Union meeting 1.00 p.m. Thursday, 6th Dec, Union Concert Hall
N E W S P A P E R O F IMPERIAL C O L L E G E UNION D e c e m b e r 4th, 1973
FREE!
I S S U E N o . 349
NUS CALLS NATIONAL RENT STRIKE Why the hell should we go on a rent strike? BY
NORM
SAYLES
I a m writing this article in a n attempt to clear up s o m e points of confusion in many people's minds about the aims and t h e realities o f a Rent Strike in Imperial College. F o r those 3 0 0 o r s o of y o u w h o w e r e a t the U n i o n M e e t i n g last Thursday, I don't w i s h to bore y o u with this article a s I shall be re-iterating m a n y of t h e points w h i c h I m a d e in m y s p e e c h a t t h e meeting. F o r t h e other 3 , 9 0 0 people in C o l lege, though, I hope m y thoughts will b e of some importance. To begin with, I must dispel the misapprehension in m a n y people's m i n d s that thea i m of t h e Rent Strike is a n attempt to " f o r c e " t h e C o l l e g e t o r e d u c e the rents in H a l l s and Houses. This would be a ridiculous move since our rents a r e a s l o w a s they c o u l d possibly b e a n d they obviously d o n o tneed t o b e made a n y lower. In a n u t s h e l l , t h e R e n t S t r i k e h a s b e e n c a l l e d a s a " r e a sonable Way of expressing o u r views about the Grants' s y s t e m a s it s t a n d s a t t h e m o m e n t " (to u s e a phrase o f Sir Brlain's speech o n C o m m e m . Day!). Y o u m a y s a yto yourself: " B u twhat is wrong with t h e Grants' system? " f g e t £520 e a c h year a n d I c a n m a k e that last m et h e w h o l e 30 w e e k s e s s i o n . " I c a n a s s u r e y o u , h o w e v e r , that if y o u are truly able to s a y this, then y o u a r eo n eof the very f e w m e m b e r s o f t h i s C o l l e g e o n a full grant. T h e M A J O R I T Y of o u r U . G . Students a r e M E A N S T E S T E D L e . their grant i s a s s e s s e d o n their p a r e n t s ' i n c o m e a n d if t h e parents earn m o r e than £1500 per year, t h e student's grant is drastically cut. T h i s h a s several c o n s e q u e n c e s , s o m e of w h i c h a r e a s follows:— (1) S t u d e n t s , w h o a r e a b o v e t h e a g e o r majority (18), a r e stH'l d e p e n d e n t t o a v e r y g r e a t e x t e n t o n t h e i r p a r e n t s a n d as such a r e very restricted in t h e w a y they spend their <jra rti:. t2) M a n y parents a r ea s s e s s e d o n a p r e v i o u s year's salary a n d have, since t h e time o f a s s e s s m e n t suffered a serious d e p r e c i a t i o n >— o w i n g t o o n e c a u s e o r a n o t h e r — i n t h e i r w a g e , a n d therefore, c a n n o t afford to p a y t h e student t h e correct a m o u n t of money w h i c h is required t o provide a full i£520) grant. (3) M a n y p a r e n t s r e f u s e t o p a y t h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e grant a s they d o not agree w i t h t h e w a y their c h i l d is runn i n g his /tier life. (4) M a n y p a r e n t s d e c i d e t o u s e t h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n t o p a y for their c h i l d t o stay a t h o m e d u r i n g t h e v a c a t i o n s o r t o pay f o r s o m e clothes w h e n t h e student is at home, or other sundries such a s these. I speak from personal experience as s o m e o n e w h o received a full grant during m y three years in College but whose parents were only t o o happy to p a y for these a d d i t i o n a l items. I reckon that I e n d e d u p w i t h a b o u t £670 p e r year i n s t e a d o f £520 a n d t h i s is w h e r e t h e Means Tested student is losing out again. F r o m m yc o m m e n t s o n the M e a n s Test, I think that most p e o p l e w o u l d r e g a r d it a s t o t a l l y u n j u s t t o b o t h s t u d e n t s a n d parents. W h a t w e a r e calling f o r is a F U L L grant for A L L a n d that t h e m o n e y obtained b y t h e Government b y Means Testing b e recouped by a minor adjustment in the t a x a t i o n s y s t e m s o t h a t t h e m o n e y m a y foe g o t f r o m t h e p a r e n t s i n tints w a y . If w e n o w g o o n t o l o o k a t t h e O t h e r a n o m a l i e s i n t h e Grants' system which only a s far a s l . C . i s concerned, relate t o " m i n o r i t y g r o u p s " i n c o m p a r i s o n t o t h e w i d e s p r e a d effect o f t h e M e a n s T e s t , w e c a n r e c o g n i s e t h e f o l l o w i n g : — (1) D I S C R E T I O N A R Y A W A R D S . T h i s i s a w a y i n w h i c h t h e L E A ' s c a n d e c i d e t o g i v e a s t u d e n t 'a g r a n t o r n o t d e p e n d i n g u p o n t h e i r o w n w h i m s . It s e e m s t o m a k e n o d i f f e r ence whether t h e educational establishment is recognised b y t h e G o v e r n m e n t o r n o t . It a l s o a p p l i e s t o t h o s e s t u d e n t s w h o f i n d it n e c e s s a r y t o d o a r e - s i t y e a r . E v e n if t h e p a r ticular college recognised that t h e student had some peculiar difficulty t h e previous year a n d h a s a right to r e peat t h e year, h e is n o t entitled to a grant but, in general, te e x p e c t e d t o s u p p o r t h i m s e l f f o r t h e y e a r . T h i s p r o b l e m i s particularly acute in Further Education a n d A r t colleges a n d , therefore, h a s a d r a s t i c effect u p o n a large p r o p o r t i o n of t h e s t u d e n t s o f this country. (2) M A R R I E D W O M E N ' S G R A N T S . H e r e w e h a v e t h e s i t u ation where a female student w h o gets married to a n o n student, automatically h a s h e r grant c u t b y something i n # i e r e g i o n o f £ 1 5 0 t o £ 2 0 0 . In t h i s w a y , a m a r r i e d s t u d e n t can find herself having to survive o n a grant of a r o u n d
be a t perfect
At t h e N U S c o n f e r e n c e in M a r g a t e , t w o w e e k e n d s a g o , a motion calling for a n a t i o n a l rent s t r i k e , a s o p p o s e d to l o c a l or partial o n e s , w a s e a s i l y p a s s e d . Hot opposition w a s expected and received from the N U S e x e c u t i v e o v e r t h i s m o t i o n , a s they h a d b e e n a t t e m p t i n g to d e c e n t r a l i s e t h e c a m p a i g n , A censure motion w a s carried o n the Exec, over negating their role a s the leadership of t h e N U S . this question referring p r i m a r i l y to their a b s e n c e of leadership i n t h e N o v . 7 t h march a n d abortive Nov. 14th work-in. E x e c , a t t e m p t e d to p o s t p o n e d i s c u s s i o n o n t h e g r a n t s c a m p a i g n a n d C h i l e , t w o p o l i t i c a l l y very c o n t e n t i o u s t o p i c s , b y i n t r o d u c i n g h o r d e s o f international a n d emergency speakers a n d stretching out d i s c u s s i o n o f S t e v e P a r r y ' s B e r l i n p o s t e r - r i p ping antics to a phenomenal 4 i hours. Full conference report o n page 5.
£ 2 9 5 . In t h e c a s e o f a m a l e s t u d e n t w h o m a r r i e s , t h i s d i s c r i m i n a t i o n d o e s p o t o c c u r . It i s q u i t e c o n c i e v a b l e t h a t a s t u d e n t w h o s e Wi fe is e a r n i n g £2,000 is r e c e i v i n g £520 w h e r e a s a f e m a l e s t ude n t w h o s e h u s b a n d is earning £1600 g e t s o n l y £ 2 9 5 . It m u s t b e a g r e e d t h a t t h i s i s a n u n j u s t a n d intolerable situation. (3) P o s t g r a d u a t e a w a r d s — T h e s e a w a r d s d o affect a great n u m b e r of t h e students of this college, a n d a s s u c h w i l l p r o b a b l y b e o f g r e a t i n t e r e s t . In b r i e f , a s a n u n d e r graduate, a p e r s o n is getting a b o u t £15 p e r w e e k t o live o n during term time, but once he becomes qualified, more mature, a n d also gains more responsibility a s a postgraduate, h i s grant i s slashed f r o m £15 p e r w e e k t o a paltry £ 1 3 . 4 0 p e r w e e k . In a n y o n e ' s b o o k s t h i s i s n o l e s s t h a n an insult t o t h e amount of study w h i c h t h e person h a s already done during his time in college. A n o t h e r very real p r o b l e m With t h e postgraduate grant for L o n d o n s c h o l a r s i s that there i s a b s o l u t e l y n o w e i g h t i n g to a c c o u n t f o r t h e fact that t h e p e r s o n w i l l h a v e to p a y a n Increase of about 50 per cent o n food prices overall, 100 per cent increase i ntravelling, a n d also about 100 per cent increase in the- cost of accommodation. Although tne U n d e r g r a d u a t e s u m o f £40 d o e s n o t g o very f a r i n this p r e s e n t d a y a n d a g e , a t least it s h o w s t h a t t h e D . E . S . h a v e put s o m e thought into t h e w a y in w h i c h they assess t h e Undergraduate grant, whereas this thought seems to b e lacking from the Postgraduates. T h e final, o r a t least another o f the major a n o m a l i e s o f the G r a n t s a w a r d i n g s y s t e m w h i c h I w o u l d like t o d r a w your attention to is the s a m e o n e a s the Rector mentioned in h i s s p e e c h o n C o m m e m o r a t i o n d a y , i e .t h e fact that t h e basic undergraduate grant i s a t present at least £100 less t h a n it s h o u l d b e . I r e a l i s e t h a t m a n y o f u s h a v e s u r v i v e d on this basic grant f o r t h e past f e w years, b u t I a m sure that w e w o u l d a l l a d m i t that a n increase o f £100 i n t h e Grant w h i c h w e receive would Improve o u r standard of living t o p u t us more towards that frame of m i n d w h i c h is c o n d u c i v e t o w o r k . It i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t e v e n S i r Brian suggested that this increase W o u l d p u t u s back to t h e level at w h i c h t h e grant w a s in 1962. A l l the a b o v e a r e reasons w h y I think that Y O U should support O U R Rent Strike. Y o u m a y a s k " W h ya Rent Strike in s u p p o r t o f a G r a n t s c a m p a i g n ? ? " W e l l , I w i l l t e l l y o u . This Rent Strike which will be controlled by t h e students i n residence themselves, is o n e of t h e only w a y s i n w h i c h a large majority of o u r students c a n s h o w w h a t they feel about the Grants campaign. This expression of our feelings Will both b e meaningful, a n d also will be a means of c a m p a i g n i n g without directly affecting t h e college. I have been told that p r o v i d e d t h eresidents give over t h e m o n e y tot h e college as soon a s t h e Rent Strike is over then the college w i l l feel very little a d v e r s e effect. From a close examination of the Constitutions w h i c h have been drawn u p of t h e Tenants Association a n dalso the R e n t s t r i k e f u n d , lit l i s o b v i o u s t h a t t h e p e o p l e w h o w i l l b e controlling t h e m o n e y a r e t h e p e o p l e w h o a c t u a l l y live in the residence, a n d n o minority groups b e they right w i n g o r l e f t w i n g w i l l i n a n y w a y foe a b l e t o i n f l u e n c e t h e d e cisions of the Rent strike Tenants Association. T h e reason that t h e control M U S T stay i n t h eh a n d s of t h e Strikers is so that N O - O N E c a n tell them w h a t t o d o , a n d w h e n they d e c i d e t h a t t h e y w a n t t o c a l l off t h e s t r i k e t h e n t h e y w i l l
liberty t o d o s o .
It h a s b e e n s a i d t h a t t h e D . E . S . a l r e a d y k n o w s w h a t t h e s t u d e n t s o f t h i s c o u n t r y r e a l l y d o t h i n k a b o u t (the G r a n t s s y s t e m , a n d that nothing w h i c h w e c a n d o w i l l c h a n g e w h a t they think o n e bit. But t he point is that Imperial C o l l e g e has N E V E R taken a n y kind of successful action o n the problem of G r a n t s , a n d t h u s s u c c e s s f u l a c t i o n o f t h i s type w o u l d h a v e a n e v e n greater effect t h a n if w e h a d been d o i n g t h i s type of thing every week for the past t w o years. S i r Brian has asked us t o make our actions reasonable a n d also sensible, a n d this is I think exactly what w e a r e doing in this c a s e , a n d I w o u l d h o p e that S i r B r i a n s e e s it a s s u c h . W h a t I hope to d o once the Rent Strike has begun is to w r i t e t o S i r B r i a n a s k i n g h i m t o s e n d a letter t o M r s . T h a t cher in t h e D . E . S . a s k i n g her to explain the i n a d e q u a c i e s a s w e s e e Itfoem, a n d a s k i n g h e r w h a t a c t i o n s h e i s p r o p o s i n g to t a k e d u r i n g t h e c o m i n g s e s s i o n . H o p e f u l l y w i t h t h e b a c k ing of t h e U n i o n b e h i n d h t m , then t h e a c t i o n w h i c h S i r B r i a n m a y t a k e c o u l d p o s s i b l y have a greater effect u p o n the decisions made by the D.E.S. The r e a r e o b v i o u s l y m a n y more, questions w h i c h need to b e a n s w e r e d about t h e rent strike, either t o clarify what is h a p p e n i n g o r t o merely try t o pull t h e w h o l e thing t o p i e c e s . M a y I s u g g e s t t h a t if y o u h a v e a n y s p e c i f i c q u e s tions, c o u l d y o u please a d d r e s s them t o either Trev P h i l l i p s o r t o m e , a n d tf (there i s s u f f i c i e n t i n t e r e s t i n a n y o f t h e Hall's o r h o u s e s , either o n e w a y o r t h e other, then y o u c o u l d p e r h a p s t r y to g e t your W a r d e n o r o n e of t h e s u b wardens to arrange a meeting of t h e Hall/House residents either t o w a r d s t h ee n d of this term or at t h eb e g i n n i n g o f n e x t t e r m , o r e v e n b o t h if y o u like, t o w h i c h w e c o u l d c o m e along a n d t r y to clarify a n y points w h i c h y o u want to raise. P L E A S E support t h e rent strike, a s t h e only w a y in w h i c h ft c a n b e m a d e t o b e a n y t h i n g o f a s u c c e s s i s t o g e t e v e r y o n e i n o n i t . If o n l y a f e w p e o p l e c o m e o u t o n s t r i k e , t h e n it i s n o t w o r t h h a v i n g , b u t if t h e majority s u p p o r t t h e strike, then w e have a good chance of airing our views, a n d doing ourb i t t o try a n d put the Grants system back o n the road W h i c h 1 a m s u r e it w a s o r i g i n a l l y d e s i g n e d t o follow. SUPPORT CAMPAIGN. A
T H ERENT
STRIKE/SUPPORT T H E GRANTS
IT'S E A S Y ? IT H A R M S POINT VERY CLEARLY.
NO-ONE?
i f MERELY
MAKES
Please help u s t o help you.
SOC soc calls for mass UGMS. S i r , — 1 w o u l d l i k e t o put f o r w a r d a n d t o a i m c o r r e c t c e r t a i n f a c t i o n s f o r a better u n d e r s t a n d o f stuWents w h o a r e s u g - i n g o f t h e i s s u e s i n gesting that S o c . S o c .volved, to g e t a broader wants inquorate unrepre- foundation for initiating sentative U G M ' s to man- an improvement in stuo e u v r e t h e m e e t i n g to d e n t life i n i t s w i d e s t their o w n advantage. context. T h o s e ideas a r e T h e s e p e o p l e a r e c r e a t - in t o t a l i t y p a r a l l e l to t h e ing a g e n e r a l feeling aim of S o c . S o c . a n d that t h e u n i o n i s s i m p l y i s n ' t t h i s w h a t ' e v e r y a p l a t f o r m f o r t h e left s t u d e n t w a n t s t h e u n i o n w i n g i n I C . P l e a s e note to b e ? that t w o m e m b e r s of A n y m e m b e r of the Soc. S o c . were respon- union c a n put forward a for distributing sible motion, this motion beleaflets, a d v e r t i s i n g t h e ing a c c e p t e d at the d i s last U G M t h r o u g h t h e c r e t i o n o f t h e c h a i r m a n . physics departments and I hope that many more r e f e c t o r i e s , i n a n effort p e o p l e attend t h e to g e t p e o p l e t o c o m e U G M ' s i n f u t u r e t o v o t e a l o n g a n d e x p r e s s their o n t h e i s s u e s w h i c h a r e opinion. of very i m p o r t a n t releW h a t any u n i o n wants to a c h i e v e i s t o g e t s t u dents t o turn up to UGM's to provide a basis for constructive c r i t i c i s m of a n y motion
v a n c e t o t h e i r life i n t h i s college. J.
D. T H O M A S Physics
(Soc. S o c . member)
LETTERS M i s c o n c e p t i o n s Sir, M a y I a t t e m p t to c o r r e c t s o m e of t h e m i s c o n ceptions which Jock Veall seems to have about the Christians ( m e m b e r s of ' G o d S o c ' ) in c o l l e g e . M r . Veall seems to be under the impression that w e are mounting a n anti-Soc. Soc. campaign; judging by the w a y h e extolled the beauties of s o c i a l i s m in h i s l e t t e r ( F e l i x , 2 0 November).
so t h a t m e n m i g h t r e g a i n life i s w h a t t h e c h r i s t i a n (who h a s r e d i s c o v e r e d t h i s life) w i s h e s t o p r o c l a i m . A very positive message. Phil W i n n . Ed's note: Correspondence o n this kind of u n scientific level i s c l o s e d .
Turbigo Soc.
Sir, W e feel w e m u s t p r o test that hereuntofor n o mention has appeared in your erudite columns of The aims of christians the newly formed Kidare not to promote a n y ney Turfoigo Society. political p h i l o s o p h y , T h i s lis a s a d m i s d e c a p i t a l i s t , c o m m u n i s t or meanour on your part, O t h e r w i s e , b u t to p r o - a n d m u s t b e r e m e d i e d claim Jesus Christ i n all immediately. a r e a s of c o l l e g e l i f e . In F o r t h e information of the same w a y J e s u s h i m - your 'illustrious readers self w a s m o r e c o n c e r n - t h e first s e e d s o f t h i s u n e d about telling people precedented amalgamaof G o d t h a n ilea d i n g tion of kidney connoist h e m iin w a r a g a i n s t t h e seurs were soon in Basil Romans, much to the Street S W 3 o n Tuesday di ^ a p p o i n t m e n t of the last. A f t e r b u t t w o h o u r s Jews. it w a s a t h r i v i n g o r g a n i s quadrophonic ation of In t e l l i n g t h i s m e s s a g e dimensions. the christian needs t o be i n v o l v e d i n w h a t 'is g o i n g To exemplify our ason around h i m , one d o e s pirations, here i s a brief not w a n t t o b e " s o s y n o p s i s o f t h e Turfoigoh e a v e n l y m i n d e d a s to ist m a n i f e s t o : " . . . w e be n o e a r t h l y u s e " . T h i s s h a l l n o t c e a s e o u r b i t e n t a i l s p l a y i n g a p a r t , t o ter struggle against a greater or lesser e x - a n t i - T u r b i g o i s m , until the tent i n t h e U n i o n , a n d delicious aroma of the here one expresses o n e ' s a f o r e s a i d savoury d e l i c own ideas about w h a t is a c y pervades every nook best, whatever they m a y a n d cranny i n t h e c i v i l i s be. I a m s u r e M r . V e a l l ed world (and Neasnot discourage den)." would such involvement. As for forthcoming Finally, I w o u l d like on M r . to comment V e a l l ' s rather l o n g w i n d ed a n d philosophical arguments on man's basic r i g h t s . If h e W i s h e s t o l o o k at m a n in t h i s p e s s i m i s t i c w a y , With n o e c o n o m i c o r social rights all right that is up to h i m . T h e r e is o n e b a s i c however, which right man has denied himself, t h i s is t h e r i g h t t o e t e r n a l l i fe w i t h h i s c r e a t o r . That m a n w a s created with this right, that h e lost it t h r o u g h o f f e n d i n g G o d , a n d that J e s u s d i e d
events, w e are currently planning several wine and Turbigo evenings, a s e r i e s of l e c t u r e s , f i l m s and discussions entitled " T u r b i g o i s m Leads the W a y " , a n d , of course, our Annual Dinner ( m e n u to b e p u b l i s h e d later). Now you have got the facts straight, w e a n t i c i pate y o u r f u l l s u p p o r t . Yours faithfully, Yendik Ogibrut (Chairman). Kidney Turbigo Society Headquarters, Prince Consort Road.
RAILWAY SOCIETY Talk by Mr. F. Briggs on The South Eastern and Chatham Scene (with slides) Tues. 4th Dec. 5.40 p.m. M . E . 664 A l l welcome A
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December 4th, 1973
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Student Counsellor After a fairly gentle run-in o n a t w o days a w e e k b a s i s I s h a l l foe t a k i n g u p t h e p o s t o f S t u d e n t 3rd. This Counsellor full tlme from December s e e m s a s g o o d a t i m e as any therefore to take advantage of the Editor's invitation to introduce myself through these c o l u m n s . I h a v e j u s t f i n i s h e d five y e a r s o n t h e staff of t h e Watford College of T e c h n o l o g y Where besides doing a certain amount of teaching I developed and ran a student c o u n s e l l i n g a n d welfare service. I have worked i n the Hospital Service as a Social Worker a n d , for a period, a s a n administrator, a n d I g r a d u a t e d at t h e L . S . E . w h e r e I w a s a " m a t u r e " student from 1 9 6 1 — 6 6 . I a m married With t w o small c h i l d r e n . S o m u c h for t h e 'biographical details. What i s a Student Counsellor? Those of you Who k n e w m y p r e d e c e s s o r , B o n n e y Hartnett, Will of c o u r s e h a v e a fair i d e a a l r e a d y , but f o r those w h o d i d n ' t , a n d f o r first y e a r s t u d e n t s I s h o u l d perhaps attempt s o m e sort o f definition because it i s f a r f r o m s e l f - e v i d e n t . In t h e U . S . A . S t u d e n t Counselling h a s been b i g business for m a n y years a n d s o m e l a r ge u n i v e r s i t i e s h a v e e n o r m o u s C o u n s e l l i n g c e n t r e s staffed b y u p w a r d s o f t w e n t y or thirty c o u n s e l l o r s , m o s t of W h o m w o u l d b e trai ned p s y c h o l o g i s t s o r p s y c h o t h e r a p i s t s . In B r i t a i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f d e s i g n a t e d c o u n s e l l i n g s e r v i c e s tin tertiary education has been m u c h m o r e cautious a n d remains very patchy. T h e r e i s no real c o n c e n sus a s t o w h a t " C o u n s e l l i n g " i s (even i n the text b o o k s ) , b u t two b r o a d truths are e v i d e n t : — (a) T h e r e i s a g r o w i n g f e e l i n g I n t h e e d u c a t i o n a l w o r l d that " C o u n s e l l i n g " services are a g o o d thing t o h a v e , a n d (b) t h a t C o u n s e l l o r s i n t h i s c o u n t r y t e n d to t a k e a m u c h m o r e p r a g m a t i c a p p r o a c h t h a n their colleagues i n t h e U . S . A . , f o r e x a m p l e , w o u l d consider appropriate. M y o w n stand is roughly this. Everyone i n c l u d ing students, h a v e problems, difficulties a n d stresses of o n e d e g r e e o r a n o t h e r i n h i s o r h e r p e r s o n a l J
International Students' House 229 Great Portland Street, London WI Tel. 636-9471 Thursday, 20th December: 7.00 p.m. Coffee Party in the bar lounge. 7.30 p.m. "Sherlock H o l m e s " A l d w y c h Theatre Royal Shakespeare Company—tickets 35p Friday, 21st December: 8.00 p.m. Xmas party and disco. Assembly Hall. Saturday, 22nd December: 8.00 p.m. 'How to steal a diamond in four uneasy lessons' (Film) Assembly Hall Sunday, 23rd December: 4.00 p.m. Candlelight tea party, carol singing and Christmas readings. Library M o n d a y , 24th December: 10.30 p.m. Wine and Cheese Party with music in the bar Tuesday, 25th December: 12.00 for 1 p.m. Christmas lunch. Assembly Hall Cost 8 5 p — m u s t be booked before 21st December Wednesday, 26th December: 8.00 G i g i ' (Film) Assembly Hall Thursday, 27th December 8.00 'Cinderella on Ice'. Empire Pool, Wembley Tickets 80p (reduced from 90p) Saturday, 29th December 8.00 'The Burglars' (Film) Assembly Hall Monday, 31st December: 10.00 p . m . — 6 . 0 0 a.m. 'New Year's Eve Ball'. Tickets £ 1 in advance. £ 1 . 2 5 at the door Disco, Films, Bar, Erasmus choral group, cartoons. A l l are welcome For further information contact I.S.H. or Ida Glaser, Physics Room 1012e I
op nEAivwHIie
l i f e. Nearly a l w a y s w e either resolve t h e m o r learn to t o l e r a t e t h e m a s part o f t h e n o r m a l f a b r i c o f o u r l i v e s , a n d t h e i d e a Of c o n s u l t i n g a s a l a r i e d " h e l p e r " s i m p l y d o e s not o c c u r to u s . W e rightly k e e p t h i n g s to o u r s e l v e s , w e m i n d o u r o w n b u s i n e s s . G e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g , in o t h e r w o r d s , w e b o t h prefer a n d are able to cope With the contingencies of l i f e . It s e e m s e q u a l l y o b v i o u s h o w e v e r t h a t t h e r e are o c c a s i o n s W h e n o u r e m o t i o n a l s e l f - s u f f i c i e n c y , at l e a s t f o r a t i m e , b r e a k s d o w n , a n d w e b e c o m e to s o m e e x t e n t d e p e n d e n t o n t h e s u p p o r t of other people. Bereavement is the most obvious a n d universal example of such contingencies. The causes of s u c h d e b i l i t a t i n g e m o t i o n a l s t r e s s m a y of c o u r s e be m u c h less d r a m a t i c than that a n d m a y indeed not foe v e r y o b v i o u s a t alii, b u t i t i s p r e c i s e l y In t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t a c o u n s e l l o r m a y foe u s e ful. I d o not suggest for a m o m e n t that even i n these circumstances the Counsellor is necessarily the b e s t o r m o s t a p p r o p r i a t e p e r s o n to t u r n t o , b u t he i s o n e of t h e p e o p l e w h o m a y b e a b l e t o h e l p . In a n u t s h e l l c o u n s e l l i n g I s c e n t r a l l y c o n c e r n e d with helping students t o recognise a n d examine problems w h i c h are g i v i n g rise to d i s t r e s s , a n d possibly affecting their work, i n s u c h a w a y that they c a n deal w i t h it for themselves w i t h greater c o n f i d e n c e . It m a y i n v o l v e m e e t i n g s o v e r a f a i r l y l o n g p e r i o d , o r t h e c o n t a c t m a y foe q u i t e e p h e m e r a l . There i s nothing mysterious, sinister or magical about the process. In p r a c t i s e of c o u r s e 1 f r e q u e n t l y s e e s t u d e n t s just o n c e — m a y b e to give s o m e i n f o r m a t i o n o r t » s u g g e s t s o m e m o r e a p p r o p r i a t e p e r s o n . In a n y c a s e the service i s strictly confidential. If y o u w o u l d l i k e t o t a l k Ito m e m y office lis a t the S t u d e n t Health Centre, 1 4 Princes Gardens. I a m a v a i l a b l e d u r i n g n o r m a l office h o u r s a n d c a n b e c o n t a c t e d d i r e c t o n Internal N u m b e r 4205; through the College main switchboard Extension 1893 ; o r through t h e Health Centre Receptionist, I operate an appointment system but Will see any student Without an appointment on a n y given d a y if t h e r e i s s o m e u r g e n c y , t h o u g h t h i s m a y e n t a i l a short wait. Don A d ling ton
Lost and Found
minimum recommended precautions are to secure the c y c l e t o s o m e part o f t h e c y c l e r a c k with a strong chain a n d a stout padlock. P l a s t i c covered metal cables sec u r e d foy m i n i a t u r e p a d lock of t h e t y p e s u p p l i e d are by cycle dealers quite inadequate and can easily be c u t with a pair of strong pliers C y c l e owners are strongl y advised to insure their cycles and to record the serial numbers.
PROPERTY LOST AND FOUND A large number of a r ticles found on College premises are handed i n during the course of a y e a r to t h e S e c u r i t y O f ficer. Most of these i t e m s c o u l d foe p r o m p t l y restored to the losers i f only they w o u l d take the trouble t o report their losses. Please contact the S e c u r i t y Officer a s above.
THEFTS GENERALLY O c c a s i o n a l t h e f t s of wallets and cash from a n d handbags jackets left i n u n a t t e n d e d r o o m s , laboratories etc., continue t o o c c u r . B o t h S t u d ents a n d staff c a n d « m u c h t o p r e v e n t t h i s foy (a) K e e p i n g t h e i r v a l u ables on their persons or looked away, a n d (fo) b y c h a l l e n g i n g a n y strange persons in buildings, rooms, laboratories, etc., w h o s e appearance or behaviour g i v e s r i s e t o s u s p i c i o n . In s u c h c a s e s t h e S e c u r i t y Offic e r s h o u l d foe c o n t a c t e d at o n c e . Continued on page 5
PROPERTY FOUND (1) A l a d i e s g o l d d r e s s ring. F o u n d in Bio-Chemistry Department. (2) A g o l d w e d d i n g r i n g with a name engraved on the inner Circumference. Losers should contact the S e c u r i t y Officer i n p e r s o n o r r i n g Internal 2741. CYCLE THEFTS S t u d e n t s a n d Staff a r e r e m i n d e d of t h e n e e d to t a k e s p e c i a l c a r e t o protect their cycles a g a i n s t t h e r i s k of t h e f t When leaving t h e m on the College c a m p u s . T h e
8 V
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December 4th,
1973
FELIX
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POLEMICS continued
This w e e k J o c k V e a l l l o o k s at the historical r o o t s of religion:T h e key q u e s t i o n w h i c h u n f o r t u n a t e l y A l a n S y r o p a n d M a u r i c e M o l o n e y f a i l to g r a s p is w h a t r e l i g i o n i s a n d h o w it a r o s e . R e l i g i o n h a s evolved b e c a u s e m a n c o u l d not e x p l a i n h i s a c t u a l r e l a t i o n s h i p to n a t u r e s o he f i n d s h i m s e l f w i t h t h i s f a n t a s t i c f o r c e o u t s i d e of h i s c o n t r o l — t h a t i s the fundamental contradiction b e t w e e n m a n a n d n a t u r e , m a n w a n t i n g to c o n t r o l n a t u r e b u t n a t u r e not w a n t i n g to be c o n t r o l l e d b y m a n . H e n c e o u t of the a c t u a l s o c i a l e x p e r i e n c e o f h i s e x i s t i n g level o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s m a n p r o j e c t s t h i s f a n t a s t i c relationship w i t h supernatural beings because he cannot understand his existing relationship w i t h FALSE society a n d n a t u r e , i.e. RELIGION IS CONSCIOUSNESS. R e l i g i o n g i v e s c o n s o l a t i o n to i n d i v i d u a l s b u t gives a false purpose to m a n w h e n the actual m a t e r i a l r e l a t i o n s o f s o c i e t y are n o t u n d e r s t o o d . Hence religion does not have an i n d e p e n d e n t exist e n c e f r o m the rest of t h e s o c i a l a n d e c o n o m i c relations—that i s w h e n social relations change, r e l i g i o u s b e l i e f s c h a n g e . T h e r i s e of C h r i s t i a n i t y w i t h the f a l l o f t h e R o m a n E m p i r e , C a t h o l i c i s m
a r o s e w i t h f e u d a l i s m (the m a r a c h i c a l s t r u c t u r e of t h e c a t h o l i c c h u r c h a l o n g w i t h its i d e o l o g y r e f l e c t the f eudal s o c i a l relations), p r o t e s t a n t i s m arose w i t h t h e e v o l u t i o n of c a p i t a l i s m , I s l a m w i t h t h e A s i a t i c m o d e of p r o d u c t i o n , p r i m i t i v e religions i n India reflect t h e l o c a l t r i b a l f o r m of p r o d u c t i o n — T H A T IS R E L I G I O N C O R R E S P O N D S T O S O C I A L AND ECONOMIC CHANGE. Th e key to understanding the Arab-Israeli conflict f l o w s not f r o m the r e l i g i o u s d i f f e r e n c e s ( J e w s h a v e lived in harmony w i t h the A r a b Palestinian for hund r e d s of y e a r ) , t h e r e l i g i o u s d i f f e r e n c e s o n l y reflect t h e c o n f l i c t i n g e c o n o m i c i n t e r e s t s in t h e M i d d l e East particularly A m e r i c a and W e s t Europe's i n terest in " s a f e g u a r d i n g " t h e i r o i l r e s o u r c e s . In N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d l i k e w i s e the t w o r e l i g i o n s reflect material interests the Protestants having certain a d v a n t a g e s o v e r t h e C a t h o l i c s s e e the d e m a n d f o r c i v i l r i g h t s a s p o s i n g a t h r e a t to t h e i r m e a g r e p r i v i leges. B o t h A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m in the M i d d l e E a s t a n d B r i t i s h i m p e r i a l i s m in I r e l a n d p l a y o n t h e r e l i g i o u s d i f f e r e n c e s to e n c o u r a g e t h e d e e p e n i n g of t h e d i v i s i o n s a m o n g t h e m a s s e s s o t h a t n o r e a l t h r e a t is p o s e d t o t h e i r d o m i n a t i o n . R e l i g i o u s p r a c t i s e is not ' a p u b l i c e x p r e s s i o n o f a p e r s o n s b e l i e f s ' ( A . S y r o p ' s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f religion) but an institution of the state i n i m p o s i n g the beliefs of the ruling c l a s s on the masses. U n d e r f e u d a l i s m the a r i s t o c r a c y u s e d the C a t h o l i c C h u r c h t o i m p o s e the beliefs of the aristocrats o n the peasants and serfs. Under capitalism the capitalist class likewise use the c h u r c h (Protestant) to i m p o s e its b e l i e f s o n t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s , e.g. C a l v i n i s m p r e a c h e s t h a t w o r k e r s s h o u l d w o r k h a r d e r (so that the e m p l o y e r s c a n m a k e more profit). Hitler rec o g n i s e d the role of t h e c h u r c h v e r y w e l l , o n e of h i s first a c t s o n c o m i n g t o p o w e r w a s t o s t r e n g t h e n the h a n d of the c h u r c h , s o a s to s t r e n g t h e n t h e
s t a t e in i m p o s i n g t h e b e l i e f s of the c a p i t a l i s t c l a s s o n t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s . R e l i g i o n is u s e d as t h e o p i u m o f the m a s s e s — i t c o v e r s t h e c h a i n s that h a r n e s s the o p p r e s s e d w i t h f l o w e r s . It is in t h i s s e n s e t h a t o n l y p r i v a t e e x p r e s s i o n of r e l i g i o u s b e l i e f s s h o u l d be a l l o w e d , r e l i g i o u s i n s t i t u t i o n s s h o u l d b e s m a s h e d a l o n g s i d e a l l the other i n s t i t u t i o n s of t h e b o u r g e o i s state. A s m a n g a i n s a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g of h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p s to n a t u r e t h e n e e d for r e l i g i o n i s e r o d e d a w a y . A f t e r a s o c i a l i s t r e v o l u t i o n he s h o u l d b e able) to p r a c t i s e h i s r e l i g i o n if he s t i l l f e e l s t h e n e e d but r e l i g i o n s h o u l d not be u s e d as a r e p r e s s i v e i n stitution against the m a s s e s . It is a p i t y t h a t S y r o p h a s to r e s t o r t to mumfoo j u m b o r a t h e r t h a n a n s w e r the q u e s t i o n t h a t i f M a u r i c e Maloney, A. Syrop, D. James and other G o d S o c . people serious about the concern a n d f r e e d o m t h e n t h e y w o u l d s u p p o r t the c a m p a i g n f o r t h e r e l e a s e o f Ivan D z y u b a a n d V y a c h e s l o v C h o r nouil, two Rusisan socialists from prison. Amongst other c a m p a i g n s they s h o u l d support w o u l d be fight t h e fight a g a i n t r a c i s m a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y a g a i n s t the N a t i o n a l F r o n t . T h e c o n c l u s i o n w h i c h m u s t b e d r a w n is t h e i r s u p e r f i c i a l i t y of their s o c a l l e d ' c o n c e r n ' for their f e l l o w m e n . E v e n the c h u r c h connm i s s i o n (an i n s t i t u t i o n of the s t a t e w h i c h i n v e s t s the c h u r c h ' s m o n e y in t h e p r o p e r t y m a r k e t ) s h o w e d w h o s e s i d e i t is o n last w e e k w h e n i t s e n t 2 5 bailiffs a n d 5 0 police round to their properties i n F o r m o s a Street, North Kensington a n d threw the o c c u p a n t s i n t o the street. T h e net r e s u l t a n e x t r a 20 homeless. JOCK
VEALU
E d ' s n o t e : Ivan D z y u b a has b e e n r e l e a s e d f r o m prison, c l a i m e d the Ukrainian Writers Union on t h a 9th November.
V
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INTER-ACTION l a u n c h new
community
bus
scheme: " n o set hire c h a r g e " Inter-Action Trust, the Kentish Town community arts g r o u p , h a s a n n o u n c e d t h e i r latest p r o j e c t . Another double-decker b u s w i l l j o i n the T r u s t ' s fleet of buses which bring resources to w h e r e they a r e m o s t n e e d e d in the community. InterA c t i o n ' s other b u s e s i n c l u d e the F u n A r t B u s and a pre-school playgroup bus. The Community Bus C o . is the s m a l l e s t fleet in t h e c o u n t r y b e i n g j u s t one b u s . O r i g i n a l l y , t h e name of the " c o m p a n y " w a s to be t h e C a m d e n Community Bus Co. After lengthy d i s c u s s i o n m e m b e r s of I n t e r - A c t i o n d e c i d e d t h a t w h i l s t it w o u l d m a i n l y be u s e d for C a m d e n G r o u p s , it s h o u l d be a v a i l a b l e t o neighbouring boroughs as well. The word " C a m d e n " in the title have prevented might o t h e r s f r o m u s i n g it.
c o n d i t i o n s , s u c h as a week's booking, the seats o n the upper d e c k may be taken out a n d c a r p e t fitted o n t h e floor s o t h a t it m a y be u s e d a s a room for sleeping, etc. T h e m a i n s u n i t w o u l d be able to supply projectors, TV, and various electronic equipment that p e o p l e m a y w i s h to u s e o n o r near the b u s .
quests only occasionally, b e c a u s e of o u r l a c k of resources. Since this new bus was donated, w e h o p e it w i l l a n s w e r a lot more of the need. Commercial buses are t o o e x p e n s i v e for c o m munity groups. Donat i o n s of a b o u t h a l f t h e commercial costs would e n a b l e us t o r u n t h e b u s properly.
T h e b u s w i l l be a v a i l a b l e t o b o n a fide c o m munity groups, tenants and residents associat i o n s a n d v o l u n t a r y organisations. T h e project is u n d e r the d i r e c t i o n o f Tony James and Ted L e y h w h o w i l l be h a n d l i n g r e q u e s t s at InterA c t i o n . G r o u p s w i l l be a b l e to use t h e b u s for trips, outings, and c a m p ing v e n t u r e s . T h e r e is no set hire charge, although the Trust reckons that d o n a t i o n s w i l l be req u i r e d t o k e e p the b u s running.
" W e hope that someday an action group or federation of groups in C a m d e n w i l l f o r m to take over the o w n e r s h i p a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of t h i s b u s a n d o t h e r s l i k e it. Then the community w o u l d t r u l y be p r o v i d i n g a lot of its o w n r e s o u r c e s a n d m a n a g i n g t h e m dire c t l y a s w e l l . It is o n e of our b a s i c p u r p o s e s to have the bus a n d other resources controlled by a separate local management committee which b r i n g s t o g e t h e r a l o t of groups."
T h e b u s is fitted w i t h a s i n k unit, a t o i l e t , a 3 0 gallon water tank, a heater for s t a t i o n a r y u s e a n d s h o r t l y w i l l be fitted with a 2 4 0 V mains unit. A t p r e s e n t it h a s seati n g for 7 4 a d u l t s , 4 4 u p stairs and 30 downstairs. Under certain
Ed Berman, director of I n t e r - A c t i o n , c o m m e n ted on the p r o b l e m of community transport: " W e have h a d literally hundreds of requests from groups over the y e a r s for t r a n s p o r t f a c i lities. Previously we could fulfil these re-
Inter-Action live at 14 Talacre Road, London NW5 3 P E . Telephone 267-1422
Thurs., 6th Dec. "The Music Lovers" lOp M.E. 220 Sat, 8th Dec. LINDISFARNE and
CLAIRE HAMELL
70p in advance IC student, Great Hall
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I Thurs. 10th or Sat. 12th J a n . for only 15p.| G I M M E S H E L T E R ( R o l l i n g Stones) &
|
MONTEREY POP
I
XMAS
TOPIC
Did you miss the Rag Procession? Did you miss the LF. Disco? Did you miss Tariq's naughty bits almost on display with the stripper at the RCS Smoking Cone rt — If you did or didn't now's the chance to capture those golden moments of Rag week in Xmas Topic this Friday. Just sit in front of or.e of the tellies in the J.C.R.
Southsfde or Belt lounge at I p.m. or 6 p.m. turn to STOIC, sit back and
revel
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D e c e m b e r 4 t h , 1973
DEATH OF AN INNOVATION Prof. Laithwaite's tracked hovercraft "consigned to the industrial waste bin
With recent world events bringing the t e r m " e n e r g y c r i s i s " from the r e a l m o f t h e s t a t i s t i c i a n to i m p i n g e directly upon public c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d transport, the inevitable future p o t e n t i a l of e l e c t r i c a l p o w e r ' a n d traction has been heavily underlined. T h e d a y w h e n to t r a v e l b y a i r o n e m a y h a v e to c r o s s t h e A t l a n t i c , a l l internal flights h a v i n g b e e n r e p l a c e d by h i g h ' s p e e d s u r f a c e transport, is not so distant as p o l i t i c i a n s a n d â&#x20AC;˘ e c o n o m i s t s w o u l d like to believe. T h i s is t h e v i e w of P r o f e s s o r E r i c L a i t h w a i t e , H e a d of t h e Imperial College Heavy Electrical Departm e n t a n d c h a m p i o n of l i n e a r m o t o r research and development as the only contending s o l u t i o n to t h i s p r o b l e m in B r i t a i n t o d a y . In 1948, P r o f e s s o r L a i t h w a i t e resu r r e c t e d t h e c o n c e p t of a m o t o r t h a t essentially is a n u n r o l l e d a n d extend e d v e r s i o n of t h e r o t a r y e l e c t r i c a l m o t o r c o m m o n l y k n o w n to u s t o d a y . P r o d u c i n g straight line motion with no moving parts, c r a n k s or gears, r e c o r d s s h o w t h a t t h e M a y o r of Pittsburg constructed a linear m o t o r a s far b a c k a s 1 8 9 0 ! T h i r t y y e a r s after p r e l i m i n a r y m o d e l s w e r e b j i l t at M a n c h e s t e r U n i v e r s i t y , P r o f e s s o r L a i t h w a i t e a n d h i s f e l l o w researchers, have p r o d u c e d an ent i r e l y r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o n c e p t in s u r face travel b a s e d on their " s i n g l e s i d e d t r a n s v e r s e flux l i n e a r m o t o r . " T h e system c o p e s with every facet of a f u t u r e h i g h s p e e d t r a n s p o r t network; propulsion is p r o d u c e d with no mechanical or electrical connect i o n s a n d t h e r e f o r e v e r y little f r i c tion, levitation is p r o d u c e d by magnetic s u s p e n s i o n , b r a k i n g is an int e g r a l p a r t of t h e p r o p u l s i o n u n i t a n d t h e s y s t e m i s self g u i d i n g . W h e n c o m p a r e d with alternative s c h e m e s under development employing w h e e l s on rails, a n d hover c u s h i o n s for s u s p e n s i o n w i t h e v e n a i r - s c r e w s a n d r o c k e t s for p r o p u l s i o n , it c a m e a s a major s u r p r i s e w h e n p l a n s to c l o s e t h e p r o j e c t test s i t e at E a r i t h , Cambridgeshire were announced early this year. Export The reason behind this decision s e e m s ill-defined but rests on one e x p l a n a t i o n by the M i n i s t e r for A e r o space and Shipping, Mr. Heseltine, that the c o n c e i v e d l i n e a r m o t o r train s e r v i c e , g i v i n g s p e e d s of 3 0 0 m . p . h . o n main line routes, offered ". . . n o c o m m e r c i a l u s e for ' t h a t v e h i c l e ' in the United K i n g d o m within the next fifteen y e a r s . " T h e M i n i s t e r n o t o n l y s e e m e d u n w i l l i n g to f o r e c a s t w h a t Britain's transport n e e d s w o u l d be after t h a t p e r i o d b u t d i d n o t refer t o the o n e field that most s u i t ed the linear motored system service characteristic: export. W h a t t h i s s y s t e m o f f e r e d in e x p o r t p o t e n t i a l w a s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y of s e l l i n g a B r i t i s h s y s t e m to l i n k u p W e s t e r n E u r o p e b e f o r e rival p r o j e c t s u n d e r s t u d y in o t h e r E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s r e a c h t h e s t a g e of p e r f e c t i o n to offer v i a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e s . W h e n M r . M a r s h , H e a d of B r i t i s h R a i l s a i d in 1 9 7 2 " W e k n o w a n a w f u l lot a b o u t w h e e l s a n d a lot a b o u t track and track maintenance . . . a rather better p r o p o s i t i o n than banking on something about which we know virtually n o t h i n g , " he avoided the more likely stumbling b l o c k to t h e s c h e m e . R e c e n t l y t h e H e a d of British Rail's research and development d i v i s i o n , Dr. S y d n e y J o n e s , put h i s f i n g e r n e a r e r to t h e t r u t h w h e n h e stated that r e s t r i c t i o n s o n h i g h s p e e d t r a i n s d o n o t l ie in t h e t e c h n o l o g i c a l difficulties alone. T h e m a i n p r o b l e m w a s to b u i l d faster t r a i ns that c o u l d c o p e w i t h t h e e x c e s s i v e c u r v i n g of
e x i s t i n g rail t r a c k s . W h i l s t B r i t i s h Rail development s e e k s to work w i t h i n t h e c o n f i n e s of p r e s e n t f a c i l i ties, by definition, a l i n e a r - m o t o r e d train w o u l d involve c o l o s s a l e x p e n d i t u r e in t r a c k r e p l a c e m e n t , e s s e n t i a l l y along identical routes. Although " w h e e l s on rails" trains would benefit f r o m a t r a c k s t r a i g h t e n i n g p r o g r a m m e , t h e y a r e c o n s e n t to l i v e within the present restrictions, so o f f e r i n g a far c h e a p e r s h o r t t e r m i n vestment. Waste bin A n d s o five a n d a q u a r t e r m i l l i o n p o u n d s a n d t h i r t y y e a r s of r e s e a r c h a n d d e v e l o p m e n t w e r e c c n ~ : g n e d to t h s i n d u s t r i a l w a s t e b i n in F e b r u a r y
ese have started c o n s t r u c t i n g a syst e m t h e y m u s t s o o n f i n d to b e far t o o c o s t l y to b e p r a c t i c a b l e . N e v e r t h e l e s s , in t h e l i g h t of t h e n e w , c l o s e r Europe, high-speed surface transp o r t m u s t c o m e to f r u i t i o n b e f o r e t h e t u r n of t h e c e n t u r y . D e s p i t e t h e i r temporary s e t b a c k , the British t e a m c o m e o u t in a far s t r o n g e r p o s i t i o n than c o u l d be predicted, simply due to a s e r i e s of p a t e n t a n d l i c e n s i n g s h i e l d s that will effectively give their c o m p e t i t o r s n o o p t i o n b u t to s e e k to b u y m a n u f a c t u r i n g r i g h t s . A g a i n t h i s h a s b e e n a c h i e v e d not b y t h e g r a n d r e s e a r c h e s at t h e E a r i t h test t r a c k b u t b y r a d i c a l t h o u g h t , a little l u c k , h a r d graft a n d y e a r s of e x p e r i e n c e b y t h e r e s e a r c h e r s w o r k i n g at
Professor Eric Laithwaite behind a tracked hovercraft display model (picture by courtesy of M a l c o l m M c N e i l l , Daily Mirror). this year. The project h a d a l w a y s b e e n fighting for m o n e y , formerly f r o m t h e r e s t r i c t e d p o c k e t s of t h e National Research and Development C o r p o r a t i o n . T h i s body, w h o s e total r e s o u r c e s a r e l i m i t e d to a b o r r o w i n g c e i l i n g of fifty m i l l i o n p o u n d s , is totally i n a d e q u a t e to s p a w n the four h u n d r e d o r s o p r o j e c t s it h a s to i n v e s t i g a t e e v e r y y e a r . W h i l s t t h e Briti s h s i t e at E a r i t h w a s c l o s i n g its gates, its German counterpart, Krauss-Maffei, already having spent twelve million pounds, was eagerly w a i t i n g to s n a p u p t h e k n o w - h o w a n d p e r s o n n e l so s u d d e n l y flooding the m a r k e t . K r a u s s - M a f f e i h i r e d t e n of t h e E a r i t h t e c h n i c a l staff, a l l of w h o m t u r n e d o u t to b e m e c h a n i c a l e n g i n e e r s not d i r e c t l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e electrical theory involved. High-speed It w a s h e r e t h a t a l m o s t e v e r y o n e m a d e a c o l o s s a l o v e r s i g h t . T o d a y in t h e b a s e m e n t of I m p e r i a l College E l e c t r i c a l E n g i n e e r i n g b l o c k , l ie a l l the a c c u m u l a t e d refinements and g u t s of a p e r f e c t e d system, only waiting for a c u s t o m e r to p r o m o t e its a p p l i c a t i o n . A t p r e s e n t , G e r m a n y , F r a n c e , J a p a n a n d the U.S.A. run similar projects in high s p e e d transp o r t . N o n e of t h e m h a v e a c h i e v e d t h e l e a d g a i n e d at I m p e r i a l C o l l e g e despite nine months having elapsed s i n c e Earith's closure. C o n c e r n must b e g r i p p i n g t h e G e r m a n s a s t h e i r experiments prove to be m o r e a n d m o r e e x p e n s i v e at h i g h e r s p e e d s , proving true predictions Professor L a i t h w a i t e m a d e in t h e p a s t . T h e i r clients, the Ontario Government, have accordingly b e c o m e worried as exemplified by A t l a n t i c telephone c a l l t o verify t h e r u m o u r s w i t h P r o fessor Laithwaite. The F r e n c h , led b y M . B e r t i n , unt i l r e c e n t l y e m p l o y e d a n a i r - s c r e w for p r o p u l s i o n i n s t e a d of a l i n e a r m o t o r , w h i l s t t h e J a p a n -
Imperial C o l l e g e Electrical Engineering Department. O n e m a j o r p r o b l e m in t r a c k development h a s b e e n the c o n s t r u c t i o n of a s u i t a b l e electro-magnetic j o i n t to c o n n e c t a l u m i n i u m s e c t i o n s of t h e b a s e - p l a t e . T h e Americans attempted a l u m i n i u m w e l d i n g to form a c o n t i n u o u s t r a c k a s u s e d in c o n v e n t i o n a l s t e e l t r a c k s . O n t h e first c o l d n i g h t t h e rail w a s r u i n e d b y severe cracking. Professor Laithwaite's team have perfected an electro-magnetic connection which a l l o w s for a n e x p a n s i o n g a p bet w e e n r a i l s of u p to o n e i n c h w i t h out a resulting p o w e r loss. The t h e o r y b e h i n d t h i s i s s o b a s i c t h a t it is h e l d n o a l t e r n a t i v e a n s w e r w i l l b e found, a g a i n leaving Britain with the upper-hand through patenting proc e d u r e s . B u t w h y i s it t h a t f o r e i g n c o m p a n i e s c a n a f f o r d to s p o n s o r i n vestment whilst Britain, with solut i o n s at h a n d , c a n n o t effectively utilise them? Politics A l l i n d i c a t i o n s s h o w that r e m o u n t i n g i n t e r e s t in t h e r e s e a r c h p r o gramme may cause a modified E a r i t h s i t e to r e o p e n . U n d e r t h e previous s c h e m e , a three mile long test t r a c k w a s e n v i s a g e d , m o u n t i n g a h i g h f l o o d b a n k at t h e l a t t e r s t a g e of t h e t h i r d m i l e . It w a s t h e s i n k i n g of c o s t l y p i l e s to s u p p o r t t h i s i n c l i n e that s a p p e d s o m u c h of t h e f i n a n c e . N o w , b u i l d i n g o n l y a s far a s t h e b a s e of t h e e m b a n k m e n t , a t w o a n d a h a l f t r a c k is p l a n n e d for c o n s t r u c t i o n o n a greatly r e d u c e d budget. The scale of t h e test v e h i c l e i s n o t a l w a y s a p p r e c i a t e d , b e i n g s i x t y feet l o n g , t h e h e i g h t of t h r e e m e n a n d c r a m med full of e l e c t r o n i c telemetry equipment transferred directly from the H a r r i e r jump-jet e n a b l i n g surveya n c e of t h e v e h i c l e ' s performance. D u r i n g a visit p r i o r to c l o s u r e , t h e
M i n i s t e r of T r a n s p o r t , M r . P e y t o n , m a d e an o d d c o m m e n t , s a y i n g that obviously the A d v a n c e d Passenger T r a i n w a s further than T r a c k e d Hove r c r a f t , for it ( t h e A P T ) contained s e a t s . T h i s w a s e i t h e r a n off-the-cuff c o m m e n t of a n i l l - i n f o r m e d a d m i n i s t r a t o r o r that of a s h r e w d m a n ; P r o fessor Laithwaite's philosophy for y e a r s h a s b e e n t h a t to s e l l a s c h e m e y o u m u s t t a k e t h e p a r t of a f a i r m a n and give rides.
I n e v i t a b l y , to s e l l t h e m e r i t s of t h e system, Professor Laithwaite has b e e n f o r c e d to enter t h e b o r d e r l a n d s of p o l i t i c s , b e c o m i n g a s h e p r e f e r s t h e t e r m , a t e c h n i c a l " d i p l o m a t " . In t h i s r o l e h e h o p e s t o a c h i e v e o n e of three p o s s i b l e s t a g e s for future i n vestment. F i r s t l y a n d at p r e s e n t t h e o n l y o p e r a b l e c h o i c e , is to s e l l p a t e n t i n g r i g h t s to c o m p e t i n g i n v e s t o r s a n d live o n t h e p r o f i t s of t h e k n o w - h o w alone. Preferably a n d most likely, B r i t a i n w i l l m a n a g e to r e a c h t h e p r o d u c t i o n s t a g e of a l l r o l l i n g s t o c k but t r a c k c o n s t r u c t i o n w i l l b e u n d e r t a k e n by a c o n s o r t i u m large e n o u g h a n d w i t h s u f f i c i e n t n e r v e to v e n t u r e raising the e n o r m o u s c a p i t a l investm e n t n e c e s s a r y . A l m o s t i n e v i t a b l y it s e e m s this c o n s o r t i u m will be b a s e d in G e r m a n y . F i n a l l y . B r i t i s h c o m m e r cial concerns could be responsible for c o n s t r u c t i o n of a l l s t a g e s of t h e project t h o u g h this is a l m o s t c e r t a i n ly a n o n - s t a r t e r for t h e r e a s o n s c i t e d in s t a g e t w o . Precipice A s a m a n b o r n in L a n c a s h i r e , P r o fessor Laithwaite remembers the d a y s of d e p r e s s i o n w h e n a d e c l i n i n g t e x t i l e i n d u s t r y t h r e w p e o p l e of a l l c l a s s e s into d e s p a i r a n d poverty.. W h i l s t t h e n e w m a c h i n e r y of t h e nineteenth century produced the h e y - d a y of t h e c o t t o n i n d u s t r y , c o m p l a c e n c y h a d set in c o n c e r n i n g a n y n e e d t o a l l o w for f u r t h e r d e v e l o p ment. And so, while contentment reigned, the raw-material p r o d u c i n g c o u n t r i e s simply built on b o r r o w e d experience and carried away the golden egg. In Professor Laithw a i t e ' s v i e w , B r i t a i n ' s t e c h n i c a l efforts stand on this p r e c i p i c e again. It w o u l d b e t r a g i c to s e e a n o t h e r i n d u s t r y d i e in s o s i m i l a r a m a n n e r b y t h e e n d of t h i s c e n t u r y o r s o o n e r . W i t h t h i s in m i n d , P r o f e s s o r L a i t h waite has increasingly c o m b i n e d his a c a d e m i c r o l e w i t h t h a t of t o w n c r i e r . In h i s o w n w o r d s , t o t e l l t h e w o r l d that y o u h a v e s o m e t h i n g w o r t h l o o k i n g at is g u a r a n t e e d n o a t t e n t i o n . T o get o n t h e b i g g e s t o r a n g e b o x a r o u n d a n d shout w e ' v e the greatest, the fastest, the c h e a p e s t , the best p o s s i b l e c o n c e i v a b l e in t h e w h o l e of c r e a t i o n , s t a n d s y o u a c h a n c e of someone taking a cautious glimpse at w h a t y o u a r e p e d d l i n g . T o l e n d h i s point m o r e a p p e a l h e often s u m m a rizes w i t h a q u o t e f r o m W . S . G i l b e r t . If y o u w i s h in t h i s w o r l d t o advance your powers you're bound to enhance. Y o u m u s t s h o u t it a n d s t u m p it, A n d blow your own trumpet. O r trust me, y o u h a v e n ' t a c h a n c e . A.Z.
STOP PRESS In k e e p i n g w i t h its p o l i c y o f f a i t h in the e x i s t i n g rail network, the Government yesterday c o m m i t t ed itself to a ÂŁ891m. i n v e s t m e n t p l a n o v e r the n e x t five y e a r s to b e s p e n t o n i m p r o v i n g rather t h a n e x p a n d i n g p r e s e n t services a n d guaranteeing the continuation of the A P T project. Nov. 29th, '73 A.Z.
December 4th,
1973
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DECIDE!
NUS Conference, Margate, November 1973 'Students were "absolutely m a d " to t h i n k rent s t r i k e s w o u l d f o r c e the Government to pay higher grants, L o r d A n n a n , a s e n i o r m e m b e r of t h e university 'Chancellor's Committee said yesterday'. The Telegraph ' T h e IC d e l e g a t i o n h a d not r e a l l y g o t t o g e t h e r b e f o r e l e a v i n g for M a r g a t e a n d h a d no d e c i d e d p o l i c y . T h e s m a l l contribution m a d e by our delegation was not w o r t h ithe £250 spent'. Norman Sayles ' W e w o n a £20 g r a n t i n c r e a s e W e w o n a £20 g r a n t i n c r e a s e W e w o n a £20 g r a n t i n c r e a s e ! ' NUS H a v e a l o o k at our l i s t of d e l e g a t e s , w h o are J o h n E a s t , S o n i a H o c h f e l d e r , A l a s d h a i r C a m p b e l l , A l f P e r r y or Trevor Phillips representative of Imperial College o p i n i o n ? Perhaps D a v e S i n c l a i r c a n be c o n s i d e r e d to be t h e t r u e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of IC; I never heard h i m c o m e out strongly on any point! The Delegation was p i c k e d m a i n l y f r o m the m i n o r i t y of p e o p l e w h o t a k e a n i n t e r e s t in U n i o n affairs a n d m a k e s u r e p e o p l e hear t h e i r l e f t w i n g p o l i c i e s . H o w e v e r our modest c o n t r i b u t i o n itself helped m a k e u p t h e s i l e n t m a j o r i t y at M a r g a t e . T h e a t m o s p h e r e at t h e c o n f e r e n c e a n d the v i e w s put f o r w a r d c a n n o w b e a r r i v e d at w i t h a little s t r e t c h of t h e i m a g i n a t i o n . A t t e n d i n g t h e c o n f e r e n c e a n d l i s t e n i n g to t h e o v e r e m o t i o n a l s p e e c h e s a n d d e b a t e s , one g e t s the i m p r e s s i o n that s t u d e n t s a r e r e a d y t o l e a v e a l l a n d j o i n in a m a s s i v e u p r i s i n g t o 'destroy t h e u n j u s t c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m a n d a l l its e v i l s t h i s moment. One returns to College, i m patiently a w a i t i n g the U n i o n General m e e t i n g w h e n t h e r e s u l t s of f o u r d a y s o f h a r d w o r k w i l l be p u t t o t h e c o l l e g e , o n l y t o f i n d t h a t the f e w Who d o t u r n u p are not p a r t i c u l a r l y i m p r e s s e d b y What t h e y a r e s u p p o s e d to h a v e v o t e d f o r ! W a s it w o r t h g o i n g through all the d i s c u s s i o n s a n d making a l l t h e r e s o l u t i o n s ? A s t h e N U S n e v e r t i r e o f s a y i n g , t h e r e w a s a £20 i n c r e a s e in g r a n t s l a s t y e a r !
1 have lost t r a c k of the number of p o ' n t s of o r d e r r a i s e d . W h e n c o n f e r ence d i d get d o w n to debating, the t i m e a l l o w e d for s p e e c h e s w a s H to 2 minutes. T h e r e w a s no t i m e t o a r g u e p o i n t s l o g i c a l l y , so t h e s p e a k e r s h a d t~> rely o n t h e i m m e d i a t e e m o t i o n a l a p p e a l of t h e i r s p e e c h e s a n d u s u a l l y r u n t h r o u g h the w e l l r e p e a t e d p o l i c y of t h e i r p a r t i c u l a r p a r t y . Is it d e m o c r a t i c t o get b o g g e d d o w n in b u r e a u c r a c y a n d v o t e on motions w i t h o u t h a v i n g t h e t i m e to d i s c u s s them i n any detail, and what g o o d are o u r i d e a l , d e m o c r a t i c r e s o l u t i o n s if w e c a n n o t e n f o r c e t h e m ? P e r h a p s t h e s e c o n f e r e n c e s are t h e i d e a l t r a i n ing g r o u n d s f o r o u r future p o l i t i c i a n s Who w a n t to l e a r n h o w decisions s h o u l d be m a d e ! Our Journey If t h e IC d e l e g a t i o n w a s not repres e n t a t i v e of IC, i t c e r t a i n l y w a s very r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of o u r left w i n g g r o u p s ! In o u r l i t t l e v a n w e h a d t h e m o s t m i l i t a n t m e m b e r s of t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Marxist Group, the workers revolutionary party, a n d the communist p a r t y . It w a s i n e v i t a b l e that e v e r y o n e s h o u l d try to m a k e h i s o w n opinion h e a r d , a s t h e o n l y o p i n i o n w o r t h y of the 4iC d e l e g a t i o n a n d w i t h i n a very short t i me battles h a d been w a g e d over all the burning topics. Needless to s a y , n o o n e c h a n g e d h i s m i n d , l e a r n e d a n y t h i n g or e v e n l i s t e n e d very c a r e f u l l y . A t t e n t i o n s o o n w a n d e r e d to t w o O - L e v e l s t u d e n t s , the d e l e g a t e s f r o m P a d d i n g t o n C o l l e g e of F u r t h e r Education, Who w e r e getting a lift from us. They seemed to s h o w great r e s p e c t a n d a w e for t h e s e i m p o r t a n t s o u n d i n g students a n d tried their best to l e a r n e v e r y t h i n g ! O t h e r m o r e s e n s i b l e m e m b e r s of t h e d e l e g a t i o n t u r n e d to t h e (two F r e n c h i n s t i t u t e g i r l s in the v a n . P i e r s C o r b y n ' s n e i g h b o u r w a s s o o n O b s e r v e d to b e s n o r i n g a w a y , w h i l e 'the o t h e r c a r r i e d o n w i t h h e r b o o k . F o r t u n a t e l y f o r us N o r m d i d n ' t pay m u c h attention to all the uproar, a n d s t e a d i l y d r o v e o n to M a r g a t e .
E v e n a c c e p t i n g t h e fact that s t u d e n t s a r e not g o i n g t o b e w i l d l y enthusiastic about what conference d e c i d e s , there is s t i l l s o m e t h i n g to be s a i d for ft. ft g i v e s p e o p l e a c h a n c e to e x p r e s s t h e i r v i e w s f r e e l y a n d see b o w d e m o c r a c y does ndt work on a large s c a l e ! A f t e r t h e real w o r k h a s b e e n d o n e b y t h e c o m p o s i t i n g meetings i n d e c i d i n g upon the form the ( m o t i o n a n d its a m e n d m e n t s are to ta1<e n o t h i n g r e m a i n s t o b e d o n e but for t h e c r u d e d e m a g o g u e s t o p o l a r i z e the arguments completely a n d w h i p up p e o p l e ' s fears and emotions. Napoleon's sheep then start bleating a n d a d e c i s i o n i s m a d e depending on h o w far the delegates' e m o t i o n s have been t o u c h e d . The conference tries t o b e d e m o c r a t i c in i t s p r o c e d u r e , but is t a n g l e d up i n its o w n m e s h of l a w s and standing orders. Countless challenges are m a d e to the chair a n d h o u r s are s p e n t s o r t i n g o u t t h e proc e d u r e . T h e l o n g e s t w r a n g l e at the l a s t c o n f e r e n c e took a W h o l e h o u r to sort out. 1 w i l l give a short description of what happened.
O n c e at M a r g a t e e v e r y o n e r u s h e d off t o t h e c o m p o s i t i n g m e e t i n g s o n the s u b j e c t t h e y w e r e m o s t i n t e r e s t e d i n . A c o m p o s i t i n g m e e t i n g is w h e r e the real w o r k is d o n e . O u t o f the numerous motions and amendments, the m o s t e f f e c t i v e are s e l e c t e d a n d the l i n e o f a t t a c k d e c i d e d u p o n . T h e e x a c t w o r d i n g of a m e n d m e n t s , the best p s y c h o l o g i c a l t,me of day to forward them and the proposers have to b e d e c i d e d u p o n . N o t b e . n g a p o l i tical a n i m a l I c h o s e the gaysoc c o m positing m e e t n g . The great grievance with gaysoc seemed to be Steve P a r r y ' s b e h a v i o u r at the s u m m e r F e s t i v a l o f Y o u t h in B e r l . n . H e h a d n o t t h o u g h t the c a u s e of g a y s o c r e l e v a n t to t h e d e l e g a t i o n p o l . c y , w a s a l l e g e d t o 'nave s t r u c k P e t e r T a t c h e l l , t h e gaysoc m e m b e r , and torn h i s placard saying 'Gaysoc supports socialism'. The great point to d e c i d e upon w a s w h e t h e r t o c e n s u r e S t e v e , a s k for a removal of his international responsibilities, or his resignation. No one s e e m e d to b e c o n c e r n e d w i t h the f u t u r e o f G a y s o c a n d (its d e v e l o p ments. W e l l , as ' A l l ' s a i d 'People w i l l be b i t c h y I'
1 Vote on a certain amendment — result close. 2 C o u n t — 3 4 1 for, 3 1 3 a g a i n s t . 3 C a l l for c a r d v o t e ( d e l e g a t i o n v o t e written on card). 4 C h a i r m a n ' s refusal. 5 C h a l l e n g e to c h a i r m a n ' s r u l i n g . 6 V o t e on c h a l l e n g e c l o s e . 7 C o u n t : 2 2 9 for, 2 6 6 a g a i n s t , 7 a b stentions. C h a i r m a n ' s ruling overruled. 8 (Card v o t e o n a m e n d m e n t . T h e Other c h a l l e n g e s t o o k a n y t h i n g f r o m 1 0 to 4 5 m i n u t e s t o r e s o l v e a n d
C o n f e r e n c e b e g a n at 7 . 3 0 w i t h John Randall, the'President's address. The f o l l o w i n g excerpt w i l l give a n i d e a of J o h n R a n d a l l ' s s p e e c h a n d h i s conference. " A s our c a m p a i g n gathers strength w e h e a r a g a i n the o l d c r y that s t u d e n t s a r e a -privileged e l i t e a n d s h o u l d b e g r a t e f u l for t h e i r p i t t a n c e . T h i s is a n a r g u m e n t that w e h a v e e n c o u n t e r e d m a n y t i m e s in t h e p a s t , but it has a sinister undertone to it that i s w o r t h y o f c a r e f u l e x a m i n a t i o n . If e d u cation i s seen as a privilege and not
as a r i g h t t h e n w h a t is t h e p o s i t i o n of t h o s e w h o d o n o t f o r m the e l i te group, in a complex modern society a m a j o r c o n s t r a i n t u p o n d e m o c r a c y is the i n a b i l i t y of t h e o r d i n a r y p e r s o n to C h a l l e n g e d e c i s i o n s of G o v e r n m e n t , supposedly taken on highly technical grounds, as w e l l as those decisions that a r e r a i s e d in a m o r e s t r a i g h t forward manner on basic political principles. T o deny a c c e s s to e d u c a t i o n t o s u b s t a n t i a l s e c t i o n s of t h e c o m m u n i t y is to n e g a t e t h e s p i r i t of d e m o c r a c y . B u t it i s not s u r p r i s i n g that t h i s ( G o v e r n m e n t is not g r e a t l y i n t e r e s t e d in h a v i n g an e d u c a t e d a n d informed electorate. W e have seen it r a i s e c o u n c i l h o u s e rents, a n d c l a i m to h a v e d o n e so in the i n t e r e s t s o f t e n a n t s . W e h a v e s e e n it c h a m p i o n the c a u s e of i n d u s t r i a l d e m o c r a c y b y s e e k i n g to s m a s h t h e t r a d e u n i o n s . W e (have s e e n it c l a i m that r i s i n g p r i c e s a r e part o f a p r o g r a m m e t o c u r b i n f l a t i o n . W e h a v e h e a r d it p r o m o t i n g p e a c e , w h i l s t s e l l i n g a r m s to P o r t u g a l . W e h a v e s e e n it u p h o l d d e m o c r a c y b y h e a d i n g the r u s h t o r e c o g n i s e t h e f a s c i s t j u n t a in C h i l e . W e h a v e h e a r d it d e s c r i b e t h e b i g g e s t t r a d e d e f i c i t in h i s t o r y a s a p r o b l e m of s u c c e s s a n d w e h a v e w a t c h e d it e x p a n d e d u c a t i o n by s l o w i n g the rate o f g r o w t h . S u c h a G o v e r n m e n t w o u l d h a r d l y w i s h i t s e l e c t o r a t e to see its c a t a l o g u e of h y p o c r i s y for w h a t it i s . T o d e n y that e d u c a t i o n is a right of a l l is to f o s t e r t h e m y t h o f t h e i n fallible and omnipotent government a n d i s to d e v a l u e a n d d e b a s e d e m o cracy". Reports and Frolics A f t e r t h e a d d r e s s c a m e a lot of boring events like M i n u t e s , Ratificat i o n of P o l i c y , R e p o r t s , A n n o u n c e m e n t s , B u s i n e s s 'and 'more R e p o r t s . I t o o k the o p p o r t u n i t y t o g o r o u n d to t h e b a c k of t h e h a l l w h e r e a l l i m a g inable groups like liberal students, Gaysoc, Palestinians, Greeks, Health s t u d e n t s , N U S a n d of c o u r s e a l l fact i o n s of t h e l e f t h a d s t a l l s a n d w e r e selling books and publications. One c o u l d have arguments along any lines w i t h the a t t e n d a n t s w h o s e e m e d to h a v e n o t h i n g b e t t e r t o d o than defend their beliefs. T h e bar w a s always f u l l a n d t h e coffee 'bar w a s kept b u s y s e l l i n g c u p s of coffee for B p w h e n e v e r it w a s o p e n . G i v e n a c h o i c e 1 w o u l d h a v e s p e n t a l l m y t i m e i n the c o m p o siting meetings a n d w i t h the people Who r e a l l y g o t t h i n g s d o n e , b u t N o r m a n s e e m e d to t h i n k that a F e l i x reporter w h o d i d not attend the confere n c e full t i m e (9.00 a . m . — 1 2 noon) w a s not w o r t h h i s b r e a d , so f r o m t h e n on I spent m y t i m e dutifully sitting With N o r m ( o f t e n w i t h a l l o t h e r d e l e Continued DERELICT
g a t e s e l s e w h e r e a t t e n d i n g to th< o w n i n t e r e s t s ) t i c k i n g the motic and a m e n d m e n t s as they w e r e carried, defeated or deleted. A s c o n f e r e n c e d i d not e n d u n ^ l m i d n i g h t , a l l s o c i a l a c t i v i t i e s h a d to be p o s t p o n e d to t h e e a r l y h o u r s o f the m o r n i n g . T h e b a r in our h o t e l w a s p a c k e d u n t i l a b o u t 5 a . m . a n d the b o a r d left m e e t i n g a r r a n g e d o n F r i d a y w e n t on u n t i l 3 . T h e r e w a s g r e a t u p r o a r o v e r t h i s m e e t i n g a s the I M G w e r e not a l l o w e d , so P i e r s of c o u r s e t r i e d t o break in w i t h o u t m u c h s u c c e s s . A door w a s torn d o w n i n the process I believe! D i s c o s a n d parties w e r e a l s o a r r a n g e d o n a l l the n i g h t s . O n S u n d a y t h e h o t e l bar w a s t a k e n o v e r c o m p l e t e l y by o u r o v e r s t r a i n e d , drunk revolutionary friends. The b e a u t y of t h e e x p r e s s i o n o n t h e i r f a c e s a s they c r i e d R e v o l u t i o n ! R e v o l u t i o n ! c o u l d o n l y be a p p r e c i a t e d by an outside observer as h e fought h i s w a y t h r o u g h t h e m ! T h e next m o r n i n g I w a s c o n f r o n t e d by the h a v o c they had c a u s e d . A l l the lace curtains h a d been p u l l e d d o w n , a n d there w e r e broken bottles a n d cigarette ends everywhere. Piers Corbyn I am t o l d slept on a b o r r o w e d b e d s t u c k h a l f w a y into a c u p b o a r d . H e i n v i t e d s i x o t h e r of h i s f r i e n d s to s h a r e the h o s p i t a l i t y of the t w o o r i g i n a l i n h a b i t a n t s of the r o o m ! Grants T h e N a t i o n a l U n i o n of S t u d e n t s h a s c a l l e d for a n a t i o n a l rent s t r i k e f r o m J a n u a r y 1st in s u p p o r t o f a l l d e m a n d s in t h e g r a n t s c a m p a i g n . N e g o t i a t i o n s w e r e c a l l e d futile a n d the N U S w i l l withdraw from talks with the D.E.S. after t h e first s t a g e of t h e T r i e n n i a l Review procedure. U n i t y of p o l i c y a n d a c t i o n w a s t h a m a i n p o i n t d e c i d e d u p o n at the c o n f e r e n c e . A n a t i o n a l rent s t r i k e e n c o u r ages all colleges to participate, has greater impact, a n d makes v i c t i m i s a t i o n difficult. T h e e q u a l p r i o r i t y g i v e n to a l l d e m a n d s e n s u r e s t h e i n v o l v e m e n t of a large b o d y of s t u d e n t s . T h e d i s i n t e r e s t e d n e s s of u n i v e r s i t y s t u d e n t s in t h e d i s c r e t i o n a r y a w a r d s , the first d e m a n d i n the g r a n t s c a m p a i g n , w a s b l a m e d f o r last y e a r ' s f a i l u r e s . A m o t i o n of c e n s u r e w a s p a s s e d o n t h e e x e c u t i v e for t h e i r h a n d l i n g of the c a m p a i g n a n d f o r t h e i r l a c k o f 14 leadership over the November work in. A l t h o u g h Imperial C o l l e g e w a s one of t h e p r o p o s e r s of the g r a n t s m o t i o n , it a b s t a i n e d o v e r t h e v o t e b e c a u s e o f the c a l l for a n a t i o n a l rent s t r i k e . T h e u n i o n p o l i c y of l o c a l a c t i o n is a p p a r ent f r o m the w a y in w h i c h t h e d e c i s i o n o v e r t h e rent s t r i k e h a s b e e n left to individual Halls and student Cont. on paqe 8 houses.
from page 2 CARS
F r o m time to t i me, c a r s are a b a n d o n e d o n the College campus, where they rapidly bec o m e d e r e l i c t a n d attract the attentions of persons who cannibalise them for spare parts. Eventually they are d i s p o s e d o f at c o n s i d e r a b l e cost to the College. Stud e n t s a n d staff are a s k e d to c o - o p e r a t e b y not leaving their c a r s on the car park unless authorised to do so. S h o u l d they require any a d v i c e on h o w t h e y c a n d i s p o s e of fheir unroadworthy vehicle to the Borough C o u n c i l Car D u m p they s h o u l d seek the a d v i c e of t h e S e c u r i t y Officer.
Felix No. 3 4 9 ; Tuesday, 4th December
1973.
Editor: Alasdhair Campbell. F e l i x Office i s o n t h e 4 t h floor of t h e U n i o n B u i l d i n g a d d r e s s c/o Imperial C o l l e g e U n i o n , P r i n c e C o n sort R o a d , Lo ndo n S W 7 2 3 B ; telephone:
01-589
5 1 1 1 ext. 2 2 2 9 ('P.O.), 2 8 8 1 (Int.). M e s s a g e s ext 2 1 5 4 (P.O.) 2 2 3 2
(Int.). C o n t r i b u t i o n s a n d
Ihelp for ' F e l i x a r e a l w a y s
welcome.
Advertising representatives are University Representation. Square,
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B o a r d , a n d is p r i n t e d b y F . B a i l e y a n d S o n L t d . , Dursley, Glos GL11 4 B L . A l l rights reserved. ©
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P e l i x is a f o u n d e r m e m b e r o f t h e L o n d o n S t u d e n t P r e s s A s s o c i a t i o n ((R.I.P.).
December 4th, 1973
FELIX
Page 6
P.ft.W.N.O.
Nick Paynes, Phisiks One on R.C.S. Float-.
I w o u l d like to thank a l l thosa people that found time amongst the lack of General Studies lectures to attend what should have been the most important Union Meeting this term. Instead, because of the lack of people, I h a v e n o w g o t to start again advertising A N O T H E R union meeting to be held this THURSDAY in the UNION C O N C E R T H A L L , s t a r t i n g at 1.00 p . m . T h e a g e n d a is as before with the most important i t e m baling t h e f o r m a tion o f a T E N A N T S A S S O C I ATION (hopefully). During this week, d u e to the fact that s o m e o n e h a s k i n d l y v o l unteered t o a c t ias U n i o n P u b l i c i t y Officer, t h e r e i s a strong possibility that there will b e even more publicity t h a n t h e r e w a s l a s t w e e k . If a large number of people turn up there is an even stronger possibility that this will escalate and attract more people. The reason the same motions turn up every t i m e is that they a r e carried over from meeting to meeting b e c a u s e of q u o r u m c h a l lenges. If y o u d o n ' t want t h e m to c o m e up every t i m e , then come to the Union Meeting a n d either pass or reject t h e m . T h e s o o n e r w e take a d e c i s i o n o n t h e m the sooner w e c a n m o v e on to fresh business. Don't forget UNION MEETING THIS THURSDAY IN T H E C O N CERT HALL.
BEIT H A L L B A S E M E N T T h e c o l l e g e fire officer is very w o r r i e d about t h e rubbish being stored in the Beit basement. O n inspection With h i m last w e e k I agreed w i t h h i m . T h e r e lis a l a r g e a c c u mulation of rubbish, clothes and other o d d s a n d ends that o u g h t to b e r e m o v e d . Therefore (and this 5s mainly directed to those that are actually storing items down there) I have proposed the f o l l o w i n g : 1. If t h e r e i s a n y thing that y o u d o n ' t want thrown away will you please let m e k n o w b y F r i d a y , 2 1 s t D e c e m b e r . 2 . Wlil'l t h e o w n ers of the o l d c l o t h e s p l e a s e arrange for t h e m to be d e l i v e r e d to t h e i r u l t i m a t e d e s tination. 3 . A l l volunteers willing to help c l e a r t h e area will be most w e l c o m e . POSTER STEALERS I have n o t i c e d , as have a number of people, that there seems to b e a rash of Poster Removing occurring at the present time. T h e removal of a n o t i c e i s n o t 'a d e m o c r a t i c way of expressing your disagreement with the views ex-
pressed by the people w h o p u t t h e poster u p i n t h e first p l a c e . If y o u w i s h t o d i s agree then g o along to the meeting advertised or write a letter t o t h e p e o p l e c o n cerned or other s u c h similar actions. This is especially true w h e n posters advertising U n i o n Meetings are r e moved. B y doing this y o u are depriving someone of bis right to t h e k n o w l e d g e that such a meeting exists. MECH. ENG. REP. Mr. Richard Li. Lolley resigned on the 7th November from the above post. A n o m ination paper w a s posted f o r the required 8 college days. When this was removed there w a s only one n o m i n a tion, that o f M r . M a r t i n Philo of M e c h a n i c a l E n g i n e e r i n g 3 . I therefore deem M r . Philo to b e e l e c t e d . C O P U L A T I O N IN T H E UNION CHAIR STORE A t the last C o u n c i l meeting held o n M o n d a y , 1 2 t h N o v e m b e r it w a s b r o u g h t t o the attention of the m e m bers present that people b a d been seen copulating i n the Union Chair Store (beneath the stage). A l t h o u g h the disc u s s i o n at t h i s p o i n t w a s a bit u n c l e a r there s e e m e d to be a general consensus that this w a s not really t h e right p l a c e f o r It. O n e o f t h e r e a sons for this is that it c o u l d c o n s t i t u t e a fire h a z a r d (sort that one out if y o u c a n ) . Could all those people w h o regularly use the chair store for copulation therefore cease to do so immediately. U N I O N LIFT Thos e of y o u w h o regularly u s e the U n i o n b u i l d i n g and especially its facilities on the upper floors m a y have n o t i c e d b y n o w that t h e lift is o u t of o r d e r . T h e r e a s o n for t h i s is s i m p l e . Someone (or maybe something) has kindly removed the control p l a t e f r o m i n s i d e . T h e lift is an o l d o n e a n d parts are h a r d to c o m e b y . B e c a u s e of t h i s it m a y h e E a s t e r b e f o r e the lift is b a s k i n o p e r a t i o n . I hope that ail y o u people that have to walk up the stairs several times a w e e k think about this. Maybe o n e of you somewhere iknows h a s the m i s s i n g item. who Just think, three months w i t h o u t a lift in t h e U n i o n adds up to an awful lot o f stair climbing. I'm glad I v e r y r a r e l y h a v e to g o a b o v e the first level. P. A .
WADSWORTH, Hon. Secretary.
COME TO THE FAIR 8th A n n u a l International F a i r , 1973 City and Guilds
Photos by Clive Dewey
ICU Overseas' Students Committee
CHRISTMAS PARTY hursday December 6th Physics Level 8 T radiiional Christmas Fare, mince pies,
talk etc.
Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th December 7.00 p.m. onwards to be visited b y H . M . Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother 34 International Pavilions, Enrobars, Raffles, Tombola, Hon r l y entertainments Bistrotheque, 3 Restaurants and Discotheque International Students House, 229 Great Portland St., London W l Tel. 636-8471 (opp Gt. Portland St. tube station) contact Ida Closer, Physics P.G. for further details. Physics Room 1012e
December 4th, 1973
The
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Sporting Life
I. C. Golfing Society Match Report for 28th November W i t h the w i n d h o w l i n g a n d t h e first s n o w flakes f a l l i n g o v e r S o u t h Kensington the l.C. Golf Team headed for the c o u n t r y h o p i n g to g a i n some respite. As we drove towards New M a i den w e h a d hoped that the W i n d w o u l d s l a c k e n and the s u n appear as Tony Blackburn had indicated on the radio o n l y t h a t m o r n i n g . It d i d n o t ; 'in f a c t it b e c a m e worse. R i c h , driving his Land-Rover as o n l y h e can tried to c h e c k t h i s deterioration by cutting down dead-end lanes and even heading back t o L o n d o n . A l a s ! it w a s ail i n v a i n a n d by the time the Kingston Poly c a p t a i n g r e e t e d u s at M a i d e n G . C . our appetite for c o m p e t i t i o n h a d become sowewhat frozen. W h i l e the opposition stood s h i v e r i n g o n the 1st t e e t h e l . C . t e a m helped themselves to some excellent ham sandwiches (with and without mustard!) as w e l l a s a f e w s h o t s of whisky. G i v e Pemberton was upset to discover (hat t h e c l u b p o s s e s s e d no r a w o n i o n s , k n o w i n g f u l l w e l l that h i s g o l f i n g performance without o n i o n s w o u l d be s i m i l a r t o P o p e y e ' s s t r e n g t h behaviour without spinach. H o w e v e r the thought of the c o l d a f t e r n o o n a w a i t ing h i m s o o n c o o l e d h i m
down. For tactical reasons the c a p t a i n insisted on the team s t a y i n g indoors for at least h a l f a n h o u r reasoning that the oppos i t i o n ' s f e e t w o u l d toy t h e n be p a r t of t h e l o c a l pack ice. H e w a s not far w r o n g . W a l k i n g out to the first tee the c a p t a i n d e c i d e d he c o u l d n o t p l a y more than twelve holes in s u c h c o n d i t i o n s . He w o u l d therefore have to slaughter his opponent quickly. T h i s he d u l y did, ably aided and abetted b y h i s opponent who, on finding himself f i v e d o w n after seven holes, decided against a c o m e b a c k a n d s l i d to a n eight a n d six defeat. T h i s w h o l e m a t c h took little o v e r a n h o u r a n d it w a s not u n t i l a l m o s t a n h o u r later, w h i l s t the c a p t a i n was warming his socks b y t h e o p e n f i r e in t h e l o u n g e , t h a t t h e n e x t of the 'Nordic Braves' skated in. This warrior was none other than new cap Mike Strickland showing a broad four and three Victory smile, a s m i l e that h e w a s u n a b l e to a l t e r u n t i l he h a d poured a couple of s t e a m i n g h o t c u p s of tea d o w n his glacier-ridden throat. Darkness fell and the resting competitors grew anxious. Where was superstar Bill Calderwood, Richdrover Brown,
Clive Pembonion and R i c h a r d Waddilove? C o u l d they be lost? Our fears f a d e d as dinner was served and soon we did not c a r e . It w a s w h i l s t in t h i s p l e a s a n t spirit that Bill (alias God) c a m e in, an obv i o u s victor by three a n d two. 'Drover' Brown followed him, having halved his match. Old 'Land R i c h ' h a d really cut things fine, being t h r e e d o w n w i t h f o u r to play. S o o n after this Richard Waddilove came in, an easy victor by three a n d t w o (repaying the f a i t h t h e c o m m i t t e e h a d h a d in s e l e c t i n g h i m . This lad shows great promise!) W h e n dinner w a s over w e all sat b a c k a n d relaxed by d i s c u s s i n g the 'Energy C r i s i s ' in front of a l a r g e e l e c t r i c h e a t er. W h i l s t i n t h e p r o c e s s of totting up the score Bill noticed w e were one p o i n t s h o r t . It w a s t h e n that w e recalled that C l i v e h a d not a r r i v e d in yet. I m m e d i a t e l y the t w o s i d e s d e c i d e d to s e n d out a s e a r c h party. W h e n all w a s organised M i k e Strickland broke in ( l o o k i ng out the w i n d o w time) saying, at the 'Jeeze, it's still s n o w i n g and looks damned c o l d ! ' The search party sat down again and waited. O n the stroke of f i v e Clive staggered in a complete w r e c k . H i s golf
bag w a s frozen to h i s b a c k , h i s h a i r c o v e r e d in snow. Before he collapsed, knocking over my w h i s k y a s he d i d s o (a b a d m o v e ) he m u t t e r e d through his sleet-infested jaw 'Lost!' Pouncing onto the frozen onion eater we nursed him b a c k to l i f e w i t h i n j e c t i o n s of b r a n d y . When he c a m e to w e a s k e d him ' W h y the hell d i d y o u s t a y o u t in the d a r k n e s s a n d c o l d if y o u w e r e g o i n g t o l o s e ? ' It w a s then that h e expounded on how he was o n e d o w n after s e v e n teen h o l e s a n d s i n c e his opponent was clearly l o s i n g h i s w a y in the darkness he felt he c o u l d t i e t h e m a t c h at t h e last h o l e . T h u s he w h o p p e d his f i n a l drive straight d o w n the m i d d l e w h i l s t his opponent putted h i s w a y up the fairway, k e e p i n g the b a l l c l e a r l y in s i g h t . Clive w a l k e d up to where his ball s h o u l d have been and did not s e e it. H e n c e he h a d t o o o n cede the hole and match no-good-son-ofto h i s a-polygun opponent. That Give's match was anepic History will undoubtedly show. Ind e e d , a l t h o u g h the s e a s o n is y e t y o u n g I h a v e little d o u b t that w h e n the h i s t o r i a n s c o m e to review the season, G i v e ' s m a t c h W i l l be regarded as his finest hour. R i c h ' s h i s nearest h o u r , a n d for t h e s k i p p e r his c o l d e s t hour. The match as a Whole will s t a n d a s a t r i b u t e to t h e q u a l i t y of g u t s m a n k i n d in a l l its f o r m s c a n d e m o n s t r a t e ; e v e n as s t u dents. Final Result: l.C. won Team: Nigel Foster ( C a p t ) , Bill Calderwood, Rich Brown, Mike Strickland, G i v e Pemberton, and Richard W a d d i l o v e
WHICH WAY NOW? CROSS COUNTRY CLUB REPORT Last Wednesday, a consortium of twelve intrepid cross-country r u n n e r s set off for t h e p o l a r w a s t e s of P o t t e r s Bar in w h a t c a n only be termed 'a conglomerat i o n of o d d s a n d e n d s ' — otherwise k n o w n as a n R.C.C. minibus. With Steve W e b b once again proving that this contrapt i o n c o u l d in f a c t m o v e , d e s p i t e t h e f a c t that h e was flying around alarmingly on a sliding seat, w e f o u n d o u r s e l v e s at t h e V e t s C o l l e g e at the ridiculously early hour of 2 o'clock. Cross-country club efficiency w a s o n c e a g a i n d i s p l a y e d w h e n the V e t s captain — and also a U . L . o f f i c i a l , w h i c h explains everything—asked u s When w e h a d been invited, as though we w e r e n ' t s u p p o s e d to be running. Despite the abs e n c e of G . Imp, t h e m i s understanding w a s cleared up and along with L.S.E., Vets and B r u n e i , l . C . l i n e d u p to
f a c e bat t le w i t h the nearArctic conditions—Pad s a y s h e is w o r k i n g o n a centrally heated jock s t r a p as c e r t a i n e x t r e m i t i e s t e n d to f r e e z e u p w h e n it g e t s so c o l d . The course was 5 m i l e s of p l o u g h e d f i e l d , numerous stiles and barbed wire fences, woods and railway embankments, and anything else you care to think of. Unfortunately, the snow obliterated many of the flour m a r k i n g s , a n d a n y n u m b e r of c o n w e r e h e l d to ferences d e c i d e w h i c h w a y t o go, and m a t t e r s w e r e not helped When workmen showed us the wrong way. Rob A l l i n s o n , once a g a i n , l e d l . C . h o m e in 6th place, and would have done even better in P a d ' s w e l l i e s . Then Ellis in followed Ian 12th place and Paul Clarke in 14th. Rich 'Hair Artist' Harrington c a m e in w i t h K e i t h ' m y knickers are wet' A h l e r s in j o i n t 18th position
»
and then came the famo u s p a c k i n g at t h e b a c k , for w h i c h IC C C C has become renowned in athletic circles. Steve W e b b , after t u r n i n g a n a n k l e in one of t h e m a n y p l o u g h e d f i e l d s , ran in with R i c h ' A l t ' Garnett, w h o s e e m s to be suffering m o r e t h a n m o s t of us, f r o m a lack of training. A s h l e y Cooper w as 2 3 r d , n a r r o w l y a h e a d of M i k e W e l f o r d in 2 5 t h , despite having numerous stops to decide whether w e w e r e lost. The match officials w e r e j u s t a b o u t to g i v e up h o p e of s e e i n g the rest of IC, p r e s u m i n g t h e m lost w i t h o u t t r a c e , w h e n w e s a w the u n m i s t a k a b l e s i g n of Pad's g o l d e n l o c k s f l u t t e r i n g in the w i n d . Along with him were the Honorary Football Officer, Rob Maddison, and Andy F a i r h e a d . A f t e r w a r d s , as if it w e r e n ' t already cold enough, we were g i v e n a d r i n k of i c e - c o l d shandy. Then back to
the c h a n g i n g r o o m s , a n d a free five-minute demonstration by Rob M a d d i s o n on h o w t o d i s mantle a shower unit. After a g o o d tea, w e r e t u r n e d to t h e Q u e e n ' s in r a p i d f a s h i o n , a n d then the U n i o n , w h e r e Rob Allinson emptied his pockets of our money, Keith Ahlers ins i s t e d o n g o i n g to t h e B o l t o n s , a n d is n o w a c h a n g e d m a n . T h e meeting w a s a d j o u r n e d at a n u n k n o w n hour. Injuries i n c l u d e P e t e Johnson (bruised foot), J . S. (Jockstrap?) Kaliray ( w e a k e x c u s e ) , Geoff Spurr (bruised foot), G. Imp (irreparable brain damage), Dave Howlbrooke a n d Dave Jones with too much work. N e i l B o a g has b e e n l i s t ed a mi ssi ng person. Dave Payne didn't ask for a m e n t i o n in F e l i x t h i s w e e k , s o h e ' s not getting one.
MJW
(this is h i s real n a m e . In previous editions of ' F e l i x ' his various aliases have been used for security reasons — now
h e is a n e s t a b l i s h e d star t h i s is n o l o n g e r n e c e s sary). Nigel
Foster
Stratford Competition 28th November T h o s e m e m b e r s of t h e I.C.G.A. who didn't q u i t e m a k e t h e g r a d e of the first t e a m a l s o b r a v e d the c o l d east w i n d a n d the h o w l i n g b l i z z a r d s of Wednesday, November 28th. The scene was suita b l y set, the c o u r s e c o v ered b y ice-sheets, a n d greens lacking flagsticks. Nine brave m e m bers turned out i n c l u d ing s u c h pe r s o nal i t i es as (B.M.W.) Smith, Bev J u l e s (the h u s t l e r ) D a n , Adrian (the money) Evans, and Ron (can you lend me a golf ball?) Weatherall. Others i n cluded Tim Round, Mike (Mini) Marx and Howard Rosser. The Winner by 6 points was, surprise, surprise—Jules Dan, who returned an 8 8 — p l a y i n g 6 s t r o k e s b e l o w h i s 'official' handicap. Joint second were Tim Round and A d r i a n Evans, both
with 3 2 points — the latter a l s o s c o r i n g a n 8 8 . All available members of t h e g o l f c l u b a r e e n c o u r a g e d to t u r n u p at R . M . S . at a b o u t 1 3 . 0 0 h r s . o n W e d n e s d a y s for these Stableford competitions. For a 10p entrance 'stake' which goes into a ' p o t ' y o u h a v e t h e c h a n c e to return from the golf club actually having made a profit! ( w i n n e r t a k e s a l l ) . S o far the record 'pot" has b e e n 8 0 p ! — s u r e l y w o r t h t u r n i n g u p for. If y o u g o l f e r s t u r n u p at C i v . E n g . at 1 2 . 3 0 h r s . on W e d n e s d a y s , t h e r e i s generally a good chance of t r a n s p o r t b e i n g a v a i l able (though no guarantee of t h i s c a n be g i v e n ) . A n d n o w that J U L E S h a s had his h a n d i c a p cut to 1 8 by a m a j o r i t y d e c i s i o n of the C o m m i t t e e , e v e r y one has a c h a n c e of winning.
Canoe Club Several days ago, m e m b e r s of l . C . C a n o e C l u b t o o k p a r t in the ' D e s c e n t of the River Exe' from above Tiverton to E x e t e r , a g r u e l l i n g 19 mile race w i t h fearsome r a p i d s ^ n d 1 0 large w e i r s to be s h o t . T h e e n t r y t h i s year w a s a r e c o r d breaking 4 2 5 in a l l c l a s s e s . The 6 l.C. paddlers and support c r e w joined the U L U party. W e t r a v e l l e d to E x e t e r o n t h e F r i d a y n i g h t in a transit a n d assorted cars (6 of t h e m ) . Saturday was spent looking over the c o u r s e ( p u b s ) a n d
T h e starts w e r e Chaotic. B e t w e e n 3 0 a n d 8 9 b o a t s l i n e d up a c r o s s t h e river facing upstream, t h e g u n w e n t a n d aH raced 200 yards upstream, round a buoy and back d o w n towards t h e first w e i r . T h e n a n other b u n c h started, also g o i n g u p s t r e a m , to d« the same manoeuvre. This was repeated about 8 times. Despite several s w i m s and eskimo rolls all l.C. paddlers reached the finish s o m e w i t h rather s m a s h e d borrowed boats (one lost m o s t of t h e
i n s p e c t i n g the damage c a u s e to 2 of t h e c a r s w hen they both argued with the same tree. Saturday evening was spent drinking tactics and d i s c u s s i n g beer in a superb little pub. S u n d a y morning eventually c a m e a n d everyone was s u d d e n l y struck by illness. The team doctors, physio and nurses (from various London Hospitals) claime d it w a s n e r v e s a n d s o despite some brilliant detours w e all reached the s t a r t . The weather was rather c o l d a n d the water even colder.
John Hubbard deck). f i n i s h e d 1st i n S e n i o r K 2 b r i n g i n g b a c k a b i g pot and a shield. Diana D a l gliesh came 3rd, much to her s u r p r i s e , in t h e Ladies. Bob Joce, T i m Perry a n d B o b Evans came 9th, 10th and 30th r e s p e c t i v e l y o u t of 1 3 0 starters in the S l a l o m Class. Dave Rosenthal doesn't think he c a m e last. H e d i d c r o s s the f i n i s h l i n e w i t h m o s t of his boat and several p e o p l e left w a y b e h i n d him. Dave was paddling Senior K 1 . John H. and
Tim
P.
FELIX
Page 8 Continued from page 5 The demands given equal priority are: 1) t h e a b o l i t i o n o f d i s c r e t i o n a r y awards. 1 5 - 2 0 % of postgraduates, m a n y students at t e c h n i c a l c o l l e g e s a n d those w h o change c o u r s e or repeat a year at present receive n o grant at a l l . 2) T h e r a i s i n g o f the m a i n rates of the g r a n t t o a r e a l i s t i c l e v e l c a l c u lated a c c o r d i n g to alteration in the student cost index. 3) P a r i t y f o r m a r r i e d women's grants w i t h t h e full grant rate. 4) A n a n n u a l g r a n t s r e v i e w . 5) A n e n d t o a l l a n o m a l i e s i n t h e grants system. 6) t h e a b o l i t i o n of t h e m e a n s t e s t . 7) F u l l grants for unmarried m o t h e r s plus a full dependents a l l o w ance. 8) P a r i t y f o r p o s t g r a d u a t e s a n d health s e r v i c e students w i t h t h e full grant rate. T o meet these d e m a n d s w i l l cost an extra £323m. a c c o r d i n g to t h e T.H.E.S. White Paper on Education Campaign against White Paper just a s i m p o r t a n t a n d l i n k e d w i t h Grants Campaign. The Government's provisions on every aspect of education, nursery education, teacher supply, teacher e d u c a t i o n , s e c o n d a r y e d u c a t i o n , furt h e r e d u c a t i o n , a d u l t e d u c a t i o n , part time education and higher education were found to be totally inadequate. T h e g o v e r n m e n t p r o p o s e s to c u t b a c k student places from 8 3 5 , 0 0 0 to 7 5 0 , 0 0 0 i n 1 9 8 1 . T h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of the D i p l o m a i n H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n w h i c h i s a t w o y e a r c o u r s e i s felt t o b e a c h e a p f o r m of e d u c a t i o n i n f e r i o r i n r e s u l t s t o a n e q u a l t i m e s p e n t at a university degree course and unwante d b y e m p l o y e r s . T h e e n t r a n c e req u i r e m e n t of t w o A - L e v e l s f o r entry i n t o B . E d , d e g r e e s a r e felt u n f a i r a n d discriminatory against working class c h i l d r e n w h o have not h a d great emphasis placed o n their a c a d e m i c achievements. A n a m e n d m e n t to b l a c k l i s t a l l c o l l e g e s offering t h e D i p . H E w a s d e feated, a s the d e c i s i o n lies w i t h sixth formers a n d not students, and there d i d not s e e m t o b e a s a t i s f a c t o r y w a y
of m o b i l i s i n g t h e s c h o o l s a s w e l l a s colleges. A pupil desperate for a place in higher education might not be v e r y c o - o p e r a t i v e in refusing a chance to get a D i p . H E . The main decision taken w a s to recognise that the W h i t e Paper c a m p a i g n w a s j u s t a s i m p o r t a n t , if n o t more s o , than the Grants C a m p a i g n and that they s h o u l d both b e given equal priority. M i n e r s a n d P h a s e III Our only speaker booed! C o n f e r e n c e c o n d e m n e d P h a s e III for l o w e r i n g t h e l i v i n g s t a n d a r d s of the m a j o r i t y o f the p o p u l a t i o n a n d c u r t a i l i n g w o r k i n g c l a s s r i g h t s of f r e e collective bargaining, and for serving the i n t e r e s t s o f t h e m o n o p o l i e s , a n d t h e i r a l l i e s , t h e t i n y m a j o r i t y of t h e population w h o o w n a n d control the country's wealth. The only way of def e a t i n g P h a s e III w a s s e e n t o b e t h r o u g h u n i t e d a c t i o n of t h o s e w h o s e i n t e r e s t s it d a m a g e s , t h e w o r k i n g class and its allies i n c l u d i n g the student movement. Conference therefore d e c i d e d to pledge full support to t h e m i n e r s ' s t r i k e a n d h e l p it in a n y w a y p o s s i b l e . A n amendment proposed by Norwood T e c h . pointed o u t that the miners' struggle raised the question of p o w e r a n d w a s n o t m e r e l y a t e s t of s t r e n g t h b e t w e e n t h e m i n e r s a n d the G o v e r n m e n t . Speakers, o n behalf of t h e a m e n d ment, from the W o r k e r s Revolutionary Party w a r n e d continually of the f a c t that t h e T o r i e s w i l l n o t h e s i t a t e to b r i n g i n t r o o p s a n d t a n k s d u e t o the e c o n o m i c c r i s i s . IC's only speaker A l a s d h a i r C a m p b e l l , s u p p o r t i n g the a m e n d m e n t c l a i m e d t h a t t h e L i t t l e j o h n affair w a s o n l y t h e t i p of t h e i c e b e r g of t h e G o v e r n ment's undemocratic proceedings and was booed for recommending a united campaign w i t h t h e miners for the removal of t h e To r y government. Delegates Phillips, Norman Sayles, Trevor D a v i d S i n c l a i r , J o h n Porter, J o h n East, A l a s d h a i r C a m p b e l l , A l f Perry, Sonia Hochfelder. Editor's note: this is t h e personal v i e w p o i n t of the Felix reporter at the Conference.
IC SQUAT IN 28 JAY MEWS O n t h e afternoon o f last T h u r s d a y a group of students f r om Imperial CoMege, i n conjunction w i t h M a i d a Hill Squatters, took over 28 J a y M e w s — Which h a s been empty f o r 6 months while students a n d families throughout London suffer chronic homelessness and h i g h rents. 28 J a y M e w s — l i k e a number of o t h e r d w e l l i n g s in the s a m e b l o c k — i s e m p t y b e c a u s e , it i s b e l i e v e d , t h e o w n e r is s p e c u l a t i n g ; ho pi ng that by getting vacant possession of the w h o l e b l o c k it c o u l d be profitably s o l d to I m p e r i a l C o l l e g e o r u s e d f o r other redevelopment. Students today in London cannot afford t o l i v e . T y p i c a l l y , r e n t s a r e £9 p . w . — t h i s is i m p o s s i b l e o n a grant of £ 5 2 0 p . a . S t u d e n t s c a n n o t h o p e to r e v e r s e the S t a t e ' s T o r y e d u c a t i o n a l p o l i c i e s unless w e can prevent the implementa t i o n of t h e s e p o l i c i e s . A b i g factor in the c h r o n i c shortage of s t u d e n t a c c o m m o d a t i o n i n L o n d o n is t h e cut-back in Higher Education expenditure, which means accomm o d a t i o n is n o t built, s u b s i d i e s are cut s o college refectory prices go up, a n d t h e r e a l v a l u e of g r a n t s i s reduced. In E s s e x U n i v e r s i t y s t u d e n t s a r e c o n t i n u i n g t h e i r o c c u p a t i o n of t h e University administration block. Tod a y there i s a n a t i o n a l d e m o n s t r a t i o n there in response to the call p u t o u t at M a r g a t e NUS Conference to d e f e n d that o c c u p a t i o n . T h e s q u a t of 2 8 J a y M e w s i s part o f that s o l i d a r i t y a c t i o n . The Essex occupation is d i r e c t l y the cut-backs a n d their against effects i n E s s e x — f o r i n s t a n c e t h e y are d e m a n d i n g firm guarantees that
facilities c a t e r i n g a n d accommodation are e x p a n d e d . In W e s t m i n s t e r a t t h e m o m e n t 1 in 8 h o u s e s i s e m p t y . W e b e l i e v e t h a t if t h e C o l l e g e A u t h o r i t i e s a r e a t a l l serious in their suport for t h e grants campaign they should support this squat a n d in conjunction w i t h Westminster C ouncil make use of some of these empty b u i l d i n g s for the housing of students a n d f a m i l i e s . There a r e m o r e empty d w e l l i n gs in W e s t m i n s t e r than h o m e l e s s people. From this squat authorities to :
we ask the
college
1. N e g o t i a t e w i t h t h e o w n e r s a n d W e s t m i n s t e r C o u n c i l t o a r r a n g e permanent use of 2 8 J a y M e w s a n d other empty d w e l l i n g s in t h e block. T h i s to be d o n e b y a c o m p u l s o r y p u r c h a s e o r d e r if n e c e s s a r y . 2. P a y f o r r e p a i r s t o a n d l e g a l d e f e n c e of t h e b u i l d i n g . W e are a p p r o a c h i n g other s q u a t t i n g groups, h o u s i n g groups, tenants' organisations, a n d T r a d e U n i o n s to take part i n t h e w i d e r fight f o r d e c e n t h o u s i n g f o r all; a n d i n s i s t t h a t the homeless — students or families — are not to blame for homelessness therefore the authorities must b e m a d e to provide; a n d where they fail to d o s o w e s u p p o r t its t a k i n g — i t s real nationalisation—as w e are d o i n g . STUDENTS DEMAND GRANT AND A DECENT LIVE IN! SOLIDARITY PATION IN
WITH ESSEX
— ROLL
BACK
EDUCATION! NO
EVICTIONS
HOUSING
A LIVING PLACE TO
I
FOR ALL!
THE
OCCUCUTS
D e c e m b e r 4 t h , 1973
DROP EVERYTHN IG AND COME TO
THE
HALL 6 AT
GREAT
ON
THURS.
DECEMBER 12.45-13.45
In C h a r g e :
COLLEGE
MEDICAL
STAFF
An accident occurs, Someone is hurt, You are nearby: At once you telephone the Health Centre: Priority!-but it may be 5 or 10 minutes before expert help arrives. What to do in that vital 10 minutes? What not to do? It is important that you should know. "You" is everyone reading this paper. ATTEND BRIEFING
A
SESSION
ON
FIRST FIRST AID