The Student Newspaper of ImperiaEuxml College Nol017 20JAN95 Election Question BY ANDREW TSENG The first signs of an impending ICU sabbatical elections fiasco appeared this week after it was found that vital equipment would not be available. ICU is hoping to have ten ballot boxes located around the South Kensington campus; from previous years' voting, this appears to have been the optimum number of boxes. However, College will only provide seven swipe card readers. Last year, Andrew Wensley, then ICU President, made arrange- ments with college for the use of seven readers. It was suggested 'It is a small world', writes Ivan Chan. So much so that the Overseas Societies Committee (OSC) could fit most of that ICU approach college at a world in the tiny space of the JCR. Next week is OSC's International Week, though some societies can already later date if any more were found in the JCR! Coincidentally, 'Malaysian Night' is taking place tomorrow. "It has slightly different look than required. But on further year", said Henry Sebas, Editor of Malaysian Society's Magazine. "We're concentrating more on the music this investigation by Lucy Chothia, The cost is £8.50 and includes a 'delicious dinner' before the show. ICU President, the three machines required would take another twelve weeks to arrive and at a cost of £17,000 each. With elections due to take place Exam Papers Lost in six weeks, the ICU executive are frantically trying to arrive at BY ANDREW TSENG shortly before Christmas. ment of Aeronautical Engin- a workable solution. However, they have still not eering, the exams were to have Possibilities discussed at Fourth year Aeronautical been received by the external been taken after the Christmas this week's ICU Executive Engineering students are taking examiners, having apparently recess. Committee meeting include the it easy this week after their exam been lost during the Christmas It is unclear as to what issuing of one-off voting passes papers were lost. They will have festivities. would have happened if summer to all students, and the issuing of to take their exams at the end of Under University of London papers were lost. Professor Peter ICU cards to all first and second February instead, shortly before regulations the department had Bearman, Head of the Depart- year students. But any procedure they leave on industrial no option but to cancel the ment of Aeronautical Engin- which requires the sending out placements. examinations, giving fourth year eering, commented: "I don't of thousands of pieces of paper is The papers, due to be taken students a brief respite from the know what you'd do then, jump rigours of academic stress. out of the window or (continued on page two) during the first week of term, were sent using the Royal Mail Fortunately for the Depart- something." Q news one&two&three editorial&credits three incoming five the s-files seven xtra curricular: eight cluedUp nine backchat: Peter Hain MP eleven feature: One hundred years after the destruction of Imperial twelve&thirteen feature: an conference with the vampire makyr Neil Jordan fourteen catstale: tea for one fifteen standby sixteen&seventeen&eighteen sevendayguide twenty&twentyone sport twentyfour Q News Fascism Crackdown Student BY RACHEL WALTERS 3-5 callers a day to the new line. anti-fascism campaign, the Speaking to FELIX, Liz accumulated information will be Fraud In an attempt to combat Lanka from the NUS explained used to draw attention to the incidents of fascism on how the service works: "If a scale of the problem on campuses BY RACHEL WALTERS university campuses, the student calls up to report an throughout the country. National Union of Students has incident of fascism, such as Emphasising that the service Universities nationwide have set up a 24 hour phoneline, offensive graffiti, we can give did not exist to put pressure on been asked to increase checks on 'Campuswatch'. advice on how to get rid of it and student unions, she said that students as reports of grant fraud The hot-line gives a give information on how to they hoped to provide an on a 'massive' scale have recorded message inviting change policy in their student environment where students emerged. students to report graffiti, unions so that all graffiti is could air problems in The Universities and offensive leafleting and attacks. removed as soon as possible." confidence. Colleges Admissions Service Callers are asked to give details Ms Lanka said that whilst Although Imperial is not an (UCAS) has identified 700 fake of the location and nature of the they hoped to be able to offer affiliated member of the NUS, applications in the past year as incident, along with details of helpful counselling and advice, they have said that calls would fraudsters attempted to obtain their student union so that the the service was primarily be welcomed from students at the necessary paperwork to get complaint can be followed up. designed as a monitoring service. IC. The number to call is (0426) grants and student loans. These The NUS say that they have had As part of the continuing NUS 942826. could have netted £1.5 million in grants alone, and UCAS believes that there may be thousands more illegal applications going undetected. Council to Lobby MPs Describing the fraud as 'big business', Tony Higgins, Chief BY ANDREW TSENG Though only part of the student concerns and the Executive of UCAS, said: 'An University of London, the suggestion was thrown out. individual will register at Imperial College Union (ICU) Ancients Campaign has found Tuesday's Council meeting, perhaps half a dozen universities Council has voted its members to that they got a better response the first since the Governing on the same day and then collect write to their MPs highlighting when going straight to Colleges Body passed most of the new the grant. They have computer student difficulties. The call instead of through the constitution, brings to an end equipment producing high comes two weeks before the University of London Union. one and half years of quality examination and birth House of Commons is to debate Presenting the motion to constitutional change in ICU. certificates.' He also pointed out student hardship. ICU Council last Tuesday, Ms The 'Mary's Amendment' was that universities themselves Lucy Chothia, ICU Chothia suggested that Council passed by an overwhelming stood to gain from the fraud, as President, was approached by the members also bring the rising majority. Claire Moloney, they would end up receiving President of the Edinburgh prices of the London speaking at Council, said: "We tuition fees for students that did University Students' Union, on Underground to the attention of saw the amendment before it not attend. behalf of the Ancients MPs. She hoped that London went to the Governing Body and The problem is known to Campaign, asking students to Underground might consider were happy with it." Council, have originated in London, but write to MPs, before the issue is offering student discounts on whose membership is very it is not clear whether Imperial debated in the Commons. monthly or weekly travelcards. similar to the ICU Council that has been subject to any The Ancients Campaign is a However, Council thought that existed two years ago, replaces fabricated applications. pressure group whose member- discussing the London the Union General Meeting as a In a separate development, ship comprises all those univer- Underground would take once monthly, sovereign body of the beleaguered Student Loans sities established before 1960. attention away from other ICU. Company (SLC) has come in for further attack. Already under official investigation for (elections continues from page one)elections . a joint ICU / college security malpractice, the remit of the The problems stem from the card, whilst new ICU cards are inquiry has been extended to likely to be difficult. "The merging of the ICU card and issued every year for everyone include allegations of corruption. logistics are a nightmare," college security pass. Introduced else. Ron Harrison, the former chief commented Dan Look, Deputy by Rick Bilby, Deputy President St Mary's Hospital Medical executive recently replaced by President (Finance & Services). from 1992-1993, the move was School students will be ex-Imperial rector Sir Eric Ash, "The only sensible option seems seen as a way to reduce the unaffected by the trauma at is thought to have come in for to me to use the swipe card administrative burden on ICU South Kensington. Due to personal criticism. Last year system as efficiently as possible." staff, although some cynics saw it incompatible swipe card systems claims emerged that he had However, the decision will be as a way to safeguard ICU in the at the South Kensington and spent £600 on whisky for the made by the elections comm- run up to Government reforms Paddington campuses, St Mary's boardroom. However, company ittee, a subcommittee of ICU of student unions. The result has students have been issued with officials have insisted that the Council who have full res- been that all students arriving at separate ICU cards which will be bills were part of legitimate ponsibility over the forthcoming Imperial from October 1993 have hole-punched at ballot boxes. corporate entertainment. lilB FELIX 20JMI95 News and Editorial Imperial College Top Funded BY ANDREW LONG by assessing each university in remarkable variation in universities, but it will be 15-20 15 subject groups. Following the financing levels within specific years before the current range Imperial students have the most publication of their latest subjects. While each of our drops to within 5% of the funding, according to a report in assessment, HEFCE have come engineers rake in a most average.