5P The student newspaper of FELIX Imperial College Issue 1053 March 8th 1996 Green Light Voter's block clouds elections for BMS SAB BAT1 C AL BY TIM ST.CLAIR E L E C T I ON S Kensington & Chelsea Borough Planning Council finally granted BY ANDY SINHARAY planning permission for the The annual round of Sabbatical Basic Medical Sciences building Elections drew to a close this project this week, after numer- week, after the lowest-ever ous delays. The application went turnout. The results were before Wednesday's meeting announced in Da Vinci's Bar on following submission of a report Tuesday night amid laments and recommendations from about the low turnout at South English Heritage. Kensington, with St. Mary's rep- EH were keen to stress that resenting some 30% of the votes they had no official objections to PHOTO: IVAN CHAN cast. Others described the event the plans. As expected, they rec- as 'anti-climatic', in view of the Victorious candidates celebrate: (1 to r) Eric, Sarah, Alex and Piers. ommended only minor alter- amount of interest shown both in ations to the Norman Foster the bar and at the ballot boxes. voted. Oily Newman, of the ICU St. Mary's Students. Though designs, particularly in the The final results were: Eric elections committee, went so far more than 200 voted for new choice of stone cladding and Allsop (President), Piers as to say that "those Mary's votes election, 64 rebelled by voting landscaping considerations. Ian Williams (Deputy President for didn't make a difference at all." for him. His overall winning mar- Caldwell, Director of Estates, Finance and and Services), Sarah Tim Townend, the current DP gin was only 61 votes, out of a said that "It's full steam ahead Corneille (Deputy President for (C&S) drew comparisons with total of 859 votes cast. Their from here." Clubs and Societies) and Alex campus universities such as feelings were reflected by the rel- Phil Hilton from Schal Feakes (Felix editor and Print Aston and Hull, which have com- atively hard time he was given at International confirmed that Unit Manager). parable turnouts. He felt the low the St.Mary's Hustings last week, they had been given the go- The influence of Mary's has showing at the polls was not where it was alleged that his ahead and said that demolition caused some debate, given that "much cause for concern". Last reporting style had damaged the equipment had already been about 60% of the medical school year saw some 1209 votes cast, cause of SMHMSSU in the mobilised, to start work on turned out, compared with only which was down on the previous forthcoming BMS merger. Monday. He assured Felix that 8% of their South Kensington year's of 1670. This year's was Eric Allsop was voted in far they would make up the lost counterparts. It has been specu- less than 900. more decisively, receiving more time in six to eight weeks, which lated that the outcome would The closest vote turned out than 60% of the votes cast, thus would put the project back on have been little different had to be Alex's, due to the tradition- beating Luke Morales and Mark schedule for construction of the more South Kensington students al 'block vote' employed by Continued on page three building's basement. International Night Kidnapped! Funding equality Hundreds of visitors to the Sarah White, ICU President, The Higher Education Funding Overseas Commitee's annual was kidnapped on Tuesday Council for England announced International Night extravaganza evening by hordes of opportunis- its latest attempt to soften the were delighted by the evening's tic Raggies. Union officials were blow of Government cuts in entertainment. page 2 unmoved. page 2 higher education funding, page 3 TWO . FELIX FRIDAY MARCH 8TH 1996 NEWS International Night verdict: 'brilliant' BY ROBIN RILEY ic and politically aware but joyful Last Friday's Overseas Comm- celebration of the history and ittee's International night was culture of the African people was attended by over 700 staff, stu- also rapturously received. dents and their families. The night finished with a The evening began in the huge party, with live music and a usual manner as guests were disco occupying the Senior and given the chance to taste the tra- Junior Common Rooms. ditional foods of the countries Unaffected by restrictive licens- represented. The carefully pack- ing laws, all those present danced aged Singaporean delicacies and drank well into the small quickly disappeared, while the hours, long after the Union stew- large-scale operation of the ards had pushed the last few die- Indian society catered for a long hards from Beit Quad. and fast-moving queue. For a Interviewed shortly after- short time it seemed that the wards G. Tan, the OSC's food fair might be a little too suc- PHOTO: IVAN CHAN Honourary Junior Treasurer, said cessful: serving from the Italian Fourteen different nations were represented in the show. "I think it went pretty well... stall had to be curtailed in order there were no real problems. A to persuade the appreciative laced with slide shows and com- the Lebanese society. few more mistakes were made audience to leave the dining hall mentary. The audience filling the Particularly well-received last year." Other students con- and take their seats for the con- Great Hall was treated to a daz- was the hilarious short play from gratulated the OSC on organising cert. zling array of costumes, music the Indian Society about the the night, arguably now estab- The fast-paced show that and dancing. The show's high- ignorance of a cockney lad of lished as Imperial's principle followed consisted of a presenta- lights included fashion shows, Asian descent concerning his social event of the year. ICU tion from students from fourteen clashing dragons, and an entranc- grandparents' homeland. The President Sarah White said "I different nations, cleverly inter- ing belly dance by a member of Afro-Caribbean society's dynam- thought it was bloody brilliant." Kidnapped! News in brief BY ANDY SINHARAY Rag were unavailable for com- BY THE NEWS TEAM expresed fears that they might Sarah White, Imperial College ment. Sarah did not reappear in be compelled to pay for basic Union president, went missing the ICU offices until Wednesday University challenge? equipment, offices, computers, from her office on Tuesday night. The next round of IC's bid to insurance and rent if they want night, apparently appropiated by "They strung me up like win University Challenge will be to establish a unit in a university medical students as a Rag stunt. this" she said, demonstrating a screened next Wednesday. The in the future. Before being 'abducted' a cross-like posture, "I was there group from Imperial steamed In the past, larger research parting message was left on for six hours... they had to feed through to the second round of charities have helped where they Sarah's answering machine: me themselves." The medics the television quiz after beating could with flexible long term "Hello, it's Sarah, I've been kid- apparently plaster-cast her arms St Andrews University in the support and funds for new initia- napped. Can you cancel my and shoulders, and wouldn't let first round. tives and buildings. There is evi- meetings today?" It is believed her go to the toilet. The team, consisting of Jim dence that they have been asked that students from St Mary's are A bemused but unharmed Totty, Nick Bradshaw, Chris to meet more of the costs in the responsible, though there have Miss White was later seen in Da Harrison and captain Mark past five years. been allegations that the Deputy Vinci's recovering from her Pallen, face Lancaster University President, Tim Townend, may ordeal. Still smiling, Sarah com- in the show to be transmitted on Unlucky for some have assisted them. plained that nobody had gone to March 13th on BBC 2. A report commissioned by an Reports have reached Felix look for her, and that the ransom audience awareness group in suggesting that the medics, on demand for her had been refused Charity funds 'not for America into the nature of movie the last day of St Mary's Rag by the Union office. The other equipment' 'baddies' has revealed that scien- Week, attempted to kidnap the sabbaticals didn't seem too put The Association of Medical tists are twice as likely as any the Union president of Charing out by her sudden disappearance, Research Charities has expressed other professional group to be Cross and Westminster Medical one remarking philosphically that concern that they are increasing- killed in Hollywood films. School. The potential presiden- "they could keep her." ly being asked to pay for major The research shows that it tial thieves were foiled when With the regard to her meet- pieces of equipment. They say doesn't matter whether or not Police intervention prevented ings, one member of college staff they will not pay for university the high-foreheaded boffin is the students getting near CXW's told Felix that he had merely infrastructure, insisting that such plotting to overthrow the world, Union. Denied their usual quarry been informed by ICU that funding remains the responsibilty or just collaborating to save it, the students raided ICU instead. Sarah had been off sick. of the National Health Service. the scientist is always the first to As Felix went to press, St Mary's Some smaller charities have get it in the neck in the flicks. NEWS FELIX FRIDAY MARCH 8TH 1996 .