FELIX THE NEWSPAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE UNION Friday 16th May 1980 Issue No. 553 President of ICWA shocks AGM A new President was ratified at last Tuesday's ICWA AGM. Sandra O'Sullivan was the only candidate for the post of President and so won the election. However, in a speech to the meeting she said that in her opinion ICWA has failed. Sandra said that she would not get rid of ICWA but would just make it clear to the girls at IC how little ICWA does for them. Sandra said that she would not sit on any committees and this could lead to an attempt by other members of ICWA to remove her from the position. This year's President said, "It's just a bit rediculous but all the rest of the committee are very keen - we will continue anyway. It doesn't matter about the President." " Last years ICU President, Mary Attenborough, joked that she might as well stand for Chairman of the Conservative Society. (Mary is known for her political affilations to political groups other than the Conservatives and if she was elected CONSOC chairman she considered that it would be equally rediculous). Roger Stotesbury commented that Sandra The new ICWA President was the only candidate, who stood in the ICWA elections,who actually bothered to come to the meeting. Sandra O'Sullivan "It just shows that ICWA cannot survive if there is no interest," he said. RCS AGM Last Tuesday's RCS Annual General Meeting managed to elect an Assistant Honorary Secretary, Jane Lavers, and ratified the folio wing posts: Ents Chairman— Dave Thompson; Publicity Officer — Caroline Godin. Wodger Stotesbury was pushed into the post of Bookshop Rep. The constitutional change to give the Carnival Committee its own treasurer passed its second reading and the treasurer for next year will be elected at joint carnival committee. Athletic and Social Colours were awarded and the following received Union General Awards: Sean O'Boyle (Ex Officio); Liz Lindsay; Barney McCabe; Mo Misra and Martin Watson. In the Deryck Bond Memorial Award several interesting nominations had been received: Costas, for turning up in' the Union Bar, in full formal dress complete with resplendent female partne/ a week early; Chalky White for directing Jez and thirsty crew to a 'cosy little pub I used to The new RCS Exec: Steve Tyson, Paul Johnson and Rich Archer (continued on page 7) Highest level of student activity DEMONSTRATORS REPLY at IC in years Iranians have the right to support Dear Colin having the cheek to take to the Dear Colin the Khomeini regime, then likewise I think it is fair to say that IC streets of London and extol his As members of the anti-AyatoUah we have a right to protest. The IC students, in general, do not like virtues, it was only right that we demonstrators durirg the siege of student who feels sickened by the getting involved in student union should show them what we think. the Iranian Embassy, we feel that manner of the protest should external affairs, with most demon- the reasons behind the demonstration perhaps consider the chants and strations attended by just a handful. The ridicule certainly did get should be made clear. It was slogans of the Iranian demonstrators It therefore surprises me that when home to the Iranian students and I intended to show disapproval of and the unthinking way in which hundreds of IC students turn out am sure that the demonstration in supporters of a regime which is they worship such a dictator. to demonstrate against the Ayatotlah no way affected the situation inside inhumane and irresponsible. The Also, in response to your editorial, Khomeini, the Union sits back and the Embassy. But for those that did Iranians concerned were taking it should be said that the police did does nothing! feel that it was too frivolous, they advantage of a delicate situation in not keep the Iranians in isolation. This was a genuine protest can only blame the Union for not order to publicise their feelings for They were free to lea ve the compound against Iran's 'spiritual leader', who, organising it. The same Union Khomeini and against President at any time in order to obtain food not content with butchering over Officers that complain about Carter and the American people. and drink and to use the toilet. eight hundred of his own nation in apathy, failed to respond to the We did not want to let the World Yours sincerely the name of Islam, decides to highest level of student activity at believe that the British people Bob Dean, Mark Kenrick, Dave threaten world peace by kidnapping IC in years, and that is a gross would sta'nd by without showing Crossman, P Clifton (and signed by the staff of the American Embassy. neglect of duty. disapproval of such actions. If the 47 others) Then with Iranian students David Gayer TICKLING THE IVORIES VERBOSITY Pseudo-intellectual Dear Mr Editor Dear Colin fifty American hostages in Iran. (It ramblings We would like to communicate In view of Chris Fox's and is interesting to note here that in our displeasure at the polysyllabic other's comments regarding the this case it was the 'host nation' to Dear Colin diarrhoea emanating from the responsibility of IC demonstrators the terrorism (Britian) that freed Justin Newland in his article on stylus of Mr Newland. Hisadscititious at the recent Embassy siege, I the hostages, simply in upholding the Iranian crisis failed to explore verbosity merely serves to obfuscate would like to say a few words. its laws and protecting foreign the fundamental reasons why this the subject matter. Although I admit that there was diplomats. Does Iran condone the is one of the most serious events of Yours objurgately temptation from the idea of playing actions of the terrorists who are the post-war period. His pseudo- The Bernard Levin Appreciation the piano on TV, the main reason still playing with the lives of fifty intellectual ramblings left me Society why I wheeled the RCS instrument innocent people?) It appears the wondering why he had bothered, was to add my voice to those of Khomeini regime itself is playing his vocabulary appeared to be the many saying "don't give us the terrorist no wonder they are designed to overawe rather than that Ayatollah crap". While I was prepared to sacrifice the odd life or DEMO inform the reader. present the mood was certainly twenty. I deplore terrorism and Sir What is important is that the one of carnival and I feel that my cannot in any way sympathise with The counter-demonstration by Iranian 'students' have violated contribution, and that of most supporters of any kind of terrorism. IC students attracted much adverse diplomatic immunity, the invasion others on the IC side of the fence, For Khomeini followers to parade criticism in your letter columns last of the US Embassy was an act of was to further this mood and our peaceful and civilised streets, week. The balance needs to be war since the Embassy constitutes definitely not intended to provoke trying to justify the holding of the redressed. American soil. If the Americans violence. American hostages by offering It was suggested that the demon- agree to the terms demanded this I felt that the presence of the themselves in, shall we say, part stration hindered negotiations with would then put every foreign pro-Khomeini demonstrations was payment, seems to me barbaric the gunmen. There is no evidence embassy in the world at risk. We insulting to our nation and deserved and an insult to us. to support this. The demo was have an impasse. The Americans to be ridiculed by that 'Great No: I am not a skinhead/Nazi conducted in good humour and at attempted to break this by military British sense of humour'. Why NF/a Buddhist monk; I believe in a safe distance (set by the police). action, the one opportunity they insulting? you may ask. In pledging peace — else why did not I throw If it had been decided that the had resulted in a dismal debacle their support for Khomeini, the bricks rather than tickle the ivory. presence of demonstrators was with the hostages dispersed. Iranian demonstrators were sup- Yours, a little offended adversely affecting negotiations the However, pressure will be applied porting the further detainment of the Barney McCabe police would have dispersed the and, in the interests of international crowd. ' diplomacy through which peace is It was also claimed that the maintained, must be successful. behaviour of the students betrayed a The Iranian leadership must appre- ISLAMIC Society comments complete indifference to the tragic ciate that fact. events in Iran. Many full-time Mr Newland misses his chance Dear Colin Mr Newland — surely not a students are able to tolerate to contribute to this discussion Reference to the article on historian of great stature — lays violations of international law and with his fatuous essay. To accuse Relations Between Iran and the down a theory about the aryan basic human rights only because of all western media of being "notor- United States in last Friday's races which exposes his ignorance the lack of opportunity to satisfy iously biased" is libellous. He fails FELIX: I would like to point out the about the situation in Iran. Let me their conscience. to state that the UN is there to following. assure Mr Newland that the whole However, when supporters of cope with such situations, in this Mr Justin Newland does not of the Moslem world is in turbulence the religious zealot who presides respect there are parallels with the have any knowledge, however, because the teachings of Islam gleefully over such traversties of fate of the League of Nations.