Felix Issue 1016, 1995
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The Student Newspaper of Imperial College Nol026 28APR95 Smash and Carry DoC hit four times since Christmas BY ANDREW SMITH throughout the floor indicated that 'no selectivity' was involved. With the paint not yet dry on The thieves got away with a total repairs made after a previous of eleven systems, including attack, Imperial College's Depart- eight highly valuable Power ment of Computing was stunned Mackintoshes. Six had been by two further organised raids on replaced only two weeks before. the Huxley Building over Easter. The previous raid was by a gang Following the plundering of well known to police to target a Computing in the early hours of number of London Colleges. Wednesday the 5th April, a man It is estimated that almost was arrested on Exhibition Road £250,000 worth of computer and is currently out on bail. In equipment has been stolen the other raid on Sunday the 9th recently from London edu- April, one of the criminals was cational institutions including Bill Goodwin, former FELIX editor and now freelance journalist, is pursued by a female security Birkbeck and King's Colleges, challenging English Law in the European Court of Human Rights this week, guard and a PhD student, but City University and the London writes Andy Sinharay. His is a test case which may force the British managed to escape after breaking School of Economics. With many Government to change the law to give journalists' sources greater protection. down a door. of London's Computing Depart- Bill had been a trainee with the trade paper 'The Engineer', when he The damage has been ments sharing a common received classified information regarding the alleged financial problems estimated at around £70,000 for insurance policy, Imperial Tetra Ltd, a private company. Tetra then asked him to identify his source, the first and more serious raid, in College's Computer Department order to sue for breach of confidence, but Mr Goodwin refused. He was found which at least two male suspects is about to spend up to £30,000 to guilty of contempt of court and fined £5000, telling FELIX that he had gained entry to the building boost the security on Level 4 of escaped a possible jailing 'because of the publicity'. Now backed by the through the maintenance area on their building. National Union of Journalists and other organisations, Mr Goodwin has the ground floor. Twenty four FELIX has learnt that the brought a case to the European Court. He argues that English Law violates doors on the fourth floor in the department is considering the the European Human Rights Convention by threatening Journalists with Huxley Building were broken, use of so-called Fibre Loops as fines and imprisonment for keeping their sources secret. Representing many only having been fully well as passive Infra Red Goodwin, Geoffrey Robertson QC argued that this was "obnoxious in repaired the previous day by Detectors, Microwave Detectors society". As FELIX was going to press no judgement had been given. workmen. and Video Cameras in an attempt The apparent coincidence of to secure every office on Level 4 equipment will be affected by keep entry 'as is'. Student access repair work completing on one and to keep both their insurers these latest raids. Increasing may have to be looked at again in day and a comprehensive pill- and College happy. The funding levels of security may however future if suggestions that ram aging taking place immediately needed for this is expected to be threaten to student access to raids and the use of power drills afterwards has prompted some to spread over two year's budgets, facilities. Mr Murphy emph- to assault college buildings prove point to an 'inside job'. This with money likely to come from asised that a balance between correct. theory has been discounted by the department's own Security, defence against criminals and In the second of the raids the both Terry Briley, Deputy Head Contingency and Refurbishment computer availability for intruders might have wrought Budgets as well as Imperial of Security, and Jim Murphy, students has always been striven equally serious damage but for College's Contingency Budget. Head of the Computing Support for. the vigilance of a postgraduate Group. With the department's The present 24 hour access student who was working in the Mr Murphy suggested that insurance covering the loss of for postgraduate students is 'kept building at the time. Following while the thieves were 'clearly equipment it appears unlikely under review' but at this point reports of people wandering well informed', their damage that procurement plans for future the department would like to (Continues on page 2) 13 news one&two&three editorial&credits three incoming five s-files: space filler seven clued up eight feature: self immolation and IC's arts magazine nine feature: The Bryan Appleyard Interview ten&eleven xtra curricular: twelve&thirteen standby sixteen&seventeen eight day guide eighteen&nineteen sport: where are the boys (and girls) of summer? twenty E3 News News in Brief Rector's Reward Following the recent drop in IC's funding (FELIX 1023) the Rector, Professor Sir Ron Oxburgh, has declined to follow the Vice Chancellor of Manchester University's lead who insisted that his shortfall would not result in any staff redundancies. While empha- sising that he did not 'forsee' any layoffs Prof Oxburgh said that he "could not possibly responsibly give such an undertaking". Speaking to FELIX the The annual Inter-Continental Varsity Championships were held over the Easter break, writes Bryan CrotazRecto, and ther seeme d at ease with a Imperial College Dance Club excelled themselves. Whilst individual couples won many trophies throughoutrecen thet surveweeky ito f college heads' was in the three team competitions that brought them greatest success. IC won first prizes in the best Studentsalaries whicTeamh placed him in Match and, surprisingly, the American Style Team Match - which involved competing against teams from13t acrossh position the . He pointed out USA! Finally, to complete their hat-trick, they dressed up in monkey and elephant costumes and scooped thathe tremaining in assumin g his present role, first prize, the Cabaret Team Match. With the heat in the costumes reaching a more than uncomfortablewhic level,h see ones hi m presiding over a member commented "Anyone who doesn't think dancing is athletic should try that one!" budget of £165M, he had taken a wage cut. Sir Ronald suggested that following the expected medical merger there may be as many as thirty or forty college Naked Pride Over Exposed employees earning more than him. BY JON JORDAN that there was little the staff ceremonies practised by the could have done to halt drinking clubs of the Constituent Crime Prevention Week The less reputable side of proceedings because 'by the time College Unions. Sources have Burglars beware. Imperial Imperial's reputation has been you get there it's over'. However, told FELIX that the incident in College's Crime Prevention further enhanced recently with a the two individuals concerned question was a 'Links' Club Week begins on Monday. The display of 'national pride' in were asked to leave the bar (they initiation. Links is the official regular bi-annual event has run Southside bar. were judged to be in a drunken drinking club of the City & for the past ten years and, says The incident in question state and it is illegal to serve Guilds College Union. Local Community Officer PC occurred on the 23rd of March, drunk customers) and told to Another episode last term Clive Coleman, is always well the last Thursday of the spring come back the following day again saw naked Linksmen on attended. term. Two men climbed onto a when they had sobered up. "They the loose, this time in Beit Quad. The Week centres on a table and proceeded to remove apologised and said it wouldn't The so-called 'quad run' broke display in the Sherfield Building their clothing, leading to a happen again" said Pownall. the rules laid down by the Union Ante Room. It will incorporate display of genitalia whilst the When asked if this sort of thing as the initiants failed to keep advice stalls, crime prevention national anthem was being sung was a regular occurrence, he their boxer shorts on, nor were information and also free cycle by their companions. Following replied "it's the first time it's the Union and the Biology coding. The display will be this, a complaint was made by happened for eighteen months". Department aware that it was manned from Monday, 1st May Caroline Garaway, a female Lucy Chothia, ICU Pre- going to take place. In the to Friday, 5th May from 10am to research student, to the South- sident, said that it is Union circumstances this proved 4pm. side Bar Manager, Mr Roger policy that people are not allowed unfortunate as Biology had an PC Coleman believes the Pownall, and also circulated to to strip in public places and that admissions day at the same time. information available will appeal the Student's Union and FELIX they "wouldn't get away with it The effect on the prospective both to staff and students alike. (see Incoming on page 5). around here [the Union bar]". students, some of whom had "We give good advice to students Mr Pownall was on duty the Much of the problem seems their parents with them, is not - we can give advice on property night of the incident. He claimed to stem from the initiation known. marking, personal security and more," he told FELIX. Further (Smash & Carry continues) used earlier that week.