26 Issue October 1123 1998 KEEP THE CAT FREE EST 1949 The Students' Newspaper at Imperial College ''Stars in a constellation By Ed Lanyon and William Lorenz The tour included a live pharmacol• So said Her Majesty the Queen of Impe• ogy practical in which first year medical rial College and the Royal College of Art students tested on themselves 'the effect during a visit to the area last Wednesday. of various chemical compounds upon Her Majesty started proceedings at Impe• their sharpness of vision'. Her Majesty rial, opening the new Sir Alexander Flem• then officially opened the building and ing (BMS) building. After an initial panic signed the College's new Royal Charter. in the afternoon when a brick-covered This was followed by a speech by the outer door collapsed, damaging one of Rector, who made a very funny remark "After an initial panic about the building collapsing. Everyone was tremendously amused. when a door collapsed... Her Highness left behind some dis• enchantment, failing to fully acknowl• the site was groomed to edge the 200 strong crowd on her entrance and exit. No doubt this was perfection" the result of her full schedule, next involv• ing a move north to the Albert Memor• the building's supporting columns, the ial and a spectacular opening ceremony site was groomed to perfection by the involving fireworks, apparently costing time of her arrival. £25 000. Her Majesty was welcomed by the Photo: Froggy Her Majesty admires the BMS architect's handiwork Rector, Sir Ronald Oxburgh and pre• sented with a bouquet by a descendent Majesty was introduced to all Imperial's and developments in the history of the of Sir Alexander Fleming. She was then important persons including Dave Hellard College' which were obscured by td Sex• shown a scale model of South Kensing• and Wade Cayed, leaving her perplexed ton and other dignitaries, she then Inside.. m ton including a lovely pond on the as to why Imperial has two union presi• started her tour of the building, but was Queens Lawn and Dalby Court with a dents. Ignoring several 'commissioned forced to use the stairs because the lifts strangely absent boiler house. Her montage panels featuring key figures were broken. Letters 6 Editorial 7 Suspect Speakers Back Again Columns 8 Focus 10 By Duncan Hill cause even more damage to your hi-fi. details of any conversation held. Once If anyone sees these vans attempting to again, do not hand any money over, or Cartoon 10 In what is becoming an annual occur• sell speakers, they should be reported to get into the vehicle; as ICU's president rence, dodgy white vans have appeared Felix, along with the vehicle registration Dave Hellard says, "they rely on idiots. Feature 12 in the area of Imperial College. Not only plate, descriptions of the occupants and Don't be one". do they claim that the speakers they sell Ents 13 have an r.r.p of around £1800 and they will sell them to you for a mere £200, but Books 14 they'll also give you a lift to the nearest cash point to draw your money out for Music 15 you. Last year one Imperial student was Film 20 kidnapped by these people and forced to withdraw £200 from a cash point. Arts 22 They may also offer to take you to your flat etc. to try them out, but the going Games 25 advice is; under no circumstances must you get into this van. The speakers them• Sports 27 selves are not what they claim to be, and if you did spend any of your hard-earned Felix Maze 28 cash on them, most likely they would Photo: Brett Donovan Con-artists try to entice our reporter 2 News 26 October 1998 RCSU Who? 26 October 1998 by Gareth Morgan Editor: Ed Sexton The Royal College of Science Union's Photographic Editor: William Lorenz problems continue to mount. Douglas Music Editors: Jason Ramanalhan and Graham's resignation from the post of Denis Patrickson Vice President (Education and Welfare), News Editors: Andy Ofori and Joel reported in last week's letters page, has > Lewis left the RCSU with nine vacant positions, I ilm Editor David Roberts as well as several empty seats on the Games Editor; Gary Smith Committee. Arts Editor: I lelena Cochcme VP (Finance) William Bentley said Literary Editor: Kent Yip that most vacancies resulted from offi• Sports Editor: Gus Paul cers needing to devote more time to their academic studies. There seems to be a general lack of interest in the run• Photo: Jonas The usual suspects - who on earth will stand? ning of the RCSU on the part of most of Freeze on its members, which has made the offi• a paid Sabbatical post cannot be filled Publications Officer are up in the RCSU cers' jobs harder, increasing the pres• because of a lack of interest in student office on Unwin Road. There is also a sure on their time. These difficulties politics. vacancy for a Biology Departmental Rep• seem to mirror those of the ICU, who are Nomination papers for the posts of resentative. In the meantime, Mr Bentley Fees having trouble filling the post of Deputy President, VP (E&W), Union General and VP (Clubs and Entertainments) Bob President (Clubs and Societies). The Meeting Chair, Honourary Secretary, Wel• Walker are filling the role of acting Pres• by Gareth Morgan prospects for the RCSU seem gloomy If fare Officer, Web Editor, Archivist and ident. Ever since the Dearing Report and the As a result, Monday evening's meet• introduction of tuition fees for most UK ing of BUSA Council is being asked to students, several universities have been Med School Sport adopt the ULU interpretation of the contemplating charging extra 'top up1 hybrid system. Consequently, three real• fees. These would be paid to the uni• istic possible outcomes exist: BUSA versity on top of existing fees, and fig- refuse to set the precedent of changing utes of up to £400 per year have been Hangs In Balance eligibility rules in mid-season, forcing the mentioned. Particularly interested have sports teams to field different teams for been the 'Russell Group', a club of about by David Roberts around the exact interpretation of a sys• different competitions - and in all likeli• twenty prominent institutions including tem known as "hybrid entry". This was hood forcing ULU to back down; BUSA IC. The Oxbridge colleges have a par• The fate of Medical School entries into introduced for the first time this season, accept the new "interpretation" of hybrid ticular interest in this since there have sporting leagues and cups hangs on to allow institutions currently undergoing entry, and the merger process speeds been threats to the £2500 they receive Monday's meeting of the British Univer• mergers with medical schools (Imperial, up; BUSA complain about the inherent from the Government for each student sities Sport Association (BUSA) Council. UCL, King's and QMW) to enter a mixture problems of checking up on the correct on top of usual tuition costs. Although last week's meeting of Uni• of separate medic and non-medic teams enforcement of the system, and force LSE have been contemplating the versity of London Union (ULU) Council and joint institution-wide sides. For Impe• single entry now (rather than in three introduction of top up fees, a move voted to allow medical students to be rial, this means that College wide teams years time, as originally forecast). which may prompt the other Russell able to pick whether to play for their enter all sports except Rugby, Football Although this may all seem hideously Group universities to do likewise. How• own side or for their "parent institution", and Hockey, where separate medic and complex, it is a real cause for concern ever, ICU President Dave Hellard recently this conflicts with current BUSA policy. non-medic sides exist. amongst senior sources, and has major met with the Rector to discuss the new Consequently, the prospect of continu• At the ULU meeting, the ULU Vice- implications for Imperial's chances in fees. The Rector stated, and confirmed ally changing rules promises to produce President (Sports), Nick Dunnet, sug• competitive sport this season. Whatever in writing, that IC was not considering a situation described as "a complete gested that the proposal to allow decision is reached, ICU Rugby, football implementing top up fees, and this mess" by one senior figure. students the right to pick which team to and Hockey teams will not be merging would not be affected by other institu• If the BUSA meeting rules against play for was only a "clarification" of the this year, so if BUSA accept the ULU tions' actions or the forthcoming Gov• the ULU decision, then the prospect of hybrid entry system adopted by BUSA. decision, we stand to loose out, with ernment review of the definition fees. teams being forced to change between However, minutes of the BUSA Executive UCL (whose teams will merge) the largest Dave Hellard said that "Top up fees every game looms large. Indeed suspi• meeting held on the 6th of March this beneficiaries. However, if BUSA refuse, would have a disastrous effect on the cion is growing amongst senior sports year clearly state that entries will be keeping a check on who is allowed to accessibility to the best education for officers that BUSA may decide to simplify decided on "a sport specific basis". In play for what team will become a night• poorer students. It would create a two- the entire issue by forcing all institutions other words, ICSM students can only mare, and all hell could break loose.