The Student Newspaper of Imperial College Nol032 09JUN95 Excessive Drinking5 to be Curbed Imperial's senior academics are looking at measures to curb excessive drinking on campus. Alan Swanson, Pro-Rector (Edu- cational Quality) presented a paper to the house committee on Tuesday to express his increas- ing concern. "I have no doubt that some students are spending more money and time on drink than is good for them," he said. In response, the committee are pressing for a new campaign to heighten awareness of the dangers of alcohol. They are calling for a clampdown on beer promotions during the day, as well as a review of the bar extensions policy during term- time. In a report that also exp- resses concerns of problem drinking amongst staff, Dr Alan Swann, IC Occupational Health Advisor, said that the problem drinking 'exists at a level where action is needed.' But he admitted that the college A quiet day: but is excessive drinking a real problem at Imperial College? response should not be 'unnec- essarily punitive towards the many for whom alcohol is a safely-used social relaxant.' Holland Club in Doubt Gareth Jones, IC Senior Tutor, endorsed proposals to BY THE NEWS TEAM The worrying financial to the treasurer's report, he cost raise awareness of the problems. report comes on top of an £8,000 the club £7,000 for the six months "I've been concerned for some The future of the Holland Club, loss for the same period last year, he was employed. "Certain time about the effects on Imperial Colleges social club for leaving the Holland Club with members of the committee didn't students of excessive drinking," non-academic staff, is in doubt. reserves of only £2,000. like Duncan," one Holland Cub he said. "I've seen quite a However, Brian Devlin, Imperial "We were unfortunate in that member commented, "But a lot of number of students who have got College Credit controller and the bar steward wasn't up to the committee don't like each into difficulties, and it's sad." Holland Club treasurer, has scratch," Mr Devlin claimed. The other either." Describing cases where students dismissed fears that its future is Holland Club has been beset with Kevin Young, a former have got into difficulties that are uncertain, despite the latest nine- problem bar managers in recent Imperial College Union bar 'financial, behavioural, as well as month accounts which showed a time. One bar steward left at the steward, has taken over the getting into trouble with the net deficit of £13,000. Blaming beginning of the current aca- position. "We anticipate that [he] law,' he said. "I would not be the club's financial difficulties on demic year amid allegations that will make a positive difference," surprised if we have a worse staff problems, Mr Devlin he had been stealing from the Mr Devlin said. "The staff problem here than in other commented that the club was club, whilst another steward problem is hopefully sorted... universities." 'hoping to see an improvement lasted for only one half-year and," he insisted, "we can absorb (See report, page two) from now on.' probationary contract. According the-loss we've made." H news one&two editorial&credits two incoming three s-files: genderbenders five boysagainstgirls: loathsome women and who's wearing the new generation's trousers? six&seven boysandgirls: Islam and Aids eight&nine girlsagainstboys: compliments and why feminism is still important ten&eleven extracurricular thirteen standby fourteen&fifteen&sixteen eightdayguide eighteen&nineteen sport: skydiving not sex twenty 13 News Annual Turnover of Student Union Bars, per student Drink Report Recent figures comparing Student Union alcohol consump- Cardiff tion nationwide put Imperial College Union drinkers towards fiifiililf the bottom of the league. The ICU comparison of how much is spent per student predictably mi leaves isolated campus univer- sities scoring highly, but even Kings, London amongst a comparison of city- till centre institutions Imperial students spend less on alcohol. Lampeter The results have led senior iiiiiiiiiiiieii academics to emphasise that excessive drinking here is a Leeds problem only for a noisy iiiiiiii minority. Others have speculated that the figure is surprisingly low Sheffield because the IC Union bars face iiiiiiiiiiiif stiff competition from Southside bar. mental law for business and to 'a few dodgy blokes' with their News In assess issues of environmental e^itoriaL idea of men I suppose. policy and the law. Still, I have little sympathy Brief MSc Students at the IC Well it's thursday afternoon, I'm for those who explain to me in a Centre for Environmental Tech- late with pages, so it must be leather miniskirt that men don't New Group nology will be offered a specialist time to write an editorial. I take them seriously. Anyone who A new environmental law and option in environmental law and remember my dream of editorial sexualises the everyday environ- management group at Imperial management. writing before I became editor ment (and no, we don't need to has been launched. Sponsored by Penney Saved - the great social commentaries be covered from head to toe - Denton Hall, an international A break-in at the department of and the shaking fist at the men aren't) cannot complain if law firm, the joint partnership computing was aborted in the Sherfield building. The reality someone comments on their will work closely to help address early hours of last Friday has been somewhat less flam- appearance. the need for better technical morning. Security were alerted boyant and in fact I have a A girl I know wears high ability in practising environ- when the newly installed infra- confession to make: I've never heels because 'men don't take her mental law. red detectors sent alarms off. found more than twenty minutes seriously otherwise'. But why Since the UK's adoption of They gave chase to two for this regular event. This is not aren't people brave enough to be the Environmental Protection youths seen running away from a boast, I'm sure you will find it themselves rather than a sex? Act of 1990, the number of the broken window. Two men pretty easy to believe. I guess it's environmental lawyers in this detained shortly afterwards on some sort of belated apology. Credits country has grown from 40 to Kensington High Street are Sex Editor Owain Bennallack over 1200. This has occurred awaiting charge, awaiting police Sexism and feminism and grubby Printer Andy Thompson despite the fact that there has not forensic results from the old men, I dunno. On the one Assistant Printer Jeremy Thomson been a proportionate rise in fingerprints taken from the hand I think that some women Business Manager Tim Bavister relevant cases. broken glass. are prone to use the feminist Advertising Manager Wei Lee "Lawyers need to under- The men attempted to break argument as a rather noble but Editorial Team stand the scientific options, as into the William Penney ill-considered argument about Art & Literature Jon Jordan well as the legal issues", says building from the Sherfield the problems of life in general. Cinema Wei Lee John Salter, head of the walkway, and although IC Why can't IX, why do we Y? But Clubs, Societies & Union Piers Daniell on the other hand, women environmental law group at security found a word processor Columns Marcus Alexander certainly have to overcome Denton Hall. "Businesses expect on the window-ledge, nothing Layout & Design Mark Baker and their solicitors to set their legal was stolen from the department. hurdles that us males can't really Rebecca Walters advice in a technical context." A computer was stolen and three appreciate. Features Kate Cox The group hopes to work others were damaged during a One of the simplest of these Musk Vik Bansal closely on subjects such as bio- similar, but more successful raid is sexual harassment. I went News Rachel Walters technology and biodiversity, on the William Penney through a period a couple of Photography Ivan Chan & Diana Harrison fraud and crime, contaminated laboratory last month. years ago where I endured several land and pesticides. The init- Terry Briley, Deputy Head run-ins with gay men: one who S-Files Rebecca Mileham iative will see Denton Hall of Security, said he was climbed over a toilet cubical wall Eight Day Guide Jeremy Thomson whilst I was using it (yeah, haha) partners teach at Imperial and IC encouraged that the new security Sport Juliette Decock and Mark Baker academics speak at the law firms measures were proving to be and another who I'm pretty sure Standby Jon Jordan training courses. Students may effective. Praising the quick was about to assault me had me benefit as they will have the reaction of the security guards leaping in front of a taxi. I've had Editorial Assistance opportunity to understand the involved, he said "I'm pleased to consciously avoid becoming Collating Last Week J. Jordan, Rachel true implications of environ- with my people". homophobic, as women balance Walters, Joe McFadden liTiEM FELIX 09JUIT9S Incoming The Muslim Voice... The drug law-makers are off their heads... j Edited this week by Mark Baker to waste their efforts on causing good moan about the wrongs A User Change to insignificant ripples in the vast done to Islamic Socs and Muslims ocean of hypocritical democracy. in general but just to put the Hits Out Islam Before some ignorant and record straight about students not bigoted people start telling me and taking an active part in challenging Dear Felix, Dear Felix, the other Muslims to go and live in and questioning the system we live Over the past couple of weeks, the I note with interest some of the Iran or some other eastern under.