February 1999 KEEP THE CAT FREE EST 1949 The Students' Newspaper at Imperial College RAG Hits the Ground Running ICU Rag week got off to a sizzling start By Ed Sexton and Sanjay Sikdar 'The Corbett Situation' continued the on Saturday 23 January, with the saxophone tinged theme set by Jazzy famous Sponsored Nude Kamikaze Khazee' but also diversified into slower Parachute jump. This involves a group more melancholic melodies. of enterprising students jumping out of After the brief interval, the red a van next to Harrods at opening time, shirted Dramsoc members tried to rally wearing only an invisible parachute, the spectators. The decision not to use and then pegging it to the Union Build• microphones to enable greater stage ing. movement was ill advised because to In recent years the event has been most observers they appeared to rep• somewhat undersubscribed, but this resent an intriguing silent comedy. year's SNKPJ was a huge success, rais• They beat a hasty retreat to the derisory ing an estimated £1,000. Sixteen men cheers of the music fans. took part, watched by around 200 stu• The show resumed on the right dents and hundreds more shoppers. side of rock as for most the top-draw The fastest time to the Union was 7.30 event was to see 'Cereal Killer', at the minutes by James, with the slowest, moment the second most popular 14.30 by Stan, being rewarded with a band to emerge from Imperial. bottle of booze. All involved seemed to Unashamedly on the lookout for a pos• enjoy the experience, with one SNKP- Photos: Gareih sible record deal they graced the Jer commenting "the best bit was Har• assembled throng with a judicious mix• rods". Another runner poignantly the proceedings was 'Jazzy Khazee1 ence doses of their improvisation ture of covers and original composi• explained "you very quickly lose any who provided the funk and set the games seemed rather promising. Bat• tions. Playing with style and energy concern about the size of your dick." groove for those who followed. With tling through an inattentive crowd they (the drummer's sticks were close to Tuesday at dB's witnessed the Rag comedy being the new rock and roll, delivered what could be described as Variety Show. The first band to start the idea of Dramsoc giving the audi• an esoteric brand of wit. The next band. Continued on Page 4 Medics Keep Their Sabbatical Inside... The Medical School will have a sabbat• cover the gaps that the loss of the sab• Letters - M1 incident 6 ical president for one more year after By David Roberts batical would inevitably generate. The ICU President Dave Hellard's proposal to role of the new sabbatical position. Editorial & Small Ads 7 demote the position was defeated at problems with the new course and the Deputy President (Education & Welfare) Monday's Union Council. new campus come to light, it is crucial - which will come into existence next Columns - busi-a-gui 8 The sabbatical status was secured that there should be a full-time repre• year - was also raised, with many of until the end of the next academic year sentative for all medical students. For• those present fearing that the loss of a Science - Cybcrsex 12 by last year's President, Andy Heeps, but mer ICSMSU Vice-President Seif Ahmad sabbatical Medical President would see this was conditional on a review taking reinforced this stance, suggesting that the new DP forced to concentrate Film - Hilary and Jackie 1 4 place before elections this year. Mr Hel• the coming year should see the new almost solely on issues surrounding the lard argued that the continuation of the course settle down, and the Med School new medical degree course. Music - Prince Paul 16 sabbatical role would harm the Med clubs will have had sufficient time to Taken to the vote (after attempts to School Union, as many good candidates reorganise. Moreover, as Mr Gayed postpone a decision until next month Clubscene - Hardfloor 20 would not run if they were forced to noted, ICSM itself does not believe it will were overturned). Council registered a take a year away from their studies - and fully merge until 2003. massive majority in favour of keeping Games - Pool-Shark 22 thus add an extra year onto an already After next year, all three BS years will the sabbatical role, allowing Mr Gayed's lengthy course. Additionally, he sug• be based at South Ken, but until then it successor to be elected as planned. Arts - Monet & Gursky 24 gested that the sabbatical president hin• is widely believed that there is simply The sabbatical role will thus last until July dered the proper delegation of power too much work for a non-sabbatical 2000 (in accordance with an agreement Sport - Football victories 27 throughout the Medical Union. president to cope with - as Katie Shee- made last year), at which point the role The current ICSMSU President, han (the ICSMSU VP at St Mary's) noted, will become non-sabbatical, on a par Diversions - Feb 1 - 7 27 Wade Gayed, countered that it is vital for whilst there are still so many students with the presidents of the other three Constituent College Unions. the Med School to keep the sabbatical who have never been based at South Crossword - prize! 28 position for one more year. Until all the Ken, it is unfair to ask the site VP's to 2 News 1 February 1999 Medics' Rag Raise to New Heights This year's Med School Rag Week has largest pub-crawl ever. KEEP THE CAT E RE E tSI 1949 broken all previous records, collecting By David Roberts The week climaxed with a ball at well in excess of £40 000 in just seven Shepherds Bush Empire. Although not issue 1134 days. Although this figure is provisional, interest in Rag activity. Instead, stu• as successful as expected, more than as all receipts are not yet in, and this dents from every campus were spotted 400 tickets were sold, further swelling 1 February 1999 number will undoubtedly rise before a collecting money around London, with the charity coffers. All this comes on final total is confirmed. All proceeds will first years particularly enthusiastic in top of the Rag Games, Revues, Bands Editor: Ed Sexton go to this year's designated charity, their drinking. Even a handful of non- Night and Invasion of fondon reported Assistant Editor & Films: David Roberts the British Heart Foundation. medics donned the traditional green in last week's Felix, and the week as a News Editor: Andrew Oforl The Circle Line Pub-Crawl alone surgical gowns and headed out into whole has seen hundreds of students Music Editors: Dennis Patrickson raised £30 000, smashing last year's the capital, with ICU sabbaticals Dave from every campus participating in & jason Ramanathan record of £23 000, thanks to a massive Hellard and Chris Ince spotted demand• fund-raising events of every descrip• Arts Editor: Helena Cocheme turnout believed to be in the region of ing money from tourists throughout tion. Medical School Union President Games Editor: Gary Smith 550. This was particularly impressive as the evening. Wade Gayed was, very happy with the Clubscene: Gurminder Murwaha some pessimistic medical students had Indeed, so successful was the day outcome, "Every event made money & Joel Lewis suggested that the merger of Charing that it has been rumoured that a new and was great fun...it's a very good Sports Editor: Gus Paul Cross and St Mary's would lead to less world record may have been set for the result." Photographic Lditor: William Lorenz Time for Election 1999 Catering Death Haunting groans By Andrew Ofori onders. Tim Trailor, Mr Roger Davis, Cater• By Ed Sexton of Imperial College in emanating from who withdrew from ing Manager for October 1995. He Union hierarchy signify the advent of last term's campaign due to logistical Imperial College, died unexpectedly on played an active role in college life, both this year's ICU elections. Although there problems with his grant, will once again Wednesday 20 January. Mr Davis col• professionally and socially, and was a was not a full complement of candidates be standing for DP(C&S) and is half-way lapsed suddenly while in his office. He member of several IC clubs. He was also as Felix went to print, there remained the there with his 10 seconders. David was 59 years old. the Chairman of the European Caterers prospect of an exhaustive election run, Roberts, Felix Assistant Editor and Pub. Medical help was quickly provided Association. with papers coming down on 5 February. Board Chair is looking to edit the college's by security and the first aiders on duty. Mr John Foster, Head of Catering The exalted post of President is shap• student paper next year and has found Dr Peter Dorward was immediately called and Conference Services at the college, ing up to be a hard fought battle; Felix all of the required twenty seconders. The to the scene from the Health Centre, as described Mr Davis as "well respected music editor and Pub Board Treasurer new sabbatical position of DP (Educa• were paramedics. The first aiders initiated and well liked". He explained that, "every• Dennis Patrickson has already made his tion & Welfare) is void of candidates at attempts to resuscitate Mr Davis, but one was very very shocked", but "every• fully seconded bid, along with ICU present, raising concerns within the were unsuccessful. Mr Davis was then body has been very supportive". Dr accommodation officer Natasha New• Union.