The student ‘news’paper of Imperial College London Guardian Student Newspaper of the Year 2006, 2008 Issue 1,425 Friday 20 February 2009 felixonline.co.uk felix Inside Feature - Rector Interview Part 2 Pages 6-7 PHOTO BY ALEX MCKEE BY PHOTO Science - Paranormal special Pages 14-15 Fashion - Cheap Essentials Page 30 Nightlife - Who do you Silent Disco Asthink Elections ‘09 kick off, wethey interview the current are? Sabbaticals and find out just how popular they actually are. See pages 8 and 9 Page 24 2 felix Friday 20 February 2009 Friday 20 February 2009 felix 3 News [email protected] News News Editor – Dan Wan & Kadhim Shubber [email protected] Union support Imperial College NHS Imperial postgraduate Football Club student shortlisted for “axe the beer tax” caught up in ‘Lords for prestigious 2009 IET Award disciplined for campaign Jovan Nedić not punish them for the actions of an Hire’ scandal Editor in Chief irresponsible minority and finally to actions in November support the British pub as a vital part Dina Ismail Americium was at the same time be- Hire’ scandal. He is now being investi- Jovan Nedić Imperial College Union [ICU] Coun- of social life in local communities. News Correspondent ing hired by one of the bidders, Com- gated for using his government links to Editor in Chief cil passed a motion this Monday that One of the arguments used by Tim bineMed, in order to promote the firm help secure Americium’s business with would see ICU support the Campaign Barrett (ICU Welfare Campaigns Of- Imperial college NHS Trust is cur- and help it win the contract. CombineMed. Three of his business Nearly three months after the origi- for Real Ale [CAMRA] and the British ficer) who was the proposer of the pa- rently at the centre of a fraud inquiry It is alleged that to beat out the other associates at Americium have been ar- nal incident, the disciplinary hearing Beer and Pub Association campaign per, argued that the increasing costs involving Americium Developments, 36 bidders, Americium used its insider rested and charged with conspiracy to for the members of the Imperial Col- named ‘Axe the beer tax – save the at public houses, directly related to an Edinburgh-based IT firm and Com- knowledge to assist CombineMed in commit fraud. lege Union Association Football Club pub’. taxation, having a direct cost on the bineMed, a US health firm. writing the tender specification. Staff Imperial college NHS Trust termi- [ICUAFC], as well as the club itself, The campaign has five key objec- long term welfare of students - both Scotland Yard is investigating al- were also coached in how to answer any nated its contract with Americium on was held last week. Counts of bring- tives, which included plans to stop the financially and damaging student wel- legations that Americium unfairly or crucial questions that the firm might hearing that the firm was receiving ing the name of Imperial College Un- increase in beer tax up to a third, to fare through losing affordable places to fraudulently helped CombineMed win get asked. What’s more, an Americium monthly payments to promote Com- ion into disrepute were made against enforce existing laws – not create new socialize, thereby limiting the student a tender to supply information tech- employee was sitting on the selection bineMed. The trust’s counter fraud them after their actions last November. ones – to deal firmly with irresponsi- experience. The news will undoubtedly nology services to Imperial College panel that eventually awarded the con- specialist contacted the Metropolitan Back in November, felix reported the ble drinkers and premises, to end the please a vast majority of the student NHS Trust. The deal was potentially tract to CombineMed. Police fraud squad as soon as allega- actions of the Club, as well as the al- irresponsible promotion of alcohol in population at Imperial, as it will hope- worth tens of millions of pounds. Also implicated in the fraud is Lord tions came to light. The NHS Trust has legations that landlords and residents supermarkets, pubs and elsewhere, to fully mean a slow down in the increas- The Trust had initially hired Ameri- Moonie, who is paid to act as a con- now also cancelled its contract with NASA’s Phoenix imaging of Martian terrain that Sykulska worked on had made against them [Issue 1416 - trust responsible adults to make in- ing cost of beer that has been seen in cium to organise the tender for a new sultant for Americium. Last month CombineMed and severed its links 27.11.08] which included damages in formed choices about what they drink, the Union. internet system. The firm was respon- Lord Moonie was named as one of four with Americium. It has said it is unable excess of £1,400 to property and arte- sible for handling the bidding process. peers who were willing to amend a law to comment on the situation due to the Dan Wan Sykulska was scouted by NASA facts around the local area of the pubs. However, unbeknownst to the Trust, in return for money in the ‘Lords for ongoing criminal investigations. News Editor to become their Instrument Down- The disciplinary hearing, which was link Engineer (IDE) for the Phoenix held last Tuesday [10.02.09], released A postgraduate student from the Fac- mission at NASA mission control in its verdict finding the individuals and ulty of Electronic Engineering has been Arizona. She was one of three Impe- the Club guilty of the charges brought shortlisted for the prestigious 2009 rial-based researchers to make up the against them. IET Young Woman Engineer of the Phoenix team. The mission involved The individuals, who shall not be Year Award. Hanna Sykulska, has just sending a solar-panelled device to named, were fined various amounts finished her PhD, was part of NASA’s investigate previously unchartered ranging from £35 to £80, whilst the The hammer came down on ICUAFC last week, but some Union 2008 Pheonix mission that furthered Northern plains of Mars, where upon club will be forced to pay for any dam- officials felt that harsher punishments should have been handed out the exploration of Mars. the Institu- terrain conditions and compositions age caused during the evening, the fi- tion of Engineering and Technology were analysed. nal amount being known once the final (IET) deemed her outstanding work Sykulska was responsible for both invoice comes in. In addition to the ing, as well as the full list of charges in Whatever the decision might be for with NASA worthy of nomination. the design and feedback stages of the fin, the club will also have to do a to- writing and the Disciplinary Court’s the football club, the one thing that re- IET is a global professional society mission. She helped develop technol- tal of 200 hours of community service procedure. mains is the method by which this was for communities working in engineer- ogy that was designed to hold Martian between a minimum of 20 members, Although the individuals had re- all done. The hearing and its proceed- ing and technology, which claims to soil samples, but also monitored the to be completed before the 24th April ceived all of this information, ICUAFC ings were kept away from the rest of ‘promote the positive role of science’ information the craft was sending back 2009. Club Captain James Skeen who was the student population, with the only within the world. to the laboratory once it has landed. The Union Disciplinary Board have there as the club’s representative, has student input coming from the Royal The award Sykulska is nominated for Though the mission has ended, decided that all individuals against told felix that he hadn’t received any College of Science Union [RCSU] Mo- is awarded to an up-and-coming female Sykulska will found out if her work whom charges were brought (those of the information, apart from the no- tor Club who were the only students to who has set herself up to be a ‘dynamic on Phoenix is enough to win the IET who had caused the majority of the tification, before the hearing date, and give evidence of the apparent tarnish- and technically excellent professional’. award on the 26th February. damage), bar one, were not eligible to instead had very little time to review ing of the College’s reputation. The Editor’s favourite beer could now be cheaper, but sadly not better. If Sykulska is to win, she will become However, she has set her sights on carry out the community service as his rights. Mr Skeen told felix “We feel that the an IET role model for females in the further exploration, saying “I certainly they had paid a fine to the Union. Dep- The Union Disciplinary Procedure, punishment is suitably harsh consider- engineering industry, and one that will want to send more instruments into uty President (Club & Societies) Lily which is not located on the Discipli- ing the proximity to the exams and are Lord Moonie, who is at the centre of the ongoing investigation over the ‘Lords for Hire’ scandal be able to inspire more women to enter space and have the rare opportunity to Topham, who was also the chief pros- nary Matters page on the web site but now focused on humbly carrying out the male-majority industry. look at different planets.” ecutor, commented that she “didn’t un- found in the Union Constitution, out- our punishment.” One of the suggested derstand why the decision was made to lines the rights of the accused, which community services include repaint- A tribute to Sir Henry Tizard, exclude the individuals from the com- include calling for witnesses as well as ing the changing rooms at Harlington Felix, Beit Quad, Prince Consort Road, London munity service.” grounds for appeal.