Student Staff Reclaim Weekly Pay a Quota System on Asylum Seekers Has Sparked a Heat- Ed Debate
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The big red ball Bungee running in Wye Marky magic A fiery film The Juggling Club show us A new way to raise money for Felix reaches The End with DJ Our reviewer turns up the heat how it’s done, page 8 the tsunami appeal, page 11 Marky and friends, page 18 with Ladder 49, page 22 The student newspaper of Imperial College ● Established 1949 ● Issue 1313 ● Thursday 27 January 2005 ● www.felixonline.co.uk Immigration issues The Conservative Party’s recent proposal to introduce Student staff reclaim weekly pay a quota system on asylum seekers has sparked a heat- ed debate. Felix looks at the By Dave Edwards monthly pay was made in Operations Committee Imperial College Union, told said: “It was acknowledged national newspapers’ views Editor order to cut costs and make reversed the decision. One Felix: “The situation with that paying students on a on this contentious issue. it easier for the College to co- student, who has worked for part time student staff has monthly cycle was leading to uNEWS page 2 Following a highly unpopu- ordinate payments. Student the College for two years, been unfortunate, and I hope recruitment problems in our lar change to monthly pay in staff complained about a cautiously welcomed the those who have been incon- organisation.” State of the Union December, students who work range of issues, including a news: “We’re all incredibly venienced will be compensat- Meanwhile, the introduc- The President’s views on hall part time for Imperial College lack of communication, insuf- pleased, but as far as I’m ed appropriately. tion of new computer soft- rents, freedom of speech, will be paid on a weekly basis ficient compensation pay- concerned they should never “It’s great that the College ware has caused yet more sabbatical elections and (of again from 1 March. ments, short notice, incorrect have moved us off weekly pay has finally realised that part payroll difficulties, with some course) doughnuts. A considerable proportion tax deductions and the fact in the first place. Perhaps in time staff should be paid systems unavailable for eight uCOMMENT page 6 of Imperial students work for that some non-student staff future these decisions should weekly, and I hope all the days in early February. This the College part time, in areas were still being paid weekly. be made at higher levels and problems can be sorted out has inconvenienced line Sexist science? ranging from Conferences to Some workers even quit their after the students have been very soon.” managers, who have had to The President of Harvard the students’ union. jobs as a result. consulted.” Malcolm Aldridge, the process payroll details earlier University recently claimed The original change to However, the College’s Mustafa Arif, President of College’s Financial Controller, than expected. that men have more “innate ability” at science and maths than women. Is he right? uSCIENCE page 5 Student struck by taxi as Books is back In Collapse, Jared Diamond explains how we can learn from the mistakes of past politicians consider ‘naked roads’ civilisations. uBOOKS page 21 By Dave Edwards would be part of a £25m rede- velopment of the area. This week in sport An Imperial College stu- The idea has been used suc- Varsity Day tickets go on dent was hit by a taxi on a cessfully in Holland and is sale. Plus match reports from pedestrian crossing close to also being trialled in Seend, rugby and lacrosse. Exhibition Road, which may Wiltshire. Its supporters uSPORT page 27 soon be stripped of all its traf- claim that it encourages driv- fic lights, signs and crossings ers to slow down and take under new proposals. more notice of pedestrians. The student, Dan Houcke, Wiltshire County Council who is in the fourth year of says that accidents in Seend a mechanical engineering have fallen by a third and the degree, was crossing Prince average driving speed has Consort Road on Tuesday dropped by 5% since roads’ lunchtime when he was hit by central white lines were the car. He was unhurt. The removed. driver of the taxi blamed Mr However, the scheme has The women’s lacrosse team Houcke for the collision and received widespread criti- attempted to place him under cism. Edmund King, execu- a citizen’s arrest. Police were tive director of the RAC, said: called to the scene, where “Although this might make THIS WEEK they questioned the two men drivers more careful, it could News page 2 but took no further action. also encourage the aggres- Business page 3 Mr Houcke told Felix: “I was sive motorist to behave more Science page 4 walking across the pedestri- recklessly. We would certainly Comment page 6 an crossing. He was probably question whether this type of Clubs & Societies page 8 doing well over 30mph.” experiment should be imple- Around Campus page 11 A short distance away, mented on a wider scale.” Exhibition Road is set to Mr Houcke, following his What’s On page 13 be the site of a pilot ‘traf- encounter with the taxi, said Mechanical engineering student Dan Houcke answers questions from police after being Music page 16 fic calming’ scheme, in of the ‘naked road’ scheme: hit by a taxi on Prince Consort Road on Tuesday. Proposals to remove all traffic lights, Nightlife page 18 which all markings would be “I wouldn’t have thought it kerbs, crossings and signs from nearby Exhibition Road are being considered by Arts page 20 removed and no-one would would work, considering peo- Kensington and Chelsea Council, with a decision expected in the next few months Books page 21 have automatic right of way. ple cross the road so frequent- Film page 22 Pedestrians would be able to ly and drivers go so fast.” Union, told Felix: “We [the for students, given the large drivers in the area”. Coffee Break page 24 cross the road anywhere, and Sam Rorke, Deputy Union] are excited to see if it number needing to cross A decision on the future of a 20mph speed limit could President (Education and works, but concerned about Exhibition Road. Personally Exhibition Road will be made Sport page 27 be introduced. The scheme Welfare) of Imperial College possible safety implications I’ve seen a lot of dangerous in the next few months. Felix 2 www.felixonline.co.uk Thursday 27 January 2005 NEWS [email protected] Issue 1313 Experts demand action against South Editor Dave Edwards Kensington ‘pollution hotspot’ Business Editor Numaan Chaudhry By Darius Nikbin nitrogen dioxide air pollution attributable to vehicle emis- experts determined that irritation in the eyes, throat, Science Editor in certain areas of London sions. South Kensington had the and on the skin. Science Editor was as much as three times An Imperial College stu- second highest level of nitro- In the long term, nitro- Darius Nikbin A study last week published the government target. dent living on Cromwell Road gen dioxide out of the areas gen dioxide exposure may Music Editor by the Chartered Society of A measuring station next to told Felix: “Pollution is a fact tested. London’s Marylebone also increase an individual’s Andrew Sykes Physiotherapy (CSP) has the Natural History Museum of everyday life for me here. Road was highest with 108 susceptibility to respiratory identified 25 areas in the UK, found that the level of nitro- This area is particularly bad micrograms per cubic metre. infection and cause altera- Nightlife Editor including London’s South gen dioxide on Cromwell because of the traffic, so I The average from all UK sta- tions in the lungs. High levels Simon Clark Kensington, as being major Road was 80 micrograms avoid walking or cycling along tions was 32 micrograms. of pollutants such as nitro- Arts Editor pollution hotspots. per cubic metre, twice the 40 the major roads. So I’m not Nitrogen dioxide reacts gen dioxide exacerbate the Paola Smith Respiratory physiothera- microgram target set by the surprised by the results.” instantaneously with water to symptoms of those suffering pists have urged immedi- government for 2005. Using information from 110 form nitric acid. This means from lung diseases such as Books Editor ate action after the study Around 80% of the nitrogen automatic monitoring points it is toxic to various animals asthma, chronic bronchitis Martin Smith revealed that the level of dioxide present in cities is spread throughout the UK, as well as to humans, causing and emphysema. Film Editor Alan Ng Sub Editors Sarah Pozniak Students make vocal protest Immigration Zaina Nobeebux Stephen Spain debate reopens Felix against occupation of Iraq Beit Quad By Emily Gwyer But The Mail, one of the Prince Consort Road By Dave Edwards country’s most powerful London SW7 2BB Editor The parliamentary system papers, is in support of the Telephone: 020 7594 8072 and first-past-the-post voting move: “Our hospitality has Email: [email protected] A group of protesters from methods we have in Britain been abused. Many asylum Web: www.felixonline.co.uk Imperial Against Imperialism mean it is vital that we have applicants are economic caught the attention of diners two strong parties, so that migrants in disguise, play- Registered newspaper in the Union building and the the Government does not run ing the system to stay as ISSN 1040-0711 JCR last Thursday lunchtime, amok with no-one to censure long as possible. Others just as they demonstrated against it but itself. It is just a shame enter and work here illegally. Copyright © Felix 2005 the continued occupation of that the second party is right Michael Howard, himself the Printed by Sharman and Iraq by British and American wing, allowing Tony Blair to proud son of Jewish immi- Company, Peterborough troops.