“Keep the Cat Free” ISSUE 1481 FELIX 04.02.11 The student voice of Imperial College London since 1949 Will BATs ruin your Eat cheap with Imperial’s career? Page 16 answer to Groupon: Page 44 £9,000 fees So you want to be a Sabb? COMMENT “preferable” says Union President Is TV ruining your Higher rate tuition fees would social life? Head-to- Head: Page 20 protect bursaries for poorer students argues Alex Kendall FILM The criteria that universities must College committee meet for charging above £6000 are yet to be revealed although it is likely that debates fee structure they will require efforts to attract poorer students through more extensive fi nan- Sophia David cial aid systems. Dr. Rodney Eastwood, Secretary of Imperial College and a Tuition fees of £9000 a year would be member of the working group, also be- “far more preferable” according to the lieves “they will be keen on universities ICU President, Alex Kendall, as well as developing outreach work, which Impe- the norm for “the majority of universi- rial has an enviably strong reputation ties” according to the NUS President, for, especially to schools which do not Hollywood, stop Aaron Porter. These latest comments traditionally send many students to the have arisen as the “Student Fees and Fi- most selective universities.” making expensive, nancial Aid Working Group” established Universities Minister, David Willetts, at Imperial works to determine where has suggested that universities could terrible fi lms: Page 29 the tuition fee level will be set from qualify for charging up to £9000 if they 2012. have high teaching costs or offer an in- Nominations open in less than two weeks. In December, the government voted to tensive two year course. By offering a allow tuition fees to rise to £6000 and wide array of expensive science and en- Alex Dahinten and Charlotte Ivison tell up to £9000 in “exceptional circum- gineering degrees, with few humanities TRAVEL stances”. This controversial policy was courses to help subsidize them, it seems us about their experiences and give advice developed as the government’s response likely that Imperial will be allowed to to a review of higher education funding charge up to £9000 at least on the basis to would-be candidates: Page 8 by former BP chief Lord Browne. ...Continued on Page 6 Hopper Bus Biochemistry hit Complaint shuts Plans for student changes irk Medics by “severe” flood down IC Radio visas criticised Medical union not told of chang- Biochemistry endures weekend Complaint to Rector over use Government under attack over Discovering Rio’s es as moving between campus- flood in basement only to be hit of racist language on-air leads restrictions to international es is made harder. Clincal stu- by another more serious flood Union to temporarily shutdown visas as consultation period hidden gems and dents unaffected. Page 3 on Thursday morning. Page 4 IC Radio. Page 4 ends. Page 5 surprises: Page 37 2 Friday 04 february 2011 FELIX HIGHLIGHTS On campus Sub-warden Vacancies Union Notice Global Poverty Project Sabbatical Elections! Engineers without Borders host a thought-provoking presentation about extreme poverty and how we can help to tackle it by making simple lifestyle changes. The Global Poverty Project’s 1.4 Billion Reasons presentation is open to all. Registration in advance at globalpovertyproject.com. Contact Pedro Rivotti – [email protected] – for more information. Huxley Building, Clore Theatre Nominations open 15th February 08 February 18:00-19:30 Are you getting excited? We’re getting excited. The big day draws every closer. The day when would-be candi- dates for sabbatical positions begin to declare them- Our Changing Climate selves. Yes, the Sabbatical and Trustee elections for Imperial College Union kick off on the 15th of February Professor Brian Hoskins, when nominations open. The positions up for grabs in- Director of the Grantham clude Deputy Presidents for Finance & Services, Clubs & Institute for Climate Part of the job may include helping fresh faces move into halls. Or, as Societies, Welfare and Education as well as Felix Editor Change, will be discuss- shown in this photo, standing around pretending to... and fi nally, President. Do you have the dedication and ing what we understand enthusiasm required to serve Imperial students? about climate change, Are you feeling nostalgic for your Fresher years in halls and also passion- the likely impact of glob- ate about helping 1st years settle in and enjoy their time at Imperial? Well, See Page 8 for interviews with Deputy President (Educa- al warming and possible have we got the job for you! Sub-wardens are primarily there to care for tion) Alex Dahinten and Deputy President (Welfare) Char- responses. Register in students in halls – those 3am calls have got to be answered by somebody. lotte Ivison. advance. Contact Si- But the position is also about creating a friendly, fun and responsible at- mon Bailey – s.bailey@ mosphere in your hall. imperial.ac.uk – for more Postgraduate students are more commonly suited to sub-wardening, information perhaps with 2 or more years until the end of your degree, but the posi- tion is open to all members of the College. Be aware that taking up a sub- Lolcat of teh week warden position is a medium to long-term commitment; also, don’t expect Huxley Building, LT311 to be taking long holidays during term time. It’s a challenging but rewarding job, and you get to live for cheap! Go to 09 February 18:30-20:30 halls.imperial.ac.uk/vacancies for application forms and more information. Rt Hon Andrew Lansley Beit Hall Bernand Clayponds The Rt Hon Andrew Lansley, the Secretary of State Sunley for Health, will be making a keynote speech at the launch of Imperial’s new School of Public Health. Other speakers include Vivienne Parry, journalist The sub-warden posi- The sub-warden posi- The sub-warden posi- and broadcaster. The programme for the evening in- tion at Beit is from tion at Bernand Sun- tion at Clayponds is cludes panel discussions on chronic and infectious May this year and the ley is from March this from April this year diseases with speakers from Harvard, Cambridge, deadline for applica- year and the dead- and the deadline for the WHO and Imperial. Registration in advance. Con- tions is 18:00 on the line for applications applications is 17:00 tact [email protected] for more information. 4th of March. For fur- is 22:00 on the 19th on the 16th of Febru- ther information go to of February. For fur- ary. For further infor- union.ic.ac.uk/halls/ ther information go to mation go to halls. Sherfield Building, Great Hall beit or contact Dr Sav- halls.imperial.ac.uk/ imperial.ac.uk/vacan- vas Saouros at sav- bsh or contact Jude cies or contact Paul 14 February 16:00-18:30 vas.saouros@impe- Grime at jude@impe- Green on p.green@ rial.ac.uk rial.ac.uk imperial.ac.uk Felix, Beit Quad, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BB. Email: [email protected]. Tel: 020 7594 8072. Fax: 020 7594 8065. Printed by The Harmsworth Printing Ltd, Northcliffe House, Meadow Road, Derby. Registered newspaper ISSN 1040-0711. FELIX Copyright © Felix 2011. Editor-in-Chief Kadhim Shubber Deputy Editor Gilead Amit Copy Chief Lizzy Griffiths Assistant Editor Dan Wan News Editors Alex Karapetian Matt Colvin Reporters Katherine Bettany Charles Betts Sophia David Maciej Matuszewski Deepka Rana Aemun Reza Ian Wei Layout/Design Editor Veronika McQuadeova Features Editor Lizzie Crouch Sports Editors Jovan Nedic David Wilson Science Editors Kelly Oakes Charlie Harvey Business Editors Sina Ataherian Afonso Campos Politics Editors James Lees Rory Fenton Rajat Jain Technology Editor Samuel Gibbs Feroz Salam Comment Editor Anna Perman Jan Piotrowski Arts Editor Rox Middleton Music Editors Greg Power Christopher Walmsley Luke Turner Film Editors Jade Hoffman Ed Knock TV Editors Matt Allinson Veronika McQuadeova Food Editor Dana Li Fashion Editor Saskia Verhagen Games Editor Simon Worthington Clubs & Societies Editor Roland Sookias Online Editors Niharika Midha Dakshaa Rai Ravi Pall Chris Birkett Jonathan Kim International Editor Kenneth Lee Puzzles Captains Polly Bennett James Hook Aman Nahar Photo Editor Thomas Welch Travel Editors Dylan Lowe Chris Richardson Copy Editors Alex Nowbar Hannah Thomas Sharanya Subbu Ritika Gupta Zainab Ali Joe Marinelli Shruti Mishra Sophia Man Special Thanks Nuno Falcao E Cunha Justus Schmidt FELIX Friday 04 february 2011 3 NEWS SELKIRK RULES! Angry students told to ...and regulations hop off ‘Hopper Bus’ Aemun Reza simply that “they wouldn’t think twice” about sending an email, as gatherings After several recent incidents in Selkirk aren’t planned: “They just happen”, Halls – mainly involving alcohol – the commented one resident. No prior warning given, says Medic President Wardens have decided to implement However, it seems that wardens are a series of rules regarding ‘gatherings’ more concerned about large parties, Katherine Bettany and noise levels late at night. These reg- mainly involving alcohol,that would ulations request that students inform the leave a large mess in the kitchens and wardens about gatherings so that they that the rules were only set due to com- can be ‘approved’ and have provoked plaints from residents and cleaners. consternation amongst students there. They only wished to be informed so Students have been warned that if gath- that they can ensure that any messes are erings are not reported to Wardens, after tidied up after and that excessive noise repeat offences, they may get fi ned. will be controlled. Several students who live in Selkirk Some Selkirk residents that are not (Selkirkians) have been charged with usually involved in such parties and community service and fi nes from the incidents did feel that these new regu- College Tribunal for the damage caused lations did not affect them as the rules after recent parties.