The Student Newspaper of Imperial College 18 October 1999: Issue 1153 Full Freshers Week Bestselling author (and former IC rouno-up. Page 8 Cash crisis in Union plans for Beit Quad DAVID ROBERTS still remains. Hope remains that the College The Union's plans for expanding will agree to part fund the project, into Beit Quad may be forced to as two of the major sections of the contract unless £200 000 can be new facility - the Islamic Prayer found within the next few months. Room and the College Chaplaincy The biggest losers look like - are being relocated from College being the College's Islamic staff administered areas. Consequently, and students, as the first area pen• the Union is freeing up space for cilled in for the chop is the new the College, but not receiving any Islamic Prayer Room in the west monetary compensation to make wing basements. The third floor the new space (in the basements renovation (designed to provide far below the new halls) habitable. more space for meetings) and the Unsurprisingly, the bill to renovate these spaces will be huge Photo: Archive However, with work due to take laundry facilities for sports teams place next summer and the tender offer going out very soon, a deci• are also likely to go unless extra side of the Beit project. The total and catering profits) only currently sion to save the Prayer Room will be funding can be found. cost of the project is projected at totals £350K. Consequently, needed within the next few weeks - The problem comes as a direct approximately £750 000. However, although the College have agreed otherwise work could be postponed result of the College's refusal to the Union's Strategic Development to give the Union an interest free indefinitely. guarantee funding for the Union Reserve (generated from bar, retail loan of £200K, a £200K shortfall Queen's Lawn to Host Summer Ball SUNIL RAO aren't to be held on successive to be served possibly in a marquee purpose or indeed any large sit- days. In fact, Natasha Newton, on the Queen's Lawn. ICU Ents down dinner before, but contrac• As previously reported in Felix, the ICU President, informed us that the and Marketing manager Mark tors have assured ICU that it will two summer balls (one for IC, the medics' event would be held "much Home is apparently very keen on be possible to accommodate a other for ICSM only) held in June later", in the summer holidays, the idea and has already been thousand people there. 1999 both made hefty losses, though it turns out that it will most busy inviting tenders for the host• Organisation for the IC Ball almost £40,000 in all, and both likely be held only one week after ing. The other possibility is to carry appears to be in trouble already, unquestionably flopped. Naturally, the main event. A number of ICSM on in Alexandra Palace as before, with nobody showing any interest questions have been raised, dis• staff and senior students, reluctant but it appears that prices will have in being Summer Ball Chair this cussions have taken place, lengthy to throw away over "60 years of to be jacked up quite a bit -possi• year, hardly surprisingly. meetings have been held and a balls", are reportedly refusing to bly reaching £100 per head. Felix was unable to reach Mark whole rethink of the summer ball even consider the possibility of Attractive as the idea of a Ball in a Home in time, but Natasha New• thing is taking place, or so we are there being held one Ball for glamorous venue like a top hotel ton emphasised the need for a told. 2000. might be, it looks like it will have to Summer Ball Chair to be appoint• We are still to have two sepa• As of Thursday morning, it be abandoned. There is a slight ed soon, adding "IC is now ranked rate balls (that's summer balls, not appears that the IC ball is to be problem in that the Queen's Lawn higher than Oxford, let's make sure any other kind!), but this time they held inside College, with the food has never been used for this sort of our Ball's better than theirs too". 2 News Felix . 18 October 1999 Blokes booted off buses CHRIS POWELL subjected to a stern lecture from blokes" Natasha Newton informing them Having been one of the The student minibus service that's that they would be dispatched to minibus drivers, the IC President : fc'fs Ff'igOCKHft: iijfsV Wl writ-; laid on to take female students her office for "disciplinary action" claimed "Blokes have caused il'ng mii:l||Pi.!'C ' t;q:mpqras wish home at night is a great idea, it the next morning if they caused trouble and we have had to throw works very well, and the Union is any trouble. them off.. .they're a pretty rowdy to be commended for it, but its With recent figures showing crowd." She was keen to protect female only policy is perceived by that crimes against young men the emergency service role of the many as a real flaw that deserves are on the increase, the discrimi• minibuses and described the close examination. natory nature of the minibus poli• claiming of male student's Union :6''S &:>tic;ii^gS:H-;:vi'!0 iaw-cfcwiV''o:; At the conclusion of last cy has been called into question. cards as a pre-emptive measure. week's ball a group of male stu• Ms. Newton defended the code The restrictions placed on jest lioh. dents attempted to board a bus explaining the unconscious were free bus travel are apparently due carrying just three female stu• of the highest priority followed by to a lack of funds, the President dents and were forced to hand lone females, then groups of explained "It is not an ideal situa• over their Union cards (as is stan• female, she stated the service was tion, but it is not about discrimi• dard practice) they were then not for "large groups of drunk nating against blokes". p'^»P1l1': In Brief TRAGIC ACCIDENT one of the lucky few to be over• forced to fully advertise and pro• paid - don't spend it. Financial mote the event, and lay on Amongst the casualties of the Services is collecting cheques as minibuses to enable those unable Ladbroke train crash (see Felix well as issuing them. to use public transport to attend 1152) was former IC student the event. Although supporting a Elaine Kellow. Elaine was a march against fees might not bright, lively and incredibly out• MONEY MATTERS seem like a major step for a stu• going biochemist and a hockey dents union, it's definately a big : player, but she was probably best !f s-Kie ;\ii'fi ;frf Ci!y-(/hsi Guilds to University applications from move for the normally anti-politi• tc!' ys vAcit'thfliy'fw.up'to, plys'fti| known for her work with Dram- under-represented groups have cal ICU, and was resolutely dftlctfifcsi' howiCMegfeterjs vote," Soc, which she chaired three fallen since the introduction of opposed by teh Union President years ago. Our condolences go tuition fees, according to the Uni• who warned that student demos out to Elaine's family and to all versities and Colleges Admissions would only receivepress coverage who knew her. Service. The study, reported in if there was violence. last week's Times Higher Educa• : tion Supplement shows that • A pq<- ke.d "'mdi hegj % is jywk;.g/lf: h mature students, students from waters queuing :uffrio ISGfellieli PHD'S LEFT POORLY LOW ATTENDANCE FAILS disadvantaged backgrounds, and TO MAR FIELD CUP Over the summer Financial Ser• those from most ethnic groups have been less likely to apply for vices have been busy bringing This year's Rag programme Higher Education since 1998. Project99 online. It's their new kicked off on Saturday 9th with system, designed to control pay• This news represents a rever• the Field Cup, the traditional City ments to staff, sabbaticals and sal of the trend before 1998, & Guilds Union Pub Crawl. PhD students. But they've had which showed an increase in Although turnout wa far lower problems. applications from these groups. than last year (thanks to post- Some staff haven't received The loss of the maintenance grant Freshers Week hangovers) half-a- automated payments for twoan d the subsequent increase in dozen intrepid teams still tackled months and PhD bursaries have the size of student loans seems to the course, raising in excess of Seven days presented at a glance come through late. One Sabbati• be the most significant factor. £350 in the process. As well as thonks lo 49 neatly drawn bv>es cal was overpaid by about money, however, the competitors £1 800, while the other four were also succeeded in returning with left with nothing. UNION GOES POLITICAL a variety of pot plants, a moose's Despite staff training and a head and an entire bathroom lot of work, there have been For the first time in living memo• suite, all in an attempt to gain 11 liswse'i V offering Is f rioffe -carped teething problems, which the Uni• ry, Imperial College Union has vital points. their: cfypfc; €><<;}, rfior.t odd versity is countering by issuing agreed to back a political cause. The event was just a small cheques where necessary. Mal• At last Tuesday's meeting of ICU part of the MenCap Megaraid colm Aldridge, Controller of Council, a motion to support an which took place across the capi• Financial Services, assures us that NUS day of action against stu• tal that day.