Felix Issue 1074, 1997
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READ THE MANIFESTOS SUMMER OF MUD FACE TO FACE Thoughts from Chewing fat the Festivals with Johnny Ball Power-up for IC Following the latest college strat- get it moving", commented Measures include the creation of a egy plans to reduce heating and Andrew Thome, responsible for new energy management section energy bills, Imperial is set to energy usage across IC. within College, the fitting of energy build its own power station. During periods of peak efficient light bulbs in all student The new generator will consist demand, top up electricity will be bedrooms and new microprocessor of two reciprocating gas fired imported from the grid, and during based networks which monitor and engines, each with an electrical times of low demand College will control the operation of ventilation output of 3.875 MW. Compared to have the option of selling the and heating throughout buildings. the coal fired power station at excess to the board or reduce the The system, known as BEMS, has Ferrybridge, Yorkshire, which gen- generating output - much easier been on trial in the Huxley building erates 1,200 MW, this may sound with gas-powered stations than for the last two years and has man- small, but the new station will be with other types. aged to reduce its monthly heating able to supply the whole of the Work on the refurbishment will demands by a third. main site with most of it's electrici- start later this year with the erec- Energy conservation is now of ty and heating needs, including hot tion of a temporary generator in prime consideration in all new water and air conditioning. Dalby court while the refurbishment buildings and refurbishments, and The new generator will replace takes place. The new power station is being specifically targeted for fur- the current source of energy which is then planned to be operational ther investment. Money has been consists of steam imported from by Spring/Summer 1999. The cost specifically earmarked for investing the Natural History Museum, elec- of the new power station will be in energy efficiency over the com- tricity from the local power board around £6 million, although the ing year and formal systems are and electricity generated by a return on investment should mean now in place to review the energy heavy oil burning power station that the savings on electricity alone efficiency of the whole College. which is located under Elec Eng. repay the investment in ten years. Jit Patel The current generator is 30 years College has undertaken a num- old and reaching the end of its ber of energy management initia- acceptable lifetime. It is also envi- tives over the past few years in • . :• : ' . ..." j ronmentally unfriendly, due to the order to reduce usage. The aim is heavy oil it burns, "...it's like tar, to cut the current £3 million energy you have to heat it to 80°C just to budget by 30% over five years. THIS WEEK'S NEWS MENINGITIS CLAIMS MORE STUDENT LIVES The full story of the formidable dis- ease, and what you can do to avoid it. page two The CONFERENCE CENTRE WELL SHORT OF THE MARK Students' Latest figures show that the belig- Newspaper ured centre is still running at a cross. at Imperial page two College NEW SECURITY FOR WILSON HOUSE Improved safety, or expensive Bid Brother? Issue page three 1096 BLUNKETT BASHING 31 One of the many graduates to recieve their ceremonial nod from Applications fall as higher educa- October the Chairman of the Governors last Thursday. The enormous cere- tion is strangled. mony took place in the Albert Hall and lasted well over three hours. page three 1997 "At one point, I had to stand up for forty minutes" one graduate _ told us, "it was pretty boring, but the parents love it." Photo: Froggy NEWS 31 October 1997 Meningitis Monster Strikes Again Once again, the new university found to have a common link. The more dangerous form, though, and Students are advised to watch the year has been greeted with out- guidelines have since been this has led to the death of two stu- health of those around them, breaks of deadly meningitis changed. dents, with two more infected. though, and to be aware of the appearing in student halls of res- This year has already seen two None have been named, but are symptoms, which initially resemble idence. new cases of meningitis in Cardiff, thought to be 19 year old first 'flu, followed by fever, a stiff neck, Last year, three students from and the university and health years living in the same hall of res- severe headache, dislike of bright the University of Cardiff died from authorities moved quickly to dis- idence, though they are studying lights, vomiting, drowsiness, or the disease during the first term. tribute information about the different subjects. More than 1,000 even coma. A rash can also be pre- Controversy surrounded the out- linkes, and antibiotics have been students will be treated with antibi- sent in advanced cases, due to sep- break, as official guidelines sug- given to those close to the two otics as a precautionary measure. ticemia, - poisoning of the blood by gested that cases more than four men involved. In an unrelated case, a third stu- the bacteria. Should you or a friend weeks apart were unconnected. Meningitis comes in two main dent has also been killed at begin to suffer flu-like symptoms, Since the first two cases were four forms, bacterial and viral. The bac- Leicester University. Ancillia Whittingdale, a practice weeks and one day apart, the terial form is much rarer, and is Meningitis is preventable and nurse at the IC Health Centre advis- health authorities responsible more severe. However, the form curable if detected early enough, es that students try traditional treated them as isolated incidents. that surfaced this year in Cardiff is but the disease can progress to an treatments such as paracetamol or It was only later, after more cases not as virulent as last year's. advanced stage in a matter of aspirin, and to tell a friend to keep were identified, and another stu- Students of Southampton hours. It disease is spread by an eye on them. If symptoms dent had died, that the cases were University have been hit by a far germs passing from the nose and become worse, to see a doctor or mouth, by kissing, sneezing, or nurse. The heath centre runs open other transfer of fluids. Freshers are clinics every morning, which do not especially susceptible, as they are require an appointment. She also Conference Centre away from home, and so stressed that any appearance of a encounter germs that they have rash, that starts looking like "pin not come into contact with before. pricks under the skin" and progress- This mingled with the traditional es to look like a bruise and does not Goes from Strength to student life means that the inci- disappear with pressure can be an dence of meningitis in halls of resi- indication of very advanced menin- dence is three times that of the rest gitis. Medical help should be of the population. sought immediately. Strength No student is known to have Matt Bennet had meningitis at Imperial. The latest, unaudited, figures Staff costs appear to be the recently presented in a main financial drain on the centre, Managment and Planning Group representing 56% of total sales in (MPG) report show the 1995-96. Felix has also heard that Conference Centre making a heavy summer accommodation was let loss in 1996-97 for the third year out this year in block-bookings for running. The year finished with a as little as £ 10 per night per room. net deficit of over £40,000 (see This lead to one Language School graph). sub-letting the rooms to other The centre has already been companies, which is forbidden. HAIR SALON under the spotlight for failing to It is believed that the 15a Harrington Road profit from the Fashion Week deal Conference Centre are facing an (Felix 1094) and a huge overspend internal audit to investigate its pro- South Kensington London SW7 3ES on furniture and office develop- ceedures and poor performance. (1 Minute walk from South Kensington Tube) ment (Felix 1095). CUT & BLOW DRY CONFERENCE CENTRE NET BY OUR TOP STYLISTS £15 LADIES PROFIT / LOSS 1993 - 1997 £13 MEN £20,000 Normal Price £30 zero -£20,000 -£40,000 Telephone 0171 823 8968 -£60,000 ACCESS VISA MASTERCARD CASH CHEQUES *Figure not yet audited. All other figures from annual finacnial statements 31 October 1997 NEWS Students Big Brother is Disillusioned Watching You, Wilson DESPITE ASSURANCES, BLUNKETT'S Security in Wilson House is also alert the porter to incidents expected to improve after the which take place at other parts of NEW FEES ARE PUTTING OFF THOU- recent installation of a new swipe the building outside the porter's card entry system and several view. SANDS OF PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS CCTV cameras around the site. Previously, residents had to Following the introduction of insert a metal security tag into a The Government's proposal to dents, since they would not be the new system, only residents of slot in order to open the front introduce tuition fees has caused asked to pay tuition fees. the hall can use their swipe card to door. When asked how the new more controversy this week when Education and Employment enter through the front door. swipe card improves from the old UCAS disclosed that application Secretary David Blunkett said that Visitors are required to press a practice, Derrick Victor, residence figures for the coming year had he would still monitor the figures to buzzer to gain access from the building manager, cited its flexibili- dropped by eleven percent.