The Student Newspaper of Imperial College ^ I ^ ^23rd October 1992 Issue 945 Knife Imperial Attack University? At yesterday's Commemoration Day ceremony, the rector, Sir Eric in Hall Ash, announced a review of Imperial College's links with the by Felix reporters University Of London. He College security has refused to described the federal university set- comment about an knife attack up as 'sterile' and 'unproductive'. inside a Hall of Residence. The Imperial College became part of attack took place last Friday, when the University Of London in 1908, a female student was assaulted at a year after it gained its Royal knife point. The assailant is Charter, following the believed to be the student's ex- incorporation of the three boyfriend. The attack was not a case constituent colleges, but the of date rape. colleges issued University Of The attack occurred inside a Hall London degrees before the creation of Residence from which manned of Imperial College. security was removed last Easter. Pit Closure: RSM Students March The University Of London The attacker, who is not a student Several members of the Royal expressed concern about future currently consists of 23 schools, of at Imperial, gained access to the School of Mines (RSM) took part competition for jobs. Many think which all apart from Imperial Hall without challenge. The man in a march in support of the miners that mining engineers with many College are funded through the then confronted the woman and the last Wednesday. The march left years experience with British Coal University Of London. Imperial injury occurred in the ensuing Hyde Park just after noon, and will now be competing directly with College is funded direct from the argument. The victim may press made its way along Bayswater graduates for other mining work. government. Also part of the charges. Road, Camden Hill Road, High The RSM will not be directly federal university are numerous The actions of College authorities Street Kensington and back to Hyde affected by recent plans for pit medical schools. The University Of in the aftermath of the attack have Park, where they were addressed by closures, according to Professor London also provides extensive fuelled rumours that a cover-up is Arthur Scargill, the President of the Tim Shaw, the Dean of the RSM. union facilities which students of all in operation. The housekeeper of National Union of Mineworkers, Professor Shaw said that British affiliated establishments can make the hall admitted that the incident and Dennis Skinner, Labour MP for Coal had not recruited graduates use of. These include sports did occur, but declined to make Bolsover. from the school for several years, facilities, currently unavailable at further comment. College Security RSM students are particularly and so the effect of the proposed pit Imperial. have yet to make a statement on worried by the impact the closures closures on students would be Following the removal of the either the attack or any possible will have on vacation employment. minimal. Professor Shaw added that binary line separating Polytechnics review of security in its wake. A 3 out of 5 RSM Mining Engineering the threatened closures may lead to from Universities earlier this year, number of students from Prince's students gain vacation work with a drop in applicants for mining in several of the larger members of the Gardens Halls of Residence have British Coal, as 500 hours of mining the future, as a downturn in the University Of London considered told Felix that this attack is not the experience is required to gain a industry could be expected. disaffiliation as it was believed that first incident of physical abuse Mining Engineering degree. British After a weekend of high political the title College was perceived as against female students. Last year, Coal, though it does not sponsor drama and intense pressure from inferior to that of University. there was a succession of RSM students, has a significant Conservative backbenchers, the Disaffiliation would allow Imperial complaints about sexual harassment involvement in mining courses at closure plans were scaled down last to use the latter title. in the vicinity of Southside Bar. Imperial. First year students have Monday so that only 10 pits would Students have told Felix that they in the past visited mines in close after 90 days, and a decision were instructed not to talk to the Nottingham, while third year on the remaining 21 pits would be Britain's energy policy. After a one press about any of the attacks. students attended a week long made in the New Year. On Tuesday day debate in the Commons on Attack alarms are available from course on ventilation at British Coal night, the Prime Minister Wednesday, most Conservative the Imperial College Union office. pits. British Coal also provided announced that the Commons Trade backbench rebels voted in favour of speakers at management lectures. and Industry Select Committee the Government's revised Some RSM students have also would conduct a full enquiry into proposals. 3/4 12/13 16/21 22/23 Readers' No Ozone Reviews What's On Letters No Go Zone Round-Up in London News 23 October 1992 Felix 945 Student Concern ICU Careers Fair /CNN Political Reporters the past two years. 'Students have by our News Team representative of British Telecom at The Liberal Democrats are been dealt a triple whammy of The Imperial College Union the Careers Fair said he expected demanding action on student delayed payments of grants at Careers Fair took place on Tuesday in excess of 8000 applicants for poverty, saying that 'it is time the insufficient levels followed by and Wednesday of this week. 54 only 150 places. Students applying problem is taken seriously'. Don chronic undergraduate companies attended the Fair, for employment last summer have Foster, the Liberal Democrat unemployment', says Mr Foster. slightly down on last year's figure. said that this is not atypical. Education spokesman, has swept High Street banks have also been The number of students attending Also under review are the aside Government claims that the expressing concern at levels of the fair was also down this year. milkround selection interviews Conservatives are the party of student debt. Barclays Bank claims This drop is being blamed on the conducted by companies. The education, and accused the that the average student leaving recession, though the organisers are number of companies giving these government not being committed to college this year will owe £1,765, quietly pleased at the turnout. interviews has been on the decline students. Mr Foster says that replies and they expect this to top £2,800 The fair comes at a time when the in recent years, with a greater to a party survey show that 93 % of in three year's time. The Midland level of graduate unemployment is number of companies requiring full time students are 'desperate' for Bank say that 7% of student rising, and when companies are direct applications. A number of top term time employment to pay accounts have overdrafts of between rethinking their recruitment companies are to be absent from regular bills. He adds that the £500 and £1,000, and Lloyds have policies. The number of employable both careers fairs and milkrounds number of students seeking help announced that the proportion of graduates has increased more than this year. from student union welfare advisors students with overdrafts has risen the number of vacancies. A has 'increased significantly' over from 39% to 44% in two years. TV Licence Dodgers Christmas Pay-Up by Gareth Light Director of TV Licensing, said that by Rick Bilby stated that there would be no charge Students are to be targeted in the student could use a 'quarterly and Marc Swan over Christmas provided the room latest crackdown on television budget scheme' to purchase a Wilson House residents who will be was vacated. On arrival at Wilson licence dodgers. Students with a licence. The scheme spreads the vacating their rooms over the House, students were asked to sign main operated television set or annual cost over four instalments, Christmas vacation are to have their a licence document accepting that video recorder which can receive each of £21.25. The scheme rents refunded. Sheelagh payment would be made over public television programmes and includes a 'premium' of £1.25 per Crampton, Accommodation and Christmas in all cases. After broadcast services must buy a quarter. Conference Manager, has agreed adverse reaction from Wilson licence, which currently costs £80 Students are exempted from that students will not be charged as House residents, the rent refund per year. Failure to comply with the buying a licence for battery a result of accidental arrangement was agreed. Students law could result in a maximum fine powered televisions, which are misinformation sent to them. A are now advised to pay their current of £1,000. covered by their parents' licence. document posted with the letter of hall bills as issued. Brian Sproat, the Managing acceptance for a place in the hall Meetings Called Hitachi Lectureship by Our News Staff use the meetings to discuss his by PJ Dodd Systems Engineering Group and Chris Davidson. Imperial College weekly diary, and remarked 'if I Hitachi Group Ltd is to fund a head of the Electrical and Electronic Union President, is to begin regular deserve a hard time, I'll be there to lectureship in Neural Systems Engineering department said of the informal meetings with students. get it'. Engineering at Imperial College. lectureship, 'This is an excellent The first meeting will take place this Mr Davidson is believed to have The lectureship will be based in the opportunity for bringing together Monday (26 October) at 1pm in the delayed the meetings until the new Electrical and Electronic the advanced work that Hitachi is Ents Lounge in the Union Building.