NUS
TRAVEL
iThe NUS Travel office A/ill not be open until May 10th due to staff i l l n e s s . The nearest bureau is at / i c t o r i a Station.
NEWSPAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE UNION
F O U N D E D IN 1949
N o . 417
F r i d a y 30th A p r i l , 1976
WP on sport facilities
t s n A S E C O N D a s s a u l t on a girl in the l a d i e s t o i l e t of the U n i o n took p l a c e during the Easter recess. This attack f o l l o w s the rape of an IC girl student there last November. The attack o c c u r r e d at about 10 pm on M o n d a y 8th A p r i l . A man, bearing a description s i m i l a r to that of the N o v e m b e r a s s a i l a n t , h a d f o l l o w e d the g i r l into the t o i l e t where he a s s a u l t e d h e r . H o w e v e r , when the g i r l b e g a n s c r e a m i n g , he ran off. Search made P e o p l e p r e s e n t in the U n i o n B a r at the time made a s e a r c h of the immediate v i c i n i t y soon a f t e r w a r d s but found n o t h i n g . It w a s reported that, at about the same t i m e , a m o t o r c y c l e w a s heard l e a v i n g w i t h i n c l o s e p r o x i m i t y o f the U n i o n B u i l d i n g IC
scarf
The attacker i s described as a negro t y p e , about 5 ' 9 " t a l l , w i t h f a i r l y short dark brown h a i r . He w a s w e a r i n g a l i g h t r a i n c o a t and blue j e a n s . He i s s a i d to be of medium build with pointed high cheek bones with a s m a l l i s h flat n o s e . He w a s als o wearing an I C scarf. Similarity T h e p o l i c e have not made any d e f i n i t e statement about s i m i l a r i t y i n d e s c r i p t i o n s , but the C o l l e g e Security O f f i c e r , M r . D a w s o n , s a i d that the s i m i l a r i t y in the d e s c r i p t i o n s p o i n t e d to a s t r o n g p o s s i b i l i t y of the a t t a c k s h a v i n g b e e n c o m m i t t e d by the same m a n .
FREE!
A W O R K I N G P A R T Y has been s e t up t o c o n s i d e r what additional sports facilities are r e q u i r e d o v e r t h e n e x t f i v e y e a r s , a n d where they might be p r o v i d e d . T h e W o r k i n g P a r t y i s to be c h a i r e d b y D r . B . White a n d i t w a s s e t up at the r eques t o f the R e c t o r .
Photo fit of the first a s s a i l a n t .
T h e other members o f the Workin g P a r t y are M r . P e t e r Teague, ICU P r e s i d e n t ; Mr. John T h o r n b a c k , Chairman A C C ; M r . D.W. C l a r k , E s t a t e Secretary; Mr. F . Hollinghead a n d M r . J . R . D a v i d s o n , the C o l l e g e Secretary. All members of the College are invited to comment on the existing sports and athletics facilities for students and staff, and offer suggestions for improvements or additions. Comments should be sent to Mr. John Davidson Room 535. Sherfield Bdg.. not later than M o n d a y , 10t hMay .
Student Spongers S T U D E N T S C L A I M I N G Social Security benefits have been a t t a c k e d by a S c o t t i s h student newspaper. T h e a t t a c k c a m e from O m e g a , the n e w s p a p e r of Heriot—Watt University, Edinburgh. A c c o r d i n g to an e d i t o r i a l p u b lished in its l a t e s t issue, ' b e t w e e n s e v e n t y and e i g h t y p e r c e n t o f those students ( c l a i m i n g just benefit) will have hammered o n e more n a i l into the c o f f i n o f the N a t i o n ' . E x c u s e s u s u a l l y g i v e n for not f i n d i n g a v a c a t i o n j o b ( e s p e c i a l l y during C h r i s t m a s and E a s t e r ) were d i s m i s s e d a s f e e b l e and i n a d e q u a t e . " S t u d e n t s s h o u l d be r e s o u r c e f u l e n o u g h to f i n d s u f f i c i e n t time for t h e i r a c a d e m i c work e v e n i f they are w o r k i n g forty hours a w e e k " , the p a p e r s a i d . It w a s r a r e l y d i f f i c u l t , the paper c l a i m s , for s t u d e n t s to f i n d work a s s a y barmen or p e t r o l pump a t t e n d a n t s if they t r i e d . C l a i m i n g b e n e f i t , the p a p e r s a y s , " i s a n a c t o f apathy a n d selfishness which jeopardises not o n l y t h e i r o w n future but that of the e n t i r e nation'.'
It described as "most despicable" the reason, " I f I took a j o b I w o u l d be d e p r i v i n g someone e l s e o f the right t o w o r k a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y worsening the unemployment s i t u a t i o n " . It w o u l d c o s t t h e n a t i o n n e a r l y £21 m i l l i o n if everystudent r e c e i v e d onl y the m i n i m u m e n t i t l e m e n t d u r i n g the Easter vacation alone. An N U S spokesman,however, d i s a g r e e d w i t h the p o i n t s made by Omega. T h e unemployment l e v e l h a d h i t students badly a n d the s i t u a t i o n w a s so b a d that t r a d i t i o n a l e m p l o y e r s , s u c h a s the b i g s t o r e s a n d h t e G P O had offered very few jobs d u r i n g the C h r i s t m a s v a c a t i o n . T h e N U S see s o c i a l s e c u r i t y as a safety net for those on l o w pay a n d f i x e d i n c o m e s . T h e s p o k e s m a n a l s o p o i n t e d o u t that a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r s u r v e y , 57% of s t u d e n t s on mandatory a w a r d s d i d not r e c e i v e the f u l l p a r e n t a l contribution to their grant. H a l f the s t u d e n t p o p u l a t i o n d i d not r e c e i v e the v a c a t i o n e l e m e n t , £3.80 p e r w e e k f o r t h o s e o n a full grant, as a result. M s Sue S l i p m a n , N U S N a t i o -
nal Secretary, said yesterday; "I believe that anyone who is supposed to serve the interests of students could do that better than by attacking students who are victims of the present crisis, along with the vast majority of working people in this country.
MISS J U L I A R O S S , a b o v e , i s the new P r e s i d e n t of L'Institute F r a n c a i s du Royaune—Uni Secretarial C o l l e g e Students' U n i o n , as I F . popularly k n o w n
2
MUX
F E L I X Photographic
INVITATION
Competition The competition is open to all staff and students of Imperial C o l l e g e , except members of the F E L I X staff. T h i s year all entries must be B&W or Colour prints. There will be nine categories: B&W Portrait Landscape Natural H i s t o r y Photojournalism General
COLOUR Portrait Landscape Natural H i s t o r y General
1. Prints must possess a surface area greater than48.su, inches. 2. Prints may be mounted or unmounted. Only unmounted prints may be reproduced. 3. F E L I X reserves the right to reproduce any entries. Only prints made on glossy paper may be reproduced. 4. If there are insufficient entries for any of the categories prints entered for those categories wHl be judged under the General section. 5. Entries should have the name, department and year of the photographer attached to each print. 6. There i s an entrance fee of lOp per competitor. A l l fees will be added to the prize money. 7. L a s t date for entry i s 2.00pm on Friday 21st May. 8. There will be cash prizes. 9. T h e judges decision will be final. 10. Prints
should be delivered to the
FELIX
Lady F'owers, assisted by members of the IC Wives Club, welcomes students to a free B E E R ' N ' B A N G E R S nosh-up at 170 Queen's Gate, on Thurs. 6th May . from 5.30-7.00pm Names, please, to Jen. Union uiiice. by not later than Wednesday, 5th May lunchtime. A L L W E L C O M E ! FREE!
office.
Ilopl College of Science Union
I.C S U N D A Y
SESSIONS:
A N N U A L DINNER with guest speaker RAYMOND B A X T E R
NIGHT
G A L A
of 'Tomorrow's World' Friday 7th May, 7.00 for 7.30pm Sherfield Building T i c k e t s : ÂŁ 2 . 5 0 from Social Reps or R C S U Office. Dress: Lounge suit or equivalent.
OF
JAZZ
MOPSOC A lecture by P R O F . T.W.B. K I B B L E PHYSICS O F E N E R G Y THE
E N T R O P Y CRISIS
1.15pm T u e s 4th May Physics L T 2
FELIX Published by the Editor on behalf of I . C . U n i o n Publication Board. Printed Off-set L i t h o on " the premises, F e l i x Office.PrinceConsort London SW7 2 B B . Tel.
BANDS
Sunday 2nd May. 7p.m.
01 589 5111 ext 1048,1042
Guest Musicians Welcome.
Š F E L I X , 1*976
F O L K EVENING in Southwell House (Evelyn Gardens) WED 5th MAY at 8.00 pm Bar facilities provided. Everyone welcome, especially singers.
Rd,
3 GREAT J A Z Z
Editor P.Ekpenyong. Many thanks to P h i l Pnvo
F Oira 11
Pnvp
Dean,
-Hopkins
Dave Knights, John M c C l o s k e y , Uuncuii
Susi,
ieiiy
Lower Union Lounge Bar.
Ae
and extra special thanks to Ian for putting up with us a l l , and G i l l , who did a l l the work before she went away.
Admission Free.
PROfr BREMSSTRAHLUNG Quark' Have you seen rny
baa-Lightniri3 anywhere
0
j\
R e b e c c a Abbott
Olivia Lawson-Tancred
w i n s
CLOTHES
w i t h
designed
by
students
at R C A ' s School of Fashion Design were paraded in a fashion show held in the Rector's flat just before the end of last term. The proceeds were donated to the Day Nursery. Four female students from I C Olivia Lawson-Tancred, Rebecca Abbott,
Fiona
Foley
and Hilary
Greenaway-took part in the show organised by IC Wives Club. Heather Boxer, sister-in-law to Dr. Schroter of the Physiological F l o w U n i t , also took part. Make up was done by the RCA students.
P h o t o g r a p h s by N e v i l l e M i l e s
Above;
Hilary Greenaway
Below;
Fiona Foley
4
MUX
Closed sessions and the student press F O L L O W I N G T H E decision, taken in the first session of conference, that Finance Committee Report on NUS Services (Travel, Marketing and Endsleigh) should not be held in closed session, a constitutional amendment allowing Student P r e s s into closed sessions was carried overwhelmingly. The opposition to this move was, not unjustifiably due to inaccurate reports of the NUS Travel financial situation (in the main) which many Executive members and others considered irresponsible. No doubt, since first hand information will be available in the future, the accuracy of such articles will improve. Some felt that the Student P r e s s were a dispensible luxury; delegates should report back to their S R C ' s / U G M ' s , and all the Student Press can do i s cut the ground from under their feet. But, on the whole, it was realised that the Student P r e s s has a valuable role to play in relaying, accurately, information that the Nationals would rather ignore or distort. Since our readership i s higher than the attendances at U G M ' s , etc, we are obviously in a good position to bridge that "communication g a p " . It must be remembered, however, that the representatives of the Student P r e s s at conference are not elected; they are not delegates fallowing mandates. Nor must they, in any way whatsoever, be allowed to interfere in the running of conference. They are, in the strictest sense, observers, but as such must be allowed to observe the proceedings in their entirity. But the new ruling does mean that the current arrangements for Student P r e s s representatives are totally unacceptable; the security element at present is zero, and, although
PRIZE CROSSWORD No. 33 X
1
it
3
4-
7
L
S
r r
r
14-
1T
r it
r V
12.
1
L
Across I. Similar purpose to ' I n t r o d u c t i o n ' in text b o o k s 8 . S e e 31 a c r o s s I I . M u s i c a l short c i t y
The Tory challenge T H E A N T I C I P A T E D , and much publicised, Tory challenge of the Federation of Conservative Students ( F C S ) seemed to fizzle out immediately after the Presidential E l e c t i o n , when their candidate was beaten into third p l a c e . T h e y , effectively, held the balance of power between the Broad Left (Labour Party and Communist Party alliance) and the more extreme left wing (the IMG, IS, etc.) with a transfer of about 85 votes going consisiantl) to the Broad Left candidates. Their strength has risen, however, since the Scarborough Conference when they had just over a dozen delegates. T h i s has been reflected by the fact that they now have one executive member, Steve Moon, and means that their policies will have a platform at National level. Just how seriously the Broad Left are taking the F C S will be seen when Mr Moon receives his specific responsiblities. Their s u c c e s s / f a i l u r e at the next conference will depend to a great extent on the policies expounded by Mr Moon, it will also require the F C S to put forward some committed and experienced leaders. It is quite obvious that the Broad Left had been opposed to a Tory on the executive, they could, by putting forward stronger candidates for the lower positions, have prevented it. Of course, if they had no stronger candidates to provide the back-up, they couldn't prevent the F C S getting at least one seat if they had wanted to. The fact that David Willis was narrowly (by 7 votes) defeated by the Broad Left candidate would indicate the latter being the case.
17. A c h a i n of 5 l i n k s g i v e s he 31 author 1 8 . R o t a t i n g bread 19. G o away i m p o l i t e l y w i t h 17 g i v e s way 22. Gives back knowledge 24. C h a r g e d p a r t i c l e 2 5 . H a l f of a k e t t l e 2 6 . Sharif 27. Nock as in arrows 29. Subtract? 3 0 . Is t h a t ? 3 1 . T h e u l t i m a t e in a e s t h e t i c s ? 3 2 . Great s c o r e to s m e l l maker
Down
22.
04-
Press badges were issued, no credentials were ever checked Obviously an unsatisfactory state of affairs if we are to be allowed to view the deepest and darkest secrets of the Union.
r
i
12. C a l l back 13. Not q u i t e i n s a n e , just empty 14. D r o l 1 5. A n o b s c u r e u n c l e 16. . H i d y - h o l e for n o o g a e s
1. I f l a p e y e , s o get b a l l cure and c r u s h e d f i n g e r s 2. Catch hawks nostrils 3. A computer firm 5 . G l a s s s l a b l e a r n e r g i v e s jury 6. A M L 7. Of F a e r y a u t h o r ? 8. Naked h o u s e leader? 9 . U n f l e d g e d hawk 10. i e . g r e e n s g i v e one great activity 1 5. 7 down g u e s s 1 6 . I m p e r a t i v e loop to I B M 2 0 . On top of (oh, what a g i v e away!) 2 1 . I n v o l v e d in B e i t Q u a d i n g ( T h e a p p r o p r i a t e letter w a s n i c k e d from U n i o n f i l e s to protect the guiIty) 22. It's a g a s . n a t u r a l l y , b u t upish 2 3 . Same a s a b o v e 28. T h e d e f i n i t e a r t i c l e ( o h , w h a t a give away') 29. Dega
T h e p r i z e of ÂŁ 1 w i l l be g i v e n to the f i r s t c o r r e c t s o l u t i o n drawn out of the E d i t o r ' s Hat at noon next Wednesday 5th May. T h e Editor's d e c i s i o n w i l l be f i n a l .
ICU DIARY T O A L L O F F I C I A L S of ICU c l u b s and s o c i e t i e s : If y o u h a v e r e g u l a r m e e t i n g s or any s p e c i a l events a l r e a d y p l a n n e d for the 1 9 7 6 / 7 7 s e s s i o n , why not p u b l i c i s e them in the I C U P o c k e t D i a r y w h i c h i s now b e i n g p r e p a r e d for n e x t year. In f a c t , A N Y c o l l e g e member with information s u i t a b l e for i n c l u s i o n in a d i a r y for I C U members i s w e l c o m e to s u b m i t it to the Diary Editor, Publications Board, ICU Office.
SOCIAL COLOURS Anyone can nominate any member of the College. All nominations with WRITTEN reasons to John Downs, IC Union Office by Monday 10th May, 1976.
MUX
5
Clarke and Slipman in, Lanning out
d Tory on Executive - first for 10 years THE
h a s . been defeated i n an election. Pete A s h b y w a s elected Deputy President the w a y made c l e a r b y A l i s t a i r S t e w a r t ' s r e t i r e m e n t from student p o l i t i c s .
NEW E X E C U T I V E of the
NUS has 12 out of 15 members of the
Broad Left;
two are Inter-
TORY
national Socialists, and, for the
Trevor P h i l l i p s , J e z L l o y d , Penny C o o p e r a n d D a v e A a r o n o v i t c h a r e the Vice-Presidents. Stephen M o o n , the only successful F C S candidate, i s going to have a hard j o b o n the E x e c u t i v e ; h e i s n o t o n l y the " s p o k e s m a n " for t h e T o r i e s , b u t i s , i n t h e e y e s o f m a n y , the c u s t o d i a n o f the C o n s e r v a t i v e P r i n c i p l e . H o w w e l l t h e F C S d o i n the next e l e c t i o n w i l l d e p e n d to a lar g e extent o n t t i s performance.
first time in ten years, a Tory has been elected. FCS
TRANSFER
T h e v o t i n g pattern at L l a n d u d n o w a s quite clear: the B r o a d L e f t could command 3 0 0 v o t e s , the F e d e r a t i o n of C o n s e r v a t i v e S t u d e n t s about 9 0 , a n d the r e m a i n d e r went to the u l t r a - l e f t groups. T h e F C S transferred c o n s i s t e n t l y to the B r o a d L e f t , g i v i n g them the n e c e s s a r y m a j o r i t y i n a l l t h e top e i g h t p o s i t i o n s o n the E x e c u t i v e . Charles Clarke, last year's President, beat Hugh L a n n i n g (retiring National Treasurer) b y the 80 o r s o v o t e s transferred from Mark Hapgood, the F C S c a n d i d a t e ( w h o came t h i r d ) , a n d in the same w a y , Sue S l i p m a n w a s re-elected to h e r p o s t of N a t i o n a l S e c r e t a r y . P e r h a p s the g r e a t e s t s h o c k ,
SPOKESMAN
Hugh
Lanning
w a s when Hugh Lanning though, (Independant S o c i a l i s t ) w a s b e a t e n b y C h r i s M o r g a n i n the e l e c t i o n for N a t i o n a l Treasurer; Hugh commands quite a lar g e p e r s o n a l v o t e , a n d i t h a s b e e n four y e a r s s i n c e a n incumbent o f f i c e r
The full Executive for 1976-7 i s Charles Clarke (President), Pete A s h b y ( D e p u t y P r e s i d e n t ) , Sue S l i p m a n (National Secretary), Chris Morgan (National Treasurer), Trevor Philips ( V P A r e a s ) , J e x L l o y d ( V P Welfare), Penny Cooper ( V P Education), Dave Aaronovitch ( V P Services), K a y CoppBrwon, Andy Durgan, P a u l Perkins, P a u l B l o m f i e l d , Harry D e a n , Stephen Moon, and Graham T h r e l f a l l .
C O N F E R E N C E CONCISELY... STUDENT PRESS are to be allowed into closed
OVERSEAS STUDENTS are not to be left on their
sessions at future
own, but we can't do it all for them.
THE
GRANTS
conferences.
CLAIM
is
now ÂŁ 1 1 4 0 for all
A CONSTITUTION
WORKING P A R T Y has been
students (ÂŁ1250 in London), with no means test or
ruled out by Conference.
discriminatory awards.
E E C AFFAIRS need more publicity in the CO's,
NUS
as does the whole of International work.
T R A V E L is on the road to recovery, with
a breakeven expected this year.
S A B B A T I C A L SALARIES are to be linked to the
EDUCATION requires a new approach and deep
current grants claim.
analysis.
FASCISM and RACISM have been denounced and its total opposition has been reaffirmed.
Graduates face dole queue O N E IN E V E R Y seven students leaving college this summer will "have no chance of getting jobs before Christmas, and a substantial part of those will stay on the dole queues for far longer", claimed Charles Clarke, NUS President, in his opening address to the conference. School students were, however, in an even worse position. " I n the c u t s w h i c h w e a r e t o l d a r e s o n e c e s s a r y , t h e p r o j e c t e d number o f students i n higher education h a s been c u t b a c k to 6 0 0 , 0 0 0 " , h e s a i d . A t the same t i m e , t h e number o f school leavers was steadily increasing a n d t h i s trend w o u l d c o n t i n u e into the
1 9 8 0 ' s , s a i d Mr C l a r k e . The Government p o l i c i e s w h i c h gave r i s e to t h i s s i t u a t i o n a n d w h i c h represented a concerted economic strategy wer e not b e i n g a c c e p t e d l y i n g d o w n . T h e f i g h t to c h a n g e t h e s e p o l i c i e s , a n d this e c o n o m i c strategy, w a s one to w h i c h the w h o l e o f the student m o v e m e n t must b e c o m m i t t e d , M r C l a r k e s a i d , " T h e question at stake i s whether w e can change the course of s o c i e t y ? " In order t o do t h i s , s a i d M r C l a r k e , the N U S " m u s t put forward a n a l t e r n a t i v e economic solution a n d w i n to i t s side the s t u d e n t b o d y . If w e do n o t s u c c e e d in that we condemn o u r s e l v e s to
political impotence." C o n t i n u i n g h i s a t t a c k o n the G o v e r n ment, Mr C l a r k e a c c u s e d them o f s p r e a d i n g , through c o n v e n t i o n a l p o l i t i c a l l i f e , c y n i c i s m among t h e m e m b e r s h i p o f the n a t i o n a l u n i o n . C y n i c i s m h a d b e c o m e the p o l i t i c a l w a t c h w o r d , a s t h e L a b o u r G o v e r n m e n t h a d b e c o m e the government o f the E s t a b l i s h m e n t , h e s a i d . It w a s the d u t y o f the N U S to break dow n t h i s c y n i c i s m a n d to o v e r c o m e t h e r e j e c t i o n o f p o l i t i c a l l i f e that e x i s t e d among many members of t h e U n i o n . " A l l s t u d e n t s must r e c o g n i s e that the d e c i s i o n s of government matter t o u s a l l " , M r Clarke said.
Bucharest delegation censured C H A R L E S C L A R K E , Alastair Stewart and Trevor P h i l l i p s came in for heavy criticism over their conduct at the 13th European meeting of national unions of students held in Bucharest last December. The conference felt that a l l three had acted inappropriately by not adequately representing N U S policy on topics d i s c u s s e d at the meeting. Delegates were also displeased with the signing of the final communique issued at the end of the meeting. It was felt that the delegation had followed to much of a pro-Soviet line during the meeting.
Charles Clarke (top) and Chris Morgan
A l l three were censured and the report of the meeting which included the offending communique rejected by the conference. Charles Clarke was also censured for not making available, before the conference began, the text of the communique as he had promised at the Universities P o l i c y Conference. T h e motion of censure on Mr Clarke was moved by Mr Peter Teague, I C U President. The section of the communique which angered delegates most dealt with women. The communique stresses "that due to continuance of a capitalist countries, order in many European women remained totally oppressed and were denied equal rights in education and many other fields of endeavour." • "Inadequate sex education, contraception and abortion facilities means that much hardship and pain was caused to women in the capitalist countries. Their position as sex objects in society was accentuated by these inadequacies", the communique continued. The socialist countries, the communique claimed, were way ahead in of western European countries establishing equal rights for women. However, it was noted by some delegates that in Romania, the host country, abortion was i l l e g a l . The conference rubbed salt into the wound by deciding to elect the next delegation from itself despite determined opposition from the Executive.
Eighteen candidates put themselves forward for the three posts that were available. O f these, Mr Peter A s h b y , Deputy President elect (Broad Left), Mr Andy Durgin, executive member (International Socialist) and Mr Tony Fekete, Edinburgh University (Conservative) were elected. The conference further gave vent to its disapproval over the international section of the Union's work by censuring Chris Morgan, Treasurer elect. Mr Morgan,! was censured for not doing enough work on the Southern A f r i c a mandate. No direction had been forthcoming from the NUS Executive to COS to campaign on this issue it was said. What was seen as a Broad Left ploy to limit debate on the international work of the Union was defeated when the conference decided to extend time for the debate well into the time alloted for lunch. T h i s came about when the guest speaker from the Chilean N U S , Mr Alejandro Rojas, was allowed to speak for nearly 45 minutes — well over his alloted time — this taking the morning session right up to lunch.
N O CUTS" D E M A N D IN P O S S I B L Y the most comprehensive of a l l policy motions passed at this total opposition to a l l conference, forms of cuts in Pu b l ic spending was reaffirmed. T h e Government's economic p o l i c y , which i s leading to a reduction and Education in Social Services expenditure, was deplored and criticised throughout the nine page document dealing with "Grants and C u t s " . T he case of 16—19 year olds, for whom education in the form of day — release courses had been promised by the Government, was specifically mentioned. Large cut-backs in F E ' s and T e c h ' s are expected; and policy i s now that we should press for compulsory (and fully paid) day-release education for youths who left school at sixteen. It was felt that on this, as other topics, we should liaise more closely with Trades Unions, in the belief that cuts affect not just students but the whole of the community. Indeed, the same view was expressed concerning the rise in the pupil-teacher r a t i o . in most, if not a l l , schools; especially since, at the same time, trained teachers are finding it impossible to get employment as such, and the training colleges themselves are reducing their intake. Conference resolved that the Government must "come to terms with the demand and need for E d u c a t i o n . " Whilst no single point in the grants campaign was prioritized (many felt that they should be); the abolition of the means test and the discontinuation of discretionary awards received most
attention. T h e Anderson Report of 16 years ago called for an end to the means test, but there was still little progress in this area. It was claimed, that this caused hardship to students whose parents cannot, or choose not to, pay their "contribution". It was also stated that the main-rate grant claim has always taken precedence over the other, equally important aspects of the campaign; the Press were criticised for heightening this differential \w ignoring the parts not considered newsworthy. A l l the same, the motion says, "the main rate is abysmal . . . anything l e s s than the main rate is totally unacceptable" — quite clearly a request for a higher grant, of £ 1 1 4 0 , with no deductions or exceptions.
Pete Ashby In his speech, Mr Rojas praised the solidarity work of the NUS in support of the repressed Chilean students. "Every democratic achievement achieved during Allende's government had been destroyed by the present fascist junta, Mr Rojas said. He called for a day of mass action on May 8th to protest against the imprisonment of students and at the loss of university autonomy in C h i l e .
Conference comments Jackie Webber: " N o conference, you can't suspend the constitution." Pete A s h l e y : " T h e pattern of Tories transfering their votes to Broad Left candidates after the first ballot must be seen as a recognition of the Broad L e f t ' s remarkable competence." Elections Committee: "There were so many spoilt papers, Mr Chairman, that the candidate " R u b b i s h " nearly won this e l e c t i o n . " ( V P Welfare) Stewart Mcintosh: " A m I correct in my assessment of your p a r t s ? " (to delegate requesting a vote to be taken in said manner)
Charles Clarke: "I do intend to be r i g i d . " (on interpretation of standing orders) AI Stewart: " T h e ultra-left i s to the right of the Broad L e f t . " A l Stewart: "I have developed a taste for the jugular veins of T r o t s . " A l Stewart: The S R P are not a political group: they are an insult to a l l other groups on the floor of conference." Charles Clarke: "I really must apologise for my v o i c e . ' ' S Mcintosh: " S i r , I think you are trying to drill a hole into a piece of wood that nobody has g o t . "
7
MUX
N U S Services report, Easter 1976
N U S Travel-the hardest road back NUS T R A V E L will break even t h i s year, and is in a good position to recoup . its £'4 million deficit over the next four years. T h i s was the message from Mr. Mike Naylor, Managing Director of N U S Travel Services L t d , at this year's Llandudno Conference. In a b r i e f i n g , h e e x p l a i n e d that t h e figure o f £250,000 w a s grossly inflated b y the w a y i n w h i c h the a c c o u n t i n g p r o c e d u r e h a d b e e n a l t e r e d —the J a n u a r y / D e c e m b e r f i n a n c i a l y e a r w a s c h a n g e d to M a y / M a y — to m a k e r e p o r t s to C o n f e r e n c e more a c c u r a t e a n d up t o d a t e . T h i s i t s e l f w a s l o s s m a k i n g , due to i n e f f i e n c i e s , m i s t a k e s , a n d the f a c t that a l a r g e o u t l a y was required to move headquarters from L o n d o n t o C h e l t e n h a m S p a . S A T A flight
records
out b y £ 9 0 , 0 0 0 B u t the worst l o s s , he pointed o u t , w a s the d i s c r e p a n c y a m o u n t i n g to some £90,000 between their record of flight b o o k i n g s a n d those h e l d by S A T A , t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l student f l i g h t a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . S i n c e t h i s w a s brought to l i g h t , fortn i g h t l y c h e c k s h a v e b e e n made, a n d a l l the s t a f f h a n d l i n g the T E L E X b o o k i n g equipment have been retrained and t e s t e d . T h i s h a s brought the p r e v i o u s error rate o f 3% ( c o s t i n g about £12,000 l a s t y e a r ) . d o w n to l e s s t h a n 0 . 6 % f o r J a n u a r y and F e b r u a r y o f t h i s y e a r , NUSTS
streamlined
In f a c t , the w h o l e c o m p a n y h a s b e e n c u t b a c k a n d trimmed u n t i l o n l y the e s s e n t i a l s r e m a i n 40 of t h e p r e v i o u s 60 f light s a n d train routes have been d r o p p e d , l e a v i n g j u s t the most p o p u l a r l i n e s s t i l l running, and as a result, a p o s s i b l e further £80,000 l o s s h a s b e e n into a breakdown s i t u a t i o n for t h i s y e a r . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e c u t b a c k s meant that 8 p e o p l e w e r e n o l o n g e r e m p l o y a b l e ; the r e d u n d a n c i e s c a u s e d a n angry f l a r e up at C o n f e r e n c e , b u t , o n t h e w h o l e , i t w a s r e a l i s e d that the c h o i c e w a s o f some r e d u n d a n c i e s o r more r e d u n d a n c i e s and p o s s i b l e bankruptcy.'
Fair
play
N U S T S has an ever i n c r e a s i n g share of t h e student m a r k e t , a n d M r . N a y l d r , i s confident that, g i v e n fair p l a y , this summer w i l l r e a l i s e a p r o f i t o f o v e r £ 2 8 0 , 0 0 0 - w h i c h , a l l o w i n g £200,000 to c o v e r t h e w i n t e r " s l u m p " , w i l l m a k e up the on-going deficit o f i>A m i l l i o n w i t h i n four y e a r s i f c o n t i n u e d . On the subject of fair p l a y , he p o i n t e d out that some f o r e i g n s t u d e n t s ' (quite travel s e r v i c e s are operating u n e t h i c a l l y , i n h i s o p i n i o n ) w i t h i n the U K , s e l l i n g (and g e t t i n g c o m m i s s i o n o n ) some o f N U S T S ' s o w n f l i g h t s . H e a s k e d all students to n o t i c e that these p r a c t i c e s were going o n and c a l l e d o n a l l students to boycott these c o m p a n i e s . Other competitors (specifically, T r a n s a l p i n e ) , h e s a i d , w e r e "no longer so much cheaper than ourselves". In a r e c e n t c h e c k , o f the E a s t e r b r o c h u r e , NUSTS were cheaper on some routes by i s d u e t o the up to 20%.' T h i s international cooperation of some European Students' Travel Services i n bulk-buying train space, and could bring p r i c e s e v e n lower if demand w a s sufficient. "Set
O f f " agreement
Mr. N a y l o r a l s o e x p l a i n e d the " S e t O f f " a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e b a n k ; i t d o e s not m e a n that t h e b a n k c a n c o n f i s c a t e funds o f the N a t i o n a l U n i o n . What i t d o e s m e a n i s t h a t , i n the e v e n t of a n y o f t h e N U S S e r v i c e s g o i n g bankrupt, a n d a t the same time h a v i n g a n o v e r d r a f t a t t h e b a n k , the bank h a s the r i g h t to t ake t h e amount of that o v e r d r a f t from a n y o f t h e other a c c o u n t s i n c r e d i t : t h i s w o u l d then b e r e c l a i m e d from the r e c e i v e r p u t i n c h a r g e o f the c a s e . I n r e t u r n , f o r t h e purposes of calculating overdraft interest charges, the accounts are simply treated a s o n e , and s o the amount p a i d i s c o n s i d e r a b l y l e s s , a s m o s t o f t h e a c c o u n t s are i n c r e d i t for the p e r i o d w h e n N U S T S i s i n o v e r d r a f t .
N U S Marketingbeer's the latest thing N U S M a r k e t i n g , s e t up i n J a n u a r y , i s b r a n c h i n g out i n t o the f i e l d o f b e e r : i t h a s a r r a n g e d w i t h the Y o r k s h i r e b r e w e r y T h e a k s t o n , to supply their beers to U n i o n B a r s throughout the c o u n t r y . We were g i v e n a c h a n c e to s a m p l e t h e wares at t h e N U S S e r v i c e s Disco, where the O l d P e c u l i e r ( T h e a k s t o n ' s Strong A l e ) f l o w e d f r e e l y : i t i s i n d e e d a b r e w worth s a m p l i n g , a n d I l o o k forward to t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f h a v i n g i t i n o u r Union. They also have wine, T-shirts, c a l c u l a t o r s , a n d a w h o l e s t o r e o f other l i n e s — a l l of whic h are s e l l i n g w e l l a n d p r o v i n g the n e e d f o r t h e c o m p a n i e s existence.
Endsleigh-6-month policy hit with student E n d s l e i g h I n s u r a n c e ' s n e w 6-month p o l i c y , underwritten by the Federation M u t u a l I n s u r a n c e L i m i t e d , m a y not be the c h e a p e s t o n the m a r k e t , but t h e c o m p a n y f e e l s that t h e e a s e w i t h w h i c h the s y s t e m o p e r a t e s w i l l i n time b r i n g the o v e r h e a d s , a n d h e n c e t h e p r e m i u m s , down to a much lower l e v e l . T h e y s a y that the r e d u c e d p a p e r w o r k i n v o l v e d , the s i m p l i c i t y o f t h e p r i c i n g s y s t e m , and the c o m p e t i t i v e n e s s of the scheme are a t t r a c t i n g 6 0 0 s t u d e n t s a week. L a s t y e a r ' s l o s s (the f i r s t r e c o r d e d for many y e a r s ) d o e s n o t a p p e a r t o b e repeating this year: the figures s o far i n d i c a t e t h a t there w i l l b e a t r a d i n g profit of some £70,000.
Solidarity with overseas students A R E S O L U T I O N c o n d e m i n g the a t t a c k s on o v e r s e a s students a s r a s c i s t a n d " c a l c u l a t e d to d i v i d e a n d weaken the w h o l e s t u d e n t body i n i t s o p p o s i t i o n to the e d u c a t i o n a l c u t b a c k s " w a s o v e r whelmingly c a r r ie d with only two v o t e s a g a i n s t . T h e s e a t t a c k s , the r e s o l u t i o n s a i d , were " o n l y a percursor to attacks on t h e e n t i r e student b o d y . " The resolution also rejected the " m y t h s a n d l i e s s p r e a d about o v e r s e a s s t u d e n t s " , i n the p r e s s . It n o t e d t h e d e f e a t of t h e I L E A p r o p o s a l to c u t b a c k the number o f o v e r s e a s s t u d e n t s i n I L E A c o l l e g e s b y 6 0 % a n d the agreement signed by L S O (London Student Organisation) a n d t h e Inner London D i v i s i o n of N A T H E (National A s s o c i a t i o n of Teachers i n Higher Education) opposing these and any such proposals. The resolution itself w a s moved by Mr A T u k e r , a T u r k i s h student at t h e C i t y U n i v e r s i t y . B y the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of imperialist policies overseas,
students had been deprived o f t h e right to e d u c a t i o n i n t h e i r o w n c o u n t r i e s , h e s a i d . " W i t h o u t the support o f B r i t i s h students, overseas students cannot campaign effectively against the fees i n c r e a s e a n d v i c t i m i s a t i o n they f a c e d . " O v e r s e a s s t u d e n t s were n o t t h e v a n g u a r d of the a n t i - d i s c r i m i n a t i o n f i g h t — t h e f i g h t h a d to b e a " s h o u l d e r t o s h o u l d e r " one w i t h B r i t i s h s t u d e n t s , h e c o n c l u d e d . A T r o t amendment a t t a c k i n g t h e N U S e x e c u t i v e f o r n o t s h o w i n g any i n i t i a t i v e o n the i s s u e o f o v e r s e a s s t u d e n t s a n d d e s c r i b i n g N U S p u b l i c i t y o n the p l i g h t of o v e r s e a s s t u d e n t s a s " o f f e n s i v e a n d p a s s i v e " w a s d e c i s i v e l y defeated. The amendment that brought t h e c o n f e r e n c e t o the b o i l , h o w e v e r , w a s that t a b l e b y T A C T , the C o l l e g e o f C o m m e r c e and T e c h n o l o g y i n H u l l . The TACT speakers were consistently heckled and had considerable difficulty in putting a c r o s s their case for B r i t i s h first.
Trevor
Phillips
M r N i c h o l a s F a i r b a i r n , m o v i n g the amendment , s a i d that the h i g h s t a n d a r d of e d u c a t i o n i n t h i s c o u n t r y w a s a marketable commodity w h i c h had been Continued on page 8
Sabbatical salaries slashed F U L L T I M E O F F I C E R S ( F T O ' s ) o f the N U S e x e c u t i v e are to have their s a l a r i e s l i n k e d t o the grant c l a i m . T h e y w i l l n o w r e c e i v e a net salary o f 52/30ths of what the U n i o n c o n s i d e r s i s a f a i r grant. O f f i c e r s w h o p r e v i o u s l y r e c e i v e d £3,200 p l u s £ 1 0 0 for e a c h r e - e l e c t i o n w i l l n o w b e o n about £ 2 , 6 0 0 . T h i s s i t u a t i o n r a i s e s the p o s s i b i l i t y o f future c o n f e r e n c e s v o t i n g f o r s m a l l o r z e r o i n c r e a s e i n t h e m a i n rate grant c l a i m i f i t i s d e c i d e d that F T O ' s s h o u l d not r e c e i v e a b i g p a y i n c r e a s e . H o w e v e r t h i s i s rather u n l i k e l y ; .thus i n t h i s " i n d e x - l i n k e d " type s i t u a t i o n , the F T O ' s seem to be g u a r a n t e e d annual salary i n c r e a s e s i n future. P r e v i o u s l y , F T O ' s had to negotiate for pay i n c r e a s e s and t h i s y e a r h a d agreed not t o r e c e i v e a n i n c r e a s e , i n v i e w o f the U n i o n ' s f i n a n cial situation. T h e c o n s t i t u t i o n debate w a s , however, more c o n c e r n e d w i t h the d i r e c t e l e c t i o n of the e x e c u t i v e b y n a t i o n a l s e c r e t b a l l o t . But once again, direct elections were d e c i s i v e l y r e j e c t e d b y the c o n f e r e n c e . The resolution, which was eventually carried by a two-thirds majority .condemns direct e l e c t i o n o f the e x e c u t i v e a s undesirable, expensive, impractical, a n d l i a b l e to l e a d t o b u r e a u c r a c y a n d careerism. T w o major amendments wer e p u t t o the m a i n m o t i o n , one b a c k e d b y t h e C o n s e r v a t i v e s a n d the other b y the ultra left. M r . S t e v e M o o n , e x e c u t i v e member, i n m o v i n g the C o n s e r v a t i v e backed amendment, c a l l e d f o r a " c o l l , l o n g l o o k at t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n " . T o d o t h i s , the c o n f e r e n c e s h o u l d e l e c t a w o r k i n g party of t e n b \ S T V to " i n v e s t i g a t e the f e a s i b i l i t y of the direct e l e c t i o n o f the N U S e x e c C o n tinued from p.7
Solidarity with overseas students abused i n certain c a s e s . " O v e r s e a s s t u d e n t s are here b y i n v i t a t i o n a n d should accept the d e c i s i o n s o f a democratically elected government," M r F a i r b a i r n s a i d . " I t w a s up t o e a c h government to e n s u r e the p o s t s c h o o l e d u c a t i o n o f i t s o w n n a t i o n a l s , he a d d e d . R e p l y i n g t o t h i s , a d e l e g a t e from P o r t s m o u t h P o l y t e c h n i c s a i d the N U S had a commitment t o the a i m that e d u c a t i o n i s a r i g h t . " W h o i n v i t e d the b l o o d y B r i t i s h i m p e r i a l i s t s into h a l f the w o r d a n y w a y ? * , he asked. A t t h i s p o i n t the d e b a t e b e c a m e a heated and severe condemnation of fascism with • Ms Valerie Coultas l e a d i n g the a t t a c k . S h e a c c u s e d the B r o a d L e f t o f b a c k i n g d o w n o n the q u e s t i o n o f o p p o s i n g f a s c i s m b y any means i n the f a c e o f the c a m p a i g n e d w a g e d by t h e b o u r g e o i s e p r e s s . The amendment was even more d e c i s i v e l y d e f e a t e d than the f i r s t o n e . The remaining amendments were a l s o d e f e a t e d . Mr T r e v o r P h i l l i p s s u m m i n g u p o n the m a i n m o t i o n s a i d he d i d not w a n t to s e e o v e r s e a s s t u d e n t s sold d o w n the d r a i n . " T h e G o v e r n m e n t i s us in g overseas students a s scapegoats. T h e o n l y w a y t o f i g h t t h i s i s to p r e s e r v e u n i t y w i t h o v e r s e a s s t u d e n t s . If w e l o s e t h i s f i g h t , then I t h i n k we h a v e l o s t the w h o l e f i g h t a g a i n s t c u t s " , he w a r n e d . The motion. calls for organised action including p i c k e t i n g , lobbying and properly co-ordinated disruptions of m e e t i n g s d i s c u s s i n g the f e e s a n d number of o v e r s e a s s t u d e n t s " w h e r e t h i s c a n i n f l u e n c e t h o s e d e c i s i o n s i n f a v o u r of overseas students".
u t i v e a n d r e p o r t o n the a l t e r n a t i v e s involved." Mr. P e t e r Teague, I C U P r e s i d e n t , supporting the amendment,said t h a t a l o o k at the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e nature of N U S w a s r e q u i r e d . 'I hope we w o n ' t s e e M r . S t e w a r t s p e a k i n g o n t h i s m o t i o n and make u n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s t a t e m e n t s about the undemocratic E l e c t o r a l Reform S o c i e t y , " he a d d e d . H e w a s later to be d i s a p pointed i n h i s w i s h . C h r i s Morgan, National Treasurer, o p p o s i n g the amendment, s a i d that it p r o p o s e d d i s u n i t y a t a time w h e n a fighting N U S w a s needed to c o m b a t educational cutbacks and an iniquitous g r a n t s s y s t e m . T h e amendment w a s h e a v i l y d e f e a t e d b y 3 3 2 8 1 0 v o t e s t o 110 516 w i t h 50 8 7 4 a b s t e n t i o n s - a m a j o r i t y o f
Pete
Teague
3
to 1. T h e s e c o n d amendment, b a c k e d b y the u l t r a l e f t , s u p p o r t e d the m a i n r e s o l u tion in rejecting direct e l e c t i o n s . Instead it c a l l e d f o r the e l e c t i o n b y S T V o f t h e bottom e l e v e n members o f t h e N U S e x e c . T h e amendment w a s thrown o u t b y a m a j o r i t y o f 2 to 1. A n amendment m a n d a t i n g the N U S e x e c u t i v e to a l l o w t h e c o l l e g e s o f O x f o r d a n d C a m b r i d g e to u s e the C o n f e r e n c e Subsidy F u n d w a s defeated by a subs t a n t i a l m a j o r i t y . D u r i n g the d e b a t e , the M e r t o n C o l l e g e d e l e g a t e ( m o v i n g the amendment ) d e s c r i b e d the e x e c u t i v e a s fascists. It w a s r e s o l v e d to h o l d c o m p o s i t e m e e t i n g s prior to the t w o N U S c o n f e r e n c e s to e n a b i e i n d i v i d u a l c o l l e g e s t o get m a n d a t i o n on the f i n a l drafts of m o t i o n s that a p p e a r before t h e s e c o n f e r e n c e s . T h e N U S holds two conferences a year, one i n the autumn and one at E a s t e r . T h e c o n f e r e n c e a l s o d e c i d e d that, in f u t u r e , the student p r e s s w o u l d be a d m i t t e d i n t o the c l o s e d s e s s i o n s of c o n f e r e n c e . T h e amendment w h i c h propo s e d t h i s move i n s t r u c t s the N U S e x e c " t o f u l l y inform the student p r e s s o f major m o v e s w i t h i n the c a m p a i g n i n g a n d s e r v i c e a c t i v i t i e s of the U n i o n . " T h e N U S i s to h o l d a o n e - day c o n f e r e n c e o n the q u e s t i o n of i t s structure and c o m m u n i c a t i o n s . In a d d i t i o n , a s u r v e y i s b e i n g mounted to l o o k i n t o the way colleges elect their delegates. It w i l l now be p o s s i b l e f o r s t u d e n t s t o f i n d out w h o are the c a n d i d a t e s s t a n d i n g for N U S e x e c u t i v e p o s t s . T h i s f o l l o w s a r e c o m m e n d a t i o n i n the m a i n m o t i o n that c a n d i d a t e s m a n i f e s t o s s h o u l d be d i s t r i b u t e d t o c o l l e g e s at l e a s t s i x w e e k s before conference.
Critical look at education system needed A M O T I O N c a l l i n g o n the N U S to take a s e a r c h i n g a n d c r i t i c a l l o o k i n t o the education system a s a whole w a s u n a n i m o u s l y agreed to b y the c o n f e r e n c e . T h e m o t i o n i d e n t i f i e d four f undament a l i s s u e s affecting post school education t o d a y v i z , the poor l e v e l o f f i n a n c e , democracy, content a n d s t r u c t u r e of education. C e n t r a l v a l i d a t i o n of a l l further a n d h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n c o u r s e s and c o m p u l s o r y for a l l workers part-time education b e t w e e n 16 a n d 19 are c a l l e d f o r . T h e latter c a l l w a s embodied i n a s u c c e s s f u l amendment s p o n s o r e d by the P a r t T i m e S t u d e n t s N a t i o n a l C o m m i t t e e . It w a s o p p o s e d by I C . Mr R i c k P a r k e r , I C U n i o n A c a d e m i c A f f a i r s O f f i c e r , o p p o s i n g the amendment s a i d he o b j e c t e d to t h e w o r d ' c o m p u l s o r y ' . T h e a m e n d , s a i d Mr P a r k e r , w a s " a rubbishy amendment". The motion advocates continuous assessment i n favour o f c o m p e t i t i v e a s s e s s m e n t . T h e a b o l i t i o n of the latter s h o u l d be the l o n g term a i m of the National Union. Examinations, the resolution declares, "can restrict educational opportunity and c a n , t h e r e f o r e , be d e t r i m e n t a l to the c o m m u n i t y a s w e l l as the p a r t i c i p a n t s . " E x a m i n a t i o n s o n l y t e s t e d the c a n d i d a t e s a b i l i t y to assimilate information.
Rick
Parker
O n the q u e s t i o n o f c o u r s e c o n t e n t , the m o t i o n s a y s " A l l c o u r s e s must be the subject of c o n s u l t a t i o n between" s t u d e n t s , staff a n d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s from s u b s e q u e n t f i e l d s of work; s t u d e n t s s h o u l d not be p r o v i d e d w i t h ' t e r m i n a l ' c o u r s e s w h i c h become e d u c a t i o n a l , ' b l i n d a l l e y s ' w a s t e f u l i n t i m e , effort and r e s o u r c e s . " I n d i v i d u a l c o l l e g e s are i n s t r u c t e d t o form content committees in every department w i t h e q u a l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of students academic and non-academic staff. In a d d i t i o n , c o l l e g e s should set departmental staff-student academic b o a r d s w h i c h w o u l d be r e s p o n s i b l e f o r , and take a l l d e c i s i o n s a f f e c t i n g the department. T h e m o t i o n a l s o c o m m i t s the N U S to fighting against " t h e increasing control of e d u c a t i o n b y b u s i n e s s a n d m i l i t a r y interests." R e p o r t s by P a u l Ekpenyong and D u n c a n S u s s .
P i c t u r e s by Duncan Suss & P h i l Dean.
MUX
Theatre T h e Lyttelton Theatre I F T H E R E w e r e o n e e v e n t that c o u l d prevent me from b e g i n n i n g my r e v i e w w i t h a p a e a n for R a l p h R i c h a r d s o n , Wendy -Hi I l e r and Peggy Ashcroft in I b s e n ' s John G a b r i e l d B o r k m a n n , it c o u l d o n l y be the o p e n i n g of the n e w N a t i o n a l Theatre b u i l d i n g s o n the South B a n k , e a s t of Waterloo bridge. It i s now 128 y e a r s s i n c e the w r a n g l i n g o v e r the s e t t i n g up of a theatre for the n a t i o n b e g a n . A m o n g the s i t e s w h i c h h a v e , o v e r the y e a r s , been e a r m a r k e d for a N a t i o n a l company i s that plot o p p o s i t e the V i c t o r i a a n d A l b e r t M u s e u m now o c c u p i e d by a w e l l - k n o w n c a r h i r e c o m p a n y . T h e new b u i l d i n g i s m a g n i f i c e n t a l m o s t o v e r w h e l m i n g l y s o , s i n c e it n e a r l y t a k e s o v e r a s the f o c u s of a t t e n t i o n from the prime target of the p l a y and i t s perf o r m a n c e . I hope that t h i s i s o n l y a t r a n s i e n t e f f e c t , for, a l t h o u g h t h i s i s one of t h e v e r y f e w n e w theatre b u i l d i n g s t o open in E u r o p e in r e c e n t y e a r s and p r e s e n t s a r a d i c a l new c o n c e p t in theatre g o i n g to the p u b l i c , the a c t o r s s h o u l d r e a l l y be t h e central attraction. has always The National Theatre p r o v i d e d c o n c e s s i o n s to s t u d e n t s in the form of c h e a p e r s e a t s for t h o s e w i l l i n g to q u e u e e a r l y on t h e day of the performance, but i t s n e w p o l i c y of s e a t b o o k i n g in the L y t t e l t o n r e q u i r e s that y o u a r r i v e e a r l y at the t h e a t r e to s t a k e your c l a i m to a p a r t i c u l a r numbered s e a t . A p a r t from the 10X3 £1 s e a t s (half to be s o l d in a d v a n c e
Terraced in! and h a l f on t h e d a y of the performance from 8 . 3 0 am) a l l s e a t s c o s t £2.35, w h i c h p a y s for a d m i s s i o n to the a u d i t o r i u m . A premium of £2 w i l l s e c u r e the s e a t of your c h o i c e , the r e m a i n i n g s e a t s a r e d i s t r i b u t e d to t h o s e w i t h £ 2 . 3 5 t i c k e t s , not more than two hours before c u r t a i n - u p . H o w e v e r there i s plenty to d o and s e e if y o u a r r i v e early. T h e r e a r e t w o b u f f e t s , a restaurant and s e v e r a l b a r s , w h i c h a r e a l l open in the daytime as appropriate. T h e cramped b o o k s t a l l of the O l d V i c d a y s h a s become more s p a c i o u s a n d there a r e , at p r e s e n t , two e x h i b i t i o n s of t h e a t r i c a l o b j e c t s . O n most e v e n i n g s there are e v e n t s b e g i n n i n g around 6 . 1 5 . T h e s e take the form of r e a d i n g s or c o n c e r t s in the s p a c i o u s f o y e r s or in a s p e c i a l room s e t a s i d e for t h e p u r p o s e . When the N a t i o n a l T h e a t r e p r o j e c t w a s being t o s s e d around by c o m m i t t e e s there w a s a g e n e r a l c o n s e n s u s that o n e a u d i t orium w o u l d not b e e n o u g h . Y o u c a n n o t h a v e an a u d i t o r i u m v e r s a t i l e enough to h o l d S h a k e s p e a r e — i d e a l l y on a thrust s t a g e — and more modern p l a y s w r i t t e n , f o r the p r o s c e n i u m a r c h . S o t h i s b u i l d i n g h o l d s three s t a g e s . O n l y the L y t t e l t o n ( p r o s c e n i u m ) i s open s o far - o n e of P e t e r H a l l ' s great s u c c e s s e s in that, in h i s o w n w o r d s , " H e got h i s foot in the d o o r " - the O l i v i e r (thrust) i s h o p e f u l l y to open e a r l y in J u l y , w i t h the C o t t e s l o e (a s m a l l s t u d i o ) c o m i n g l a t e r . T h e G r a n d O f f i c i a l O p e n i n g by t h e Q u e e n c o m e s later s t i l l ; but for the t i m e
b e i n g the b u i l d i n g i s at l a s t l i v i n g . The architect, Denys Lasdun, has done the n a t i o n p r o u d , u s i n g shuttered c o n c r e t e t o e n f o r c e a strong v e r t i c a l l i n e i n s i d e the f o y e r s , w i t h numerous l e v e l s and b a l c o n i e s , from w h i c h to o b s e r v i n g the a r r i v i n g a u d i e n c e s and t h e s p e c i a l e v e n t s . P e r h a p s h e h a s f a i l e d in r e s p e c t that the T h a m e s i s a l m o s t i n v i s i b l e from w i t h i n the b u i l d i n g for, a l t h o u g h the w i n d o w s a r e there in p r o f u s i o n , m u l t i l e v e l t e r r a c i n g , w h i c h w i l l c l e a r l y be w e l l occupied on warm summer evenings, o b s c u r e s any v i e w s a c r o s s to Somerset House. T h e L y t t e l t o n s e e m s to j u s t i f y the new t i c k e t s c h e m e s i n c e a l l the s e a t s appear to h a v e a n e q u a l a d v a n t a g e . T h e r e i s no f e e l i n g , at t h e b a c k of t h e s t a l l s , of b e i n g t u c k e d in under the c i r c l e , and there a r e a f e w long r o w s i n s t e a d of the u s u a l tunnel in w h i c h the s t a g e s e e m s a m i l l i o n m i l e s from the b a c k r o w s . In fact t h e L y t t e l t o n s e a t s t w e l v e more than the O l d V i c , in a great d e a l more i n t i m a c y . J o h n G a b r i e l B o r k m a n n i s one of s i x plays transferred to L y t t e l t o n for a n introductory s e a s o n . I d i d n ' t s e e it at the O l d V i c but the larger L y t t e l t o n s t a g e s e e m s to make more of the c l a u s t r o p h o b i c i n t e r i o r s w i t h large dark v o i d s on e i t h e r s i d e . S i r R a l p h a n d D a i n e Wendy, w i t h t h e i r i d i o s y n c r a t i c f i d g e t i n g in p a r t i c u l a r f i l l e d t h e theatre w i t h t h e i r d i s t r e s s . A s p l e n d i d p e r f o r m a n c e in a s p l e n d i d new theatre. Thomas Stevenson
Cinema
Music David Bowie -
Station to Station ( R C A )
Excellent T H A T M A N B o w i e d o e s it a g a i n . N o t content with exercising his supers t a r t a l e n t s in t h e f i l m g e n r e , he h a s augmented h i s already excellent catalogue of albums with yet another vinyl masterpiece. H e d e p a r t s from h i s u s u a l m u s i c a l trend a n d p r o d u c e s m u s i c that i s not e a s i l y c a t a g o r i s e d . H o w e v e r , t h i s d o e s not in a n y w a y detract from it. O n the contrary, catagorising is made d i f f i c u l t by the i n d i v i d u a l i t y e x p r e s s e d in the m u s i c . T h e a l b u m f e a t u r e s the h i t s i n g l e - a far superior version "Golden Years" of w h i c h i s on the a l b u m . In f a c t , there i s n ' t a s i n g l e dud t r a c k on the w h o l e a l b u m but one must s i n g l e out "Word on Wing" a n d "Stay" as absolute Bowie c l a s s i c s of the future. T h e former c o m b i n e s the r e m a r k a b l e v o i c e of B o w i e , the neat a n d tight drumming of D e n n i s D a v i s a n d the p i a n o p l a y i n g of R o y B i t t a n to e x c e l l e n t e f f e c t . T h e latter i s s u r e l y one of t h e b e s t p i e c e s of c o n t e m p o r a r y f u n k y - r o c k m u s i c I h a v e heard for some t i m e . I h a v e a l w a y s been s o m e w h a t r e s e r v e d a s r e g a r d s B o w i e ' s m u s i c , but w i t h o u t hesitation, I can heartily recommend t h i s a l b u m to y o u .
Harry N i l s s o n -
Sandman-(nCA)
AN ENIGMA OF MEDIOCRITY T h i s album i s a complete enigma a s far a s I am c o n c e r n e d . It i s n e i t h e r of a n y t h i n g and w h e n the f i r s t line of t h e l y r i c s to the f i r s t t r a c k on s i d e one i s "Deep down in my soul I hate rock and roll" then a f e e l i n g of utter contempt b e g i n s to c r e e p in for t h e w h o l e a l b u m . A s my d e a r friend L o r n a p o i n t e d o u t , " I t d o e s n ' t h a v e "Without You" on i t " and I w o u l d a g r e e w i t h h e r in s o far a s there i s no tune on t h i s v i n y l w h i c h i s of the c a l i b r e o f that s o n g . T h e o n l y r e m o t e l y d e c e n t s o n g on t h e w h o l e a l b u m i s "Pretty soon there'll be nothing left for everybody". T h e way t h i n g s a r e g o i n g at the moment I'd a g r e e . I must, h o w e v e r , not f i n i s h w i t h o u t m e n t i o n i n g "The Flying Saucer Song". A r e a l l y a m u s i n g s o n g about two d r u n k s h a v i n g a c o n v e r s a t i o n in a bar — t h e sort of c o n v e r s a t i o n that e v e r y drunk d r e a m s of h a v i n g . It i s b e a u t i f u l l y put to m u s i c w i t h a great d e a l of e f f e c t . I c a n i m a g i n e p e o p l e b u y i n g t h e a l b u m j u s t for t h i s s o n g . A word of w a r n i n g , h o w e v e r ; beware of e n d i n g up a s c r a b d i n n e r the same w a y N i l s o n s e e m s to h a v e d o n e ! Paul
Ekpenyong
T h e S l i p p e r A n d T h e R o s e by Bryan' F o r b e s : starring Richard Chamberlain, Gemma C r a v e n , Anette C r o s b i e etc. T H E R E A R E o n l y t w o t h i n g s wrong w i t h t h i s f i l m in my v i e w and t h e s e a r e that it i s p r o d u c e d by D a v i d F r o s t and the s o n g s a r e w r i t t e n by the Sherman b r o t h e r s . H o w e v e r , o n c e I'd got o v e r t h e s e two u n s a v o u r y f a c t s , the f i l m b e c a m e , for me a thoroughly e n t e r t a i n i n g o n e . It o v e r f l o w s w i t h the B r i t i s h s t a r s , some of whom g o i n for t h i s t y p e of f i l m and s o m e w h o d o n ' t . R i c h a r d C h a m b e r l a i n m a n a g e s to h i d e h i s d i s c o m f o r t and s t r u g g l e through, but the h o n o u r s must go to A n n e t t e C r o s b i e a s the F a i r y G o d m o t h e r . She p l a y s t h e t y p i c a l l y c h a r m i n g but r e s i g n e d mother a l w a y s c o m i n g to the r e s c u e w i t h a s i g h . T h i s together w i t h her i n s i s t e n c e to look o r d i n a r y i s in m a r k e d c o n t r a s t t o o n e ' s i d e a of a F a i r y godmother. K e n n e t h Moore a s the C h a m b e r l a i n and J u l i a n O r c h a r d a s M o n t a g u e , the Prince's cousin, are definitely the b i g g e s t pair of j o k e r s in the f i l m e x c e p t p o s s i b l y for t h e D o w a g e r Q u e e n ( E d i t h Evans) whose interjections are a humorous t r e a t . T h e f i l m i s o v e r p l a y e d in parts a s in the s c e n e in the K i n g ' s C o u r t but o t h e r w i s e m o v e s at a f a i r l y b r i s k p a c e w i t h r o m a n c e a n d d i s a s t e r c o m i n g through t i t for t a t .
FltlX
it
NSDF
EDINBURGH
The 21st National Student Drama Festival F R I D A Y — T H E F L Y I N G S C O T S M A N does die 375 m i l e s to E d i n b u r g h i n j u s t o v e r f i v e h o u r s — a m a z i n g . A s w e c r o s s the b o r d e r the h i l l s a r e s u d d e n l y c o v e r e d w i t h snow. A t Waverley station the temperature i s 1* C c o m p a r e d w i t h the b a l m y 1 4 C o f K i n g s C r o s s . A l t h o u g h no more s n o w f a l l s , t h e s l u s h i s s l o w to c l e a r from the p a v e m e n t s . T h e u s u a l c h a o s a t the F e s t i v a l C e n t r e ; " A r e y o u from the B B C ? W e ' v e c h a n g e d y o u r a c c o m m o d a t i o n . H o w much money do y o u o w e u s ? " C h a r l e s M a n o w i t z ' s Palach o p e n s the p r o c e e d i n g s . We a l l s i t w i t h i n a c i r c l e , w h i l s t the a c t i o n t a k e s p l a c e a r o u n d u s o n four r a i s e d p l a t f o r m s , o f t e n s i m u l t a n e o u s l y . T h e m e s s a g e i s i n the form, that whatever personal s a c r i f i c e s a man may make to e x p r e s s a want f o r f r e e d o m , s o c i e t y i s s o confused b y the continuous bombast from the m e d i a that h i s s i n g l e small voice i s lost i n a sea of advertising s l o g a n s . D o you remember J a n P a l a c h ' s self-immolation i n Wenceleslas Square, P r a g u e , i n 1968? T o some extent i t i s the c o n d i t i o n i n g t h a t w e r e c e i v e from n e w s p a p e r s a n d t e l e v i s i o n to t h e n e w s that they p r e s e n t that d u l l s t h e s h a r p e d g e s o f our memory. C
SATURDAY After last night's M a r o w i t z p l a y , the man h i m s e l f . H e s e e m s to s e t h i m s e l f up a s the e s t a b l i s h ment figure of experimental theatre, attacking everything i n sight. "What a spectacular lack o f i m a g i n a t i o n the N a t i o n a l T h e a t r e h a s . Why i s s o much theatre centralised in London? H o w much the A r t s C o u n c i l D r a m a P a n e l i s i n a s t a t e o f j o b s for the b o y s a n d d o l i n g out enotmous s u m s o f money to lar g e c h a r i s m a t i c o r g a n i s a t i o n s l i k e the R S C a n d N T . " A t l a s t the s t u d e n t s get their teeth into h i m : " W h y i s your O p e n Space Theatre in central L o n d o n , Mr M a r o w i t z ? " " B e c a u s e l n e e d the c r i t i c i s m a n d the a t m o s p h e r e that b e i n g i n L o n d o n gives m e " ! A ten m i n u t e w a l k down t h e R o y a l M i l e b r i n g s u s t o the c o s y N e t h e r b o w T h e a t r e , w h e r e the C e n t r a l S c h o o l o f A r t and D e s i g n h a v e got together what I c a n only d e s c r i b e a s a p i e c e o f performed design. Twelve students have each v i s i t e d a d i f f e r e n t town i n E n g l a n d a n d d i s t i l l e d h i s or h e r i m p r e s s i o n s of i t i n t o a f i v e m i n u t e p e r f o r m a n c e . What a r e o u r r e a c t i o n s s u p p o s e d to b e ? S h o u l d w e e n d u p b y h a v i n g some i d e a o f what d i s t i n g u i s h e s o n e town from a n o t h e r . S w i n d o n i s d e p i c t e d w i t h foam rubber railway tracks and usherettes come round t h e a u d i t o r i u m d i s p e n s i n g t e a . A t G r i m s b y they are p a i n t i n g a R u s s i a n s h i p a n d m a i n t a i n i n g the s t r e e t l a m p s . S U N D A Y - A t a l k from JW L a m b e r t , L i t e r a r y a n d A r t s e d i t o r o f the S u n d a y T i m e s , b y w h o s e g r a c e the f e s t i v a l h a s b e e n brought to- the a g e o f m a j o r i t y , a n d c o n t i n u e s to s u r v i v e . H e g i v e s us a good l o o k a t the r o l e o f the c r i t i c i n t h e theatre a n d t h e m e t h o d b y w h i c h he w o r k s . One o f t h e a i m s o f the F e s t i v a l i s to b r i n g the work of student p l a y w r i g h t s to the f o r e f r o n t . - F r a n k O a t e s i s a 4 5 year
Detail from a scene in "GAS" by Georg Kaiser performed by Leeds University. o l d Open U n i v e r s i t y student. He i s a l s o a prisoner i n Wakefield gaol and h a s u s e d h i s e x p e r i e n c e s , h o w e v e r remote, to w r i t e a p l a y s e t i n a South A f r i c a n p r i s o n . A p a r t from the p r i s o n e r under s e n t e n c e o f d e a t h it i s a p a l l i n g l y a c t e d . An acrimonious discussion ensues between those who are enchanted and those w h o are a m a z e d that s u c h work h a s b e e n s e l e c t e d for the F e s t i v a l . T h e selectors patiently explain for the umpteenth time t h a t , o f c o u r s e they are f a l l i b l e , but y o u s h o u l d h a v e s e e n the amount of rubbish they h a d to s i t through. We a l l s p i l l i n t o the R o y a l L y c e u m for a p r o f e s s i o n a l performance — Yobbo Nowt by J o h n M c G r a t h — b y the 7 . 8 4 T h e a t r e C o m p a n y ( E n g l a n d ) . T h e i r name c o m e s from the reported f a c t that 7% o f the p o p u l a t i o n o w n 8 4 % o f t h e w e a l t h . T h e i r work i s d e s i g n e d for the 9 3 . 1 6 m a j o r i t y ; they s e t out to u s e the theatre to e d u c a t e t h e w o r k i n g man p o l i t i c a l l y w i t h a great d e a l o f fun thrown i n . It i s d i f f i c u l t to judge h o w it w o u l d g o d o w n w i t h i t s i n t e n d e d a u d i e n c e b u t the s t u d e n t s c e r t a i n l y e n j o y the v i t a l i t y which h a s been missing from the F e s t i v a l so far. MONDAY T h e Strathclyde Theatre G r o u p h a s c o m e a c r o s s from G l a s g o w w i t h four p r o d u c t i o n s ; three of w h i c h we s e e t h i s a f t e r n o o n . O f p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t i s [slot I, a monologue f o r a
d i s e m b o d i e d mouth b y S a m u e l B e c k e t t . It i s a c u r i o u s l y c o m p e l l i n g performance of a r a r e l y s e e n work, though much i s i n the w r i t i n g . Coup d'Etat, from K e e l e , i s another s t u d e n t w r i t t e n p r o d u c t i o n . A n urban g u e r i l l a c o m e s to d i n n e r i n order t o commit s u i c i d e under the n o s e s o f h i s media-orientated h o s t s . Gordon Honeycombe c o m p l a i n s that the r e v o l u n t i o n a r y ' s b l a c k p o l o - n e c k uniform i s e x a c t l y what he h i m s e l f i s wearing. There i s a f a s c i n a t i n g s t u d y o f the c u l t i v a t e d c i t y gent p u t t i n g f or war d h i s right w i n g v i e w s and g e t t i n g s l o w l y drunk. M i n o r d e t a i l s i n the p r o d u c t i o n worry m e ; w h y are they drinking vintage claret with b o u i l l a b a i s s e a n d without decanting i t ? E s p e c i a l l y a s the c i t y gent i s t e a s e d for h i s k n o w l e d g e o f f ine food and w i n e ! The Scots have a curious custom of c l o s i n g the bars a t 10pm, e f f e c t i v e l y r e d u c i n g the s o c i a l l i f e o f the f e s t i v a l . T U E S D A Y - A f a s c i n a t i n g d a y ' s work w i t h Mike L e i g h , a director who uses i m p r o v i s a t i o n to create d r a m a . H i s t a l k in- the m o r n i n g s e r v e s o n l y to whet the appetite f o r the a f t e r n o o n ' s p r a c t i c a l s e s s i o n . What w e c a n l e a r n i n a n afternoon is severely limited (he g e n e r a l l y t a k e s e i g h t w e e k s to produce a play) but, i n small groups, we create characters b a s e d on people we already k n o w and p u t them i n t o s i t u a t i o n s where w e h o p e themes w i l l d e v e l o p a n d a story w i l l b u i l d u p .
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Leonardo's Last Supper i s a R a b a l a i s i a n romp i n the c h a r n e l h o u s e at A m b o i s e , where Leonardo da V i n c i ' s body h a s b e e n brought. T h e g l e e of the o w n e r ' s f a m i l y o v e r the fame t h e i r work w i l l b r i n g them s o o n turns to d e s p a i r w h e n it turns out that t h e m a s t e r i s n o t d e a d a f t e r a l l , h o w e v e r they q u i c k l y restore the s t a t u s q u o . T h e a c t o r s put a lot o f s p i r i t i n t o the p r o d u c t i o n a n d c a r r y the a u d i e n c e w i t h them o n a s e a of e n t h u s i a s m . Many students, it seems, cannot s u r v i v e more t h a n ten m i n u t e s w i t h o u t a cigarette. T h e audience i s distracted b y the flare of m a t c h e s a n d the u n pleasant atmosphere created in a s i t u a t i o n where the n o n - s m o k e r s a r e stuck in their seats. WEDNESDAY The inhabitants of E d i n b u r g h s e e m to p o s s e s s a strong fear of c r o s s i n g r o a d s , p e r h a p s m o t i v a t e d b y the apparent d i s o r d e r i n the t r a f f i c f l o w . C a r s a n d l o r r i e s come a t me from a l l directions. A new p l a y from S t . A n d r e w s — J a c e k Laskowski's Galatea — or a s the Scotsman apparently misprinted it Gala Tea! T h e w i d o w r e c e i v e s a v i s i t from h e r b r o t h e r - i n - l a w and g o e s i n t o a neurotic monologue w h i c h i s as much a t r i a l for the a u d i e n c e a s it must be f o r the a c t r e s s . T h e p l a y l e a v e s a l o t of c o n f u s i o n i n its w a k e . I am worried that the same r e c o r d i s p l a y e d t w i c e i n the p l a y a n d o n c e i t c o n t a i n s g u i t a r m u s i c , the s e c o n d time the B r a h m s v i o l i n c o n c e r t o ; it i s t h e s e a p p a r e n t l y i n s i g n i f i c a n t d e t a i l s that d i s t r a c t the a u d i e n c e from a b s o r b i n g t h e w h o l e . In the formal d i s c u s s i o n a f t e r t h e p l a y v a r i o u s c o n v e n t i o n s h a v e to be e x p l a i n e d by the a u t h o r / d i r e c t o r / l e a d i n g m a n ; i t l e a v e s me w o n d e r i n g what h e w i l l d o w h e n there i s no f o r m a l d i s c u s s i o n after h i s p l a y s . T H U R S D A Y - Martin E s s l i n , head o f B B C radio and c h a i r m a n o f the A r t s Counci l Drama P a n e l talks on today's t h e a t r e . T h e B r i t i s h T h e a t r e h a s a great l e a d o v e r theatre i n other c o u n t r i e s b e c a u s e o f the b a s i s o f t r a d i t i o n a n d the c l a s h b e t w e e n the s u b s i d i s e d a n d commercial sectors. There i s a d i s c u s s i o n of the p o l i t i c a l p o w e r o f theatre i n E u r o p e . It i s t h e a t r e , more than a n y other medium, w h i c h c a n provide images and make p o i n t s that w i l l b e remembered for a long t i m e . T o the T r a v e r s e T h e a t r e to s e e a n e w p l a y b y R o b e r t P u g h w i t h h i s group from R o s e Bruford C o l l e g e of Speech and D r a m a . The Key i s a r e m a r k a b l e p l a y w i t h a tremendous f o r c e . T h r e e I r i s h m e n d i g up their h a n g e d brother to r e c o v e r a k e y . T h e programme s a y s t h a t the p l a y t a k e s p l a c e i n C o u n t y C l a r e , but the a p p e a r a n c e of E n g l i s h s o l d i e r s s e t s up an u n c o n t r o l l a b l e r e s o n a n c e and c o n f u s i o n i n my m i n d . In the f i n a l s c e n e the brothers p e r c h the c o r p s e o n a c h a i r b e h i n d the a l t a r . A f t e r the s o l d i e r s have t a k e n a w a y the r i n g l e a d e r , the i d i o t b r o t h e r , w h o h a s h i d d e n under the a l t a r to e s c a p e d e t e c t i o n , r i s e s from h i s p l a c e o f c o n c e a l m e n t a s the p r i e s t m u t t e r s h i s p r a y e r s . What a tremendous t h e a t r i c a l moment w h e n the p r i e s t turns to s e e the c o r p s e a p p a r e n t l y come to l i f e !
F R I D A Y — A n e n d of term s p i r i t p r e v a i l s . We d i s c u s s the next f e s t i v a l a n d there i s w h a t turns o u t to b e a p r i z e g i v i n g ceremony, with mysterious envelopes h a n d e d to the w i n n e r s . What h a s the F e s t i v a l a c h i e v e d ? A s a s h o w c a s e f o r t h e d i s p l a y of student written and student-performed theatre it h a s w o r k e d . T h e r e h a s b e e n a m p l e time for d i s c u s s i o n a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l opinions have been freely a v a i l a b l e . A t t i m e s the d i s c u s s i o n s h a v e b e e n i n s e v e r e d a n g e r o f d r o w n i n g i n a s e a of i n t e l l e c t u a l argument. What i t a l l b o i l s d o w n to i s w h a t g o e s o n o n the s t a g e and e a c h member o f the a u d i e n c e ' s r e s p o n s e to that e x p e r i e n c e . A s e r i e s of f a m i l i a r names h a v e a p p e a r e d a n d t a l k e d a n d d i s c u s s e d the theatre but e v e r y o n e h a s b e e n v e r y polite to e a c h other. There h a s c e r t a i n l y b e e n too m u c h t a l k o f t h e a t r e a s a n i n t e l l e c t u a l e x e r c i s e a n d not enough on the p r a c t i c e o f t h e a t r e . M y regrets are t w o f o l d ; F i r s t l y that I missed Leeds University's much a c c l a i m e d p e r f o r m a n c e o f Gas, a G e r m a n e x p r e s s i o n i s t p i e c e of around 1 9 2 0 ; and s e c o n d l y that I h a d to return to L o n d o n w i t h o u t s e e i n g J o h n H u r t , the w e l l - k n o w n a c t o r , w h o w a s s c h e d u l e d to t a l k o n Saturday. O n e o f the inherent f a c t o r s o f a c r o w d e d f e s t i v a l programme i s that items are met or m i s s e d s u d d e n l y a n d w i t h o u t p r e p a r a t i o n L i t e r a l l y at the l a s t minute I d e c i d e d t o run a c r o s s to the other s i d e o f E d i n b u r g h for a f i n a l c h a n c e to s e e a p i e c e o f G e r m a n E x p r e s s i o n i s t i c d r a m a from the 1 9 2 0 s - G e o r g K a i s e r ' s ' G a s ' . T h i s b i t of ' i m p u l s e b u y i n g ' turned up a rare a n d f a s c i n a t i n g purchase. German E x p r e s s i o n i s m i s n e v e r s e e n o n modern s t a g e s because of its s c a l e , its unrelenting verbal attack and sheer l a c k of objective into character ,but Leeds insight U n i v e r s i t y s h o u l d b e c o n g r a t u l a t e d for
taking these c h a l l e n g i n g problems and g i v i n g as authentic a production a s possible. T h e p l a y , i n i t s t i m e , w a s a-.prophecy of the doom w h i c h w o u l d r e s u l t w h e n a w o r l d w a s d e s t r o y e d b y the e x p l o d i n g o f i t s e n t i r e e n e r g y r e s o u r c e s - the g a s o f the t i t l e . It i s a p r o p h e c y w h i c h r i n g s true. T h e f i r s t h o u r of the p l a y d e a l s w i t h the aftermath o f the e x p l o s i o n a n d the c o n f r o n t a t i o n o f the t w o c e n t r a l c h a r a c t e r s , the m i l l i o n a i r e ' s s o n a n d the e n g i n e e r - t h e former o w n s a l l the i n d u s t r y a n a d e t e r m i n e s that h e w i l l n o t r e b u i l d it but r e p l a c e it w i t h a garden c i t y f a modern-day conservationist and environm e n t a l i s t ) w h i l e the e n g i n e e r a r g u e s that w e m u s t put up w i t h o c c a s i o n a l from future g a a e x p l o s i o n s i n order to c o n t i n u e the t e c h n o l o g i c a l a d v a n c e o f civilisation.(Surely a vitally relevant q u e s t i o n for a c o l l e g e s u c h a s o u r s . ) F o r the s e c o n d h a l f of t h e p l a y , w e w e r e l e d o u t o f the s m a l l T R A V E R S E T h e a t r e , a l o n g the d r u n k s ' quarter of E d i n b u g h , at about 10 p m , p a s t d e c a y i n g tenement b l o c k s a n d under P i r a n e s i a n a r c h w a y s to a n e a r b y h a l l w h e r e t h e W o r k e r s ' R i o t , l e d b y the e n g i n e e r , w a s a c t e d o u t , w h i l e the a u d i e n c e w a s f o r c e d to s t a n d for another h o u r . The combined effect of aural and v i s u a l a s s a u l t from w o r d s ; w h i t e n o i s e ; strobe l i g h t s ; h a r s h , e v o c a t i v e , f u t u r i s t i c s e t s a n d c o s t u m e s , not to m e n t o i n the l a t e n i g h t w a l k , a l l summed to p r o d u c e a n o v e r p o w e r i n g e f f e c t and a t h e a t r i c a l e x p e r i e n c e I s n a i l remember f o r a l o n g time.
Reports by Thomas Stevenson and Eric Stovell.
Pictures courtesy of 'The Sunday Times'.
Below, a scene from "The K e y" performed by Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama.
F O U N D E D IN 1 9 4 9
NEWSPAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE UNION Friday April last, 1976.
N o . 417
FREE!
S A SELL OUT! FELIX Dinner sell out scandal A SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT from Mr. Paul E k p e n y o n g , Editor of F E L I X , at the E d i t o r i a l B o a r d Meeting l a s t M o n d a y , r e v e a l e d that the FELIX Annual D i n n e r , p l a n n e d for the 17th May, h a s been s o l d out e v e n before the printing of the t i c k e t s .
FREE REAL A L E "This success is not surprising,"he commented, "when you consider that the price is iust ÂŁ4.50 for a single ticket and ÂŁ8.00 for a double.And there is free real ale, a barrelfull, for afterwards."
FREE SALT Members of the B o a r d are t a k i n g the a n n o u n c e m e n t w i t h a p i n c h of s a l t - a s they recommend a l l r e a d e r s to s i n c e no returns from t i c k e t s a l e s have yet a p p e a r e d in the a c c o u n t s . N e i t h e r h a s Mr. E k p e n y o n g ' s s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g r i s e n s o d r a s t i c a l l y a s one w o u l d e x p e c t of a p e r s o n w h o h a s j u s t c o m e into money. A l t h o u g h he w a s s e e n b u y i n g h i m s e l f a d r i n k in the U n i o n B a r j u s t l a s t weekend.
FREE G E O R G E DAVIS " W e confidently expect that tickets will be available from this Monday," s a i d Mr. D u n c a n S u s s , B u s i n e s s M a n a g e r of F E L I X . "This statement from Mr. Ekpenyong without foundation. None of the Board have is totally even seen these tickets yet, let alone sold any, and we are sure that he hasn't. We feel that he said it merely to create the possibility of a spoof article like this in order to advertise the Dinner. Which, by the way, is very good value Indeed and promises to be a great do."
RAQUEL WELCH A n y p e r s o n w h o d o e s bring her w i l l r e c e i v e the g r a t e f u l t h a n k s of a l l the F E L I X s t a f f , and a v o t e w i l l be taken a s to w h e t h e r or not that p e r s o n s h o u l d be a d m i t t e d free of c h a r g e . ( S h e c e r t a i n l y woulcbe.) T H E P O S T E R S w h i c h c a u s e d a lot of p r o b l e m s (right) w e r e removed t h i s w e e k , and w i l l be r e p l a c e d by our "new improved" version. Watch out for it, f o l k s !
R i g h t ; Mr P a u l E k p e n y o n g
A word of explanation. T O T H O S E of y o u who h a v e a l r e a d y n o t i c e d s o m e t h i n g d i f f e r e n t about t h i s w e e k ' s front p a g e , t h i s n o t e of e x p l a n a t i o n i s o f f e r e d . ( A n d to t h o s e who h a v e n ' t - r e a d on!) F i r s t of a l l , we n e e d e d to a d v e r t i s e the F E L I X A N N U A L D I N N E R (get your t i c k e t s h e r e , f o l k s ) . A n y o n e who s t i l l d o e s n ' t want to c o m e w a s e i t h e r c r i p p l e d i n the r u s h to grab F E L I X off t h e n e w s t a n d s or b e l o n g s to a c l a s s o f p e o p l e b e s t u n m e n t i o n e d . T h e s e c o n d r e a s o n c o u l d be d e s c r i b e d a s temporal.(It c o u l d a l s o be d e s c r i b e d a s s h e e r b l o o d y c u s s e d n e s s - E d . ) It t e l l about t h i s y e a r that we were d e p r i v e d at our one l e g i t i m a t e o p p o r t u n i t y to p u l l a r e a l f a s t one o v e r our r e a d e r s h i p . A P R I L t h e F I R S T L A N D E D S L A P i n the M I D D L E of H O L I D A Y S So t h i s i s s u e , b e i n g d a t e d the 30th of A p r i l , or A p r i l the L a s t , h a s t a k e n o v e r the r o l e that the n o n - e x i s t e n t A p r i l F o o l e d i t i o n would have had. T O A L L O F Y O U WHO F E L L F O R I T -
!!! LOOF LIRPA
ANNUAL DINNER MONDAY 17th M A Y 1 9 7 6 T i c k e t s a v a i l a b l e from the F E L I X
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