are not happy with the number of contact hours they receive per week.

A third year Engineering student commented, “My course involves more contact hours than many others, but for arts courses where students may have as little as three hours contact a week, to pay £9,000 is ridiculous. Even for my higher number of contact hours, I still don’t feel £9,000 is justified.”

Some 48 per cent of respondents would not have chosen to study at Exeter if they had faced fees at that level when they applied, with almost half of those saying that they do not think they could have afforded to go to university at all.

A third year English student stated, “£40,000 of debt would have put me off. And I know that you get a loan, you don’t pay up-front, but that doesn’t mean the debt goes away. I probably would have chosen not to go to university.”

39 per cent of those surveyed would have reconsidered which course to study if fees had been set at £9,000 when they applied, with over half of those saying they would not have been able to afford

Cheating increases

Charlie Marchant Senior Reporter

University, said in response to the survey: “In one sense it isn’t surprising that students who have paid just over £3,000 fees wouldn’t want to pay £9,000.

129 EXETER students were found guilty of cheating in their exams last year.

This figure is a significant increase on the 34 students found guilty in 2008/9 and the four students in 2007/8.

Figures from the University reveal the Business School as having the most students guilty of academic misconduct: 102 in the past ten years. The School of Biosciences had 34 guilty students and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences 23 in the past ten years.

In 2009/10, 84 students from the Business School were accused of an exam offence and 76 of these were found guilty. The majority of offences were for breaching exam hall procedures.

Neil Abel, the Business School’s Head of Education and Student Services, commented, “This is still a large number of misconduct cases, and we do take this very seriously. Of these students more than 90 per cent were international students and more than 75 per cent were in their first year of study here. We therefore believe that this high figure may be partly explained by unfamiliarity with the rules and protocols of exams in a UK university.”

Jonathan Barry, Associate Professor in History and chair of Review Panels that decide the outcomes of the cases of academic misconduct, said, “Every year we have excluded from the University, or refused to grant degrees to, at least one student (often several), if they have been found guilty of severe cheating such as extensive plagiarism or asking another student to impersonate them in an exam.”

Continued on page 3

Continued on page 3

Hundreds of thousands of students protested across the UK over the rise in tuition fees the length of the course.

A third year English student commented, “Studying a humanities degree, with such poor graduate job prospects, would not seem prudent. If degrees cost that much they cease to be about doing

what you love, and start to be about getting a degree that gives you good job prospects. And anyone who says otherwise speaks from great privilege.”

Professor Janice Kay, Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of education at the

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Comment

P7

Does Exeter need a campus bookshop? Comment explores the pros and cons.

Features P 9 With the results of AV Referendum in, Features discuss what’s next.

Lifestyle

P 12

A match made in heaven: Lifestyle reflects on the wedding of the year.

Arts

P 22

Arts Editors gather reactions to the recent Northcott theatre funding cuts.

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Aaron Porter fights for students

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Northcott loses grant £9,000 fees remain - Arts Council rejects theatre’s bid despite missed targets - Programme expansion plans put on hold

Sophie Broom

EUTCo and Footlights who regularly perform in the Northcott.

Hannah Sweet News Editor

FROM 2012 the Northcott Theatre will be one of two Devon organisations to lose its Arts Council grant.

Its bid of just over £500,000 was rejected by Arts Council England amidst a swathe of cuts in the South West that have seen the number of organisations receiving regular funding diminish from 78 to 69.

Phil Gibby, Regional Director of Arts Council England, said, “We had very, very strong competition for funds in the South West. I’m afraid we found other applications were stronger than the Northcott’s.”

However, Matt Newbury, Communications Officer for Northcott, was positive about the future of the theatre saying, “the ACE decision clearly presents a challenge to the Theatre but we have a great team who are well used to the choppy waters of life in the arts.”

According to the venue the application to the Arts Council was not an essential source of income but a means of expanding the theatre’s programme.

Newbury said, “We won’t be able to expand as quickly as we had hoped but this decision does not prevent us from continuing to offer an exciting and varied programme.”

Nevertheless, the news was not received well by student societies such as

“The decision clearly presents a challenge but we have a great team who are well used to the choppy waters of life in the arts”

UNIVERSITIES will not be challenged over their plans to charge fees of up to £9,000, despite the fact that many are already below target for state school student admissions.

The Office for Fair Access (Offa) has the power to prevent universities from charging fees over £6,000, yet David Barrett, assistant director of Offa, has said that this is highly unlikely.

Sir Martin Harris, Director of Offa, warned that under higher tuition fees that “There is a real risk that disadvantaged students in particular will start to feel they cannot afford to go to university.”

Universities are expected to show that they have a suitable strategy to increase the numbers of students from disadvantaged backgrounds attending their institutions to escape fees challenges. 139 institutions have submitted access agreements to be approved by Offa.

Barrett said, “If any institution wishes to charge a fee it has to have an accurate access agreement in place.”

However Offa has never penalised any university for failing to reach its access targets, despite the fact that it has the authority to issue fines. Barrett said, “We wouldn’t fine a university

Matt Newbury, Communications Officer for Northcott

A first year member of Footlights said, “Budget constraints put masses of pressure on both the cast and the crew, as we are forced to make decisions that do not necessarily highlight our preferences.

In everything from our choice of play, to the stage arranging and managing, we inevitably lose a level of freedom.”

Northcott has faced financial difficulties for a number of years. It seems that the theatre will rely on readjusted ticket prices and other more commercial elements to their programme to deal with the cuts. Their spokesperson was certain about the venue’s survival, “we know that with some modifications we will be able to continue our successful broad programming focus.”

For full analysis, see Arts page 22

for not making their targets. We would have a conversation with that university about how they use their resources more wisely.”

Figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show that a number of high ranking universities, including Exeter, failed to meet their access targets in 2009/10. Among those failing to reach their benchmark for admitting students from state schools were Oxford, Cambridge, Durham and Bristol.

“Exeter admitted 68.1% of students from state schools last year - short of its 73.8% target” Despite Exeter’s failure to meet its own target of 73.8 per cent, the University did admit a higher percentage of students from state schools and colleges than many other high ranking universities.

Whilst Exeter’s state school intake was 68.1 per cent, Oxford admitted only 54.3 per cent applicants from state schools and colleges, whilst Cambridge, Durham and Bristol admitted just 59.3 per cent, 59.2 per cent and 60.9 per cent state school students respectively.

Students race for charity in Great West Run Photo: Emily Ball

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Advertising Stuart Smith S.C.G.Smith@exeter.ac.uk (01392) 722432 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

9 MAY 2011

Student Emily Ball and friends before the race

Rebecca Smyth ON Sunday 1 May, 2,200 people took part in the 27th annual Great West Run hosted by Exeter. The 13.1 mile halfmarathon route started and finished at Exeter Arena, Athletics Stadium, and included two laps through the city.

Tom Merson defended his title, securing the first-place spot for the second year in a row with a completion time of just over 70 minutes. The top female runner was Lucy Commander, who finished in just over 85 minutes.

Several students from the university took part. Emily Ball ran her first halfmarathon along with some friends on behalf of the charity ServeDirect.

Emily described the experience, “There were lots of carb-eating and thoughts of, ‘I can’t do this, I really don’t want to do this!’ the night before.

But the day was so much fun. It was an incredible sight to see the streets lined with supporters.”

The team’s enthusiasm paid off, as they raised over £3,000 for Wobulenzi Town Academy, a school for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, in Luwero District, Uganda.

Another student, Kathryn Broughton, ran on behalf of LINKS, the St John’s Ambulance division at the university. Kathryn said, “St John’s Ambulance do an amazing job, which isn’t always recognised, and a few aching muscles is a small price to pay for a little bit of publicity for a good cause.”

Tragically, a participant collapsed in Southernhay Gardens and later died in hospital. Peter Ferlie, the event director, offered his thoughts and sympathies to the man’s family.

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Exeposé WEEK TWENTY FIVE

Academic misconduct on the increase Photo: Hannah Walker

Written answers on students’ palms was one technique discovered by HE authorities

Continued from page 1

He added, “We have imposed a lot of lesser, but still very significant, penalties for people who have taken notes into exams (including on phones or calculators as well as paper notes) or less extensive plagiarism, and we always treat second offences more seriously. These penalties can include being awarded a mark of zero for specific modules, or having to retake one or more exams or assessments with marks capped at a bare pass.”

Chris Jennings, a second year Biosciences student, guessed that 150 students would have been found guilty of

academic misconduct last year. When told the exact figure, he said, “It’s a pretty low figure considering the number of students taking exams, but it’s still pretty bad.”

As a result of increased levels of academic misconduct, the University is launching an anti-cheating campaign, most of the funding for which is being provided by the Business School. Posters are being put up around campus to remind students that mobile phones and unauthorised notes are not allowed in exam halls, flyers are being sent to student halls and personal texts and e-mails will be sent to students.

iPhone tracking discovered by academic Hannah Brewer Senior Reporter

AN Exeter University researcher has sparked a media and security controversy after recently discovering that Apple iPhones and iPads are tracking their owner’s movements and systematically storing the data within a secret hard-drive file.

Dr Alasdair Allan, Senior Research Fellow in the Astrophysics department, unwittingly made the discovery with security expert, Pete Warden. Dr Allan found that his Apple device had been gathering and logging his coordinates for almost a year, information normally protected by court order.

The recording of data seems to have started with Apple’s iOS 4 update to the phone’s operating system, released in June 2010.

Mr Warden and Dr Allan were both alarmed and intrigued to find that there seems to be no way of deleting the file and no obvious reason why the information is being recorded.

Mr Warden said, “Apple has made it possible for almost anybody – a jealous spouse, a private detective – with access to your phone or computer to get detailed information about where you’ve been.”

“The fact that [the file] is transferred across [to a new iPhone or iPad] when you migrate is evidence that the data-gathering isn’t accidental.”

When confronted, Apple said that the data collection is included in its terms and conditions but they have not yet stated why the file is created or whether the tracking can be prevented.

Dominic Blake Baldwin, a second year physics student commented: “I’m not sure what to say about the Apple tracking software. If it’s been doing this since they introduced the iOS 4 software then they have had a long time to correct it. I suppose it would be a very useful marketing tool for them, unless people found out, of course.”

The find has made international headline news. Some privacy campaigners have expressed concern about the discovery.

However Dr Allan says there was no need to panic. He stated, “There’s no immediate harm that would seem to come from the availability of this data. Nor is there evidence to suggest this data is leaving your custody. But why this data is stored and how Apple intends to use it — or not — are important questions that need to be explored.”

Photo: Henry White

Apple have not explained why the iPhone has been programmed to collect GPS data

Students disagree Exeter is worth proposed fees Continued from page 1 “However, the world changes markedly in 2012 with most government funding being withdrawn from teaching and graduates having to pay a much higher proportion of the cost of their education.

“By the same token, it won’t be good enough to simply say to students that they have to pay higher fees after they graduate and nothing changes. We are putting extra resources into improving contact hours and staff/student ratios in consultation with the Guild. We will also have much greater resources to direct towards bursaries and fee waivers aimed at

students from less well off backgrounds.”

Jonnie Beddall, Guild President, has said, “This survey shows the ‘Exeter Experience’ as not fit for £9,000 and it is fair and right that we expect more in return.

We’re fighting for higher bursary support, fighting for a better education and fighting against the financial barriers to access.”

Results obtained from a sample group of 540 UK/EU undergraduates which included students from Streatham, St Lukes and Cornwall. The survey was open 1-22 April.

News

Students threatened and robbed TWO female students were stopped by a man who told them: “give me your bags or I will kill you.”

The students were returning from a night out at Timepiece when the man approached them from behind on Prison Lane, the footpath next to HMP Exeter.

After threatening them and taking their bags, containing money and mobile phones, he ran back down the lane and got into the passenger seat of a car.

Police are keen to track down the owner of the silver-coloured saloonstyle vehicle.

Teaching and support recognised OUTSTANDING teaching and support at the University was formally recognised last Wednesday at the Teaching Awards ceremony.

The winners were selected by students in a survey organised by the Guild. The Business School and Politics Department came out top with three awards each.

The award for Best Overall Lecturer went to Alex Thompson of the Business School. The Business School also won Subject with the Best Employability Support, and Best Feedback Provider.

Best Subject went to Politics, with two members of the department also winning individual awards for Innovative Teaching and Inspiring Use of Research in Teaching.

Most Supportive Member of Staff went to Jay Pengelly of the History Department at Tremough, and Best GTA went to Sam Vine of Sport and Health Science. The Subject with the Best Research Community was awarded to Classics and Ancient History.

Bertie Archer, VP Academic Affairs, said, “The Teaching Awards are about recognising, celebrating and promoting excellent teaching [...] This is the students’ way of saying thank you to those staff who go above and beyond what is expected of them.”

Jack Wills forced to withdraw catalogue

THE Devon-based company has been told by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that it must not reprint its spring catalogue in its current form due to it being “overtly sexual in nature” and “sufficiently provocative to present a risk to younger teenagers.”

The pictures that provoked complaint showed young adults undressing on a beach and then running into the sea in their underwear.

The company has defended its catalogue stating the brand is aimed at university students over the age of 18, and added that the pictures were supposed to show “a positive, fun and sometimes flirtatious” reflection of student life.

4

News

National Student News

Rise in UCAS applications slows THE number of applications received to study at UK universities is up by only 2.1 per cent from last year.

Applicant numbers had been expected to increase following announcements that two thirds of universities plan to charge the full £9,000 in tuition fees from the academic year 2012/13.

The percentage increase of applicants had been increasing year on year, with an 8.3 per cent rise from 2007 to 2008, an increase of 8.8 per cent from 2008 to 2009, and a significant rise of 15.3 per cent between 2009 and 2010.

Despite the modest increase in applicants this year, as many as 146,482 students could still be rejected by all of the universities to which they have applied due to a lack of places.

Liam Burns voted NUS President THE 55th President of the National Union of Students was voted in at the annual national conference in Newcastle.

Liam Burns is current President of NUS Scotland, but will take up his new position on 1 July 2011. He succeeds Aaron Porter as President, who did not seek re-election after he was criticised for not doing enough to stop the tuition fees increase.

The NUS President-elect said in a statement on the NUS website, “I am honoured and delighted to have been elected NUS National President for the year to come.”

“I am looking forward to working tirelessly to defend, extend, and promote the rights of students.”

Campus extremism EXTREMISM on campus is a “serious problem” that poses a threat to UK security, according to a report released by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Homeland Security.

A group of MPs and peers have expressed “grave concerns” that students at British universities are being radicalised, and have warned that the problem “requires urgent and sustained attention by the new government.”

Universities UK have responded by stating that they take public safety “very seriously” and “there is no evidence to suggest that universities are ‘hotbeds of Islamic extremism.’ ” Two thirds of universities had engaged with a government programme aimed at stopping students supporting terrorism.

9 may 2011

Exeposé

Overseas students set New ‘One Planet MBA’ to rise by 28%

Photo: Hannah Walker

Lucy Cryle

THE number of full-time international students at the University is set to rise by 28 per cent by 2014/15.

The estimate is based on figures from 2009/10 that show 2,886 international fee-paying students at Exeter, and with the University looking to recruit top students from around the world to increase its rankings, this number is expected to increase to 4,000 in the next four years.

Dr Shaun Curtis, Director of International Exeter, said: “We are privileged to host students from over 130 countries at our University. If Exeter is to maintain its status as a leading world university then we must recruit the best students, not just from the UK, but from around the world.”

It has been suggested that increased numbers of non-European Union students may also help the University deal with funding cuts. Unlike British students and students from the EU, fees for non-EU students are not limited by the government, meaning that universities can charge much higher fees.

“We must recruit the best students, not just from the UK, but from around the world” Shaun Curtis, Director of International Exeter The highest non-EU fees this year have been at Imperial College London, where undergraduates in lab-based subjects faced charges of up to £26,250.

However, senior figures in the sector have warned against relying too heavily on income from overseas students.

As well as bringing money into the

University, research by Oxford Economics published last year shows that the international student community contributes over £57 million a year to Exeter’s economy as well as supporting around 2,100 jobs.

“The University of Exeter has a special community spirit and I am proud to be a part of it” Syed Farrukh Ali Qandhari,

International and South Asian Society Secretary At the moment, the majority of non-EU students are part of the Business School, but the University is hoping to recruit new students into other disciplines. Dr Curtis said of this: “Our future recruitment strategy will ensure growth is accompanied by greater diversification - by college, by level of programme and by country”. The growth of the INTO network is aimed at ensuring a good university experience for international students.

Syed Farrukh Ali Qandhari from Pakistan, Secretary of the International and South Asian Society, said: “The University of Exeter has a special community spirit and I am proud to be a part it.

Wherever I go, I come across a friendly face. People at Exeter are very welcoming and friendly and this allows an international student to adjust very quickly. I do not regret my decision of coming to Exeter.”

In a recent study on satisfaction rates of international students at over 200 universities in the UK, Exeter scored as ‘excellent’, with 91 per cent of students saying Exeter is a good place to live.

The new building has been described as an “excellent workspace” by students

Emily Leyshon THIS September will see the introduction of the One Planet MBA at the new Business School.

This is in conjunction with the WWF global conservation organisation, and will educate business students for future business planning, recognising we only have one planet’s worth of resources.

The partnership will make students part of a global network and will make sure that the focus of the course is relevant and informed by global challenges.

The course comes with the completion of the new Business School building, which doubles business students to 3,000 and allows room for 120 academic staff.

The building cost £16 million to complete, has added 3,000 square feet to the existing space, and has achieved an ‘excellent’ rating from the BRE Energy Assessment Method.

Professor Robin Mason, Acting Dean of the Business School, said, “This wonderful new space will help us to realise our full potential and support our ambitious growth plans.”

XTV take home 2 NaSTA awards Photo: Jamie Walters

XTV also came third in five categories, missing the prestigious Best Broadcaster Award by one mark. 26 members of Exeter’s student television station XTV attended the black-tie NaSTAs on Saturday 9 April, hosted this year by Loughborough’s student union.

“I’m very proud of everyone in XTV” George Mason, XTV Station Manager Members of XTV in the grounds of Loughborough University campus

Alex Wynick XTV celebrated national recognition in a number of categories at this year’s National Student Television Awards.

The Exeter student-run television sta-

tion won the Best Video-to-Music Award with the film created by Rich Maskey entitled Firespinning, and came highly commended for the Best Light Entertainment Programme with a silent movie created by Mary Hawson and Kirsty Lane.

George Mason, one of the Station Managers for XTV said, “I’m very proud of everyone in XTV. Managing to walk away from NaSTA with two awards for shows created predominantly by people new to media is a fantastic achievement.”

NaSTAs are one of the country’s big-

gest growing student awards, with 75 per cent more entrants this year. It has many affiliates from some of the biggest television companies across the UK, with special judges from across the industry including Lisa Rogers, presenter of Scrapheap Challenge.

XTV is one of the country’s biggest student stations, despite there being no Media Department at the University, which means that all funding must be raised by the society themselves or come through the Guild.

Calum Baker, XTV’s new Head of Creative said, “I think it’s wholly encouraging that our strength this year seems to have been in creative programming. This is wonderful recognition for the stimulating work accomplished by our members, and shows just what a hotbed of creativity our University can be.”

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Comment Exeposé

The Exeter Student Newspaper

Exeposé bookshop campaign begins...

EXETER UNIVERSITY has decided the need for an on-campus bookshop is minimal. So minimal, in fact, that it has failed to allocate any space for one in the new Forum complex. This seems a striking and contradictory action for a university intent on a spot in the Top 10.

The past years have seen a sustained onslaught of initiatives to climb the ladder of university ranks, so why take this backward step? The idea is that future students will buy online and collect on campus - an “Exeter Amazon”, if you will.

However, this is obviously a flawed

plan: postal strikes, the traditional British winter shut-down, order mix-ups, refunds. And the most important of all, last minute buying.

All these clearly indicate that, actually, we NEED this resource, and as a world-class university charging £9, 000 a year, we SHOULD have this resource.

If you agree, the coupon on the front of this paper has a signature box, sign it, cut it out and post it into our collection boxes around campus. The university is here to serve students and they should have our interests at heart.

TWO THIRDS of UK universities are opting to charge the maximum £9,000 tuition fees from 2012. Exeposé asked Exeter students if they believed their degree was worth these funds.

The survey was carried out after the University’s decision to raise fees, in order to gauge whether students were still dissatisfied with the decision. The results show that a staggering 81 per cent of home undergraduates disagree that an Exeter degree is worth £9,000.

One of the most significant results from the survey was that over half of respondents did not feel that their

current contact hours were value for money. This is a key issue for many students, especially arts students who sometimes have as little as three hours a week.

Exeposé continues to oppose paying more for higher education, and from these survey results it would seem that many Exeter students share our views. Students may no longer be marching in the streets of London to protest against the fees, but it is evident that a high percentage of students still remain frustrated, even if their political fervour has died down since winter.

Exeposé now has an entirely new Editorial Team. We would like to thank the previous editors for all their hard work over the past year. Exeposé has come a long way and is definitely a paper we can all be proud of.

Thanks must be given to the commitment to the paper, from editors right down to proof readers and contributors.

Exeposé is entirely run by volunteers as

an independent paper, and cannot function without this commitment.

We have had technical issues since April and at time of press are unable to be contacted by the usual email addresses. Despite this, the team has worked exceptionally hard and are looking forward to the next year and bringing you all the lastest independent news, reviews and debate.

9 MAY 2011 Exeposé

Editors: Ellie Busby & Henry White Deputy Editors: Ellie Bothwell & Rosie Scudder editors@exepose.com

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Where next for the NUS? James Eales

Exeter NUS delegate SMASHING up police vans and rioting was surprisingly voted down by delegates at the NUS National conference in Gateshead. In what were tightly contested and often heated debates, the “moderates” were victorious in policy and electoral contests. When I say moderates, it is worth noting that the NUS has no centre right grouping, and that the dichotomy facing delegates is between Labour students and Socialist students.

Replacing Aaron Porter as President is Liam Burns, who until recently was President of NUS Scotland. Meanwhile Usman Ali and Ed Marsh were re-elected, while Dannie Grufferty, Toni Pearce and Pete Mercer came into the top team.

Truth be told they’re just strange names to many students, devoid of an identity and uninteresting to the majority. What they represent are continuity candidates, those who already form an integral part of the organisation and have been calling the shots for the last year. In terms of policy, the NUS will continue to fight for more EMA funding, support all forms of peaceful direct action and continue to lobby the Government over tuition fees.

This raises the question, has anything changed and how student focused is the National Union of Students? Liam Burns was last a student in 2007; I’ll leave you to make your own mind up.

This all leaves the main opposition, those who argued ‘for a fighting NUS’, out of power, albeit with the opportunity to have a significant influence over policy through part time positions. This grouping received a significant amount of support throughout the conference, calling for amongst other things: free education, violent direct action and a more radical and militant NUS. While

their calls may chime for some, I did not, and do not see this as the right way forward. We must engage our students, but not at the loss of influence at the table or respect in the country. Furthermore, I do not believe the majority of Exeter students would endorse these beliefs or relate to any organisation that did so.

“We must engage our students, but not at the loss of influence at the table or respect in the country” So has anything changed? The NUS will remain a distant organisation to many who identify themselves to the right of the political spectrum, while harbouring fractured relationships between left leaning students. My hope remains that in attempting to heal the rifts that have emerged between elements of its membership, Liam Burns places student experience and not ideological point scoring at the forefront of his agenda.

£9,000: Affordable? Library loans: yet another

And finally…

Thanks to all those who helped proof this issue:

James Crouch, Imogen Crookes, Fiona Lally, Joshua Irwandi, Tristan Barclay, Paul Williams, Calum Baker, Ellie Staefel, Ben Murphie, Sammy Brook, Tom Nicoll, and members of the Exeposé Editorial Team

inconvenience

Caroline Cant This time of year is synonymous with exams and dissertations, something you cannot help but be aware of if you have attempted to get a seat in the library lately. Of course, with so many students with end of year deadlines approaching, getting your hands on books has become dog-eat-dog. Usually in anticipation of this those of us with our eyes on certain books, particularly the “ready text” variety, apply a little common sense and bag our books early to ensure we have them out before term ends to take advantage of the extended holiday loan.

Or at least we did. Last term the library decided to end holiday loans, meaning your book could be due back in the middle of vacation, and can be recalled if someone else has requested it. Great, thanks, how helpful! So, I have got out my books but my book has been recalled, I am at the other end

of the country and my fine is rising daily. Oh yes, you can renew your book but the system won’t let you renew your books online once you have gained a fine. Call the library but then get remanded like a naughty school girl for not returning your book and not wanting to return to Exeter to do so (with recorded delivery at £8, £40 for a return ticket and petrol at over £1.50 per litre…I’ll take the fine).

It isn’t really the fines that bother me; by the time this runs, those books will be back on their respective shelves and it will only have cost me £1.40.

It does irk me how little warning we were given about this, a few weeks perhaps? And do any of you remember being consulted about this change?

However, the real issue is the restriction this creates on borrowing certain books at all. During term time “ready text” are available for five hours at a time, after that any fine costs you £2 for the first hour overdue and £1 ever hour subsequently. Holiday loan used to extend this, meaning it was feasible to take them home with you. The removal of this system means that these books realistically cannot be removed from Exeter. You could drag the book

to whatever corner of the world you live in and renew it every five hours for the rest of the holiday, but if it’s recalled imagine the fine after a couple of days, let alone a week or so. With all that hassle, I just won’t use that book, and I won’t be the only person to avoid books rather than risk fines.

The library is in a state: books are scattered across floors, some of which are closed, it’s noisy and the entrance closely resembles the back of a Tesco.

Taking away extended holiday loans feels like a money making exercise and only increases bad feeling when the library is already unpopular with students.

When faced with paying extra fines students will just use alternative mediums: Looks like the library has shot itself in the foot…again.

Comment Exeposé 21 Marcht 2011; page 7 comment.

Exeter’s maintenance of the glass ceiling The last sentence of this piece was intended as a light hearted comment.

It was not intended as a serious allegation of misconduct by the student staff member concerned or works staff responsible for recruitment.

If any distress or offence has been caused Exeposé would like to take the opportunity to apologise unreservedly.

Exeposé WEEK TWENTY FIVE

Comment

7

State school targets: government is passing the buck Andrew Kidd

Exeter University is one of many leading institutions failing to meet the benchmark for state school/ college intake. Statistics reveal that in 2009/10, 68.1 per cent of admitted Exeter students attended a state-maintained institution, falling short of the Government target of 73.8 per cent.

In comparison with other educational establishments, however, Exeter claims relative success, missing the benchmark by a marginal 5.7 per cent. Last year the Royal Colleges of Agriculture and Music were off-target by almost 40 per cent, while other institutions, including Oxbridge, Durham, UCL and Bristol placed approximately 10-16 per cent below their benchmarks.

Exeter is swiftly closing the divide to meet government targets, reflecting the success of its admission procedure.

It is one of the only top institutions to consider the context of each application, such as the academic performance of

the applicant’s school/college and their socio-economic background. This policy encourages the most able students at less-than-able schools/colleges to apply, allowing applications to be judged by their individual merit as opposed to the educational privilege of the student.

Though it may be argued that other universities should adopt a similar policy, I believe the real failure stems from subpar state schools and colleges that consistently prevent gifted students from realising their capabilities.

Students at these establishments often receive poor advice when choosing A-Level subjects, whether due to a lack of resources or, as government officials have criticised, a desire to bolster performance by encouraging students to take ‘soft’, blacklisted subjects. A state school student applying for English at Exeter, however talented, would be poorly qualified for the academic rigours of the course having studied ALevels in Photography and P.E. It would be wrong to accept this student just to meet a quota: universities can only go so far.

Similarly, it is not uncommon for state schooled students to be discouraged from applying to the best universi-

ties, due to past rejections or a lack of understanding. While it is partially the responsibility of universities to establish ‘outreach’ programmes, my college did not provide me with any information concerning where to apply.

My choices might have been adversely affected had I not received support from alternative sources.

The Government, instead of being so quick to attribute blame to universities for failing to admit state

school students, needs to provide more information and support for floundering comprehensive schools and colleges.

It could be the key to filling the gap between state school intake and the benchmarks.

Is a campus bookshop necessary?

YES, it’s indispensable NO, it’s overpriced Tom Payne Books Editor

The absence of a book shop is a profound embarrassment for any serious academic institution, not least for the University of Exeter, as we attempt to claw our way back to top ten acclaim.

Although some may criticize Blackwell’s for its costly nature, its academic value should not be understated.

As with most subjects, first year English students were required to purchase a number of specialist texts, most of which could not be found on Amazon, or in Waterstones. Were it not for the efforts of the Blackwell’s staff in ordering exact editions and quantities,

I’d guess that very few of us would have obtained the term’s required reading.

I’ve heard that Forum Project managers are intending to replace Blackwell’s with a series of computer terminals, where books can be ordered and then collected from the library. But the vast majority of students already have internet access, and can get their books delivered straight to their accommodation. Further still, Amazon and similar sites are often inadequate for specialist texts, and do not discount bulk sales with student interests in mind.

This University, which has always prided itself on high levels of student satisfaction, has an obligation to provide us with a more efficient alternative. The planned supermarket-sized branch of Premier, intended to occupy a significant space in the Forum, is an ugly and horrifying prospect.

for all our book-buying needs with a little added search time. Therefore, is an overpriced bookshop on campus necessary? Not really, no.

Charlie Marchant Senior Reporter

Here’s a paradox for you: an English student who doesn’t think a bookshop on campus is necessary. Well, the reason for this is that I am an avid believer in getting the full worth of my sterling and campus bookshops just do not provide that.

It’s no secret to the student body that whatever our on-campus Blackwell’s and other high street bookshops are pricing their books at is double the price that we can find them for elsewhere online. That is to say, Amazon, Play.com, eBay, Blackwell’s second hand online etc. are sufficient

Exeposé Bookshop Campaign Imogen Sanders

English SSLC Chair and Leader of the Bookshop Campaign

THE Forum Project has the potential to legitimise the University’s £9,000 price tag, but the absence of a bookshop surely contradicts these chances.

By choosing to leave out this facility, the University is not only negating their obligation to make books as readily available as possible, it is also damaging any claim towards support-

ing a lifestyle which engages with wider learning experiences. The physical presence of a bookshop, in comparison to an online retailer, would not only indicate an efficiency in aiding academic progress, but would imply a university culture in which interests are encouraged to span further than the individual’s course. In addition, with fees set to

“What’s the point of a uni bookshop that doesn’t even have the uni books?

Pointless” Admittedly, it was useful for short notice needs – but student laziness is already rampant and shouldn’t be encouraged. They do offer deals when you buy the whole of the reading list – but the whole of the reading list is wholly unnecessary and a tenner saving is nothing compared to the saving you get on second hand books.

If you’re pernickety about the book edition then they will probably have the exact one – but so will all the other

high street book retailers and most likely BookCycle in town too.

Saying all this, I did use our campus bookshop once, back in the first term of my first year. Alas my laziness, which tends to overpower my pro-activeness, led me to buy none of my books until the last possible moment and Blackwell’s was to be my saviour. However, Blackwell’s couldn’t even supply me with the full list of set-texts - and what’s the point of a uni bookshop that doesn’t even have the uni books? Pointless.

Conclusion: a bookshop not being included as part of the final Forum Project works, really not the end of the world and for £9k a year, I’d be expecting free books anyway.

“A bookshop would imply a university culture in which interests are encouraged to span further than the individual’s course” increase, the second hand book service currently operating is undeniably an invaluable asset.

With all this in mind, I urge you to support the campaign to save the bookshop via the petitions on the Guild de-

mocracy hub, Facebook and as part of this issue of Exeposé. Simply cut out the token on the front page banner, sign it and post it into a collection box located next to Exeposé distribution stands.

8

Features

9 May 2011 Exeposé

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Sam Lambert & Clare Mullins - features@exepose.com

French say ‘Au Revoir’ to the burka Is the recent French ban on the burka a step forward for women’s rights?

“THE republic lives with its face uncovered.” A seemingly positive and proud sentiment plastered all over the streets of Paris, and yet it comes at a potentially explosive time. 11 April 2011 marked the start of a new era in France, with the ban on burkas and niqabs in public spaces.

Since 1905, it has been part of French policy to keep religion and the state separate, but in recent years the divide has become blurred. For example, in 1994, France banned religious symbols, including the headscarf, in state schools.

With the introduction of the ban, however, any woman caught wearing a garment covering her eyes in a public space will be fined up to 150 €, and any man found forcing a woman to wear a burka will face a fine of up to 30,000 €, and a year’s prison sentence.

Women will still be allowed to wear burkas at home, in and around Mosques, and in a car, but only if they are not driving it at the time.

France has made its stance clear, and is now enforcing the new law with a vengeance. Two women were arrested on the day the new law was

implemented, and another 19 veiled women were arrested during the following ‘unauthorised’ protests.

France may not be the first country to implement such a law (Belgium introduced a ban last year), but as home to the largest Muslim minority in Europe, the new law could prove controversial.

As far as French politicians are concerned, the burka is an implement of oppression. In 2009, Sarkozy declared that “the burka is not a religious sign” but rather a “sign of subservience, a sign of debasement” of women. This year, Fadela Amara, the Algerianborn housing minister in Sarkozy’s government, called the burka “a kind of tomb, a horror for those trapped within it.” The hope is that this ban will allow oppressed women to claim back their rights.

This all sounds well and good, but is this really what France needs? Back in January 2010, when the ban was first proposed, Laurent Joffrin, then editor of Libération, wrote “France would be the only country in the world that sends its policemen [...] to stop in the street young women who are more victims than they are guilty.”

I wouldn’t be surprised if these women, already forced to wear a burka, will now be trapped indoors, unable to go out in case they are arrested. If the burka is a tomb, then this law is the ten feet of earth resting above, keeping it buried underground. Banning burkas in public doesn’t solve the problem; it just keeps it out of sight.

All the above arguments assume that the burka is indeed a mark of oppression. However, the French Muslim anthropologist Dounia Bouzar has raised some interesting statistics.

There are currently between five and six million Muslims living in France, of which an estimated 2,000 wear a burka.

90 per cent of these women are under the age of forty, 60 per cent are French nationals, 50 per cent are second or third generation immigrants, and nearly 25 per cent are converts.

This implies that the majority of women who wear the burka are not ‘invaders’ from the Gulf, but young French women whose own mothers did not cover their faces. These women are making a public statement about their beliefs in the same way that a Christian might wear a cross or a Sikh might wear a turban.

In which case, this new law won’t help young women. Instead, by dictating what one can and cannot wear, France will force her own beliefs on her Muslim community. We’ll let you practice your beliefs, but only if we agree with them. This doesn’t look like a victory for human rights; it looks more like a fascist police state.

It is a sad fact that this new law has been relatively popular with the French public; now there are even fears that the UK might follow suit. You may remember the case of Aishah Azmi, the teaching assistant at Headfield Church of England junior school who was sacked in 2006 for refusing to de-veil if a man was present. Will decisions like

this pave the way to a full-scale ban in the UK? However, there is still hope for the future. On Saturday 12 February 2011, students from Exeter University took to the streets to celebrate diversity and

oppose the English Defence League’s protest in favour of the burka ban. It is a relief to know that, whatever the situation in other parts of the world, we come from a tolerant university which appreciates cultural diversity.

David Cameron brings the House down

Katharine Bardsley asks why the Prime Minister’s ‘Calm down, dear’ remark was so inappropriate

WHY was Cameron’s ‘Calm down dear’ jibe to Angela Eagle so offensive?

The answer is that, even in the second decade of the 21st Century in modern Britain, jokes that undermine a woman’s right to speak her mind based on the premise of her gender are simply

unacceptable. However, more to the point, Cameron did not answer her retort with anything substantial or of use in the debate.

Until Prime Minister’s Questions, Wednesday 27 April, we have never had cause to question Cameron’s

attitude and behaviour towards women.

However, cracks in the façade of the Prime Minister are beginning to appear.

There are two essentially condescending ideals at play in the phrase itself, which, when deployed correctly, is what makes it a successful catch-phrase. Why should Angela Eagle have “calmed down”? The House of Commons is an arena for vociferous debate, where passions should run high and where the tensions of two, three or more parties allow the battling of ideas and ideals to take place.

The Speaker exists to regulate this free debate. For David Cameron to take it upon himself, whether apparently in jest or not, when he was patently in the wrong, to ask a female member of the

opposition to ‘calm down’ cannot be any less than patronising.

The second objectionable idea at work here is the use of ‘dear’. Since the advent of fervent feminism in the middle of the last century, pet names such as ‘dear,’ ‘love,’ and ‘sweetheart’, as administered by men to women in the general public, are regarded as condescending. They have, however, re-entered the vernacular in an ironic form, reserved for jokes among friends or tongue in cheek commentary, in the right audience. Cameron and Eagle are not friends.

Close inspection of Cameron’s jibe proves to us why it was an unacceptable and unthinking use of the English language. We live in an age where

Parliament is globally accessible, under constant online analysis, and where no comment can go unnoticed thanks to one of technology’s great inventions: pause, play, and rewind.

Cameron’s ‘impression’ should have stayed in the private sphere of dinner parties and private functions, where jest is acceptable, and where one naturally moves in circles of mutually respected peers.

It would be naïve to suggest that Cameron’s comments were antifeminist, sexist or even misogynist.

Nonetheless, they demonstrate the waves of discontent that pass through society when the man at the top uses a phrase so disparaging with little thought of the consequences.

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Exeposé WEEK TWENTY FIVE

Weighing up the Pros and Cons Nicholas Armstrong looks at both sides of the argument SO, what is all the fuss about? Why should we be bothered as to whether we use the first-past-the-post (FPTP) voting system or the alternative vote (AV)? As Exeposé goes to press, the results have only just come in and, for those of us who have or haven’t voted, this might come a little late. Odds are nothing has changed; The UK Polling Report in the lead up to the referendum has shown the “No” vote as having a lead of between ten and twenty points.

So, why is the current system so popular?

Well, mostly, it has worked. One of the most touted arguments for FPTP is that it is “tried and tested”’ – why fix what isn’t broken, particularly when the system is such an important one?

The current system is simple and has been effective: each voter votes for one candidate in their constituency and the candidate that wins the most votes is elected and the party that wins the most seats forms the government. So far it has worked, and has proved to be very good at deposing unpopular parties from control – if the public is dissatisfied, come election time, things change. Most of the other arguments for maintaining the current system are arguments against AV: according to David Cameron AV is “obscure, unfair and expensive.”

“We are willing to spend that little bit extra on goods or services to ensure better quality. Why would we want to skimp on elections?”

To label AV as obscure is ludicrous. To win an AV election the winning candidate needs to gather more

than fifty per cent of the vote; each voter therefore lists his candidates in order of preference and the vote proceeds in rounds. If after the first round no candidate has the required majority of votes, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated and the votes attributed to him are redistributed to their second choice candidate. This process continues with candidates eliminated and votes redistributed until a candidate finally has more than fifty per cent of the vote.

“AV is how we choose our modules at university, it is how we make decisions all the time”

Cameron’s claim that this process is “obscure” smacks of sensationalism: people organise things in order of preference all the time – that is how we decided whether to buy this chocolate or that ready-made meal, it is how we choose our modules at university, it is how we make decisions all the time.

The cost to the tax payer in changing the system is a more contentious issue, though those arguing for a Yes vote maintain it won’t cost significantly more than the current system.

However, this argument seems somewhat false – why should we care if the AV system is more expensive? We, as individuals, are willing to spend that little bit extra on shoes, computers, education and other goods or services in order to ensure better quality and effectiveness. Why would we want to skimp on elections, arguably more important than shoes or computers, if a little more money is all that is needed to improve the democratic process? To attack AV on expense seems irrelevant, whether we are in a recession or not. If money

were such an issue we could just delay implementation of the system until such a time as we could afford it.

Now, the idea of AV as being unfair – this is the real issue. AV doesn’t strike me as unfair. The much flaunted previous election statistics show that the current system can allow a party with as little as thirty-five per cent of the vote gain power with as much as fifty-five per cent of the parliamentary seats. AV would ensure that the most popular party, once preference has been accounted for, is elected. This is not unfair.

Yet, a real issue does exist with AV. It is likely to strengthen parties other than Labour or the Conservatives, which is partly why the Liberal Democrats have insisted on the referendum – they stand to gain the most.

With the main British parties weakened coalition governments could become the norm and this is problematic. Coalitions can be fractious and the compromises made during the brokering of a coalition government are likely to lead to broken electoral promises. We may not get what we vote for, and that would be unfair. Other countries operate well under coalition governments (Germany is the golden standard of coalition-run countries), but there is no guarantee it would be an easy transition. Moreover, the only other notable country to use AV for elections is Australia where voting is compulsory – the system may not work so well given the UK’s reduced voter turnout.

Either way, come results day, if AV is chosen (against the odds) expect to see a lot more of Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrats and coalition governments; if not, things will continue much as they have done before, no better or worse.

Features

What could have been As Exeposé goes to press, the result of the referendum is still pending. James Crouch on what happens next, either way

A VOTE to retain the first-past-the-post system for UK general elections will have serious consequences for one party: the Liberal Democrats.

Nick Clegg drew his party into the Coalition on the premise that his party would get a referendum on the voting system. But more than that, many Liberals probably assumed that getting the referendum was the battle finished, rather than only half won.

If the electoral reform, which the Liberal Democrats thought was theirs for the taking, if snatched away from them, will truly finish off an appalling night at the polls for the party.

So, rather than Cameron, Nick Clegg is now on the chopping block. Even without the referendum result, council leaders up and down the country are calling for his resignation. If it’s a ‘No’, it brings about a very serious prospect of the booting out of Clegg. The Lib Dems are even more cruel and demanding of their leaders than the Tories are so don’t be surprised if he – in the long term – is a casualty of tonight.

But there are problems for the Coalition as a whole. The campaign destroyed trust between the Coalition partners. The result may destroy the trust between the party leadership and the party as a whole.

Simon Hughes has already suggested that the party should vote how it feels on everything not expressly in the coalition agreement – putting the health bill in jeopardy.

But this won’t mean the end of the Coalition, the Lib Dems need it too much.

For them, anything on earth is preferable to a general election.

A VOTE to change the electoral system to the Alternative Vote system would probably have the biggest impact on the political landscape, aside from the obvious fact that we would be expecting the end to first-past-the-post for the first time in our parliamentary history.

The chance of a Conservative revolt en masse would be the first real concern.

Cameron was dragged in front of the Tory backbench group, the 1922 Committee, and they made it clear that unless he put all his efforts into securing a ‘No’ vote that his leadership would be in an incredibly precarious position.

The threat was taken seriously, seriously enough to risk upsetting the Liberal Democrats. The referendum was the

sorest point of the coalition agreement as far as most Tories are concerned, and for that referendum to actually confirm their worst fears will infuriate most.

This instability within the Conservatives would damage the Coalition as a whole far more than what we’ve seen with the smaller of the two coalition parties. To make the Tories unstable is more or less synonymous with making the coalition unstable, since they compose the overwhelming majority of it.

A ‘Yes’ vote would almost definitely reduce the lifespan of the Coalition Government, but by how much would be the question.

Alternatively, after some awful council results, at least the Liberal Democrats will find a silver lining, and nothing could be better for their morale than being successful on their reason d’être of electoral reform.

The only downside is, if this Coalition does collapse, it may be far too early to save the Lib Dem poll ratings since a general election could not be too far away.

Do unemployment statistics give us the full picture?

Rebecca Lodder looks at the rise in youth unemployment and how the government is responding ACCORDING to new unemployment data and a recent article in The Guardian, one in five young people are currently out of work. For many, this might ignite the fear that once you have graduated from university, your three or four years’ worth of work will have been rendered superfluous due to the fact that the jobs simply are not there for people our age.

However, the statistics appear to me to be grossly re-worked to fit the media’s current love for inciting fear and tension over the future of students.

Though the article claims that unemployment among 16-24 year olds has increased to a rate of 20.4 per cent, it

proceeds to explain that unemployment among 18-24 year olds has actually fallen unexpectedly, though only slightly. This suggests that the statistics are being brought down by the fact that 16-17 year olds are having trouble finding work. The current economic situation means that companies are unable to afford the time and effort to train under 18 year olds in their field.

The issues that this age group are facing are quite distinct from and separate to those faced by graduates.

More worryingly perhaps are the statistics that suggest a 40 per cent increase in the number of 18-25 year olds who have not had a job for more

than two years – the worst figure since 1992.

“There is little being done to rectify the situation”

Even more concerning seems to be the gap being widened between male and female unemployment. The figures show that the number of women seeking job allowance has reached a 15 year high whilst there has been a fall in male unemployment figures. It seems

female students face an even bigger struggle as not only do they have to fight against the increasing lack of jobs, they still have to work against gender stereotypes and discrimination in the workplace.

The bigger problem seems to be that there is little being put forward to rectify the situation. David Cameron has said that the new figures are a “matter of great regret”, a statement which could possibly be the understatement of the century. In addition, with the increase in tuition fees pricing many people out of higher education, surely the problem of youth unemployment will only get worse as more

and more young people enter the work place without graduate qualifications.

It has been suggested that we are a generation of young people being lost to ‘worklessness’ with no apparent solution. Will the government have to spend even more money to keep us going through benefit and unemployment schemes as only a handful of students will be able to pay their own way? Or will these new figures hopefully force them into action to come up with better outlines put in place for the future that will stop the rise in youth unemployment?

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9 MAY 2011 Exeposé

Features

Osama Bin Laden: Dead or Alive?

Clare Mullins, Features Editor, discusses the conspiracy theories that are dogging the U.S. Government

OVER the last few weeks, the U.S. Government has had to face two very different conspiracy theories. The first, comparatively minor, is the ‘birther’ conspiracy which, after emerging from Hilary Clinton’s Camp in the 2008 Democrat primaries, moved from the fringe to mainstream and was supported by more than one in four Americans. ‘Birthers’ believe that Obama is not a naturalborn American citizen and is, therefore, not eligible for President.

‘Birtherism’ gained wider publicity and support when Donald Trump, billionaire and potential Republican

candidate for the 2012 presidential election, called for Obama to release his long form birth certificate. Not only did Obama release it, dispelling the rumours, he also publicly mocked Trump at a Whitehouse dinner (the footage of this speech has now had over eight million hits on YouTube). The second, only recently emerging conspiracy is more serious and harder to tackle.

On 2 May, Barrack Obama confirmed the death of Osama Bin Laden as a result of a covert U.S. operation in Pakistan. Barely had the news been announced before conspiracy theories be-

gan spreading around the internet and other media outlets. One FOX News presenter suggested that Obama had invented Bin Laden’s death to boost poll figures for next year’s election and another, Glenn Beck, argued that Bin Laden was being kept alive so the U.S. could interrogate him on al-Quaida’s nuclear weapons.

Why do some people believe the U.S. Government is not revealing all the facts? Why has the reaction to Bin Laden’s death been one of doubt?

Perhaps the answer lies in the life of the victim - Osama Bin Laden is a mysterious figure whose life has always attracted conspiracy theorists. Bin Laden as a drug runner; Bin Laden trained by the CIA in Afghanistan during the 1980’s; Bin Laden as an ardent Arsenal supporter - to name but a few. Very little information is known about the founder of al-Quaida so this new development can simply feed into existing theories.

However, it is not just conspiracy enthusiasts who are buying into the theories. Many people are simply finding it hard to accept that such a hated and elusive figure has finally been removed.

The disconnect between what Bin Laden had come to represent and the actual fact of his mortality is hard to overcome.

For the past ten years, Osama Bin Laden has been the bogeyman behind American Foreign Policy. A symbolic enemy in the War against Terror, one of the most infamous men on the planet, who was able to repeatedly evade the American forces bent on his demise.

Many had stopped believing in the possibility of his capture; particularly for those in their late teens or early twenties, his death is now hard to grasp. The events of 9/11 were our moon-landing, our JFK - only Princess Diana’s death is comparable in ‘where-were-youwhen-you-heard’ status. We’ve grown up knowing Bin Laden’s name and the search for him been absorbed into our cultural landscape.

Some claim that the U.S. Government’s handling of the situation has led to mistrust. Initial reports released by the White House have been contradicted by their later statements. Osama did not die in a fire fight, as initially claimed, and neither did he use his wife as a human shield.

“For the past ten years, Osama Bin Laden has been the bogeyman behind American foreign policy”

These discrepancies have fuelled conspiracy theories; however, it is important to note that it is the U.S. Government itself that is leading the way in establishing a clear picture of events.

They are, they claim, giving the facts to the media as they are confirmed. Photos of the Abbottabad compound post-oper-

ation (in a state of serious disorder) support the picture of confusion.

Another detail viewed by some as suspicious is the speed with which the body was disposed with and the manner in which it was done. The only nonrefutable evidence, his body, is at the bottom of the sea. However, if viewed rationally, the U.S.’s actions are entirely logical. Not only does a sea burial negate the need to find a country prepared to have Bin Laden buried in its soil, it also stops the possibility of a grave becoming a site of pilgrimage for his supporters.

The speed of the disposal is not suspicious but a mark of respect for Islam’s demand that the dead be buried within 24 hours. The American government is treading carefully so as not to create further offence. Obama’s refusal to release photos of Bin Laden’s body is also an act of caution in this highly emotive situation. The U.S. has a real fear of reprisals (one of their first acts was to close multiple embassies in the region) and to publish photos might incite anti-American violence.

Will the conspiracy theories last?

Will an authoritative account of the operation establish itself? Will it be solved, once again, by Mr. Trump? The claims of a cover up – that Bin Laden might still be alive – might have as little foundation as the ‘birthers’’ claims but, as was the case with the birth certificate, it might take visual proof for the doubters to believe.

The Socialist solution to Broken Britain

Alex Blake debunks the myths and asks you to consider the forgotten option of politics WHAT do you think when you hear the word ‘socialism’? Bolshevik authoritarianism? An ineffective economic system? The Democrats in the United States?

Of course, it’s easy to reduce the concept of socialism to its most repugnant manifestation, namely the Stalinist dictatorship in the USSR. To those of this opinion, socialism died with the USSR. Good riddance.

But at its very core, socialism is different to that. At its most basic, socialism is about two things: the desire to build a more egalitarian society, and a belief that co-operation is the best way to achieve this. The definition of how much each of these characteristics is desirable has varied hugely between different schools of socialist thought, from libertarian socialists to authoritarian Leninists, but these two values are essentially central to socialism. In essence, then, socialism is about hope for the future and the desire to change a broken system.

Who among us can honestly say that the current state of world affairs is a desirable one? In America, the most powerful nation on Earth, the top 1 per cent of the population control almost 35 per cent of the nation’s net worth, whilst the top 10 per cent controls an-

other 39 per cent. The bottom 90 per cent of Americans earn, on average, just £20,000 a year. This is in a country that has only just begun the process of healthcare reform, where unemployment rose 102 per cent whilst Wall Street profits rose 720 per cent in the years 2007-2009. This is the situation in the richest country in the world and far from the worst example.

“In America, the top 1% of the population control almost 35% of the nation’s net worth”

I often hear from the people who are quite happy with this situation that capitalism is always the best way of ensuring prosperity and development in a nation. This is true, to a degree. It’s a bit like saying “alcohol is always the best way to have a good time.” True, for a few people, namely hedge fund managers, bankers and business owners, capitalism is a good way to accu-

mulate wealth, in the same way that to a few people alcohol is at all times the best (and perhaps only) way they can enjoy themselves.

But what about everyone else?

What about those people who don’t see the benefits of this “prosperity and development”? What about those broken people who are exploited in sweatshops just to keep the system going?

What about you and me the next time the system fails and we’re left to clean up the bankers’ mess? Never mind the beggars and destitutes. These people are constantly seen as life’s failures, then told to run along and get a real job. But what if it’s more complex than just being their fault? What if it’s the system, or more specifically the way the system is run, that’s the problem?

The next thing I’m told is that socialism is a failed economic system.

Socialism, they say, means stagnation, a lack of innovation, a lack of incentive. If the state runs the economy and dictates, for instance, how many cars are to be produced per year, where’s the incentive to develop innovations?

If a factory owner knows how many cars they need to make, why improve them? They’ve got guaranteed orders from the state. These are all legitimate criticisms.

Except, they’re not. These are criticisms of one alternative vision to capitalism, one where the government runs everything. Who says the only alternative is a planned economy? Let’s innovate. Why does this have to be the only incarnation of a socialist economy? I can think of a much better one in fact – co-operatives.

Take John Lewis, for instance.

Every employee has a stake in the company, so once a year they get a bonus based on the company’s performance.

If this bonus is 8 per cent, that means an extra month’s pay. In the last ten years, that bonus has been between 9 per cent and 22 per cent at John Lewis.

It has been shown that co-operatives like this have survived the current economic downturn far better than regular capitalist companies (in fact, John Lewis has seen an operating profit of 20 per cent). The employees are happier because, as stakeholders, they have a say in how the business is run, and they benefit when it does well. You belong to the business, but it belongs to you too. Co-operatives like this outperform the FTSE by about 10 per cent every year, they create jobs faster, survive downturns better, and make employees and customers alike happier.

This isn’t just wishy-washy utopia,

this is reality. This is an alternative to the rampant greed-based capitalist system that why currently have. All the efficiency of neoliberal capitalism, with less of the out of control greed and inequality.

“Socialism is about hope for the future and the desire to change a broken system”

Why is it right to have billionaires alongside beggars in what we call a ‘civilised’ society? I’m not arguing for absolute equality, that’s both absurd and unrealisable. But as the co-operative model has shown, socialism is about giving power to ordinary people and addressing these issues. You want to have a say in how the company you work for is run? A system that is geared more towards your needs than the needs of a few at the top? This is what socialism is about. The current system cannot go on as it is; perhaps socialism isn’t such a bad thing after all.

12

Lifestyle

9 may 2011

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A modern fairytale

Davina Cameron Gale reflects on the highs and lows of the royal nuptials

IN years to come, people may well ask about your recollections of the 2011 Royal Wedding. Feelings might range from having completely ignored the very existence of the nuptials – I think I’m probably correct in saying that watching the coverage in its entirety was a particularly female phenomenon – to thinking it was all rather lovely, suddenly noticing that Pippa Middleton is one very sexy lady, and appreciating Prince Harry’s banterous nature throughout the entire ceremony.

Regardless of where you place yourself on the Royalist scale, it cannot be denied that the wedding was a fascinating barometer for our modern world. This was something that was apparent before the wedding, with Facebook groups such as ‘Kate Middleton: QILF – the first ‘Queen I’d Like To...’ well, you know, emerging, and the massive influx of media interest, both at home and abroad.

“The wedding was a fascinating barometer for our modern world” Throughout the ceremony, various news presenters incessantly tweeted and even Kate herself (or one of her very helpful PRs) took to Twitter. Insane civilians from around the world also provided an insight into how they were spending the day, from holding street parties to staging mock wed-

Photo: Nicholas Seymour

dings, with pictures being beamed in constantly. We’re so used to the ever evolving world of technology that this may all seem pretty normal, but the lines of communication that now exist really are quite unbelievable.

Another notable consequence of the wedding was the large amount of *must use tactful phrase* eccentrics that came out of the woodwork. There was the Princess Diana superfan who informed BBC News that ‘Diana lives on through me’ and that he was chan-

nelling her spirit and conveying positive spiritual energies towards William.

Of course you are dear. Then there were those thousands of mentalists who wore William and Kate masks and the Americans who couldn’t just stay in their own country and watch it on TV, but had to come over here and declare their love for the ‘awesome’ British monarchy. Nevertheless, I’m all for patriotism and people coming together; everyone loves a wedding, and a wedding full of strapping Hooray Henrys,

“I’m all for patriotism and people coming together; everyone loves a wedding, and a wedding full of strapping Hooray Henrys and a few celebrities is even better”

pretty aristocratic girls, heads of state and a few celebrities is even better. It was a British occasion to the very last – our obsession with the weather was perhaps even more pronounced than usual. Yet there still seems to be a need to deconstruct every superficial element of the occasion, with particular attention to female guests (Why wasn’t Victoria Beckham smiling, for example? And that other question of real and grave national significance: why was Samantha Cameron not wearing a hat?) There’s also a great deal of interest in the so-called ‘Demon child’, the bridesmaid Grace van Cutsem, with her rather unfortunate facial expressions.

This is all very well and good, and only natural when the chance to scrutinise is offered, but it does betray a sense of how ready people are to judge, and how even more readily prepared they are to insult, even when the target is a small child. By the time you read this, the wedding will (probably) be old news, but magazines will create features out of the wedding for weeks to come – probably largely on ‘Pushy Pippa’ and her desire to bag Prince Harry, because picking on Kate has a vague whiff of treason about it now – and the ceremony will fade into the

Form an orderly Kew

Ellie Bothwell, Deputy Editor explores one of London’s oft ignored gems

WITH the sun firmly out and lots of procrastination to do, now is the perfect time to visit one of London’s top, but often overlooked, attractions - Kew Gardens.

Kew has rapidly grown and blossomed since its birth in the eighteenth century, and its vast area of 121 hectares is now home to a myriad of plants, animals and even fish, supported by their

maxim: “All life depends on plants.”

Before heading back to Exeter for the much-dreaded exam period I fitted in a visit to the gardens on Easter Monday.

After the initial trauma of discovering that I’d missed the Easter egg hunt they held the day before, and that the chocolate trails still intact were only suitable for 3-11 year olds (since when was there an age limit on chocolate?) I realised

that there was a lot more to get excited about than just a bit of Easter-related fun. From the elegant greenhouses containing plants from all over the world to the Treetop Walkway in the canopy of Kew’s tallest trees, it is more than just a place for avid gardeners. Proud to be labelled as gardens to experience all year round, it is never the wrong time to visit, although this year spring has sprung beautifully at Kew, the blankets of bluebells being a personal favourite of mine.

Being such a vast area, it would be difficult to see everything Kew has to offer, but here are some things you should be sure not to miss: 1. Palm House Kew’s most iconic building, completed over 150 years ago, transports you to a tropical rainforest environment and is home to a range of exotic palms and Asian fruit trees. The spiral staircase in the centre takes you to a balcony round the top of the building and an aquarium down below with marine plants and fish.

2. Princess of Wales Conservatory Its modern geometric design is perhaps

Exeposé

less majestic to the eyes than the Palm House but the array of plants here is more impressive. It recreates ten climatic zones all under one roof and on a variety of different levels.

3. Xstrata Treetop Walkway Not an activity for the faint-hearted, the 18 metre high walkway guides you around the crowns of lime, sweet chestnut and oak trees. It was designed by the same architects who designed the London Eye and is beautifully camouflaged, although the slight wobbling of the structure is a little disconcerting.

4. Woodland Glade and Waterlily Pond A tranquil spot to sit and reflect, it is also a great place to spot a few animals and have a picnic. If you’re lucky you may spy (or hear) a few cackling geese!

Just ten miles from the city centre, Kew Gardens makes a great trip away from the bustle of London town, whether you’re looking to go for a romantic saunter or a family visit. Currently, if you travel by train you get 2 for 1 entry so go take a gander.

landscape of nostalgic Britishness.

To use David Cameron’s analogy, it really was a fairytale, but a slightly different one to those that we’re used to. A beautiful girl (and a civilian one at that) marrying her Prince Charming who, it must be admitted, looked like he was paying tribute to Michael Jackson in his military uniform. The Ugly Sisters...well, it would be cruel to name names, but perhaps you can draw your own conclusions. The Queen looked majestic, regal and sprightly in yellow, and Philip was twinkling away, undoubtedly having a fantastically entertaining internal monologue throughout.

We can hope for a ‘happily ever after’, and that the couple remain true to themselves, heeding the fantastic sentiments of the Bishop of London about not trying to change your loved one, but accept them as they are – a lesson that us commoners should take to heart as well. But this union, with the wedding as the starting point, will involve major press intrusion, millions of onlookers, and speculation and deconstruction about the decisions they’ll make as a couple, from the material, to the more serious. So a fairytale it is, but a thoroughly modern one at that.

How to... “make a 5 min chocolate mug cake”

With Emily Lunn

This is a very easy recipe for a quick chocolate fix, and best of all, it requires barely any culinary skill, just measuring and mixing!

Ingredients: 4 tbsp/45g self-raising flour 4 tbsp/55g caster sugar 2 tbsp/17g cocoa powder 1 egg 3 tbsp milk 3 tbsp sunflower oil 3 tbsp chocolate chips 1 large coffee mug and plate (microwaveable) 1.Put all the dry ingredients into the mug and mix well.

2.Add the egg and mix thoroughly.

3.Add the milk and oil and mix again.

4.Pour in the chocolate chips and vanilla extract and mix once more.

5.Put your mug on the plate and microwave for 3 minutes (on a high setting). Don’t panic if the cake rises so much that it overflows onto the plate.

13

Exeposé week TWENTY FIVE

Sex-on-the-Exe

Block Party

Amour on the Adour for an Anonymous student

WHETHER it’s a simple « tu viens souvent ici? » or even « tu veux voir ma collection de timbres? » it doesn’t matter. For some reason as soon as I set foot on French soil all it takes is a sun kissed face, a cheeky smile and a delicious French accent and I am weak at the knees.

As I arrived in a familiar sleepy village in the south of France this Easter, I was looking forward to ten days of relaxing on a sun lounger, spontaneous trips to the boulangerie, an unlimited supply of great wine and conversation with my French family, with perhaps a little bit of revision on the side.

The first day provided all of the above and as I sat in an oversized armchair falling into a red wine induced slumber suddenly the conversation turned to me …“Have you met Benoit yet?”

The next hour or so involved three middle aged Parisienne women describing a character that I had previously believed only existed in Jilly Cooper novels or crappy American films about summers in Europe. Little did I know that the next ten days would involve so much excitement, and unorthodox French oral practice.

The next day I took a little more time applying my “I am not wearing any make-up” make-up and as I crept out of the house, I spotted my first glimpse of Benoit. He had been living in the old stable block for about 6 months and paying his rent in the form of giant works of art that he spends weeks slaving over. I had been informed during the mothers meeting, that most mornings his “beautifffffffullll boodddie” could be seen emerging from the water after his daily swim in the Adour. As I looked across the water, I was thoroughly disappointed that the only man on the river that morning was an 85-year-old fisherman smoking a pipe. Surely, this could not be the famous Benoit I had heard so much about?

Summer is a riot of colour for Caroline Cant

As I was about to give up all hope and turn back to my untouched copy of Flaubert’s Madame Bovary, a husky voice crept up behind me, “Bonjour Mademoiselle, je m’appelle Benoit.”

Whether it was the hot climate, the wine or the French way of doing things, I don’t know but the preamble flew by and before I knew it sneaking out of the house had become part of my daily routine. From skinny dipping in the Adour (dreadfully romantic until a dead seagull floated by) to late night discussions about Flaubert or Moliere or anything vaguely French and romantic, he was certainly an interesting character.

“Benoit was refreshingly rugged, slightly crazy and terribly exciting”

This French artist was refreshingly rugged, slightly crazy and terribly exciting. One particularly memorable session left me trying to scrub off smudges of oil paint from all over the place (let’s hope he doesn’t decide to give that one to Great Aunt Nathalie for next month’s rent).

This little holiday fling certainly turned my trip into something a lot more than the ten days of detox I had been planning. The ‘Benoit effect’ was profound and although it was most certainly a case of “what happened on the banks of the Adour stays in the Adour,” this little snippet was one I could not resist sharing.

So as you’re making your plans for the après exam period, don’t stop your imagination from floating off to those daydreams of holiday romance. Those postcards home may have some more important gossip to tell than whether it has rained since you’ve been in Rome or what sights you’ve seen in Seville. It doesn’t just happen in films and books, je te promets…

SUMMER is just around the corner and a wardrobe makeover is in the air.

With so many great new looks hitting the catwalks this season we are spoilt for choice. Be warned though, this season’s biggest look is not for the faint of heart.

First things first: DO NOT OVERDO THIS LOOK. If you go dressed head to toe in block contrasting colours, the looks you get will not be admiring. Wearing four contrasting colours looks fantastic when it’s going down the runway but your walk to campus is hardly the same. Fashion is all about taking those highly worked styles from the fashion houses and reworking them to a level that works for everyday life. With that in mind, let’s just cover a few ground rules. Block colours are great but only wear one or a maximum of two at any one time. Keep one main colour for your outfit and use a contrasting colour for detailing such as shoes, bags and belts; doing this keeps up the interest of having a palate of colours but stops you looking like a confused traffic light. For those of you just wearing one block colour, make sure that you contrast with some black or nude shoes to break it up, Block colour is a style everyone can wear.

It may be associated with bright, bold, eye-popping

shades but can work just as well with softer shades.

Coral is a major player this season and there is a shade for everyone (even us redheads), the trick is to match it to your skin colour. For those of you lucky to have dark skin this is a great look for you, the rich colour of your skin works beautifully with corals with a strong pink or orange to them. The strong colour of your skin provides a sumptuous background that brings out the brightest tones from the fabric.

“Bare legs look great with bright colours so get those pins out” If you are tanned or of an olive complexion avoid corals with too much orange in, especially if you fake tan, as it can make you look all one shade and ruins the point of a bold colour.

Choose a coral that is more peach based, this softer pink will enhance your natural glow. For those of us with pale skin, you have two choices: either go for it, choosing bright blues, greens and reds, the strength of colour will actually make the white of

Campus Style: Library Revision Special OUR roving photographer and Lifestyle team bring you the best style on campus!

[Left] Name: Frankie Hall Studying: French and Spanish, 2nd year.

How did you celebrate the Royal Wedding?

“We had a barbecue at a friend’s house.”

[Centre] Name: Olu Fami Studying: Economics and Politics, 3rd year.

How did you celebrate the Royal Wedding?

“It was my birthday so we went to a bar in London. It got pretty messy.”

[Left] Blazer: Topshop [Centre] Quilted Jacket: Howick [Right] Jumper: “My nan knitted it for me!”

[Right] Name: Rik Glauert Studying: English, 3rd year.

How did you celebrate the Royal Wedding?

“I watched it on my laptop at my usual desk in the Library.”

Lifestyle

your skin look more like porcelain and can be a stunning look. If you are pale, avoid yellow at all costs. With pale skin you need something with more peach, pink or terracotta in to bring warmth to your colouring rather than yellow, which will wash you out.

Bare legs look great with bright colours, so get those pins out. A bag is a great way to keep this look accessible and down to earth, a girly messenger or satchel will soften this edgy look. Beaded flipflops or plain pumps make your outfit a real statement and means scary block colours can be worn in a relaxed fashion during the day. If you wear a block colour outfit team it with natural makeup, add a thick line of liquid eyeliner along the top lash line to make sure that your eyes stand out as much as your clothes.

Whip your hair up into a messy scruff bun, or leave loose and untreated for relaxed summer tresses.

Add bangles and take the exam hall by storm!

14

Music

9 MAY 2011 Exeposé

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Andy Smith & Amy Weller - music@exepose.com

Upcoming 10/5 – Original Sin, Mama Stones 11/5 – Beat Roots, Mama Stones

12/5 - The Black Spiders & Japanese Voyeurs, Cavern Club

13/5– Flux Pavillion, Cavern Club 14/5 – Indie Club, Cavern Club 15/5 – Secret Sisters, Bristol O2 Academy 15/5 – Jim Causely, Exeter Phoenix 16/5 – Yuck, Bristol Thekla 17/5 – Warpaint, Bristol O2 Academy 18/5 – Beats and Bass Student Party, Cavern Club 19/5 - Jazz Jam, Exeter Phoenix 20/5 – Cabaret Voltaire, Cavern Club 27/5 – Lethal Bizzle, Lemon Grove 30/5 – Itchy Feet Summer Party, Exeter Phoenix 01/6 – We are Scientists, Lemon Grove

Features

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The future is odd

David Wood looks at the new enfants terribles of West Coast hip-hop

A couple of months ago I was introduced to Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (OFWGKTA), a new crew of teenagers coming out of California.

The first tracks I heard were from Earl Sweatshirt’s album Earl and Tyler the Creator’s Bastard, and as soon as the play button was pressed it felt like the first time I had heard hip-hop. These boys (and most of them really are boys, with Earl being 16 at the time he recorded his album) have completely blown open hip-hop and injected some life into the boring, stale and bloated modern commercial rap scene.

OFWGKTA is a group of rappers and producers led by Tyler, The Creator, and its most prolific contributions come from Hodgy Beats, Earl Sweatshirt, Mike G, Domo Genesis and Frank Ocean, with the beat production coming from Left Brain and Syd tha Kyd. It’s difficult to try to pigeon-hole the sort of rap they make, and any attempt to do so has drawn criticism from Odd Future members. It’s probably about as far away from any modern hip-hop trends as can be possible, which explains the amount of hype and attention that they’ve received over the past few months. Lyrically, they’re beyond dark, typically covering murder, rape, drugs and sex within single sen-

tences, twisting over simple and well produced beats, most of which sound as if they could have been produced on the cheapest software.

They are more than just shock-rap though, and it’s obvious that lyrically they are very talented, leading to an internet whirlwind with numerous interviews and high level recognition coming from Wu Tang’s GZA and Mos Def. It is teenage anarchism at its most intelligent, psychotic, rude and hilarious. Subsequent comparisons have been made to Wu-Tang Clan, but there is something new about Odd Future.

They are young and fresh, and they really couldn’t give a fuck about the hype.

Perhaps the best way into OFWGKTA is through the now-absent Earl Sweatshirt (currently in forced exile in a Samoan academy for troubled youths following his mum’s understandably poor reaction to his lyrics). Earl, an album which is still available for free on their tumblr, represents all that is good about Odd Future. It is unbelievably dark at times, with Tyler shouting on ‘Pigeons’, “kill people, burn shit, fuck school”, and much of ‘epaR’ coming from the perspective of someone seriously deranged. Earl spits his bars with a certain level of naive humour com-

bined with an unbeatable and intelligent flow, perhaps best demonstrated in what must be the albums best track ‘Earl’.

The albums lyrics are tight and clever, and this is why Odd Future isn’t Horrorcore. Even so, it’s definitely not an album which could be used to convert someone to rap (“Look! It’s not all about killing and taking advantage of women!....Oh wait”). Instead, it’s a

breath of fresh air for people who are bored to death with the sort of commercial crap being spewed out by the major record labels. And this is why I love Odd Future, and also why they will go on to inevitably be increasingly successful. I can only hope they don’t change, but if their current attitudes are anything to go by then I don’t think fame will change them one bit.

The swing of success

Amy Weller clicks her heels at the prospect of Itchy Feet’s return to Exeter IF you haven’t already heard of Itchy Feet, where have you been? It has descended on Exeter on two brilliant occasions, making its Exe debut at the Phoenix in January and topping it with a speedy return in March to our city’s treasure, Arena. A night started by Leo Bedford, with the prerogative to throw a fantastic party that will leave people talking about it long after the night has ended, has got students across the UK jittering with excitement. You can expect to hear anything produced between the 1930s and 1980s, from James Brown to The Jungle Book classic ‘I Wanna Be Like You’; a blast from the past that has the astonishing power to make a large group of 20-somethings don deliciously vintage outfits and quite literally get in to the swing of things with those old school dance moves. It is fair to say that it’s one big swing/soul/funk/r’n’b/ rock’n’roll thang with a strict ‘No Baywatch’ policy.

I had the pleasure of going to visit Leo and Laura, the duo running Itchy Feet, in their current office space, which

inhabits a rather majestic boat floating on the Thames. So how do they succeed in setting our soles alight? Leo insists that there is never a set formula to anything they do, instead they strive to ensure that every location has its own unique party, which is what sets it apart from so many other club nights. There is nothing generic or contrived about what they do and if you’ve already been to Itchy Feet I’m sure you will agree.

Itchy Feet started in 2008, during Leo’s last year at University at Leeds.

He insists that the whole thing has always been completely organic and never forced. Briefly moonlighting as a frozen yoghurt mogul at the helm of company ‘Yuforia’, he missed the spin of the turntables and so embarked on Itchy Feet’s re-launch with Laura, who has joined him to run the promotional side of the venture that has catapulted Itchy Feet to it’s current status as a widely known student club night.

Itchy Feet has now reached the stage where it is running in 16 new cities with a local manager based in each one. Since

January this year, 14,000 people have attended Itchy Feet events. Hence, it is no surprise that they are making what is set to be an epic return to the Phoenix this term. The Itchy Feet Summer Party will make its comeback with a barbeque and live band, proving its constant delivery of something new and exciting. It would be no surprise to see them gracing the festival circuit with their presence, especially as the launch of Itchy Feet’s ‘Dirty Sister’ on their website brings the modern offshoot of electro swing into the mainstream club world. One of the biggest things Laura and Leo stress is how everything they do is not for the money, it’s just for the love. Their point of interest is to have fun and have great parties.

All the money gained is put back in to the running of Itchy Feet and to continue making it bigger and better. It is this philosophy that continues to ensure it’s sell out success. If you haven’t been yet, all I can say is that you are missing out.

Check out their fabulous website: www. itchyfeetonline.co.uk to find out more.

Exeposé week twenty five

15

Music

now heavily distorted Red Special effectively jolting you out of your seat.

Although Queen’s musical prowess holds the album together (the LP sleeve proudly boasts ‘no synthesisers!’), ultimately, A Night at the Opera succeeds because of its enduring appeal. By embracing the whole of the musical spectrum from opera to rock anthems to ballads, the album contains something for everyone and represents Queen at the height of their musical career.

Classic album review A Night at the Opera, Queen Released 25 November 1975 EMI

“VOCALS, vocals, Bechstein Debauchery, and more vocals”. Freddie Mercury, often regarded as one of the greatest pop singers and frontmen of all time, was nothing if not flamboyant.

The duties listed above were accredited to Mercury in the “cast list” of what I consider to be Queen’s greatest (and certainly their most flamboyant) LP, A Night at the Opera.

The band’s camp sense of humour was inherent to their identity and although their particular brand of musical absurdity may not be to everybody’s tastes, there is no denying their legacy, nor their prolific output. From their formation in 1971 to Mercury’s death from HIV in 1991, Queen churned out 13 studio albums and 55 singles, 30 of which broke into the UK top 20. As a self-confessed fangirl, picking my favourite Queen album has been like choosing between my own (imaginary) children. However, for its mélange of genres, experimental techniques, and pitch-perfect arrangements, A Night at

the Opera stands out as Queen’s most accomplished work.

A Night at the Opera was, at the time of its release in 1975, the most expensive album ever produced. A lot was hanging on its commercial success; the group even considered disbanding if the album were to fail. Luckily for them (and for me) the album went straight to #1 in the UK and its first single, the legendary ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, maintained the #1 spot for nine weeks.

“Each member contributed a future classic and every number saw input from the group as a unit” The album’s strength does not derive from ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ alone.

Despite being distinctly Mercury-heavy in terms of song writing, A Night At The Opera was a wholly collaborative project. Each member contributed a future classic and every number saw input from the group as a unit. For instance, on ‘Seaside Rendezvous’, drummer Roger Taylor and Mercury worked together to vocally imitate kazoos and trumpets in the musical bridge section of the song.

From the dramatic and vitriolic

IMMI BLAKE

1975 in music 8 January - Three Led Zeppelin concerts at Madison Square Gardens sell out in a record four hours 20 June - Talking Heads perform their first show at CBGB in New York

opener ‘Death On Two Legs’, to a patriotic re-arrangement of ‘God Save The Queen’, now synonymous with Queen’s live performances, each song on the album serves as a scene in Queen’s fantastical “opera.” The charmingly sappy ‘You’re My Best Friend’, bassist John Deacon’s dedication to his wife, sits alongside guitarist maestro Brian May’s “sci-fi sciffle”, ‘39’. Meanwhile, Mercury’s heartfelt piano ballad ‘Love Of My Life’ follows the experimental ‘Prophet’s Song’, a biblically-inspired number containing a three-minute long vocal canon. These divergent sounds

and styles combine to create a truly theatrical experience.

The lack of breaks between songs heightens the LP’s theatricality and immerses the listener in Queen’s extraordinary night at the opera. The minute long ‘Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon’ is a track bursting with witticisms, including the line “I’m bound to be proposing on a Saturday night (there he goes again)”, and finishes with an unusually light-footed May solo. Without a moment’s pause, the song morphs into Taylor’s classic rock piece, ‘I’m In Love With My Car’, the roar of May’s

“‘When The Sun Goes Down’ is a chilled, sundrenched track with a sweet melody which will most likely stick in your head”

The Look Metronomy

4 July - The Texas senate declare Willie Nelson Day August - Sex Pistols formed, inspired by the Lower Manhattan punk scene 15 September - Pink Floyd release Wish You Were Here 9 October - John Lennon and Yoko Ono become the parents of Sean Ono Lennon 21 November - Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ goes to number 1 for five weeks

SINGLE REVIEWS When the Sun Goes Down Ben Gibbard CHANNELING the comfort of his usual flannel and tweed outfit, Ben Gibbard potters along on this warming, if a little bland, solo offering. The Death Cab for Cutie front man has dabbled in solo work before and has now penned the track ‘When The Sun Goes Down’

which will feature in upcoming film Arthur, starring Russell Brand. Gibbard’s sweet vocals play over lightly strummed guitar and a soft percussion arrangement in signature Death Cab fashion. Disappointingly though, the band’s finely tuned ability for balancing feathery vocals with darker poetics and a nervous energy is lacking. Gibbard pushes no boundaries with this track and although any Death Cab fan

will know by now that the Indie icon can soundtrack a mean sunset, there is nothing innovative to this simplistic folk tune.

Although it’s nothing we haven’t heard before, ‘When The Sun Goes Down’ is a chilled, sun-drenched track with a sweet melody which will most likely stick in your head. The track is certainly a pleasant enough fix until Gibbard reunites with the Death Cab posse for upcoming album Codes and Keys, which will be released on 31 May. Having leaked the album track ‘You Are A Tourist’ a few months back, the new album promises to be a complete return to musical form for the Washington quartet. So in the meantime, we can let Gibbard off for this one.

SOPHIE PIROUET

FROM the very moment the synth-organ intro began blaring out of my speakers, I knew this was going to be a single to watch out for this summer. ‘The Look’ is taken from Metronomy’s third studio album The English Riviera, and treats the listener to a light, lively track, which does not become boring at any point throughout, as many modern synth-driven tracks seem to.

Metronomy’s sound has come a long way since their instrumental emergence onto the underground electro scene in the early 2000s, releasing their first studio album in 2006. With Joseph Mount fronting and producing the band, the addition of vocals gave their tracks the extra layer they needed to really bring the band into notoriety. ‘The Look’ is a single that showcases the band’s instrumental and song writing talent, whilst pleasing the listener with a good balance of sounds within the music.

Joseph Mount’s falsetto vocal tone, paired with cleverly penned vocals, gives the track a welcome air of summer and festivals with no heavy bass drone or overwhelming instrumental interludes.

The real progression of the single, and its drive, comes from the gradual build of sounds, the opening bars featuring a lone synthesizer, then building with drums, bass, percussion and a saxophone solo.

While this is not the most original musical offering I’ve heard recently,

‘The Look’ does come as a welcome addition to my music collection, as a chillout festival track and a good way to kick off the summer.

ANDY SMITH MUSIC EDITOR

in association with

the student lettings agency

Open Day

at > 50 Union Road, Exeter EX4 6HU

On > tues 17th may 2011 between 1 pm and 4 pm

Please book with us to ensure that we can meet you.

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Exeposé WEEK TWENTY FIVE

Screen

17

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Tori Brazier & Luke Graham - screen@exepose.com

NEWSREEL

GREETINGS, and welcome to our first attempt at this section as Screen Editors!

Straight on to the news: after a busy Easter of film releases, from Winnie the Pooh to Scre4m, we enter the slight lull before the barrage of Summer blockbuster releases lined up for our future viewing pleasure. The cogs still turn in ‘Film Land’, however, as we recieve the first video blog from the set of The Hobbit: Part 1 (having finally broken free from development hell) with Peter Jackson rightly at the helm as director.

Huzzah! The ever-expanding cast now includes confirmed re-appearances from The Lord of the Rings stars such as Orlando Bloom and Ian McKellen, and a fine showing from British actors in other new roles.

For Twi-hards out there, news about the film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s OTHER book, The Host, has surfaced: Saoirse Ronan is rumoured for the main role of Wanderer/Melanie.

And finally, do you agree with the articles in this issue? Were our reviewers spot-on or are they idiots for loving or hating that show or this film? Join our facebook group and procrastinate...I mean discuss!

COMPETITION OUR first competition for our term as Screen Editors is a duzy. We have THREE PAIRS of FREE TICKETS to any ODEON screening you choose. If you’d like your two tickets, just email us with the subject title: We love Tori and Luke!

What I’ve been watching: Campus TV review: Game of Thrones

WELCOME to Kirke University…

For anyone who enjoyed the surrealism and frequent absurdity of Green Wing, Channel 4’s new series follows a similar and even darker vein of entertainment. Campus offers a welcome change after an overdose of feel-good Friends-esque sitcoms, and challenges comedy that has become too safe and predictable.

There’s certainly no way you could accuse Campus of predictability; the series is set in the fictitious Kirke University, a world where literally anything is possible. The university is ruled over by sadistic Vice Chancellor Jonty de Wolfe (Andy Nyman), a sociopath who chases students round the library wearing a floor-length green ballgown, and threatens to shrink people, whilst English professor Matt Beer (Joseph Millson) divides his time between sleeping with “anything with a pulse”, and systematically torturing neurotic Maths professor Imogen Moffat (Lisa Jackson).

Of course there are weak points, as with any series, and budget advisor George Bryan seems to have little

function other than to create a twisted love ‘square’, while Jonty’s casual prejudices occasionally overstep the comic line, but that’s the risk you take with this form of comedy. It’s unfortunate that the opening line of the series is one of the most offensive, and you might find it takes a couple of episodes to get used to the comedy, but push past that and you will be rewarded by watching Jonty lock middle-aged bankers into stationery cupboards.

It’s those wonderful snapshots of weirdness that make the show so unique. Enjoy those brilliant one liners: “If I lightened your work load any more you’d have to tie it round your wrist when you went outside”, and give up attempting to follow the twisted rules that dictate education at Kirke University.

Watch Professor Beer grade papers by firing darts at a target painted on a student’s chest, and I promise university education will never be the same again.

Tori Brazier and Luke Graham, Screen Editors, discuss positive procrastination...

the delicate art of revising through the mediums of television and film, which we shall now share with you all...

Recommended viewing for: Biology: Evolution, because of course everyone knows that shampoo is the only way to defeat a rapidly evolving alien force. Or perhaps The Human Centipede might tickle your fancy, being a tasteful exploration of scientific progress and morality?

History: Revel in the portrayal of Henry VIII as a royal ‘fittie’ right the way through to his gout-y death in The Tudors. For the discerning student of modern history, Inglourious Basterds pro-

Campus: Ch 4, Tuesdays, 10pm

HELEN CARRINGTON

BASED on the book series A Song of Ice and Fire, inspired by real-life events of English medieval warfare, Game of Thrones is about Westeros, a world of political intrigue, war and adventure.

Westeros is treacherous, with seasons that last for decades and the reawakening of forces long-thought dead. It’s much darker than your standard ‘sword and sorcery’ epic with the sorcery relegated to shadowy, semi-forgotten forces, but the swords are definitely still there. The series promises some epic duels and a few pitched battles. If you liked The Tudors, then imagine it more twisted and with giant wolves throughout and you’ll be kind of close.

When Sean Bean uttered the words “winter is coming”, my inner fan-boy did a small dance of delight. Regardless of how the series fares from here, I am content with the perfect casting.

Sean Bean as Eddard Stark, and Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister have to be the two best pieces of casting, with the rest of the cast bringing the other

characters to life. A special mention must be made of Emilia Clarke, who plays Daenerys Targaryen, as the poor girl has seemingly spent more time out of her clothes than in them in these first few episodes.

For those of you who have read the books, let me tell you that nothing so far is disappointing. Westeros is wonderfully realised, from the costumes right down to the food.

For the uninitiated, the first few episodes may seem slow as they are mostly focused on setting the scene, introducing the characters, and putting things in motion. Keep watching though, and you will be thrown into a world of back-stabbing and secrecy, a world of dark action and sorcery, a world of heroes but of many, many more villains. Oh and last point...the Wall looks bloody awesome!

vides the real, gritty story behind the end of World War Two (and Hitler’s death).

Drama: Okay, so you guys don’t have exams, but watch cult favourite The Room for future inspiration. Apparently, the director’s main influences were the slow-burning masterpieces of Tennessee Williams. You get to throw spoons at the screen too!

Physics: Back to the Future. Time travel! Also, classics students may want to check out Marty’s Oedipus complex issues.

This is about revision! (Not really...)

WE all know the drill: this term is filled with glorious exams, and thus we must revise. Constantly. And of course we all do… But what should one do when fancying a ‘short break’ from the whole note copying, article reading, book burning fiasco?

Luckily, your trusted new Screen Editors claim a certain expertise in this area, having conducted hours of research into

English: Hamlet 2, starring Steve Coogan. Need we say more?

Archaeology: Year One is the completely accurate account of the beginnings of the human race.

Game of Thrones: Sky Atlantic, Mondays, 9pm

JAMES SMITH

*Disclaimer: Screen shoulders no responsibility for any exam results bearing a direct correlation to our recommendations*

Films to see before you graduate: The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Director: Frank Darabont Cast: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton

“I GUESS it comes down to a simple choice; get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’.”

Even those who have never heard of The Shawshank Redemption are likely to find these timeless words familiar.

Shawshank, widely recognised by many as one of the best films of all time, is about so many things: discipline, hypocrisy, biblical morality, institutionalisation and much more. Above all, it is a film about the lasting power of hope, a theme that has labelled the film profoundly moving and has brought both the old and young to tears.

Based on the novella by Stephen King, Shawshank relays the story of a

man convicted of murdering his wife and her lover, who is sent to Shawshank State prison to serve a life sentence, despite pleading innocence. The character of Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is brought to life and commentated upon by his fellow inmate ‘Red’ (Morgan Freeman). Red finds in Andy a strange sense of peace in amidst a hellish institution of rape, harsh discipline and corrupt authority; not to mention maggot-infested food!

As Red puts it: “He had a quiet way about him, a walk and a talk that just wasn’t normal around here”. Andy challenges the prisoners’ way of living and demonstrates the essence of true courage and a daring to dream.

Andy’s hope and perseverance is effectively contrasted to the elderly librarian, Brooks Hatlen (James Whitmore) who is portrayed as a culprit of institutionalised hopelessness. Indeed, after a

lifetime at Shawshank, Brooks finds he is unable to cope with life on the outside.

Some have seen in Shawshank an allegory of the Christian life; the hope of Christ which lives in the believer grants a sense of God’s peace that cannot be touched, whilst those who choose to live without hope or ‘Christ,’ as Brooks does, have nothing to live for. Nevertheless, religious or not, the film’s remarkable and unpredictable ending undoubtedly reflects its clear message that hope is “a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies”; a message that has and will continue to have an inspirational effect upon viewers for years to come. If you haven’t seen the film already, I urge you to give it a try and watch the impact it has on the way you view life.

HANNAH DALE

18

Screen

Thor

Director: Kenneth Branagh Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins (12A) 114mins

THOR does a lot right. In a nutshell, it’s about a magic Space Viking exiled to earth after arguing with God. How do you sell that to audiences? Employ Kenneth Branagh. He performs an amazing balancing act between action, comedy and drama, with a strong vision of the world he creates.

Visually, this film is perfect: the aesthetic of Asgard, and of the costumes, is stunning, with a brilliant colour palette (see Thor’s vivid red cloak). The style borrows heavily from the original Jack Kirby comics, as well as The Lord of

Insidious

Director: James Waan Cast: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne (15) 102mins

IN Insidious, two unassuming parents must prevent demons from entering their son’s comatose body while he is ‘astral-projecting’ in the land of the dead, known as ‘the further’, encountering many evils along the way.

Whilst being genuinely scary, this film has what is lacking in so many modern horror films: a sense of humour. From the surprisingly disturbing shots of a ghostly figure dancing to a scratchy recording of ‘Tiptoe Through

9 MAY 2011 Exeposé

the Rings, which is evident in the ‘monsters’ designs and the narration of the first act, helping the audience believe the film’s mythology. Once the story gains momentum, Branagh’s Shakespearean background influences the dramatic scenes between Thor, Loki and their father Odin. These scenes could have been hammy and underwhelming, but the direction and powerful acting from Hiddleston and Hopkins makes these the best parts of the film.

The rest of the story is serviceable.

Once Thor is on Earth, the tone shifts to comedy.

While the humour is brilliant, it hides problems. Hemsworth plays Thor well: he’s charismatic and brave, providing beefcake for the ladies, but it’s hardly demanding. Portman phones in her performance as Jane Foster, a scientist doing generic, undefined ‘science.’ Thor’s personal growth drives the film, as he must change from arrogant warrior to humble leader. We see the before and after, but the actual process is not clear. Despite these gripes, what was important for this film was to get things right. It could have been ridiculous and silly.

Instead we have story and action that is good, not great, but is right for this film.

the Tulips’, to the arrival of two Ghost Buster-style geeks, the film contains a number of comical moments, which serve to give the viewer comic relief, but also heighten the tension through contrast. Director James Wan (Saw) has a fantastic ability to maintain a tense atmosphere, and even scenes in broad daylight give the viewer a sense of unease throughout.

The script writing does at times fail to convey the severity of the situation, with the crucial line “it’s not the house that’s haunted... it’s your son” being more comical than was probably intended. At points the storyline becomes a little too fantastical, with the land of

the dead having a Beetlejuice-esque door in the attic. However, these issues do not ruin the impact of the film.

If you are a horror fan, this film will not disappoint. Whilst avoiding the use of gore to provoke a reaction, the direction and fast-paced narrative of the film really draw in the viewer.

The carefully thought out balance of tension, comedic relief and frightening moments makes this film a definite one to see.

Water for Elephants

Director: Francis Lawrence Cast: Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz (12A) 120mins

PATTINSON at the Circus turns out to be less than the sum of its parts; a largely well-acted but less-than-brilliantly made slice of throwaway dramatic nonsense.

Weathered geriatric Hal Holbrook stumbles into a modern-day circus and, after some confusion, sits down with a whisky to tell us his tale. Holbrook, it turns out, was once Pattinson, aka Jacob Jankowski. In the early ‘30s, Jacob is forced to drop out of his veterinary science degree at Cornell and jumps on a

train, which turns out to be a travelling circus run by sinister European August Rosenbluth (Waltz). Jacob is hired as a vet, falls in love with August’s wife Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), and causes his fair share of ever-brooding mayhem.

“Witherspoon spends much of the film withering angstily”

‘Brooding’ has become an oftmocked trademark for Pattinson, but in all fairness he continues to play it very well. Less excellent is the melodramatic Witherspoon, who spends much of the film doing just that – withering, angstily.

LUKE GRAHAM SCREEN EDITOR

ANDY SMITH MUSIC EDITOR

Nearly all the acting kudos goes to Waltz, reprising Inglourious Basterds’ Hans Landa and then some.

It’s a pleasure to watch him possessed by anger, and his cuckoldry certainly allows some watchable lessons in good acting. Ditto to Holbrook, whose 15 seconds or so of screentime are by no means wasted.

Barely pulling it all together is director Lawrence, the man who ruined Constantine and I Am Legend. The film may be well-designed, and laudably consistent in its continuity errors - so glaring that even someone like myself, who rarely notices such things, ended up weeping on the

Cowboys & Doctors & Aliens

Maddie Soper examines the season premiere of Doctor Who as it conquers America...

WHEN you begin with Matt Smith reclining across the roof of a 1959 Edsel Villager Station Wagon, you know you’re in for a treat.

Apparently even Doctor Who doesn’t have enough of a budget to make a quarry in Wales look believably like the vast sands of Utah, so they hopped across the Pond (geddit?) for a quick stint in America with all the epic proportions and crash-bang-wallop that goes with it.

Doctor Who is often at its most clever and

engaging when intertwined with real life events, and the Moon Landing is a perfect premise through which to weave a story.

Everything in these first episodes is

bigger in scale, design, and concept. The brief for the series opener was ‘begin like the finale’, and indeed they did - with plenty of the Doctor being wacky, River

Shh... Keep quiet!

Calum Baker ponders over talking in the cinema...

IT’S hard to know where to stand when it comes to talking in cinemas. Most of the time, the simple rule is: don’t. But occasionally, you watch a film so awful all you can do is chat to the person next to you about how forced that last line was, or how gratuitous that last ‘shock’ seemed.

I rarely open my mouth in the cinema – unless it involves popcorn – but have hardly found myself offended when sat next to people chatting all the way through Robin Hood or Percy Jackson. I guess it seems acceptable given the disdain for the film: personal rants and jokes are certainly preferable to yet another piece of crap dialogue, and satirical Mystery Science Theatre-style commentary is usually funnier than more po-faced ‘heroism’.

On the other hand, what about the people who actually enjoy said films?

I’ve sat in niche arthouse cinemas and become increasingly irked at people’s contempt. For instance, a screening of Ballast in particular housed two nearelderly delinquents a few rows back, constantly jabbering at how much they hated the film’s slow-burning rural realism.

Exacerbating my irritation was the simple question: what the hell were they expecting? Ditto the people who found Let Me In preposterously funny and who wants a beautiful flick

floor, dreaming of a better film – but frankly, the fetishising of Pattinson became wearying. Notice a scene where he is celebrated by his fellow carnies: that ever-present grin, surrounded by chanting extras, seems to say ‘look!

He deigns to walk among the freaks!’

Song (a brilliant Alex Kingston) being badass, and a suitably wobbly Richard Nixon impersonation.

There’s ample screen time for Karen Gillan, reasserting herself as female heroine and sex symbol Amy Pond, who manages to be the ideal companion - curious yet intelligent, strong yet sassy. Every girl wants to be her without wanting to bump her off. A challenging early emotional scene showcases Gillan’s true talent, feeling heart-wrenchingly believable, but not at all overacted.

The scare factor is also pretty high: I never expect to be peeking through my fingers since, y’know, it’s for kids, but Steven Moffat has the uncanny ability to take childhood fears and twist them that

like that interrupted with loud giggling?

But then… the same question applies to those who’d interrupt schlocky, ‘low’ fare such as Percy Jackson; a mocking minority which included myself. Why were we there if not to torture ourselves with its laughable ineptitude? Rightly, a couple of us were lambasted during the closing credits for being so vocal throughout – granted, by a disturbingly alone middle-aged woman, who possibly shouldn’t have drawn actual serious entertainment from this film. But she was right. There were people in the theatre who wanted to genuinely enjoy a film, no matter what our personal tastes were, and we were scornfully ruining it for them.

So ultimately, audience members chatting throughout ‘serious’ films is a sort of retribution for those of us who would get bored during blockbusters and start laughing at it. Even so, there’s no use going to a film marketed in such a way that you’ll probably end up disliking it, and proceeding to sit there loudly heckling it. Is it wrong to feel that it’s more OK to talk in blockbusters than in arthouse films? Definitely. I consider it wrong to label big studio films as less worthy than small indie ones anyway – why shouldn’t that extend to audience attitudes towards the different styles?

The best option is just to take a vow of silence, no matter what your opinion of a film. You never know who you’re upsetting...

Good acting is rarely aided by unsubtly reverent directors.

U l t i m a t e l y, it’s worth a quick watch, and maybe even a second; having said that, if it weren’t for Waltz and Holbrook, the film’s best actor is probably the damn elephant, whose chemistry with Pattinson is greater than that of Witherspoon. Take from that what you will.

CALUM BAKER

bit further: gasmask children, ticking clocks, stone statues, dark corners and the inability to remember the monsters right behind you… who just happen to have been subconsciously influencing the human race for centuries.

This psychological aspect alone would be enough, even without those aliens’ distorted faces. Add in some secret passageways, a deserted orphanage, and creepy mystery-child (Moffat tends to do those remarkably well) however, and you have a recipe for perfect primetime Saturday night telly. The opening two-parter has certainly set the bar for more great things to come this series.

Doctor Who: BBC1, Saturday nights

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20

Books

9 MAY 2011

Exeposé

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Esmeralda Castrillo & Tom Payne - books@exepose.com

A note to passive readers...

Tom Payne, Books Editor, explores the provocative essays of British novelist Zadie Smith YES, the world is changing and evolving at an alarming rate, and of course, it remains literature’s duty to reflect and express culture and society in all its nuanced completeness. And one of the most successful contemporary writers to do just that, at least in my eyes, is Zadie Smith.

Smith published her first bestseller, White Teeth, in 2000. She was in her third year of studying English literature at Cambridge. Candidly, she claims, in spite of her creative writing prowess, she only managed “a third” in her first year. There’s hope for me yet…

Since then, Smith has enjoyed an enviable degree of success. The Autograph Man (2002) and On Beauty (2003) were published amid a surge of public interest, swiftly followed by a Man Booker nomination and a well-deserved win at the 2006 Orange Prize for Fiction. She now writes for The Guardian, reviews books, films and occasionally publishes short stories.

Reading her novels, it’s hard not to admire her intelligence, acute sense of cultural awareness and attention to detail. But her thinking goes well beyond the conception of a decent narrative, filled with all the pathos, the subtleties and hidden meanings that provide a textbook blueprint for further literary analysis. ‘Fail Better’, one of her essays published in The Guardian, is a decidedly illuminating read. In it, she sweepingly labels literary classics as a mere “legacy of honourable failures.”

For Smith, a novel can never successfully convey the feelings and intentions

Review

The Perks of Being a Wallflower Stephen Chbosky ISBN: 1847394078

of its author, and it can’t faithfully reflect the world. Language, it seems, can never satisfy a purpose. Writing is selfbetrayal.

I’ll be quite honest in my opinion there are a few too many metaphorical cheeseburgers topping the bestsellers list these days, and I think Zadie Smith offers a good reason why. Authors these days seem far too intent on selling their ‘product’ on the great literary market place. For Smith, some of history’s best writers were those who asserted a confidence between their personal lives and their prose. Smith sees her work as an “unavoidable trace” of her personality woven into the fabric of her pages. And this, I think, is what makes a good book.

It may seem overly perfunctory to suggest, but a great novel, for me at least, is the experience of a world through a consciousness other than my own. It is not enough to simply acknowledge the biographical facts of the author’s life in their work. Rather, it is more satisfying to see the speaking ‘I’ as a way of processing and constructing a world that is alien and exciting.

“Authors seem far too intent on selling their ‘product’ on the literary market place” Zadie Smith vigorously asserts that this is the key to determining the success or failure of a novel. But irritatingly, she writes, “It is impossible to convey all of the truth of all our expeWRITTEN and set in the 1990s, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the story of Charlie, a 15 year old boy with a lot on his mind.

The plot is brilliant in its simplicity. It is essentially a very everyday story of family and friends told in a teenager’s perspective, but Charlie is a great thinker, and his reflections and anecdotes on the world are both thought-provoking and hilarious.

The blurb describes it as ‘a deeply affecting coming-of-age story’, and in various ways, it is. Serious and tragic occurrences are narrated within the pages; drugs, violence, sexual abuse. Many of the characters seem to be struggling with whatever difficult event is going on in their lives, others are only men-

rience. Actually, it’s impossible to even know what that would mean, although we stubbornly continue to have an idea of it.” Bad writing merely conforms to the world around us. It does nothing and elucidates no emotion, but ‘good’ novels acutely represent the struggle, and impossibility, of truthfully coming to terms with the ‘self’ and the world.

as though the reader must have as much talent as the author, that in fact readers are the authors.

But what exactly is this ‘talent’, and how do we come

“It is possible for readers to fail writers just as much as writers fail readers” Reading, of course, requires effort on the part of the reader, and it is possible for readers to fail writers just as much as writers fail readers. Many of us ‘like’ novels because we agree with an author’s view of reality and the world; it excites our emotions and invites us to identify with its protagonists. But maybe this isn’t the way forward. Maybe this is exactly the same trap that ‘bad’ novelists fall into, the same trap that leads writers to faithfully accord with the world around them without any acknowledgement of the difficulty and impossibility of effectively translating the ‘self’ into language. It seems tioned in passing, but all serve to illustrate the tragic reality of life.

Charlie narrates the story through letters addressed to an anonymous ‘friend’, which in effect makes it feel as though he is writing directly to you. The tone is such that none of the tragedy seems too overwhelming - there is just enough laughter and joy, and it only makes the story seem more realistic; for the majority of the novel I was completely absorbed in it and forgot that it was a work of fiction.

The style of writing is genius in its simplicity.

Here,

to terms with it? A certain degree of open-mindedness might go a long way.

It would also be useful to acknowledge that the individual’s views and knowledge of the world will never be reinforced or confirmed in any book.

Reading is trying to come to terms with the world outside of ourselves using only what we have inside. It is, in Smith’s eyes, the reader’s duty to construct a world from the fragments of the author’s writing, which is always an unquestionable failure.

Perhaps then, writing and reading, together, represent the ceaseless flux and movement of what is around us. For Smith, it certainly seems to be a way of refuting boring objectivity and obligatory author-worship. And I think that is a very exciting way of looking at books.

bookmark Zadie Smith is one of Britain’s most acclaimed contemporary writers. Her published works include White Teeth (2000), The Autograph Man (2002) and On Beauty (2005).

fancy adjectives and extensive descriptions are discarded, and what is written seems honest and not at all affected.

When conversations are reported, they are narrated as simply as ‘she said, he said’, which adds weight to what is actually being said, rather than its tone.

The description also comes across as simplistic and honest. Charlie simply puts down what he experiences, like, “the air felt like a warm bath.”

“At times, I found the novel to be very American, and I could see how this could get irritating”

At times, I found the novel to be very American, and I could see how this could get a little irritating. But the happenings within it, though I can hardly claim to have experienced many of them, are described with an intense realism that makes them seem familiar.

Charlie is an avid reader, and describes

each book he reads, the songs he listens to and the TV programmes he watches.

Occasionally it did seem as though the novel read as a recommended reading and listening list, but in fairness the recommendations were good, and I got so into it I enjoyed creating the book’s soundtrack playlist on Spotify.

“The style of writing is genius in its simplicity” Ultimately, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a tale of friendship - how much friends can mean and how they can save you. It’s also about getting drunk and stoned, and contains brilliant descriptions of the effects, such as, “I have to say that it was the best milkshake I ever had in my life. It was so delicious, it almost scared me.”

Laura Le Brocq

21

Exeposé week TWENTY FIVE

Review

Book of Fairytales Angela Carter

ISBN: 9781844081738

Fairytales are a familiar childhood favourite. The beautiful girl, the handsome man, the obstacle to overcome, the happily-ever-after. Angela Carter takes all this and turns it on its gorgeous blonde head. In compiling an almost exhaustive compendium of what might as well be titled ‘Angela Carter’s Book of WTF’, Carter has discovered some rather interesting windows into some of the lesser-known cultures that inhabit this planet. For example, the book gave me the strong impression that the Inuit people are unhealthily obsessed with sex and incest. Perhaps this is an unfair portrayal, but honestly, they must be a relatively small community, yet they somehow come up with tales about grandmothers

lives & lit

Freya Joseph looks at the life and works of Hans Fallada HANS FALLADA’S life story reads like a work of fiction even more dramatic than his own writings.

Born Rudolf Ditzen, he lived in Germany, witnessing both World Wars from their epicentre. From his birth, he was a magnet for danger and tragedy.

Being both run over by a horse and cart and contracting typhoid before his 18th birthday, the medication he was

marrying their granddaughters, and girls rubbing blubber on their genitals to bring them to life. Forgive me for focussing on the stories of a sexual nature over others, but rest assured that the rest of the volume hardly lets up on this level of bizarre.

The entire book seems to waver between an odd loyalty to oral tradition, with some tales written in almost authentic dialect (most notably the English gypsy stories and the ‘hill-billy’ stories of North America) and at other times written in plain English. While this may grate slightly when attempting to understand what on earth a ‘poor ould widderwoman’ might be, for the most part it adds to a rustic sort of charm which permeates the book.

It would have been an exceptionally useful tool to have a better commentary at the back; I found many of the notes on each story to be lacking, and I hoped for something line-referenced, with more comprehensive annotations on the background or meaning of the tales, which often left me at a loss.

The book should be ranked among Andersen and the Brothers Grimm as a compendium of the most fantastical and unusual fairy tales that were never told, and yet it offers something the others don’t: a glimpse into other cultures and the myths and legends that inspire them and that tell morals in a different way to what we are used to.

KATE GRAY supplied with to ease the pain of his injuries triggered a life-long drug addiction. Following these trials were a number of suicide attempts, culminating in a suicide pact with a friend. In typical fashion, the ‘duel’ ended in disaster, with Hans murdering his friend, but the bullet intended for him missing its target. In desperation, Fallada took the pistol and shot himself in the chest.

Unbelievably, he failed to die, destined to continue his life maimed and outcast from society, a murderer.

Although his evident mental instability allowed him to avoid conviction for his homicide, it began what was to be numerous stints in asylums. It was in an asylum that he learnt to appreci-

Review

IT’S not as odd as you may think.

For years, writers, filmmakers and other creative-types have been taking junkies, drop-outs and other apparently ‘low’ members of society and made them supremely intelligent beings, channelling their creators’ educated understanding of all sorts of ridiculous, lofty concepts.

However, Jennifer Egan’s recent

Pulitzer-winning fourth novel is, thankfully, completely natural in its characters’ contemplation of big themes.

Everything about this seems wildly realistic, as if being related at a party, about friends of friends – and given its tightly-knit ‘hyperlink’ nature, common with David Mitchell, Don DeLillo and more besides, this realistic, easy style is vital.

Broadly speaking, the novel follows the fortunes of aging punk Bennie Salazar. Weaving through time and space, ranging from NYC to Africa, between the late ‘60s and the 2020s, we follow various friends, mentors, associates and protégés of his as the world indifferently progresses. In a neat musical analogy, everything slowly moves from scratchy analogue – untainted, innocent – to ultradigitised before the final two chapters.

Set a decade from now, these final two chapters offer some interesting satire: it seems we’re moving so quickly we won’t even have time to say ‘text’ soon, opting instead to ‘T’ people.

Whilst easy to dismiss Egan’s vision of the future as forced, the robotic nature of her 2020s provides a tight conclusion. You spend a great deal of the novel wondering if you should feel miserable

or entertained, and when she presents familial tensions via PowerPoint (yes, that happened) you find yourself somewhere in between. Egan leads you through uncomfortable sympathies, such as attempted rapists and teen-groomers, with a consistently clear style that refuses to ham it up, to embellish with ridiculous flamboyance. The PowerPoint chapter, an extreme distillation of this style, still has incredible power, showing just how much investment Egan – and, soon, the reader – puts in the characters.

This is why the ending isn’t so insane. The world has pushed, by the 2020s, into such a fast-progressing state that we, reading in 2011, feel somehow outmoded, along with Bennie and his friends. The characters are constantly terrified of losing their hardcore Nirvana and Circle Jerks to a world of shiny tweenpop. Oddly enough though, even when it’s not telling outright jokes, the book is never depressing.

Everyone here ages (the ‘Goon Squad’ referring to the thuggish, militant nature of time), and most things are horribly dark, but…it’s a hell of a ride, lucid and enlightening. Which, luckily, is exactly Egan’s message.

ate farm work; but, inevitably, this was to his disadvantage.

Following the First World War, Hans became reliant on working the land for his living. He was imprisoned for six months for stealing grain, but his downward spiral into theft and addiction landed him back in jail, this time for two years.

For a while, Fallada’s luck appeared to have turned. His turbulent life had given him quite some material, and he was already making a name for himself as a writer. On leaving prison, he married and found work as a journalist, and was able to live without the crutch of drug abuse. He married, and in 1929, for obvious reasons, his writ-

ing became more political, and he was hailed as one of Germany’s only writers that was unafraid of writing controversial and honest works.

Obviously, this became a problem during the Nazi uprising. Many of his friends were seized for questioning, and after his hugely successful novel, Little Man, What Now? was adapted into a film by Jewish producers, his future as such an esteemed writer was in jeopardy. Inevitably, he was jailed by the Gestapo, but was released after a week. His attention from the Party took its toll on his book sales, and Fallada suffered a break down.

After deciding he could not bear to leave Germany for the safety of an-

other country, Fallada forced his wife to stay there with him at the outbreak of the Second World War. Their later divorce again landed him in an asylum, and it was here that Fallada began to write anti-Nazi literature, encrypted so that the Party wardens could not identify it.

Perhaps most sadly, a great many of Fallada’s works are lost, having been entrusted to his evidently selfdestructive wife upon his death. Very few such valuable accounts of life in Nazi Germany exist, and Fallada selflessly puts so much of his own terrible experiences into his sensitive works.

A Visit from the Goon Squad Jennifer Egan

ISBN: 9781899010337 Pulitzer Prize Winner 2011

EPILOGUE... reviews of essential literary classics

L’Étranger (TheOutsider) 1942 Albert Camus

DELVING into the depths of nature, culture and colonisation, ‘The Outsider’ questions the rules that govern the condition of our existence. From an existentialist portrayal, its narrator broadens the realm of the unknown choosing to ignore the whys and wherefores that we incessantly seek in life. His name is Mersault, and it is his insouciant attitude to society and social life that captures our curiosity. This will later bring us to detest his concept of living, and to lose any empathy for him, although there will

always be pity.

The title resonates in the theme of the book, the need in society to ‘give in’, to compromise and conform. Mersault refuses to play the game of communal living from Camus’ very first page in which he refuses to cry at his mother’s funeral. He refuses not out of spite or because he is emotionless, but because he can’t see why he should.

The detached, staccato style brings to life a character who is not disturbed by his lack of expression but rather, by society’s agitation at it. The first person narration immediately encourages the reader to identify with the main character, yet this creates conflict because he is too different. Mersault’s mentality is incoherent to someone who, like most of us, embellishes the cushion of society.

It has been suggested that he is a seeker

Books

of truth, and while this may be appreciated in his ceaseless attempt to explain all human behaviour alien to himself, it doesn’t advance him in the explanation of his own excommunication from humanity.

“From an existentialist portrayal, its narrator broadens the realm of the unknown” This novel challenges our use of reason and our submissive natures. Yet however philosophically significant it may be, as an enjoyable read I believe the characterisation of Mersault and his uninterrupted attempt to destroy the status of social convention ruin it. Camus’ character is extremely valuable as a study

of anthropology, philosophy and politics: the novel brings to focus the issues of environment and the immense influences of the people and situations around us on our actions. The plot is not enjoyable and is in fact quite depressing. On the other hand, it could be argued that a book about seeking the truth and about the uncomfortable sides of life (which for evident reasons people do not enjoy reading or analysing) is one of the most valuable literary pieces one can encounter. These qualities alone can truly illustrate the broadness and power of literature in the ‘real’ world.

ESMERALDA CASTRILLO BOOKS EDITOR

calum baker

22

Arts

9 may 2011 Exeposé

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Zoe Bulaitis & Laura Stevens - arts@exepose.com

FEATURE

Northcott Theatre: Fortune’s fool?

Zoe Bulaitis and Laura Stevens, Arts Editors, gauge the reaction to the Northcott’s funding cuts ON 30 March, Arts Council England revealed the names of the organisations to be funded by their new National Portfolio Funding system. The Northcott Theatre was not included. We spoke to Northcott representative, Matthew Newbury, about the implications of this loss of funding.

The ACE cuts to the Northcott will have an impact on the theatre, how stable is the future for now?

The ACE decision clearly presents a challenge to the Theatre but we have a great team who are well used to the choppy waters of life in the arts and will rise to this latest challenge just as they have to all the others we have faced recently. We have been operating a very lean structure and our application to Arts Council England was all about growth and continuing to offer an exciting and varied programme for a broad range of audiences. We have strong support from the City Council and University but above all from audiences and artists. The appetite for what we do will not disappear with this news and we are confident that our doors will remain open for the benefit of the entire community.

and it will be painful. As our colleague Tom Morris at Bristol Old Vic puts it: “It would be easy to blame Arts Council England, but this is not their fault. They have been set a riddle to which there is no fair solution.”

What is coming to the Northcott in the coming months that we can look forward to seeing?

The Comedy of Errors runs until 14 May. Spring Awakening runs from 17-21 May. BLOK/EKO (student production) from 9-11 June and Carmina Burana is performed by Exeter University Choral Society and Scholars Ensemble runs on 15-16 June.

Ben Bradshaw, Exeter MP

I was dismayed by the decision to cut all support for the Northcott. This risks leaving Exeter – a major regional centre – without a proper theatre. I don’t blame the Arts Council. They had to make very tough decisions because of the government’s huge 30 per cent cut in the arts.

This is so short-sighted. The arts and our creative industries in general are a major contributor to our economy. For every £1 we invest we get £5 back. I’m afraid this sums up the philistinism of this Government. It is also a major blow to Exeter students. I hope we can somehow secure the continuation of quality theatre in our city until we have a new Government that values culture and the arts.

Dr Philip Hensher, English Associate Professor The tragedy of the withdrawal of public funding from the Northcott Theatre was that it was so inevitable. No-one could say, this time round, that the public in Exeter and Devon didn’t have enough warning of ACE’s views.

“The arts can’t continue on a general feeling that it’s nice that they’re there” Probably few theatres can keep going without public funding. But no theatre can keep going on public funding alone. Perhaps there wasn’t enough enthusiasm in the city to supplement

How can students help?

The best thing students can do is to buy tickets and come to see shows; many people still think theatre is expensive and elitist but in fact students can see most things for £6 or £7. Students can also help by spreading the message that having a vibrant theatre in the city they choose to study in is really important.

Do you think that the spending cuts are necessary?

Should the Arts be cut as much as they have been?

Clearly the country is facing extremely challenging times and there will be cuts across the entire public sector not just in the arts – the axe is falling everywhere

Natalie Pearson, EUTGS CoPresident

It would be difficult for anyone to disagree that the Northcott Theatre is a great asset to the University. It brings audiences from around Exeter, alongside the student body. Therefore, the bleak outlook for the future of the theatre comes as a great upset for many.

What must be recognised is that despite the cuts, there is no lack of interest or attendance at the Northcott or other theatres across the counties. It is merely a reflection of the economic climate in which it appears numerous costs are unsustainable and widespread cuts are unavoidable. We can only support the hard work of our theatre and hope to see the same exciting and diverse range of productions that it is recognised and treasured for. EUTGS will be at the forefront enjoying the facility.

Katherine Bardsley, Northcott Employee

What makes the Northcott an important Art Centre in Exeter?

The Exeter Northcott Theatre is the only space capable of presenting full-scale drama, dance and opera between Taunton and Plymouth. We serve an extensive catchment area of 551,000 households in the heart of Devon and are often the only venue in the county visited by prestigious national companies.

public funds with ticket-buying. Well, I’m sorry for the few people in Exeter who love the theatre and who can’t go to Bristol or London regularly. Were there enough of them? In ACE’s view, not really. Was ACE wrong? Well, when was the last time you went to the Northcott Theatre, or to hear the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra on one of its visits, or went to see ‘The Fair Toxopholites’ in the local museum? The arts can’t continue on a general feeling that it’s nice that they’re there, you know.

Exeposé Arts Comment:

Exeter’s University bookshop being scrapped on campus, Northcott Theatre having its funding completely cut, reduction in Art and Humanities support at degree level: the government and our university appear to be insinuating, not with much subtlety, that the Arts are a disposable luxury that is first to be cut when the economic climate looks as bleak as it does now.

Every sector faces cuts during these times, and it is proper and necessary that the Arts should not be spared

this when the NHS, the police force and the armed forces are receiving such slashes too.

“Hitting the Arts will not go unnoticed and it is not an easy route to solve the current fiscal situation”

What is needed, however, is a realisation that hitting the Arts will not go unnoticed and it is certainly not an easy route to solve the current fiscal

situation. Whilst the apathy of some will contradict this view, let the future and current students of the University of Exeter have the benefit of a working, professional theatre on campus by supporting the Arts here on Streatham.

If the worst occurs for the Northcott in the coming year it will be a great blow to all those forthcoming students paying £9000 a year, especially those who love having a theatre in such close proximity or wanting the experience of starring, directing or working backstage.

As both an employee of the Northcott Theatre and a student, I was saddened by the news that ACE had decided against the inclusion of the Northcott into the National Portfolio Programme.

I viewed this decision from two standpoints: one, was my job safe? Yes, it is. But secondly, were the shows that I wanted to see safe too? Not necessarily. I am of the understanding that for now, our theatre is safe, but the tight squeeze is only going to get harder to bear. The coalition’s cuts are beginning to bite all over; in some areas this is to be expected and in others it is more surprising. It would be a great shame for a jewel in the South West’s cultural crown to lose its lustre, and it would be to the detriment of this government’s legacy.

23

Exeposé week twenty five

Arts

comedy review The Alternative Wedding Reception @ Udderbelly Southbank 29 April WE went up to London on the Royal Wedding Day to see the most glamorous cow ever seen on British soil. Lying on its back on the Southbank is a purple cow of proportions rivalling the London Eye; and this is the venue for our review. We were invited, not to the real reception of newlyweds William and Kate, but instead to the equally esteemed tent containing E4’s collection of comic talent in the form of The Alternative Wedding Reception.

“A deterrent for teen pregnancy...This hulahoop is your lady foof” The tent was a purple and green haze, filled with slightly surreal music, with classics such as Robbie Williams’ ‘Angels’ and Wet Wet Wet’s ‘Love is all around me’ to set the slightly seedy (in a sarcastic way) tone of the night.

The night kicked off with an introduction from the charming Tim Fitzhigham playing the part of the drunken dad, who announced of the lovely Kate Middleton simply ‘I’d give her one.’

1The audience were promised eight acts to tantalize their comic taste buds and the Udderbelly delivered; from magicians (Pete Firman) to cabaret singers (Sarah-Louise Young), to a woman rapping dressed as K-Mid (Jenny Bede), to even a man in a Union Jack Lycra bodysuit (Le Gateau Chocolat) – it’s impossible to say that we were not entertained.

The favourite of the night for us was Loretta Maine, the rock and roll American alter ego of British comic Pippa Evans. ‘Loretta’ graced us with songs full of female rage – the album title ‘I had your baby but I threw it in the river’ is telling of the type of humour deployed. It was dark, intense but had us shaking silently with laughter in our seats lest she saw and unleashed her wrath at us. The highlight of her set was a deterrent for teen pregnancy comparing giving birth as fitting your fist through a hula hoop, cleverly rhyming “this hula hoop is your lady foof.”

All in all, the night was a great success, even if Phil Kay’s performance plummeted due to a combination of too much alcohol, and not enough humour to fill his set. Exeposé would recommend a trip to the Udderbelly cow to anyone who dares take a walk on the purple side – but be warned it can be hysterically funny, surreal and perhaps too much fun to handle.

theatre review Comedy of Errors @ Northcott Theatre 3-14 May SHAKESPEARE’S earliest and shortest play, Comedy of Errors is often overlooked by theatre companies in favour of better known titles such as Twelfth Night or Much Ado About Nothing¸ despite having spawned a hundred copy-cat farces throughout modern culture. This production, however, has safely placed Shakespeare’s original comedy back on the map.

The understated opening introduces the audience to the world of dusty piazzas and sweltering Edwardian three-piece suits as Egeon describes how two sets of twins were torn apart by Shakespeare’s favourite narrative device: a shipwreck.

In the foreign land of Ephesus the twins unknowingly collide, and the inevitable pandemonium and hilarity ensues.

The acting is, to my mind, flawless.

Both Antipholius of Ephesus and of Syracuse (Matthew Thomas and Dan Winter) evoke both laughter and sympathy from the audience as they become ever more frustrated and baffled as the play goes on.

This results in imprisonment and sanctuary for both and trailing in their wake is a band of bemused colleagues, wives and friends. The women of the play are as flawed as their male counterparts being impatient and vengeful; Adriana berates and chides every man she comes across.

This may entertain the audience with familiar characterizations of the scolding wife, but it makes her less likeable as a result. However, the true star of this production is Richard Neale who plays Dromio of Syracuse, whose boisterous performance and perfect comic timing is hysterically funny. In particular his recoiling from the kitchen wench and his innuendo laden line “Oh sir, I did not look so low!” had the entire audience howling with laughter. There were touching moments as well as riotous humour, with Gareth Kennedy’s closing words “We came into the world like brother and brother, let’s now go hand in hand, not one before another”.

“Not once did the production reduce Shakespeare’s lines to mere slapstick”

Not once did the production reduce Shakespeare’s lines to mere slapstick which is a seemingly irresistible temptation for other producers – but delivered them with genuine wit, putting faith in the audience’s ability to understand the joke. This elicits every last laugh out of the comedy, rather than losing subtle humour to overly elaborate props and pantomime-esque eye-rolling. If you want more than to force a contrived laugh at a Shakespeare comedy, don’t miss the Comedy of Errors production at the Northcott Theatre.

ALEX WYNICK

Editors’ Top 10 1. Comedy of

Errors

Theatre 3-14 May Northcott Theatre

interview

Talking to Ollie Hester, Front of House Manager Exeposé: How can students get into the Arts industry?

Ollie: I’d say no time like the present, go up to the Edinburgh Fringe in your first summer. Don’t bother going on holiday with your family or with your new mates from Uni. Go and get a job doing front of house, box office or bars and you’ll see loads of different types of culture for free and have a great time!

E: What is your most exciting experience at Udderbelly to date?

O: The whole thing has been a bit of a

2. Comedy Night rollercoaster really. The launch on the Southbank was so high profile being behind the London Eye. It’s become a really iconic venue, it’s there every summer and we get thousands of people turning up because they love it so much.

E: What is your overall experience of working in the Arts industry?

O: I think it’s one of the easier industries to get your foot into and you can go very far in a short space of time.

Get stuck in and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. With a smile on your face, you’ll go far.

LAURA STEVENS AND ZOE BULAITIS ARTS EDITORS

COMEDY review

Dylan Moran @ Exeter Phoneix 17 April

THE industrious Moran has established himself over the course of the past fifteen years as one of the best comedic talents, having written for, and starred in, such British comedy gems as Shaun of the Dead and the sitcom Black Books. Through these appearances, and his three previous stand-up tours, Moran has cemented his comedic personality as being dark, morose and sardonic and, more often than not, slightly drunk and dishevelled.

Judging by his stellar performance at the Phoenix, Moran’s embittered wit remains as savage as always.

The small venue provided an intimate atmosphere, and Moran was quick to engage with his audience, responding to the light-hearted heckling and dishing out his own. Moran ap-

peared in his trademark unkempt and unprepared style, bringing several pages of notes with him on stage, which he subsequently dismissed, revealing this was only the third time he’d performed the routine.

Moran rampaged through some of his favourite irritations, pouring scorn on fitness, relationships, punctuality and politics, all laced together by hilarious anecdotes. He also tried his hand at political satire, something which he admitted he had “not a clue about”, although his comparison of Nick Clegg to a “useless kitchen implement that’s been in the draw for so long no one can remember what it’s for” raised a lot of cheers. His similes typified his trademark aloof surrealism, describing his wife’s snoring as a sound reminiscent of “two rhinos shagging in a vat of crisps.” The introduction of a more personal aspect compared to previous tours also went down a storm, with anecdotes about his children’s bizarre phrases and questions, delivered in his usual perplexed style, being another highlight. His acerbic sarcasm was best summed up in a rant on the supposition that everyone has one soul mate by offering the sardonic advice of “Why not go down your local disco and find them?”

All in all, his performance was charming in its lack of preparation yet showcased his fantastic comedic talent.

BEN WINSOR

Comedy 13 May Exeter Phoneix

3. Tiny Volcanoes Theatre 10-11 May BikeShed Theatre

4. Relationship

Status

Play 20-21 May M&D Room

5. Red Oleanders Play 12-14 May BikeShed Theatre

6. The Count of

Monte Cristo Art 1 Apr - 15 May Phoenix Centre

7. The Recipe

Exchange

Art 14 May - 9 July SpaceX Gallery

8. Spring

Awakening

Play 17-21 May Northcott Theatre

9. To Kill a

Mockingbird Play 9-14 May Theatre Royal, Plymouth

10. And The Horse

You in Rode On Play 24 Feb - 21 May Theatre Royal, Plymouth

24

Video Games Alex Hawksworth-Brookes & Jessica Leung - games@exepose.com

9 may 2011

Exeposé

Join the Exeposé Video Games Facebook group Follow us on Twitter @ExeposeVG

NEws ByTES David Rees plays the university admissions system

FOR those of you who have caught Royal Wedding fever, and want to get your hands on some souvenirs, head over to http://tinyurl.com/3b4536a and try and beat Jess’ top score of 0!

In other headline related news, last week’s most popular internet flash game took the form of a terrorist-sim, where the player takes on the role of the now deceased Osama bin Laden.

From terrorists to virtual terrorism, with the news that Playstation Network is now back online after much frustration, silence from Sony and chatroom trolling from Xbox owners. Fear not though, for retribution is at least implied by the US Congress’ demands for an explanation.

Meanwhile, Nintendo have announced the unveiling of their next console project at next month’s E3.

Not content with the recent release of the 3DS, Nintendo also aim to increase their share of the console market.

Project Café, the project’s codename, is rumoured to feature controllers with individual screens and a more powerful processor than Sony’s PS3, although speculation that the console can also make a decent mocha remains unconfirmed.

AN Oxford University report has recently shown that teenagers who regularly play video games are less likely to go on to higher education. The study, carried out on 17,000 individuals born in 1970, shows that “playing computer games regularly and doing no other activities meant the chances of going to university fell from 24 per cent to 19 per cent for boys and from 20 per cent to 14 per cent for girls.” The evidence from this experiment, reported in The Guardian on 7 April, also states that, “reading enhances the likelihood that teenagers will go on to study for a degree.” Links are also made between increased chances of getting into higher education and cultural activities such as going to the theatre.

Well, thank you Sherlock, for your wonderful insight into the education system. I would never have guessed that reading books could help me get into university. What gets to me about this particular story, however, is not the fact that a headline was forged out of what at first glance seems to be the absolute bleeding obvious. Instead, it is that the researcher in question – who will remain anonymous – is wrong.

As an English student, reading widely and seeing plays is of vital im-

REVIEW

says drips with wit. You will want to hear what every character has to say even if it means playing through the game slowly.

The single player campaign is roughly six hours long. About half way through the game you will be able to predict the ending. However, the pacing and writing are so good that this won’t matter and you will want to see how everything pans out.

The cooperative mode extends the game by another six hours and is definitely best played with a friend. Solutions involving four portals increase the complexity and require a different mindset to defeat. Talking to your partner is strongly advised as team-work is vital to completing the harder puzzles. Whilst GLaDOS Is still present, it is a shame some of the other characters don’t make cameos.

Despite coming close to perfection, Portal 2 is not without its faults.

Throughout the game there are lengthy load times that can be very disruptive; especially during extended action sequences. Also, whilst the visual style is striking, with its use of colour and light juxtaposing both dank and clinical environments, Valve’s source engine definitely shows its age with disappointing graphics. In the larger environments it is easy to lose sight of where you are going and it may take a while for you to work out what to do which breaks up the flow of the game.

Overall, Portal 2 overcomes any problems it has to be one of the greatest

Portal 2: Valve; PC, PS3, 360 21 April 2011

THE original Portal was a surprise hit released in 2007 to great critical acclaim; it benefitted from great gameplay mechanics, smart writing and its concise length. With Portal 2, Valve has succeeded in creating an experience greater than the original by including a cooperative mode, introducing a larger cast of quirky characters and introducing new mind bending puzzles. In addition to the portals there are new mechanics to keep gameplay interesting. The amount of ways these can all be used together offer a unique and interesting mix of puzzles throughout. At its heart, Portal 2 requires players to use two connected portals to solve a number of progressively harder challenges.

The player reprises the role of Chell from the first game after an undefined number of years; at the beginning of the game the Aperture science centre is rebuilding itself around you as you prepare to once again confront GLaDOS, the facility’s insane AI. This time you are not alone; throughout the game you are accompanied by a myriad of colourful characters ranging from Wheatley, the lovable and moronic robot, to Cave Johnson, the egotistical ex-CEO of Aperture.

Wheatley, voiced by Stephen Merchant, is one of the funniest characters to ever appear in a videogame - every word he

portance to me. As a chronically lazy teenage boy, on the other hand, I can readily admit to not doing as much of either of these things as I perhaps should have done in my years leading up to higher education. However, here I am a few years down the line, at university, so something must have gone right. The point is that I spent a lot of my teenage years in front of a television screen

“I lived what I perceive to be the normal life of a teenager”

with a controller in my hand, winning sporting accolades all over the world and slicing apart pretty much anything that moved – sometimes at the same time. Was it the smart thing to do? No. Did it hamper my transition to university? On the contrary: it gave me common ground with many of the people I was living with. Maybe I am an isolated case who sidestepped the system and got lucky. However, to be honest, I wouldn’t give myself that much credit: I lived what I perceive to be the normal life of a teenager (little work and plenty of play) and continue to do so.

This study, I believe, is seriously

flawed. The people involved were born in 1970, so we can assume they were gaming sometime in the 1980s. Then, you had the original Nintendo Entertainment System as one of the major games consoles.

More successful in Europe were the various Sega systems – but these, whilst they remain retro novelties today, cannot compare to modern-day consoles. Xbox 360s and PlayStations demand and receive a lot of playing time, and our generation is certainly playing a lot more video games than the gamers of the 1980s. Despite this, we’ve got more students in higher education, which would serve to show up the Oxford report as incorrect. What’s more, it’s something the researcher himself accepts and agrees with, which does not lend much integrity to his line of argument.

He mentions that other forms of entertainment, such as going to the theatre, are more useful for prospective university students than playing video games, stating that: “It’s no surprise that kids

REVIEW

Shogun 2: Total War: Creative Assembly; PC, 15 March 2011

games of the year so far. The characters will keep you interested throughout the game - solving puzzles is extremely satisfying and the ability to play with a friend is a great inclusion. Additionally, the upcoming release of free DLC makes Portal 2 a must-own title.

9.5/10

Athanasios Skarlatos

TEN years after the Total War series was launched, the developers take us back to feudal Japan for their latest instalment: Shogun 2. For those unfamiliar with the games they combine the best elements of turn-based strategy with real time combat.

Shogun 2 streamlines many of the complexities of its predecessors without over-simplifying things.

Set in the 16th century, the Creative Assembly has worked hard to give the game a truly Japanese feel. Turns are now divided into s e s o n s r a t h e r than years and the map changes to reflect this. The seasons also have their own unique effects: summer can produce bounteous harvests whilst spending too long in enemy territory during winter causes your men to succumb to frostbite.

You play as one of ten clans each starting with a solitary province and the goal is to conquer sufficient territory, in order to become powerful enough to become Shogun. The game boasts intriguing diplomacy and AI that has clearly been improved since Napoleon: Total War. When you begin in 1545,

who went to the theatre when young get better jobs. That’s because their parents were rich. When you take these things into account, the effect that persists is for reading.” We can assume this implies a link between children being bought theatre tickets and them getting into university, which then leads on to the aforementioned jobs. All very well, but children these days aren’t generally being bought theatre tickets over games consoles.

The research itself nicely contradicts the argument by stating that: “playing computer games frequently did not reduce the likelihood that a 16-year-old would be in a professional or managerial job at 33”. Credit where credit is due: this report has inconclusiveness down to a fine art.

If there is anything we can take from this report, it is surely this.

It explicitly states that playing video games and doing nothing else will hamper your progression into university: what a shock to the system. More of us play video games nowadays, and more of us get into university; if you do something else once in a while, you’re good to go. there is a Shogunate already established in Kyoto led by the Ashikaga clan, who still pose a threat to your faction’s future. The game teaches you to appreciate diplomacy, so when you do take on the Shogun, you’re the one holding all the cards.

Visually, the game is gorgeous, although you’ll need a powerful graphics card to experience its true merits. Zoom in close enough on your troops and you’ll see that their armour and faces differ from man to man. Landscapes are impressive and reflect your position on the campaign map when a battle starts.

“Visually, the game is gorgeous” However, I found that several of the battles, particularly sieges, were fought on identical maps, despite being in different locations. The combat itself is larger than ever before and vastly improved.

Cavalry crashing into soldiers results in men being flung before them and stray fire arrows can burn down a keep.

This latest instalment is a fine addition to an excellent series of games and provides serious enjoyment, both in single and multiplayer. The online campaigns pit you against other players whilst allowing complete personalisation of your samurai avatar. Shogun 2 may have a few flaws, but this should not stop you buying what has to be one of the best games of 2011.

9.5/10 Dominic Mcinerney

25

Exeposé week twenty five

Adam Koziol augments reality with Nintendo’s 3DS WITH over 145 million units sold the DS is not only Nintendo’s most successful handheld but looks set to top the Playstation 2 as the most popular video game platform to date. With this in mind, it is not surprising that the announcement of a successor system was met with such enthusiasm. However, now that the 3DS has launched, does it live up to all the hype? Well, yes and no.

Let’s start with what is touted as the defining feature of the system, the 3D without glasses. Simply put, it works, and it is very impressive. It has to be seen to be believed, but when playing the 3DS it really does feel as if you are looking through a window into a world in your hands.

You do need to keep your head within the sweet spot for the effect to work but that is normally quite easy.

As an added bonus, a slider on the side of the device lets you adjust the level of 3D on the fly so that you don’t get any headaches.

My problem with the 3D is therefore not that it doesn’t work, but that it is superfluous.

It may be impressive at first but I’ve yet to be convinced that 3D is going to make a real difference to the industry. Nintendo’s two previous systems both brought

real innovations to the way we played games. From dual screens, to touch screens, voice control, motion control and IR aiming, Nintendo offered a whole new set of tools for developers to work with. As they themselves advocated, the important thing was how a game felt, not how it looked. With the 3DS they seem to have abandoned that philosophy and it’s a

THE single-player in Homefront is ridiculously short. I’m talking life of a mayfly short. Insultingly short. In fact, this review is almost longer than the single-player of Homefront. That alone isn’t unforgivable. Portal is short. The difference is that Portal is brilliant, while Homefront is the worst collection of modern war clichés imaginable; the worst being the dominance of your AI squad. Instead of letting you play the game, while they help, it feels like your

“It is insulting. It is like the game doesn’t want you to be there” AI squad are having all the fun. They insist on speaking amongst themselves while you are forced to wait and listen to them. They take the best cover in set-pieces, forcing you away. And then those set-pieces are simply dragged out for hours. There are stealth missions you cannot fail by being un-stealthy. I

“I can see the appeal of watching your little creatures battle it out on the kitchen table” Luckily, the 3D is not the only feature that the 3DS brings to the table.

The system features three cameras (one inwards facing and two outward facing) which are used for augmented reality; where the world around you is transformed into the setting of a game. The 3DS comes with a nice variety of built-in software that makes great use of this feature for fun, interesting gameplay. However, it would have been nice if the cameras were of higher quality.

For me, augmented reality has a lot more potential than 3D, without the need for glasses.

I may not be a big fan of the Pokémon franchise but even I can see the appeal of watching your little creatures battle it out on the kitchen table. There are a number of other advantages the 3DS has over its predecessor. The slide pad gives the handheld analogue control and feels a lot more comfortable than the nub on the PSP, whilst the built in accelerometer allows for motion control functionality. The graphical power has also seen a nice boost over the N64-level graphics of the DS. The geometry isn’t on quite the same level

REVIEW

Homefront: Kaos Studios/THQ; PC, PS3, 360 15 March 2011

shame. For the most part I found myself playing with the 3D turned off to save the system’s battery life, which is quite a bit shorter than that of the original DS.

Top 5...

ran around shooting the ceiling, and no-one noticed. In a stealth mission! The sniper rifle is horribly unbalanced, with absolutely no recoil. It is gamebreakingly over-powered. But worst of all, only the AI can open doors, and you cannot progress until they let you. And they won’t let you. It is the worst example of what the modern war shooter can be. It is insulting. It is like the game doesn’t want you to be there.

The story, intended to be a modern retelling of Red Dawn, is horribly overbearing. The tone is nauseous, jumping from war porn to war crimes. Under no circumstances should this be bought as a single-player game. It just doesn’t function as such.

The multi-player is, frankly, not too bad. It has a few innovative modes, and it can be quite pretty at times. It isn’t balanced too well, but it can be fun if you are terminally bored of CoD and Battlefield. But frankly, there are just as good XBLA & PSN games for half the price. Far better to spend your money on Blacklight than encourage anymore of... this.

3.5/10

Iain Dawson

Easter Eggs Red/Blue – Mew Under 5 Pokemon the Truck Technically more of an urban myth than an actual Easter Egg, but there was always some snot-nosed little arse on the playground who’d claim to have pulled it off. Essentially, there was a truck, innocuously placed near the SS Anne, which supposedly had a Mew stuck beneath it, for some unknown reason. Countless hours of countless childhoods were thus subsequently spent trying to extract the Schrödinger-esque little psychic from its alleged vehicular prison, all in vain. Frankly, it still hurts.

Age: Origins – Zombie 4 Dragon Kitten Army Dragon Age. A game of two halves, one being gratuitous mass genocide and buxom companions, and the other being weird, juvenile in-jokes apparently shoe-horned in by sniggering pre-pubescent developers. The fourth entry into our countdown is decidedly the latter. Waste enough time wandering round Denerim and you’ll eventually be ‘rewarded’ by the sight of Bee-

as the Gamecube but the 3DS’s shaders allow for some effects that even the Wii can’t produce.

It is also nice to see that Nintendo has made some progress with online connectivity. There is now only one friend code per system instead of one per game and each of your friend’s profiles will be displayed on the friends list. The online store, due in late May, also looks to be much improved over Nintendo’s previous offerings. There is also StreetPass and SpotPass, the former allowing the different 3DS systems to interact with each other and swap data when in sleep mode, whilst the latter means the console will automatically download any free content available when it is connected to the internet. Still, the completely free service remains far behind Xbox Live and PSN and there are still several issues to resolve such as the lack of a messaging system. Hopefully Nintendo will listen to these complaints and continue to improve their online capabilities through system updates.

The final question to ask is would I recommend you to buy the 3DS? Purely basing my answer on the hardware level, no. The system doesn’t offer enough new features and the price is slightly too high. However, as with any system the more important part is not the hardware but the software, and on that side the 3DS looks set to deliver. As well as great party games such as Mario Kart and Kid Icarus, Nintendo is now working a lot closer with third parties. It may be early days for the system but with installments in the Resident Evil, Final Fantasy and Assassins Creed franchises already announced, the future looks bright for 3DS owners. lzebub’s own mewling, ginger litter, permanently arranged in flawless box formation and ready to strike terror into the hearts of small rodents everywhere.

And how do we know they’re zombies? BECAUSE IT’S JUST COOLER THAT WAY.

3 Diablo II – Secret Cow Level

Animals. Widely recognised as inherently hilarious, of course, and presumably that’s why so many games seem to believe they constitute witty Easter Eggs. Diablo II, that otherwise depressing funeral procession of a game, is no exception. Play it right and you gain access to a secret level populated entirely by raging homicidal bovines, which you can then slaughter to gain valuable experience. Eventually, you even get to kill the Cow King.

AMAZING. San Andreas – Top of Gant 2 GTA Bridge Back in the days when Rockstar still had a sense of humour, and the GTA franchise had jetpacks and fun (as opposed to ‘realism’), it was possible to fly CJ up to the top of Gant Bridge, theoretically prime Easter Egg territory, and find nothing but a pithy mes-

Video Games

Exeposé Video Games asks ‘What Have YOU Been Playing Recently?’

Let us know on Facebook and Twitter Jack D’Arcy has been playing ‘Metroid Prime because of the sheer nostalgia’ Olli Whittle has been playing ‘Fallout: New Vegas because I’m still obsessed with a game that came out last October’ Luke Graham has been playing ‘Monster Hunter Tri for 200 hours because pappa needs a new set of dinosaur armour!’

Iain Dawson has been playing ‘Batman Arkham Asylum, because Bruce Wayne never had to worry about a dissertation’ Tom Wilson has been playing ‘Portal 2 because I’m not a horrible person (and we weren’t even testing for that)’ Kate Gray has been playing ‘WordMole, because I’ve convinced myself that testing my vocabulary counts as revision’ Henry White has been playing ‘Angry Birds because it has birds…and they’re ANGRY’ Joe Johnston has been playing ‘Worms World Party because mass earthworm genocide on an international scale isn’t the same without a banana bomb’ Calum Baker has been playing ‘2-player Tetris on SP because... can I even justify this one?’

Matt Bevan has been playing ‘Starcraft Broodwar because getting my APM up to 300 will make me do better in exams?’ sage from the developers. Pure gaming genius, topped only by the fact that you weren’t also receiving accusatory phone calls from your parasitic cousin every five seconds.

Mario 64 1 Super Yoshi Meeting

– Pointless

Aaah, retro. The Mario games were always full of hidden features and this was perhaps one of the most notorious – complete the game fully, collecting all 120 stars in the process, and you’d unlock a cannon in the castle courtyard.

This could then be used to reach the roof, where you’d meet Yoshi, Mario’s obnoxious dinosaur friend, who would then fully stock up your lives. Pointless? Utterly. But a legendary gaming rite of passage? Of course. elizabeth quinlan

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9 may 2011

Sport

Also in the news...

Exeter City 1-0 Plymouth Argyle Exeter City

Josh Irwandi Reporter

EXETER City’s last home game of the season was marked with their first win in 18 years against arch-rivals Plymouth Argyle.

This year’s record home crowd of 7, 869 attended the much-awaited Devon Derby, as Exeter looked to maintain a respectable position in their second season in League One, whilst Plymouth tried to escape relegation. It was also influential, on-loan midfielder Ryan Harley’s last game for the club before he returned to Swansea, who will be looking to play in the Premier League next season.

Exeter started the game confidently, holding the ball up and letting the play flow. Their strong possession threatened Plymouth a few times, notably when David Noble’s shot from inside the penalty area grazed over the bar, and Richard Duffy managed to head the ball from Harley’s corner but saw it just wide. The highlight of the first half was Duffy’s backpass to Artur Krysiak, when the Exeter goalie chested the ball down before picking it up. Referee Mark Halsey awarded an indirect free kick and Argyle’s Simon Walton laid the ball to Luke Summerfield but the wall blocked his shot away.

The second half proved to be more promising for Exeter. Troy ArchibaldHenville launched a long pass through the left flank, flicked away by Jamie Cureton, before 20 seconds into the

Exeposé

EUMCC 2nd XI stroll

second half. Daniel Nardiello had a chance to double the lead when he found himself outside the six-yard box, but his shot went wide for a goal kick.

“James Dunne blasted a volley into David Button’s net, 1-0 Exeter”

Plymouth, with relegation at stake, brought on a couple of attacking options through Joe Mason and Rory Patterson to pile on the pressure. In the 70th minute Patterson went for glory but his shot was saved by Krysiak. Five minutes later, Rory Fallon slotted a goal after a one-two with Yannick Bolaise, but he was caught offside. It was a rather frustrating afternoon for Peter Reid’s side, but the score remained the same till the final whistle.

Exeter’s victory ensured their highest league position in history, though they sadly finished short of the playoff places. The Grecian’s fans waved goodbye while chanting “Going down!” to the depressed Plymouth supporters, as Plymouth will now be in a lower division than Exeter for the first time in their history.

The post-match presentation included the unveiling of the new 2011/12 home shirt and Jamie Cureton was awarded Exeter City’s Player of the Year after scoring 20 goals so far this season.

Simon Dewhurst provides a Fresh Perspective on the Snooker World Championships Snooker

Simon Dewhurst Reporter Another memorable Snooker World Championship came to an end last week with John Higgins winning an emotional fourth title.

A tournament epitomised by brilliant snooker suffered its first shock on day one when 21 year old Judd Trump beat the defending champion Neil Robertson. Trump, confident on the back of his win at the China Open, maintained his stunning form to reach his first World Championship final after victories over Graeme Dott and Ding Junhui. During the tournament, the young Bristolian won an army of fans due to his aggressive style and bubbly personality, with many pundits comparing him to the legendary Jimmy White.

Meanwhile, Higgins had to come through tough matches against Ronnie

O’Sullivan and world number one Mark Williams to book his final spot at the Crucible. The popular Scotsman had suffered a tough year on the back of match fixing accusations and the death of his father, but clearly still holds the all-round game which won him the title in 1998, 2007 and 2009.

The final was played out in front of a capacity crowd who helped to create the best atmosphere the Crucible has ever witnessed. After trading early blows, only one frame separated the players going into the final session on Bank Holiday Monday. In the end, it was the experience and guile of Higgins that made the difference as he went onto secure a deserved 18-15 victory.

Trump’s positive approach to the tournament has brought a new audience to the game and it is expected that he will shine in years to come. However, it remains John Higgins who rules the snooker world, confirming his status as one of the best players ever to have graced the game.

cricket

Chris Barber Reporter ON Wednesday 4 May, EUMCC 2nd XI took on UWIC 2nd XI in their second BUCS fixture of the year.

The team were looking to build on a good pre-season and a fine win over EUMCC 3rd XI in their first group

game. On a lively wicket, Captain Greg Webber won the toss and elected to bat first.

Openers Dave White and James Edwards put on 79 for the first wicket before Edwards was trapped LBW by Watkins for 32. White went on to make 39 before he was clean bowled and at the half way stage of the innings Exeter were stuttering at 104-3.

However, a solid partnership of 94 between Webber (40) and Olly Flower

(52) helped to set a platform for the lower middle order to score some quick runs at the end. A couple of lusty blows

by Steve Miles (20) ensured that Exeter finished on a commendable 246-7.

In response, UWIC struggled at the start of their innings as Ed Smith (2-34) took a couple of early wickets. UWIC began to build a partnership for the third wicket before Reid edged behind to wicketkeeper Chris Barber off the bowling of Al Taylor (3-41).

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Exeposé week TWENTY FIVE

past UWIC to victory

Crossword

Sport

No. 19 by Clare Mullins

Photos: Josh Irwandi

Across

1. “God Father of Soul” (5,5) 8. Turn something upside down (5) 9. Norwegian Painter (1863-1944) (5) 10. An addition to a document (8) 13. Female Reproductive Cell (4) 14. Joseph had lots and Martin had one (5) 16. Rice dish (5) 18. The French have no word for this (12) 23. City of the Dead (10)

Down

2. Australian City (8) 3. Muslim Festival (3) 4. A popular student bar – male sheep (3)

“A couple of lusty blows by Steve Miles (20) ensured that Exeter finished on a commendable 246-7”

Wickets continued to fall regularly as Rob Graham (2-31) bowled impressively in the middle overs and UWIC were soon reeling at 66-5.

However, stubborn resistance followed and Exeter needed a run out to burgle the sixth wicket of the innings.

UWIC continued to press on before the wicket of McNeillie was taken by Mike Gymer (1-30) with an excellent Yorker.

Some powerful hitting from the UWIC lower order gave them a slim chance of victory before some exquisite bowling and fielding from Exeter meant that 246 was too big a target.

UWIC were bowled out in the

48th over for 210, giving Exeter an important victory by 36 runs.

This win sees Exeter top the group ahead of vital clashes against Bournemouth and UWE next week.

Coach Dave Ottley was delighted by the win and said, “It was a great team performance, our bowlers exploited UWIC’s inability to play through the V.”

5. Building synonymous with the Netherlands (8) 6. Guerrillas fighting the Soviet Army in Afghanistan (1979-1989) (10) 7. The Victorian kidnapper’s favourite chemical (10) 11. Temple of ……, second film in the Indiana Jones trilogy (4) 12. Tip (4) 15. French band whose single ‘Sexy Boy’ featured in 10 Things I Hate About You (3) 17. Atom with an electrical charge (3) 19. Draw (3) 20. Organ that detects sound (3) 21. Kid who is ‘non-conformist as can be’ – genre of music (3) 22. Multinational Music Company (3)

28

Sport

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monday 9 may 2011 Exeposé

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EUMHC in the Premiership Hockey

Ben Stupples EUMHC Publicity Secretary

AFTER only a year’s absence, the University of Exeter Men’s Hockey First Team have secured their return to the summit of English hockey: the Premier Division.

Over the weekend of the Men’s Promotion Tournament at Cannock Hockey Club, Exeter finished top of their play-off group through the most nailbiting margin of goal difference.

The Men’s Conference West Champions began the tournament against Canterbury with a convincing first half performance, where goals from Ian Haley and Tom Carson resulted in a 2-0 lead at half time – a lead that was strengthened to 3-0 after half time through James Royce.

Canterbury, however, refused to be beaten and they quickly raised their performance after Royce’s goal. Tom Millington of Exeter contained Canterbury’s pressure, incredibly letting in only one goal, which resulted in the final score: 3-1.

Exeter then faced Durham University on day two of the tournament and they quickly found themselves 2-0 down after ten minutes. Goals, however, from Joe Sterlini and James Royce salvaged the score to keep their promotion chances alive and leave it equal at half time. The momentum returned, though, to Durham after the break as they converted a stroke and a penalty corner in quick succession to make it 4-2; and Durham continued to cling onto their advantage but, with nine minutes remaining, James Royce scored his second and Tom Carson converted from a set piece to leave the scores level and keep the blood pressures high.

In the closing minutes, Exeter looked the more likely to come out of the encounter victorious but it was Durham who regained the lead and pinched a win from a penalty corner in the last minute.

Exeter’s loss meant that any of the four teams in the play off group could still qualify for promotion on the final day of the tournament; but Exeter blasted into a 4-0 lead at half time against Southgate on Monday with braces from Rob Mugridge and, once again, James Royce. After Southgate had pulled two back, Tom Carson scored the fifth and final goal for Exeter to make the final score 5-2 and ensure Exeter’s promotion into the top flight.

Andrew Miller, Club Captain, declared: “after a season where our 3rd, 4th and 6th team also secured promotion, it was fantastic to see EUMHC 1st XI gain promotion back to the Premier League where the boys will rub shoulders with Britain’s best hockey players in the build up to the Olympics. Bring on the Prem!”

Photo: Andy Smith

Basketball Clinch Promotion Basketball

Esmeralda Castrillo Since October, Exeter’s First Ladies Basketball team has dominated the scene in both BUCS Western Division 1A, and the Local and District league.

It has been a tough season but strong leadership on court from their outstanding point-guard Becky O’Shea has helped them through, and they are now facing an exciting year in the Premiership. This could not have been possible without the incredible post-work of Maria Savchenko, Rose Jenner and Elsa Crowther. Nor without the priceless presence of multi-skilled Manuela Plotegher-Arce, or the crucial guidance and motivation of the guards; captain Amy Lincoln and co-captain Helena Edmonds.

The season has seen easier and more difficult wins, but the team never gave up. Even when they went away to Kent for the Premiership playoffs and found themselves 12 points down with two minutes to go, they pulled together and persisted. Two minutes later they lost by one point, but as coach Burridge did not cease to remind them, this was only half-time. A lot learnt and more motivated than ever, the home game saw Kent lose by 12 points, leading the way straight to the Premiership for 2011-12.

“The team is excited for the prospect of Premiership basketball”

Alex Jakeman helping Exeter on the way to victory

Having won their BUCS division, Exeter University’s First Ladies’ Team entered the top 16 in the country. To reach the top eight they faced London Metropolitan University who are currently 3rd in the Premiership. This game was away. The team managed to match their opponents’ game, and although the end result was a loss there were moments during the match when the score was equalled.

After such an intense season, the crucial three-pointer shooting work from captain Lincoln and Manuela Plotegher-Arce, and the infallible work of Coach Grant Burridge, led the ladies on to collect the cup league trophy and they are currently favourites to come top in the local league.

The team is excited for the prospect of Premiership Basketball next season under the leadership of their coach Burridge and new captain, Maria Savchenko.