Felix Issue 1131, 1999
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15 March 1999 KEEP THE CAT FREE WBt EST 1949 The Students' Newspaper at Imperial College Goldsmiths' Gain Tuition Victory Student power has struck a mammoth blow Goldsmiths' are jubilant, and feel their in the ongoing campaign against tuition By Andrew Ofori actions were fully justified, although the fees. Students at Goldsmiths' College were campaign has had its detractors, with some rewarded with college support on fees porary accommodation with a dedicated nated in the submittal of an early-day students unhappy with the disruption to after staging a 175 hour occupation of their sleeping area. motion in the Commons supporting the their courses; one psychology student com• Whitehead Building, in a potent response As the conflict escalated to occupation objective of the occupation, "Ultimately mented "Many of us have tried talking to to students being threatened with expul• the college informed protestors it had no this was a confrontation with the Govern• the student leaders and to those involved sion for failure to pay tuition fees. intention of withdrawing its letters of ter• ment" said Goldsmiths' Union General Sec• in the occupation, but we are ignored or Union negotiations with the college mination. But the campaign was fortified retary Sophie Bolt, as she highlighted the shouted down". Sophie Bolt, however, came to an abrupt end when eight stu• by support from a number of celebrities significance of the motion. feels the resentment stems from the dents, who had not paid their fees, such as Labour's Ken Livlgstone, comedi• Protestors accepted a High court order actions of the College during occupation, received letters terminating their registra• ans Jeremy Hardy and Mark Thomas, and to end the occupation last Friday, after the referring to their complete withdrawal of tion. According to the Union "It became Rob Newman, who went so far as to give college backed down over the expulsions: lectures in the building when the protes• clear college were prepared to Intimidate a free show inside the building. ICU sup• "No student will be excluded from college tors made every effort to facilitate them students", and a rally consisting of 250 stu• port came in a letter from Dave Hellard, in because of his or her inability to pay fees, and the imposition of a blood-relatives dents was the first manifestation of their which he stated: "With the NUS currently provided this can be shown to be the only policy for visitors to Halls. discontent. The Union subsequently called dormant and the threat of differential fees case." Ben Pimlott, Warden of the College According to London Student (24 Feb• an Emergency General Meeting where ever real, it is down to the individual Stu• stated: "The College frequently calls on the ruary) IC students could soon have their the occupation was decided upon. The dent Unions to show how damaging Government to increase funding for further own tuition battle to fight, with the possi• and higher education." Whitehead Building was taken over on 26 tuition fees have been and that the Gov• ble introduction of Top-up' fees in addition February, coincidentally the NUS 'Day of ernment not the students need to bridge "I therefore fully support calls to ensure to the annual £1000 tuition fees. They are Action' against tuition fees. In what was the funding gap." Goldsmiths' Union were that students, as well as the sector in gen• designed to cover the extra costs incurred described by one Union member as a "mil• appreciative of the President's backing eral, receive an adequate share of the by attending one of the country's elite uni• itary operation", the protesters organised commenting, "When you've got support nation's resources, in line with the Gov• versities. The claims were refuted by Col• various administrative roles such as secu• from Imperial you know you're doing ernment's education pledge to prioritise lege Secretary Tony Mitcheson, who stated, rity and a food committee, and turned the well...it really was heart-warming". education at every level." "The College has no plans to introduce dif• academic and finance building into tem• The groundswell of support culmi• Members of the Union hierarchy at ferential fees". "Best Week Ever For IC Sport Inside.. m An amazing series of victories for IC's Foot• ball, Hockey, Rugby, Athletics and Fencing By David Roberts L e ttOf S - Ince in trouble again 6 squads should see our trophy cabinet col• lapsing under the shear weight of cups, ACC Colours -fulllist 7 awards, league titles and shields which have been awarded in the last seven days Columns-Education? 8 alone. ICU President Dave Hellard simply described the results as "fantastic". Film -The Thin Red Line 12 The most prestigious win came from IC's fencers, who regained the BUSA MUSiC - Afghan Whigs 14 National Championship they last won two years ago. Fully justifying their reputation ClubSCene -Samsara 17 as the country's top student squad (thanks to a liberal dose of individual champions GameS-PoolShark 20 and national squad members), they rapidly saw off both Loughborough and Oxford. BOOkS - Shadow Dancer 22 Despite a couple of brief scares, the final Photo: Dave IC cruise home to claim the BUSA Fencing Championships result was never really in doubt, especially ArtS- Random Dance 23 when the total superiority of our foil team not be said of IC's Footballers - making their tory, it was in fact a very tight contest until (Ed Rysdale, Dave Davidgeand Henry Mor• victory even more impressive. Ignoring a the final fifteen minutes, when a hat-trick Sport - IC Win Everything 25 ton) became apparent. For a full report see UL Cup drought dating back to 1983, they from Warren Brayn, a screaming top-comer back page. notched up a brilliant 5-1 win, to bring the shot from Amo Addo, and a morale sap- Diversions-The next 7 days 27 Whilst the Fencers pick up champi• London-wide UL Cup back to Imperial. onships on a regular basis, the same can- Although the result suggests a landslide vic• Continued on Page 2 2 News 15 March 1999 ICSM Elections The sixth and final name was added to VP for Mary's; Alia Fammy, who takes the list of sabbaticals who will see in the By David Roberts reponsibility for the Charing Cross cam• new milleniim last week, after Becky pus; and Lizzie Robinson, who is now England was elected as ICSM President. VP (External) elect. All three secured issue 1140 Standing unopposed, Becky even• easy victories against RON. In other tually eased home, with a comfortable key positions, Susy Bloch was elected 15 March 1999 313-83 victory over the ever-present Treasurer, Marissa See will take over as New Election. Miss England stood on a Secretary, and Shazia Munir claims Editor: Ed Sexton policy of increased integration between responsibility for Medics Rag. Assistant LoilorS films David Roberts the old medical schools, whilst "fight• further elections will take place News Editor: Andrew Ofori ing for a Medics identity to be main• next term, to fill uncontested posts MUSK: I dilors: Dennis Patrickson tained in 2001". She will take over from (including the important Sports & Soci• " Jason Ramanathan present incumbent Wade Gayed on 1 Photo: Dave Becky (left) celebrates in eties role), and to re-poll the position Arts & Books Editor: Helena Cocheme August, as the third (and, potentially, traditional sabbatical style of Mary's Social Secretary, which Games Editor: Gary Smith the last) sabbatical President of ICSM. Returning Officer Katie Sheehan was Clubsccne. Giles Morrison, Elsewhere, a plethora of non-sab• three Vice-President postions were forced to declare a draw after the fifth Gurminder Marwaha &Joel Lewis batical officers were also elected. The filled by; Jo Manson, who will become recount. Sports Editor: Gus Paul Imperial Home To Best Parking Inferno beneath the bonnet and ran into the BMS Sport In London: Offical By Andrew Ofori building to report it. According to eye wit• ness accounts, the fire worsened despite the attempts of two students and a secu• Continued from Page 1 rity officer. On their arrival, the Emergency Response Team tackled the blaze with ping fifth from Dave Stewart secured the extinguishers and a water hose, Kensing• victory. More impressively still, the Pre• ton tire Brigade arrived just after 5pm, miership title should be secured within opened the bonnet with a 4ft crowbar and the next few days (IC only need three had put out the flames five minutes later. points from three games to be assured of Having realised the situation and left victory), to ensure an historic double. For the l-reg Peugeot, the owner actually a full match report see back page. IN returned to the vehicle to retrieve personal The most impressive scoreline of the belongings, actions described as "a bit silly" week, however, came at Teddington last by the College's Eire Risk Assessment Con• Wednesday, when IC Rugby met ICSM for sultant. He went on to explain that with the :' : the semi-final of the Gutteridge Cup. bonnet down and only smoke being visi• Although IC are a fast improving team, no Photo: Andy Mmmmm. Hot. ble, "it probably looked safe". one at the match - including many of the Photo: Dave ICSM (right) - big losers. The fire, which originated in the car's players - ever believed that they had a As the smoke cleared last Tuesday after• engine, melted the light cluster, burst both chance against the Medics, who are rated will be played this Wednesday; two noon the forlorn skeleton of a car bonnet front tyres and blistered the paint-work on amongst the top two or three student coaches will be available for spectators emerged as the culprit of a fire that had the the adjacent vehicle.