Issue No. 514 Friday. 23rd March. 1979 THE NEWSPAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE TOTAL BOYCOTT! Students Urged to Eat Elsewhere Next Term The Union is mounting a continuous boycott of all College student refectories from the start of next term. This drastic action is a Union Meeting's response to the latest 4 per cent price rise and the certainty of large monthly price increases to follow. An Emergency Union Meeting to be held on the first Thursday next term will also consider a proposal to withdraw Union cooperation from College's "Meet-IC" day. The Union Executive has made no firm plans for the provision of alternative food but was waiting to see the response to yesterday's boycott. They are urging all students to arrange to eat outside College or bring sandwiches. Lists of restaurants near College will be available. Faced with the prospect of a 10 College might have done better per cent refectory price rise in 5 to close these as well, for very few- months and the constant refusal of lunches were served. By 1.30 pm College to consider the Union's only 17 customers had entered the views, the Union Meeting Union refectory and an decided that an all-out boycott alternative food service was doing was the only way left to force well. College to listen to the students. The success of the action now The Sherfield Buttery was deserted except for one customer depends on all students observing at 12.30, normally the peak lunch the boycott. time period. In contrast a long- The Union Lower Refectory at 1.15 pm during yesterday's boycott The "Meet IC" day, to be held queue had formed for Union- on 2nd May, is being organised by provided alternative food in the College to improve . relations Junior C o m m o n Room. between College and the local Departmental Representative community. About 300 local Chris Hunt reported that he had COUNCIL REPORT residents will be invited to see the taken over £50 for food such as The Union is asking College to buy more houses for student College and several Union sausages and hamburgers. His accommodation and to set up head tenancy schemes. Societies have been asked to comment: "It is busier than provide exhibits. There will also Sainsbury's". IC Union Council, meeting on Monday, heard that the University be a social meeting between the Grants Committee is unable to give College any more money for Downstairs in the Sherfield visitors and stall'and students. accommodation. The meeting passed a motion asking College to use Lower Refectory only 6 people any money available for investment to purchase the freehold or Union President Mary were eating at 1.10 p.m. A lew leasehold of houses and suggested that College could use Housing Attenborough has already more bad got in earlier due to a Corporation finance to build or convert property through a Housing written to the societies involved slow start to picketing at 12.00. Association. asking them to consider but Union Secretary Mike Elkin withdrawing from the scheme if said that only 12 people had got College is considering taking up a head tenancy in property in the Union Meeting decides not to past him at one door of the Lexham Gardens. Council empowered the Union Executive to enter participate. Several Union refectory. Kirslen Pratt picketing such a scheme on the Union's behalf if College cannot be persuaded to activists believe that College at the main Consort Gallery go ahead. would be very annoyed by entrance said that most people Posts Filled student noncooperation. had been turned away. Following Sheyne Lucock's resignation Council elected John In response to yesterday's one- The one-day boycott has been a Passmore as Acting External Affairs Officer. John Passmore has da)' boycott of all refectories great success, exceeding ail but already been elected External Affairs Officer for next year in a vote at College closed Southside the most optimistic predictions last week's Union Meeting. refectory during lunch and and there now is every indication Deputy President Malcolm Brain is to fill the posts of Council supper, leaving only three that next term's continuous Chairman and student representative on College's Governing Body, refectories for the Union to picket. boycott will be successful. .contd. on back page Page 2 LETTERS Dear Sir, - 1. So! Our noble president, as many see it, is Union members are total sheep intend to expand further in this President, Miss Mary Attenbor- hierarchical and therefore not who follow what "higher direction. Next term we are ough ehose to call quorum at the very nice. I didn't really realise I authority" tells them (and if they repeating Capital Radio's last UGM (March 8th) simply didn't agree with the concept of are it's about time somebody excellent documentary "Bedsit because she didn't like the motion being president until I was elected educated them out of it). I have Jungle", to help listeners find which was on the verge of being and I thought that maybe people campaigned for Presidential acommodation next session. wouldn't notice. As far as I am candidates for the last 3 vears passed. How sickening! The irony I hope Mick now understands concerned I am just another (1976 Nigel Miller got 130 votes, was that Mademoiselle the reasons for these changes; I Union member who happens to 1977 Peter Chalk got 260 votes Attenborough's election posters would be pleased to discuss any of do a full time job for the Union. and me in 1978 got 1023 votes) were displayed up at the front, these points with him if he should Contrary to popular belief you get mostly unsuccessfully. and the word 'Democracy' was so wish. prominent on them. She knew absolutely no privileges (except Yours non-hierarchically, Yours sincerely, what kind of a Union she was the odd free dinners) by being Thingy John Allen, going to be president of, and she president certainly no greater Maths PG Station Manager, I.C. Radio still chose to stand. Simply power (nor should you do). I because she doesn't approve ol therefore object to the fact of Dear Sir, - We would like to make what the majority of students here having all the disadvantages of our views on South Africa quite Dear Sir, - It has been brought to feel does not absolve her from being president (like working clear: our attention that blatant acting in accordance with those most evenings and bits of (i) We wouldn't work there discrimination is being practised wishes. Quorum calling is all good weekends) and also having my (ii) Like any fundamental by the College authorities. From fun, but not when it comes from rights as a ordinary Union injustice we hope apartheid soon deep within us we feel that this the president. It is a pity that member taken away from me. comes to an end. uncomfortable predicament must be brought to the surface. It someone who has proved to be so Any Union Member can call We were obviously glad to sec beneficial to ICU, and has shown appears that most of the mens' quorum at a Union meeting and our proposal on job recruitment toilets in college are supplied with herself to be genuinely concerned also campaign for someone to be passed at the last U.G.M. with the welfare of most of her hard scratchy (and noisy) toilet, elected to any post in the union However we felt it was not paper, while most ofthe womens subjects, should be responsible lor (they can also commit slander as interpreted in the spirit it was such perlidity. are provided with soft, pink, two- long as they pay their own legal intended and therefore thought it ply toilet tissue (except in Botany - 2. Will nothing placate WTSc. (or costs). was necessary to make known the are they hardened to it?) WIST or PIST or whatever they points above. II every time someone called call themselves nowadays)!? The Yours sincerely, We men must not sit idly by quorum they went out and did a male strippers were inserted for and let this sexism pass unnoticed. lot of work to make sure the next Mark Clegg their titillation, but they'll be Let those of us of a senstive nature meeting to discuss the subject was M. Corrigan picketing as usual. I presume they stand up and lodge a protest. quorate as I did, I can see no just like picketing for picketings Dear Sir, -1 write to answer Mick With the backing of a mass grounds at all for complaint. I sake (maybe they hope to be Berry's letter in last week's movement a motion could be certainly don't call quorum picked up?). II, as I assume, the FELIX about I.C. Radio's recent presented to a UGM and an indiscriminately - in fact once in majority of these pickets are the programme changes. I am attempt made to rectify this harsh six "years - and it was based on a type that attend the Women's pleased to see that he is situation. personal decision that such an self-defence classes your concerned, even though he does Yours etc. important decision - involving the illustrious publication advertises, not agree with our policy. The issue of vast repression in South N. Morton Biochem PG then I should like to volunteer my changes followed many long Africa, could not be taken at an A. Walker Chem PC services as a would-be assailant.