Qf 8 if Issue March 1139 1999 KEEP THE CAT FREE EST. 1949 The Students' Newspaper at Imperial College Seven Year Wait For Clayponds Over? After a wait of over five years, it seems that next five years, which would cover the the residents of Clayponds Hall may finally By Ed Sexton cost of the hall. This proposal has had a get a Village Hall. Currently the hall has no mixed reception. According to Ms Christer common social area, and the construction Danny Segal (who was unavailable at the "there seems to be a general feeling that the students "arc perfectly willing to do it, of a separate building to house a common time of writing), started a project to get a the Estates people are pretty apathetic as long as it has what they want in it." Many room has been rejected by college in pre• 'village hall' built for Clayponds. According towards us, viewing us as out of sight, out object to the move on principle, with one vious years. However, It seems that the hall to Jason Bain, who has lived at Clayponds of mind." warden describing as a "rather ugly prece• will be built only if residents agree to a sur• for over five years, "there arc many people Accrodingto Ian Caldwell, the Director dent". Mr Bain described the proposal as charge being added to their rent to cover in college, for whatever reason, don't want of Estates, the proposed building would "ridiculous", stating "the residents at Clay• the cost. the common room built." Certainly little cost no more than £75,000 - a small ponds should not be singled out to pay for Clayponds is a community of over progress has been made in that time - the amount when compared to other college Ihis facility." He went on to explain that "the three hundred students, both undergrad• project has been discussed in college com• projects. As the building is part of a resi• situation with the common room is one of uates and postgraduates, consisting of mittees, such as the wardens' sub-com• dence, however, it would have to be many factors which has lead me to resign flats within several houses. The entire site mittee and the Rector's Committee on funded from the residences account. This from the position of Assistant Warden." was a residential development that was Student Residences, proposals have been is the crux of the problem - every year David Hellard has made clear his opinion bought by the college part way through its put forward, and the matter has then been these funds have been allocated to pro• is similar; "I can't believe College can be so construction, and has since been turned quietly forgotten about. As current warden jects deemed to be more important. petty". There is a glimmer of hope for Clay• into what is inappropriately called a vil• MarkTyrer put it, "everybody thought it was Indeed, Mark Tyrer was told by college ponds, however; Mr Caldwell cautiously lage. Inappropriately because Clayponds a good idea, but nothing happened". that "there isn't the funds available". Mr stated that there "might be the potential to has never had any social area or common Apparently some members of college have Caldwell did say, however, that he "could find some funding from somewhere else room; Joanne Christer, a subwarden at suggested that not all the students at Clay• see the students' view", stoically stating "I I other than students' rent]". Mark lyrer Clayponds, described the TV room as "a ponds want the hall to be built, an accu• build what I'm told to build". summed up the current situation succinctly,- garage with a few seats in it". sation that student representatives deny. The latest plan appears to be to add "there is no reason why it couldn't be built Thus in 1992 the then new warden, One senior student at the hall commented 90p onto Claypond's weekly rent for the this summer." Medics Retain Hospitals Cup Inside.. m IC School of Medicine have once again however, lapses in concentration coupled LGttGrS - More moaning 6 confirmed their place as one of the top stu• By David Roberts with a few missed tackles saw GKT charge dent rugby sides in the country, after win• down the field to notch up their first try and Editorial - Clayponds 7 ning the prestigious UH Cup for a second narrow the gap to eleven points, this sud• successive year. den impetus produced an immediate shot Columns-SOYearsOn 8 A final scorellne of 21-12 over fellow of adrenaline to GKT, who came alive with newcomers GKT (formerly Guys. Kings and a burst of powerful play. A penalty try, Comic Relief 12 Thomas' Medical Schools; now part of awarded for "repeated infringements" was Kings College) was the minimum the team their reward, and the gap became just Competition 12 deserved after a performance which, in four points. But, with the lension now run• truth, was superior to the opposition in ning incredibly high, ICSM's superiority ArtS - Guys & Dolls 14 almost every department. In particular, shone through. A brilliant period of play ICSM's set-piece play saw them pressurisng saw the ball pass through the hands of vir• BOOkS-HotSex 17 GKT at every oppourtunity, thanks to utter Photo: Dave tually every back, before finally being domination in the line-out and fine work touched down in the corner, the crowd Film - Life is Beautiful 18 with the boot from Ian Macleod at full• the score up to 13-0. Attempting to fight went wild and poured onto the pitch; with back. back, GKT momcntarilly moved out of their ICSM nine points in the lead and less lhan Clubscene - GUS GUS we 20 An early penalty from ICSM was fol• half, but good cover work coupled with five minutes to play, the result was no lowed up with fifteen minutes during decisive kicking saw off the threat, and longer in doubt. The game resumed, but MUSiC - Beverly Knight 22 which the ball never seemed to leave another Macleod penalty on the stroke of a couple of minutes later the referee blew GKT's 22. This non-stop pressure had to pay half-time pushed the lead oul to sixteen for time, and ICSM Captain Ben Carpenter Games-PoolShark 25 off, and eventually a well worked back- points. stepped up to collect the historic trophy. move rolled off a lineout and saw the ball After the interval, both teams came ICSM Scorers: SpOft - Inter Departmental 26 put down between the posts. The con• out looking to play a more expansive Tries.- James Piatt, Alistair Morris version, coupled with a penalty which game, which saw the ball rush from one Penalties: Ian Macleod (3) Diversions - Ihc next 7 days 27 resulted from relentless ICSM pressure put end of the pitch to the other. Eventually, Conversions: Ian Maclcod (1) 2 News 8 March 1999 Ince Inflates Food Fees Food prices in the ICU catering outlets - Da catering from other Union funds, advo• Vinci's, dB's, the Wednesday and Friday bar• By Gareth Morgan cated by the DP (l&S) candidates at the hus• becue and the Union Bar - look set to rise tings, is "not a good idea." issue 1139 from today by about ten percent across the the opening of the baguette bar in dB's the move has received a generally board. This will mean that curries are now have had an effect. The final straw however negative reaction from students however. 8 March 1999 £1.20, and a main meal will be around was an L-U directive entitling part-time work• Responses ranged from "fuck off" to com• £2.50. The policy was decided on by the ers to holiday benefits, or in the case of ICU plaints that the food was supposed to be Editor: Ed Sexton Union Trading Committee, and approved staff, a six percent lump sum paid every 13 a service for students. One Union figure Assistant Editor & Films: David Roberts by Council on Tuesday. weeks. questioned the marketing of the catering News Editor: Andrew Ofori The reasoning behind this move is Although every effort was made to outlets though: if trade could be brought in Music Editors: Dennis Patrickson that the outlets are currently running at a reduce the losses, the price rises were the from the College outlets then the problems & Jason Ramanathan massive loss - expected to be around twenty "last resort" according to a member of the could be solved. Better advertising on cam• Arts & Books Editor: Helena Cocheme thousand pounds by summer. There arc Trading Committee, who went on to add, pus could help to achieve this. Games Editor: Gary Smith several factors influencing this loss. Biol• "We really had no other option. Catering On a lighter note, Council approved a Clubscene: Giles Morrison, ogy's move to the BMS (with its College-run was budgeted to break even this year, but pay rise of five pence per hour for Union Gurminder Marwaha &Joel Lewis cafe), and increased staffing costs due to it's making a huge loss." Subsidising the staff, bringing their wages to £3.70 an hour. Sports Editor: Gus Paul Bike Thieves Arrested Connolly in Drag A man has been arrested information concerning the after attempting to steal a By Ed Sexton men is restricted, but Ken By David Roberts bicycle from College Weir, Chief Security Officer, premises. Three other men were also is hopeful that "this is one of the groups detained at the scene. It is believed that that have been targeting us", reiterating his the four may be one of the 'gangs' that belief that the majority of bike theft at the has been targeting Imperial College for college is carried out by organised gangs.