Felix Issue 1223, 2002
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0/ 15 February 2002 The Student Newspaper for Imperial College Issue 1228 IX Knight Fever? Handcuffs. Parole Possibly the worst Officer. C< gag on the front page, ever. (Page 21) :! J Union Suffers Budget Cut Following the research assessment exer- up this shortfall by improving the efficien- cise last year, the results of which were cy of the central administration, without described as 'fantastic' by our Rector, Sir having to drastically reduce the funding Richard Sykes, the Higher Education given to clubs and societies. Funding Council for England (the council All this could, however, prove to be a that determines government funding for blessing for students, as amongst the pro- further and higher education) has decid- posals being discussed by Union authori- ed to cut funding to College, despite the ties to improve efficiency is the scrapping fact that our rating (6.68) was higher than of activities card. Instead of providing last year. insurance for those with a card, all mem- Obsolete from next year? This seemingly perverse decision is bers of the Union will be covered as a due to the fact that although we did bet- Physical Sciences Research Council matter of course. ter than we did last year, we actually grant, to which these salaries are linked It has been revealed to Felix that the improved less than other institutions contractually. As College will only fund administration costs incurred by the sys- nationally, and so get a lesser share of the the first 2.5% of salary increases the Union tem of forcing those students who wish to available funds, which have themselves will be forced to cover the shortfall. be covered by the Union's insurance to not increased in the last year. This These two issues combined are going sign up for activities cards are far greater decrease in funding will hit all non-aca- to force the Union to cut costs even fur- than the savings gained by not insuring demic departments that rely on College ther than had been previously thought, those without cards, and so the possibili- for money, including the Union. and it is feared that clubs and societies ty of change is being looked into. Union finances were already looking will, once again, take the brunt of the Alex strained for the coming year, as extra Union's cost-cutting. Sen Ganesh, Union cash needs to be found to fund, amongst President, has, however, assured Felix other things, the 8% rise in sabbatical that although funding is extremely tight salaries, necessitated by the increasing of and many parts of College will face cut- the grant from the Engineering and backs, the Union should be able to make "Imperial Rag Week begins today, bringing with it seven full days of mx^^mo^^m song and good pcL fashi id si I 1 g| Sounds good to me... college news Harlington Safe For Now Harlington has been saved meant that it took twelve ning requirements for runway Issue 1228 from development for the new- years to gain approval for three are as yet unknown" and terminal at Heathrow, at least Terminal 5, and as Harlington that while the timescale of 15 February 2002 for the time being. The news lies in a designated 'green belt' development cannot be fore- comes after the leak of a confi- area, it will not be possible to cast, it could be almost a Editor: will Dugdale dential government report to build such a commercial decade before the land occu- Deputy Editor: Ali Wren the Financial Times recom- development without an pied by the ground would be News Elect: Alex Corby mended that three new run- extensive planning battle, sought to extend Heathrow. News Writer: John Stratford ways be built in south-east meaning that there would Sen Ganesh, Imperial Music: Dave Edwards England in order to meet pre- appear to be no immediate College Union President, said Books: Jon Matthews dicted future demand for air threat to the medics' cherished that if College decided that it Arts: Jon Brenner travel. ground. would be desirable to sell both Film: Darius Nikbin The release of the report last However, the government is Harlington and Teddington, Sports: Your Mum month came after the approval also looking at making the Union would need to be Crossword: Dr. Hot Fudge of a fifth Heathrow terminal by changes to planning proce- compensated for the loss, with the Secretary of State for dures with an aim of reducing the money gained from the With Thanks To: Transport, Stephen Byers, last the amount of time spent on sales being spent on student Anyone / Everyone November. As the largest and appeal, which could mean that sports facilities. busiest air travel hub in the development could take place The College is looking close- Felix, Beit Quad, Prince world, it is widely believed much sooner once planning ly at the issue of sports provi- Consort Road, London, that the recommendations of permission is eventually sion for Imperial students, and SW7 2BB the report will inevitably lead sought. If Harlington is to be is in negotiations over a multi- Tel: 020 7594 8072 to the construction of a third lost, it will raise questions million pound new develop- Email: [email protected] runway at the West London about the sale of Teddington, ment at Barn Elms in Putney in Printed by: MCP Litho Limited airport, extending it to possi- currently being discussed. addition to the proposed new Felix is a registered bly engulf land currently occu- Nigel Buck, Assistant sports centre in South newspaper: ISSN 1040 - 0711 pied by the Harlington ground. Director of Estates, told Felix Kensington. Copyright © Felix 2002 Widespread opposition that "the extent of the plan- John S New Challenge Election Change A new challenge was able in the College's libraries The timetable for this year's Hustings for those standing launched this week with the from October. Sabbatical elections has been for the positions of President, aim of promoting good writing The scheme has been set up changed, after it was decided Deputy President (Clubs and within the College. in association with resident that the opening of nomina- Societies), Deputy President 'Writing The Future' will Royal Literary Fund Writing tions had not been publicised (Finance and Services), give students who enjoy writ- Fellow, Ann Shearer, who widely enough. Deputy President (Education ing the opportunity to commu- joined the College last term It was feared that the mini- and Welfare), and Felix Editor nicate an element of their with a brief to promote good mal publicity for the elections will now take place in the JCR degree subject to a wider writing by staff and students. in the first week of the nomi- of the Union building at the audience. The scheme will be An author and previously a nation period would limit the Wye campus on the evening of open to both undergraduates reporter for the Guardian, Ms number of good students Tuesday 26 February, and and postgraduates and hopes Shearer will one of the three standing for positions, and then again in dBs in the Union to demonstrate the breadth of members of the editorial panel lead to a loss of confidence in building of the South the College's educational judging entries, but will also the those elected as Kensington campus on interests, portraying it as be available as a consultant to Sabbatical officers. Wednesday 27 February. This more than a purely scientific assist students with their The nomination papers will will be followed by voting institution. entries at any stage of the remain on the wall facing the across all departments on An editorial panel will writing process. offices on the first floor of the Thursday and Friday of that select the best entries from The 'Writing The Future' Union building until 5pm week, with the results official- each department and forward scheme has been endorsed by today. For nominations to be ly declared in the Union them to a final shortlist. The the Rector, and will replace valid, candidates must be Dining Hall, on the first floor of work of the finalists will be his existing 'Communication backed up by the signature of the Union building, at 12noon published in both CD and Competition'. a proposer and twenty secon- on Monday 4 March. book form and will be avail- John S ders by this deadline. John S world news The Brussels Buzz Bees the separation from the strong Oh Dear! Not all is rosy in m m. m ^^^^^^ American currency - pegged Euroland, it seems. European to the peso for over twenty bee-keepers will this week be years - has raised fears of staging militant protests in inflation and ruin among the Brussels. The object? Better If? i population, who are lapping working conditions for their up the dollars despite govern- workers - the honeybees. ment pleas for calm. It seems that the legions of farmers, mostly from Spain, Slime France and Italy, are unhappy Former Serbian President about the lack of recognition Slobodan Milosevic awaits their invaluable insects make trial for war crimes at The to local ecologies. Hague this week. Although They argue that the pollen the list of war crimes he is delivery systems, propped up charged with is both horrify- by the bees, constitute a ing and shocking, the former "service" - and that the bees the price of the native week, in an effort to safeguard leader shows no sign of should be recompensed European stuff). their savings against inflation. remorse. accordingly. For example, they The bees themselves are not Their actions were prompt- In a statement released this should be allowed to have a expected to attend the ed by the final separation of week, the defendant insisted monopoly over honey trade in protest, due to the cold.