The student newspaper of Imperial College Issue 1052 FELIX March 1st 1996 Jokes prevail over issues S A B B A T 1 C A L E L E C T I O N S at sabbatical hustings BY ANDY SINHARAY The annual ICU sabbatical elec- tions picked up pace this week with the candidates facing ques- tioning at hustings at both South Kensington and St Mary's. The grilling at St Mary's on Wednesday involved the custom- ary interrogation by beer and shaving foam, with the medics particularly expressing their con- cern that ICU sabbaticals should reflect Mary's students' interests. One of the candidates for the position of ICU President is reported to have been given a pint of urine to drink because they had run out of beer. Issues raised at the more PHOTO: IVAN CHAN somber South Kensington event on Tuesday focussed on the can- Candidates for President: Eric Allsop, Luke Morales and Mark Bridge faced the serious business of win- didates choice of hair colour, ning support from IC's medical students in hustings at Wilson House on Wednesday. though there was some discus- sion of Higher Education fund- tion as Felix News Editor, tion of news journalism at Felix, cause. ing. expressing his intention to open in the light of alleged inaccuracies The three candidates for the Questions of varying gravity Felix up to local issues outside in his reporting. The issue position of Deputy President were put to the candidates with Imperial College. This, he became a major factor at the St (Clubs & Societies) expressed Alex Feakes, the only candidate assured one questioner, would Mary's Hustings, where there different ideas for supporting the for Felix Editor & Print Unit not be to the detriment of overall was much concern over news extra-curricular activities of IC Manager facing the crowds first. College coverage. Questions coverage that the medics consid- students. Sarah Corneille, a He referred to his current posi- were raised regarding the direc- ered to be unhelpful to their continued on page two BMS decision today- Bike theft upsurge Syllabus undecided English Heritage will meet today IC Security are installing closed The syllabus for the degree from to decide whether to support circuit TV cameras by the col- the new Imperial College School the new Biomedical Science pro- lege bicycle ranks in an attempt of Medicine is not ready, leaving ject. The are concerned about to deter thieves. There has been current students unsure of the the building's affect on the near- an upsurge in bike thefts on content of the later years of by conservation area. page 3 campus in recent weeks, page 3 their degree. page 2 TWO . FELIX FRIDAY MARCH 1ST 1996 NEWS ...and the flannings continue Sir Ron to continued from front page Investigate founder member of women's rugby at IC, explained her plans BY DIPAK GHOSH for the promotion of the arts and The Government's favourite the importance of health & safe- education trouble-shooter, Sir ty while James Handley, former Ron Dearing, is to carry out a IC radio station manager, empha- thorough review of the Higher sised on his belief that approach- Education sector. According to a ability is one of the more impor- recent ministerial announce- tant aspects of being a deputy ment, Sir Ron's enquiry will take president. Neil O'Shaughnessy, about 12 months, with the final Senior Union Steward, cited his report widely predicted to criti- plans to better publicise Clubs & cise provisions in the Bill, and Societies using the five major stu- recommend yet another student dent publications. The candi- funding mechanism. dates were also asked whether This has triggered some of their past associations with spe- the members of the House of cific clubs might impinge on their PHOTO: IVAN CHAN Lords to describe the Student impartiality, if elected. Sticky: The candidate for Felix editor and Print Unit manager, Alex Loans. Bill as a 'dead duck'. Piers Williams, Pub Board Feakes, and his proposer Mark Baker were particularly well-flanned During the debate which pre- Chair and the only candidate for to appease the wrath of St Mary's at the hustings on Wednesday. ceded its second reading in the Deputy President (Finance & (Current ICU council chair and The candidates all seemed to Upper Chamber on Monday, a Services), was described by his MechEng PG), Mark Bridge be keeping their spirits up after large number of peers called for proposer as "level headed and (Felix news-writer and chemistry rigorous treatment at the hands Gillian Shepherd, Education and clued-up", and managed to bring UG) and Luke Morales (Ents DJ of St Mary's on Wednesday. "I've Employment Minister, to scrap some levity to the evening. He and Biology PG) were grilled drunk piss before and I'm sure the Student Loans Bill altogeth- was questioned at length regard- extensively on numerous topics. I'll drink it again in the future," er. ing his hair-dying habits, denying Luke and Eric advocated staying commented Eric Allsop. One detractor was Lord rumours that this had ceased in a out of the NUS whereas Mark New Election is also standing Morris of Castle Morris who search for credibility. Piers did appeared to support affiliation. for all posts, if another poll next cautioned the Government face some serious questions, Their political views were also term is a better option than any against imposing the Bill. "Even promising to steer ICU through scrutinised though they all of the candidates. Voting will at this late stage, withdraw it. its 'financial turning point' given appeared to back 'New take place in departments around Scrap it. Take the advice of the the recent cuts. Solutions', a non-NUS affiliated South Kensington, Paddington good old English proverb: if at The three candidates for the pressure group proposing alterna- and Silwood Park sites next first you don't succeed - give ICU Presidency, Eric Allsop, tives to student funding. Monday and Tuesday. up'.", he pleaded. New medical syllabus leaves students in the dark BY ALEX FEAKES cal aspects. Professor Edwards, as "guinea pigs" for the course expressed the opinion that the Imperial College authorities Principal of the ICSM, explained without any compensating reduc- changes for the course should be acknowledged last week that the that the review of the degree was tion in workload for the extra finalised "as quickly as possible, if syllabus for the Imperial College implemented because of a deci- clinical work in the new degree's not this year" in order for them School of Medicine's (ICSM) sion by the General Medical first year. She said they had been to be publicised. However, he degree is not ready, leaving cur- Council's education committee told that the relocation of the admitted that some very basic rent students ignorant of the con- to alter how doctors are trained. school to the South Kensington things, such as the convergence tent of the later years of their He stressed that "we can't resist site would mean that there would of the entry criteria for Charing course. The course is being over- this change," and that it was be "not as much choice, and a Cross and St Mary's, have not hauled in preparation for the important that students would more difficult course." been fully cleared up, though merger of Charing Cross and not be disadvantaged by the In answer to this, Professor funding for the extra year which Westminster and St Mary's med- change. Edwards said that the switch over the new degree entails has been ical schools in 1998, and changes Louise Moran, Education to the new course in 1998 would secured. in it could mean less choice for Representative of St Mary's happen for all the years, and that Louise agreed that the fund- the students. Union, told Felix that medical there had been a "decrease in fac- ing issue had been worked out to The content of the new students are pleased with the tual content" and an "increase in everyone's satisfaction, but degree's curriculum has been content of the new degree, self learning" (around a core cur- repeated that students are thrashed out at numerous work- describing it as 'good, but tough' riculum that all students would unhappy with the timetable for ing parties and discussion groups, but she pointed out that the plans be taught. the implementation of the new yet important elements of the were not finalised. This raised The prospectus for the syllabus. She hoped that they course's structure remain unre- concerns that the October 1998 course is currently being pre- "would sort it out before the solved, particularly the new clini- intake of students would be used pared,, and Professor Edwards course starts." NEWS FELIX FRIDAY MARCH 1 ST 1996 . THREE Bicycle Thefts Cause Alarm BY DIPAK GHOSH eering and the RSM. There are A spate of bicycle thefts around also plans to introduce similar College has triggered the installa- cameras around the main library, tion of closed circuit television one of the largest bicycle storing cameras to counter the growing areas, though this is subject to menace posed by criminals. the availability of funds. The easily accessible sheds Keith Reynolds, College's beside RCS I have been the most Head of Security, emphasised regularly hit, but the Southside, that the main problem in procur- Mechanical Engineering and ing more cameras is their cost. Main Library sites have not "Last year we concentrated on escaped. One thief was caught computer security - upgrade of last week in the act of stealing a bike security is dependent on the bike, by an Imperial College budget," Mr Reynolds insisted.