Hubble’s last hurrah More from the jugglers American idiots? Catch it if you can The legendary telescope is set Learn your next party trick in Felix takes in a live performance Spectacular stuff from the Disc to be abandoned, page 5 five easy steps, page 20 from Green Day, page 26 Doctors, page 34 The student newspaper of Imperial College ● Established 1949 ● Issue 1315 ● Thursday 10 February 2005 ● www.felixonline.co.uk Against poverty Nelson Mandela’s speech in Trafalgar Square highlighted the issue of global poverty. Marathon hustings fail to The Make Poverty History campaign believes that 2005 offers an exceptional opportu- nity for the UK to take the lead in turning things around. separate candidates uCOMMENT page 10 By Dave Edwards money for clubs and socie- be less accountable and out Defected disaster Editor ties. Sameena Misbahuddin of touch with the students. Our reviewer’s experience told the audience that she Ms Misbahuddin, standing of one of the biggest house Students were given the had already delivered results for a second year in office, nights in London didn’t quite opportunity to ask questions as a Deputy President this rejected this, arguing that live up to his expectations. and hear speeches from this year. Morten Olesen called someone without her experi- uNIGHTLIFE page 29 year’s sabbatical election can- the low turnout “a joke” and ence would take too long to didates at South Kensington, said he was standing “to fight learn the role. Ready to read? Silwood Park and Wye earlier apathy”. Simon Rawson said The candidates for Felix Why reading an epic 20th cen- this week. However, despite he would deliver “good value Editor were asked what they tury novel is a much better the South Kensington hus- catering and other services would put on the front page idea than battling with your tings lasting four hours, there in the Union that people if there was a complete lack latest piece of coursework. was little to separate the can- want to use”. Colin Smith of news in a particular week. uBOOKS page 30 didates, and a good propor- pledged to introduce a ‘one Martin Smith, the current tion of their comments had student, one vote’ method of Broadsheet editor, proposed Sport already been covered in their governance, saying: “This an article asking why stu- The Royal School of Mines manifestos. dents were not going out and rugby team enjoyed ideal The five students elected making the headlines. Darius preparation for the famous will take on high-level full “The attendance Nikbin, this year’s Felix sci- Bottle Match with victory time roles within the Union was disappointingly ence editor, conjured up: over Goodenough College. for the 2005-6 academic year. “Felix Editor in binge drink Plus football, hockey, net- The attendance in Da Vinci’s low...” orgy”. Rupert Neate, who has ball, ultimate frisbee and all bar on Monday was, as sever- very little editorial experi- the week’s results. al speakers pointed out, dis- should be about politics and ence but has had articles pub- uSPORT page 34 appointingly low. Despite an policies, not about CVs”. lished in local newspapers, advance publicity campaign Sanjeev Sarda, representing suggested a front page story centred around former Prime Re-Open Nominations (RON), about the television soap Minister Margaret Thatcher, said that a President need- Neighbours. Simon Clark, the the vast majority of those ed “clarity of vision, strong current Felix nightlife editor, in attendance were either morals and great leadership chose the classic headline: former sabbaticals or close skills”, and that students “Three Creme Eggs for 90p”. friends of the candidates. should vote RON for a better Mr Sarda decided on a com- The five Presidential can- Union. pletely blank front page. didates spent over an hour in Mr Devine, Mr Olesen, Mr the spotlight at the end of the Rawson and Mr Smith all ● How do I vote? Page evening. James Devine, who announced that they were 13 One candidate tries to recover after being ‘pied’ by the The RSM rugby team was cheered loudly by his sup- against ‘two-year sabbati- ● Candidate interviews, RAG hit squad, bringing some welcome relief to the long porters, discussed his pledges cals’, claiming that someone page 13 and uninspiring sabbatical election hustings in Da Vinci’s THIS WEEK of a smoke-free bar and more taking a second year would ● Opinion, page 9 bar on Monday evening News page 2 Business page 4 Science page 5 Security guards threatened and abused Comment page 8 Columns page 11 Election Special page 13 Clubs and Societies as students leave Union event page 20 What’s On page 22 By Dave Edwards Around ten people, many move them on, but the group Four of the group, all young The incident casts further Music page 24 of whom are thought to be refused and began to shout, men, returned 15 minutes doubt upon the College’s abil- Nightlife page 29 Death threats were made to Imperial College students, swear and threaten them. later in an Audi A3, shouting ity to ensure the safety of Books page 30 College security guards by were creating a disturbance One person was seen car- death threats at the security students in the Quad, where Film page 31 a group of aggressive young in the entrance to Beit Quad rying a weapon, which was guards. Police were called to there is normally only one Coffee Break page 32 men, at least one of whom as they left an event organ- subsequently described as the scene and remained at guard on duty and the secu- was carrying a weapon, late ised by the Sikh Society. The a “metal bolster” or “large the Quad entrance overnight rity lodge is frequently left Sport page 34 on Monday evening. security guards attempted to chisel”. in case the men returned. unmanned. Felix 2 www.felixonline.co.uk Thursday 10 February 2005 NEWS [email protected] Issue 1315 Confectionery sensation: Editor Dave Edwards Business Editor Numaan Chaudhry three Creme Eggs for 90p Science Editor By Dave Edwards last year’s debaucherous Egg plant at Bournville can Darius Nikbin Editor egg-related behaviour from produce more than 1.5 million Music Editor the students of Imperial eggs per day”. It is unclear Andrew Sykes Felix can reveal that the College, I’d like to take this whether the word ‘plant’ Imperial College Union shop opportunity to deny rumours refers to a factory or some Nightlife Editor and newsagent are, once that we’ll be hiring Renegade sort of magical photosynthet- Simon Clark again, selling three Cadbury’s Security staff as a precaution- ic organism. Arts Editor Creme Eggs for just 90p. ary measure.” Cadbury’s Creme Egg is the Paola Smith The shop and the newsa- Phil Stewart, a former UK’s best selling confection- gent, located on the Sherfield newsagent supervisor, told ery item between 1 January Books Editor Walkway, expect to be inun- Felix: “I do admit I fear the and Easter. Over 200 million Martin Smith dated by crazed students des- real possibility of a Great of the eggs are sold annually Film Editor perate for the fondant-filled Creme Egg Rush once word – that’s three for every UK Alan Ng treats over the coming days. has got out.” resident. Defying inflation, shop man- Creme Eggs were first sold The “how do you eat yours?” Sub Editor agers have decided not to by Cadbury Brothers in 1923, advertising campaign is now Sarah Pozniak raise the price after the eggs but the eggs as we now know synonymous with the eggs, proved so popular last year. them were not produced until which have been promoted Felix, Beit Quad, Prince Consort Road with great effect in recent London SW7 2BB Will Dugdale, assistant 1971. Telephone: 020 7594 8072 manager of the Union shop Interestingly, the Cadbury years by the likes of George Email: [email protected] and a former editor of this Schweppes website claims Dawes and the characters Web: www.felixonline.co.uk newspaper, said: “Following that “the Cadbury Creme from Spitting Image. Lots and lots of Cadbury’s Creme Eggs Registered newspaper ISSN 1040-0711 Copyright © Felix 2005 Printed by Sharman and Company, Imperial students chosen for Iraqi democracy Peterborough sport scholarship scheme A triumph for Bush and Blair? By Emily Gwyer ing in Iraq, slightly dubiously but with great effect, to South Five Imperial students have It aims to reduce the drop- Simon Hislop (all rowing) will It is, astonishingly, three years Africa. “Compare yesterday’s been selected for the govern- out rate of gifted athletes all benefit from the scheme. since the invasion of Iraq was reports with those by the same ment funded Talented Athlete from sport, and supports and For further information on first mooted by Geroge Bush commentators during South Scholarship Scheme (TASS). develops the talent of today TASS and details on eligibility in the wake of September 11. Africa’s first democratic elec- The programme awards for sporting success in the to apply, please contact Nick In that time there has been tion. Then, too, there were scholarships and bursaries future. Gore, the College’s Sports a fury of argument, which, at many technical problems: to talented athletes who are Rhonda Sturley (judo), Development Officer, on times, threatened to drown voters who were not properly committed to combining Tristan Lane (fencing), Robin [email protected] or 020 7594 out every other discussion in registered, voter intimida- sport with their education. Nicholson, Chris Archer and 1164. British politics. tion, long queues.