Feature: IC Entrepreneurs Science Politics In depth: 6 5 Gordon Brown at conference 4

Th e student newspaper of Imperial College

No. 1,357 • Th ursday • felix 28 September 2006 • felixonline.co.uk Sabbaticals to be sued?

Andy Sykes As Mr Matthews stated in an e-mail Editor-in-chief to the President of Chinese Society, Emily Chow, and the treasurer, Wai Three sabbatical officers of the Un- Wong, this is “wholly unacceptable ion have been sent an official letter and against Union policy”. Mem- from a Hong Kong solicitors’ office bership to clubs can only be sold threatening legal action unless a to members or life members of the decision to suspend the Chinese Union, and should a student fail Society over alleged financial ir- to complete their course of study regularities is reversed. and forfeit membership of the Un- On Saturday September 23, as the ion, they cannot be members of sabbs were gearing up for officer any clubs or societies, rendering training out at Wye, they received multi-year memberships unfeasi- an e-mail from Wong & Co solicitors, ble. The evidence for this has come who are acting on behalf of Miss directly from society members con- Emily Chow, the current Chair of tacted by Mr Lai, several of whom Chinese Society. The letter was ad- have confirmed that they were sold dressed to the former Union Presi- multi-year memberships for £10. As dent, Sameena Misbahuddin, the none of this ‘extra’ money has been current President, John Collins, as banked into the Chinese Society’s well as Eric Lai (Deputy President, account, this raises the question of Clubs & Societies) and Jon Mat- what has happened to it. If this mon- thews (Deputy President, Finance ey has been deposited in an exter- & Services). The letter disputes nal bank account, the Society may the recent decision to suspend the be held responsible for withholding Chinese Society and deny them a funds, which may be construed as stall at Freshers’ Fair after various theft, and VAT fraud, as a result of financial irregularities regarding operating a second bank account to the sale of membership and the dis- take membership money on which appearance of money made from VAT would not have been paid. events came to light, calling it “en- This is not the first time the soci- tirely without merits, non-substanti- ety has run into trouble with their ated [sic] and accordingly invalid”. finances. At last year’s Freshers’ The deadline set by the solicitors Fair, it was found to be taking mem- for the reversal of this suspension bership money from prospective is today, five days from the sending members, in express violation of of the letter, leaving the sabbs only Union rules. Nearly £700 was con- three working days to reply. The let- fiscated from the society’s stall af- ter threatens that unless the deci- ter the breach was discovered. The sion is reversed, the solicitors will society has also been warned on “instruct [their] client’s legal agent previous occasions about the sell- in the UK to exhaust every possible ing of multi-year memberships. In legal means in redressing the un- addition, the society is currently in fairness and grievances including almost £1,900 in debt. but not limited to seeking injunctive Felix has obtained copies of e- relief…from a UK court”, as well as mails sent between the parties, and holding the sabbs responsible for a copy of the solicitors’ letter. Mr any legal costs or incidental losses Matthews and Mr Lai contacted that might be suffered by ICCS. Miss Chow and her treasurer via According to records available on e-mail at the start of August, when the Imperial College Union finance the irregularities came to light. As website, which lists all the budgets this took place during the summer and transactions of clubs and soci- vacation, Miss Chow requested eties, the Chinese Society banked that the issue be resolved using e- £500 in membership money from mail or over the telephone. Mr Mat- one hundred members, with mem- thews subsequently informed Miss bership costing £5. However, it has Chow by e-mail on August 7 that recently come to light that the Socie- Above (clockwise): Emily Chow, Chair of IC Chinese Society; Eric Lai, Deputy President (Clubs & ty has been selling multi-year mem- Societies); John Collins, Union President; John Matthews, Deputy President (Finance & Services). berships to its members for £10. Below: The two Facebook posts made by Miss Chow during her alleged stay at a spiritual retreat. Continued on page 2 2 felix Thursday 28 September 2006

NEWS [email protected] Chinese Society threatens Homophobia in Islamic Soc sabbs with injunction

Two members of Islamic Society have been accused of posting Continued from page 1 partnership with the Hong Kong Society of Warwick University, and “violently homophobic” remarks on a Union forum any multi-year membership would others. Neither the OSC Chair nor be cancelled, and that the Society the Deputy President (Finance and to campaign, which is forbidden by could not trade at Freshers’ Fair. Services) knew anything about this the Union Constitution. When he He also requested a list of names event being held, and no reference made the posts to the forum, Mr and CID numbers of people who is made to it in the accounts of the Hassam, who now works for UBS, had bought multi-year member- ICCS. The tickets cost HK$200, was an Officer of the Union, holding ships, clarifying that he did not which is about £13. It is not clear how the positions of Vice President of blame Miss Chow and her treasur- the money was divided between the the IC Finance Society, and Public- er directly, as they were not on the participating University societies, ity Officer for Islamic Society. committee last year. A number of though no money has been paid John Collins, the Union Presi- other restrictions were also placed into the ICCS Union account. It is dent, has made clear that he does on the Society, in light of past trans- highly likely that, as the event was not hold Islamic Society respon- gressions, including enforcing on- held in Hong Kong, there has been sible for the comments of the two line voting for society elections in no opportunity for the members to members. He confirmed that the the coming year. Mr Matthews re- inform the Union of the takings. Society had been asked to remove iterated that the society must abide It is understood that Miss Chow the posts within a week; at the time by the current rules, such as having has contacted Vernon McClure, Ac- of going to press, the entire forum all events being approved by an ap- ademic Registrar, who acts as the had been deactivated. propriate officer of the Union, and Head of the Registry, asking him to Mr Hassam has made both an offi- a requirement that all income and represent her in this situation. As cial statement to Live!, and numer- expenditure be run through the Un- ICU’s disciplinary procedure has ous comments on the article itself. ion accounts. not yet been invoked over the al- His defence is that he was misinter- No reply was received from Miss leged financial irregularities on ei- A screengrab of one of the posts made by ‘Al Chemist’ preted, and that his communication Chow for a week, at which point Mr ther the previous committee or the skills were not sufficient to correct- Matthews contacted her again, on new committee, the College is not Andy Sykes expressed his distaste for the con- ly convey his opinions on the mat- August 15, to confirm receipt of the permitted to be involved. cept of homosexuality, inferring ter, stating: “I have realised in ret- previous email, and to reiterate the Miss Chow’s complaint seems to Several members of the Islamic So- that gay Muslims were not proper rospect that my individual thoughts request for a list of names of CID centre around a statement made ciety have been accused of homo- Muslims: “them and some other were incorrectly communicated on numbers of those who bought mul- in an e-mail by Mr Lai, which said: phobia and inciting violence against ‘Muslims’ are on my hitlist”. Within this thread, and I did post further ti-year memberships. Again, the “This is a very serious matter, homosexuals after posts made on a a few hours of the tip-off email, sev- along the thread that “batter” was request went unanswered. On Sep- which could lead to your degree forum hosted by the Union. eral of the comments had been ed- a much too strong word, I meant tember 11, having received no reply being withheld or yourselves being The chair of IQ, a society that ited, including those made by Haji, batter in terms of a verbal batter- from either of the two recipients, Mr removed from the College.” The so- aims to represent and support gay, who replaced the word “batter” in ing i.e. numerous discussions, not Lai and Mr Matthews took the deci- lictors’ letter comments on this, say- lesbian, bisexual and transgender his post with the less offensive “ver- physically hurting anyone. I would sion to suspend the Society’s ac- ing that Miss Chow and Miss Wong, students at the College, reported bally batter”. never condone unprovoked violent tivities for the duration of Freshers’ the treasurer of ICCS are seeking posts he’d discovered on the ISoc The Union has indicated it con- actions against anyone regardless Week, thus preventing them from advice on “whether or not such a forum in an email sent to the Sab- siders this a very serious matter, of sexual orientation, race or gen- having a stall at Freshers’ Fair and statement is defamatory”. Felix’s batical Officers, the President of as it breaches several College and der.” Other commentators on the raising online membership. No re- copy of the Oxford English Diction- the Union, the Felix Editor, and the Union rules concerning the use of article have been somewhat scep- ply was received. On September 23, ary defines defamation as “an at- Live! Editor. The posts were part of IT resources and equal opportuni- tical of this claim, with one anony- the solicitors’ letter arrived in the tack on the good fame or reputation a discussion concerning a recent ties policies, and has subsequently mous wag calling himself “Wiggly inboxes of the three Sabbaticals, as of a person”, making it questionable Channel 4 documentary about the worked closely with ICT, the College Worm” replying: “Wiggle wiggle well as the notoriously leaky Union whether Mr Lai’s statement could plight of homosexual Muslims in IT service, and the Islamic Society wiggle! Haji needs to get out of this Reception email inbox. be construed in such a way. The Britain, and were made in late Jan- to identify the individuals posting pickle!” The letter claims that Miss Chow College authorities have confirmed uary of this year. under the names Haji and Al Chem- The posts could also be said did not know multi-year member- that Mr Lai was correct in saying While many of the posts were ist. In a post later in the thread, Haji to be an incitement to violence, ships were being sold, and that this that a College disciplinary process articulate discussions of the teach- signed off as “Sagir (Haji) Hassam”; though this is currently under con- occurred under the supervision of could result the “permanent ex- ing of the Qu’ran and the poster’s it has since been confirmed in a sideration by Union and College the previous committee members, pulsion” of a student from the Col- own opinions on the subject, sev- comment made by Mr Hassam to authorities. as Mr Matthews does not dispute. lege; however, this punishment is eral posts, originating mainly from the City & Guilds online newspaper, As Sagir Hassam has graduated It also claims that she did not know reserved for the most serious of of- two individuals (posting under the Live!, that he did indeed post under and left the College, there can be they were not supposed to sell fences, such as bringing the name names Al Chemist and Haji), were the name Haji. Mr Hassam was no disciplinary procedure brought multi-year memberships, but the e- of the College into disrepute. more extreme in their views. One one of several students disqualified against him. The identity of Al mails sent by Mr Matthews seem to The grounds for suspension of the of the earliest posts in the thread, from last year’s Union Council elec- Chemist is uncertain, and he has suggest that the Society as a whole society are the selling of multi-year made by Haji, stated that his ‘solu- tions after investigations by Coun- not come forward voluntarily. In- had been told previously. It is sug- memberships, forbidden by Union tion’ to homosexual Muslims was cil and the Returning Officer dis- vestigations are continuing to at- gested that this information was rules. The letter does not challenge simple: “batter them.” Al Chemist covered they had used mailing lists tempt to determine his identity. not passed over to the new Com- this, but instead requests evidence mittee members at their unusually to show that current committee early handover date of April 1. members were involved. It is not The letter also discusses the lack clear whether they were or not, but of reply to Mr Matthews’ e-mails. there is prima facie evidence that 1,357 According to the letter, Miss Chow shows that multi-year member- felix returned to Hong Kong from Guam ships were sold. on August 7, the date of Mr Mat- Asked for comment, Union Presi- Thursday 28.09.06 thews’ first e-mail. The letter says dent, John Collins, responded: that after this, she went with her “It would not be correct for me to parents to a “retreat in preparation make a comment at this point. I Freshers Fair guide The NUS of spiritual enhancement” prior have forwarded the matter onto This useful guide will help you Should we be in or out? Alex to her departing for India on Sep- the College’s lawyers for consid- make the most of one of the Guite favours the former. tember 8. During this period, Miss eration, due to time constraints.” highlight events of the year. Find PAGE 9 Chow received two e-mails from Jon Matthews and Eric Lai both re- all those clubs that you want to Mr Matthews, and replied to nei- sponded that commenting would be join. There’s everything from Freshers’ Albums ther of them. Felix has discovered inappropriate. Miss Chow has been Aikido to Sinofonietta, and rowing As a Fresher into music, you’re that while at a retreat “in prepa- invited to comment; no reply was to Ultimate Frisbee. Don’t forget to assumed to know about certain ration of spiritual enhancement”, forthcoming. visit Felix! albums. This little guide will either she nonetheless had access to the Clubs have no individual, legal sta- CENTRE PAGES have you nodding in agreement Internet. Miss Chow made posts on tus within the Union, which means or frantically talking notes in Facebook, that well-known spiritual the upshot of any legal action on the The man who order to blag it the next time a resource, to two of her friends, on behalf of ICCS would be the rather hot indie girl talks to you about August 8 and August 23 – the first ridiculous state of the Union suing would be PM Sonic Youth. explaining she was back in Hong itself. Matty Hartfield tackles Gordon PAGE 16 Kong and the second expressing Since this story was written, Miss Brown’s speech at the recent the fact that she was busy “hold- Chow and her mother, along with a Labour Party Conference. Afterskool ing freshers’ reception, orientation solicitor from Wong & Co, have flown PAGE 4 “Okay, so you’ll still see the camp and parties”. This is likely to London to consult with their UK The City Explained occasional music elitist with to refer to the events ICCS holds solicitors. Mr Collins has received a Enjoying a kip “The action of merging or stupid hair and a ridiculous hat in Hong Kong for freshers prior to letter from a London firm confirm- Apparently, it’s not your friend’s acquiring (M&A) a company is (guilty as charged) as is per them arriving at the College, ac- ing the deadline for reversal of the boring stories that sending you to far more complicated than buying usual in indie establishments, but cording to Felix’s source. Questions suspension as September 28, and sleep, but socialising itself. most other assets.” Afterskool is largely full of – well have also been raised over an event threatening legal action should the PAGE 5 PAGE 8 – students!” PAGE 18 held by the ICCS in Hong Kong in decision not be reversed by today. Thursday 28 September 2006 felix 3

NEWS [email protected] Union Governance Review Safer Neighbourhood Team to be sited at the College The new Union President, John Collins, has prepared a 100-page report on changing the way the Union is run The new Union President, John Chairs, the RAG, CAG, Welfare and to its members. The worry is that Collins, has used the Summer pe- Equal Opportunities officers. These the SAC’s budget will be divided riod to launch the Union’s largest- seats will be replaced with Ordinary amongst the CAB and the RWB, ever governance review, involving Members elected from the student with more money being allocated current and former Sabbatical Of- population. Though some ques- to welfare than in previous years, ficers, other officers of the Union tions have been raised concerning resulting in more cuts to the clubs and alumni. the make-up of Ordinary Members, budget. Mr Collins has assured this The proposals include some ma- with the possibility of hacks stack- reporter that “there will be no cuts jor changes to the way the Union is ing in Council, in the past the Ordi- to clubs” should the proposals to run, along with some more minor nary Members have come mostly break up the SAC be accepted at amendments. First and foremost from members of clubs and socie- Council. in Mr Collin’s Governance Review, ties, ensuring that the clubs will Among the more controversial which totals more than one hun- retain significant representative suggestions are a battery of meas- Left to right: PC John Roberts, Tony Beckett (Civic Watch), PCSO dred pages, is the introduction of a power in Council. ures to ensure the accountability of Sarah Levitt, PCSO Martin Robson, Naomi Simpson (Civic Watch), “Union Court”. The Court’s role is The Student Activities Commit- the Sabbaticals to the student body. Sgt Gary Herrett, Terry Branch (IC Security), Leroy Adedji (Civic to ensure that the Union Constitu- tee (SAC) will be broken into two These suggestions are no doubt Watch), PC Neil Denney, Tony Mwaitenda (IC Security) tion is obeyed by Exec, the Presi- halves: the first half, the Clubs prompted by the farcical behaviour dent and Council, to investigate Activities Board (CAB), would be of the Union Officers and Felix to- Imperial College is to house the the officers, stressed that the Team election disputes, and to act as an responsible for running the ‘club wards the previous incumbent of Safer Neighbourhood Team for the are not there to police students, and ultimate authority for media com- stuff’ of the SAC, and be attended the Deputy President (Graduate local election ward in the basement that there will be no stopping and plaints. In the past, election com- by CSCs and Faculty Union officers; Services) post, Luis Hui, after he of the Sherfield Building. searching of students on campus. plaints have been investigated by the second half, the Representation went on record stating that “there The Safer Neighbourhood Teams Having a close feedback with police Council, which can lead to political and Welfare Board (RWB), would are no welfare issues facing post- are part of a countrywide initiative will aid College Security in mat- voting on candidates. Who would sit take up the SAC’s welfare role. The graduates”. The issue of remov- to provide community-level polic- ters such as bike theft from around on the Court is still being debated, aim is to move the “management” ing two-year Sabbaticals has been ing, with the teams consisting of six campus. You can contact them at though initial proposals suggested officers from Council to what the raised yet again, though the it will officers and community service of- [email protected]. The Team ex-Union Officers and alumni with review refers to as “doing commit- likely be debated at Council early ficers. They provide a visible police are also helping co-ordinate extra a suitably ‘hacky’ interest in the tees”. Some are unhappy with this this year. presence in a local area, and allow security for freshers arriving over Union; no currently serving officers arrangement, suggesting that this The initial, “phase one” propos- local people to talk to the Team to the weekend. Terry Branch, Chief would be eligible to stand. will shift the balance of power sig- als, including the formation of the let them know the day-to-day issues Security Officer, said: “our aim is Council is also on the President’s nificantly to welfare as opposed to Court and the SAC break-up, will be that are bothering them. zero early thefts from around halls hitlist, with the stated aim of mak- clubs and societies. With around presented before Council as indi- The officers will man the office in of residences”. They plan to run ing it more of a “Representatives’ 80% of Imperial students participat- vidual packages, and the consensu- College some of the day, and will be regular ‘surgeries’ where students Assembly”. This includes the re- ing in clubs and societies, they are al recommendations presented as walking a beat between the College can talk to the officers about any moval of all non Executive “manag- often the most visible and impor- a package. The changes to Council and up to Belgravia and the sur- crime issues, as well as pick up ers”; namely the Clubs & Societies tant aspect of the Union’s services will not be debated until next year. rounding area. Neil Denney, one of crime prevention leaflets. Wye development halted Union building project faces several setbacks sirable investment of public funds for Imperial College and Wye”. The Union redevelopment project such, no plans exist showing the lo- In July, BP began running ad- has hit a number of setbacks over cation of water pipes and electrical verts in a number of publications the summer vacation; though da cabling. Workers managed to dig that said that they were planning Vinci’s will be complete for Fresh- into a large water pipe, flooding the to build a £500m biofuels research ers’ Fair, providing somewhere for core, and there was a power cut to institute in partnership with a uni- freshers to drink, there are doubts the building when another excava- versity, with Imperial College be- over whether food can be served tion cut power cables. ing one of those approached by the from the kitchens. As there has been a large excava- fuel giant. This cast a shadow over While excavating a large hole tion in the kitchen area of the build- the continued development of Wye in the central core of the building ing which has not yet been filled it, Park; should BP choose to build for the new lift, contractors found it is doubtful the Union will be able their institute in partnership with a asbestos. Specialist workers were to serve food for the first week. British University, it would be very called in to deal with the asbestos, Concerns have been raised over difficult to convince the govern- and air tests were performed that the stones artfully placed outside ment that another major biofuels confirmed the absence of airborne the new glass doors to da Vinci’s. research centre would be required. asbestos. As they are not cemented in, they Save-wye reported that Imperial The age of the building has been provide ready window-breaking or College was on BP’s shortlist. providing other challenges to the Security-hitting ammunition should When suggestions about BP fund- project. The main two floors of the inbriated students become infuri- ing part of the Wye project were building were built in 1910, and as ated with the Union. floated at a meeting of Wye elected representatives, Sir Leszek re- ferred to BP as requiring to start the project by early 2007, far too early for Wye Park’s planning stage to be complete. They also reported that the project was in “deep freeze” back in July, with contractors being The Rector, Sir Richard Sykes, at the signing of the Wye Concordat pulled off the site, which was denied by the College at the time. Work on Imperial College’s planned residents of Wye: David Hewson, a Sir Leszek thanked to the Wye development of a Science Park at journalist who has worked for The residents, the Parish Council, and Wye has been halted, according to Times, The Independent, and the elected representatives in his state- a statement made by the Deputy Sunday Telegraph, and Justin Wil- ment, saying that he had “appreci- Rector, Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, on liams, the assistant editor at the ated the responses that have been September 15th. Sunday Telegraph. Their statement received”. The statement says that Sir was slightly less restrained than Sir The future of Wye Campus as part Leszek would be recommending Leszek’s: of Imperial College is solid for the that the College does not continue “Wye Park is dead, our job is foreseeable future. Sir Leszek said any further investigation into “de- done” read their front page. that the College would continue to livering a world-class research The statement gave the reason strongly support the courses being centre, science hub and associated for abandoning the development, taught at Wye, especially the suc- housing” at the Wye Campus. which would have provided more cessful Business course, and rene- The story has been followed close- than 12,500 jobs to the local area, as gotiate the Campus’ status with the ly by the protest website save-wye. none of the scenarios for the cam- University of Kent in 2011 as stated org. The site was founded by two pus presenting a “wise, viable or de- in 2005. The core of the Union building, showing the lift excavation Thursday 28 September 2006 felix 4

POLITICS [email protected] Students suspected in terror scare Does “ethnic profiling” help catch terrorists? Camilla Royle become suicide bombers based on of suicide bomber Hasib Hussain the evidence of the five years since fiddling with his rucksack on a bus 9/11. Even Claude Moraes, Labour on July 7 last year caused the stu- On the evening of August 9 this year MEP for London, was stopped and dents to be taken away. They were counter-terrorist officers arrested searched twice over the summer. held back for security checks as 24 people amid accusations of an The profiling scheme was criticised the plane left without them. How- al-Qaida plot to blow up 10 planes by Chief Superintendent Ali Dizael, ever, this time, when those instincts heading for the US. Although it saying that it created a new offence were acted on, they proved to be appeared that all of the suspected of “travelling while Asian”. He ob- false. Another flight from Gatwick terrorists were safely behind bars, jected to the scheme, saying that to Hurghada in Egypt ended with airport security was still massively it was not only unfair to innocent an emergency landing in Italy after increased as an extra precaution. Asians and Muslims but also that a passenger said that he had found Items such as bottled drinks, mois- the scheme “does not work or can a note in his seat pocket saying that turiser and baby food were confis- be counter-productive”, detract- there was a bomb on the plane. cated; even those purchased in the ing the focus away from real ter- Ethnic profiling overtly associates airport duty-free shops were seen rorists that don’t fit the profile and terrorism in the 21st century with as a possible new kind of weapon making those that do the target for some religious groups more than of mass destruction. Only essential racist abuse. The case was quietly others and applies different rules items of hand luggage were allowed dropped after the arrested people to different people. It therefore em- on long-haul flights. People’s fears, were cleared of charges. None of phasises perceived differences be- however, were fuelled by the threat them had booked flights and some tween cultures in the same way as of “mass murder on an unimagi- did not even have passports. the pope’s recent comments about nable scale”. They were told they Since the scare, a number of in- Islam have been seen as a sincere might have been blown out of the dividuals have been treated as sus- attempt to break the bridges built sky. pect. In Malaga two Pakistani stu- by his predecessor, John Paul II, by Chaos at the check-in desk, espe- dents were removed from a plane some Vatican commentators. cially at Heathrow, led to the deploy- on a flight to Manchester where Whether justified or not, Islamo- ment of an “ethnic profiling” sys- they both study at Manchester Uni- phobia could become just as much tem, a time-saving method in which versity. The men alerted the suspi- a part of flying as claustrophobia only the passengers that looked cions of other passengers by speak- and aviatophobia. Acts of terrorism most like potential terrorists were ing what one person assumed was are intended to influence and cause subjected to the most thorough se- Arabic and keeping themselves distress within a society rather curity checks. Young Asian males covered up so that they stood out in than merely kill civilians. It seems were on the top of the list of poten- a crowd of holiday-makers in shorts that in this case that goal has been tial targets for scrutiny; they are and T-shirts. The same instincts achieved even if no real terrorists The attempted terrorist attack this summer has lead to the seen as statistically more likely to that alerted people to the presence were ever involved. introduction of ‘people-profiling’ to catch suspected terrorists In depth: Gordon Brown at conference

not the working-class it tradition- what can be seen as some of La- to where it is needed most; which ally supports, but, as Gordon put it, bour’s main achievements during was one of the contributing factors “We can’t just be pro Labour, we’ve its tenure. Gordon championed the to the introduction to tuition fees. got to be pro business too”. This is immediate increase of the minimum On a global scale Gordon Brown a worrying precedent, considering wage and the legislation of ‘corpo- introduces some progressive plans he’s following a leader who claims rate manslaughter’ where compa- with the outcome of making Brit- to be the leader of the party of the nies can be liable if poor regulations ain a leading force in international people, yet who invited Thatcher cause the death of their workers. relations. The UN must “urgently” around to Number 10 for policy dis- The latter piece of legislation has act on Darfur (again, action which cussion. Recently we have seen the been discussed for ages but has yet is long overdue) and asks for fur- proposed selling off of NHS logis- to be created, so any serious laws ther international cooperation tics to private companies and the formed under Gordon Brown would when it comes to combating cli- creation of ‘Trust Schools’ where be widely received; this is one of his mate change. However, he warns, an outside organisation, including main challenges he should attempt this should not lead to “environ- companies, can dictate what ethos to overcome. There are also calls mental colonialism” where richer the school takes. It seems that with to “champion youth councils and countries dominate poorer coun- all these plans to be ‘pro-business’ youth budgets”, where young peo- terparts by providing all the relvent he’s putting the rest of society at ple get a major say in how money infrastructure. Instead he proposes risk; a lot of people are still angry at is spent on them in their local area. that the World Bank set up a $20 the failure of rail privatisation and Those who think that this is a move billion fund for poorer countries, such a continuation of this ethic away from issuing ASBO’s should to encourage their own societies to can have disastrous consequences, think again, as there is a rally to “be combat climate change. despite Gordon’s reassurances that tough” on youth crime. Gordon Brown’s speech to the he wants to end “a Britain of ‘no Education has been one of Gordon Labour conference highlights his such thing as society’”, reversing Brown’s more controversial areas, plans to increase global and social Thatcher’s famous comments. with the introduction of tuition fees security; whilst these are an impor- Gordon Brown actively wants (and then top-up fees) to cover the tant and major step forward which to follow the line set by Tony Blair costs of increased higher education improve on Labour successes, the on the world-famous “War on Ter- intake. Although Gordon aims to fact that being keen on pushing ror”, supporting identity cards and increase government spending on forward with controversial (and un- Social Democrat or Democratic Socialist? Not much difference now an extension of 28 days detention state schools (from £5.5K per pu- welcome) policies such as continu- for terrorist suspects ‘if evidence pil to £8K, to match “today’s level ing the current line on the war on Matthew Hartfield Brown, the man tipped to succeed shows it necessary’. Both policies for private school pupils”), which terror (which isn’t helped by keep- Politics Editor Blair for the leadership. Gordon were widely criticised for being is more than welcome if it goes ing quiet on Trident in this speech) gave his keynote speech on Monday heavy-handed and counterproduc- ahead, he also has a vision of ensur- runs the risk of losing the next Over the past week Manchester has regarding the state of the economy, tive. He also supported the ‘glo- ing that everyone is educated up to election, especially in the face of played host to the Labour party con- but it also revealed what some of bal-cooperation’ in the war against the age of 18 (whether “part-time a Conservative resurgance under ference, the traditional warm-up for Gordon Brown’s key policies would terrorism and called for a stop in or “full-time”). Along with touting David Cameron. The main ques- political parties before the main po- be if he became leader. ‘anti-Americanism’, showing a con- Alan Johnson’s proposal to “give tion for Gordon Brown now is will litical season. Before it started we His main direction became crys- tinuing willingness to toe America’s vocational qualifications parity of he listen to those who opposed the had already been told that this con- tal-clear early on in the speech, how- line on global policy. esteem with academic qualifica- Iraq war and private finance initia- ference would be the last one under ever, when he praised Tony Blair for Further into his speech, Gordon tions”, he runs the risk of stretch- tives? Otherwise he’ll find out that Tony Blair’s premiership. All eyes running a party for “all of society”. Brown did give ideas of how to im- ing the educational system for fur- his new reign will be a very short are on his right-hand man, Gordon The “all” in this case, however, is prove social security and build on ther education and denying money one indeed. Thursday 28 September 2006 felix 3

SCIENCE [email protected] I socialise, therefore I sleep

How it might not just be listening to your ential levels of gene expression in the sleeping/waking state. Howev- friends’ stories that’s making you drowsy er, in June of this year, Nature pub- lished a report showing that when Krystyna Larkham into the genetic basis of sleep due electrical activity was blocked in Science Editor to their surprisingly human like the areas of the Drosophila brain behaviour. linked to remembering smell was, Freshers week. At last! The time to Fruit flies can sleep up to 15 hours flies slept for much shorter peri- throw off the shackles of mum and a day, usually in one nocturnal ods, suggesting what any franti- dad, to let your hair down and to burst, and remove themselves from cally cramming student will know- P-A-R-T-Y! There’s nobody there to their social counterparts to feed that sleep is needed to consolidate tell you what to eat, or when to eat and groom before tucking them- memory. it, no one to ask you ‘where do you selves into bed. Like a sleepy stu- To Ganguly-Fitzgerald, the con- think you’re going?’ or to ask you dent on a Monday morning, those nection is clear. The social flies in what time you’re coming back. But flies who have slept the longest are the study ‘mate, they fight. They best of all, no one to tell you when hardest to wake, and they too try to form memories about the interac- to go to bed. This is university man, catch up on lost shuteye, although tions they’ve had, and they make you can sleep when you’re dead! like humans Drosophila only seem descisions’. And then, they sleep. But recent research published to able to make up 30-40% of a ‘sleep Isolated flies, and those with re- this week in Science indicates that debt’. duced sensory input (blinded, or in fact, it may be those who socialise Most importantly however, both with a reduced sense of smell) both the most who need the most sleep. humans and Drosophila appear to received less information during Indrani Ganguly-Fitzgerald and share the molecular mechanisms the day, and accordingly, required her team at the Neurosciences of sleep, making discoveries eas- fewer hours of sleep to commit Institute in San Diego, California, ily transferable to human sleep their experiences to memory. studied the sleeping habits of the research, with antihistamines also Unfortunately for freshers, the fruit fly Drosophila in various social making the fruit fly drowsy and un- implications are clear. You might situations. They discovered that safe to operate heavy machinery, be going out every night and danc- flies that lived in groups needed and caffeine keeping them up all ing the night away with that hot significantly more sleep than those night. girl from your 9 o’clock, but it is who were kept in isolation, and the So what do these new results not you, but nerdy Norman down increased requirement for sleep mean? Is social activity so exhaust- the corridor who has not ventured was correlated with the size of the ing that you need to rest more to from his room since day one who group. recover? Should the social mayhem will remember what her name is. Although the importance of sleep of Fresher’s week be reduced to And more importantly, we finally was first indicated in the early ’80s, lights out at 10pm with a nice mug have an explanation for the inverse when rats prevented from sleeping of cocoa? And why? The answer relationship between number of dropped dead dramatically after may lie in the idea of ‘synaptic plas- people met and ability to remem- two weeks, it has not been until ticity’, the process of making new ber all their names, where they recent years that the complicated connections between neurons in come from, what A-levels they did, molecular basis of sleep has begun the brains, which is believed to be what they did on their gap year… to be unravelled. Drosophila, al- closely linked to sleep. But sadly, science still has no way though not mammals, are increas- Previously, all sleep research in of stopping them from telling you ingly used as models for studies Drosophila has focussed on differ- again and again and again. 6 felix Thursday 28 September 2006

FEATURE [email protected] Innovation Creation A new society aims to stir up the entrepreneurial spirit within the College. Toby Ferenczi speaks to the co-founders Sefian Kasem, Ross Richardson, Bobby Goulding and Shin Yang Cheung

PAVLA KOPECNA Toby Ferenczi

“There is only one way to make a great deal of money; and that is in a business of your own,” announced J. Paul Getty, former oil tycoon and one-time richest man in America. It is this realisation that has seen en- trepreneurial activity grow drasti- cally over the past three decades. For people with ambition, building one’s own business has become the ultimate achievement. With only one in ten new businesses succeed- ing it is not for the faint hearted, but for those with the drive and vision to spot a potential venture, the re- wards could not be greater. As more prospective Richard Bransons join the fray, the hunt for ‘opportunity’ grows ever more difficult, and since the essence of science is innovation, this has led to a strong link between science and entrepreneurship. Ivy League universities in the US took advantage of this situation from an early stage, building net- works of investors and their aca- demic staff. This has been a major factor in the success of both US uni- versities and the US economy. Cre- ating a new enterprise is perhaps the purest form of productivity and, as such, entrepreneurship has been a huge driver of industry over recent years. Although initially be- hind, UK universities are gradually catching up with their transatlantic counterparts. IC Entrepreneurs, a new society this year, aims to propel Imperial College to the forefront of technological venture. “We are dedicated to providing the highest quality of resources to foster the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation across campus,” says Sefian Kasem, former Finance Society president and IC Entrepre- From left to right: Bobby Goulding, Lawrence Tse, Vincent Garcia Tormo, Nimi Iti, Yunlei Hu, May Chen, Zhangpeng Feng, Kyle Tang, neurs’ co-founder. Through a se- Alex Pais Da Silva, Toby Ferenczi, and Ross Richardson. ries of hands-on interactive events “We are able to access resources in a flex- world stage. Current IC spin-outs ible, time-efficient manner through From the researchers’ perspec- a web-based electronic forum. tive, the ability for scientists to dedicated The society aims to be as incor- think entrepreneurially encour- Ceres Power ble than a tent, but lighter and porating and interactive as possi- ages them to think about their work to fostering Founded in 2001 by Professors more readily transported than a ble. It is targeted at all members of in the context of society. The critical Nigel Brandon, John Kilner, Alan Portakabin or similar temporary staff and students and they intend aspect of starting any new business the spirit of Atkinson, and the late Brian building. They have received to work closely with existing bodies is finding a market, and to do so Steele, Ceres Power has devel- nine awards, including the within the college such as Impe- requires a deep understanding of entrepreneurship oped unique ‘solid oxide’ fuel Saatchi & Saatchi Award for rial Innovations and the Venture what people want or need. In think- cells that operate at much lower World-Changing Ideas, as well Capital Club. IC Entrepreneurs is ing commercially, scientists are get- and innovation temperatures, allowing the cells as raising over £40,000 in fund- also looking outside the college to ting better at looking at their work to be made more cheaply. Win- ing for their prototypes. create strong links with business with the eyes of someone on the ex- across campus” ners of the Carbon Trust Low schools (such as the London Busi- terior. The smaller the gap between Carbon Innovation Award in Delta Dot ness School) and companies within the laboratory and the shelves, the they aim to introduce the theory 2003, they have won numerous Founded in 2000 by Dr John the venture capital sector. Imperial less distant the scientific world will of entrepreneurship and highlight awards, received praise from Hassard and based on work on is ideally placed, both geographi- seem to the general public, some- the practical skills required by the Prime Minister as a “world the separation and analysis of cally and academically, to attract thing which is vitally important in entrepreneurs. “We want to simu- leader” in fuel cell technology, biomolecules pioneered in the major investors and already the recruiting the next generation of late real situations so people can and secured contracts with Brit- High Energy Physics Group at team have received significant in- researchers. get involved, instead of just listen- ish Gas, along with other large the College, their technique of terest from the groups they have The ICE launch event featuring ing to lectures,” Ross Richardson companies in the energy sector. “DNA vertexing” can read long approached. one of the world’s leading entre- explains. Games such as ‘Dating sequences of DNA in a frac- This venture can only be a good preneurs will be held in the first with Dragons’ sound intriguing, Concrete Canvas tion of the time conventional thing for the College. Although the week of term and open to anyone although he reminds me that they Founded by two students from sequencing systems take, with thorny issue of the sharing of intel- who would like to expand their ho- are designed primarily to improve the Industrial Design Engineer- a very low cost per base pair. lectual property between research- rizons. It might be time well spent; one’s business skills rather than ing course, William Crawford Their approach to protein ers and their institutions is still a as Kasem says gleefully, “to suc- love life. and Peter Brewin, who have analysis replaces the 2D gel hot topic, it is evident that univer- ceed you’ll need more than just a These activities will be comple- developed a rapidly deployable electrophoresis with a faster and sity spin-offs can provide enormous degree.” mented by networking sessions; hardened shelter for people more accurate chip-based sys- benefits to both parties. As univer- The Imperial College Entrepre- events that, in the founders’ words, made homeless during natural tem. These new methods have sities gain experience and knowl- neurs will launch on 17th October “bring people interested in entre- or man-made disasters. The improved sensitivity and resolu- edge in the world of commerce, at 6.30 on the Lower Ground Floor preneurship together in a harmo- “building in a bag” is a sack tion compared to the traditional they are learning how to retain a of the Tanaka Business School. nious, supportive environment to of cement-impregnated fabric processes at much lower cost. greater chunk of the financial fruits There will also be a ‘Breaking the encourage the cross-pollination of that can be inflated to produce In all, they have received over of their research. As seen in the US, ICE’ session on 12th October for all ideas and the expansion of contact a structure that is more dura- £1.5m from investor funding. this money can be used to strength- those interested in becoming mem- networks.” Members will also be en the university’s standing on the bers or just finding out more. With our support you can explore a world of new opportunities. It starts with you.

We hope that you're enjoying university life, having worked so hard to get here. As one of the world's leading global financial firms, we are interested in talented, motivated individuals like you who are committed to excellence in everything that they do. Open to first-year undergraduates (or second year of a four-year degree), the UBS Academic Sponsorship Programme offers financial support throughout your university career, as well as opportunities to explore our world through mentoring, networking and internships. Apply to the programme and impress us with your ideas. Find out more at www.ubs.com/academicsponsorship The online application form is open from 16 October – 26 November 2006.

Wealth Global Asset Investment Management I Management I Bank You & U s 8 felix Thursday 28 September 2006

BUSINESS [email protected] City Career options in finance Explained

Michael Olymbios hours but the work is fast-paced counted an interview where a can- ing out how much money a compa- The action of merging or acquiring Business Editor and not for the faint hearted. Sales didate thought that the company’s ny makes, who it owes, who owes it (M&A) a company is far more com- people and traders work to bring sole line of work was “petrol sta- and how much tax is owed. plicated than buying most other With the dawn of the new academic buyers and sellers of financial secu- tions.” In actual fact the retail fuel Accountants are increasingly be- assets. There are several legal, tax year comes a new recruitment cy- rities together. Despite this simple garages break even. Shell makes its coming involved with strategic de- and accounting issues to be dealt cle and a fresh batch of undergrad- premise, the job can be exception- money by refining and transporting cisions, managing risk and helping with. This week, we shall briefly ex- uates wondering what they want to ally complicated because the trader crude oil and crude products. businesses thrive. amine these topics. do for the rest of their lives between must ensure that, overall, he or she Management consultancy is about As well as the College Careers No matter how practicable a deal weekends. Many see the financial ends up making a small margin on implementing positive changes in Service, there are student-led ca- may seem, competition laws must services industry as intimidating or everything bought and sold whilst companies so they run more effi- reers societies offering you the be considered. No acquisition may dry, but closer examination can re- still offering competitive prices. ciently and competitively. chance to attend networking events take place if the effect may be to veal a dynamic, exciting and meri- Private bankers or asset man- If you like the idea of solving com- hosted by companies. substantially lessen competition or tocratic working environment. agers pool together the cash of plex problems with unique solu- At this time of year Imperial Col- tend towards creating a monopoly. The most prolific employers of wealthy individuals or clients such tions, then this is the job for you. lege Finance Society (ICSF) and Once the antitrust hurdle has university graduates are invest- as pension funds. They create port- Accountants manage and analyse Student Industrial Society (SIS) been passed, the form of acquisi- ment banks, accountancy firms, in- folios consisting of a range of in- the movement of cash within com- host investment banks, account- tion needs to be considered. One surance and actuarial companies, vestments, from stocks to bonds to panies. Whether a local plumber ancy and other firms, who come to way is for a company to assume all and management consultants. gold and property. or a multinational, all businesses Imperial and give interactive talks the assets and all the liabilities of Investment banks offer under- Those with an interest in invest- need to have financial statements on their business areas. They also the other. Conducting the merger graduates from all disciplines ca- ment banking should ensure they written up. give you the chance to talk to em- in this way requires the approval reer paths to suite most tastes. have an extensive CV with exam- Cash-flow is important for work- ployees young and old. of at least 50 per cent of the stock Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) ples of teamwork and innovation, holders of each firm. bankers work closely with large because competition is fierce. En- An alternative is to simply buy the multinationals on long-term sure you are familiar with the in- company being sold in exchange for projects in an attempt to efficiently dustry you are interested in and the Interested in financial cash, shares or sometimes other restructure them. Juniors - known company you are applying for. securities. This method does not re- as analysts - are expected to work The large firms run summer quire the approval of the seller’s top into the small hours of the morn- internships for those in their pe- journalism? management, although it is gener- ing calculating financial models or nultimate year of study, which you ally sought. A hostile takeover can writing pitch books for clients. The can apply for online through their business.felix@ result if they resist, in which the high pay and invaluable business websites. buyer will attempt to acquire an ef- experience makes this an attrac- It might seem an obvious point, fective majority of the outstanding tive choice. but knowing about the company you imperial.ac.uk shares. The final method is to buy The sales and trading depart- are interested in is essential. A re- some or all of the seller’s assets. ments offer slightly more sociable cruiter from Royal Dutch Shell re- The tax status of an acquisition can affect the taxes paid by the merged firm. Cash deals are tax- able for capital gains tax. But share Summary of this week’s business news swaps are tax-free, and the stock- holders are viewed as exchanging their old shares in company A for similar new ones in company B. Michael Olymbios Academics view the corporate merger as a fulfilment of the econo- The Federal Reserve Open Mar- mies of scale theory that stipulates ket Committee (FOMC) decided free markets tend towards having to leave the federal funds rate un- as few companies and brand names changed at 5.25 per cent. The news as possible. In summary, the theory came as no surprise to economists argues that by merging and grow- given the fall in America’s headline ing into large multinationals, com- rate of inflation in August by more panies’ production costs are re- than expected. This was largely duced for a number of reasons. On due to decelerated energy inflation, a simplistic level, one example is which was 0.3 per cent in August decreased production costs permit- compared with 2.9 per cent in July. ted by bulk buying. You may then The regulation of hedge funds question the justification and moti- was brought into question after vation for corporations in different a Connecticut based firm – Ama- lines of business merging. ranth Advisors – lost billions of dol- There are fundamentally three lars because of bad positions in the kinds: the vertical, horizontal and natural-gas futures market. Invest- conglomerate mergers. The hori- ment bank Goldman Sachs specu- zontal kind combines two compa- lates the losses could reach 65 per nies in the same line of business, cent of the entire fund. Christopher for example, Vodafone and German Cox, the head of the Securities telecom giant Mannesmann. The and Exchange Commission (SEC) vertical variety involves compa- warned individual investors of the nies at different stages of produc- high risks potentially pertaining to tion. The buyer either expands the hedge funds. company back towards the source JPMorgan Securities Japan lost European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company admits further setbacks in Airbus A380 production of raw materials, or forwards it in millions of dollars on Tuesday due the direction of the consumer. For to an erroneous sell order on the billion Royal Dutch Shell energy- Scania, a Swedish lorry manu- and radio-identification tags, and example, Walt Disney acquired the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Similar inci- project. The action has increased facturer, rejected a takeover bid will broaden Motorola’s logistics ABC television network. dences have plagued the exchange the chances of Gazprom – Russia’s from MAN, a German competitor. division. The conglomerate merger in- in the past, including the high- state-owned gas monopoly – claim- Volkswagen, the leading share- The Swiss pharmaceutical com- volves companies in unrelated profile bad trade made by Muziho ing the project as its own. holder, believed the offer of 9.6 bil- pany Serono, which has been fields joining forces. The justifica- Securities that resulted in shares The European Aeronautic De- lion euros undervalued the com- searching for a buyer for some time, tion being, that costs might be cut being mistakenly sold for a Yen. In fence and Space Company (EADS) pany, whilst Renault, with a 5 per is to be bought by Merk. The Ger- by sharing central services such as this case, however, the TSE spotted announced further setbacks in cent stake in Scania, supported the man rival said it would buy the 64.5 accounting. Nevertheless, corpo- an unusual trade in advance and the production of the Airbus A380, deal. per cent stake currently held by the rations are under the influence of warned JPMorgan. As a result only putting pressure on its share price. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of Bertarelli family for $13.3 billion. shareholders and top-management a small proportion of the trade went No specific details were given, but a Chrysler, predicted the company Telecom Italia’s restructuring executives, leading to dubious mo- through. The firm released a state- review is expected soon. would make a loss this year, contra- programme resulted in the chair- tives for mergers. ment admitting it had sold a group Bill Ford, chairman of automotive ry to analyst predictions of a profit. man resigning over allegations of In 2000 AOL acquired Time Warn- of stocks in the Topix index instead giant Ford, has employed the serv- The company will be making cuts government intervention. er. This conglomerate made corpo- of stocks in the Nikkeir 225. JPMor- ices of Sir John Bond – Vodafone’s in the near future and continues to TI intended to spin off its fixed- rate history with a record-breaking gan refused to put a figure on the chairman and former chairman of lose its share in the North Ameri- line and mobile business so it could $156 billion worth of stock purchased losses. HSBC. He will act as a part-time can market. concentrate on broadband and by AOL to acquire Time Warner. Europe and Japan heavily criti- financial consultant to Mr Ford. Motorola made its largest acqui- media services. The centre-left The new company promised to fulfil cised the anticompetitive actions After an uncertain year, investors sition since 2000 after agreeing to government plans to oppose the the consumer’s media and informa- of Russia, which withdraw a per- showed renewed faith after the un- buy Symbol Technologies for $3.9 scheme but TI is committed and tion needs. Unfortunately, profits in mit on environmental grounds. veiling of plans to close two plants billion. Symbol manufactures hand- plans to acquire AOL Broadband in the company slumped, resulting in The permit was necessary for a $20 and cut 10,000 white-collar jobs. held devices for tracking stock Germany. an 80% decline in the share value. 9 felix Thursday 28 September 2006 Comment&Opinion In? Or better off out? A very As we gear up for a referendum on NUS membership, Alex Guite makes the case in warm favour of joining and warns against the potential consequences of opting out welcome When our own Rector proposed When politicians or the media “Leaving ULU top up-fees in 2002, it triggered a want the views of students, is it to will be a step national campaign. With the real our Union or to the NUS that they from the threat of top-up fees rising and turn? Whilst we remain outside more national upheaval in higher of the NUS our voice is not being back… For the education within three years, this is heard. On the day of the top up-fees first time in not the time to be cut off. vote in parliament, whilst the NUS Union From the discounts membership President was negotiating with the would give us as students to the Education Minister, all our own over 50 years, greater say it gives our Union, it is President could access was a back- time to look again at our member- bench MP who had already decided we will be ship of the National Union of Stu- how he was going to vote. Imperial dents (NUS). students deserve better. I am under on our own, I still remember the my disap- no illusions about the NUS; I have Alex Guite pointment and that of my friends no doubt that it needs reform. This isolated and when we started university here is a view shared by the NUS itself, and discovered that we couldn’t which has gone through root and mute without a get an NUS card, almost a symbol branch reform of its finances and of student life itself. But more than operations. We ensure that we have national voice.” that, and the part which hurt our an effective national body repre- wallets, we couldn’t get money off at senting students by working con- John Collins Amazon, Topman, Pizza Hut or an- structively for reform from within, ywhere else that NUS has negotiat- not by sniping from the sidelines. s we move towards Im- ed discounts for its members. From Edinburgh, which voted to join the ICU President perial’s centenary year, this year, the NUS card comes with NUS in 2004, has been at the fore- our College is ready to a free ICIS card, extending even front of reforming the NUS. Should elcome! A take a step forward to further the scope of discounts that Imperial join, we too would be at To all fresher become a University are available to those in the NUS. the forefront of reforms. students, and in its own right when it leaves the It was NUS lobbying which se- Membership of the NUS is easily W this is probably University of London. But for our cured council tax exemption for one of the biggest issues faced by not the first time students’ union, this move will be students, the biggest student dis- Imperial students in recent times. you’ve heard this, welcome to Im- a step back when we leave the Uni- count of all time. Could Imperial, With our circumstances radically perial College! To all non-Fresher versity of London Union. or any university, have negotiated changed by leaving the University students – welcome back! I hope For the first time in over 50 years, this on its own? Therein lies the of London Union, it’s time for a sen- you have all enjoyed your well- we will be on our own, isolated real benefit of the NUS: that it is sible debate. We simply cannot af- earned summer break and are and mute without a national voice. the recognised voice of students. ford to be isolated. now prepared for the forthcoming year. Andy informs me that I will be writing a weekly President’s column for Felix to keep you all Welcome to Gimperial! posted on the latest news from the Union. So I will start by telling you a little bit about the excit- ing refurbishment projects that or a lot of you (in fact, I don’t are the laziest people on the plan- rial life sound rather harsh, busy, we’ve delivered this summer. The think I’d be wrong in say- et and will inevitably show up to a and unforgiving, lectures are the Beit Building refurbishment is ing most of you), welcome grand total of three lectures in their safe haven where you are not only well underway and the first full F to England. A well done first year and somehow end up with guaranteed the world class educa- venue revamp, Da Vinci’s, is now to all of the freshers that a high first, or “just another Ox- tion that is offered here, but also complete. The promised new are gracing us with their presence bridge reject”. Have no fear though. the much needed sleep you missed lift is presently being installed this year as you’ve worked damned I can see straight through you – the the night before. Clearly then, as in the core of the building and hard. Not only have you been pres- truth is that you’ll fit right in here you can see, your working life here I will write about this project in sured by your parents from an early and chances to slack off will be will have to be carefully balanced, more detail in future columns. age to do well in school, but when aplenty despite the nasty rumours and remember that it is always Outside of South Kensington, you got to GCSE level you were told about high workloads. Unless you better to come in to lectures still our Reynolds Bar has received a to work your arses off, you got the want to get a first. Then it’s a com- drunk rather than with a hangover facelift and the ground floor of the grades you wanted and sailed into pletely different story. (that’s advice from somebody else student union building at Wye has John Sargent your A-Levels, or IB, or Certificate You will be given the royal treat- though). also been overhauled. We hope of Competency, or whatever eve- ment here at Gimperial as our in- Being serious just for a moment you like these lovely new venues rybody else does where you come stitution strives to be amongst the though, whatever your race, reli- and politely request that you treat from. You toiled and broke your elite of the elite. The number of fe- gion (probably none), sex (prob- them well. back with work for two years before male students on campus is so low ably male), or drinking preferences There is a lot more to ICU than finally landing the grades to make it that even the most rowdy male will (probably passed-out), you’re en- can be summarised in a short into this prestigious institution that be forced to sit at a desk and learn tering a new chapter of your life article or a two minute freshers’ we call Imperial College London (or something once in a while. Addi- and fortunately it’s a pretty pleas- speech. So, for the first time in liv- soon to be Imperial University, per- tionally, when you are considering ant one. ing memory, we will be running a haps; frankly, nobody really knows). straying from your hard-working Pretty soon you’ll be out on the Freshers’ General Meeting for all Congratulations. habits in halls and begin listening weekends with your mates doing students on Monday 9th October to music or, heaven forbid, playing whatever it is that takes your fancy. at 6pm in the Union Concert Hall. “You will be World of Warcraft, rest assured that Take a good look at Freshers’ Fair If you want to know more about the alarms fitted in each room in and sign up for everything you may ICU and how you can get involved given the royal the halls of residences also react to have an interest in, you’ll be thank- in its activities, then please come fun, and when the fun levels in any ful you did it later in the year. Don’t along to this event (refreshments treatment here at hall get past a certain point, they fret about which hall you have be- will, of course, be provided). are sure to blare and usher you all cause everyone will get more or Finally, if you need to contact Gimperial” out onto the pavement for half an less the same deal after you fac- me about these columns or chat hour while your annoyed wardens tor in price, and for goodness sake about anything that concerns or run around trying to figure out who don’t pass out naked on the Queen’s interests you, then please don’t If the above paragraph doesn’t fit used a chip pan to set three and a Lawn at any time. Enjoy your Gim- hesitate to email me at presi- you, which it almost certainly won’t, half kitchens on fire. perial life, and remember the rest [email protected]. then you will be one of either two Lectures, on the other hand, are of us are here to help by making On that note, have a brilliant types of people who we regularly an entirely different matter. Where- your day just that slightest bit more freshers’ week and a fantastic see here – genius academics, who as I have made the rest of Gimpe- amusing. year to come! Thursday 28 September 2006 felix 10

COMMENT & OPINION [email protected] Wielding the The Land of the Free mighty organ Does our scorn for Americans have any basis in reality? After a brief visit to the new continent Hugh Stickley-Mansfi eld is not convinced Until this week, I had a very low opinion in all my travels around Britain I have to back it up, or how often the news of Americans. Having never been there never experienced an atmosphere suggests it – once again, if my outlook before now, my only real experience of where bus-drivers will give impromptu of Britain were based on nothing more them was in the news, in works of fiction commentaries of places of interest, fel- than that, it would appear all but unin- or simply through received wisdom. The low passengers on the train will strike habitable, since news and drama only upshot of this was that I had an image up a conversation upon overhearing exist where there is conflict of a sort. of Americans as self-centred, unfriend- your own, and so on. Despite all my All of this is obvious. Yet I have been ly and stupid, and yet this is entirely at northern friends’ claims, that sort of wilfully ignorant of it, since it confirms odds with how I have found them to be thing just does not happen even in their my prejudices regarding Americans to Andy Sykes in my recent experience. neck of the woods. However, I have do so and there is something deeply In fact, even before visit- ing, I had met a great many “Everyone I Editor-in-chief pleasant, friendly Americans – the occasional tourist or know has an irst things first: while I was a-wandering expat – in Britain. Yet many the streets of South Kensington on Sat- of these were keen to further unflattering urday night after a long day in the office propogate a negative view fiddling with my mighty organ’s design of their fellow countrymen outlook on with my very capable Managing Editor, – decrying the extremist lean- Alex Antonov, I was stopped by three ings of many, or taking a dig America” F beautiful young ladies wearing rather at the insular mindset of the stunning dresses. “Lo, young travel- eighty-odd percent who have ler”, they shouted unto me, “tarry a while and talk to never owned a passport. Be- comforting in that. And I know us.” Not wishing to seem impolite, I engaged in some ing a trusting chap, I took I am certainly not alone in this hearty banter with them; they’d been to a wedding ear- their word for it on the basis – almost everyone I know has an lier, you see, and the shame of being 23 and unmarried that they should know, of all unflattering outlook on America had forced them to imbibe a significant proportion of people. But I did not consider and of Americans, even amongst their body weight in alcohol. They wanted directions to that, since they had chosen to the most liberal-minded of them a local late-night drinking establishment that I have fre- leave the country, for however – those who would otherwise quented with disastrous consequences, and I was happy long, they might be somewhat flinch at the prospect of being in to show them the way. They were called Peta (no, I didn’t biased. After all, it would be any way discriminatory. get it either), Philippa, and the beautiful young lady to unwise to base an assessment There seems to be a sense their right, I could not remember her name; the only fact of the British character on ex- that you are not actually being that sticks in my memory was that she was a secondary pats in the Spanish Riviera, so racist if you are only being rac- school teacher of mathematics. Anyway, they invited me why should America be any ist about Americans – that they to drink with them in said establishment, and I declined, different? are a powerful enough nation as your editor was rather fatigued from a long night of In the few days I have spent in Ameri- been told that despite any good experi- that a bit of slander here and there will staring at screens. In return for wussing out, I promised ca, everyone I have met has been polite, ences I might have had of America, if do them no harm (after all, they have to mention them within the pages of this very newspa- friendly and a good conversationalist. ever I went to New York I would find repeatedly made it clear that they are per. Consider yourself mentioned, my dear troika (look Even at customs, where I had expected them to be every bit as unpleasant as more than than capable of looking after it up), and should you be in the Union bar in the near fu- even a low level of intolerance given I had been led to believe. And yet the themselves). Or perhaps it is simply ture, I will be happy to consume a beverage or two with the events of recent years, there was a descriptions I hear of the iniquities of a protracted sulk over their latterday you. noticeable lack of the officious air that New York are identical to those that I success since kicking the British out. And so I lead on to more serious things. If you were constant tales of high-handed officials hear levelled at London and know to be Either way, it is a deeply unsettling and one of the nearly one thousand that voted for me, I thank would suggest. Of course, I do not for untrue here and am frankly no longer misanthropic notion, but no-one seems you. If not, well, you had your reasons. I’ve worked for one moment assume that the whole prepared to believe it about there ei- to think twice about it. But they are, af- Felix since pretty much the day I arrived at the College, country is like this by any means, but ther, no matter how many films seem ter all, only Americans – so who cares? naïve, optimistic, and with zero alcohol tolerance. I’ve studied under such legendary editors as Will Dugdale, Alex Coby, and Dave Edwards, and consider myself one of the last of the old guard of Felix, having cut my teeth on the rather hellish music section and lengthy “editorial Your newspaper needs you! meetings” (read: bar nights). I’ve inherited a Felix that has been thoroughly disliked by staff and students alike, and one that has descended into petty name-calling and poor quality tabloid journalism. I’ve seen more strife junk, paranoid grievance-mongering parts who tires of the same formulaic within the Felix staff in the last year than I have seen in and terribly dogmatic pieces written by articles that keep appearing in the na- the previous four editors’ terms. I’ve seen what I saw as single-issue fanatics. tional press. I believe scientists would the spirit of Felix get lost somewhere in the accusations Several of my acquaintances agree make better, more objective writers by and recrimination. Felix has a long and proud tradition; with this rather uncharitable view of the nature of the topics we study. We where we’ve held the College and Union to account in our publication last year. Where I would don’t get away with pretentiously fluff- the past, we’ve done so with reason and balance. Our disagree with them was when they ing out essays with obscure literary and tone never used to be admonishing, but rather, a won- blamed our Editor for all of the faults. philosophical quotes to mask the fact derful blend of irreverence and asshattery. I’ve wanted If some of the people last year put the that we don’t know very much about a to hold this position all my College life, and I hope you same energy into writing news stories given topic. Our ability to call a spade a enjoy my tenure. If not, well, I’ll wreck up the place. I or columns as they did into bitching fucking shovel should make us perfect know where you live. about Rupert, then Felix would have for reporting the world around us. Why been a whole lot better. on earth is the media and politics domi- I recall several occasions last year ated by the arts? Perhaps it’s just be- Stephen Brown where I got rather animated when I had cause scientists are too clever to bother been sent sports reports that read like with either. felix Comment Editor they had been put together by a partic- In order for us to present a more di- ularly inarticulate eight year old. The verse set of opinions we need your help. Editor-in-chief Andy Sykes | Managing Editor Alex sad thing was that more often than not I’ve met several people at Imperial who Antonov | Science Editor Krystyna Larkham | Politics ife is strange. In my final col- they had been submitted by students would make excellent writers. It would Editor Matthew Hartfield | Business Editor Michael umn as Sports Editor last year who would claim that English (or some be nice if some more of you could com- Olymbios | Music Editors Matthew Hoban, Jenny I was rather rude about some bastardised version of it) was their first mit your thoughts to print for us. There Gibson, Tom Whitson | Film Editor Angela Lee | Arts of the contributors to these language. At the end of the day editors are not many benefits about writing for Editor Emily Lines | Food & Drink Editor Hannah L hallowed pages and now I am only edit. Perhaps we could have been Felix. It’s a thankless task and you only Theodorou | Fashion Editor Dolly Delaney | Nightlife charged with the responsibility of edit- a bit more proactive in recruiting more really hear from people when you’ve Editor Gregory Mead | Comment Editor Stephen ing Felix’s comment section. Do I regret writers but it is rather unfair to try and offended someone, but I still would Brown | Coffee Break Editor Alex Cameron-Smith my intemperate words? Not a jot, is the blame poor content on one individual. recommend it. On the upside, the bar | TV Editor Tomo Roberts | Environment Editor answer. It is on this note that I urge you all nights are quite good fun, so please get João Vitor Serra | Clubs & Societies Editor Kirsty Some of the content in Felix last year to get writing. Imperial is unique in writing! Patterson | Copy Editor Andy Mason was absolutely lamentable. Considering that it dosen’t run any courses which we are allegedly a world-class academic traditionally dominate campus media. Felix, Beit Quad, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BB. Tel 020 7594 8072. institution the standard of writing in Fe- We should see this as an opportunity Got anything you would like to Fax 020 7594 8065. Printed by The Northcliffe Press, Northcliffe House, lix left a lot to be desired. Instead of ob- for us scientists to present our inher- share with our readers? Please send Meadow Road, Derby DE1 2DW. No 1,357, Thursday 28 September 2006. jective, balanced journalism our column ently superior view of the world. I’m all contributions to comment.felix@ Registered newspaper ISSN 1040-0711. Copyright © Felix 2006. inches were littered with sensationalist sure I’m not the only one round these imperial.ac.uk 15 felix Thursday 28 September 2006 Reviews MUSIC [email protected] Editorial Albums for your first year Rant Ten essential albums and some that got our reviewers through their first year

Hello, hi and wilkommen to the vast undiscovered territories. plane of mid-20th century archi- However I find this album a beau- tecture that is Imperial College. If tiful one for those who don’t re- you haven’t yet strained your eyes ally know much about jazz. For one about two and a half inches upward thing, this album has a collective on this page; this is the music sec- theme of faith and worship. There tion of the mighty organ that is Fe- is poetry in the liner notes of the lix. Now for the patronising bit. sleeve which indicate this theme. University should be a voyage of There is an air of melody within discovery. There are parts to you ...And You Will Know Us By Public Enemy these pieces making the improvi- that you may not even know about. Sonic Youth The Trail of Dead It Takes A Nation of Millions sation easier to grasp onto. The We are not suggesting that you in- Daydream Nation Madonna to Hold Us Back title track has an instantly catchy vest in a room full of mirrors so you (Geffen) (Merge Records) (Def Jam) bassline and ends with the title be- can perpetually observe your neth- ing sung over the bassline. er regions. Okay, let’s start again... Everyone has heard of Sonic Youth Yet another band to emerge from This is an album that a lot of people When we first came to univer- but they are often associated with the Olympia, Washington scene - have heard of but have not actually sity, we wanted to learn about as Nirvana and that horrible word, which also spat out Bikini Kill and heard. It is a seminal hip hop album much as possible, both inside and ‘grunge’. This is purely due to bad Nirvana amongst others - but relo- in every aspect. The music uses in- outside our ‘proper’ subjects. This timing. Whilst Nirvana were still cated to Austin, Texas. Trail of Dead fectious and brilliant samples with naturally included music and its tuning up, Sonic Youth had emerged mash together the indie rock noise- hardline political views. various forms. You might be equally out of the no-wave scene with two making of Sonic Youth with more It is hard to deny the greatness inquisitive. fantastic albums, Sister and Day- rock’n’roll influences. It is high oc- of an album which feature tracks So here at Felix, we’d thought dream Nation. tane melodicism and reflects the such as Don’t Believe the Hype and we’d offer you up some of the al- Opener, Teen Age Riot is per- Austin, Texas scene at the time. For Rebel Without a Pause. If you ever bums that we adored in our first haps one of the most perfect songs classic rock fans this album can ex- needed music to soundtrack your year. Along with these, there is a around. It’s loud, catchy, sexy (Kim pand your tastes whilst giving you slow politicism at university or just list of 10 ‘essential’ albums that can Gordon’s intro does that to you) and something you can still relate to. general angst then put this on. Shellac help open you up to a vast world of fast. What more could you need? 1000 Hurts music that lies ahead, if you wish to Well, possibly 13 more tracks of (Touch and Go) persue it. They’re not necessarily more brilliance and that’s what you the best albums ever but the ones get. Sonic Youth were, and still are, This album is perhaps not the best that can expand your tastes. one of the major inspirations to any album out there. It is however made We don’t wish to patronise you, band that wanted to sound different. by a vital band. The reason for this just to suggest some stuff that you Thurston Moore, in many a music is Steve Albini. He is well-known might like. If you think we are smok- patron’s eyes, is a god and his label, for his production on Pixies albums ing some of that crack stuff that we Ecstatic Peace, is awash with fan- and the last Nirvana album. He keep hearing about, and our sugges- tastic bands. Avoid at your peril! has produced so many influential tions are awful, or if you can think albums that he has a certain myth of other albums everyone should Animal Collective about him. Albini has also been in definitely hear then get in touch. Sung Tongs The Clash legendary bands such as Big Black This section is always looking (Fat Cat Records) London Calling and Rapeman but Shellac is per- for reviewers. The rewards of this (Columbia) haps more accessible. Watch Song is that you get access to FREE Folk is becoming more acceptable is fantastic song dedicated to the gigs and FREE CDs and in return at the moment and is not just dis- This album might seem a bit obvi- stupidity of brawling and fighting. we should want you to write about missed as music for bearded old ous but it has London in the title, so them. Or if gig photography is a men. Nick Drake’s Nine Leaves that’s why it is in. Also, it’s a punk passion of yours then we can exhibit Left is a nice place to start but album that brushes with a lot of your work. Also it is a great oppor- slightly obvious. Iron & Wine also of- genres. tunity to meet like-minded people. Pavement fer beautiful music however it’s still The Clash’s 1979 opus is the ulti- This section is run by three edi- Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain very traditional. Animal Collective mate London album from the ulti- tors so that the workload of being (Matador) are from New York and add a lush mate London band. From the open- a music editor doesn’t clash with experimental edge to sparse folk ing striking chords of the title track out degree studies, since we are Forget The Automatic and The yet retaining a pop edge. Magic. you’re dragged through a machine all in our third year here. It also Kooks, Pavement are real indie- gun blitz of punk, rock’n’roll, reg- means that there should be at least pop. Where the former bands tread gae and everything in between. All one of us around for you to harass. the same ideas and melodies used of this is topped off with Joe Strum- You can get in touch by popping so many times before, Pavement mer’s visceral lyrics. Quite simply along to the Felix stall at Freshers’ were real experimenters. a classic. Joy Division Fair or by e-mailing us at music. Their first album, Slanted and Unknown Pleasures [email protected]. Don’t worry Enchanted remains a classic to this (Factory) if you haven’t done any reviews be- day. However a good place to start fore. Our first years were the first with Pavement is their second al- Possibly another obvious choice for time that we had ever put fingers bum, Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. essential albums. But I am tired to keyboards and ranted away. This album is better produced and and need to hand this in in five min- The music section will also be more accessible that their debut Slint utes. Ahem, I mean it is still an in- helping to put on a gig on in the but Stephen Malkmus’ (who also Spiderland fluential album and can introduce union on October 13th. We have was in Silver Jews) lyrics are still (Touch and Go) the listener to a whole new sonic selected a band to play along- insanely skewed and sharply bril- territory. side two bands that are playing liant. Cut Your Hair is so immedi- This is one of the true iconic albums This album may not feature Love on that night. The section is also ately great in its sardonic nature of the 90s. If you like Mogwai, then Will Tear Us Apart but it still con- connected to the Alternative Mu- that it is irresistible. maybe you’ll know that they owe John Coltrane tains fantastic songs. These include sic Society and so look out for everything to Slint. This album A Love Supreme She’s Lost Control which is incred- events organised by them here. spawned more genres that you can (Impulse) ibly eerie yet very immediate. This Enjoy this week’s feature and Favourite First Year Albums: count on one hand. Math-rock, post- album not only focuses on melody reviews. If you want to contrib- rock, indie-rock, whatever you call Jazz, jazz, oh jazz. One of the most and rhythm but puts a large em- ute, please don’t hesitate to get Nick Simpson says: it, the music is constantly shifting maligned genres around. If you are phasis on sound. At once sparse involved. Without voluntary con- At the Drive-In, and evades pigeon-holing. a fan of jazz then I’m sure you know and vast, the sonic landscape that tributions we would be nothing! Relationship of Command about this album. This is the last is painted is an ear-opener. Favourite First Year Albums: album in the classic quartet form. The record has an industrial ve- Jenny Gibson, Matty Hoban, Keira Poland says: Gregory Mead says: After this album, Coltrane went neer that could have only been con- and Tom Whitson Rufus Wainwright, Poses Interpol, Antics avant-garde and alongside with Or- veyed in the grey that is Manches- Music Editors nette Coleman, wandered into new ter in the late seventies. Thursday 28 September 2006 felix 16

MUSIC [email protected] A summery regression Felix gets retrospective over some albums releases in the summer (we need to play catch up) album reviews the band risked losing their main of radioplay that this band receives. fusion of gypsy folk and punk is the fanbase, who knew and loved them The Automatic The band do produce interesting, perfect antidote. Muse for their harder space-rock work. Not Accepted Anywhere and somewhat refreshing songs, The music snobs amongst you Black Holes And Revelations At first many fans, myself included, (B-Unique) however they are all so similar that may dismiss them as a cheap gim- (Wea) were bemused by this direction but ★★✩✩✩ when combined they form an al- mick with silly songs, however you ★★★★✩ although it is a radical departure it bum that at best can be described can’t argue with the reaction of is also completely brilliant and tre- Most people’s first taste of The Au- as mediocre. the crowd when you see them live. mendous fun. tomatic would probably have been Apparently the band is called The Their credibility is further boosted Much was said in the build-up to Much of the rest of the album with their hugely successful single Automatic as they provide the per- by the fact that this is their fifth al- this album’s release; speculation follows suit and yet it is still much Monster. This was mine anyway, fect cure to the automatic, monoto- bum, with their first in 1999, and the was endless as to what Muse could more varied than their other ones. and if I’m being honest I enjoyed nous lives that far too many people fact that they have featured on the do next. The band were quoted as Stand out tracks include Map of the the rather fun, catchy and shouty lead. However, surely if you just re- U.S. Warped Tour. Their songs may saying they had been inspired by Problematique which combines a nature of the song, accompanied by place one repetitive task with a te- seem nonsensical, reflected in song The Strokes and their sense of mel- throbbing beat and pulsating gui- an entertainingly comical video, of diously droning noise of an album, titles such as Start Wearing Purple ody. Some fans were worried that tars with emotional, heartfelt lyrics you guessed it, them being chased you get that same bored feeling and and Immigrant Punk. However if the band would lose their identity like, ‘Why can’t we see, when we by a monster. However, the novelty that is exactly what The Automatic you can listen to this album with- and ‘sell-out’ to the stereotypical bleed we bleed the same’. Another of the raspy shouts repeating the have achieved. Individually the out making slightly strange move- mainstream indie crowd, but this highlight is the politically charged end of every line becomes incred- songs are quite good, but they seem ments in time to any of the songs, was not to be the case. While this Assassin which kicks into action ibly irritating, when you realise that to be limited resulting in an album then there is something wrong with album may be more accessible to with crushing guitars and thrash- somebody, somewhere decided that that sounds all too similar. you. This music is so refreshing the mainstream listener the band ing drums while encouraging a rev- it would be a good idea to use this Jenny Gibson and unusual; the frantic playing of have most certainly not lost any of olution with Bellamy’s lyrics, ‘Aim, technique on virtually every song the fiddle and accordion used in so their edge. If anything, this album shoot, kill your leaders’. on The Automatic’s debut album many of their songs adds to the ex- proves them to be the true innova- Overall the album is a much eas- Not Accepted Anywhere. citement and chaos created by the tors they have only hinted at being ier listen than previous efforts and Don’t get me wrong, I do actu- Gogol Bordello crazy lyrics and piercing, intermit- in the past. the diversity of the songs ensure ally like this welsh band and I en- Gypsy Punks: tent shrieks. Their last album, Absolution, re- that the listener is never bored. joy what they are trying to do. My Underdog World Strike Their unique sound can be at- leased to critical acclaim and com- The album is closed by the epic favourite track is Lost at Home (Side One Dummy) tributed to Gogol Bordello being mercial success, carried a central Knights of Cydonia which romps simply because they have refrained ★★★★✩ largely made up of Eastern-Euro- theme of apocalyptic events and and riffs its way through six min- from using any shouty-sections, al- pean immigrants, now based and conspiracy theories. Instead of con- utes of pomp and spectacle before though admittedly I was just wait- living in New York. Their influences tinuing this trend and making Abso- burning out. At the end you are left ing for them to be introduced. Their I think that what I am about to say are accredited to a wide range of lution Mk II, as many lesser bands with one hell of a catchy riff stuck other tracks which have been re- will you give some idea as to how bands, most of which I’m not afraid would have, the band have used ele- in your head, and an impression of leased as singles are also included I feel about this band. If you have to say, I have never heard of, as I ments from their earlier sound and slight disorientation. Like an im- on this album. Raoul and Recover, not heard Gogol Bordello’s latest am evidently not an alternative/ob- taken them to a new level. pressive and varied fireworks dis- which has been re-released after its album Gypsy Punks: Underdog scure music-buff. However, I would As the first single, Supermas- play that goes out with that big loud limited success as their first ever World Strike, go and buy it now and recommend this album to abso- sive Black Hole has proven, the one leaving your ears ringing and single have both received moderate enjoy. Tired of listening to endless lutely anybody who likes listening band are not afraid of experiment- your retinas scarred, this album success however obviously Monster indie-pop bands, which it seems are to haphazard, vibrant and revital- ing with their sound, but they took is great fun and as long as it’s not was what got The Automatic their becoming increasingly blander as izing music. A far cry from what the great risks in doing so. By chang- taken too seriously a superb album big break. These tracks along with more and more hat-wearing, pointy British music scene is threatening ing their sound so completely to all round. Monster are very catchy, possibly shoe, skinny jean wearing bands to become. this new disco-funk inspired style Toby Prudden explaining the excessive amounts shoot to stardom? Then this bizarre Jenny Gibson Depeche Mode and others impress at Hyde Park Your humble newspaper attends the O2 Wireless festival for an eclectic mix of bands festival review sound. come off-stage, we rush over to the Sunday sunshine doesn’t provide main stage for headliners, Depeche O2 Wireless Festival the purring intimacy that Alison Mode. Hyde Park Goldfrapp demands. We only catch The crowd has significantly ex- Sunday June 25 two Goldfrapp Songs, but we’re bid- panded since we left Goldfrapp's ★★★★✩ ing time as Gang of Four are due to set. We are barely settled and the headline the Xfm Stage so we move tallest man in the vicinity positions swiftly on. The X Stage is barely half himself directly in front of us. His The final day of this year’s O2 wire- full as some punters have twigged mate, probably the second tallest less festival opens with a set from that Niteversions are another in- man in the whole crowd, stands OK Go. With ‘get, get, get over it’ carnation of Soulwax. Their set of next to him. That was very consid- inevitably fixed in our heads like dancebeats crafted out of percus- erate we thought before shifting a piece of barbed cheese, we won- sion and knob twiddling just builds behind some normal sized people. der around for more sounds. We the rhythm of our anticipation. As They’re playing all the hits flaw- find London’s own New Young they finish the audience melts away. lessly and we wonder why it doesn’t Pony Club (formerly NYPC), who Are these people stupid? Or are we feel like the headlining act of one of start their set with The Get Go, the at the wrong stage? A band formed our favourite bands. jumped up punk-funk brings life in ’77 that smashed up a sold out Suddenly everything changes. into this Sunday afternoon. Brixton Academy in 2004 and now Here comes Personal Jesus. The The quirky front woman, Tahita, there’s 30 of us in this crowd. Their sun starts to set, the huge screens is relaxed and charming, banter- loss is our gain. We move in closer shine out beautiful pictures and ing with the audience, and betting and amazingly, we're at the front. from nowhere, the atmosphere fi- that we can’t help but dance to the They don’t disappoint. Gill leaps nally arrives. Now it feels like the Jamaican reggae groove of Hiding on to the stage first prancing around headline set of a festival. on the Staircase. She has a point. like a sprite, King’s bashing his When Dave Gahan utters the The crowd know how to embrace percussion instrument of choice, words,‘Come on lets see those variety. a microwave, with a baseball bat. hands,’ the crowd obeys. They After a bit of a wander around, Here’s the intensity of sound we’ve played the hits, but these were we come back to the X Stage to find waited for, what some have called the songs that we needed to hear: New York’s Matisyahu (Matthew their neo-Marxist funk. Call it what Stripped; Personal Jesus; I Feel Paul Miller), bounding around the you want, it was a set of classics. You and finishing on Never Let Me stage to push some Hasidic Jew- Clearly enjoying themselves and it Down Again. A draining yet exhila- ish reggae into our ears. Looking at rubs off on the crowd. rating end to the day, we faithfully ease as the crowd builds to follow We are moved beyond words and went and bought Depeche Mode the hype that forms a fog around all we can do to pogo uncontrolla- T-shirts. him. You just want to sway to the bly and grin. Their set is the high- Mia Kukathason & beat-boxing dubbed up Rasta roots light of the day. As Gang of Four Heba Abu-Own Depeche Mode live with very strange keyboards in background

18 felix Thursday 28 September 2006

NIGHTLIFE [email protected] Party London School of Excess time LSE has nicer girls than IC? Surely not! again! Haçienda (if you don’t know what Afterskool Klub that is, then may I suggest the rath- LSE Union er great Steve Coogan movie 24 Free before midnight, £6 after, Hour Party People). The main area £5 NUS/Flyer spans two stories, and has whack- HHHHI ing great big pillars running down from a balcony, which you can look over onto the dancefloor from. It’s Although there are better things a nice enough area if you’ve had a I can think of doing for a night out few too many pints and need some- than spending it with a load of econ- where to relax, as it’s less hectic omists, it has to be said that LSE’s than the main area. union is certainly enviable. It’s pop- Below hence lies the bar, which ular, they have leather seats, multi- as I mentioned, is extraordinarily ple floors, more of the female gen- cheap: may the lord bless student der, and it’s even a little cheaper. unions. It’s usually under two quid I know what you’re thinking. Bas- for a pint, in fact, I’ve found the rule Greg Mead & tards. Don’t let anything put you off of thumb is that it’s about 5-10p going, though, because one of the cheaper than Imperial. This means Alex Baldwin all round best outings in London that, for a change, you can actually is one of their flagship nights, on get drunk on something you like the pleasingly convenient Saturday and spend as much as you would Nightlife Editors slot. There’s also a big clubnight on at an average pub, without having Fridays called Crush, but it’s best to make do with whatever piss hap- not to mention my experience with pened to be on special offer. Panic, ello, and welcome to that one (it involved pouring alco- I’m looking at you, with your sod- another fun packed hol down my ears to drown out that ding Kronenburg (however you do year at Imperial, horrendous noise people call urban play Belle & Sebastian loads, so I H hopefully you’ve had ‘music’). still love you). a wonderful holiday Afterskool has been going for a And then there’s the atmosphere. (actually I hope it was rubbish) while now, and it describes itself as Okay, so you’ll still see the occasion- and you havent missed university an indie and electro night. Amongst al music elitist with stupid hair and life too much. the usual suspects, there’s a certain a ridiculous hat (guilty as charged) For you Freshers out there, New Wave influence amongst it all, as is per usual in indie establish- we’ve prepared a wonderful with the likes of Talking Heads and ments, but Afterskool is largely full specially made section for you David Bowie rearing their heads of – well – students! Respectable this week, filled with competi- for the dancefloor once again. students! Not that I have anything tions, student friendly clubnight There, are of course, your usual bad to say about the fine ladies at reviews, and even a guide to indie anthems which they pump somewhere like, just a random some of our favourite clubnights out through the speakers, expect club, Cheapskates, but it’s a some- of the week, we really suggest you to hear something like Love Will what fun and friendly atmosphere, go to them, they are great, plus Tear Us Apart or Common Peo- it’s not full of horny males and nei- you’ll have the chance to meet ple at some point or another, most ther is it full of music scenesters the beautiful Alex. likely towards the end of the night. that are just too cool to dance. Speaking of which, some of my There’s also your standard selec- So, it’s easy to find, easy to get regular fans may be wondering tion of relatively new and dance- back from (you’ve got to love those who the hell is the Alex character able indie hits; The Arcade Fire buses in Camden at 3 in the morn- invading our favourite section, are certainly popular, and whether We didn’t have any photos, so heres a picture of their fliers instead. ing, that only run once an hour and well he has kindly volounteered you like them or not, there’s the never go anywhere useful), a good his services to take over the seemingly omnipresent Franz Fer- kids listen to, I’m talking We Are the electronic side of their moniker time of the week, damn cheap, and nightlife editorial while I am in re- dinand with their various remixes Scientists and the like, it’s not re- – there’s a fair bit of 80s stuff that has a great atmosphere. About the hab for the next few months, but to keep you throwing funky shapes ally as heavy as Club NME [Hardly has synthesizers, but don’t get your only complaint I can level against don’t start destroying every copy (although, readers, I must say who- surprising – Greg] on that side but hopes up thinking you’re going to this place is that I wish it played of Felix in sight yet, for hopefully I ever did that remix of the first 3 it certainly veers more on the main- be having a night of dance music - more varied music, but it’s a minor will return after Christmas where notes of Do You Want To that lasts stream than a lot of the more elit- this is strictly for guitar and guitar/ critique, and one I’m sure won’t ap- Alex and I will bring you the most about 13 minutes will pay for leg in- ist places in London. It may sound electronic hybrid stuff. ply to 99% of you kids out there. If awesome-a-saurus rex articles, jury for dancing too long, I fucking a bit strange to criticize a night of I have this unshakeable feeling you enjoy indie music in the slight- and even more awesome made swear). A lot of the night concen- it, but personally I do feel that Af- that this place reminds me of the est – this is essential stuff. up words. trates on the stuff the NME indie terskool sometimes skimps a bit on infamous Mancunian venue The Matt “The Hat” Long Our main review today is of Af- terskool, courtesy of Leather Hat Matt, one of our most esteemed reviewers. As for the competion, Greg and Alex’s super duper club we decided not to keep all the tickets for ourselves so we’re giving away a load of free stuff! Make sure you email in to Night- recommendations for the week! life for the chance to win these wonderful prizes. If you don’t email in you have no chance at all of winning! Greg & Alex where you will be swiftly removed for free, which coincides with the However there are still some com- That’s all we can think of writ- from the queue unless your clothes start of happy hour. Expect to hear mendable options, check 333 on Old ing this week, so read on and we Since you may have just joined IC, and musical taste are up to stand- an eclectic mix of Indie, Post-Punk, Street for monthly clubnights that hope you love all the genuinely and not be from London, or even ard (fashion show Indie). and a bit of Electro. They also have can be hit and miss, or Cargo, also amazing events during Freshers from the UK, then we’ve been kind live bands. around Old Street for a varied mix Week. enough to write a little list of club- Tuesday of live acts. nights we might visit throughout You will not be hungover as the Thursday the week, either because they are drinks at Trash are extortionately Get over to Candybox at Moonlight- Saturday Fancy free entry to good or cheap. Either way, I suggest priced. Make your way over to The ing, if you fancy a horrible night Afterskool, the best student In- that if you don’t like Indie or Electro Roxy on Rathbone Place for Panic! of Indie cheese. The questionable die clubnight in London, hosted at any club any time? then destroy this article now. a perfect student type Indie/Electro choice of music is balanced by the LSE’s student union (see review) night sure to please all but the most £1.00 house spirit and mixers, so is a great option, the DJ’s are good Can you write Monday snobbish of you with £1.50 drinks all turn up with £20 and leave totally and the drinks are quite cheap. Oth- It’s the start of the week, and you night. wasted. er options include irregular club- in English? get to meet us in the flesh at Seen nights at The Barfly (live bands) at The Fly on New Oxford Street. Wednesday Friday and maybe something at the Union, Become a nightlife You can even touch our faces. That Venture over to Notting Hill for In the olden days before Our Disco if you’re very very lucky. starts at 7pm and finishes at mid- Death Disco, with Alan McGee was so cruelly removed from it’s reviewer! night, just in time to make your way at the Notting Hill Arts Club, get home at Plastic People, it would Sunday over the road to Trash at The End, there before 8pm and you’ll get in guarantee a decent Friday night. Sleep, or do some work (hah!) Thursday 28 September 2006 felix 19

NIGHTLIFE [email protected] Cheap treats every Competition Time! night of the week Hooray, we’ve got lots of prizes for everyone in this amazing first issue of Nightlife of the year! All you have to do is email in telling us which prize you’d like. Interesting emails may get priority.

[email protected]

We’ve got 10 pairs of tickets for Papadiso and Jaded at Egg club on the 14th October, featuring, Happy Mondays, Switch DJ’s and Kiss100’s Steve Smart.

Presenting in the main ing recently remixed the Sub-Mission – a DJ col- room one of the hottest likes of Martin Solveg and lective based in London production outfits of the X-Press 2, Switch have and the south-east, ded- moment - Switch is in just re-rubbed the all time icated to the electronic everyone’s record box classic Basement Jaxx sounds of funky, deep, right now. Their current - ‘Fly Life’ ready for it’s re- tech and electro house smash ‘A bit patchy’ release on Atlantic Jaxx. music go head to head which is forthcoming It gets better. Hosting with Chocolate Groove on Dave Taylor’s own the Terrace this month who at just over a year imprint ‘Dubsided’ is is the Happy Mondays old will be playing their almost a classic sum- Collective (messy) bust- mix of Soulful, Deep, US mary of how Switch ing out a DJ-Set alongside House/Funky, Chunky, deliver beats that liter- the Papadiso residents Jackin House (mixed Despite fancy new lights, there are other places than the Union. ally (lift/tear?) the roof Frisky DJ’s & Kiss FM’s with a bit of electro & The Good Lord be praised for there are £4.50. With great DJ’s and live off a dancefloor. Hav- Steve Smart. In the Loft disco-funk). be ways of getting cheap drinks and bands this is a great night out with sonic appeasement almost any darn only moderate damage to your day of the week, even in the money pocket. grabbing shylock that is, London Town. Ok peeps, here goes. Thursday It might be in Wimbledon but the Monday Watershed is good fun and most The cheapest place to find youself a importantly very cheap night out. A tipple on the first day of your cheap stone’s throw from the borough of week is to get down to The Fly for Chelsea, for your £4.00 NUS entry a night called Seen. It’s free entry Watershed advertises all drinks at and any house spirit and mixer is £1.50 till 11.30pm and has live bands just £2.00 and a bottle of Carling is from 9-midnight plus DJ’s till 2am. a mere £1.50. The house DJ’s cer- tainly know their stuff and kick up Friday We’ve got guestlist for one winner and two a fuss of old and classic indie with Get down to the Live Room at ULU. a fetischstic shot of electo. A really NUS entry is a fiver and you get to friends for StereoSushi at Ministry of Sound on very good and very cheap start to see the best of the music scene’s the week. breaking bands for next to nothing October 13, plus three Hed Kandi double CD albums before everyone else. Newly kit- Tuesday ted out in state for the art PA it’s a to give away (to the same people). Head over to UCL Union for exceed- veritable genre feast and the drinks ingly cheap booze-age. Pints start are student priced as you would at as little as £1.60 and Tuesdays expect. Reintroducing a much turntables, dropping an anthem led sets. traditionally are host to their Live needed dash of glamour array of soulful, intoxicat- Andy Norman and Band nights where for the price of a Saturday and gorgeousness to ing rhythms – if there’s Jamie Richard take lager and a packet of crisps you can Well it may be back to Notting Hill hear the delights of new student Arts Club for this one, but you won’t Friday night partying, one person who knows care of proceedings in band talent and also hear the fresh- be disappointed. Rota is a fabulous Stereo Sushi will lav- how to work the mighty the Bar, taking us all on ers try out their DJ skills. mix of cutting edge DJ’s and live ishly transform Ministry main room it’s CJ – one a melodious journey, bands and is from 4pm till 8pm eve- into an opulent, orien- of the original Ministry of satisfying our musical Wednesday ry week. Amazingly it’s completely Notting Hill Arts club is a must- free. The same drinks deals apply tal playground com- Sound resident DJ’s from needs with the finest go for anyone new to London, the as from 6pm-9pm on a weekday plete with Stereo hosts back in day. Joining him selection of deep and basement venue an experience in where a house bottle of wine sets and Sushi Ninja Girl on the night is another of dirty disco grooves. Soul itself, Wednesdays is home to Alan you back just £8.00. Rock on! McGee’s night Death Disco and if Warriors. London’s leading soulful- Logic host the Baby you’re in before 6pm it’s absolutely Sunday In the main room the house DJ’s – Glyne Brait- Box, with additional free plus between 6.00 & 9.00pm What? More you ask? But this be legendary CJ Mack- waite, ready to deliver one percussion supplied by there are great drinks deals too. the Lord’s day of rest.. So give your House beer and a glass of house liver a rest and go and cook sunday instosh will grace the of his infamous deep and Shovell from M-People. wine are both £2.00, glass of house linch for your mates in return for a fizz is £2.50 and selected cocktails plentiful supply of.. The Health Centre welcomes you to Imperial College!

Registering It is important you register with an NHS General Practitioner as soon as possible. The Imperial College Health Centre is situated in the temporary building oppo- site Weeks Hall. You can obtain registration forms from our reception team at the Health Centre if you have not received them on arrival in hall. All Imperial College Students are eligible to use our services during the working day. However, only those living within our NHS registration area may register with us under the NHS. Please ask our reception staff for advice on NHS registration.

Chronic health problems If you have any chronic health problems (such as diabetes or asthma) or take regu- lar medication (but not the contraceptive pill) please come and have brief medical with one of the doctors to discuss your health needs and arrange for your medica- tion to be continued.

Vaccination We also strongly recommend that you are vaccinated against meningococcal infec- tion (meningitis) and mumps. Both illnesses, although rare, occur more commonly amongst university students and are both serious. Meningococcal meningitis can kill and mumps can damage fertility. If you have not been immunised against these, it is very important that you attend the Health Centre as soon as possible.

Existing patients If you are an existing patient of the Health Centre and you have changed address over the summer, please email your new details to us, stating you name, date of birth, full new address and your contact telephone numbers. It is important you keep us up to date with your new addresses. The NHS may remove you from our list of patients if we cannot provide them with a current address. Our email ad- dress is: [email protected]

Booking online We now offer an online appointment booking program called EMIS Access. With our new service, gone are the days of not being able to get through to us via tel- ephone. You don’t need the practice to be open to make an appointment. You can do it on-line; it also enables you to update your contact details, such as new ad- dress, telephone numbers. For further details please email us at healthcentre@ imperial.ac.uk and quote “EMIS Access”.

You can find out more about all the services we provide by visiting our website at www.imperialcollegehealthcentre.co.uk DULL SPEAKERS, BORING SLIDES, WARM WINE. COMING SOON TO A VENUE NEAR YOU.

INVESTMENT BANKING IS JUST ABOUT THE MOST EXCITING, DYNAMIC, CHALLENGING AND REWARDING CAREER YOU CAN CHOOSE. IT IS LESS ABOUT MONEY, TRADING SCREENS AND SKYSCRAPERS, AND MUCH MORE ABOUT THE POWER OF TEAMWORK AMONG TALENTED PEOPLE. SO, IF WE TURN UP AND DO THE STANDARD PRESENTATION, WITH TALKING HEADS AND OBSCURE GRAPHS, WE’RE NOT REALLY DOING JUSTICE TO THE OPPORTUNITY. INSTEAD, WE WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU, ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND MAYBE EXPLAIN WHAT GETS US OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING. WE TRUST YOU WON’T GET A BETTER OFFER.

LONDON FIRMWIDE NETWORKING EVENT jpmorgan.com/careers MONDAY 9 OCTOBER, 2006 6.00 P.M – 9.00 P.M THE WALDORF HILTON PALM COURT ALDWYCH, LONDON Places are limited so apply via the European campus schedule at jpmorgan.com/careers

THIS IS WHERE YOU NEED TO BE.

JPMorgan is a marketing name of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its subsidiaries worldwide. © 2006 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved. JPMorgan is an equal opportunities employer. Thursday 28 September 2006 felix 23

PUZZLES [email protected] Sudoku 1,357 This Week’s Horoscopes

Complete the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 Scorpio (23 Oct – 21 Nov) Pisces (19 Feb – 20 Mar) Cancer (22 Jun – 22 Jul) square contains the digits 1 to 9. E-mail your solution to sudoku. [email protected] by Monday 9am. We will randomly select a You’ll be stopped in You’ll feel that a photo The mushroom in winner to receive either a 128MB USB stick or a crate of beer. the street by a man of Abraham Lincoln is your shower will talk You must claim your prize within a week. claiming to be your watching every time to you this morning son. He’ll claim that to defecate. In order while you complete you slept with his to prevent this, you’ll your daily ablutions. mother fourteen years only go to the toilet It will explain that life 5 7 ago. Explain to him you’re twenty while wearing a hood and mask. in your bathtub is dull. Cut it free two, and could not have fathered This will backfire when you feel and take it with you to your first him aged eight. When he starts to the need to evacuate your bowels lecture. It turns you into a mind- 1 4 babble about time dilation, leave. while in a bank. less infectious spore. 4 6 1 9 5 Sagittarius (22 Nov – 21 Dec) Aries (21 Mar – 20 Apr) Leo (23 Jul – 22 Aug) Your boyfriend will be You’ll discover what Every time you see upset you spend all really happened at a Far Side cartoon, 8 1 9 7 your free time hunting Roswell, New Mexico, you’ll experience werewolves in the in 1947. However, a brief moment of streets of London. before you can reach unconciousness. Dur- 7 5 You’ll confront your a payphone to inform ing this time, you’ll nemesis in a deserted street be- the world’s press, you’ll be shot in be unable to remember anything hind a Nandos. After shooting him the head by a homeless man. Pas- that happens. When you awake, 2 3 5 4 six times with revolver, his fur will sers-by will be shocked, until the you’ll find yourself in a wheelie bin recede to reveal your lover. homeless man explains he’s CIA. covered in sheep’s blood. 1 2 9 4 6 Capricorn (22 Dec – 19 Jan) Taurus (21 Apr – 21 May) Virgo (23 Aug – 22 Sept)

You’re addicted to so- Noel Edmonds will be Your librarian has 8 9 cial networking sites, stalking you constant- been giving you the and spend all your ly this week. Every- eye for the month. To- waking hours check- where you look, you’ll day, you finally make 8 1 ing what your friends see his bearded face your move. As you are doing. However, peering at you over approach, wearing your bedsores are growing pain- the top of a newspaper, or from your most debonair shirt, the copy Solution to 1,356 ful, so you’ll find yourself walking behind a parked car. Confront him of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code Thanks to everyone who entered. the streets with a PDA, blogging about it before you’re forced to get will fall from your pocket, ruining The name of the winner will be constantly. a restraining order. you chance of a lay. printed here each week. Aquarius (20 Jan – 18 Feb) Gemini (Jan 20 – Feb 18) Libra (23 Sept – Oct 22)

A bizarre accident When your path While walking back involving a length crosses with a gyspy to your house from Want to edit this page? of twine and four lady near Tescos, the tube, you’ll meet hookers will send you she’ll make a cross a beautiful young back in time to 1660. sign and curse at you. woman. She’ll be Be our puzzle bitch. You’ll spend your When you ask what instantly attracted to week trying to explain to the locals she means, she’ll explain that, in your suddenly apparent wit, and of- [email protected] why you’re dressed oddly, but the future, you’ll run her over and fer to go home with you. When you they won’t listen. Finally, you’ll be kill her. Walk back to your car and awake after a long night, she’ll be burned at the stake as a witch. laugh heartily. gone, along with your wallet.

Felix Crossword 1,357 Jabberwock

1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 ACROSS DOWN 8 Utterly frighten away little 1 Diagrammatic outline found in 8 9 Albert? (8) Nietzsche manuscript (6) 9 Angered Pinochet deported 2 Audibly twisted crossbar (4) 9 10 alien (6) 3 The old people and I, an Arab (6) 10 I see, so to speak, a point 4 Such a party may be held before Greetings, cruciverbovoracists! 10 11 12 breaking off Titanic destroyer entering the Union (4) Carrying on with thematic puz- (4) 5 Authorise account payment? (8) zles, this week all the across clues 11 12 11 Regal manoeuvre… (5) 6 Insane protocol’s second half are undefined but are of a kind. The 12 …to behead King’s fellows (4) rejected (4) theme is not altogether unrelated 13 14 15 16 17 13 Heathen leaders incited Nicae- 7 Helicopter body, e.g., contains a to the one in my last puzzle and an insurgency (8) dangerous firearm (8) should be easy to guess. Note a pe- 13 14 15 16 16 Drove most recklessly to Alaska 14 A point of view audience is not culiarity of 26 across which ‘turns a (6) meant to hear (5) corner’ into 27down, hence is only 18 19 20 21 18, 21 Shrieks, we hear, uttered by 15 Climbing plants, I contend, sting seven letters (a word length other- the French queen (8) initially (5) wise unavailable in this grid). 17 18 19 20 20, 28 Holy men introduce regular 17 Shakespeare’s dark- I had a feeling most of the clues pageants (5-5) complexioned character may were a bit dull, so if you do enjoy any 22 23 24 25 21 See 18 be found in Seoul (5) in particular, please write in to cheer 22 Force acceptance of French 19 Once more achieved control me up. Good luck! Jabberwock 21 22 23 24 water (6) by impounding half of 23 Brother, for one, may lie to us ambassador’s staff (8) Solution to Crossword 1,356 26 27 28 29 30 (8) 20 Sultan is anxious to obtain nar- C H I N E S E O N E W Y E A R 26,27d Tricks reverse American row sail (8) A O N E N A X I U S A I Q O O 25 26 vessel… (7) 24 Small restaurant exposed twice L U C A N E P O L I T B U R O 28 See 20 to regular terror (6) E T U P U B O E L N E R A O S 31 32 30 …carrying graduate from China 25 Release international N A R C I S S U S D R E L I T (4) organisation’s carbon record (6) D A S E D E E N E B F N E E E 27 28 31, 32 Kiosks I mark over direction- 27 See 26 S K I N N E D T T R A P P E R less journey (6-8) 29 Some deer seen on elevated rail- M E O T O B V R H L E R T X road in Kansas (4) A M N E S I A T H O L D O F F Send your answers to [email protected] or bring this 30 Dandy lover (4) L I U H F S C G O W P U S E E page down to the Felix office in the West Wing of Beit Quad. Each M O O S E O E U P H R A T E S week, we’ll choose a winner and print their name, thus providing A R T A R E T B E T O F R A T them with almost unlimited kudos and self-satisfaction. Everyone N O T F A R O F F B B R A V O who provides us with a correct solution will get an entry into our A I E I T G N O U N I I T L O prize draw at the end of the year. C A R O U S E O L A N T E R N CROSSWORD lubs ocieties SUDOKU C &S page 23 Sinfonietta Storms Prague Breaking the Waves SOPHIE GAUSS Kirsty Patterson Victoria Sanderson Clubs & Societies Editor Are you interested in film? Do you On Monday June 26, Prague Air- want to join a society where you can port received more than 80 pasty- watch interesting movies, discuss faced Imperial College students, them with like-minded people and still clinging protectively to their learn more about film-making? instrument cases, whilst grappling Last year Filmsoc showed a wide through luggage for sun cream and range of films, including Chung shades. No amount of weeks bask- King Express (directed by Wong ing in Hyde Park after exams had Kar Wai), Ichi the Killer (Takashi prepared us for the glorious sun- Miike), Bande a Part (Jean Luc shine of Prague. Godard), Brazil (Terry Gilliam), Impeccable travel instructions and Coffee and Cigarettes (Jim and pocket Prague guides meant Jarmusch). We also organised trips that even collisions between trams to the Institut Français and the and JCBs couldn’t prevent us from Barbican. arriving intact, excited and enthu- This year, we start off on Octo- siastic to sample the delights the ber 5 with the Lars von Triers film, Czech capital had to offer. Breaking the Waves. Next morning we were off again Breaking the Waves is influenced to our next destination, the delight- by many of the ideas of the Dogme ful Spa town of Podêbrady. Unfortu- film-making movement. The goal of nately the weather turned against the Dogme movement was to purify us and, despite soaring tempera- filmmaking by rejecting the use of tures, our first two concerts, meant special effects and postproduction to be open air in the Castle gardens gimmicks in order to focus more on of Lázeský park, were accompa- the story and the actors’ perform- nied by rain. Big Band, however, ances. Lars von Triers announced admirably soldiered on through the the movement in 1995 along with downpour, to one of our largest au- fellow Danish directors Thomas diences of the tour, in a lunchtime Vinterberg, Kristian Levring and concert. Soren Kragh-Jacobsen. Specific In our second concert, including rules included that filming must Mussorgsky’s “Night on the Bare IC Jazz Big Band on tour in Podêbrady be done on location (i.e., without Mountain”, Shostakovich’s Sym- the use of sets and props), sound phony No. 12 and Saint-Saëns’ “In- hastily been forced to abandon ebration, which in true Sinfonietta both in layout, interior design and should be produced at the same troduction and Rondo Capriccioso” two nights previously. Attracting a style went on throughout the night. smell. A chamber music concert time as the images, the camera we were joined by solo violinist much larger attendance, under the On our return to Prague, we per- in Vrtbovská gardens gave us all a must be hand-held, and the use of John Dickinson, an Imperial Col- baton of acclaimed guest conduc- formed another concert with De- chance to relax amongst the beauti- special lighting and optical filters is lege physics graduate. Impressed tor Debashish Chaudhuri, we per- bashish in the City Library Hall, this fully kept buildings and sculptures not allowed. by both our playing and “sense of formed Dvorák’s Symphony No. 9 time including Shostakovich’s “Fes- overlooking the rooftops of Prague Over this term, we will also be teamwork” the Mayor expressed to an appreciative Czech audience, tival Overture” in our programme. whilst supporting our fellow musi- screening films from David Lynch, his gratitude and admiration for our along with the Mussorgsky. Groups of eager Sinfonietta play- cians in an imaginatively staged Woody Allen and Fritz Lang and hard work by giving us an exclusive Later that evening, Jazz Big Band ers armed with maps, tourist guides concert of immense quality. will be organising a trip to the Lon- tour of the town hall and presented played their wettest concert ever and tram tickets embarked to inves- Pleased with the quality of all don Film Festival. each of us with a gift. We were par- beneath the less than adequate tigate every corner of Prague over ten concerts performed on tour We are a fairly new society and ticularly delighted to discover that protection of golfing umbrellas. De- the weekend. Witnessing England’s we joined together for a final meal. we really welcome everyone who this gift contained bottles of a so far spite the rain, Sinfonietta danced departure from the World Cup on Having finished the tour on such shares our enthusiasm for cinema. unidentified, intoxicating liquor. the night away to the sounds of giant screens erected in the square, a high I am sure no one will doubt Our final day in Podêbrady gave ‘Franka Sinatry’ and local people prompted many to be thankful that that it was a tremendous success. A If you’re interested in becoming us a great opportunity to visit the stopped to listen along the walls Prague beer was so cheap. final thanks must go to our conduc- a member, e-mail victoria. castle and its beautiful gardens. overlooking the courtyard. Jazz Spirits were lifted by attending tor Daniel Capps, as well as Alex [email protected], or go Excited by the apparent change in band’s unfaltering dedication, de- the boasted “largest music club in Novo Tellado and Tom Woodcock, to www.imperialcollegeunion. weather we finally played outdoors, spite being soaked through, was middle Europe” which was likened for their outstanding efforts to or- org/clubs-and-societies/a-to-z/f/ on the specially built stage we had incredible and worthy of great cel- by many to a multi-storey car park, ganise such a fantastic tour. filmsoc/