Tatler’s recent brief guide to Exeter University certainly reflects many of the stereotypes that we all know well and it probably won’t come as a shock to any students reading it. However, is this just another damaging reinforcement of the idea that only rich, sporty, Holland Hall ‘Exetah’ students can enjoy University life to the fullest?
Perhaps it is true that the place to live in first year is ‘Holland Hall – No Doubt.’ If you have the funds for it that is, and Tatler seem to assume that everyone does, no question. A room with a view comes in at just under £7,200 for the year. There are many other accommodation options, including many self-catered, which don’t have ‘hilltop views over the Exe Valley’ or ‘double ensuite’ but are far more affordable. I stayed at St. David’s in my first year (granted, very few people have heard of it) and it wasn’t particularly glamorous, but I still had an amazing time. None of these cheaper options are deemed glamorous enough by Tatler, but they still provide the opportunity to fully enjoy university life and meet people who will be your friends for life, view or no view.
None of these cheaper options are deemed glamorous enough by Tatler
Tatler can’t take their focus away from Holland Hall, however, naming ‘Monday Moz’ the best night out purely because you can neck VK’s with students who live there. VKs are a staple of our university, but I question the statement that drinking with Holland Hallers makes a great night out; many of us peasant types have great nights out at Arena (Unit 1), Cavern, or even Lemmy, and it doesn’t matter which halls people live in or used to live in.
This guide is only supposed to be a bit of a laugh of course, so perhaps accusing it of classism is an overreaction, especially when it is a given that a number of students at Exeter do come from a wealthy background. I think, however, it is important to remember that there is more to our university than the stereotypes suggests, and Tatler’s guide seems to be a guide for the privileged.