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FELIX FELIX, Wednesday June 24th 1987 2 The sign of a misspent youth Nearly four years ago I arrived at Imperial completely their time at College drained them Ring in the new College to read Mechanical Engineering, but of the enthusiasm which they (mostly) started out History would seem to suggest that FELIX has without any real intention of pursuing an with. its most memorable years when the Union is engineering career. Three years later, after The biggest barrier to effective undergraduate weakest, or at least when the sabbaticals are a drifting aimlessly through the last eighteen teaching is not the lack of an ability to teach, bad crop. Put another way, a decent set of months of a three year course, I was quite in terms of "communication skills", etc. What sabbaticals is a curse upon the FELIX Editor. relieved to pick up a lousy degree result and be destroys the enthusiasm of students is the almost Though I have probably missed opportunities to of "good academic standing", and therefore able total lack of concern which some departments, criticise the running of the Union this year, it to take up a sabbatical post. Over the last few not just Mechanical Engineering, have for their is certainly true that the Union leadership has days I have looked back at all this year's issues students. I know several people who have been been as successful as any other in recent years. of FELIX, and to be honest I found most of them through a degree course at Imperial College and The Union sabbaticals still seem rather remote rather tame. On occasion FELIX has attacked only spoken to their personal tutor on two or to most students, however, and I do not believe College administration for dragging its feet over three occasions. Certainly, the onus is on the that this has changed much this year. There have the accommodation issue and focussed more student to seek help when he needs it, but this been several new initiatives which have deserved attention on the poor teaching standards in does not absolve academic staff from the duty wider support, and we seem to be facing up to College, but there has not been much to reflect to supervise. the usual financial constraints with a little more the rather desolate experience that I remember Over the past few weeks I have seen several calm than has been usual. In a sense it is an from the previous three years. senior academics react in a very paranoid manner indication of failure for the Union President to Like many students who came to Imperial, I to any hint of bad publicity for the College, either report that "the relationship between FELLX and was attracted by the College's world-wide in FELIX or elsewhere. The letter which a group the Union central has been excellent this year", reputation. I remember particularly the advice of postgraduates sent to me before Easter is a and I would not ideally have chosen to adopt such of several friends over forty years of age, mostly prime example. Though I understand that there a united front with the Union Office. On the from the teaching profession, who all enthused are a number of Civ Eng staff who were major issues however, the Exec have had my at length on the merits of Imperial College. Now, genuinely upset, I also know some students from vehement support, and if FELIX has lacked an after following their advice, there is no way that that department who thought that it was fair anti-establishment approach, then it is too bad. I would recommend IC to any prospective comment. The College's recruitment I would have much preferred to have been either university entrant. In fact, I think I would go publications are another issue. The Imperial last year's or next year's Editor. further and actively discourage any sixth former College prospectus, like most university On the more general question of the role of who was considering applying. prospectuses for that matter, paints so rosy a FELLX, I am beginning to change my view quite I wouldn't write this if it were based on my picture that it is hard to reconcile with the grim radically. I have tried to make FELIX as much own experiences only, as I have to confess I was reality. I would not expect the College to produce of a "normal" newspaper as possible; if I was a lousy student. The majority of the students who anything else, but for the administration to be to go back to the start of last July I would put took the course with me were of a similar mind; upset that the Union media are giving a fairer much more effort into providing an entertaining the number of graduates opting for careers in picture is absurd. It appears that a proportion of FELIX. That said, I am really rather proud of accountancy and similar professions is a joke at all the Governing Body gave the letter from our this issue. 40 pages is probably a contender for Imperial College, but it is a measure of how group of postgraduates no credeance at all. This the biggest FELIX ever—I hope it makes up for is a pity, because letters of that sort are going all the thin ones we have been producing to become more frequent rather than less. recently. Though eyes are constantly being opened to the teaching standards problem, it is difficult to One more cup of coffee... see how any major advances can be achieved in The annual lament of the outgoing FELLX Editor the current climate. There are few people in this is that he/she feels they have hardly started, and College who seem to be full of hope for the have just about managed to get to grips with the future, and when the College as a whole is job. The turmoil which the office was in at the feeling the pinch (or, as the Rector would put start of the year has made me regret the rapid it, "we're broke") there's not much chance for passing of twelve months even more than usual. immediate progress. Yesterday's meeting of ICU I still have a folder full of good ideas; projects Council noted that student representation on which were forever being put off 'till the College committees was becoming less and less weekend. For all that it has been tremendously effective, as decision making was in reality, enjoyable to bring out FELIX, and, for all the being moved away from the committee level and disappointment, I am sure I would choose to do entrusted more and more to central College it again. administration. Imperial is concentrating on survival, and the needs of "Joe Student" are an David Jones insignificant consideration. FELIX FELIX, Wednesday June 24th 1987 3 • * -3 >..- redits A couple of years ago there was a popular theory be made also of Chris Martin, Pippa Salmon, Palmer, David Downs, Peter Hands, Dave that the FELIX Editor could produce the Kamala Sen, Judith Hackney, David Burns and Clements, Alex McNeil, Chris Perry, Jane newspaper single-handed if necessary, and still Chris Edwards, who all put in an extraordinary Bowie, Prof Eric Ash, Mrs Clare Ash, Steve do a reasonable job. If FELIX was left to me amount of time on FELIX this year. Very sincere Nuttall, Laura Dain, Tony Spencer, Roger and me alone I would struggle to produce four thanks also to David Rowe, Mark Cottle, Liz Wilson, Man Tai Tseung, Ian Thomas, Gail pages per week. For whatever reason, I seem Holford, Rosemary Hosking, Bill Goodwin, Turner, David Wooding, Jane Griffiths, Richard to have been blessed with a tireless staff who will Peter Higgs, Nigel Whitfield, Jane Spiegel, Bleasdale, Richard Fincher, Norman, Mark work well into the night regularly to help ring Aaron Kotcheff, Sunny Bains, David Williams, Hunter, Fourth Avenue, Jen, Steve Cook, David FELIX out. To these very special people I owe Jim Clayden, Neil Motteram, Rachel Black, Bottomley, Steve Gutteridge, Adrian Johnson, a million thanks, and an apology if at any time Sundiatu Dixon-Fyle, Andy Bannister, Francis Simon Bradshaw, Douglas Earle, Dave Parry, I have seemed unappreciative of your efforts. Miers, Chas Jackson, Reg West, Muffin, Nigel Pete Stanley, John Fecamp, Helena Russell, Firstly my thanks must go to Rose Atkins and Atkinson, Sarah Kirk, Nick Shackley, Hugh Aidan Kershaw, Simon Singh, Steve Kilmurray, Steve Shackell, who between them managed to Southey, Hugh Stiles, Pallab Ghosh, Terry Stuart MacFarlane, Sean MacRae, Al Birch, keep the office running at times when I must have Sweeney, Christine Taig, Jackie Peirce, Kathy Michael Newman, Charles Robin, Robert seemed close to insanity. Special mention must Tait, Olu Adelu, Grenville Manuel, Colin Daniel, Alastair Seymour. From left to right; Back row; Chris Edwards, Sean MacRae, Francis Miers, Kamala Sen, Neil Motteram, Sundiatu Dixon-Fyle, Steve Kilmurray, Rose Atkins, Dave Williams, Steve Gutteridge, Pippa Salmon, Mark Cottle, Steve Shackell. Front row; Dave Burns, Sunny Bains, Jane Spiegel, Judith Hackney, Michael Arthur, Andrew Bannister, Grenville Manuel, Nigel Whitfield, Chris Martin, Liz Holford. News FELIX, Wednesday June 24th 1987 4 Blueprint in Information the red on AIDS The publication of a propoganda AIDS leaflets have now been booklet by IC Consoc, just before the distributed to undergraduates General Election, may cause the throughout College. The leaflets form society some financial embarrasment. part of an AIDS information The booklet, entitled "Blueprint", campaign, which also includes was printed in the Union Print Unit postgraduate students and all staff.

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