Comment's Review of 2013 at Exeter

With 2013 coming to a close, Online Comment editors James Bennett and Dave Reynolds attempt to round up the major issues that have got us talking this year.We’ve even let you in on a secret about how we got our jobs in the first place.

SSB Cancelled.

Exeter was rocked by mass media attention surrounding the Safer Sex Ball and The Ram’s Not Safe For Work CCTV footage. This led to the cancellation of the iconic event for future years. The decision was met with a great deal of hostility, with people no longer having an acceptable excuse to dance around in their pants in public.  After winning the Sunday Times University of the Year award for 2012, this was not the start to 2013 we were really looking for.

Photo Credit: Exeposé

Cocaine on Campus.

We were in further trouble after it was discovered that students and faculty alike had been dabbling in the only kind of snow that ever comes through Exeter. Everyone was shocked that some young people with lots of disposable income and spare time engage in recreational drug use. What was more exciting was the fact that some of the areas that tested positive for the substance were faculty only.

So we’re paying through the nose just for our faculty to snort it back up theirs?
Photo Credit: Foxtongue via Compfight cc

Exeposé accidentally elects two simpletons.

On March 12th we wrote a manifesto for a role we possibly didn’t understand. A day later, we were giving a speech desperately trying to convince a room full of people we’d never met that we were a better option than re-opening nominations. Thankfully, we won. With as much jounalistic experience as the Chuckle Brothers (apologies to them if they have some!), we were unaware of quite how difficult and time-consuming the job would be. Regardless, we were thrown in at the deep end, with our first major job being to cover a national party conference.

Pictured: Less journalistic experience. Much better moustaches.
Photo Credit: BBC via The Daily Hawk

UKIP’s Spring Conference.

In what was a very busy and succesful year for UKIP, their Spring Conference at the Great Hall was an opportunity for them to prove themselves as a serious force in British politics. What entailed was a day of old white people laughing themselves silly at xenophobic humour, Bulgarian extremists and Nigel Farage’ boundless wit. By the afternoon, most of the audience had nodded off, and we’d gone home.

What unfortunate timing.
Photo Credit: dullhunk via Compfight cc

Are boobs news?

With people trying to their best to put off revision, an almighty ‘debate’ took place on Facebook surrounding whether or not The Sun should be removed from guild outlets. It all got a bit heated, with the arguments tailing away from substance to more personal and unnecessary attacks. When it came to the vote,  the turnout was very impressive for University election standards, pulling in well over 2000 votes.

“From now on, page 3 will consist entirely of stories about adorable rescued animals.”
Photo Credit: AndyRobertsPhotos via Compfight cc

Blurred Lines.

No. No more. This ends now.
Photo Credit: N3sta via Giphy

E-E-EDL

The run up to their national demonstration saw tensions rise in Exeter as counter demonstrations were organised and fears of a presence on campus drove many to exclaim, “Ooh-er!” and, “Blimey”. The day was largely made up of incoherent ranting and marching about the streets of Exeter with seemingly no real message or purpose. Quite frankly, we were all quite relieved when they all went back home. A shout out to the Exeter Together campaign, which celebrated all things good about Exeter throughout the morning.

 

We never met her, but apparently Sharon Lawes did something to piss these guys off.
Image Credits: Niklas Rahmel

 

So it’s been quite an eventful year. Here’s to next year. We hope you’ve enjoyed our coverage throughout the term on all of the major events. Sorry if you haven’t. You’ve only got to put up with us until March and then there will be some new people! Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

James Bennett and Dave Reynolds, Online Comment Editors

Have we missed anything? Leave a comment below or write to the Comment team at the Exeposé Comment Facebook Group or on Twitter @CommentExepose.

 

 

 

Cocaine on campus

COCAINE traces have been found in eleven buildings across campus, an Exeposé investigation can reveal.

Tests were carried out in a total of fifteen toilets in both academic and non-academic buildings across campus using specialist swabs that detect cocaine residue. The results indicate abuse of the Class A drug extends beyond the recreational spots on campus to academic and administrative buildings.

Photo credits to Joshua Irwandi

Cocaine was discovered in the toilets in the Lemon Grove, Northcott Theatre and the Forum, as well as in the following academic buildings: the Physics Tower, Washington Singer, INTO, Queens Building and Amory, and the disabled toilets on Level 0 of the Forum Library.

Positive results were also obtained in a toilet tested in Northcote House, the administrative hub on campus which houses the offices of senior University staff. There is no open access to Northcote House for students.

Similarly, two separate toilets at the end of the Guild top corridor tested positively for cocaine residue. These toilets are open for staff and student use, as well as visitors to the university.

Toilets in the Peter Chalk Centre, Harrison Building, the first floor of Queens Building, Streatham Court and Level -1 of the library were also tested, but the swab results were negative.

The strongest results were found in the disabled toilet on the ground floor of Queens Building and the disabled toilet on the first floor of the Physics Tower. In both of these locations, a much larger trace quantity was detected in comparison to the other locations tested

According to Estate Patrol, the number of reported drug-related incidents on campus increased by almost two-thirds in 2012. In 2011, only eight cases were reported, in comparison to the 23 cases that were reported last year.

A spokesperson for Estate Patrol said that it sometimes receive phone calls from students who have noticed a suspicious smell in Halls of Residence but confirmed that in virtually all cases cannabis is the drug being used. The spokesperson also told Exeposé that generally, Estate Patrol do not seize large amounts of drugs on campus.

A spokesperson also commented that they were not surprised by Exeposé’s findings, considering the large number of people on campus.

When presented with the evidence obtained by Exeposé, a spokesperson for the University said: “The University has a zero-tolerance policy towards drug taking, and informs the police of all incidents as and when they occur.

“If students see anything suspicious or would like to report an incident, please contact Estate Patrol.”

The University also stated that the high number of positive test results in multiple locations across campus is not unexpected, considering that “most of the toilets tested are used by hundreds if not thousands of people each year.

“Last year we had 23 reported drug incidents among our 18,000 students, the vast majority of which were related to cannabis use.

“Whilst we’re not complacent, the evidence does not suggest that we have a significant drug problem at Exeter.”

The Guild agreed with the University regarding the extent of drugs abuse on campus, emphasising that “the Guild operates a zero tolerance to drugs use amongst students and staff”.

They added: “The Guild does not believe that there is a significant drugs problem at the University. The Advice Unit is available 24/7 to discuss any issues surrounding drugs use.

“The Advice Unit works closely with the Wellbeing Centre, should anyone wish to discuss the matter in confidence.”

However, Dr Vik Mohan, who practices at the Student Health Centre said that Exeposé’s findings were concerning.

She said: “Evidence of such widespread use of cocaine on the campus is deeply concerning to us at the Student Health Centre, as cocaine use poses such a huge risk to the health and wellbeing of our students. These risks include addiction, death from overdose, heart attacks or seizures, and mental health problems (or worsening of pre-existing mental health difficulties).

“Of course we strongly advise against the use of cocaine, and all other recreational drug use.

“However, at the Student Health Centre we offer a full range of confidential support for anyone with concerns about their health as a result of any drugs they may have used or are using, and are very experienced at supporting students with drug-related problems.”

In addition to the Student Health Centre, Dr Mohan advised that there are many other places students involved in or affected by drugs can go for confidential advice and information. These include the NHS Direct, NHS Choices, Exeter Drugs Project and Talk to Frank websites.

Dave Rigg, the Director and Founder of Crackdown Drug Testing, the company that makes the brand of swabs used in Exeposé’s investigation, stated that the swabs obtain results that are between “95 to 99 per cent accurate”. He also confirmed that the swabs can detect traces of cocaine up to a month after the surface has been used for snorting substances, even after repeated, direct contact with cleaning products.

Rigg explained the science behind the swabs: “The test is based on the reaction between cobalt thiocyanate and cocaine. Cobalt thiocyanate in solution is a pink colour, when cocaine comes into contact with it an immediate blue colour develops.

“This simple generic test is widely known and used throughout the forensic science community.”

Rigg explained the swabs are regularly used by Devon and Cornwall and Metropolitan Police, as well as dozens of other UK constabularies, prisons and customs to detect cocaine abuse.

Words: Beccy Smith

Additional reporting: Tom Payne, Zoe Bulaitis, Ellie Steafel and Ben Murphie