THE EXETER COLLEGE MAGAZINE ISSUE 14 AUTUMN 2011 WWW.EXETER.OX.AC.UK/ALUMNI LESSONS FROM A MASTER PHILIP PULLMAN ON WHAT MAKES A GOOD STORY REINVENTING TELEVISION JON GISBY ON HOW TECHNOLOGY AFFECTS COMMUNICATION THE TWO AFRICAS KOFI ANNAN VISITS EXETER PLUS: EZEKIEL EMANUEL ON US HEALTHCARE REFORM, TWITTER CO-FOUNDER BIZ STONE TALKS BUSINESS, FRANK CLOSE GETS A FRONT ROW SEAT AT THE BOAT RACE, AND MORE… WELCOME TO EXON Contents Editorial Rector’s Letter Frances Cairncross, Rector College News ince arriving in post three months ago, I Fundraising have been aware of a tremendous S A Day in the Life of the Junior Dean Philanthropy in the Fee-paying Era responsibility to deliver Exon on time and to a t seems appropriate that this year’s ending a successful tour by singing at We began with a talk on the prospects for Michelle Fernandes p4 Katrina Hancock p32 standard of which the College can be proud. issue of Exon is built around the mass in St Mark’s Cathedral. Africa by that great Ghanaian and public A Very Exonian Boat Race Not So Different, After All Punctuality can be measured, but what of theme of communication, since Now we are looking forward to two servant, Kofi Annan, former Secretary- Frank Close p5 Katharina Neill p33 I quality? The question I have tried to consider one of the main tasks of the College is milestones. One will be our occupation, General of the United Nations. We are A Tale of Two Africas Happy Holidays throughout has been “what is Exon’s purpose?” to teach and promote the skills that in autumn 2012, of our new site on planning more over the next three years. Christine Cheng p6 Alice Loughney p33 To entertain, certainly. Unquestionably to communicating requires. In a tutorial, Walton Street. True, it will be some time We will try to make sure that we Finding the Real America The Power of Matched Giving educate as well (in my first meeting with the students have many opportunities – before the buildings are refurbished or continue to communicate with you as Luke O’Leary p8 Emily Watson p34 magazine’s long-standing publisher, Jonathan vastly more than in any other kind of rebuilt and ready for our students. But both these moments arrive. Apart from Bringing the US Air Force to Exeter Student Hardship Bursaries Simmons, I was told that Exon was university education I know – to learn we are now choosing and briefing the this magazine, you receive the Register, Bradford Waldie p9 Becca Rees and Karl Dando p34 “unashamedly academic”). But Exon’s true to present their arguments in writing architect, and so we feel as though we a publication with a different flavour Communicating in a New World raison d’être is, I believe, to keep the channels and in speech. And the best tutors are are at last really on our way to creating and role, intended to be more of a record Josie Thaddeus-Johns p10 Campaign of communication open between Exeter the ones who communicate to their Morality and Story-telling Exeter Excelling Campaign Update College and her Old Members and friends. students a passion and deep Antony Eagle p11 Mark Houghton-Berry p36 How fitting it is then, as if to keep this understanding of their subject. Where a Language Lives on Love Teaching Fund Offers Hope for Kent Li p12 Humanities purpose permanently in mind, that the theme This year, their work has borne fruit: Katrina Hancock p37 of this year’s Exon should be communication. we have had the best crop of Firsts for a Tapping the Secrets of the Universe Sarah Livermore p13 Walton Street Update In a rapidly changing world of blogs and posts, decade. That is gratifying for our William Jensen p38 on-demand media and 24/7 news feeds, students, and not just because it shows BizStone@Exeter Matthew Baldwin p14 online petitions and pay-per-view TV, not that they are clever and hard-working: Opinion forgetting newspapers and novels (both some of those don’t get Firsts, but go on Inspirational Alumnus Returns Rhys Maliphant p15 The Eye of the Storm available digitally, lest they should fall behind), to do very well in the world. More Dancing in the Quads David Warren p40 Exon is contributing a verse. This year the important, the knowledge that you have Arthur Sawbridge p16 A Revolutionary Moment magazine features news of noteworthy College a First from Oxford gives a self- La Vita è Bella for the College Choir Ezekiel Emanuel p42 visits from alumnus and author Martin Amis, confidence that few other achievements Rhian Wood p16 The Death of the Newspaper? the co-founder of Twitter, Biz Stone, and the can deliver. But it is also gratifying for New Graduate Accommodation Opens Frances Cairncross p44 former Secretary-General of the UN, Kofi our tutors. Each year, I am impressed by Barbara Havelkova p17 Has Government Changed for Good? Annan; details of the University’s recently the amount of effort and energy tutors Lady Bannister Opens Renovated Gym Michael Hart p45 launched online video channel and the new devote to their students to ensure that James Misson p18 Power in an Information Age Blavatnik School of Government; and they do their best in University exams. Sports Reports Joseph Nye p45 discussion of the future of communication for Joshua Brocklesby, Charlie Howell, Tom Blight BAA, newspapers, television, and novelists. The College’s p18 Alumni Of course the communication has been 700th birthday is University News A Culture on Thin Ice two-way. I should like to thank the Old Stephen Leonard p46 Members, students, and staff who have now just three years Keeping Oxford Exceptional Letting the Leopard Cross the Road contributed to this year’s Exon, most notably Helen Watson p20 Quentin Macfarlane p47 the student interns Matt Stokes, Katharina away. I have now Blavatnik School of Government Behind the Veil Neill, and Joel Richardson. I also encourage been Rector for Unveiled Herman Salton p48 Alexander Barrett p21 readers to send in their news and feedback; exactly 1% of the life Breaking the Goldfish Bowl both are received with pleasure. I hope after New Pro-Vice-Chancellor Patrick Heinecke p48 Mark Gilbert p22 reading the magazine you feel entertained, of the College, and I Translating the Prophets enlightened, and wholeheartedly part of feel a certain awe as our new quadrangle in the heart of of the passing years, and the Donors’ Women’s Rugby at Oxford Alison Dight p49 Victoria Elliott p23 the Exeter community. that milestone Oxford. We want, of course, to fill it with Report. If you are online, we can send Exeter Floret in Saskatoon Floreat Exon! many more activities than it will hold – you a quarterly electronic news bulletin. Eccentricity Exhibition Robert Sider p49 Matt Stokes p24 approaches. “It’s not the TARDIS,” we keep telling This year, we experimented with a short Matthew Baldwin ourselves. But that merely adds to the film about the Annual Fund, made by one Oxford on YouTube Back Section Communications Officer Christopher Eddie p25 [email protected] Our students have had other triumphs sense of excitement and creativity that of our former graduate students who was Old Members’ Association How to Write the Bible this year. Perhaps the most striking were this wonderful project generates in us all. once herself a television presenter. Hannah Leadbetter p50 Tim Hele p25 on the river. For the first time ever, we The second milestone will be the And we have, in the past year, given University of Oxford Alumni Benefits had a student in each of three winning College’s 700th birthday, now just three our web site a new look. Do let us know Rachel McDonald p52 Features University boats: Benjamin Myers in the years away. I have now been Rector for if you like it. How to Tell a Story Published Exonians p53 A Public Zone Production Blue Boat, Benedict Snodin in Isis, and exactly 1% of the life of the College, and We hope that, as a result, you will feel Philip Pullman p26 The Year in Pictures p54 www.publiczone.co.uk Tel: 020 7267 4774 Rhian Wood in Osiris. But we also had I feel a certain awe as that milestone still fully involved in the College and its Publisher: Jonathan Simmons Writing the World Managing Editor: Becky Lee musical triumphs. For instance, Alexei approaches. We are working on ways to plans. You are an Exonian for life. You Amy Sackville p28 Assistant Editor: Joel Richardson Kalveks led Out of the Blue, Oxford’s ensure that we greet the next century may miss those tutorials and the fun of Story-telling in a Crisis Designer: Gemma Fountain excellent male a capella group, to the with suitable ceremony. One part of the rowing and singing with other students. Nigel Milton p29 Assistant Designer: Sarah Welton Exeter College Editorial Team: semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent (you celebrations will be a number of lectures But just be grateful that you no longer Stories in an Internet Age Matthew Baldwin, Frances Cairncross can watch it on YouTube). And the by distinguished guests, some of them have to take those exams! Jon Gisby p30 Interns: Katharina Neill, Matt Stokes Chapel Choir took Venice by storm, alumni or friends of the College. 2 EXON AUTUMN 2011 www.exeter.ox.ac.uk/alumni www.exeter.ox.ac.uk/alumni EXON AUTUMN 2011 3 College News A Day in the Life of the Junior Dean A Very Exonian Boat Race From herding Darth Vaders into the Chapel, to tackling harassment, Physics Professor Frank Close raises a glass to the success of Exeter’s outstanding the Junior Dean describes the challenges of her rewarding first year.