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The UK’s Best Student Publication 2023
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ISSUE 760 9 OCT 2024 exepose.com @exepose
THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987
New food outlets spark doubts among students “Why us?”: Students react to tuition fees scam Page 5
Image: Charlie Gershinson
Gracie Moore and Charlie Gershinson Editor-in-Chief and Deputy Editor
The role of fashion in politics: Trump and Harris Page 9
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CHANGE to the food outlets available on Streatham Campus has been met with mixed reviews by students. Over the summer, there have been some alterations to the food offerings available to students in Devonshire House. The £2 meal outlet, called the ‘Super Savour Kitchen’ has changed locations from DH2 to The Terrace. Its previous location
is now occupied by an Asian-themed stall called ‘Sushi Boba Poké’. The Super Savour Kitchen, which originated as a result of a student-led campaign has increased in price with the lowest price for a meal now £2.25, 25p more than previously. Other options advertised include an omelette and topper for £3.15 and a jacket and topper for £3.60. The movement and rebranding of the £2 meal stall comes after previous criticism that it was moving away from its original purpose to combat the cost-of-living crisis for students. Last year, Exeposé reported that some students, including some of the student activists responsible for the crea-
tion of the Super Savour Kitchen in the first place, had felt that the scheme had become commercialised due to the added costs of extra items such as garlic bread. Meanwhile, Sushi Boba Poke is significantly more expensive. Using an app, the lowest-priced items are edamame beans and forgotten ends, each for £2.50. The prices increase steeply from there. Six pieces of salmon nigiri cost £7 for example while the tuna dragon roll option costs £9.50. Also on offer are poke bowls, such as the £11.60 tuna poke and boba drinks each for £5. According to an survey that Exeposé conducted, only 68 per cent of responses
stated that they were aware of the Super Savour and Sushi Boba outlets available on campus. Also, 82.5 per cent of students were aware that the £2.25 pricing of the Super Savour meal used to be £2, a 12.5 per cent increase in price from last year. On the price increase, one student said they were “very disappointed in the Super Savour Kitchen. The jacket potato with cheese and beans (no salad) used to cost me £2.99. This year they are charging £4.58 for the exact same thing. Very disappointing and will make it more difficult as a disabled student to find affordable hot meals on campus.” Continued on page 4
Students react to proposals to increase tuition fees Amy Rushton and Agata Koralewska Editor-in-Chief and Deputy Editor
Hezbollah’s technology concealed with explosives Page 24
Images (top to bottom): Rosie Peters-McDonald, Shaull, Tasnim New Agency Reporter
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T has recently been reported by The Times that the government plans to increase tuition fees in line with inflation and restore maintenance grants for the poorest students, in an effort to revitalise the university system. Tuition fees for English universities are suggested to be raised to £10,500 in the span of five years, as 40 per cent of universities are expected to return a budget deficit this year. English universities have experi-
enced financial struggles and expressed a need for more help in order to accommodate students from more varied backgrounds. The Vice-Chancellor of Newcastle University, who chairs the Russell Group of universities, has stated that unless there is an increased in funding, no improvements in teaching quality and resources available to students will be seen. Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, warned that the value of existing tuition fees, which have been frozen since 2017 has been “eroded” due to failing to rise in line with inflation. Maintenance grants, which were worth up to £3500 and were abolished by the
Conservative government in 2016, are intended to shield poorer students from an increase in fees, though concerns over whether this will be enough or alternatively risks disincentivising poorer students from attending university. Labour have not confirmed these plans and are not expected to make a statement on tuition fees until the spending review next April, but, in an interview with LBC, Phillipson has expressed concern for the health and longevity of the university sector, stating “The system we have got overall is the worst of all worlds.” Many have expressed concern over a potential increase in tuiti-
on fees; Alex Stanley, Vice President Higher Education as the National Union of Students (NUS) stated on behalf of NUS, UK “Students must not be expected to foot the bill for the university funding crisis. Increasing tuition fees would only up the debt burden on students, especially those from the poorest backgrounds, and further punish students who are investing in their futures and the future of the country. “Our institutions clearly need more money, but so too do students. The failure of maintenance funding to keep up with inflation has left the averContinued on page 4