,/-,• ..• .. 1 will • : -:. The student newspaper of Imperial College Issue 1044 FELIX December 13th 1995 IC Loses £2 Million In Tory Budget Cuts BY ALEX FEAKES AND bereft of any strategic direction". MICHAEL LUDLAM The fiery meeting refused to Higher Education capital spend- receive the speech from the edu- ing cuts of over 31% announced cation minister, Eric Forth, and in last month's budget could have threatened to reduce the number far reaching consequences for of student places and charge fees Imperial College. College offi- rather than force staff cuts and cials were quick to condemn the diminishing quality of education slashing of Universities' budgets, from out-of-date equipment. which could see IC up to £2 mil- Faced with massive reduc- lion a year poorer, raising the tions in capital spending, money spectre of top-up fees for stu- which is earmarked for replacing dents. equipment and renovating build- Kenneth Clarke's budget ings, many institutions are con- proposals were labelled a case of templating top-up fees. These PHOTO: WILLIAM LORENZ 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' by would be a levy on students Reserved for the Bus: ICU has lost its parking spaces to a fleet of angry universities who are bitter entering higher education to pay mobile offices, the temporary home to the contractors demolishing that the government has cut hun- for their tuition, currently paid RCS II to make way for the new Basic Medical Science building. dreds of millions from the Higher for by the tax-payer. However, Story: pages 2 and 3. Education Funding Council for this could also lead to the situa- England's budget to give £878 tion where only the rich and affect some places more than vate sector funding for capital million more to primary and sec- those capable of attracting spon- others. Manchester, for example, projects such as new buildings ondary education. It was pointed sors or a scholarship would be suffered a 10% cut in funding last and research centres. However, out as being particularly ironic able to go to university. year which they achieved with almost all institutions agree that that Gillian Shephard was trum- News that Manchester voluntary redundancies, leaving the PFI cannot be effectively peting the sidewards shift of University, one of the 'Russell them no slack with which to applied to education. These feel- money as an advance in education Group' of powerful institutions absorb another 31% drop in ings are typified by those of funding. which includes Imperial College, income. Cambridge University, "PFI The Committee of Vice- is seriously considering charging The government's proposals requires a guaranteed income..., Chancellors and Principals met top-up fees, led the group to con- for Higher Education include the which academic buildings do not last Friday to discuss a response vene an emergency meeting last widening of the Private Finance provide ...teaching and research to what one vice-chancellor de- week. The cuts of £500 per stu- Initiative (PFI) to allow educa- buildings do not bring in a profit." scribed as "an act of vandalism dent over the next 3 years will tional institutions to attract pri- continued on page two New Union Advisor Budget Cuts to Grants DR Snubs Medics Martin Thomson has been The November budget brought Replying to a statement on the appointed the new union advi- gloom to student as the manda- medical students' concerns over sor. Martin says he's 'really tory grant was slashed by a fur- the social space in the BMS, the pleased' to be dealing with IC ther 9%. However, luckily for Deputy Rector caused a storm m students' problems on a perme- some, the duty on beer by failing to properly consider nant basis page 2 remained the same. page 2 their suggestions. page 3 TWO . FELIX WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 13TH 1995 NEWS continued from front page to preside over the creation of an Speaking to Felix, Richard American-style "Ivy League" of Stacey, communications officer super universities where the peo- News in brief at Manchester University, said ple who go there would be based that 'private finance is not a on financial standing and not aca- BY THE NEWS TEAM chance of getting a job. Luckily viable option. The bottom line is demic. Sir Ronald Oxburgh, for him, the agency quickly put that private companies would Rector of Imperial College, Free Rape Alarms some work his way, and this want to make a profit.., and this called the cuts 'derisory' and sus- Concerns have been expressed encouraged him to enter the would mean charging students pected that they would affect by Matt Crompton, DP(F+S], competition run by the show. for the privilege.' He was keen to Imperial badly because of the over the fact that few people are Speaking to Felix, Andrew affirm that 'Manchester would heavy slant toward engineering aware of the availability of free seemed unfazed by the whole not go it alone [among the and science. The College would rape alarms from the union. business, saying he was 'indiffer- Russell Group]' but would not want to affect the quality of The alarms are available ent to seeing [himself] in print', expect that if one did, others its degree, and is likely to look to from the union office to any that and that it was just an idea he might follow suit. He was scepti- overseas fees to make up the dif- ask as part of an ICU initiative to took up to earn some money in cal whether or not the situation ference. Top-up fees were criti- reduce rape incidents among stu- the summer vacation. He was would change under a Labour cised as being a highly inefficient dents, especially for those stu- reluctant to consider modelling government means of raising funds, as so dents who live far away from col- as a full time occupation, citing IC sources say that College much has to be 'given back' in lege. the hard work, massive competi- tion and often having to face do not want to charge top-up administration and scholarships Two sorts of alarms are rejection as reasons not to get too fees, and certainly does not want for the less well off. available from the union office, involved just yet. However, he namely gas-powered and elec- said having the modelling as a tronic ones. The gas-powered sideline would be useful as living Grant Cut By 9%; Banks alarms are available for free in London as a student was so whereas the electronic device expensive. costs £3. Say No To Student Loans Take up on the offer has Although Andrew didn't been slow, which has been walk away with the top prize, a The government has further has increased in line with infla- blamed on inadequate publicity. contract with a top London mod- cut the maintainance grant for tion, whereas Access Funds, the However, student representa- elling agency, he hasn't been put home students by 9%, bringing it discretionary money doled out to tives would encourage students off the business, he now wants to and the Student Loan to com- universities for them to give to to get an alarm if they feel vul- concentrate on building up his prable levels. Elsewhere, the big students suffering extreme fina- nerable, especially Matt, who portfolio of modelling work and four high street banks are set to cial hardship, have been frozen at would like to reclaim the space completing his degree before making any career decisions. unanimously reject governmental £28 million for all universities. they are occupying in his office. overtures to take on the Student The troubled Student Loans Loan mantle, saying that there is Company has been a target for a New Security Chief ICU Appoints New no way that they can make sell-off as part of a drive for effi- A new Chief Security Officer has Advisor money from the scheme, dashing ciency. However, the govern- been appointed to look after the After an exhaustive two rounds government hopes for a quick ments preferred method of doing daily workings of Security of interviewing, ICU have finally privatisation. this, getting a commercial bank Operations. Mr Kenneth Weir appointed a new Union Advisor The government plans for to run the Loans operation, has has served as an Military to replace Minever Kavlak, who increasing the numbers of stu- come unstuck as Midland Bank Policeman in the army and has resign earlier this term. There dents entering higher educaton has announced that it had been had extensive experience in were a number of candidates for have stalled at just over 30% par- 'unable to define a commerically investigations. the post, but the position eventu- ticipation as spending cuts are acceptable framework' for the Mr Terry Briley, the previ- ally went to Martin Thompson, being sought throughout the.sys- system.. The other big clearing ous incumbent whose prolonged who has been acting as locum tem. The highest loan available banks are still in talks with the absence due to illness led to the until the job was filled. Martin has been raised to accommodate government but are expected to appointment, might return after will officially starting at the the drop in grant, and the total react similarly. Mr Weir's six month contract beginning of next term. expires. Mr Weir can be contact- ed on 48904. Student Wins ICU Loses Parking Spaces Experiment Flight Catwalk Finals Material Scientist Jason In an unexpected move, College The offices occupy the An unusual idea on how to earn Maroothynaden has won the has removed all of the Union's spaces set' reserved for ICU's some cash over the summer led opportunity to carry out an parking spaces around the cam- minibuses, which are now double first year Andrew Mayes to being experiment in zero gravity after pus, as part of a 40% reduction in parked behind Linstead Hall.