page 12 Oil - new business section Smack my... well, you know what page 17 NUDITY WARNING Wouldn’t that have been a cool picture. But lack of light forced us to the library! page 3 FREE No 1332 Thursday 3 NOVEMBER 2005 The student newspaper of Imperial College felixonline.co.uk felix Travelcard Students outraged as debacle Adam Rae Imperial students are being charged faculties reshuffled £5 a time to take a chance at getting “Its appalling that students and the student’s Union were not consulted in a student discount travelcard, with no guarantee of success – because advance” Sameena Misbahuddin, Union President Transport for London (TfL) can’t recognise a Registry stamp. TfL currently runs a scheme whereby students in London can receive travel discounts through a successful application for a student Oyster card. Applications are made with forms only available through Imperial College Registry, which are stamped with the official Imperial College seal, and the Registrar’s signature. One Imperial student, having had his application rejected, enquired about the reason and was told that signature on record didn’t quite match up with that provided by the Registry. He was told that nothing could be done until the Registry had sorted out the problem with TfL, replacing the signature used for comparison – meaning he would have to make another application, costing another five pounds, and would have no travel discounts in the mean time. Again, no guarantee could be made that his second appli- cation would be successful. Further Can Life scientists and Physicists live in harmony? We’re about to find out investigation revealed that other students were in similar predica- Tristan Sherliker, Kilian Frensch & their Faculty roles on 31 December. to be sharing Sir Richard’s excite- structure than Imperial College. ments. Mariko Tavernier Prof Duff will move on to take the ment. Sameena Misbahuuddinn, They fear that the change in Faculty What about a refund for students? Abdus Salaam Chair of Theoretical Imperial College Union President, structure may lead to blurring of The official line is that the money Physics, Professor Borysiewicz will expressed the general upset stu- discipline boundaries rather than covers the processing of the form, Imperial College have announced remain Deputy Rector, a position in dents are feeling due to the lack of broadening of scope predicted by and is entirely non-refundable – even plans to merge the faculties of Life which he is well established. consultation: “After everything that College. Students are also doubtful for failed applications, regardless of Sciences and Physical Sciences, In the announcement, the Rector, happened last year with students that the handover will be as smooth reason. to create a new Faculty of Natural Sir Richard Sykes, pointed out that not being informed about the future as the Rector predicts. Unofficially, Registry staff have Sciences. The Rector announced it is becoming “increasingly appar- of the Wye Campus, this is another When approached by Felix, College mentioned that it appears that the decision, which takes immedi- ent that discipline areas within example of College not informing us said that the decision was “made approximately half of the appli- ate effect, in an email to selected the two Faculties [have become] of what is happening and the effects exclusively by the Management cations made recently have been College staff on Tuesday 1 October. more closely aligned” since the last that it could have on students.” Board”, the College’s “senior deci- refused on the same grounds, which No students were consulted or even Faculty structure assessment in One second year Biochemistry sion-making body”. A body on which implies that half have been accept- informed of the decision. 2001”. He draws attention to the student said, “Now there’ll be a load only a select members of College ed. Yet all the applications made The new faculty will come under the vital statistics: “The new combined more really ugly gimps in our fac- staff sit, so there is the possibil- through College have been stamped directorship of Sir Peter Knight FRS, Faculty will employ over 1,100 staff, ulty!” Some students dislike the per- ity that the majority of College staff with exactly the same seal and sig- the current head of the Department teach over 2,700 undergraduates, ceived loss of individuality among were also kept in the dark until nature. of Physics. Professor Michael Duff, train over 680 PhD students, and departments, which is important for recently. Both the Union and Registry have Principal of the Faculty of Physical have a research income totalling a community feeling within cours- At the time of going to print Felix taken the matter in hand, and are Sciences, and Professor Sir Leszek £56.5 million”. He also described the es; other objections were raised in was unable to secure comment from contacting TfL to try and resolve Borysiewicz, Acting Principal of merger as “compelling and excit- response to the similarity to univer- the principal members of staff in the the situation and provide feedback the Faculty of Life Sciences (and ing”. sities such as Cambridge, which they faculties concerned. Deputy Rector), will step down from However, students don’t seem consider to have a weaker course Leader, page 17 Continued, page 2 felix 2 www.felixonline.co.uk Thursday 3 November 2005 NEWS [email protected] felix 1,333 ULU in chaos Thursday 3.11.05 ULU President resigns whilst ULU Council Chair is likely to faces no confidence motion over homophobic comments Rupert Neate “I would shoot my gay son” made before he took up his cur- Columnists attack Editor rent position speculation abounds Omar Hashmi and Alex Guite Meanwhile, in a separate matter, that a motion of no confidence will give Felix both barrels Stewart Halforty, the President of Luca Manfredi, ULU Council Chair, be brought against him at the next “It seems that it is not just The the University of London Union faces the threat of a no confidence ULU Council meeting. In the inter- Sunday Times that stoops to the resigned this week citing insur- motion as a result of homophobic im Manfredi will not chair any ULU lowest levels of sensationalist mountable differences with the way remarks. Manfredi, who is also the meetings. journalism, with no regard for ULU is managed. General Secretary of UCL, posted Manfredi also personally apolo- consequences for those actually Halforty told Felix; he “didn’t want his view of homosexuality and gay gised to James Peachy for inter- trying to change circumstances to waste a year being a figurehead marriage on a UCL Union web- rupting “I pushed the ‘override’ but- for the better” unable to change anything... I’ve notice board last November. ton inappropriately at Council by Page 16 u got a degree to finish”. He dislikes Most notably he said that if a muting Jason. I reputed the matter the fact that “the manager of ULU future son introduced him to his of extreme importance and there- is controlled by the University of boyfriend he would “take out a big fore thought it should be discussed Art on your doorstep London, not the President of the gun and make sure he [would] not at length [after council]. However, The Wildlife Photographer of the Union. I’ve ended up as just a fig- dishonour my family”. I acted in an entirely inappropriate year: and you don’t need to make urehead” At a recent ULU Council meeting, way” an effort to see it! He doesn’t think ULU “can con- Manfredi was asked to answer for Stewart Halforty, ULU president Page 10 u tinue in its present state, it has to his previous comments. Manfredi told Felix, “He should apologise be managed by the elected officers”. twice interrupted Jason Peachy, of profusely and prostrate himself in Imperial - world leader He decided to resign as it would be the ULU LGBT, who read out some front of Council”. Sarah Khatib, ICU “Toby Ferenczi talks to Professor “the best way to get his message of Manfredi’s comments. Deputy President (Education and Barnham of the Experimental Solid across”. Manfredi has since issued an Welfare) told Felix she thought “it State Group about the potential of Halforty will not be replaced, apology in which he states “The was inappropriate to publish. He third-generation solar cells instead the role will be split between comments do not reflect my opin- should have apologised at the time, Page 4 u the three remaining Deputy ion in any way. I distance myself but he has apologised now and that Presidents. He will now return to from them totally and uncondition- should be fine. We can’t dwell too his studies at Goldsmiths, after a ally. The comments were intended much on the past”. She did not com- This Week two and a bit year Hiatus (he has for use against one very restricted ment as to how she would vote if a News 2 Business 6 already held sabbatical positions at group of people.” no confidence motion were brought Science 4 The Union 18 Goldsmiths, including President). Although the comments were at the next ULU council. Music 12 Comment 16 Film 9 Letters 19 Arts 8 Agony Aunt/Horoscopes 20 Media 14 Coffee Break 21 Fashion 15 Sport 24 TfL Students betrayed over continued from page 1 ‘Southside bar’ to students involved. Sudoku No 1333 The Real Ale Society unlike those already provided - this When the question of the possi- the petition clearly stated, and this bility of TfL’s summary rejection Complete the On 7 November, the new ‘Southside was therefore clearly demanded by of applications as a money mak- grid so that Bar’ will open in the ground floor the members of Imperial College ing scheme was put to the Mayor every row, every of Linstead Hall.