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Issue 1083 22 10 04 In this fortnight’s edition... news of USSU’s plans to research uni- versities down under | how to make Union Council work for you | what it’s really like to join an American frat | HRH in Guildford contents 1 2 The Chancellor comes to campus editorial 5 Julie Wall summarizes the national news I’ve been feeling fairly festive this 7 Wondering what the President does all day? week. It happened around this time last year as well. Maybe it’s the 8 A dummy’s guide to writing a motion for Council subliminal effects of ever-increasing commercialisation (did you know 11 Do the Aussies hold the key to student representation? Harrods opened its Santas Grotto back in August, Tescos have had 13 Life in an American fraternity for a UK student mince pies in stock for months, and money has already been bet on the 17 What affect is alcohol having on your health? Christmas No.1??), or maybe it’s just that there are less daylight hours 20 What is Fairtrade all about? and, like everyone else in Britain, I could really do with a holiday. 23 Film gets ready for a mini festival here in Guildford Halfway through semester and 27 though Reading Weeks may provide Literature reviews books you might not actually want to a welcome break for some, it may read after all well seem the worst is still to come. The honeymoon period that was 30 GU2 your pull-out-and-keep weekly schedule September is over, and workload and fatigue are well and truly kicking in. 33 Careers advice for the confused This fortnight, barefacts aims to bring a little sunshine into your life with 34 Alumni The annual Telephone Campaign is launched stories of student life in Australia and the USA. OK, so it’s unfortunate we 35 Sport Work up a sweat with a whole extra page can’t fl y you out there too but that’s not to say there aren’t things we can dedicated to Surrey sporting action help you change to make life here in (decidedly unsunny) Surrey a little easier. Check out the guide to writing Council motions (to change how the Union currently operates), the the barefacts team lowdown on the effects of alcohol can have on your general wellbeing, and the ways in which you can enhance Editor-in-chief: Catherine Lee Editor: Neil Christie your CV through getting involved in Deputy Editor: Nicole Heel the DAVE project. News Editor: position vacant Sports Editor: Pete Nichols Hopefully this’ll tide you over for a bit Music Editors: Jon Allen and Dina Mystris (well, for at least some of the 63 days Film Editor: Neil Boulton until Christmas anyhow...) Literature Editor: Arvind Virdee GU2 Press Offi cer: Jay Butcher Mince pie anyone? Same pic as last edition I know - editorial Contributors: Hash Alsaidi, Rachel Appleyard, Amy team be warned, I’ll be tracking you down Brown, Dan Brown, Jenna Cairney, Paul Canning, with a camera again soon! Catherine Sam Carney, James Charnings, Russ Clark, Matthew Conacher, Jon Darzi, Sarah Davies, Corin Douieb, Chris Driscoll, Scott Farmer, David Glossop, Beth Heale Dun- can Hills, Piers Karsenbarg, James Newell, Ewan Panter, Simon Pearson, Simon Peasley, Amy Price, Anna Shaw, Stavros Sachinis, Ben Supper, Nathan Whitaker, Julie Wall, Peter Wigfi eld 2 news [email protected] 22 10 04 BOROUGH COUNCIL FIGHTS TO SAVE GREEN BELT FROM HOUSING The decision on whether or not to build on an area of green belt land in north east Guildford ROYALTY IN TOWN came a step closer on Tuesday when Surrey County Council’s Executive met to consider the COMING SOON.. Last Thursday (14th October), HRH the borough council’s opposition to THE RUBIX QUESTIONNAIRE Duke of Kent, Chancellor of the University its plans for the new homes. of Surrey came to Guildford, and chatted your chance to get your views to staff and students about life here on Leader of Guildford Borough heard, and win free entry for a year. campus. He was received by Patrick Council, Cllr Andrew Hodges, Keep checking www.ussu.co.uk and Dowling, Vice-Chancellor, at Surrey says: “We are extremely Research Park, and confident that we can meet barefacts for further details visited the site of our target of building 4750 new the postgraduate homes in the borough by 2016, Medical School, without Surrey County Council’s PRODIGY STAR ASSAULTS currently under proposals to include the green STUDENTS construction, before belt land on the north eastern being chauffeured to side of the town. the Students’ Union. Keith Flint, formerly of The Prodigy, and two of his colleagues from new band Clever Brains The Duke showed a He continues, “We are again Fryin’ allegedly assaulted a student during keen interest in all calling for these proposals to their act at Imperial College, before coming the services offered be deleted from the County to Rubix, because the student was dancing by the Students’ Council’s Surrey Structure Plan. ‘the Macarena’ in front of the stage, which Union, and was It is unreasonable that Guildford clearly was taken as a provoking gesture. A awarded a lifetime Union membership by should be expected to maintain friend of the student stepped in, but was also the Sabbatical team in a small ceremony this site when we have clearly assaulted. held in Chancellors Restaurant. He proved we can meet the target went on to visit the PATS Studios and without building on our precious The two students were then forcibly removed International House before dining in green field land and without from the venue by the personal bodyguards Lakeside Restaurant. overdeveloping our urban of Flint and his band. According to a senior areas”. source at Imperial, the police were ready to To find out ten interesting facts about HRH Exact details of the meeting were make charges for actual bodily harm at the the Duke of Kent, turn to page 16. unfortunately unavailable at the scene of the crime. However, the student time barefacts went to print. has decided not to press charges against the band. WATES HOUSE words: neil christie, editor GETS BIGGER BAR In the next three or four weeks, the bar at Wates House is going to be extended to include seating for an extra fifty people. If you are a postgraduate or a member of staff go along and unwind with a pint of beer or a coffee. [email protected] 22 10 04 LITERARY STARS FIRE SAFETY FLOCK TO SURREY Guildford’s annual book festival was PRANKSTERS launched last Sunday (17th October). The festival lasts two weeks and includes appearances from a number There have been several incidents already of celebrity authors, jazz musicians this semester, of students or their guests and comedians. Famous cricketer setting off false alarms or discharging fi re Nassar Hussain visited Ottaker’s on extinguishers in halls of residence. Tuesday to sign copies of his new autobiography, and was There have been fi ve incidents of break glass points being broken maliciously later interviewed by setting off an alarm which causes evacuation of residents (in University, Battersea, radio presenter Anthony Surrey, Guildford and Twyford Courts). This has caused inconvenience to Gamble for broadcast residents, who have to evacuate, and causes Security staff to be diverted from on GU2 1350AM. That important security work to deal with false alarms. False alarms can lead to same evening, William residents becoming complacent about evacuations. Hague, former leader of the Conservative party, So far this semester four fi re extinguishers have been taken gave a lecture in the from buildings and discharged. In one building a smoke School of Management, detector was dismantled by residents. introducing his recent biography of William Pitt, During the same period there have been four small kitchen the youngest ever Prime Minister, fi res. In all these cases the fi re detection systems and coming into offi ce in 1783 at just 24 procedures worked correctly - imagine what would have years of age. happened if the smoke detector or extinguisher in these areas was not working properly. Forthcoming highlights include Denys Baptise in concert at the Electric Student residences are at risk from fi re TAKING THE Theatre on Sunday (24th) as well as and the University takes the safety of appearances from Sandi Toksvig, residents very seriously, organising fi re TROUBLE OUT OF Michael Buerk, Michael Winner practices for all residents during the fi rst TAX and Rory Bremner, to weeks of the semester. The fi re systems name but a few. There and equipment are checked regularly. Did you work over the summer? are also a number of writing workshops, and Students should not tolerate a small minority Have you just returned from a week of Roald Dahl- of residents who think it is ok to meddle placement? themed activities based with the equipment and systems provided in Guildford Library. For for everyone’s safety. Tampering with Will you be working over further details, visit the anything that is provided for safety, from an Christmas? offi cial website at extinguisher to a fi re alarm break glass, is www.guildfordbookfest also a criminal offence. Have you just got a part-time ival.co.uk, or pick up a job? brochure from the Electric Theatre, Overall the response from students to the fi re Ottakers bookshop, the Tourist practices have been good and all residents Answer yes to any of the above? Information Centre or Guildford will have the opportunity to partake in a Library. practice over the next few weeks.