Going Knowwhere Finding a supercure Something fishy The oval ball Felix enjoys a night out at How stem cell research could Two contrasting views on Four rugby reports in our The Fridge, page 17 revolutionise medicine, page 4 Shark Tale, page 19 extended sport section, page 22 The student newspaper of Imperial College ● Established 1949 ● Issue 1302 ● Thursday 21 October 2004 ● www.felixonline.co.uk Exam overhaul A review of the British ex- amination system suggests Students secure place on replacing the current public examinations with a diploma, but the Government does not seem to support the recom- mendations in full. College governing body uNEWS page 2 By Dave Edwards successful in lobbying against tain only one elected academ- tation has actually increased original proposals, and the Money matters Editor this change, and at Friday’s ic staff member. There are – instead of there being one amendment has been greeted “Education will always have a Council meeting it was decid- currently six of these on the student member out of 25 by many as a pleasant sur- price tag on it, as everything It was agreed on Friday that ed that the President would governing body, and although (plus several observers), prise. When asked how he does – it’s a question of who students will retain their remain a member after all. Dr Buttle’s initial proposal there will now be one out of and other student officers pays, how they pay and when place on the main governing Mustafa Arif, the current was to remove them all, a 19. He commented: “From a had managed to convince they pay. So how should it be body of Imperial College. President of Imperial College student perspective, we’ve Council members of the need done?” Last month, Dr Eileen Union, told Felix: “Our efforts “It’s a victory gone from potentially zero for student representation, uCOMMENT page 7 Buttle, the acting Chairman in lobbying the key players representation to something Mr Arif replied: “The impor- of Imperial College Council, were successful, and it’s for student that’s better than the present tant thing was to influence Freshers fortnight outlined her recommenda- a victory for student repre- situation.” the key decision-makers... A slightly hazy recollection of tions for sweeping changes to sentation. Dr Buttle agreed representation” The new, smaller Council the most important people the introductory goings-on at the governance of the College, to amend her proposals to will now discuss issues that were the Rector and the Silwood Park. as reported in Felix 1299. include the Union President concession has been made were previously covered by Council Chairman. We had uCAMPUS page 12 Among these recommenda- as a member of Council.” allowing a place for one of the committees which no longer lively discussions, but they tions was the proposal that the Various other changes to Deans. exist. This will give students came round to it in the end, Nancy boys present student representa- the governance of the College Mr Arif was keen to point a direct input into these areas and the Rector was very New albums from Placebo tive, the Union President, be will still go ahead, including out that, because the Council for the first time. supportive.” and The Dears, plus a live removed from the Council. the downsizing of the Council will now have less members, The Council was wide- ● State of the Union, review of the annoyingly However, students have been itself, which will in future con- the level of student represen- ly expected to endorse the page 6 named !!! uMUSIC page 15 Raining supreme In a full-scale downpour, Record turnout for Union elections, but Imperial’s first men’s football team opened their 2004 cam- paign with victory last week. uSPORT page 24 only 15 of 40 posts are filled The 2003-4 football first team THIS WEEK News page 2 Business page 3 Science page 4 Comment page 6 Careers page 9 What’s on page 11 Around campus page 12 Music page 15 Nightlife page 16 Film page 19 Crossword page 21 Mustafa Arif, President of Imperial College Union (third from left), announces the results of the recent elections to Union Council and various other committees, in which record numbers of students voted. However, many voters were so unimpressed with the candidates that ‘Re-Open Nominations’ Sport page 22 was particularly successful. As a result, there will now be new elections for the remaining 25 positions. Full story: page 2 Felix 2 www.felixonline.co.uk Thursday 21 October 2004 NEWS [email protected] Issue 1302 ‘Re-Open Nominations’ proves Editor Dave Edwards Business Editor unexpectedly popular as record Numaan Chaudhry Science Editor Darius Nikbin numbers vote in Union elections Music Editor Andrew Sykes By Dave Edwards tion to House Committee, so Nightlife Editor Editor four vacancies remain. RON Simon Clark was also victorious in the A record number of voters election for ULU delegates. Arts Editor participated in the recent Several people suggested Paola Smith elections of Imperial College that the remaining positions Books Editor Union Council members, should be filled by electing Martin Smith ULU delegates, academic from the floor at the meet- representatives, Faculty ing, “for the sake of prag- Film Editor Union officers and members matism” and because they Alan Ng of other Union committees. believed that far fewer people However, only 15 of the 40 would vote in any new elec- Careers Editors posts were filled as voters tion. These suggestions were Cassandra Aldrich expressed their dissatis- rejected, as it was deemed Gabriella Silvestri faction with the candidates unacceptable to have certain Picture Editor by choosing to ‘Re-Open members elected by cross- William Turner Nominations’ (RON). campus ballot and others cho- The results were due to sen by “40 people in a room”. Sub Editors be announced at Monday’s The Union constitution Lynsey McInnes meeting of Union Council. states that new elections to Zaina Nobeebux However, the counting soft- the remaining positions must ware in use was only designed be held within ten College Felix to count 1000 votes, and there days of the results being Beit Quad were 1093. Consequently, the announced. The President’s Prince Consort Road meeting was delayed for 40 interpretation of this is that London SW7 2BB minutes as staff, who had nominations must close by already been counting the Tuesday 2 November at the Telephone: 020 7594 8072 votes by hand throughout the latest. Email: [email protected] day, tried to complete this This year, for the first Web: www.felixonline.co.uk arduous task. time, elections to the posts 16 people were to be elect- in question took place online Registered newspaper ed to Union Council, but only by cross-campus ballot. ISSN 1040-0711 Omar Abbara, Lucy Abbott, Previously, they took place Henry Chan, Amanda Clarke at the first Union Council Copyright © Felix 2004 and Morten Olesen finished meeting of term, meaning ahead of RON, so there will that the only people voting Printed by Sharman and be a new election for the were those present in the Company, Peterborough remaining 11 places. room at the time. The new Daniel O’Connell, Tom system has obviously led to a Tibbits and Henry Chan were huge increase in turnout, giv- It’s back: the elections took place online, but that wasn’t going to stop us from using our elected to the Trading and ing those elected a far larger beloved ballot box photograph Retail Committee, with RON mandate than their pred- in fourth place, leaving one ecessors. The recent ‘VOTE’ the students are voting.” do. What I hope will happen Council meeting on Monday, vacancy. publicity campaign appears When asked whether RON now is that others will see fit Mustafa Arif survived a vote Daniel Carrivick was to have been particularly could also win the new elec- to stand who didn’t, and that of confidence in his presiden- the only student elected to successful in persuading stu- tions, he added: “It obviously those who failed to inspire the cy. Having offered his res- Services Committee, which dents to exercise their demo- is a concern, but this is what electorate this time around ignation last week and then now has three vacancies. cratic right. democracy is there for. If peo- will try a little harder to cam- changed his mind the follow- Pranati Joshi was the only Mustafa Arif, Union ple don’t have confidence in paign for votes.” ing day, Mr Arif felt it neces- one elected to the Student President, said: “It’s a long those standing for election sary to seek the backing of Development Committee. time since we’ve had a good and want to vote RON, then ● Meanwhile, also at the the Council, which he duly RON triumphed in the elec- RON turnout. I’m just glad that’s what they’re entitled to Imperial College Union received. Confusion over changes to British exam system By Emily Gwyer aimed at allowing universi- suggestions involve including levels. Mr Blair and Charles ties more opportunities to students’ after-school activi- Clarke, the Education This week, the long-awaited choose between students at ties, voluntary work and hob- Secretary, appeared not to review of the British exam the admissions stage. In addi- bies in the diploma, and there wholeheartedly support the system was published by the tion, all the grades the pupil being an oral exam to test ideas, despite lobbying by former head of Ofsted, Mike had ever achieved would be students properly and ensure teaching groups. They may Tomlinson.