Felix Issue 1223, 2002
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\ MP 20 March 2002 ^ttmjfk The StuStudend t Newspaper for Imperial College Issue 1232 IC / SAAL REFERENCE te\ COLLECTION http://www.union.ic.ac.uk/felix/ IX The new and improved More schoolgirls? Spring LEQs are here. Sounds Heaven Sent Sort of like a Union to me. (Page 22) cat food. (Page 4) LEQS Imperial Students Reject NUS The students of Imperial College have year's campaign had provided "signifi- overwhelmingly voted to remain outside cant momentum" for Imperial's associa- the National Union of Students. tion with the NUS. It is conceivable that The referendum enjoyed a large turnout Council may order a second referendum of over 28% of Imperial's student popula- as early as next year, assuming support tion, and almost three times that usually exists. seen for the election of Imperial's Union The original decision to run an NUS ref- President. erendum attracted significant opposition The final count took place on Saturday, at the Council meeting which ordered it. with 766 votes in favour of joining the Many of the referendum's primary oppo- NUS facing an enormous 1983 votes. The And they did... nents ended up working for the 'No' cam- result will be a blow to the NUS, which paign, with the notable exception of had high hopes for obtaining Imperial been prepared. The new version outlined Union President and nascent College College as a member. a number of problems that the 'Yes' cam- celebrity Sen Ganesh, who supported the The count looked set to be delayed after paign had found with the regulations gov- 'No' vote but originally proposed that the the close of voting on Friday when David erning Union elections, but these were ballot should take place. Francis, head of the 'Yes' campaign, had not intended as a formal complaint. They The high turn-out in this vote indicates refused to sign the document declaring were signed by the returning officer as that Imperial students may finally have that he thought the referendum had been well as Mr Francis in addition to the stan- found a political debate to get their teeth fairly and constitutionally run. This cere- dard agreement documents. into. Certainly, greater student involve- mony occurs after every important Union While the result is the most significant ment in Union issues would be widely election and helps prevent unnecessary rejection of NUS affiliation since 1956, this welcomed by all those involved. challenges from candidates once the may not be the last current students will Alisdair results are announced. see of referenda on the issue. Mr Francis Counting could finally proceed at 3pm stated that the 'Yes' campaigners "didn't on Saturday once a new document had expect to get it first time," and that this "How pedestrian!" screamed one reviewer, as the team began to get very high on sugar. Two Creme Eggs is never enough" insisted another... -mm 8*11 i ! How do you eat yours? lllli college news Council Were Efficient The most efficient meeting of second proved more unusual, Elections Again Issue 1232 Union Council this year took when Mustafa Arif, President The Committee in charge of place on Thursday, which of the City & Guilds this year's sabbatical elec- 20 March 2002 finally resolved debate over Constituent College Union, tions also submitted their final the new constitution and con- proposed an amendment to report to Council. Editor: will Dugdale troversy about the recent sab- abolish the body of Council Complaints made by Ms Deputy Editor: Ali Wren batical elections. itself. The idea was to replace Munir (see Felix 1131) had News: John Stratford Council meetings with larger been previously overturned by Music: Dave Edwards The Union Exists student general meetings, a very close margin at Union Books: Jon Matthews The sabbatical team and which would be attended by Executive, but they did not Sport: Alex Coby Union Council have spent more 'non-hack' students. make their expected re- Arts: Jon Brenner much of the recent months However, many argued that appearance at Council, when Film: Darius Nikbin writing and approving a new there would be persistent fail- she decided not to appeal the Crossword: Dr. Hot Fudge constitution, which will bring ure to get anything done due decision. There was some con- Comic: J the Union in line with to suspected low turnout. sternation when a Council College's new faculty struc- Eventually, Council failed to member pointed out that Wye With Thanks To: ture. self-destruct along the lines of students had not been given Everyone Discussion of this paper, the Royal College of Science two days' voting, but after a which must be passed by two Union, and declined to pass brief break, Council heard that Felix, Beit Quad, Prince consecutive Council meetings, Mr Arif's amendment. no complaint had been intend- Consort Road, London, has lasted hours in the past The new constitution and ed and the report was passed. SW7 2BB but on this occasion was ham- regulations now have only to It now looks far less likely Tel: 020 7594 8072 pered by only two points. The get College's final approval that any complaints will over- Email: [email protected] first objection related to the before coming into full effect turn the election results, and Felix is a registered departmental representatives' at the beginning of the next as such they will become fixed newspaper: ISSN 1040 - 0711 place on Council, while the academic year. on Monday. Copyright © Felix 2002 Printed by: MCP Litho Limited Sykes Quits GSK News In Brief Sir Richard Sykes has Glaxo Laboratories in 1993. RAG Week Balloon Race quizmaster Jeremy Paxman, announced that he is to stand Under his leadership the com- A balloon released from the who said them that they were down as non-executive chair- pany sealed mergers with the Queen's Lawn at the end of "storming back by the end man of GlaxoSmithKline in Wellcome Foundation in 1995 RAG week travelled 533 miles and almost did it." May. He took up his post as and then with SmithKline to Eschweiler, Germany. The College Rector in January Beecham five years later to balloon belonged to Hersha New Head of Chemistry 2001, but retained the position become the second largest Mistry of CEC, Sherfield Professor Richard Templer has on the board of the pharma- drugs manufacturer in the Building, and took just one been appointed as the next ceutical giant. world. day to cross much of continen- head of Imperial College's His retirement will allow It is believed that his suc- tal Europe. Of the 500 balloons Chemistry department. He him to focus more on his work cessor as non-executive chair- released, three stopped off at will take up the position in at the College, which includes man will be Sir Christopher Canterbury, nine travelled as September, shortly after the efforts to boost its profile and Hogg, who was appointed to far as Belgium and two department becomes part of the large-scale changes to its the board of SmithKline reached Germany. the new Faculty of Physical structure currently being Beecham in 1993 and also Sciences. implemented. holds the post of chairman at University Challenge Sir Richard was initially media empire Reuters. Imperial were narrowly ULU Elections appointed chief executive of John S defeated by Sommerville Rob Davenport, this year's College Oxford in the final of Deputy President for Clubs Inaccuracy in Issue 1231: "Election Result Uncertainty" University Challenge, broad- and Societies, was elected as Sellotape was not, in fact, used to deliver a complaint to the cast last week, by 200 points ULU's Vice President for Returning Officer by ICSMSU President Shazia Munir. The com- to 185. Sports last week with a man- plaint was delivered electronically and required the use of no After a catastrophic start, date of 250 votes. stationery products whatsoever. the team were consoled by John S End of term Easter Party! Three floors of fun and frolics in fane? dress for Bunnies, Buff Boys and their Escorts. Friday, March 22 obtj 8—2am, Admission by ticket on Concert I la II 8pm— 10pm and 11pm—2am: Cheesy Dance music from the Union DJs 10pm—11pm: Live music from Jamie Benson (previously of Hepburn) 8pm—1:30am: Cool Chill Out Sounds and Bar dBs Bar 8pm—2am: Commercial RnB, Indy Rock and Commercial Dance 'tickets bought in advance will receive either Bunny-Tails and Fars or a How Tie. (While stocks last.) h'KKK Jelly Belly beans and a FREE shot, of Bacardi on the night with every ticket PHIZES provided by Odcon Cinema, 11 igh St reel Kensington, tor I lie Best Fancy Dress Costumes. Friday Night Out imperial Supported by • college ODEON 1 & CINEMAS BACARDI Throe Floors of Pun in the Union Building, Beit Quad, Prince Consort Road, SW7 spring LEQ LEQs - The Spring Edition What is the Spring Term LEQ? Why should students complete the • Students have sufficient time to con- LEQ? tribute constructive textual comments. This is the opportunity for undergradu- • Less work required by the ates to evaluate the lecturers who taught This is an important opportunity for stu- Departmental and College staff. them during the past term by completing dents to make their voice heard and tell • No involvement of academic staff from a a web based questionnaire on each the Departments how good their good student's home department in the course attended. lecturers are and how bad their bad lec- process therefore greater anonymity for turers are. The more students complete student. When is the Spring Term LEQ open? the LEQ the more Departments take • Quick turn-around of the responses notice.