FREE INSIDE SHORT STORY NEXT WEEK World Cup Wall Watching Pigs on Some News, Chart the Wing Hopefully IC Suffers Worst Ever News Drought ALI CAMPBELL even had reports of missing traffic cones, which frankly are ten a This week, Imperial College was penny." struck by the worst news drought Panic subsequently gripped the for a good fifty years, rendering the office as all emergency investiga- front page of Felix little more than tions drew a blank. Extraordinary an amusing waste of space. consultations with Union officials The problem began when Jeremy produced little more information Thomson, editor of the publication, than, "Bugger off, I'm working". At noticed that the vibrant and inter- the eleventh hour, it was a certain esting stories with which the office dashing young journalist who saved is usually peppered had dried up the day again by writing two hun- completely, with the problem dred words of nonsense. reaching an unhappy climax just This occurrence adds weight to two hours before Felix went to the allegations that Imperial print. College, having recently risen Thomson was quoted as say- above Oxford to second place in ing, "I think this is extremely irre- the Financial Times' university rank- sponsible behaviour on the part of ings, now houses the second most the students at this university. I Andy Heeps: Nothing to Report boring campus inhabitants in the know that many people have country. examinations at this time of year, few people might do something but you would think that at least a vaguely news-worthy. We haven't NUS Conference decends in to Tribalism NEWSTEAM action. However, the newly elected president Andrew Pakes (this year's The annual conference of the National Treasurer), claimed that National Union of Students last he had personally lobbied Labour month crumbled into an angry MPs over the issue and defended The slanging match between the divid- the NUS1 position. In contrast, the Students' ed student parties. Speeches by CFE announced the launch of their both the columnist Peter Hitchins new anti-fees campaign "Can't Pay, Newspaper and NUS president Doug Trainer Won't Pay", in which they hope to at Imperial incited demonstration and abuse obtain 100,000 pledges from so vocal that police and security future students to default on their College were called on to restore order and payments. eventually break up the conference. The conference ended with almost The main source of friction was the the entire 2000-strong delegation increasing challenge to Labour on their feet and shouting during Issue Student's domination of the NUS Outgoing NUS President Douglas Trainer's retirement from the Campaign for Free 1114 Douglas Trainer speech, which came to a climax Education. Several key positions, when he accused the Socialist including National Treasurer, have The CFE's key priority is the aboli- Worker Party of being "paper-sell- 8 May shifted to CFE candidates, and tion tuition fees - an issue on which ing loonies." 1 998 Labour Students fear further losses the NUS have been widely criti- next year. cised for their lack of successful NEWS 8 May 1998 Bomb Scare News in Brief... Threatens Final COMPUTER TOP-UP FEES JEREMY THOMSON On investigation, the Bomb Squad discovered the object to be a fake, THEFTS STOPPED DANGER IC security, the police and the constructed of aluminium cans and Bomb Squad were all involved in foil. "It was a definite attempt to Two thieves were disturbed dur- Students are once again facing an operation to defuse a bomb in imitate a bomb", said Ken Weir, ing an attempted robbery in the the prospect of top-up fees as the Sherfield Building last Friday. Chief Security Officer. Electrical Engineering building last MPs voted to overturn critical Security received an anonymous Although the incident is under Thursday night, preventing the amendments made by the House tip-off at approximately 11am, investigation and fingerprints are loss of thousands of pounds' of Lords in the Teaching and informing them that an explosive being studied, there is little chance worth of computer equipment. Higher Education Bill. Amongst device had been placed in the of identifying the perpetrator. The The men had broken in to an IT other changes, the peers voted to women's toilets on level three of possibility that the scare was a lab on the eight floor, and had continue means-tested main- the Sherfield Building. Security deliberate attempt to disrupt the begun to remove computers from tenants grants for students and investigated, saw the device and examinations has not been ruled the desks ready to carry them specifically prohibit universities decided to empty the building until out. from the building when a security from charging their own top-up it had been made safe. The police Ken Weir has requested that officer who was locking up fees. The clause has now been were called in, and all the nearby students do not leave their person- entered the area. The department modified so that an institution administrative staff were evacuat- al belongings outside the Great Hall was quickly sealed off, but the may charge extra fees if they can ed. At the time, final year biology during the exam period. He also thieves managed to exit the build- provide satisfactory justification. students were sitting exams in the reminded students to take all their ing and hid in Ayrton Road. A The bill, which has now Great Hall. However, it was decid- belongings with them at the end of chase ensued, but the men reached report stage and will ed to leave them undisturbed as the exam, especially swipe cards, escaped. It is thought that return to the House of Lords next they were deemed to be a safe dis- which have been left behind sever- although the robbers knew where month, can be read at www.par- tance from the suspected bomb. al times this term. to find the equipment, they liament.the-stationery- lacked detailed knowledge of the office.co.uk/pa/cm 1 99798- building /cmbills/18l/1998181.htm. Researchers "to Cure Cancer in Two Yearsrr ED SEXTON the Nobel laureate who discovered engineering to prevent certain can- the structure of DNA: He told a cers. Although the British research THE The last few weeks have seen a reporter for the New York Times has not received the media atten- deluge of publicity concerning "Judah is going to cure cancer in tion of the Boston group, both are possible cures for cancer. two years." significant developments in the FELIX This week international head- fight against cancer. lines reported the success of an Meanwhile the Cancer WEEK American group in eradicating Research Campaign is concentrat- Arts Meeting - 1pm. For all inter- tumours in mice. The research ing on another drug, ested in exhibitions and theatre team, who are based in Boston, Combretastatin A4, which is similar Books Meeting - 1 pm. Review have produced a drug cocktail in effect to the endostatin-angio- the latest fiction free. which reduces the blood supply to statin combination. Human trials Features Meeting - 1pm. If you developing tumours. are due to begin in November, want to write or layout features, The cocktail consists of two before the American trial begins. take photographs, or just have an drugs, endostatin and angiostatin, While Dr Watson's comments idea, come along. that seem to work synergistically in may be over-optimistic, we can preventing blood vessels from sup- expect a variety of new therapies plying cancerous growths. Not and treatments to become avail- News Meeting - 1 pm. For all only does this starve the tumour of able early in the new millenium. writers, researchers and essential nutrients, but it also pre- Then it was the turn of the The holy grail of 'a cure for cancer' photographers. NEWS WRITERS vents the spread of cancer cells, so Imperial Cancer Research Fund. is still out of reach, but perhaps not NEEDED! the tumour remains benign. Dr Researchers in Dundee have isolat- out of sight. Our understanding of Film Meeting - 1 2 noon. Judah Folkman, pioneer of the new ed a single gene (again in mice) cancer is growing at an exponential treatment, has been cautious about that seems to be crucial in prevent- rate and, although media hype may its effectiveness in humans, but this ing damage from carcinogens. The be raising false hopes once again, it Madness all day 10am - 3am. hasn't stopped a human trial being gene is particularly important in the seems that a cure for cancer may Not recommended for the unini- organised for the coming year. Nor lungs and bladder, two tissues that be a viable possibility within the tiated. has it stopped share prices in are often sites of smoking-related next decade. With a third of all EntreMed Inc, the company with cancers. Individuals with 'faulty' Westerners suffering from cancer the rights to the two drugs, from copies of the gene are more likely at some point in their lives, that has News Meeting - 12.30pm. soaring this month. Media atten- to develop cancers than those with to be good news. Music Meeting - 1.30pm. Get tion has been further intensified by functional copies. The finding your hands on the latest releases. the comments of Dr James Watson, could also allow the use of genetic City & Guilds College Union Annual General Meeting Union Dining Hall, 6pm Tuesday 19th May AGM • Events for the Centenary The AGM will also elect the The Annual General Meeting Year (1998/99) O&MC Chair and Hon Sec, will receive reports from all • Motorised and violate Spanner/Bolt Bearers, Web Union Officers, Club and mascotry Editor, Spanner (Fresher's Society Chairs and Any member of the union may handbook) Editor, Archivist Departmental Representatives.