The Student Newspaper of Imperial College 7 February 2000 : Issue 1166 Johnny Ball: revealing all Toy Story 2 receives the full five star for the Pimlico Connection treatment in Screen Page 37 Page 27 Union set for sabbatical showdown DAVID ROBERTS of the Union, this would seem unlikely. Whatever happens, how- Bowing to grassroots pressure from ever, ICU's Deputy President Medical School students, proposals (Finance & Services), Ian Clifford, are currently being drawn up in an insists that external funding must be attempt to force the College to found, stating adamantly that accept that the Medical School "We're not going to pay". Presidency should remain a sabbat- Although the plan is fully sup- ical position. However, the need for ported by ICU, there is still a long support from the highest levels of way to go before any suggestion College, coupled with the need to can become a reality, and it may find an additional £14 000 of prove a struggle to force a decision funding, means that the battle to through the College in time for the secure the position will be a com- usual round of elections. The key plex and longwinded one. issue seems to be one of support Although the sabbatical posi- from senior staff in the Medical tion of ICSM Union President was School - if they throw their weight due to be relinquished at the end of ICSM do the meeting thang Photo: Jonas behind the proposals, it is thought this academic year (to be replaced that the College will look favourably on the proposal, and by a non-sabbatical officer), a around one campus, coordinating the issue of who is going to pay the consequently the Union is seeking combination of student support and student activity was a much simpler sabbatical salary - approximately the help of ICSM Principle Chris London-wide changes have led cur- process. Now, medical students £13 500 to £14 000 once taxes Edwards. rent incumbent Becky England to are spread across four main teach- have been included - is one that is draw up a set of proposals asking ing sites, and according to a draft certain to be prominent in the One of the biggest factors sup- the College to accept the retention copy of Becky England's proposal minds of many of those debating porting the proposal is a compari- of the sabbatical status. Despite the (which is due to be presented to the issue. Currently, the Union are son with the other medical schools fact that the role is a Union posi- College Council later this week), "A only being funded for five sabbati- across London. Of the four large tion, College support is essential, central figure is needed to collate cals, and thus the sixth salary (gen- groups created in the 1997 round as without it any student taking a opinion and then express this at the erated by the addition of the Edu- of mergers, all four currently have year out would not be guaranteed relevant committees... only a sab- cation & Welfare position) must be sabbatical positions specifically a place the following year. batical can hope to fulfil this role". found by making cut-backs in other designated to deal with medical areas. ICU insists that this situation Before the series of mergers The real sticking point in the issues. More importantly, however, cannot continue, and Becky Eng- which created the School of Medi- plans, however, is likely to be the only ICU plans to remove the posi- land has expressed a hope that the cine in 1997, only one of the major question of financing. Although tion at the end of the year, which Medical School itself may be able components, the Charing Cross ICU President Natasha Newton clearly suggests that, right across to provide funding - but with ICSM and Westminster School, had a insists that "We need to get permis- London, the process of integration finances currently believed to be in sabbatical - however, as the old sion to have the sabbatical first, is taking far longer than anyone ini- the same precarious state as those (smaller) schools were all based and then think about details later", tially expected. Want to send a message to someone special? Then get your Valentine's messages to us at [email protected] before Tuesday evening, and you'll see them in print next Monday. 2 News Felix * 7 February 2000 g Iss LBS dean tops the salary scales Felix examines the College's GARETH MORGAN of last year's academic staff rial College, earned a compara- accommodation strategy and protests over pay. Many vice- tively meagre £107 000, slightly asks: Do they have one? John Quelch, Dean of the London chancellors, including Professor above the national average of Business School, is Britain's high- Quelch, received larger pay rises. £104 000. He only took a small est-earning academic, with a The London Business School pay rise, however, and this figure salary of £252 000 in the last employs two other members of does not take into account his res- academic year. This is more than academic staff who are paid more idence at 170 Queen's Gate. Sam Bccket tackles the thorny double the national average, and than £200 000 per year, but Pro- Imperial does have 67 members issue of violence in film and on TV. over £100 000 more than the fessor Quelch justified their pay as of staff earning above £100 000 second-placed vice-chancellor, Sir being "In line with the School's per annum however - more than Stuart Sutherland of Edinburgh ranking as the best business any other institution. Sir Richard cttui University, according to a league school in Europe", according to Sykes, head of GlaxoWellcome table published in last week's the Financial Times. Fees for the and tipped to become the next Should trial by jury be an auto- Times Higher Education Supple- Master of Business Administration Rector, earned £3.6 million last matic human right? ment. (MBA) course at the School are year, and is set to do "Quite well" Vice-chancellors pay rises last £15 540 per year for a two year from share options after Glaxo's year averaged 4.9%, considerably course. Imperial College's Man- merger with SmithKline Beecham. sine. higher than the 3.5% awarded to agement School came second in He is currently earning the equiva- academic staff. Lecturers unions the table. lent of Lord Oxburgh's salary every eleven days. How to make a million (or ten) criticised the increases in the light Lord Oxburgh, Rector of Impe- from the internet boom. In Brief Linux; Fad of the moment or the IS IT COLD THIS markets across South-East Asia, tions. They were: future of computing? MORNING? the general feeling is that the President: famously right-wing Eurosceptic Mr Cengiz Atasoy, Will Bentley, If your Monday morning lectures Portillo will have a job on his Andrew Brown, Hamish Common, are unusually cold, it could be due hands. Talking to the BBC, he said Toby Dore, Anthony Mayhew, Dave to the College's heating system he would battle for a "lower bur- Edwards and Richard Taylor. City & Guilds introduce us to their being turned off last week. The den of tax" and "less interference Deputy President myriad range of societies, whilst steam supply was turned off last in business" and proceeded to (Finance and Services) Tasha opens up her diary. Friday, and should have been back immediately launch a scathing Etienne Pollard. on (courtesy of the new Combined attack on the Labour Party's sup- Deputy President Heating and Power Plant) on Sun- port for the "spectacularly badly (Clubs and Societies) Feedback day night. performing" Euro, warning of the Sam Sharpe. "economic difficulties" inherent in Deputy President A packed letters page this week, maintaining one exchange rate for (Education and Welfare) including an odd press release... PORTALOO RETURNS the whole of Europe. Stef Evans, Jonny Hall and Khi- lan Shah. A surprise reshuffle in the shadow Felix Editor 'Si cabinet saw ex-treasury minister SMOKING LINKED TO Rosie Beckett and John Clifford Michael Portillo move into the COT DEATH New Election (Re-Open Nomina- The release of Toy Story 2 means position of Shadow Chancellor of tions) is also standing for all posts. there's only one possible option the Exchequer. Mr Portillo, newly New research has indicated that Campaigning starts today, and for pick of the week. Enjoy. elected MP for Kensington and babies who are exposed to ciga- hustings are next week, in dB's Chelsea (following the death of rette smoke have a massively (Tuesday 15), St Mary's (Wednes- Alan Clark) returns to the front increased risk of Sudden Infant day 1 6) and Charing Cross (Thurs- bench to directly challenge Gor- Death Syndrome (SIDS, or cot day 17). don Brown; this follows his embar- death). The study found that for One week, compressed down rassing defeat in the 1 997 general every hour a baby spends in a into eighty square inches of copy. elections at the hands of Labour smoke-filled room, the risk of cot HOTTER THAN HELL MP Stephen Twigg. death doubles. Six out of ten cases Mr Portillo, 46, replaces Fran- of SIDS could be prevented, American scientists have isolated a €rosswoif|| cis Maude, who has moved into according to the authors. compound, denatonium capsi- the role of Shadow Foreign Secre- conate, which is one hundred Another chance to win, win, win! tary. Mr Maude was openly criti- times hotter than the hottest chilli. cised for what was perceived as his ELECTIONS Detectable at concentrations of inability to challenge Gordon one part in ten million, the burning rt & Societies Brown on key issues.