14 1! June Issue 1999 1149 KEEP THE CAT FREE EST 1949 The Students' Newspaper at Imperial College Southside Blocks Locks On Thursday 3 June, the Pro-rector, system was not effective. Professor Tim Clark, came to speak to By Abigail Lazzerlne It was also revealed that only a Southside residents about the situation quarter of the incidents, where items of the blocks being put on south-fac• alternative, he concluded, but to imple• blocks already present, but care must had been thrown from Southside, had ing windows. This was in response to ment the blocks to reduce the ability be taken with these methods since come from resident's windows, yet the a 180-strong petition from the resi• of opening the windows on southside. Southside is a listed building. A sug• windows were still blocked. dents, being handed in to the Rector. The Head of Estates, who was also gestion even came of a garden fete It has been stated by Estates and Many residents were keen to put a present informed residents of the being held as a PR exercise to show the Pro-rector that any measure will be face to the people behind the incon• recent failed attempt to build another the convinced local residents that not temporary since the whole building is venient obstruction and the turnout hall of residence on the tennis courts, everyone in Southside was a vandal to be refurbished in a year's time. The ai the meeting was good. with a gym underneath. This was and instinctive towards throwing bot• conclusion from the meeting, how• The Pro-rector began his address rejected by the council with the help tles out of windows. One resident ever, was that the temporary measure by stating that the blocks had been put of approximately 100 letters of com• was concerned that expulsion should of blocks on the windows is not satis• in as a response to the shocking inci• plaint from the local residents, who as lead for a student, after such an inci• factory and has proven to be very dent (reported earlier this year in Felix) well as rejecting to the traffic it would dent but the Pro-rector and Dr Hassard. inconvenient for students revising in where a resident's guests had thrown cause, believed students were 'uncon• Tizard and Selkirk warden, said there the hot weather in poorly ventilated bottles and peanut butter out of a win• trollable vandals' and boisterous in had been 'extenuating circumstances' rooms. The residents asked for a swift dow, nearly missing a passer-by and their behaviour. The total lost to the this time but the guests from other col• conclusion to the situation and called damaging an antique Ferrari. The sit• college had been estimated to be leges were currently being prosecuted. for the removal of the blocks. The uation not only cause Imperial College around a quarter of a million pounds Suggestions were also made that meeting concluded with the under• money in the covering the costs of all as a result of the investigation of the Southside security should be strength• standing that the Pro-rector would take ihe repairs but had also damaged the failed planning permission. ened and a signing-in system installed, an appropriate course of action after eputatlon and affected the process Residents put forward the ideas as present at King's and Cambridge deliberating the situation with his col• and acceptance of many building that reflective film, fly-nets and netting University but the Pro-rector reported leagues. applications. There had been no other could be used as alternatives to the that in his past post as a warden, this Sports Centre Swallows Southside Hans for the future of Southside Gym By David Roberts Weights Room as "Designated wholly lave sparked off sparked off strongly for ICU activities", and discussion con• ColOUrS - ICU Colours *orded argument between College tinues. 4 Sports Management and the Union. The other point of contention is the role of the Gym after the new Competition The proposal to hand the Gym over 5 Sports Centre - complete with massive lo Sports Centre management whilst sports hall - is constructed. According to Letters - and Small Ads the Sports Centre building works take 6 Mr Murray, under the agreement which Place (due to start In approximately led to the College decision to develop Editorial - Portman Travel toelve months time) has faced a hos- 7 the Sports Centre both the Southside !ie reception from Deputy President gym and the weights room will revert Columns - Portman Travel ,Clubs & Societies) Marie Nicholaou, 8 to College use as part of the Soulhside »ho fears that students and societies development when the new Sports Feature - riymg USA n 2 |ll loose out as a result. At present, the 10 Centre opens. Most importantly. "Nei• ;fym is booked out through the Union, ther will be available for sports use, Film - The Matrix Jrtmarlly for Martial Arts and Aerobics 12 either by ICU or the Sports & Leisure tosses. If the Sports Centre take-over Section". Film Competition Management responsibility then, 14 'according to Sports & Leisure Manager Photo: Ed Although plans for the Southside Clubscene -Sasha 'tank Murray, "the facility will be avail• complex have been long known, con• 16 able to Clubs on the same basis as the College group is 'open to all", firmation that the Gym will no longer be available for sports activity puts a lot of Games - wipeout hose In the existing Sports Centre". rather than Just to a specific member• 18 pressure on both College and the However, this is likely to mean that the ship list. Ms Nicholaou has cited the Union to ensure that proposals for run• \SpOLt - Not much, really College Fitness Club will take most pri- Memorandum of Understanding 20 ning the new Centre don't lead to any fority bookings, particularly during between College and the Union, which loss of club facilities. I'unchtlmes, as Mr Murray believes that guarantees the Gym and accompanying News 14 June 1999 Common Room Plans Unveiled Plans for renovation of the Senior Com drinks for major events in the Great KEEP THE CAT FREE ESI. 1949 mon Room have been unveiled by Col By David Roberts Hall, as well as a service for staff and lege Catering, designed to postgrads throughout the day, Issue 1149 copy the successful style whilst dining facilities will con- employed in the JCR renova- sist of a "contemporary cafe 14 June 1999 tion. bar in addition to traditional Editor: Ed Sexton Although the programme style dining". With "panelled Assistant Editor & Hlms: David Roberts has yet to receive final con- walls, leather seating and cof- Sports Editor: Gus Paul firmation - which must come fee tables", the lounge areas Clubscene: Giles Morrison, from College's Management will apparently impart a dis- Gurmlnder Marwaha & Joel Lewis & Planning Group - it seems tinct "club lounge" atmos- Games Editor: Gary Smith almost certain that the on-off phere to the room. project will now go-ahead. Until a few weeks ago, This issue is brought to you by The plans set a tentative com- the plans were believed to Golden Virginia and the letter P. pletion date of June 2000 for have been shelved, owing to the project, with construction How much will renovating the SCR really cost? the shorting of funds resulting work due to start at the end of PhotO:Jonas from the planned mammoth new cash dispensers means that it is November. RSM refurbishment. However, now possible for the scheme to break- According to the design report, area, cafe and possible 'members the £1.3 million project has now been even. the current proposals are based on club'. Maximum flexibility will be re-activated thanks to new plans involv- Despite the fact that the project those utilised in last year's remodelling ensured via a system of moveable ing three new retail outlets to be sited seems likely to threaten the rent-ftee of the JCR, "using a curved glass screen screens that allow for space to be sub- on the walkway, between the JCR and status of the ICU Newsagent (which wall to open up the walkway and form- divided for private functions, exhibi- the main Sherfield entrance (where a will be re-housed in one of the three ing two new entrances to the SCR". The tions, conferences and receptions curved-glass wall will form the new retail outlets described above), both of refurbished outlet will include a variety (which form a key aspect of the busi- entrance to the SCR). The proposed the sabbaticals available for comment of "high quality dining and social ness plan for the project). A lounge bar £20-30000 income from each of these described the plans as "Fantastic". spaces*, with a food court, lounge will be incorporated to provide interval units, plus £15000 rental from three BiOChemiStry Breach Last Day for Summer Ball Tickets! letters page). The ICSM ball takes Further details have entering the build- Today is the last day tickets for the place the day before ICU's ball, and is come to light regard- By Ed Sexton ing, and restrained 1999 ICU Summer Ball are available. It expected to attract around 900 stu- ing the incident in as reported last is still unclear how many tickets are dents, although as Felix went to press Biochemistry on Wednesday 2 June, as week. It is now known that as well as likely to be sold - by last Wednesday it was unclear how many had been reported in last week's Felix. CCTV the purse mentioned last week, a night around 900 had been sold, still sold to date.