The student newspaper of Imperial College Issue 1040 FELIX November 10th 1995 Hope For Physicists Fuming Over Ban Linstead Bar BY TOM STEVENS Last week's Linstead Hallowe'en party disturbances originally pro- voked the Rector to post an immediate and indefinite suspen- sion of Linstead's bar rights. However, College is now rueing its hasty action and is planning a more measured response. The celebrations got out of control after a fire alarm expelled drunk students from the festivities tak- ing place in the Hall's bar and caused high spirited exchanges with students of Southside hall. In an unprecedented move Alan Swanson, Pro-Rector (Educational Quality), personally attended a Linstead Hall commit- tee meeting to discuss the Photo: William Lorenz College's reaction to the ban. The BY THE NEWS TEAM including worries about the viding outdoor seating in the College's move to close the bar Students arriving at the physics image of the department and pas- patio area has also been rejected, was labelled as knee-jerk both by department this Monday were sive smoking risks. This came to a leading to most students being the Hall Warden, Earl Lancaster, met with a large number of head when one of the depart- forced to stand outside the and Sarah White. Members of the notices enforcing a new ban on ment cleaners, who are often pre- entrance to light up. This option Linstead committee took the smoking in the department. The sent on the landing above, suf- obviously has problems; firstly, opportunity to take their case to physics department was one of fered a chest infection allegedly litter has greatly increased partly the Pro-Rector presenting evi- the last to impose a complete aggrevated by the smoke. The due to the students anger at dence that the fire alarm had not ban: students were previously risk of legal action against the col- being ostracised, secondly the been set off in the bar but had restricted to smoking under the lege in similar cases has been said area is uncomfortable due to triggered in a sleeping student's main stairs. to be a major factor in this ban. cold, rain and exhaust fumes and room, and hence was a malfunc- Several complaints had been No alternative area has been pro- lastly the crowds outside the Continued on page 2 Continucd on page 2 received about this arrangement, vided, and the possibility of pro- Careers Fair a Imperial Gains Top Success Assessment in Geology Large numbers of job-hunting Imperial College triumphed again IC's geology department, students turned up to take with the announcement last along with those at eleven other advantage of ICU's annual week of the Teaching universities, received a rating of Career's Fair on Wednesday and Assessments made by HEFCE, 'excellent'. The research rating Thursday. the Universities funding body. from 1992 is 4 out of 5. page 3 pages 4 TWO . FELIX FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1 OTH 1995 NEWS College Rethink News in brief union cards to get in. BY TOM STEVENS AND Students who wish to exer- for Hall Bar ALEX FEAKES cise their right under the Education Act 1994 formally to Bar Steward Leaves opt out of ICU and CCU mem- Continued from front page mission pending further discus- bership, may now visit their local tion. They also pointed out the sion. Local residents will be con- Phil Eatock, a Bar Steward of Da Registry to record their decsion. high level of noise coming from sulted on the new scheme and Vinci's, resigned last week citing Students are advised that the the celebrations in Southside. their opposition to the develop- the increasing pressures of work only practical effect of opting out In response Mr Swanson ment would be highly undesir- for his leaving. Members of the will be that they cannot stand for admitted that the decision had able. bar staff were saddened by his elected office or take part in been 'arbitrary' and said that Earl Lancaster was pleased departure, commenting that he Union elections and referenda. with hindsight he would have with the meeting, saying 'the was a capable and well liked col- preferred to close the bars of Pro-Rector's presence at the league. RCS Homeless both Linstead and Southside. meeting was a positive move.' A However, he continued that as Hall Rep present at the meeting RCS Vice-President The Royal College of the first decision had been felt Linstead had done well, and Resigns Science are effectively threat- deemed to be rash, he preferred said that the Pro-Rector would ened with eviction from their not to make other decisions recommend that the bar is The RCS are left VP-less current premises in the Old without further consideration. reopened. Another point raised after the present incumbent, Chemistry building. College Further consideration should at the meeting was over the new Ruth Child, resigned last Friday, Estates workmen will be cutting take place over the next few days fire alarm system which has yet just before the RCS AGM. off all power, water and gas to in the form of a high-level com- again came in for criticism as it Although most of the posts at the the Grade II listed building at mittee meeting to decide the has proved to be far too sensitive meeting were filled, no one came the end of the month, in prepa- College's formal reaction. and generally unworkable. forward to be the new VP, ration for its eventual demoli- The College is keen to devel- The Pro-Rector again re-iter- despite suggestions that a Hall tion. op a policy on such occurrences, ated the College's commitment Re-app was interested in the job. The RCSU have been having and wants to be seen to be acting to an 'alcohol awareness' cam- lengthy consultations over their on complaints from local resi- paign, citing last week's fracas as Union Opt Out move from Chemistry, and had dents. This is due to the pro- an example for the need to stem Available been offered replacement acco- posed extension for Linstead, out the rise of drunken behaviour modation in a refurbished part of which is awaiting planning per- over the past few years. Nigel Wheatley, Assistant Civ Eng. However, the move has registrar, has invited students stalled until discussions over the who wish to 'opt out' of Imperial facilities for the new office, Smoke-Free Physics College Union to come forward. including a garage for the Under the Conservative RCSU's Fire Engine mascot, are Governments' higher education resolved. Continucd from front page Many physics undergraduates reforms of recent years, mem- doors are an obstruction and do feel that the department's social bership of the University Union Boating Disaster not help any image the depart- facilities are sorely wanting - is no longer automatic. However, ment is trying to create. there is now only the small and so few students at IC have A Rowing Club training excur- uncomfortable basement com- expressed an interest in resigning sion went disastrously wrong mon room with its poor and their membership that Imperial when a novice team 'eight' cap- unreliable food and drink facili- staff assume that all students will sized their boat in the middle of ties. choose to remain in ICU unless the Thames. Dr David Southwood, head of they indicate otherwise. Last Two of the club's crews physics, stated "I have ... almost year only two students out of a were racing when one of the uniformly received requests that possible 7500 exercised their boats lost control and slewed the department ban smoking in new-found rights. sideways. The cox, a novice oars- all public areas", yet it is estimat- Nonetheless, Matthew man himself, could do nothing to ed that nearly one third of Crompton, Deputy President stop the fast moving current physics students smoke and the (Finance and Services) has indi- from taking the boat down- number appears to be growing. cated that only 54% of students stream. The £10,000 boat collid- The department's decision is be have so far come to claim their ed with a mooring buoy and was an unpopular one and its conse- ICU membership cards. Union broken in half. Fortunately the quences are likely to be counter stewards will only accept college crew were able to release them- productive. The pressure is on swipe cards as proof of identity selves and swim to safety. "We the department to find an alter- for admission to ICU events until were lucky to have escaped with our lives." commented a relieved The offending document. native area. the end of November. After this point students will need to have oarsman. NEWS FELIX FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10TH 1995 . THREE Fresher HEFCE Funding Drops BY ANDY SINHARAY out of 5 for its work, and it is this went on to say that improve- Death rating that is a multiplier for ments had been implemented in The Higher Education Funding receiving research money. The order to raise the quality mea- BY MARK BRIDGE Council for England has recently Volume Measure is measured sure, such as the setting up of announced its final grant alloca- annually, and IC has in recent Governor's Lectureships, set up Anisha Dixit, a First Year tions for 1995-6, which see years suffered in areas influenc- in response to "departments feel- Information Systems Engin- Imperial College receiving only a ing this. One factor was the ing the pressure of high staff-stu- eering student, died from pneu- small increase in funding. Though departure of senior staff for dent ratios".