Felix Issue 1103, 1998

1 THA BOMB! FINAL ISSUE - 24 JUNE Tricky's Latest Colour Back at Last Album Reviewed Extravaganza Union AGM Ends in Farce MARK BAKER or resent it." Instead he insisted JCR to remind people about the that the meeting had to close "in AGM." However he did not think Last Friday, the Annual General the interests of the student body" that it was a total failure, as "8 Meeting of Imperial College as there were not enough people times as many more people turned Union was was dramatically present. Mr Southern cited insuffi- up this year than last." Indicating interrupted by student Andy cient publicity as being the chief that the months in office have not Southern, who halted the meet- cause of the lack of student inter- yet stripped him of his humour, to ing as less than 200 students est, laying the blame squarely at publicise the next AGM he said were present. The normally sedate the feet of the members of Council. "perhaps I should go to the top of affair at which the annual report is "They don't want students to the Queen's Tower, and shout approved, officers are elected for attend the AGM," he wrote, before about it." the next academic year and the going on to suggest that sabbati- The rescheduled AGM takes student body is given an opportu- cal's performance would be place today at 12:30 in dBs. The nity to quiz their elected improved if their actions were following posts will be elected; Sabbaticals was dogged with prob- questioned more often. Welfare Officer, Transport Officer lems from the start. Due to a major In response, ICU President and RAG Chair. Anyone interested event in Beit Quad - the Andersen Andrew Heeps said "publicity for in standing for these positions Consulting Pit Stop Challenge - the the AGM was put up around the should sign up opposite the Union venue had to be changed to the walkway and the Union on the Office in Beit Quad. The presenta- Union Dining Hall at the last Monday; however members of tion and approval of the ICU minute, leaving some attendees Council have had the date since Annual Report will also occur at the confused. November, therefore having the AGM this Friday lunchtime. All are The meeting initially proceed- information to pass to their con- very welcome to attend. ed normally, with Natasha Newton stituencies." To the claim that he The full letter from Andy re-elected unopposed of accom- had not done enough to publicise Southern can be read at the Felix modation officer. The position of the AGM, Mr Heeps commented web site - www.su.ic.ac.uk/Felix/ council chair, also chair of the that "it is impossible for us to go powerful executive committee, into every lecture theatre, and the went to Andy King after ex-ICU President Eric Allsop withdrew his candidacy. After much discussion on tuition fees, Simon Lewis was elected as Equal Opportunities Officer. There were no candidates for the posts of RAG Chair and Transport Officer, and so these could not be elected at the meeting. Rene Frank, a Biochemistry Postgraduate, was the only candi- date for Welfare Officer and field- ed a barrage of questions. Before the meeting could move to a vote, Andy Southern, a Mechanical Engineering student, shouted "Quorum!" and so forced the clo- sure of the meeting, as around 60 students were in attendance rather than the required 200. Mr Southern's actions were evidently Last Friday afternoon, unpopular with those who had Beit Quad was livened up Issue made the effort to attend, as a cry by the appearence of a of "You twat!" and similar com- Williams-Renault Formula 1118 ments were voiced. One car. Students were In a letter to Felix explaining challenged to perform the 5 June the reasoning behind his actions, fastest wheel change. It 1998 Mr Southern stated that he did not was won jointly, at 14.22 halt the meeting out of spite, seconds. claiming "I do not hate the union, Photos: David Roberts NEWS 5 June 1998 College Cash Bungs News in Brief... for BMS Builders flies in the face of Labour's sup- GOVENMENT port for free university education JEREMY THOMSON out." for all. These alterations are pushing DECLARE PARTY When added to plans to IC Estates Department is giving the competion date of the recently- widen the system of student out cash bonuses to construction named Fleming building back, leav- Chris Smith, Secretary for Culture, loans, they fear students will face team supervisors in a bid to get ing less and less time for the has announced an extra day's debts of more than £13,000 after the Bio-medical Building complet- Biology and Medical departments national holiday on 31 December they finish their degrees. ed in time. to move in before term starts in 1998. This means that there are You can read the bill in full at: A weekly prize of £200 is being October. The planned hand-over now four straight days across the www.su. ic.ac.uk/Felix/1 118/bill.html handed over to the best foreman, date has moved from 13 April to millennium in which to celebrate as judged by a panel consisting of "early August". Although unable to and recover, as Monday 3 January representatives from Estates and give a definate date, Mr Hilton told 2000 is also a bank holiday. TUBE STRIKE Schal, the main contractors. A fur- us that "we are contracted to have ther £1000 a week is being set the building ready for undergradu- CHAOS FEARS aside toward a gigantic party on 15 ate teaching on 1 October, and we MANAGING June, subject to workers attaining will", although he did conceed that Following an "overwhelming" vote weekly progress targets. it was getting "close". MENINGITUS by Tube members of the Rail Now in its fifth week, the More controversial is the fund- Maritime and Transport Union, scheme is intended to motivate ing for the scheme. According to a A new stratagy on managing Union leaders are to decide subcontractors whose work has source close to the Estates meningitus outbreaks was whether to order industrial action been repeatedly undone as more Department, the bonuses were released today by the Committee across London Underground. and more changes to the original originally intended to be £ 1500 of Vice-Chancellors and Principles They are protesting over the design have become necessary. So cash, rather than £200. However, (CVCP). It encourages all universi- Government's intention to part- far, £4m has been spent on alter- there was "deep concern" over ties to devise a strategy to deal privatise the Underground system ations, often forcing work to be realeasing this money, and the col- with the disease, which is two- to raise billions of pounds in ripped out and replaced. "There's lege auditors had to be contacted. and-a-half times more common in investment money. The leaders been an inordinate amount of fit- Mike Hansen, however, 15-19 year olds than the rest of announced their decision last out adaptions - 60 or 70 rooms appeared to be unaware of the the populations. night, after emergency sessions have been affected", explained Phil spending. "I know that it was dis- Its release follows the deci- all day yesterday. Hilton, the project manager, "it is cussed", he said, "but 1 don't know sion by Southampton University Some staff will be transferred demoralising and frustrating [for the any details. It's up to [lan] Caldwell to vaccinate all freshers this year, to the private companies and builders] so see finished, painted and his team to build the building, after three students died there widespread job losses are feared. and plastered rooms being ripped and we'll just let him get on with it." last year. Feelings are running high among union officials, with some press- ing for 48-hour stoppages. i Imperial College Union TUITION FEES Industrial action was backed by 2,471 members, with 462 against ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING REVOLT but only 49 per cent of more than 6,000 eligible staff returned their Today, 12.30pm. dBs. Your chance to: The Prime Minster faces a poten- ballot papers. Despite London Vote in officers for next year tially damaging backbench revolt Underground claims that Deputy Quiz your sabbatical officers next week over the plans to Prime Minister John Prescott has •• Preview the Annual Report. impose £ 1,000 tuition fees on given assurances on issues such as pay and working hours, RMT Everybody can turn up and vote, so BE THERE! students. Labour MPs have held meetings to encourage support assistant general secretary Bob for what some fear could be a Crow said: "We have been trying protest equal in size to the last for months to get the company to Students Dry in US year's rebellion over cuts in bene- discuss these issues but they have fit to single mothers, where one refused to do so." Industrial action by staff would seriously UNCLE SAM State Police, but by officers on minister and four parliamentary disrupt rail services, and poten- campus. These security guards are private secretaries resigned and tially cause chaos. Students across the USA have sworn-in police officers, and rou- 47 Labour MPs voted against the been staging protests and riots tinely carry 9mm pistols. The Government. last month over alcohol bans. University of California (Los Angeles Senior Government sources Tear gas was used against a 3000- Campus) has 75 such officers, but are anxious to avoid a repeat per- NO FELIX FOR strong group in Mitchigan, who San Diego University goes further; formance, and, until now, pelted police after alcohol was officers carry back-up handguns, believed that the Education TWO WEEKS banned at a football match.

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