Founded
in
1949
NEWSPAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE UNION
FREE!
F R I D A Y , 1 6 T H M A Y , 1975
No. 390
WHAT A SHAMBLES! Silwood Incident R C S U N I O N ' S C o u n t r y H o u s e B a l l h e l d at S i l w o o d P a r k , the C o l l e g e F i e l d S t a t i o n , l a s t F r i d a y w a s marred by a n u n p l e a s a n t i n c i d e n t w h i c h m a y , i f tempers d o not s o o n c o o l , have f a r - r e a c h i n g r e p e r c u s s i o n s as r e g a r d s t h e future of t h i s a n n u a l e v e n t . The incident occured when confused and is best considered of the S i l w o o d Park some in terms of other College students appeared i n j e a n s ' n f a c i l i t i e s . If the C o u n t r y H o u s e jumpers a t what w a s a formal has the same s t a t u s a s , for dinner-jacket occasion and, e x a m p l e , the C o l l e g e Block without having tickets, J C R , then it i s b o o k a b l e a n d attempted to buy d r i n k s at the w h i l s t remaining a student area bar . It w a s t h e i r c o n t e n t i o n it i s a t the d i s p o s a l of w h o e v e r that s i n c e the bar i s run s t r i c t l y books the f a c i l i t y . If h o w e v e r , a s a private c l u b a n d that a n y the H o u s e h a s the s t a t u s of, e x t e n s i o n a p p l i e s t o the c l u b s a y , the U n i o n B a r , then w h i l s t and nto to the f u n c t i o n for it i s p o s s i b l e to h o l d a f u n c t i o n w h i c h the e x t e n s i o n w a s a p p l i e d there, no student c a n be barred for, t h e n t h e y , i t s e e m e d , were from u s i n g that f a c i l i t y . e n t i t l e d t o buy d r i n k s a t the it is Whatever happens, bar. c l e a r that t h e i n c i d e n t h a s c r e a t e d a great d e a l of i l l It w a s R C S U ' s c o n t e n t i o n f e e l i n g o n both s i d e s . A l a c k that s i n c e the S i l w o o d s t u d e n t s of c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d maybe were without tickets and j u s t one s t r a y remark s e t the improperly d r e s s e d , then they s c e n e for the i n c i d e n t . O n e c a n had no r i g h t to be a t the o n l y hope that the t w o s i d e s f u n c t i o n w h i c h h a d c o s t those c a n get together a n d ratfc the present £8 for a d o u b l e t i c k e t . t h i n g out . C l e a r l y , much greatei It is u n d e r s t o o d that the l i a s o n a n d c o - o p e r a t i o n w i l l be s t u d e n t s later left f e e l i n g very r e q u i r e d i n future y e a r s if the d i s g r u n t l e d after m e n t i o n w a s A n n u a l S i l w o o d B a l l i s '. run made of s o m e ' h e a v i e s ' p o s s i b l y s m o o t h l y — and if, indeed, it is b e i n g c a l l e d upon to ' b o u n c e ' to run at a 11. them. Editorial, page 2 L e g a l l y , the s i t u a t i o n i s
Parking
Problem
F O L L O W I N G C O M P L A I N T S that c e r t a i n s t u d e n t m o t o r i s t s p o s s e s s i n g p a r k i n g p e r m i t s for the S o u t h s i d e a r e a were u n a b l e t o park there, F E L D C d e c i d e d t o i n v e s t i g a t e the matter. O v e r a p e r i o d of f i v e d a y s , the forty-odd p a r k i n g p l a c e s w h i c h had been gleaned and i n front o f S o u t h s i d e w e r e , c o n c l u d e d that the P a r k i n g s t a t i s t i c a l l y c h e c k e d to s e e Warden w o u l d have t o t i g h t e n how many a c t u a l l y d i s p l a y e d up o n i l l e g a l l y p a r k e d c a r s . the o f f i c i a l p a r k i n g p e r m i t . T h a t F r i d a y n o s t a t i s t i c s were t a k e n , but the f o l l o w i n g Monday F o r the f i r s t four days s h o w e d a m a r k e d improvement (Monday to Thursday) the w i t h l e s s t h a n 3 0 % of the pattern c o n s i s t l y s h o w e d about vehicles without a permit 50% of the v e h i c l e s d i s p l a y i n g ( i n c l u d i n g two d i p l o m a t i c c a r s permits a n d 5 0 % w i t h o u t . It from the L i b y a n E m b a s s y n o w a s after t h i s time that the less). C o l l e g e P a r k i n g C o m m i t t e e met When a s k e d t o comment J o h n to d i s c u s s t h e s e very s t a t i s t i c s
Scene
in RATT
on
Wednesday
R A T T (Room At The Top), t h e half-completed set of Union Committee rooms at t h e top o f Union building is in a mess and no work has been d o n e on M since January, it was recently revealed. C o n t r a c t u a l work began l a s t summer o n R A T T to c o n v e r t the large draughty room i n t o a n e m i n e n t l y more u s e f u l s e t of committee rooms u s i n g partitions. The contracting firm, Norwood Steel, apparently stopped early this year and nobody s e e m s t o know w h y . A t the moment, b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l s are s c a t t e r e d a l l o v e r one s e c t i o n of the p l a c e ; there are F u l l e r , the P a r k i n g Warden, s a i d that i n a l o t of c a s e s , for e x a m p l e w h e n parents come t o v i s i t a s t u d e n t who i s s i c k a n d i n h a l l , he h a s t o e x e r c i s e a lot of d i s c r e t i o n . H e a l s o made the p o i n t that b y m a i n t a i n i n g a lot of spare p l a c e s for permit h o l d e r s w h o might want t o u s e the s p a c e a l l o c a t e d t o them, non-college motorists would (Turn
to page
2)
doors without locks; some doors h a v e b e e n h u n g v e r y bad ly, and other doors have y e t to be h u n g . T o u s e a e u p h e m i s m , the U n i o n is " p e r t u r b e d " about a l l this . O v e r i n C o l l e g e B l o c k , there a p p e a r s to be some c o n f u s i o n a s t o w h o s e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y it is to ensure R A T T ' s comp l e t i o n , b u t the g e n e r a l f e e l i n g i s that the c o n t r a c t o r s , N o r w o o d S t e e l , have l e t u s d o w n v e r y b a d l y . It a p p e a r s that a w e e k l a s t Wednesday, a spokesman for the firm s a i d that he w a s g i v e n to u n d e r s t a n d that the job h a d been c o m p l e t e d . That person, is clearly in for a surprise. T o m Shearer, the C o l l e g e ' s site superintendent, told F E L I X that d e s p i t e h a v i n g a great d e a l of w o r k o n a t the moment he i n t e n d s t o c h a s e the matter up f u l l y .
2
FELIX
O Oj0jDjD_O_O_O_Oj0_<DOOOOOOOO O O O O O O O O O 0|
O o D D W D cmo OTTO OUOU OTTOTTcTb (TDOUU O oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Michael
When matters began to come adrift there were no rules, regulations, strict understandings for anyone to consult as a means of arbitration. Was the Country House strictly and unequivocally booked, or did RCSU just have the use of it? Maybe it is time the Warden of Silwood clarified the matter. Meanwhile, the cankerous destruction called " i l l feeling" seems to be demanding redress on behalf of the Silwood students. But it is to Silwood's credit that the hard-liners who are determined to " g i v e RCS a kick up the a — " at almost any cost are in a minority — vengeful motivations never could quite be correlated to mature attitudes. Dick Cook, the Silwood Park Students Committee Chairman, has made it clear that discussion and close co-operation is now essential if this kind of thing is to be avoided in future years. I'll say 'aye' to that and the sooner the better. FELIX. Newspaper of Imperial Michael J . L . Williams College Union Editor Published by the Editor on behalf of the Imperial C ol l e ge Union Publications Board. Printed Offset-litho on the Union premises. Thanks to Ian, G i l l , John, Roger and P a u l .
Parking Problem
s n a p up the p l a c e s i n d e f e r e n c e t o the s t u d e n t s w h i l s t he w a s a t t e n d i n g t o other d u t i e s . I n other w o r d s he w a s p r e p a r e d t o fill the s pa r e places with k n o w n s t u d e n t s rather t h a n run the r i s k of o u t s i d e r s g r a b b i n g them. C o u n t e r i n g that a r g u m e n t , J a c q u i G e r r a r d , the I C U n i o n H o n . S e c r e t a r y felt that for the w a r d e n to u s e h i s d e s c r e t i o n i n certain c a s e s i s fine, provided that no o f f i c i a l p a r k i n g - p e r m i t h o l d e r i s p r e v e n t e d from p a r k i n g and t h i s i s w h a t h a s i n d e e d happened recently.
(continued
Telephone: Int. 2881 01/5895111 Ext.2166 © 1975 from
page
J i l l McNaughtan
Williams
T H E INCIDENT which occured at Silwood Park last Friday (see page one) highlights the extreme vulnerability of the arrangement which existed between the Ban organisers and the Warden of Silwood. It appears that in the past, a certain amount of tact & discretion sprinkled with luck saw the function through to Is finish. But last Friday for a brief moment, luck was elsewhere and the tact & discretion had, on the one side, been stretched by the previous twelve hours hard grind in setting the event up, and on the other, lost in the seams of the casual attire.
F E L I X Office, IC U n i o n , Prince Consort R d , London SW7 2 B B .
If
A S T H E U S K R e p . I f e el duty bound t o w r i t e about U S K f e e b l e effort for F E L I X . H o w e v e r , where t o s t a r t a n d w h a t t o s a y w h e n I e v e n t u a l l y manage t o , i s another matter! P e r h a p s I c o u l d i n t e r e s t y o u in the f a c t that U S K h a s v i r t u a l l y c e a s e d to e x i s t ? (Hey, but that can't
/ am out of a job-!) B a c k t o more s e r i o u s t h i n g s t h o u g h ; a f t e r o n l y t w o w e e k s or s o a s the I F R e p , I w a s s u m m o n s e d to a m e e t i n g i n the d e p t h s of Q u e e n E l i z a b e t h C o l l e g e , t o be t o l d that h o m e l y , l i t t l e U S K w a s doomed t o be s w a l l o w e d up i nto the i m p e r s o n a l i t y (not to mention crudeness) of Catbums. Well really? How can I follow that? A s far a s IF is c o n c e r n e d , it i s q u i t e a s o r e p o i n t . We knew U S K . (If w e d i d n ' t , w e s h o u l d h a v e ! ) We knew t h e c o l l e g e s w h i c h were part of U S K ( w e l l , most of t h e m . . . ) but C A T B U M S ? H o w many of us f e el that b e i n g part of a n a r e a w h i c h s t r e t c h e s out a s far as Brunei and Middlesex Poly, w i l l r e a l l y d o us much good? Unfortunately, a s a relatively un important s e c r e t a r i a I c o l l e g e , w h i c h i s o n l y 2 0 0 s t r o n g , there is not a l o t w e c a n d o a b o u t i t! U S K ( w h i c h f o r t h o s e w h o h a v e n ' t g o t the f a i n t e s t i d e a what I am t a l k i n g about, s t a n d s for U n i v e r s i t y / U n i o n of S o u t h Kensington) meant that our c o l l e g e w a s i n v i t e d t o other larger c o l l e g e s ' E n t s f u n c t i o n s . I w o u l d l i k e t o know how many p e o p l e from S o u t h K e n a r e g o i n g t o make t h e i r w a y out t o the w i Ids of the West of L o n d o n
1)
C l e a r l y the o n l y true monitor with which to guage this s i t u a t i o n i s the number of c o m p l a i n t s from p a r k i n g - p e r m i t holders who are unable to park. It t h e s e are no c o m p l a i n t s , t h e n t h i n g s a r e f i n e ; i f n o t , then s o m e t h i n g h a s t o be done about it. Any students finding themselves in the position where they hold an official parking permit and yet are unable to park in the area allocated should contact the Hon. Secretary (Int. 3915/2232) immediate ly.
WHAT A B O U T T H E CIA? T a l k with P h i l i p A Gee, Author of the Book "Inside the Company, CIA D i a r y " Today at 18:30 Hours Lecture Theatre C , Mech. E n g . (Room 542' L a t i n American Society I . C .
be fight.
It would
mean
that
for a S a t u r d a y night b o p or whatever, to take advantage of the C A T B U M S p l a n . ( A n d I thought it w a s a w e l l known fact that t h e larger a n o r g a n i s ation becomes, the more inefficient it becomes t o o ) . In f a c t , it s e e m s that the L o n d o n Student O r g a n i s a t i o n , to whom w e o w e the great alteration, is only interested in t h e p o l i t i c s of the matter and then o n l y s o that w h e n they d e c i d e that there i s t o be trouble, a larger area is involved. But I t h i n k I h a v e s a i d e n o u g h (ie I have put my foot r i g h t in i t ) . P e r h a p s it i s a good job that U S K i s b e i n g d o n e a w a y w i t h , a s my p o l i t i c a l views w e r e not e n t i r e l y i n accordance with those required. F o r exampl e, the NUS and L S O (not the London Symphony O r c h e s t r a ) c a l l e d for S t u d e n t s "to work Movement
in
the Labour Campaign"AGAINST
the C o m m o n M a r k e t , w h i c h I think a s B i l i n g u a l SecretaryB i r d s , w e s h o u l d be s u p p o r t i n g . A s t o my r e d u n d a n c y o n t h e IF E x e c , I t h i n k I ' l l j u s t h a v e to q u i e t l y b u s y m y s e l f w i t h p a p e r / T - s h i r t s e l l i n g a n d hope no one n o t i c e s that I h a v e n ' t a great d e a l t o d o . . . ! IC B A N G L A D E S H S O C I E T Y presents SATYAJIT RAY'S " Pather P a n c h a l i " (with E n g l i s h Subtitles) and " C h i l d r e n of F i r e " (documentary) on Friday 23rd May, 7.00pm AT: GREAT HALL.
IC UNION . ANNUAL G E N E R A L MEETING May 22nd at 1pm in the Concert H a l l Agenda includes the policy statement, Colours, Union General Awards and Union places in H a l l .
P O L I C Y S T A T E M E N T : Copies of the amendment sheet to the March P o l i c y Statement are now available from the I C U Office.
3
FELIX
T H E A N N O U N C E M E N T of the l e v e l of s t u d e n t m a i n t e n a n c e grant for next y e a r i s l i k e l y to be made a n y t i m e w i t h i n the next w e e k . T h e r e i s a great d e a l of s p e c u l a t i o n a n d a n x i e t y , not o n l y from s t u d e n t s but from C o l l e g e a u t h o r i t i e s a s w e l l . T h e rumour that the grant w o u l d go up to £750 (a 2 4 % r i s e ) a p p a r e n t l y sent a number of V i c e - C h a n c e l l o r s and H a l l Wardens r e a c h i n g for t h e i r phones in consternation, because such a level w o u l d be c l e a r l y inadequate in meeting the e c o n o m i c c h a r g e s for h a l l rents and c a t e r i n g that they w i s h to c h a r g e .
" T h e familiar cycle of the grant being reduced in real value, the increasing hardship caused by means testing and discretionary awards and other anomalies begins to repeat itself." One t h i n g i s c l e a r : the f u l l c l a i m i s not g o i n g to be m e t , nor are t h e a n o m a l i e s g o i n g to be a b o l i s h e d . T h e f a m i l i a r c y c l e of the grant b e i n g r e d u c e d in r e a l v a l u e , ttje-Hncreasing h a r d s h i p c a u s e d by means t e s t i n g and d i s c r e t i o n a r y a w a r d s a n d other a n o m a l i e s b e g i n s t o repeat i t s e l f . It i s d u b i o u s w h e t h e r the i n c r e a s e w i l l put u s up t o a s i m i l a r l e v e l ( i n r e a l t e r m s , a s that of O c t o b e r 1 974; w i t h the i n c r e a s e s in refectory p r i c e s a n d h a l l rents forec a s t , a n i n e x o r a b l y d e c l i n i n g standard.ofl i v i n g for n e x t s e s s i o n ' s s t u d e n t s i s inevitable. T h e recent a c t i v i t i e s of t h e A s s o c i a t i o n of U n i v e r s i t y T e a c h e r s s h o w s that w e are not a l o n e in t h i s . T h e s t a g g e r i n g in u n i v e r s i t y lecturers' real decline i n c o m e s , both in a b s o l u t e terms a n d in c o m p a r i s o n to C i v i l S e r v i c e s a l a r i e s i s a matter of grave c o n c e r n to a l l of u s . The fact that t e a c h e r s are l e a v i n g the u n i v e r s i t i e s for better-paid jobs p o i n t s to the p r o b a b i l i t y of r e d u c e d s t a f f - s t u d e n t r a t i o s (already a f f e c t e d by the d e c i s i o n not to f i l l c e r t a i n p o s t s w h i c h f a l l v a c a n t ) and a f a l l i n g s t a n d a r d of e d u c a t i o n .
"What response will students and lecturers give to this situation? The answer is becoming more and more clear: militancy and disruption." What response will s t u d e n t s and l e c t u r e r s g i v e to t h i s s i t u a t i o n ? T h e a n s w e r is b e c o m i n g more a n d more c l e a r m i l i t a n c y a n d d i s r u p t i o n . T h e p o l i c i e s of the present G o v e r n m e n t are d r i v i n g e v e n self-styled " m o d e r a t e s " to direct a c t i o n . W i t n e s s the pledge of the L i b e r a l s e l e c t e d at L a n c a s t e r to m a i n t a i n the c a m p a i g n in d e f e n c e of the rent s t r i k e i n s t i g a t e d by the L e f t , a n d t o c a l l for further o c c u p a t i o n s if the U n i v e r s i t y d o e s not b u d g e . W i t n e s s the c o n s i s t a n t U G M s of 1 5 0 0 s t u d e n t s or more at W a r w i c h , c a l l h g for m a i n t e n a n c e of the o c c u p a t i o n t h e r e ; in s p i t e of the L e f t ' s m i s g i v i n g s , and in s p i t e of i m p e n d i n g e x a m i n a t i o n s . A d d to that the new tone of the h i t h e r t o s u p e r moderate "professional" association, the A U T , now w i l l i n g to c o n t e m p l a t e , disrupt ing e x a m i n a t i o n s . It i s c r u c i a l that t h i s new w a v e of m i l i t a n c y s h o u l d be s e e n in c o n t e x t . No-one seriously believes that a n e c o n o m i c c r i s i s w i l l be s o l v e d by c u t t i n g bacK on e d u c a t i o n a I e x p e n d i t u r e . In f a c t , w h e n t h o s e c u t s b e g i n to bite into the q u a l i t y a n d s t a n d a r d of e d u c a t i o n , they become c o u n t e r p r o d u c t i v e by r e d u c i n g the s t o c k of s k i l l e d manpower w h i c h i s e s s e n t i a l to B r i t a i n ' s e c o n o m y . Many p e o p l e Tn e d u c a t i o n now r e c o g n i s e that
E
they a r e f i g h t i n g to m a i n t a i n s t a n d a r d s ; from t h i s point there c a n be no s h r i n k i n g b e c a u s e further c u t s mean t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of the w h o l e s y s t e m .
"Comprehensive secondary education iswell on its way to collapse through lack of finance; other sectors, such as adult education are not too far behind." Comprehensive secondary education is w e l l on i t s w a y to c o l l a p s e through l a c k of f i n a n c e ; other s e c t o r s s u c h a s a d u l t e d u c a t i o n are not too far b e h i n d . T h e r e i s t a l k of a n a n t i - u n i v e r s i t y lobby in G o v e r n m e n t : t h i s may w e l l be T r u e (though I a m s c e p t i c a l ) . H o w e v e r , w e c a n o n l y w i n the s t r u g g l e for a d e c e n t e d u c a t i o n s y s t e m by u n i t i n g w i t h a l l other s e c t o r s ; e d u c a t i o n a s a w h o l e must be a r g u e d for, a n d ' f o u g h t for in e v e r y w a y , including direct a c t i o n .
"Women's inequality is fundamentally a function of an unequal society, and it is until our own social relatidns are changed that women will cease to occupy an inferior position ." The v i s i t of G e r m a i n e G r e e r to I C , at the R C S U A n n u a l D i n n e r proved t o be a n e n l i g h t e n i n g o n e . I have never been a great a d m i r e r of D r G r e e r , not b e c a u s e I am a p p o s e d to e q u a l i t y between s e x e s , but b e c a u s e I b e l i e v e that s h e h a s often t r i v i a l f s e d the e n t i r e q u e s t i o n a n d f a i l e d to l i n k it to the cerftraI c o n f l i c t s w i t h i n our s o c i e t y at the present t i m e . Womerj's i n e q u a l i t y is f u n d a m e n t a l l y a " ? u n c t i o n of a n u n e q u a l s o c i e t y , a n d it i s n o t . u n i u our own s o c i a l relations are c h a n g e d t h a t women w i l l c e a s e to o c c u p y a n i n f e r i o r position. N e v e r t h e l e s s , there are many a s p e c t s of s o c i a l e q u a l i t y w h i c h c a n be fought for, a n d t h e s e i n c l u d e e q u a l p a y , w o r k i n g conditions and s o o n . The outstanding
REVIEWS RECORDS Hie Rock Flashbacks - Lifetime (Polydor) On a p p r o a c h i n g a n a l b u m f e a t u r i n g 4 c l a s s m u s i c i a n s with s o l i d pedigrees and 2 o u t s t a n d i n g t a l e n t s there i s r e a s o n for some anticipatory lip-smacking, w h i l s t k e e p i n g in m i n d that 2 5 % of the troops comprise Mr c o m p u t e r - g u i t a r himself. Indeed, for s h e e r m a n i c m u s i c a l power t h i s quartet take a l o t of b e a t i n q . i n i t i a l i m p r e s s i o n s are not good a s the leader " o n e w o r d " moves i n t o the e e r i e v o c a l s a n d m i n d l e s s c a c o p h o n y of " a famous b l u e s " . E x t r e m e l y c l a s s y ryt hmic b a c k i n g to a l l the n o n s e n s e p r o v i d e s g l i m m e r s of hope but T o n y W i l l i a m s q u a l i t y drumming i s c o n s t a n t l y s p l i n t e r e d by the extreme b o o r i s h n e s s of J o h n M c L a u g h l i n ' s g u i t a r work . T e c h n i q u e for t e c h n i q u e s s a k e i s d u l l a n d h e l e a v e s W i l l i a m s a n d L a r r y Y o u n g on organ to
Tr evo r P h i l l i p s e x a m p l e at the present time i s that of the right of women to have a b o r t i o n s p e r f o r m e d . D r G r e e r d e l i n e a t e d the f a c t o r s involved eloquently and accurately and I w o u l d not e v e n attempt to reproduce her e x p o s i t i o n . B u t it i s c l e a r that the p r o p o s e l s of J a m e s W h i t e , M P , w o u l d d r i v e many women b a c k to the " b a c k street" abortionists, and c a u s e a n immense amount of s u f f e r i n g . F u n d a m e n t a l l y , Mr White s e e k s t o l i m i t the r i g h t of the'woHten to terminate her p r e g a n n c y , o n f l i m s y and in p l a c e s f a l s e ground's . It w i l t not s t o p a b u s e s ' , it w i l l e n c o u r a g e t h e m . Mr W h i f e s d u b i o u s brand of m o r a l i t y w o u l d d r i v e u s b a c k into the pre - 1 9 6 7 . d a y s , in s p i t e of the fact that the L a n e " C o m m i t t e e on A b u s e s of the 1 9 6 7 A c t , (set u p on the i n s t i g a t i o n of Mr W h i t e a n d h i s f r i e n d s ) e m p h a t i c a l l y e n d o r s e d the 1967 A c t .
v
"...the proposals of James White, MP, would drive many women backtt.o the "back-street" abortionists, and "cause an immense amount of suffer-
ino" I w o u l d urge e v e r y o n e to h e l p in defeating this regressive and a p p a l l i n g piece of l e g i s l a t i o n , by s i g n i n g the p e t i t i o n s b e i n g c i r c u l a t e d a n d w r i t i n g to your M P a n d the S e l e c t C o m m i t t e e .
T h e A G M on M a y 22nd s e e s the a w a r d of U n i o n G e n e r a l A w a r d s . (It i s a l s o m y last General M e e t i n g . S o b , sob.) U G A ' s are t h e o r e t i c a l l y the U n i o n s h i g h e s t d i s t i n c t i o n , a n d a r e d e c i d e d upon by the P r e s i d e n t . D e s p i t e my d i s a p p r o v a l of s u c h a w a r d s , I w i l l be g i v i n g out a number, not just for hard w o r k (or e l s e a large number of people w o u l d q u a l i f y ) but for p a r t i c u l a r c o n t r i b u t i o n s made to the l i f e of the U n i o n over the p a s t y e a r . I w o u l d w e l c o m e w r i t t e n s u g g e s t i o n s from a n y member of the U n i o n . carry t h e s o n g s a l o n g w i t h a n y t h i n g approaching conviction and d i r e c t i o n . J a c k B r u c e ' s bass remains largely i n a u d i b l e — h e ' s light y e a r s from home witl> t h e s e 1000-note-a-minute-or-die musicians. M o s t i m p r e s s i v e p i e c e on the a l b u m is John C o t h a n e ' s " B i g N i c k " a n i c e f u s i o n of b r a i n power a n d i m m a c u l a t e timing, followed by " V u e l t a Abajo" w h i c h a l t h o u g h w e l l deranged m a k e s a p l e a s a n t c h a n g e in that there i s at l a s t a d i s c e r n i b l e beat w h i c h a l l four m u s i c i a n s try to a d h e r e to a good e x a m p l e of imaginations working along their own l i n e s w i t h i n the framework of a s t r o n g m e l o d y . R e c o m m e n d e d o n l y for d e e p l y studious jazzers.
Jim Gilstrap: Swing Your Daddy (Warner Bros.) O l d s o u n d s are b e c o m i n g i n c r e a s i n g l y p o p u l a r a s if the modern stuff h a s l i t t l e to s a y a n d t h i s s i n g l e t y p i f i e s what r e c o r d c o m p a n i e s seem to t h i n k i t ' s a l l a b o u t . I t ' s the w u n k i e s t d e a l s i n c e the U r c h i e s — w i m p i s h c r o o n i n g d i r g e fronting some m o r o n i c d o o - w o p s u p p o r t . C o u l d be a h i t in t h e s e d a y s of c o s t - e f f e c t i v e m u s a k barrages a n d s h a na na o u t b r e a k s . F o r r e s i l i e n t l i s t e n e r s t h e r e ' s part 2 on the other s i d e . G i l J o c k s t r a p g o home.
Lancaster.. Could it >en here? AS
THE s i t u a t i o n
Lancaster University
at
hubbies
and bubbles, MIKE WILLIAMS outlines
the background and
gives his own analysis of the
dispute. A S T H E confl i ct between t h e U n i v e r s i t y authorities and the Students' Union at Lancaster c r y s t a l l i s e s into i t s wider perspective which closely a l l i e s itself w i t h t h e " i r r e s i s t i b l e f o r c e meeting a n immovable o b j e c t " paradox, it b e c o m e s w o r t h w h i l e to e x a m i n e the current i s s u e s w h i c h a r e now b e i n g t o s s e d from hand t o hand l i k e g r e n a d e s a n d r e l a t e to t h e i r a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h many of the h i s t o r i c a l a s p e c t s of the U n i v e r s i t y a n d the growth of the U n i o n there .
" T h e seeds of this conflict were sown in the past and the almost traditional lack of detente."
This anachronistic representational d e m o c r a c y i n e v i t a b l y g a v e w a y to d i r e c t democracy with campus-wide ballots and the c r e a t i o n of a U n i o n E x e c u t i v e w h i c h i s mandated by U n i o n G e n e r a l M e e t i n g s . T h i s move w a s e x t r e m e l y significant since it introduced the c o n c e p t of collective responsibility.
attending. T h e s t u d e n t s therefore f e l t e n t i t l e d to l a b e l t h e t r i b u n a l a " k a n g a r o o c o u r t " ; t h e U n i o n r e f u s e d to r e c o g n i s e the t r i b u n a l a n d a s a r e s u l t , the matter a p p e a r e d to be c o n c l u d e d w i t h a h e a v y batch of e x p l u s i o n s , a g a i n i n c l u d i n g the e n t i r e u n i o n executive.
It w a s the b e g i n n i n g of the road l e a d i n g t o the current c o n f l i c t w h e n C h a r l e s C a r t e r , the U n i v e r s i t y ' s V i c e - C h a n c e l lor (the e q u i v a l e n t of I C ' s R e c t o r ) s t a t e d that h e found the c h a n g e s i n t h e U n i o n ' s , structure " t o t a l l y u n a c c e p t a b l e " . H a v i n g adopted s u c h a n u n c o m p r o m i s i n g a t t i t u d e , he h a s remained adamant i n h i s r e f u s a l t o r e c o g n i s e the L a n c a s t e r U n i o n ' s e l e c t e d l e a d e r s h i p . It i s t h i s that I p e r s o n a l l y s e e a s the t a p root of the current s i t u a t i o n .
" T h e solution is deceptively simple: One goes right back to the tap root, the breakdown in communications, the lack of detente."
a
Thus series
we have the pattern of of mutual provocations:
escalation: (1) t h e
U n i o n g o e s o n rent s t r i k e , t h u s p r o v o k i n g the U n i v e r s i t y ; ( i i ) the U n i v e r s i t y r e f u s e s T h e s e e d s of t h i s c o n f l i c t w e r e s o w n a s t u d e n t a h a r d s h i p grant, thus p r o v o k i n g in t h e past a n d the a l m o s t t r a d i t i o n a l the U n i o n ; ( i i i ) the U n i o n d e c i d e s o n a n l a c k of d e t e n t e b e t w e e n the U n i v e r s i t y o c c u p a t i o n , t h u s p r o v o k i n g the U n i v e r s i t y ; a n d t h e U n i o n e n s u r e d that t h o s e s e e d s (iv) the U n i v e r s i t y gets the P o l i c e to e v i c t matured into a s e r i o u s c o n f l i c t of i d e a s . "Yet all the current signs ...seem to the s t u d e n t s a n d then s e t s up a " k a n g a r o o F i r s t let u s look a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y indicate that the University is deterc o u r t " , t h u s p r o v o k i n g the U n i o n ; (v) t h e itself. Only circumstantial evidence exists mined to 'settle this nonsense once and U n i o n r e t a l i a t e s by r e f u s i n g to r e c o g n i s e which supports the v i e w that " B i g for a l l ' on their own terms." t h e a u t h o r i t y of the t r i b u n a l , t h u s p r o v o k i n g B u s i n e s s " h a s a d e c i s i v e s a y in t h e w a y the U n i v e r s i t y ; ( v i ) t h e U n i v e r s i t y f i n a l l y the U n i v e r s i t y i s r u n , v i z . , the p r o l i f e r a t i o n e x p e l s s o m e s t u d e n t s , thus p r o v o k i n g the T h e r e s t of the s t o r y h a s been e s s e n t i a l l y of b u s i n e s s d e p a r t m e n t s w h i c h a r e now t o U n i o n . G o d , what a t o t a l m e s s ! Where d o e s be merged into a huge b l o c k p a i d for by a s e r i e s of p r o v o c a t i o n s a n d e s c a l a t i o n s one go from there? The solution is decepfor w h i c h n e i t h e r s i d e h a v e been a l t o g e t h e r private enterprise. T h i s i s hardly contively simple: One goes right back to the blamelees. c l u s i v e p r o o f . B u t c o n s i d e r further that tap root, the breakdown in communications, T h i s k i n d of b r e a k d o w n in c o m m u n i c a the c l a i m of " a l l the a c a d e m i c staff a r e detente. the lack of t i o n , t h i s l a c k of d e t e n t e r e s p o n s i b l e for now y e s - m e n " d o e s a p p e a r t o h a v e s o m e The argument now i m p i n g e s itself k i n d of b a s i s i n the f a c t that in 1972 a large number of d i s p u t e s d e v e l o p i n g i n t o squarely o n V i c e - C h a n c e l lor Charles s t r i k e s d u r i n g the e a r l y d a y s of o r g a n i s e d several outspoken junior a c a d e m i c s were Carter and h i s hitherto uncompromising trade u n i o n i s m . Confrontations were s a c k e d from t h e E n g l i s h D e p a r t m e n t ; t h e a t t i t u d e in r e f u s i n g to r e c o g n i s e the U n i o n ' s c o n s i s t e n t l y e x a c e r b a t o r y w h i l s t t a l k s B i o l o g y Department u s e d to h a v e three e l e c t e d l e a d e r s h i p . T h e only truly purposeful a n d n e g o t i a t i o n s a l w a y s proved to be the members of A S T M S â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it now h a s none; s o l u t i o n t o the L a n c a s t e r d i s p u t e c a n be a f i r s t s t e p to a s o l u t i o n . Y e t a l I t h e c u r r e n t the head of the S o c i o l o g y Department, d i p l o m a t i c o n e . A c r u s h i n g defeat o r a signs associated with the Lancaster J o h n Wakeford (wtio h e l d r a d i c a l v i e w s ) , stunning victory for'either side w i l l set an d i s p u t e s e e m to i n d i c a t e that the U n i v e r s i t y w a s r e p l a c e d by s o m e o n e l e s s c o n t r o v e r incredibly dangerous precedent. i s d e t e r m i n d e d to "settle this nonsense s i a l . T h e latter e v e n t p r o v o k e d a great once and for all" on t h e i r o w n terms. d e a l of letter w r i t i n g (to no a v a i l ) but n o "Indeed, the Governors at Lancaster So let u s now e x a m i n e j u s t what t h e militancy . may eventually determine that (the "nonsense" is. Vice-Chancellor's) removal would be A s t u d e n t at C a r t m a l C o l l e g e ( L a n c a s t e r "...(the University's Vice-Chancellor) h a s a n i n t e r - c o l l e g i a t e the only alternative to closing the system),following has remained adamant in his refusal to the U n i o n ' s p o l i c y w e n t o n rent s t r i k e i n University." recognise the Lancaster Union's o p p o s i t i o n t o the G o v e r n m e n t ' s c u t s i n elected leadership." Educational expenditure. He a l s o applied If the s t u d e n t s a t L a n c a s t e r d e c i d e that for a f i n a n c i a l h a r d s h i p grant. H e w a s t h e i r V C i s t a k i n g a b i t t o o much a d v i c e It i s a t t h i s point that t h e s t u d e n t leftrefused o n e b e c a u s e h e w a s on rent s t r i k e . from the b u s i n e s s i n t e r e s t s w h i c h a r e w i n g w i l l s t a n d u p a n d s a y that t h i s A n E G M w a s c a l l e d t o d i s c u s s the matter present on t h e c a m p u s , then the U n i o n " e m a s c u l a t i o n of the a c a d e m i c staff into and a s a r e s u l t there f o l l o w e d a n o c c u p a - might c o n c e i v a b l y s e e a route t o s u c c e s s yes-men" was a necessary condition for tion of the U n i v e r s i t y administration by d i r e c t i n g a c a m p a i g n not a g a i n s t the f i n a n c i a l i n v e s t m e n t by b u s i n e s s i n t e r e s t s b u i l d i n g . T h e p o l i c y w a s t w i c e re-affirmed U n i v e r s i t y a u t h o r i t i e s , but a g a i n s t t h e w h o d i d not w a n t a n y k i n d of c o n t r o v e r s y by U G M ' s a t t e n d e d by o v e r 1 3 0 0 s t u d e n t s overt p r e j u d i c e s of a much more v u l n e r a b l e and p a r t i c i p a t e d i n by s e v e r a l h u n d r e d s target: C h a r l e s C a r t e r . Indeed the G o v e r n o r s to interfere w i t h what they w e r e d o i n g . throughout its t w e l v e - d a y p e r i o d . B u t a g a i n , the e v i d e n c e i s i n c o n c l u s i v e . at L a n c a s t e r may e v e n t u a l l y d e t e r m i n e that N o w let u s c o n s i d e r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t h i s removal w o u l d be t h e o n l y a l t e r n a t i v e of t h e S t u d e n t s ' U n i o n a t L a n c a s t e r . to c l o s i n g the U n i v e r s i t y . I t ' s now u p to " T h u s wehave the pattern of escalation: Originally there existed a peculiar the L a n c a s t e r V C . a series of mutual provocations..." * f e d e r a l s y s t e m of J u n i o r C o m m o n R o o m s w h i c h elected their own representatives N o w t h e q u e s t i o n w hich this article asks A f t e r t h e e v i c t i o n by the P o l i c e , t h i r t y to s i t o n the s o v e r e i g n body, the Student i s : " C o u l d it happen h e r e ? " T h e a n s w e r in the e n t i r e u n i o n three s t u d e n t s ( i n c l u d i n g R e p r e s e n t a t i v e C o u n c i l w h i c h took a l l the my v i e w i s : "Currently, no." A t present I C / important d e c i s i o n s o n b e h a l f of t h e e x e c u t i v e ) were s i n g l e d out for d i s c i p l i n a r y ICU relations serve a s an almost impeccable t o be d e a l t w i t h by a s p e c i a l t r i b u n a l . a c t i o n U n i o n ' s membership. Federation meetings for other i n s t i t u t i o n s of h i g h e r model (ie m e e t i n g s w h i c h w e r e o p e n t o a l l S u c h a t r i b u n a l c o u l d o n l y be s e t up by a e d u c a t i o n a s f a r a s d e t e n t e g o e s . It i s a meeting of the U n i v e r s i t y S e n a t e w h i c h d u l y s t u d e n t s ) h a d no power a n d w e r e o n l y tribute to the i n d i v i d u a l s and p e r s o n a l i t i e s a b l e e f f e c t i v e l y to recommend d e c i s i o n s met. T h e r e d o e s a p p e a r to be s o m e e v i d e n c e i n v o l v e d that t h i n g s h a v e s t a y e d that w a y to support the v i e w that the S e n a t e m e e t i n g t o t h e S R C . In other words, had all the powers (and more) currently have.
the that
Council UGM's
w a s i n fact u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l b e c a u s e t h e student r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s w e r e barred from
for s o l o n g . But it remains a pity that such an example cannot rub off on Lancaster.