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INSIDE FELIX THIS WEEK Page 2: Letters on ICWA, student grants and others. Page 3: FELIX editor in hospital. Page 5: Finniston report outline. Page 7: Chris Fox talks to Edward Heath, Prowler seen again, and election details. Page 8: RSMU's success at Camborne — a full report. Pages 9 and 10: Reviews. Pages 14 and 15: Sport — Trackside report from Bristol, hockey success, ICFC fourths get to finals and IC win Southern Universities Regatta Friday, 22nd February, 1980 Issue uo. 545 THE NEWSPAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE UNION Last Monday afternoon, Mark Smith was in the IC honoured Professor Abdus Great Hall to see the lecture Salam, winner of the 1979 he gave to over a thousand Nobel Prize for Physics. students and staff. "CAN I UNIFY GRAVITY?" The Professor, who has held the chair results from the bigger particle accelerators congratulated, not only for hjs of Theoretical Physics at the College now under construction around the world. achievements, but also for providing an since its formation in 1957, was awarded He introduced concepts which seem very interesting and entertaining afternoon. the prize jointly with Professors Sheldon strange, such as supergravity and Glashow and Steve Weinberg of Harvard antigravity, with explanations which were PER CAPITA SYSTEM University for their work on the theory of scant enough to promote interest in those Despite the Government's intention to the unified weak and electromagnetic young physicists in the audience. He make all students unions funded directly ineraction between elementary particles. concluded with an optimistic look at the from the University Grants Commission The Rector took the chair and at future and received a well-earned and (which is how ICU is currently funded) 4:30'pm started to address a packed sustained burst of applause from the crowd. the finance and executive committees Great Hall. He admitted that he had A vote of thanks was proposed by voted la»t Friday and accepted the never seen the hall as full, with people Professor Matthews from Bath University, principal that ICU should be financed on squeezing into all the available space. The who was formerly Salam's supervisor during the per capita system (what all othei audience, which included many of the his PhD at Cambridge. He added to the student unions do), for the one year the Professor's past and present colleagues, Rector's comments and clearly pointed out Government allows it. heard a glowing account of his many Salam's dedication to physics. This entails an additional figure being achievements, including little known facts The thanks of the students present can added on to the College tuition fees, concerning his career. For instance, the best be expressed by their subsequent which will then be passed onto the Union. Rector admitted that he was offered the comments. Many found it 'inspiring' as well Provision will be made for students chair of Theoretical Physics before Salam as informative. The Professor must be suffering hardshio. and had turned it down! Following his introduction, Professor Salam started his lecture with a summary of the state of unification theory in 1956, when he began his work. He proceeded to explain, in historical order, how he and his contemporaries developed a link between two of the fundamental forces of nature, the weak nuclear and electric forces. Using suitably simple terms he was able to keep the attention of the audience for well over an hour, in what proved to be a brilliant and informative lecture. Of special note was his warm, humorous presentation; at one point nearing the end of the lecture he turned to the Rector and quipped, "Can I unify gravity? It'll take me ten minutes." This was greeted with tremendous applause. Throughout the whole lecture Salam was not satisfied with just presenting present knowledge. He extended the ideas where possible to illustrate points for the future investigation. Indeed, the final ten minutes Picture of the annua! Pedal Car Race held in Bristol last weekend. Three teams included much speculation on the possible from IC entered: one Mines and two from Guilds. Report on page 14. LETTERS Dear Colin manage. They can get top Union one of society at large. Women and discrimination in opportu- As two of the "infestations" posts and many take full part in are still discriminated against in nities in this college and society is of the Maths Common Room social activities organised by job opportunities and society still by ignoring the whole problem, (who have as much right to be many other groups other than portrays the image of the 'quiet and if women's special needs and there as any other mathe- ICWA. woman at home' or the 'sexy problems can be solved without maticians) we would like to reply The question is not, can we woman about town' or various any joint discussion amongst to the letters concerning ICWA survive without ICWA (as we other stereotypes. It is difficult to those affected, shouldn't we in last week's FELIX. can probably survive without lots find many television series with close down all. special interest groups given any particular We feel that ICWA does of things, eg ICU!) but does say the hero a women engineer. status by the Union, including represent the views of women on ICWA help or hinder the .status, It does help to have an the postgraduate group and the Council since it holds general welfare and social life of women organisation where women can overseas students committee? meetings regularly (the next (and men). In discussing this get together on a social level to There clearly is a case for the being on Tuesday 4th March at question beware of being side- convince themselves that to be a retention of ICWA with its 1:00pm in the ICWA Lounge) tracked into merely discussing woman engineer or scientist present status — not because where relevant topics are what ICWA does or says at any does not make you any more of a without it women are weak but discussed and women's opinions particular point in time and freak than the next engineer or because with it we are stronger. I noted. Katy Tatchell and Kirsten whether it could have been done scientist. You can often get the hope that all women who want to Pratt are on Council to represent better. ICWA is always open to feeling that IC is still only just continue the battle to further Life Scientists' and Mathemat- constructive criticism. tolerating women (I need only enhance the status of women at icians' interests, whereas Many of the statements going mention Mines male only IC will attend the next ICWA Merche Clark is there specifi- around are gross misrepre- freshers' dinners as one exam- general meeting to plan the next cally to present women's issues. sentations of the truth. To take ple). For women to organise our stage of the campaign. There is also the possibility, in only one example1: the ICWA own social activities does Love future years, of there being no newsletter at the start of the year something to tip the balance women at all on Council, except advertised the German Measles back in our favour. (By the way, Mary Attenborough the ICWA President. campaign organised by the none of ICWA's social events Maths PG have ever been women only — it The point was raised that Health Centre, yet Fiona claims is in the ICWA constitution to women do not have the right to ICWA wanted nothing to do with encourage social intercourse Photo by Mickie. choose whether to be a member it. This startling piece of between men and women.) of ICWA or not. The same could deduction is based (I discovered) be said of the CCUs or even on somebody somewhere for- On the welfare side, the case ICU. The choice is over whether getting to take away some for ICWA is indisputable." On the leaflets given to them on this or not to take an active partvand issues of ensuring adequate unlike Opsoc and Ladies Rugby, subject. contraceptive advice, abortion no particular skills are required ICWA is an umbrella organ- facilities, in discussing security to enjoy the company of women. isation for any activities that against attack at College, ICWA We feel that our integration into women want to organise. ICWA has a clear role which it has College life has been helped by is presently going through a always played. Of course the existence of ICWA, and difficult transition period in that individual women can raise these although many women are able many of the traditional functions issues, but a particular organ- to get on in the College it organised, such as the Ball, isation or individual (eg, ICWA atmosphere, ICWA is present to have ceased to be widely President) is needed whose job it benefit the minority who cannot. appreciated but not enough is to look into these issues. Yours sincerely people have yet injected new To those who argue that the Celia Martin ideas for social activities. Despite existence of ICWA hinders the Lorraine Elston this there have, this year, been a progress of women because we Maths 3 very successful Freshers Tea, admit to not being able to Christmas Debate and a Bar manage as individuals, I will just Night, to say nothing of various ask two questions. Margaret smaller events (trips to the Dear Colin Thatcher is Prime Minister, theatre and to self defence simultaneously nursery educa- There appears to be a The FELIX Editor taking it easy in classes). tion and facilities are being cut. misunderstanding around the St Stephen's Hospital last Tuesday Has, therefore, an individual arguments for the retention of Returning to the question, night.

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