News: Chancellor Floella Benjamin opens University reception

Published on X-Media Online on Sunday, 5 November.

Chancellor Floella Benjamin opens University reception by Imogen Blake, News Editor

Chancellor of the University of Exeter, Floella Benjamin, revealed the University's new reception area in an official opening ceremony on Friday, 28 October.

Officials from Exeter were taken on a tour around Streatham campus to see newly completed buildings on campus, including the INTO Academic Centre and the Business School’s Building One.

The tour gave the officials a taste of what the campus will look like once the Forum Project is completed. The Project is part of a £275 million investment into Streatham campus.

The first phases of the Forum project are now complete, with two refurbished library levels, a piazza outside the Great Hall and the new reception. Students have also moved into newly built accommodation in Birks Grange, Lafrowda and Duryard.

Baroness Floella Benjamin said: “We believe this state-of-the-art reception will help provide a new focal point within the heart of campus being created by the Forum Project. It is really exciting to see the new facilities which include informal meetings spaces and information screens where students can meet and interact with each other as well as members of staff from across the campus.

“It is no doubt reassuring to both present and future students, as well as parents, that the extensive building developments on campus illustrate they are entering a world class University which is in good health in what remains a difficult financial climate for so many organisations”.

IB

News: Complaints over rape joke in SSB magazine

Published on X-Media Online in News section on Friday, 25 November 2011.


Complaints over rape joke in SSB magazine by Imogen Blake, News Editor.

OutRAGeous: The joke which caused offense. A rape joke in the Safer Sex Ball magazine has caused the publication to be reprinted after complaints were made to the Students’ Guild. The magazine, which is given out with every Safer Sex Ball ticket, joked that taking off a girl’s clothes without consent will burn 187 calories. The comment was part of a double page spread on how many calories you can lose during sexual practices. Complaints were made soon after the magazine, produced by charity-based society RAG, was issued on Monday, 21 November. Sophie Odgers-Roe, the Guild’s Racial Equality Representative, was “horrified”. She commented: “When I saw it, I was shocked, horrified and outraged. The Hidden Marks report was delivered last year, which details that one out of six women are violently assaulted or raped on University campuses. In light of this, I just can’t believe the sheer audacity of it!” All copies of the magazine have now been removed and will be reprinted without the controversial comment. Fee Scott is Service Manager of the Devon Rape Crisis Service which is based in Exeter. She said: “I was shocked to be informed of the ‘joke’ about sexual violence printed in the SSB Magazine. “It is still amazing that there is such a degree of thoughtlessness and insensitivity about sexual assault, particularly when 1 in 4 women will experience rape or sexual assault in their adult life”. RAG, the society which puts on the annual Safer Sex Ball, has issued an apology for the joke. They said in statement: “We would like to apologise unreservedly for any offence caused by an unacceptable comment made in the SSB magazine. RAG does not condone abuse in any way, shape or form and we’re deeply sorry that it was allowed to be published”. The Students’ Guild has also apologised, stating the joke should never have been published. A spokesperson said: “We would like to sincerely apologise for not picking this matter up at the proofing stage and for not removing it from publication. An investigation is underway, looking at how this happened and ensuring that nothing like this happens again”. Ms Scott was glad the magazine was withdrawn but expressed concern that the joke was allowed inclusion in the magazine. She said: “I was pleased to note the speed at which the magazine was withdrawn and the apology was issued but we should all be highly concerned about a culture where such remarks and sentiments can get through an editorial process”. Sophie agreed and added: “I'm happy about the speediness of the solutions and the solutions themselves. However, I will stress that I'm also pushing for all publications to be moderated by a separate entity in the Guild to make sure this does not happen again”. If you have been affected by the comment, visit the Advice Unit in Devonshire House or telephone 01392 723520. The Devon Rape Crisis Service has opened a helpline for women affected by sexual violence. Telephone 01392 204174 for advice. To raise specific concerns or complain about the issue to the Students’ Guild, email guildparticipation@exeter.ac.uk. What do you think? IB

News: DJ Jaguar Skills will headline Safer Sex Ball

Published on X-Media Online in News section on Monday, 21 November.

DJ Jaguar Skills will headline Safer Sex Ball by Imogen Blake, News Editor

British DJ Jaguar Skills will join beatboxer Faith SFX and Britain's Got Talent semi-finalists Girls Roc on stage at the Safer Sex Ball on Thursday, 8 December.

DJ Jaguar Skills will perform alongside Girls Roc and Faith SFX.

It will be the third time the DJ, famous for dressing as a ninja, performs at the SSB. Jaguar Skills has held residency at an Ibiza club night and currently has a slot on BBC Radio 1's Trevor Nelson show.

Plan B beatboxer Faith SFX will also appear, alongside aerial dance troupe Girls Roc who made it as far as the semi-finals on ITV's Britain's got Talent. University acts will also entertain the 4,100 students attending the annual ball which is organised by RAG.

Tickets sold out in just one hour last Thursday after problems with the online seller the week before deferred the sale date. An extra 100 tickets were put on sale to compensate for the technical issues.

Students were able to collect their tickets today from 10am until 2pm in the Lower Exam Hall. Collection is also available from the Information Point in Devonshire House between 10am and 4pm until Tuesday, 7 December.

The theme for this year's ball is Fantasia: magic, myth and fairytale.

What do you think of this year's headline acts?

IB

News: Audience members kicked out of Debsoc debate

Published on X-Media Online on Sunday, 23 October.

Photo by Fiona Lally

Two members of the audience were removed and one speaker walked out in protest at the University of Exeter's Debating Society on Friday, 14 October.

After a panel of guest speakers had spoken for and against the motion of 'This House believes that nuclear power is unsafe', the debate, held in the Parker Moot room, was opened up to questions from the audience.

But the controversial topic sparked fury among some of the audience with two women not affiliated with the University swearing and refusing to come to order.

Debsoc President, Ben Jones, called security and the two women were escorted out of the room. Asked who he was by one of the women, he replied: "I'm the President - so shut up!"

Guest speaker Keith Taylor, who was debating in favour of the motion, then walked out in protest of the women's removal.

Audaye Elesedy was left as the only guest speaking in favour. He later commented on Keith Taylor's exit: "He is an experienced MEP and followed his conscience in making the decision to leave".

It was revealed the opposition had won in the closing vote of the debate.

What do you think?

IB

Recipe: Malteaser Slices

Published on X-Media Online in Lifestyle: Food section.

For when you’re feeling naughty, this is an original alternative to refrigerator cake.

This tiffin recipe (courtesy of Sam Stern) is great for a special occasion or just when you want to spoil yourself!

I would advise you use margarine for this recipe as the slices are so rich even without butter and it makes no difference to the taste.

Ingredients:

100g margarine/butter

100g golden syrup

150g milk chocolate (Dairy Milk or Galaxy works well)

225g digestive biscuits

175g Malteasers

For the topping:

300g white chocolate (Milkybar works surprisingly well!)

Grated chocolate/crumbled Malteasers to decorate

Method:

1. Put 1cm of water in a saucepan and place a mixing bowl on top.

2. Melt butter, golden syrup, milk chocolate in the bowl on a very low heat – be careful not to boil! Stir continuously and when melted together, remove from heat.

3. Bash digestive biscuits with rolling pin/empty wine bottle to fine crumbs in a freezer bag – a clean plastic bag works ok too. Then bash Malteasers in the bag unopened a few times – but leave some whole!

4. Stir both digestive and Malteaser crumbs into chocolate mix.

5. Spread mix into a shallow tin, roughly 19cmx29cm.

6. Melt white chocolate using the same method as for the milk chocolate mixture. Stir constantly. When melted, spread over the base.

7. Sprinkle grated chocolate/crumbled Malteasers over the top to decorate. Cover with clingfilm and leave to chill in the fridge.

8. When hard, cut into slices and enjoy!

IB

News: Activities Fair chaos for societies at University of Exeter

Published on X-Media Online.

Societies were left feeling disappointed after problems with a new barcode sign-up system at the Activities Fair led to a fall in paid membership.

The Guild issued an apology for the problems caused by the new electronic system but thought the Fair on Streatham campus was a "huge success" because of the record number of sign-ups this year.

The Guild will hold an inquiry into the day's problems.

The barcode system, implemented for the first time this year, required students to receive a barcode 'sticker' from the stands of their chosen societies at the Fair on Sunday 2 October.

Students then had to present their barcodes at till points in either the Great Hall, the Northcott theatre or the Terrace in Devonshire House. After students had paid their sign-up fees and got their receipt, they could then return to the societies' stands and receive their membership card and any freebies included in the fee.

Students can still sign up to societies online and at till points in Devonshire House.

But overcrowding in the Great Hall and large queues at all of the till points meant many students were put off paying for membership on the day of the Fair, leading to a shortfall between the number of barcodes given away and the amount of paid-up members.

The committee of Debsoc, the debating society, wrote a letter of complaint about the inefficiency of the new system and the danger the shortfall in members posed to new or small societies. The letter was signed by 14 other society presidents and was to be published in the next edition of University newspaper, Exeposé.

The Guild issued a full apology at an emergency meeting held on Wednesday 5 October. They promised that societies with less than 25 students, the minimum number to start or maintain a society, would still be affiliated with the Guild for the next year as long as the letter would not be published in Exeposé.

The Guild will hold a review of problems caused by the barcode system to see how it can be improved for next year's Activities Fair.

Treasurer of Debsoc, Matt Hardwick, told X-Media Online what happened.

He said: "Debsoc's president sent a letter of complaint about the problems at the Fair to other society presidents with the intent to publish the letter in Exeposé. We had a terrific response with 14 out of 23 presidents signing the letter in agreement with our complaint.

"We then held an emergency meeting with the Guild on Wednesday morning and secured their promise that any small society with less than 25 members would still be part of the Guild. We also received the Guild's full apology and a promise that a full enquiry would be made into the issues of the new system. In return, we agreed that the letter would not be published in Exeposé".

James Fox, VP Participation and Campuses, thought that despite teething problems with the electronic system, the Fair had been successful.

He said: "Overall, I thought the day was a massive success and the atmosphere on campus was incredible. Obviously, with a new system, there will be some issues and we can only apologise for this. There will be a full review which all societies are encouraged to contribute to in order to ensure we make next year's event even better. Despite the issues, we saw a record-breaking levels of sign-ups which are constantly rising with online sign-ups and the till points in Devonshire House".

Many students used the online sign-up service on the Guild website which has led to a steady increase in members for all societies since the Activities Fair. University arts magazine, Razz My Berries, have received more than 50 members since Sunday.

Razz My Berries co-editor, Anna Holden, said: "At the end of the Fair, Razz had 75 members and five days later, we have 127. The day went really well for Razz but it definitely could have been organised better".

But while online customers may have avoided the queues, they missed out on freebies offered by societies at the Fair.

Laurence Morton, treasurer of literary society, Litsoc, commented: "The queueing time forced many members to resort to online sign-ups, which meant they were unable to pick up the free book we were giving out at the Fair."

Long queues and new systems were not the only problems faced on the day by societies. Both Litsoc and Exeter Creative Writing Society (ECWS) were placed in the Terrace despite other arts societies having stands in the Northcott theatre.

Joe Attard, vice-president of ECWS, said: "Our society was doubly affected, not just by the cumbersome electronic system - frustrating for both students and committees - but also by the fact we were placed in the Terrace and not with the other arts societies. As a result, ECWS did substantially worse this year."

What do you think?

IB

News: University of Exeter fails to meet fair access targets

Published on X-Media Online.

Failure to attract students from low-income backgrounds has led the University of Exeter to offer increased financial support for poorer students.

Exeter University is one of 44 institutions which fell short of its own fair access target in 2009/10. Figures from the Office for Fair Access (Offa) show Exeter University typically fails to meet targets for state school pupils and students from low-income backgrounds.

The University admitted it had been unsuccessful in meeting targets this year but has pledged to spend £5.5m on financial support for poorer students.

Sarah Hoyle, Media Relations Manager at the University of Exeter, said: “In 2012/13 we will spend £5.5 million on financial assistance. By 2015 the amount spent on financial assistance will have almost doubled to more than £10.3 million.

“We have always been advocates of the widening participation agenda and hope that this will encourage students from a wide range of backgrounds to apply to Exeter.”

The news follows a recent report from the University and College Union that bursaries from elite universities are not attracting poorer students.

Despite top universities spending £395m on financial support and offering substantial bursaries, the report finds that poorer students are still most likely to apply to non-elite universities.

The UCU suggest more needs to be done to attract these students to more prestigious universities.

Sarah Hoyle commented: “2012 will be a very different environment and we predict that financial support packages will be increasingly important for universities to attract and retain the very best students.

“The challenge is to communicate this, and the range of financial support available, to potential students. We are working with national organisations, such as Universities UK, to try to get this message out to a wide audience.”

Exeter University offer a range of scholarships as well as means-tested partial fee waivers and bursaries for students with a household income of below £42,600.

What do you think?

IB

News: Students should apply to university after results, Ucas declare

Hello! 

This is an article written for X-Media Online on Thursday. I'm News Editor of X-Media Online and you can check out the section and website at www.xmedia.ex.ac.uk :)

Students should apply to university after results, Ucas declare

Photo from gettyimages

A-level exams are to be sat at Easter and students will wait until results day before applying to university, the University and College Admissions Service (Ucas) has proposed.


Under plans, pupils would only apply for a degree course once they have received their A-level results to replace the current system where offers are made based on predicted grades. 


From 2016, exams would take place before the Easter holiday with results being released in July.


Ucas chief executive, Mary Curnock Cook, proposed the changes in a presentation to vice-chancellors in London last week.


The changes would prevent pupils being predicted the wrong marks. At the moment, many students do not apply to universities with high entry requirements fearing they will not make the grade, only to find out on results day they have exceeded their expectations. It is thought up to half of predicted grades are wrong.


The move would bring an end to pupils’ uncertainty but those against the proposal argue there is not enough time for university admissions teams to consider thousands of applications between July and the start of the university term.


Teaching unions are also expected to oppose the change, as it would reduce necessary time spent in the classroom.


But the plans would prevent students missing out on university places due to examiner errors. This year, a pupil from Uppingham School in Rutland missed out on a place at Exeter to study medicine after getting an A and two Bs. These grades were quickly remarked to three As but Exeter refused to accept her at the university for this year, only offering a place for 2012.


Government ministers backed the proposed changes, expressing “real interest”.


Ucas is to invite schools and universities to comment on its proposal, as part of an internal review of its admissions service.


What do you think?

IB

Cuttings: Articles I wrote while doing work experience at The Suffolk Free Press

Hello,

Here are a few articles I wrote while doing some work experience with The Suffolk Free Press on 30th June and 1st July. I was then asked to come back and work a full week at the paper in August and hopefully will put the articles I wrote on my longer placement on the blog shortly. For now, here are the articles from June/July.

Space: The Final Frontier by Imogen Blake (p4 of Suffolk Free Press 07/07/11 with own byline)

Photo from thelivingmoon.com

THREE self-proclaimed "space nuts" are to launch a weather balloon to capture Sudbury, the UK and the curvature of the Earth on an HD video camera.

Simon Grice, John Burch and Mark Newby-Robson, who together form the Sudbury Space Society, will release the balloon in about a month.

The weather balloon cannot be sent off from Sudbury due to flight path restrictions. Instead, it will be released just south of Cambridge in the early hours of the morning.

Most of the equipment required for the launch has already been built or bought but the trio are still waiting for the arrival of sensors before the release can take place.

Simon described how the group came up with the idea of sending a weather balloon into space.

"We're a bunch of space nuts and we always have been," he said. "It started when Mark got this great little HD video camera, which sits in the palm of your hand, and we thought: let's send this into space.

"The society was only formed about a month ago and, after some discussions, we agreed we were actually going to go ahead with the plan and send a weather balloon up into space."

The 10ft weather balloon can carry up to 2kg but the society's payload will weigh less than 500 grams. The payload includes an HD camera, a GPS tracker and solar panels.

The launch will cost nearly £600 with subsequent launches only costing £100 each.

In early August, the society hopes to launch a rocket 100km into space but Simon admits this plan needs some careful thought before it can go ahead.

Donations can be made at www.sss.dev.ideas.org/donate. All proceeds go to the Suffolk Air Ambulance and with every donation made, the society will allow the donator to choose a lightweight personal item to send into space.



River walk gets facelift (p4 of Suffolk Free Press 07/07/11 - no byline)

HALSTEAD ramblers and cyclists will be able to enjoy a new-look river walk once a narrow and overgrown path beside the River Colne is transformed.

As part of the Green Heart of Essex campaign, Braintree District Council has agreed to invest £64,000 into the area’s riverside landscape, updating old paths and tracks for the public to use.

To celebrate the scheme, Halstead mayor David Hume and councillor Joanne Beavis, cabinet member for communities, joined volunteers from Halstead in Bloom on Tuesday to begin hedge-cutting along part of the route.

Mrs Beavis said the updated path was great news
for Halstead. She said: “The new river walk really makes the most of the town’s natural asset – the River Colne which runs through it.

“It will be a joy for local people and visitors to the town to know that at any time of the year they will be able to enjoy the tranquillity of the riverside landscape whether on foot or by bike.

“This is just the start of a bigger initiative to improve access along the river and I look forward to seeing the project grow.”

The first phase of the project will see a 2.5-metre wide path laid along two stretches of unsurfaced track:
between Parsonage Street and Nether Court, and from Broughton Drive industrial estate to Chapel Street.

The work is due to start on Monday and will last for six weeks.

Artist’s joy at winning gallery slot by Imogen Blake (p13 of Suffolk Free Press 07/07/11 with byline)

Photo from matthewwebber.co.uk

AN ARTIST has spoken of his delight after one of his paintings was chosen for the country’s largest contemporary art exhibition. 

Matthew Webber, from Great Cornard, beat off competition from 12,000 other entries to have his artwork included in the Royal Academy of Arts’ 2011 summer exhibition in London. 

Matthew submitted his painting – Junction I – after failing to have his work accepted last year. 

The 37-year-old was delighted when he heard the news that his painting had been selected second time 

round. 

“I was a bit pessimistic about my chances,” he said. “But I had a positive response and it was a really exciting day when I received the letter telling me I’d got a painting in the exhibition. 

“Seeing my work on the walls next to such established artists is an honour. It’s been a real boost to me and my career.” 

Junction I was sold for £725 soon after it went on display in the exhibition – a feat which Matthew described as the “cherry on the cake”. 

The former Great Cornard Upper School student added: “I did my art A-level there and the teachers gave me a real passion for art.” 

The 2011 summer exhibition is open until August 15 in the main galleries of the Royal Academy of Arts. 

Tickets are £10 and can be bought by calling 0844 209 0051 or by going online at royalacademy.org.uk. 

More of Matthew’s work can be viewed on his website at matthewwebber.co.uk. 

Swimmers team up to help charity by Imogen Blake (p64 of Suffolk Free Press 07/07/11 - with byline)

TWO Sudbury men have swum to success after completing two fundraising events for a stroke charity close to their hearts. 

Andrew Tinsley, 29, from Great Cornard, and 40-year-old Shaun Boldock, from Ballingdon, swam in the Great East and Great London swim events to raise money for The Stroke Association. 

Shaun’s father died from a stroke in 2008, while Andrew’s grandfather is currently in hospital recovering from his second stroke in two years. 

Andrew, who works at the Kingfisher Leisure Centre in Sudbury, is Shaun’s personal trainer and encouraged him to take part in the Great East swim as part of his fitness programme. 

Andrew said: “I had no idea that Shaun’s father had died as a result of his stroke, so when I mentioned that I was swimming in aid of The Stroke Association, Shaun 

immediately signed up too. 

“It makes it even more poignant that both of us have very good reasons to support this hugely worthwhile charity and cause.” 

The two men completed the two-mile Great East swim event in Alton Water reservoir near Ipswich on June 11 and were back in action at the weekend at the Great London swim in the capital’s Royal Victoria Dock. 

In Suffolk, there are estimated to be just under 1,500 strokes a year, a third of which are fatal. Around half of those who survive are left with a long-term disability. 

The Stroke Association has 20 groups and clubs across Suffolk which support those affected by strokes. 

If you would like to sponsor Andrew and Shaun, visit justgiving. com/Andrew-Tinsley1. 

For more information about stroke support groups in the region, contact The Stroke Association’s support coordinators Elaine Monsen on 01473 743976 or Wendy Jephcote on 01284 760006. 

Thanks for reading!

IB