F O U N D E D IN 1 9 4 9
NEWSPAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE UNION F r i d a y , 3 0 t h . J u l y , 1976.
N o . 426
FREE'
y T H E SUMMER Accommodation C e n t r e h a s got o f f to a good start t h i s y e a r w i t h o n l y two minor d i s p u t e s b e t w e e n the student staff a n d the C o l l e g e rippling the s u r f a c e o f t he hotel scheme. U n d e r t he w a t c h f u l e y e o f Mrs Audrey P o d h a j s k y , the Bookings Manageress, and C a p t L i n d l e y , the D o m e s t i c S e c r e t a r y , S A C h a s undergone a major overhaul and i s now b e i n g run on n e w l i n e s i n
(Photo: Nigel
order to make the s c h e m e financially watertight. Nothing wrong w i t h that since the p r o f i t s from the l e t t i n g s go towards s u b s i d i s i n g students' term-time h a l l r e n t s , but the c h a r g i n g of £1 to v i s i t o r s for a Mooney breakfast has r a i s e d a n e y e b r o w or three. it was t he However, extent o f the S A C o v e r h a u l w h i c h l e d to a c e r t a i n amount of confusion. In previous years, the w a g e advertised
Greatorex)
Southside cleared A M O T O R driving one of the lifts in Southside developed a f a u l t on T h u r s d a y 15 J u l y leadin g to the whole b u i l d i n g a n d three being evacuated f i r e e n g i n e s a r r i v i n g to d e a l with t he t r o u b l e . The fault i n themotor c a u s e d a strong s m e l l of b u r n i n g rubber to pervade certain sections of Falmouth and T i z a r d H a l l s . T h e fire alarms s o o n went o f f at 11.35 a m a n d the m e s s a g e b u z z e d through the h a l l s , from l a n d i n g to l a n d i n g and s t a i r c a s e to s t a i r c a s e b y the c l e a n e r s w h o w e r e w o r k i n g at the timej it w a s not a practice d r i l l .
Ten minutes later the b u i l d i n g w a s c l e a r e d a n d three f i r e e n g i n e s a r r i v e d o n the north s i d e o f Princes Gardens o n l y to be r e - d i r e c t e d to the south s i d e where t h e y drew up f i v e m i n u t e s l a t e r . B y n o w t he crowd which had gathered o u t s i d e S o u t h s i d e were g e t t i n g anxious. T h e c a u s e o f the f i r e w a s s o o n d i s c o v e r e d at the bottom o f o n e o f the l i f t s h a f t s a n d maintenance engineers were c a l l e d in to d e a l w i t h the problem. B y 1 2 . 0 5 pm t he c o m m o t i o n w a s o v e r a n d the Hall i n m a t e s wer e a b l e t o re-enter the b u i l d i n g .
w a s a l w a y s t he " t a k e - h o m e " staff. w a g e for the s t u d e n t This year, however many were s h o c k e d o n the f i r s t p a y - d a y to d i s c o v e r that t h i s w a s not g o i n g to be the c a s e : the wage advertised was £ 1 5 . 8 4 a n d 91p w a s g o i n g to be d o c k e d from that a s a n insurance contribution. The take-home wage w a s therefore g o i n g to be £14.93 w h i c h i s 7p l e s s than l a s t y e a r ! A f t e r quick consultations, the C o l l e g e a g r e e d that the t a k e home w a g e f o r the c l e a n e r s ' w o u l d be £16.01 and the c l e r k s ' wages would be i n c r e a s e d proportionately. T h e next s o u r c e o f worry for the student c l e a n e r s w a s that q u e s t i o n o f u n u s e d m e a l tickets which visitors had p a i d for but s o m e t i m e s d i d not wish to use. T h e s e have o c c a s i o n a l l y b e e n left a s tips for the c l e a n e r s a n d i n the p a s t , u n d e r the d i r e c t i o n o f the scheme manageress, c l e a n e r s were a l l o w e d to u s e the t i c k e t s t h e m s e l v e s . T h i s p r a c t i c e h a s now been s t o p p e d . When a c o m p l a i n t w a s made about t h i s p r e v i o u s l y a c c e p t e d incentive being eliminated, Capt Lindley insisted that e a c h and every cleaner had b e e n t o l d before s t a r t i n g work for S A C that no s u c h t i c k e t s c o u l d be u s e d by s t u d e n t s under any circumstances. S e v e r a l of the c l e a n e r s h o w e v e r are e q u a l l y i n s i s t a n t that they h a d been t o l d no s u c h thing. .Despite the f a c t that t he number of m e a l - t i c k e t s w h i c h c o u l d be u s e d by c l e a n e r s w o u l d represent a drop i n the financial ocean, Capt L i n d l e y c o u l d not be . p e r s u a d e d t o change his mind. Clearly then, the n e w p o l i c y for the running of S A C d i d not f i l t e r t h r o u g h c o m p l e t e l y to all the student staff. chain of Confusion i n the is surely communication understandable however when there are new p e o p l e in n e w j o b s running what the C o l l e g e w a n t s to be r e g a r d e d a s a n e w scheme.
NUS quit Llandudno N U S w i l l not b e g o i n g b a c k t o L l a n d u d n o for i t s conference in December, it w a s announced earlier this month. The d e c i s i o n , it i s s t r e s s e d , i s not a s i g n of d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n w i t h L l a n d u d n o a s a v e n u e , or w i t h t he s e r v i c e s offered b y the c o u n c i l s t a f f . In f a c t , t he facilities i n t he p i e r - h e a d p a v i l i o n are b e i n g r e - o r g a n i s e d , m a k i n g i t u n s u i t a b l e f o r t he next two conferences. B o t h NUS conferences, December 76 a n d E a s t e r 7 7 , w i l l b e h e l d in B l a c k p o o l . S i n c e t h e n , h o w e v e r , t he Llandudno council have r e f u s e d a n a p p l i c a t i o n by C H E , the C a m p a i g n f o r H o m o s e x u a l E q u a l i t y , to h e l d a c o n f e r e n c e there. T h e N U S e x e c u t i v e h a s e x p r e s s e d concern over t h i s decision, and have asked them to c o n s i d e r .
RON KILL, Subwarden of Tizard Hall and last year's IC Union Deputy President was found dead in his flat on Monday 28th June. At a subsequent inquest at Westminster Coroner's Court a verdict of 'Accidental Death' was recorded. Obituary; see page 6
I
NUS
P O S T
G R A D U A T E
C O N F E R E N C E
P G issues must not be ignored in national campaigns T H I S W A S the f e e l i n g o f the N U S Postgraduates conference held at Imperial C o l l e g e o n the 2nd and 3rd of t h i s month. F o r f a r t o o l o n g i s s u e s s u c h a s P G grants h a v e b e e n l e f t t o g o b y default once the Undergraduate grant l e v e l h a s b e e n s e t . It w i l l be p a r t i c u l a r l y important t h i s c o m i n g y e a r a s i t i s the year o f the D E S ' s trienniel review of funding for education. T h e usual e x c u s e s o f w a n t i n g t o d o s o m e t h i n g , but h a v i n g to work o n a s t r i c t l y l i m i t e d budget w i l l not a p p l y s o s t r o n g l y t h i s y e a r a s t h e D E S w i l l h a v e a c h a n c e to s e e k n e w f u n d s a n d r e c o n s i d e r the a l l o c a t i o n s to various sectors of education. In a time o f h e a v y p u b l i c s p e n d i n g c u t s i t w a s v i t a l that P G s d i d n o t s u f f e r b e c a u s e there i s no v o i c e i n t h e i r d e f e n c e . The conference r e c o g n i s e d that t h e campaigning t a c t i c s employed for U G i s s u e s might n o t attract m u c h support a m o n g P G s s o the P o s t g r a d u a t e A d v i s o r y Group w i l l c o n s i d e r ways of b u i l d i n g a n effective campaign, probably involving the e n c o u r a g e m e n t o f P G s to w r i t e t o t h e i r M P s a n d " s e e k i n g r e p r e s e n t a t i o n for the A d v i s o r y G r o u p to s u c h b o d i e s a s t h e D E S a n d the G o v e r n m e n t .
PGs and Trade Unions The C o n f e r e n c e o p e n e d w i t h Sue Slipman ( N U S National Secretary, with r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r P G s ) i n the c h a i r a n d f ar f e w e r P G s t h a n e x p e c t e d . T h e r e wer e only around thirty delegates representing a s t i l l s m a l l e r number o f c o l l e g e s a n d U n i v e r s i t i e s . I n i t i a l d i s c u s s i o n s wer e c e n t r e d o n t h e p r e s e n t state o f a f f a i r s b e t w e e n P G s a n d the t w o trade u n i o n s w i t h a n i n t e r e s t i n P G s , that i s , the A U T (Association of University Teachers and A S T M S ( A s s o c i a t i o n o f S c i e n t i f i c T e c h n i c a l and M a n a g e r i a l S t a f f s ) . T h e r e c e n t d e c i s i o n o f t h e A U T to j o i n the T U C may change their attitude towards P G s . T h e usual suspicion o f trade u n i o n s w a s p r e s e n t a n d many p e o p l e d i d n o t f e e l that there w a s a n y t h i n g to b e g a i n e d from m e m b e r s h i p of either union. T h i s w i l l almost certainly
be true u n l e s s t h e A U T a r e p r e p a r e d to o f f e r a n e w d e a l to P G s i n t h e foim o f a better class of membership and a reasonable l e v e l o f representation for P G s both w i t h i n and b y the a s s o c i a t i o n . T h e majority o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e w a s t a k e n up b y d i s c u s s i o n s o f the report o n the future o f P G e d u c a t i o n p r e s e n t e d by the P G G r o u p . T h e document w a s an attempt b y the group to r e s p o n d to t h e reports on Postgraduate Training/ E d u c a t i o n which have been r e c e i v i n g a l o t o f a t t e n t i o n o v e r the p a s t y e a r . In p r e p a r i n g the report t h e G r o u p f oun d that m e r e l y r e p l y i n g to t h e r e c o m e n d a t i o n s of the other reports w o u l d l e a d to them a d v o c a t i n g the s t a t u s q u o . T o o v e r c o m e t h i s , they d e c i d e d to start from s c r a t c h a n d l a y down w h a t they f e l t wer e the e s s e n c e , requirements and constraints of a l l forms o f Postgraduate education.
Cheap research labour T h e d i s c u s s i o n c o n s i d e r e d a great v a r i e t y o f i s s u e s under t h e h e a d i n g s o n the d i s c u s s i o n p a p e r a n d a great many u s e f u l a d d i t i o n s t o the report were made from the f l o o r . O n e a r e a o f p a r t i c u l a r c o n c e r n w a s the j u s t i f i c a t i o n o f r e s e a r c h both a s s o m e t h i n g u s e f u l a n d n e c e s s a r y to s o c i e t y a n d the e d u c a t i o n a l s y s t e m , a n d a s a more v a l u a b l e a n d broader e d u c a t i o n to t h e i n d i v i d u a l s c o n c e r n e d than i s o f t e n s u p p o s e d . T h e n e e d t o p r e v e n t too m u c h s t r e s s b e i n g p u t o n the immediate industrial usefulness and s a l e a b i l i t y o f the p r o d u c t o f a P h D p r o j e c t were u p h e l d b y the s t u d e n t s present. Such s t r e s s c a n often causae the e d u c a t i o n a l a s p e c t s to be o v e r l o o k e d . The CASE scheme of co-operative studies with industries w a s cirticised as being open to abuse and allowing some s t u d e n t s t o be u s e d , a s c h e a p r e s e a r c h l a b o u r for i n d u s t r y . F u n d i n g a l s o c a m e under the c r i t i c a l e y e of the c o n f e r e n c e a n d r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s included the setting u p o f a n arts r e s e a r c h c o u n c i l s i m i l a r t o the S c i e n c e R e s e a r c h C o u n c i l , t o c o r r e c t many o f the anomalies produced b y the p r e s e n t
External Eclairs: the end of an era T H E E N D of session is with u s o n c e more; U n i o n O f f i c e r s are c r a s h i n g about o u r e a r s , cut dow n i n t h e i r p r i m e s (which primes — Ed), a n d I am p u t t i n g p e n to p a p e r . (Not quill to read despite the cuts eh — Ed again) for the l a s t time i n t h i s h a t (I wonder i f I c o u l d h a v e a n o f f i c e next y e a r ? ) T h e time h a s c o m e to l o o k o v e r o u r s h o u l d e r s f o r the l a s t time, l i k e O r p h e u s , before l e a v i n g t h e U n d e r w o r l d for the fresh light of a new year. ( G o s h what p o s h p r o s e ) . What
h a v e w e a c h i e v e d ? O v e r what t e r r a i n h a v e we t r a v e l l e d ? B e h i n d us are more b a t t l e s lost than w o n a n d the path has been littered with corpses, motions that never passed through N U S C o n f e r e n c e a n d those that never e v e n r e a c h e d Conference... L i k e Goering, I have l i v e d in trains travelling between Birmingham and L o n d o n a n d r i s k e d my l i f e i n minibuses driven by R i c k "I c a n c a r v e up more j u g g e r nauts than y o u c a n " P a r k e r a n d P e t e r T e a g u e (not q u i t e
haphazard systems of funding for r e s e a r c h i n t o arts s u b j e c t s . C h a n g e s i n the p r e s e n t s y s t e m o f a w a r d s were a l s o c a l l e d f o r , both i n t h e r i g i d three year a w a r d made at p r e s e n t i r r e s p e c t i v e o f the d u r a t i o n o f the c o u r s e a n d i n t h e r e l a x a t i o n o f the f i r s t d e g r e e grade s t i p u l a t i o n s . On the subject of supervision, d e l e g a t e s f e l t that the s y s t e m needed to be i n v e s t i g a t e d e s p e c i a l l y i n that the present single s u p e r v i s o r set-up c a n c a u s e s e v e r a l p r o b l e m s . In the even of the s u p e r v i s o r l e a v i n g o r e v e n dying d u r i n g t h e d u r a t i o n o f a s t u d e n t ' s work many p r o b l e m s a n d e v e n l o n g d e l a y s are often e x p e r i e n c e d . A l s o , i n the event of p e r s o n a l i t y c l a s h e s b e t w e e n student and supervisor o r d i s a g r e e m e n t o v e r the d i r e c t i o n o f t h e r e s e a r c h , t h e student o f t e n f i n d s h i m s e l f w i t h no o n e e l s e to turn to f o r h e l p or a d v i c e . Students from p o l y t e c h n i c s p r e s e n t , where i t i s common to h a v e a n a c a d e m i c and an industrial supervisor, s a i d that this o v e r c a m e many o f the a b o v e p r o b l e m s . The i d e a o f h a v i n g more t h a n o n e supervisor w a s w e l l r e c e i v e d b y the c o n f e r e n c e . T h e report w i l l n o w be redrafted by the A d v i s o r y G r o u p a n d s h o u l d be ready for c i r c u l a t i o n i n the autumn.
More effort on PG affairs C h a i r i n g the m e e t i n g o n the second d a y w a s S t e v e M o o n the N U S E x e c u t i v e O f f i c e r w h o t a k e s o v e r from M s Slipman the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r P G a f f a i r s . H e d o e s n o t h a v e a s a b a t i c a l p o s i t i o n but h o p e s he w i l l b e a b l e t o dev ot e a lot o f time a n d effort t o P G s s i n c e h i s other r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o n the Executive are not too time c o n s u m i n g . H e intends to start b y t r y i n g to g e t more money from N U S t o support t h e P G A d v i s o r y Group i n order that i t c a n be more a c t i v e and a l s o g e t more i n f o r m a t i o n b a c k to P G groups a n d s o c i e t i e s i n c o l l e g e s . H e f e e l s sure that s o m e t h i n g c a n be done to overcome the perennial problems of o r g a n i s i n g a n d c o m m u n i c a t i n g with P G s , but w i t h o n l y t h i r t y at the c o n f e r e n c e , it i s not a very i n s p i r i n g s t a r t . RICK P A R K E R
simultaneously). I have chanted " B a y C i t y R o l l e r s " w i t h N i c k B r a y s h a w a n d Ian Minnis at C o m m u n i s t P a r t y Benefit D i s c o s and stayed a w a k e d u r i n g more c o m m i t t e e meetings than I c a n count from memory. I h a v e not h a d my p r i v a t e p a r t s b i t t e n b y J u l i a R o s s (So unlucky — Ed, painfully), but I have spent a f a i r amount o f time at U S K (defunct) c o l l e g e s such a s I F ( L 1 n s t i t u t F r a n c a i s ) . I have sat on the steps of the Department o f E d u c a t i o n a n d Science from midnight till four i n t h e m o r n i n g a n d l i v e d to t e l l t h e t a l e - i n F E L I X . Who k n o w s w h a t the next t w e l v e months m a y bring? DERRICK
EVERETT
FANNY'S AMAZING DISCO EVERY FRIDAY Above Stan's Bar, Southside 8pm-midnight
only 30p
Coffee and World development A N O X F O R D cooperative called U h u r u h a s s t a r t e d to market a high grade instant coffee from E a s t A f r i c a as part of a d r i v e to e x p o s e the s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s i n w h i c h many of the g o o d s w e buy are p r o d u c e d . T r a c e y o u r n e x t c u p of t e a b a c k to Sri L a n k a a n d you will find chronic malnutrition i n the families which picked it for you. T r a c e your c o f f e e b a c k to B r a z i l a n d y o u w i l l s e e the f r u i t s of v i c i o u s e x p l o i t a t i o n of the poor. Y o u r o r a n g e s may l e a d y o u to South A f r i c a , y o u r g r a p e s to the m i s e r y of the migrant w o r k e r s i n s o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a . T h e l i s t goes on — what U h u r u d e s c r i b e as " a b a s k e t - f u l l or rotten s h o p p i n g " . Uhuru's coffee leads back to T a n z a n i a , o n e o f the few c o u n t r i e s in the w o r l d a t t a c k i n g p o v e r t y by m a k i n g the poor
Rolling on the River T H E R E IS n o t h i n g - a b s o l u t e l y n o t h i n g - h a l f s o much worth d o i n g a s s i m p l y m e s s i n g about in boats, as Toad always said. So, take 100 IC Postgraduates, a suitable c r a f t , some b o o z e , some f o o d , some good music and a m o o n l i t s t r e t c h of the T h a m e s a n d , i f arranged i n the right order y o u s h o u l d f i n i s h up with something really worth doing. O n T h u r s d a y the 8th o f J u l y I found m y s e l f s t a n d i n g on T o w e r P i e r w i t h a l l the above ingrediants. Well the m u s i c w a s a l i t t l e late a r r i v i n g , but then the R C S J 4 i s not noted for breaking world landspeed records, and neither i s D a v e D o d g e (Oh no? Ed) T h e boat drew a w a y from the p i e r j u s t after 7 pm a n d P G G Riverboat Party was afloat. A l l w a s q u i e t for the f i r s t few seconds as we s l i p p e d off dow n the T h a m e s i n the g e n e r a l d i r e c t i o n o f the s e a and t h e n some f o o l d i s c o v e r e d that the bar w a s o p e n . A n orderly queue fonned and several participants wer e t r a m p l e d under f o o t . T h e m a i n p r o b l e m was that the b a r w a s basically water-tight a compartment (what-a-tight compartment), which rapidly f i l l e d up w i t h the p e o p l e - w i t h 1
continued on p. 7
more powerful, rather than waiting for benefits to t r i c k l e d o w n a s the r i c h get richer. Unfortunately they s t t l l need foreign exchange for essential imports, and s e l l i n g c o f f e e i s one w a y of g e t t i n g i t . T h a t w i l l not be e a s y , for g l u t s o f c o f f e e h a v e b e e n common on the world market, a n d c o n c e r n e d p e o p l e are w o r r i e d about the u s e of land for cash-crops rather than for food for local consumption. Such problems or d e c i s i o n s o n d e v e l o p m e n t s t r a t e g i e s are n e v e r s i m p l e , and Uhuru are careful to maintain that "Our aim is n e i t h e r p r i m a r i l y to s e l l g o o d t a s t i n g c o f f e e , nor to i n c r e a s e c o f f e e d r i n k i n g or the c o f f e e t r a d e . We are a i m i n g to r a i s e questions in p e o p l e ' s minds about j u s t one of the t h i n g s w e eat or d r i n k e v e r y d a y . " H e n c e the name " C a m p a i g n C o f f e e " . It c o s t s 66p for a 4 o z p a c k e t , w h i c h i s more e x p e n s i v e t h a n the b i g names but the p e o p l e w h o p r o d u c e it don't starve. A n d it does taste good. Packets c a n be ordered from J o h n S h a d e , R o o m 4 5 , B e i t H a l l . Drop me a n o t e , o r c o m e round a n d try some i f y o u c a n c a t c h me i n .
P G Problems D U R I N G the time a r e s e a r c h or M S c s t u d e n t i s at I C it i s a f a i r bet that he or s h e w i l l not be short o f w o r r i e s of one k i n d or a n o t h e r . F u r t h e r m o r e the d i f f i c u l t i e s of l i v i n g i n London on an inadequate with the income combined ambiquities of much PG a c t i v i t y tend to c a u s e t h e s e p r o b l e m s to i n t e r a c t . Occasionally a P G feels in need of College-based a d v i c e but d o e s not w i s h to approach either course coo r d i n a t o r / s u p e r v i s o r or N i g h t l i i e Student Welfare. The head of your department/section maybe an accessible and s y m p a t h e t i c g u r u . H o w e v e r , an
a l t e r n a t i v e s o u r c e of w i s d o m on d i f f i c u l t i e s w i t h major or minor " c o l l e g e " a s p e c t s of l i f e i s to be f o u n d in most departments. At least two College committees have recommended that e a c h department should that a member of arrange staff be a v a i l a b l e f o r c o n s u l t a t i o n by P G s . M o s t d e p a r t m e n t s h a v e a c c e p t e d the v a l u e o f the "safety-net" and have been able to appoint a suitable p e r s o n . S i n c e they h a v e not a l l p u b l i c i s e d t h i s , a l i s t of the staff i n v o l v e d i s given below (ST indicates that the p e r s o n i s the departm e n t ' s Senor T u t o r ) .
Departmental PG Tutors/Advisors Aero Biochem Botany Chem E n g Chem Civ Eng CCD Elec Eng Geology H i s t of S c i & T e c h Ind S o c Man S c i Maths Mech E n g Met Mining Physics Zoo
MR B R A D S H A W DR DICKERSON D R A L V I N (ST) DR MICHELS D R B A T K I N S O N (ST) H e a d of S e c t i o n / D e p t P R O F G O L D S A C K (ST) H e a d of S e c t i o n DR A U D L E Y - C H A R L E S DR MB H A L L MR P C O M B E Y MR KING D R Bershire (ST) D R C U L V E R (ST) D R WEST (ST) MR HOWARD PROF COLES H e a d of D e p t . A l s o from O c t ' 7 6 e a c h student w i l l have an ad v i sorts) i n a d d i t i o n to a supervisor.
JOHN SHADE
RICHARD UPTON
No! No! Don't read this-you're much too apathetic! I W A S about to w r i t e an a r t i c l e about apathy amongst p o s t g r a d u a t e s when someone p o i n t e d out to me that the IC Cricket Team is composed a l m o s t e n t i r e l y of P G ' s . T h e n it o c c u r r e d to me that r e a l l y , it i s very d i f f i c u l t to d e f i n e the s t a t e of apathy in the U n i o n . My original article was g o i n g to be a d a m n i n g i n d i c t m e n t of the 1400 - odd P G ' s who d i d not a p p e a r at the I C P G Group Annual General Meeting l a s t month. But w a s t h e i r n o n a p p e a r a n c e r e a l l y a st at ement of contentment w i t h t h e i r lot at I C ? M a y b e they f e e l that they d o n ' t need the U n i o n to press, on their behalf, for more common rooms or h i g h e r demonstrating rates. One thing I am sure of i s that we do not need the I C P G G to d e a l w i t h s u p e r v i s o r - student p r o b l e m s ; these are highly personal r e l a t i o n s h i p s , and any attempt by the U n i o n to l e g i s l a t e or
s e t s t a n d a r d s w o u l d be w r o n g . So who are t h e s e a p a t h e t i c P G ' s ? N o t t h o s e who j o i n in and u t i l i s e the v a r i o u s s p o r t s f a c i l i t i e s offered by the U n i o n . Not a l l those o v e r s e a s students who take part in events organised by their national societies. Not those who w r i t e for FELIX or Phoenix or a p p e a r on S T O I C or are heard on IC R a d i o . N o t t h o s e w h o b e l o n g to other U n i o n c l u b s o c i e t i e s . F o r the c l u b s and s o c i e t i e s are the roots of the U n i o n . Many more s t u d e n t s take part inthose a c t i v i t i e s than attend U n i o n meetings or s t a n d for e l e c t i o n to the m u l t i t u d e of c o m m i t t e e s w h i c h run the U n i o n . T h e real a p a t h e t i c are the p e o p l e who w o n ' t read t h i s article, those who t a k e no i n t e r e s t in the U n i o n , e x c e p t (perhaps) for the o c c a s i o n a l m e a l or d r i n k . B u t they are just as much members as t h o s e of u s who take an
a c t i v e part in U n i o n a f f a i r s . P e r h a p s they think that the Union is an undergraduateorientated body (it is, of c o u r s e , but then w h o s e f a u l t i s that?) and that the c h i l d i s h p r a n k s of the U G ' s do not create the right atmosphere for t h o s e a l r e a d y armed w i t h a B S c or w h a t e v e r . I must confess that I sometimes s w e a r never to d a r k e n the Union b u i l d i n g ' s doors a g a i n , when the e n t r a n c e h a l l b e a r s the e v i d e n c e of a p a r t i c u l a r l y heavy night's drinking,- albeit on the part of a very s m a l l m i n o r t i y of m e m b e r s . S o , i s there a s o l u t i o n to this " w a v e of a p a t h y " ? Or should we be content to allow students to lead their own lives and not coerce them into activity in a body in which they appear to have no interest?
TOM S T E V E N S O N
4
X
Theatre
Tom Stevenson takes a critical look at three plays on in the London areas.
Take your choice - you can't lose T H E T E M P E R A T U R E o f the L y t t e l t o n T h e a t r e i s m a i n t a i n e d at a c o o l 20 C , a s though to r a i s e it by s o much a s o n e tenth o f a degree might c a u s e the d e l i c a t e p r o d u c t i o n to w i l t . T h e p l a y in question is Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit in a new p r o d u c t i o n by the N a t i o n a l T h e a t r e , t h i r t y f i v e y e a r s after i t s f i r s t L o n d o n performance. Noel Coward; there's a name to c o n j u r e w i t h , for S i r N o e l w a s a man of extraordinary theatrical versatility. A s a playwright h i s Hay Fever, Private Lives a n d Blithe Spirit a r e s t i l l w i d e l y performed; a s a composer h i s songs, London Pride, Some Day I'll Find You, Mad Dogs and Englishmen h a v e become part o f the E n g l i s h h e r i t a g e ; a s a n a c t o r , w h o c a n forget h i s a p p e a r a n c e i n that memorable f i l m The Italian Job? A n d ; y e t , 1 s u p p o s e , y o u e i t h e r hate o r adore h i s work, which is undeniably a p r e d i l e c t i o n of the middle c l a s s e s . T o make a c o m e d y from a p l o t i n w h i c h the ghost o f a m a n ' s f i r s t w i f e succeeds in k i l l i n g h i s second requires a great d e a l o f t a l e n t . T h e L y t t e l t o n A u d i e n c e l a p s it a l l up w i t h b u r s t s o f spontaneous applause at appropriate p o i n t s throughout the a c t i o n . P e r h a p s many o f them s a w the p l a y ' s first run d u r i n g the w a r i n w h i c h , for a time, the author p l a y e d the l e a d . E v e n s o t h i s i s a production which d e l i c i o u s l y evokes a n a g e w h e n there w a s no n e w s o n the front page o f The Times, when o n e d r e s s e d for d i n n e r a n d w h e n there were d o m e s t i c s t a f f that were so d i f f i c u l t to handle. M a r i a A i t k e n p l a y s E l v i r a , the f i r s t wife, in a kind of glow which brilliantly s u c c e e d s i n r e m i n d i n g us that she i s i n v i s i b l e to a l l s a v e C h a r l e s a n d that he i s the o n l y o n e w h o c a n hear h e r . O n c e we h a v e w o r k e d through a r i d i c u l o u s s e r i e s o f m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g s in w h i c h R u t h , the s e c o n d w i f e , n a t u r a l l y t a k e s grave o f f e n c e at C h a r l e s ' a c i d r e a c t i o n to E l v i r a ' s p r e s e n c e , there i s a g l o r i o u s moment when E l v i r a r e v e a l s h e r s e l f to R u t h by c a r r y i n g a v a s e o f f l o w e r s a c r o s s the r o o m , a n d only j u s t a v o i d s t h r o w i n g the w a t e r i n t o her s u c c e s s o r ' s face. T h e p l a y ' s most c l e a r l y drawn c h a r a c t e r is Madame A r c a t i , the medium w h o a r r i v e s for dinner o n h e r b i c y c l e a n d a p o l o g i s e s for h e r l a t e n e s s " 1 h a d a p r e m o n i t i o n o f a puncture s o I went b a c k for my p u m p " . B u t it turns out that she didn't have a p u n c t u r e . Maybe time g i l d s the memory, but Margaret R u t h e r f o r d ' s performance i n the f i l m , with R e x H a r r i s o n , s e e m s a d i f f i c u l t s t a n d a r d set for the part, w h i c h E l i z a b e t h S p r i g g s doesn't quite reach. Eileen Diss' sumptuous set c o m p l e t e s a m a g n i f i c e n t production. If B l i t h e S p i r i t e v o k e s a p a s t age o f luxury then Weapons of Happiness b r i n g s u s up to date w i t h a v e n g a n c e . H o w a r d
B r e n t o n ' s p l a y i s the f i r s t n e w work to be commissioned by the National T h e a t r e i n the L y t t e l t o n . B r e n t o n i s a member o f a n e w stream o f B r i t i s h p l a y wrights committed to writing p l a y s which r e f l e c t r e a l i f e a s it i s l i v e d by the v a s t majority o f p e o p l e .
S o , i n Weapon's of Happiness we have a group o f y o u n g p e o p l e who o c c u p y t h e i r w o r k p l a c e , a run d o w n potato crisp f a c t o r y . A l s o w o r k i n g i n the f a c t o r y i s J o s e f F r a n k , a v i c t i m o f the C z e c h t r e a s o n t r i a l s o f the e a r l y f i f t i e s , w h o h a s e s c a p e d and come to E n g l a n d f u l l of anguished memories of h i s life in the E a s t , w h i c h we s e e i n a s e r i e s o f f l a s h - b a c k s — w a l k i n g the s t r e e t s o f M o s c o w a n d m e e t i n g S t a l i n , o n a trade delegation, being instructed i n the " r i g h t " a n s w e r s for his Prague show-trial. W h i l s t the y o u n g a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y inept o c c u p i e r s carry o n t h e i r l i t t l e r e v o l u t i o n , F r a n k s t a n d s b y , f u l l of e x p e r i e n c e a n d y e t unable to h e l p them, s o s t r o n g i s h i s o b s e s s i o n w i t h the p a s t . F r a n k F i n l a y s h u f f l e s about the v a s t s t a g e a s the C z e c h , F r a n k , c l a d f o r the most part, i n an enormous o v e r c o a t , a s though to p r o t e c t h i m from the b i t t e r w i n d that s t i l l b l o w s from t h e E a s t . Julie Covington plays Janice, the n a s c e n t M a r x i s t , t r y i n g to put the i l l formed i d e a s i n t o p r a c t i c e and l e a d i n g an u n l i k e l y group of B r i t i s h Youth c o n t a i n i n g a n o s e - p i c k i n g deaf-mute, a violent illiterate and a Dylan-freak. T h e bare stage i s o c c a s i o n a l l y f i l l e d with Hayden Griffin's magnificent s e t s , ranging from the L o n d o n P l a n e t e r i i i m c o m p l e t e w i t h h e a v e n l y images (and a smooth t a l k i n g announcer) to a d o c k s i d e w i t h t w i n k l i n g l i g h t s i n the b a c k - g r o u n d .
One must a s s u m e that it i s to c e l e b r a t e the recent b i c e n t e n a r y o f the A m e r i c a n D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e that the R o y a l S h a k e s p e a r e C o m p a n y have c h o s e n to resurrect S h a w ' s The Devil's Disciple at the A l d w y c h . H o w e v e r , h a v i n g s a i d t h a t , and many t h a n k s to the programme n o t e s for h a v i n g p o i n t e d t h i s out, the p l a y i s o n e o f S h a w ' s T h r e e P l a y s for P u r i t a n s ( t h e o t h e r s are Caesar and Cleopatra a n d Captain Brasshound's Conversion). It i s the story o f a man s o o p p r e s s e d by h i s m o t h e r ' s o b s e s s i v e Puritanism that he r e b e l s and sets h i m s e l f up a s a f r i e n d to the d e v i l , though o n l y s o far a s to r e s p e c t the o b j e c t o f h i s m o t h e r ' s h a t e . What he actually becomes is a highly moral u p - s t a n d i n g c i t i z e n prepare d to d i e for any man i n t o w n . It i s a s p l e n d i d p l a y and r e c e i v e s m a g n i f i c e n t treatment i n this production. T o m C o n t i , a s the d i s c i p l e , l e a d s a strong c a s t . H i s e v i d e n t j o i e de v i v r e in the face o f h i s m i s e r a b l e mother, s e v e r e l y p l a y e d by P a t i e n c e C o l l i e r , l i v e n s up a n otherwise mournful gathering for the r e a d i n g o f h i s f a t h e r ' s w i l l . John Wood,
v e t e r a n of T o m S t o p p a r d ' s Travesties, in w h i c h he p l a y e d the l e a d both as an o l d a n d a y o u n g m a n , s w i t c h i n g with r e m a r k a b l e r a p i d i t y b e t w e e n them, sticks to General Burgoyne, the E n g l i s h Commander-in-Chief, known to his subordinates as Gentlemanly Johnny; from h i s f i r s t a p p e a r a n c e , w h e n he lays h i m s e l f down o n the courtroom table to c a t c h up o n h i s s l e e p , we k n o w every gram o f comedy i s g o i n g t o be extracted from the p a r t ; a n d it i s t o o . The audience, packed with Americans, particularly enjoyed the scathing r e f e r e n c e s to E n g l i s h c o l o n i a l i s m - what e x c u s e c a n we have f o r a p r o d u c t i o n of " T h e A p p l e C a r t " , in w h i c h the A m e r i c a n Ambassador in Londo n requests rea d m i s s i o n i n t o the B r i t i s h E m p i r e ? THOMAS
National
Student Festival
STEVENSON
Drama
At the Roundhouse Downs t a i r s 27 J u l y to 7 A u g u s t : G a s ; Coup D ' E t a t ; England; O c t o b e r 30th 197 5; G a l a t e a ; and T h e K e y . F i v e award winning productions from Edinburgh's April Festival.
FELIX P u b l i s h e d by the Editor on behalf of I . C . U n i o n Publication Board. Printed Off-set Litho on the premises. F e l i x Office,PnnceConsort R d , London SW7 2 B B . T e l . 01 589 5 1'. 1 ext 1048,1042 Š F E L I X , 1976
EDITOR:
P a u l Ekpenyong
LIFT TO EUROPE T h r e e p e o p l e n e e d e d to f i l l up car g o i n g to M u n i c h . Depart F r i d a y A u g u s t 6 t h , a r r i v e at M u n i c h Saturday A u g u s t 7 t h . P e t r o l c o s t s to be s h a r e d . Contact FRITZ SCHLEGEL Int 3 3 2 5 . DUPLICATING TWO NEWGestetner duplicators have arrived at the Union to replace the non-active Roneo machines. In the interests of all who might want to use them in the future, no-one should attempt to use them until he or she has received expert tuition in how to handle them from Chalky White (to be found in the IC Union Office).
FELIX
THE SAILOR WHO F E L L FROM G R A C E WITH T H E S E A ( C e r t i f i c a t e x) Stars: Sarah M i l e s , Kris Kristofferson, Jonathan Kahn, Earl Rhodes 105 mins. Opens shortly at the C a r l t o n , Hay market. T h i s f i l m , in the o p i n i o n of both F e l i x staff w h o went to s e e it, h a s f a r mure p o t e n t i a l than both the m a r k e t e r s and S c r e e n I n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e w i l l i n g t o g i v e it. T h e p o s t e r s make it out to be no l e s s ' a c t i o n p a c k e d ' than ' S e x the Scandinavian Way', whilst the blurt put out i n t h e c r i t i c a l r e v i e w s r e c k o n s that it rates 9 . 5 foi g o r e . D e s p i t e the rather m a c a b r e plot the f i l m i s n e i t h e r gory nor d o e s it d e s c e n d to the l e v e l of a B - r a t e s e x m o v i e . In f a c t it h a s a n e n t h r a l l i n g a n d c a p t i v a t i n g a story a s ' O n e F l e w O v e r T h e plot hanqs arnunrl thp a d n l p s c e n t p r o b l e m s between J o n a t h a n (Jonathan Kahn) a n d Ins w i d o w e d mother ySaian Mnesj. The latter f a l l s in l o v e , and d e c i d e s to marry, the s e c o n d lieutenant of the B o s t o n B e l l e , a tramp steamer that a r r i v e s at t h e i r p i c t u r e s q u e D e v o n harbour. Meanwhile Jonathan has discovered a p e e p h o l e from h i s bedroom to h i s mother's. It i s through t h i s p e e p h o l e that w e s e e the c a r n a l s i d e of the love a f f a i r d e v e l o p . T h e f a c t o r , though, that s e t s t h i s f i l m apart from the r e s t i s t h e s e c r e t s o c i e t y to w h i c h J o n a t h a n b e l o n g s . T h e
leader of the p a c k , to c o i n a w e l l w o r n , but in t h i s c a s e q u i t e b e f i t t i n g , e x p r e s s i o n is simply called 'The Chief (Earl Rhodes). H e i s a c h i l d beyond h i s y e a r s , a w a r e of the c o n t r a d i c t i o n s of adult s o c i e t y upon w h i c h he c a s t s h i s own contemptuous i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . T h e rest of the c a b a l v i e w him in a w e , r u t h l e s s l y kept in l i n e by the C h i e f . H e s c o r n s t h e i r teenage i n f a t u a t i o n
with soft-porn magazines, focusing i n s t e a d o n the 'pure and p e r f e c t order of l i f e ' a n d how it h a s been d e f i l e d by a d u l t s . M o r a l i t y , h e m a i n t a i n s , i s an i n v e n t i o n of a d u l t s . He e n c o u r a g e s h i s c r e w to ' d i s m a n t l e the r u l e s ' , r e s i s t a d u l t tyranny and s e e k 'the inner b e i n g ' in a l l t h i n g s . T o d e m o n s t r a t e t h i s l a s t p o i n t , the c i g a r -
Milligan's Midsummer Madness SPIKE MILLIGAN famous goon, humourist a n d c u l t hero; s l i g h t l y l e s s famous a s trumpet p l a y e r a n d d e f e a t e r o f the T h i r d R e i c h ; v i r t u a l l y u n k n o w n a s f l o w e r arranger and i n s e c t t a x i d e r m i s t — i s back i n t o w n . H i s ( i n i t i a l l y ) s h o n run of late s h o w s at the Mermaid has now been e x t e n d e d to J u l y 3 1 s t . A s w e entered the theatre a d i s t a n t v o i c e o v e r the P A s a i d " C a n w e start, n o w " , a n d l i t the b l u e t o u c h p a p e r to a n hour o f h i l a r i t y and m u s i c . A l l the o l d goon l i n e s were t h e r e : - " '"ello, 'ello, 'ello. What's going' on 'ere then?" "It's a show, officer, hut I can't get it started." Spike makes noises of engine (trying to start but failing miserably) "Do you 'ave a licence for this show?" Spike produces licence and shows it to himself. "But that's a dog licence. " "Woof!" The music which w a s delightfully w o v e n in amongst t h i s m a d n e s s w a s excellent, and included s e v e r a l of S p i k e ' s more off-beat r e n d i t i o n s , s u c h as 'The flight of the bumble-bee while cleaning one's teeth", and a c c o m p a n y i n g the p i a n o by p l a y i n g t h e c l a s s i f i e d a d d s , from the E v e n i n g S t a n d a r d . T h e w h o l e show had that thoroughly a d - l i b b e d l o o k ; the audience themselves provided frequent d i s t r a c t i o n s , a s their comings and g o i n g s were highlighted by Mr M i l l i g a n ' s torch and suitable comments. F r e q u e n t a t t a c k s o n the ' F r u s t r a t i o n Dummy' (a very battered t a y l o r ' s dummy w h i c h they ' k n o c k e d the s h i t o u t o f i f the s h o w w a s n ' t g o i n g too w e l l ) a n d a s o n g on the theme 'Only a nose' d u r i n g w h i c h S p i k e c h a n g e d to s t e a d i l y larger a n d more r e d i c u l o u s t h e a t r i c a l n o s e s , a d d e d g e n e r a l state of i n s a n i t y . One t h i n g w h i c h b e c a m e apparent w a s the m a s t e r ' s i n a b i l i t y to r e l a x i n the
s h a d o w s during the m u s i c a l i n t e r l u d e s ; e v e n w i t h the sport on the s i n g e r a n d d a r k n e s s o n the r e s t o f the s t a g e . M i l l i g a n d o m i n a t e d the s c e n e . H i s frequent interu p t i o n s d u r i n g the s o n g s had not o n l y the a u d i e n c e , but a l s o the s i n g e r s , f a l l i n g about. One joke, which particularly s t i c k s i n the m i n d , c o n c e r n s an I r i s h surgeon who performed the f i r s t successful haemorrhoids t r a n s p l a n t . S p i k e ' s m u s i c a l friends fitted the mood o f the s h o w , a n d t h e i r a p p a r e n t l y sincere and uncontrollable laughter, d e s p i t e h a v i n g gone through the s h o w many t i m e s , a d d e d t o the i m p r e s s i o n that S p i k e had never b o t h e r e d t o r e a d o r e v e n w r i t e , the s c r i p t . One left the theatre f e e l i n g h a p p i e r , and madder, a n d more a b l e to f a c e the c r a z y w o r l d o u t s i d e a n d s t i l l come up laughing.
Voulez-vous promenade avec moi ? WHAT C O U L D be more pleasant than sitting at home, on a warm summer's day, listening to your favourite music? How about standing in the Albert H a l l , on a warm summer's day, listening to your favourite music? A s I am sure noone at IC can have failed to notice, 'The Proms' are with us again, and the many friendly (if eccentric) disciples of Henry Wood.
s m o k i n g c h i e f , w h o s e father i s a d o c t o r , at o n e p o i n t d i s s e c t s a c a t i n front o f them. T o o u r r e l i e f t h e d i s s e c t i o n i s not shown in g r a p h i c d e t a i l , the s c e n e r e m a i n i n g t a s t e f u l and a r t i s t i c throughout. When J o n a t h a n ' s mother f a l l s for t h e handsome, nigged, quiet-spoken J i m Cameron (Kris Kristofferson), he (Jonathan) at f i r s t hero w o r s h i p s h i m . T h e n , a s the j i b e s of the C h i e f become more frequent, a s do the v i s i t s by t h e s a i l o r , h i s opinions are turned against J i m , w h o h a s u p s e t the perfect o r d e r . . . T h e p u n i s h m e n t meeted o u t for t h i s , and other c r i m e s , i s t h e s a m e a s that for C e d r i c , the C h i e f ' s c a t : d i i s e c t i o n after b e i n g drugged. W h i l s t the f i l m i s h o r r i f i c by i m p l i c a t i o n , all scenes have been c a r e f u l l y a n d thoughtfully constructed, and no-one s h o u l d l e a v e the c i n e m a f e e l i n g q u e a s y — an d if it w a s n ' t for the 10 m i n u t e s or s o of ' s t u f f through the p e e p h o l e ' it i s doubtful whether it w o u l d carry an X label. T h e f i l m i s e n g a g i n g from the start and w e l l worth s e e i n g ; d i r e c t o r L e w i s J o h n C a r l i n o h a s h a n d l e d the s t o r y w e l l , r e t a i n i n g m u c h s e n s i t i v i t y a n d plausibility . P a r t i c u l a r l y c r e d i t w o r t h y is h i s d i r e c t i o n of the teenag e a c t o r s J o n a t h a n K a h n a n d Earl Rhodes. Kris Kristofferson also p r o d u c e s h i s best performance to d a t e . Duncan S u s s
C l i v e Dewey
T h e f i r s t night ( F r i d a y 16th J u l y ) l i t the s t a g e for what p r o m i s e s t o be an excellent season; Beethoven's "Missa Solemnis", a n d K e m p e w a s to have c o n d u c t e d , but h i s u n t i m e l y a n d unfortunate d e m i s e brought b a c k C o l i n D a v i s to the P r o m s S c e n e . A m i n u t e ' s s i l e n c e w a s o b s e r v e d i n memory a n d r e s p e c t o f K e m p e a t the b e g i n n i n g o f the c o n c e r t . Mr D a v i s ' s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f the m a s s w a s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y e x u b e r a n t ; and i n p a r t s , the m i l i t a r y pomp o f the b r a s s s e c t i o n a f f o r d e d c l e a r c o n t r a s t to the a n g e l i c themes o f the ' w o r l d to c o m e ' . T h e quartet a d d e d v a r i e t y a n d s p i c e with its free-flowing and uninhibited s t y l e ( i n c o n t r a s t to that o f the Missa Solemnis) T h e group w a s lead by Ursula Koszut; Anna Reynolds; John Shirley—Quirk and Anthony Rolfe Johnsonma.de up the f o u r s o m e . A t the e n d o f t h i s s h o r t , e x c i t i n g c o n c e r t , t h e promenader s w e r e r i d i n g high o n a w a v e o f e n t h u s i a s m w h i c h w i l l , h o p e f u l l y , c a r r y through t o the e n d o f the s e a s o n . A s a l w a y s , v a r i e t y i s f o r e m o s t , and w h a t e v e r your m u s i c a l t a s t e , there w i l l be some (at l e a s t ) o f y o u r f a v o u r i t e s , p l u s a c h a n c e to h e a r many l e s s p l a y e d a n d new p i e c e s . T h e r e i s a night o f j u s t Benjamin Britten's m u s i c , a n d f a n s o f Brackner are g i v e n a rare treat l a t e r i n the s e a s o n . " T h e P r o m s are c l o s e a n d c h e a p ; everyone should take advantage o f t h e s e t w o p o i n t s ; a n d of the c h a n c e t o l i s t e n to some great m u s i c . F o r t h c o m i n g c o n c e r t s o f p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t a n d merit include Verdi's " Falstaff", Bach's "St Matthew Passion", a n d a p a r t i c u l a r f a v o u r i t e o f m i n e , Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony, "The Pathetique". In short, with the possible exception of some Gary Glitter fans, there is something for everyone at this year's Promenade Concerts; do try to go.
RICK P A R K E R
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Obituary:
RON WITH THE sudden death earlier this month of Ron and K i l l , Imperial College Imperial College Union have lost a very dear friend. At the time of his death Ron was a finalyearpostgraduate student in the Department of Chemistry, and the SubWarden of Tizard H a l l . O n c o m i n g to C o l l e g e i n 1970, R o n became h e a v i l y i n v o l v e d i n the A s s o c i a t i o n F o o t b a l l C l u b and despite l i v i n g at h i s home in E n f i e l d he p l a y e d r e g u l a r l y for both the f i r s t a n d s e c o n d t e a m s . He maintained h i s interest in the C l u b throughout h i s time at College although the commitments he w a s to take o n i n l a t e r y e a r s w a s to put an end to his playing career. RCS
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Ron was pleased to accept a place in T i z a r d H a l l for h i s f i n a l y e a r a s a n undergraduate , and he l i v e d there for the rest o f h i s l i f e . N o w that he w a s a f u l l - t i m e member o f C o l l e g e rather t h a n a commuter he l o o k e d around for t h i n g s to f i l l h i s spare time. He w a s e l e c t e d a s S e c r e t a r y to the Hall Committee and very much enjoyed the social l i f e that w.as b u i l t around the h a l l . H a v i n g been e l e c t e d as Chemistry third year Social Representative Ron became involved in RCS U n i o n and w a s i m m e d i a t e l y made S e c r e t a t y o f the C a r n i v a l C o m m i t t e e . H e spent many
KILL happy hours w o r k i n g for R C S Rag, organising collections, stunts, and building Rag floats. T h e j o b o f S e c r e t a r y to a Committee is often used as a t e s t i n g g r o u n d , and t h i s was so with Ron. His p r e v i o u s e x p e r i e n c e o n the C a r n i v a l C o m m i t t e e made him a s t r o n g c a n d i d a t e for the Vice-Presidence of RCS U n i o n . H e w a s e l e c t e d to that p o s t i n the summer o f 1973. I m m e d i a t e l y after h i s e l e c t i o n h e took part i n the Great Tartan Race in which teams r a c e d a b a r r e l from Edinburgh to London and t r i e d to r a i s e a s m u c h money for c h a r i t y a s they could en route. R C S came a creditable third. H i s year as V i c e - P r e s i d e n t was a very s u c c e s s f u l one although it was marred by arguments w i t h i n the E x e c u t i v e . A t the e n d o f the 1 9 7 3 - 7 4 Academic year Ron was elected Deputy President of IC Union and was appointed Sub-Warden of T i z a r d H a l l . It i s i n r e s p e c t o f t h e s e two p o s i t i o n s that most people outside his department will remember him. During his year as Deputy President Ron m a n a g e d to put the U n i o n b a c k onto a p l a n n e d c y c l e of r e d e c o r a t i o n and r e f u r n i s h ing. He also played a very f u l l a n d very w e a l part on the E x e c u t i v e of the U n i o n and despite the friction it s o m e t i m e s c a u s e d he w a s v e r y o u t s p o k e n . I k n o w that he w i l l be remembered a s a
'Ron Kill will be remembered as a fine administrator and one of the best Deputy Presidents by all those in the Union Office' fine administrator a n d one of the b e s t D e p u t y P r e s i d e n t s by a l l those i n the U n i o n Office. Ron very much enjoyed h i s time as SubWarden o f T i z a r d H a l l . H e b e l i e v e d that the H a l l s h o u l d a l w a y s be run by t h e s t u d e n t s , and that he w a s there both to e n c o u r a g e them to more a c t i v i t y , a n d a l s o to r e s t r a i n them when he felt they wer e g e t t i n g out of h a n d . Under his guidance and with the help of many enthusiastic students the H a l l s e e m s to h a v e h a d two successful years. It was t y p i c d of his s e n s i b l e c h a r a c t e r that R o n s h o u l d c h o o s e to s p e n d h i s final Ph D y e a r out of " p u b l i c l i f e " working hard
years now have been charging an 'administrative fee' for performing a similar operation amongst its five university members . I was, like many, bewildered and shocked to learn of the It is of some interest to me untimely and tragic death of that U C C A , the University Ron K i l l earlier this month. In Central Council on Admissions, the last four years Ron played have introduced a two pound an extremely active part in fee (to cover admin.) to become Union and Hall life, enjoying effective 77 for entrance 7 8 . his student days to the full. It One wonders whether this will is a shame that there are not deter any prospective students more like him at IC, for it would from continuing into further be a better place to five and education; probably not, but it study. I'm sure that I speak for all the staff of F E L I X and The Summer Accommodation certainly appears to make a students in e x p r e s s i n g my Centre scheme is running into mockery of the concept of free deepest condolences to Ron's a few sticky patches this year. education. A lot of people have fiancee and family. I hear that there have been one voiced criticisms against the In closing, if you would like or two words exchanged on the notion of p a y m e n t for the subject of left-over meal tickets; service offered by U C C A , but another P G issue of F E L I X , surely the question is not few have expressed the same all contributions will be acceptwhether students should be able concern over, or even mentioned, ed. Thanks for this issue are the practices of the Northern due to Duncan, G i l l , Ian and to use them or not, but why there are so many left over at Universities J M B , who for some C l i v e .
Despite the fact that I am working my'fingers to the bone throughout the day in Harrods (known to some as Boots Provincial) thi-s long awaited P G issue has finally hit the press. Many did not think that they would live to see it that may be true of the Union Handbook, but it certainly isn't where F E L I X is concerned. So, dismissing the sceptics with no more ado, I shall proceed to the content of my last (honest) Editorial.
a " . On good authority we hear the quality of the food is this year better than ever before, so it can't be that they don't like what they are being served with..
at his thesis. This was a l m o s t c o m p l e t e d w h e n he d i e d . H e h a d a v e r y bright future in C h e m i s t r y a n d h a d received job offers from Cambridge University and Southampton U n i v e r s i t y . Great L o s s I am sure that many p e o p l e in the C o l l e g e w i l l have f o n d m e m o r i e s of R o n a n d w o u l d l i k e to j o i n me i n s e n d i n g c o n d o l e n c e s to h i s family, and to R u t h , h i s f i a n c e e , who he s h o u l d h a v e m a r r i e d at the e n d of t h i s weekend. We have all s u f f e r e d a very s a d l o s s . PETER R TEAGUE President Imperial College Union
UCCA FEE APPROVED Universities Central THE Council on Admissions (UCCA) has decided to i n t r o d u c e an ' a p p l i c a n t s f e e ' to all prospective students w h o u s e the U C C A s c h e m e . T h e fee w i l l be i n t r o d u c e d next autumn (1977) for s t u d e n t s entering university in 1978 E a c h student w i l l be r e q u i r e d to e n c l o s e a ÂŁ 2 c h e q u e or p o s t a l o r d e r w i t h h i s or her application. T h e d e c i s i o n to l e v y the fee came a s a r e s u l t o f a b a l l o t , organised by UCCA. E a c h educational organisation u s i n g U C C A w a s a s k e d to indicate its view on the proposed fee. The voting was: F o r the fee 5 5 , A g a i n s t 3 9 , Abstentions 2, R e p l i e s not r e c e i v e d in time 4 . I m p e r i a l C o l l e g e B o a r d of studies had e a r l i e r d e c i d e d to a b s t a i n i n the v o t i n g .
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ACROSS 1. G a m e f o r M a g g i e a n d J i m w r i t t e n about b y 37 a c r o s s . 14. I n - l a w after Robin's divorce? 18. W e l l s i n i t i a l i n t i n b a c k darkness. 19. V e g e t a b l e where charge is found. 2 0 . S m a l l street e n d l e s s ( N o n word) 22. Anoint aphetice 26. Alternative gold 27. S o n o f boat bottom i s inner k e e l 3 3 . R P M to p o l i c e w o r k 35. E r r e r (Correct s o f a r ) 36. U l e is p a i n f u l 37. D e v o n t o w n w r o t e M o d e m 1. 38. S e a five get p o t 41. D i s l i k e mixed w i t h both articles 43. Shut up f i v e 4 4 . Short d o s e o f i l l n e s s 45. N : - the art o f u s i n g 47. Dram K i n g f i s h 52. C S N 54. T o t a k e e f f e c t u n l e s s after time condition is some fulfilled. 57. O l d E n g l i s h after t i n t o paddle. 59. F o o l i s o n l y o n e i n 50 from b r e a d 6 0 . N o t a d r e a d f u l harty b e a s t 69. P i n g p o n g m i x e d gut j u i c e to become l e s s l i k e mconey
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72. G i r l is a genus of nudibranchiate after s ea- goddes s 74. R u t a l m o s t ripe t o e x p l o d e 7 5 . C r i b prim e p i s t l e , since one c a n n o t t a k e it away 63. C o r . 6 4 . T h a t i s me i n r e t i n u e order DOWN 1. S u r e l y not a j o b f o r a librarian? 2. P u t it in reference to w o r k e r who j o u r n e y s 3.1 a n d h e i n 4 . B i r d o n h o u s e near K i n g s Road 5. Stop 41 b e f o r e e n d b e c a u s e l e a r n e r g e t s i n the w a y 6. A H a w a i a n vocano goddess 7 . P o e m to s o m e t h i n g l i k e a doe 8. L a y t i n in s e r v i c e 9. E g o combined consumed with s i s t e r overran 10. M a i n r o a d up north m i x e d with its surface gaves headiness. 11. G o i n and refer, but take no n o t i c e 12. M e t a l covered ending s e a , or containing inshore bordering town 13. L o o k up for 13 d o w n 15. World organisation never c o u l d do this? ( H a ! H a ! ) 16. P l a c e for 67 2 3 . C o r r e c t e n d to 4 4
25. F e v e r w h i c h giv e s T h y u p s , not t o m e n t i o n T h y down 28. I n B A S I C i t o r d e r s a c o p y of the program 29. — de b o i f i s a w i n d o w 34. F o r living speed grows everywhere 3 7 . Irregular v e r b 44. P l a c e o f o f f s h o r e j u s t i c e almost 5 0 . K i n d o f M a g g i e m e s s that is ruled over 53. Soar girl 58. B e c a u s e 70. R e s i n in lake S o l u t i o n t o X - w o r d No." 41 ACROSS: 1. Cholic acid 9. Aural 11. Stoor 12. One 13. AA 14. Ann 15. Utter 17. Tipsy 19. Ornate 21. Oriole 25. Hilum 27. Tarre 28. Oat 30. Or 31. Mai32. Unite 33. Asail 34. Constructs. DOWN: I. Caoutchouc 2. Hunts 3. Ore 4. Lager 5. Atest 6. Con 7. Ionic 8. Dratchells 10. Lar 11. Say 16. Tool 18. Peer 20. Piano 22. Runts 23. Usual 24. Trait 26. Moe 27. Art 29. Tin 31. Mac.
d r i n k s , w h o were u n a b l e to get out b e c a u s e of the p e o p l e w i t h o u t - d r i n k s t r y i n g t o get i n . The situation soon resolved itself and the L a w of Differential Drinking Speeds minimised the problems i n the bar f o r t h e r e s t o f the e v e n i n g . A s t h e N a v a l C o l l e g e at G r e e n w i c h f l o a t e d by to o u r starboard side people were chatting amicably, drinking loudly and beginning to tuck i n t o the l i g h t buffet p r o v i d e d A s the N a v a l C o l l e g e p a s s e d by a g a i n on o u r port s i d e , (I p r e s u m e that w e t u r n e d around some time between t h e t w o o c c a s i o n s ) the m u s i c b e g a n to i n c r e a s e i n v o l u m e and p e o p l e began to g i r a t e to the p r i m i t i v e r y t h m s . T h e boat c o n t i n u e d w i t h i t s p o i n t e d e n d f i r m l y f i x e d o n the new National Theatre and as the evening c l o s e d i n , w e b e g a n to r e a l i s e many o f the a d v a n t a g e s of t a k i n g a boat o n the r i v e r . T h e most o b v i o u s o f t h e s e w a s the f a c t that i t w a s p r o b a b l y the c o o l e s t p l a c e i n L o n d o n at that t i m e . W i t h the rest o f the C i t y glowing orange after a d a y i n the n i n e t i e s , t h e Thames boasted a c o o l breeze which made even dancing b e a r a b l e . T h e party w a s w e l l underway w i t h most of the g u e s t s b o p p i n g to the e x q u i s i t e Mines D i s c o , or e l s e sitting out a n d w a t c h i n g t h e s p o t l i t s i g h t s o f the c i t y s l i p s i l e n t l y b y . T h e M i n e s D i s c o , kept up an impressive and popular f l o w o f m u s i c throughout the e v e n i n g - they not only b r i n g m u s i c a n d l i g h t s , "but e n o u g h D J s and a s s i s t a n t s to f i l l any party e v e n i f the g u e s t s d o n ' t turn u p . A s the T o w e r o f L o n d o n p a s s e d d a n g e r o u s l y c l o s e to our port s i d e , a n d a v e r y carelessly driven pier c o l l i d e d with the same side, the occupants of this refugee from D u n k i r k were d i s g o r g e d onto dry l a n d . E v e r y o n e s e e m e d to h a v e e n j o y e d the jaunt as they w a l k e d o f f t o w a r d s the tube, exchanging Polaroid pictures of each others' misdemeanors and showing off the s c a r s from t h e o p e n i n g of the b a r . (PS A n y falacious rumours about my e n j o y i n g t h e e v e n i n g s o m u c h that I d e c i d e d to h a v e a minute nap i n the f l o w e r b e d s on Fulham Broadway station are p u t about by l i a r s a n d disgruntled London Transport gardeners.) (We bet - Ed)
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RICK P A R K E R
U i i A
111 luck dogs IC O N T H E weekend of the e n d of term, the B r i t i s h O r i e n t e e r i n g Relay Championships were held in North Wales. the Imperial Unfortunately, C o l l e g e attempt on the N a t i o n a l title seemed fraught with b a d l u c k from the s t a t t . After our minibus booking w a s r e j e c t e d , w e were left w i t h no a l t e r n a t i v e but to t r a v e l by c a r . O n e c a r c o n t a i n i n g ' B ' team arrived on our Saturday at B e t w y s - y - C o e d safely, but A l a n L e a k e y ' s c a r c o n t a i n i n g the ' A ' team On Sunday, I C ' s superto get further than failed o a r s m e n Andy Bayles a n d Lower Neasden due to 'Basher' Burch ( r o w i n g f o r T h a m e s T r a d e s m e n R C ) w o n (they s a i d ) brake f a i l u r e . It i s more l i k e l y that they h a d two o f the most p r e s t i g i o u s found o u t about the forest i n e v e n t s o f the R e g a t t a - the G r a n d C h a l l e n g e C u p (for V I I I ' s ) w h i c h the c h a m p i o n s h i p w a s held. It turned out to be a n d the P r i n c e P h i l l i p C u p (for mostly very thick young coxed fours). t r e e s , a n d the t r a c k s w e r e no more r u n n a b l e , a s they were f u l l of t u s s o c k g r a s s , so STOP PRESS: First eight stroke, Paul Langguth, won a that o n e f e l l f l a t o n o n e ' s gold medal in the National f a c e e v e r y few p a c e s . Championships al Nottingham. Nevertheless, the 'B' Rowing in a coxed pair with a team m a n f u l l y attempted t h e Leander Club oarsman he finc o u r s e that t h e ' A ' team s h o u l d ished two lengths clear of the h a v e run a n d I a n I s h e r w o o d rest of the field; the time was successfully c o m p l e t e d the just two seconds outside that first l e g . Pete Johnson on of the coxless pair winners. the second l e g h a d more
Oarsmen strike gold at Henley A year's intensive training by B o a t C l u b members c u l m i n a t e d i n one o f t h e i r most s u c c e s s f u l p e r f o r m a n c e s i n r e c e n t y e a r s at the H e n l e y R o y a l R e g a t t a , t h i s y e a r h e l d o n t h e f i r s t four d a y s of J u l y . I C f i e l d e d two teams - t h e first in the L a d i e s P l a t e , a c o m p e t i t i o n for c o l l e g e c r e w s , and the s e c o n d i n the T h a m e s C u p , a n open e v e n t . B o t h c r e w s were found a c c o m m o d a t i o n at H e n l e y i n t h e d a y s l e a d i n g up t o the R e g a U a , a n d t h i s e n a b l e d us to t r a i n o n the c o u r s e . O n the f i r s t d a y , both crews won comfortably, beating L i n c o l n College, Oxford, a n d . Townmead R C respectively. The l s t VIII a g a i n s h o w e d their c l a s s against Queen's C o l l e g e , (C) taking a lenght's lead i n l e s s than a minute a n d r o w i n g home w e l l i n front. T h i s w i n put them through to the t h i r d d a y and into the quarter f i n a l s .where they w e r e narrowl y b e a t e n by Q u e e n s ' Belfast. T h e 2nd V I I I w e r e not s o l u c k y w i t h t h e i r draw o n F r i d a y , b e i n g m a t c h e d a g a i n s t the e v e n t u a l w i n n e r s of the T h a m e s C u p , Harvard U n i v e r s i t y .Howe v e r , fast c o n d i t i o n s a n d a good f i g h t b a c k r e s u l t e d i n the f a s t e s t ever time over the c o u r s e by a n Imperial c r e w - 6m. 4 4 s .
I St. VIII M Johnson(bow), I Hyslop. S Worley, J Fitzgerald, J Skrypniuk, J Blaind, N Gillett, P Langguth(stroke), J Kirkpatrick(cox). 2nd. VIII R Newley(bow), S Hackett, J Lewis, R Hale, M Jones, T Thomas, J Scoular, M Tyler (stroke), R Quinn(cox).
Richard Newley.
Nightline 581 2468 int. 2468
No.8
Accommodation Office Nightline
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GDNS
Someone to t a l k to Information o n : pregnancy, legal a i d , gay c e n t r e s , d r u g s , l a t e night buses etc. You will find Nightline at: 8 P r i n c e s Gardens South K e n s i n g t o n
I OPEN ALL SUMMER
Liquid distractions T W O W E E K S a g o four runners c r a s h e d through the f a i r g r o u n d at H o r s h a m o n t h e i r way to the c h a n g i n g rooms to prepare for the imminent start of the ' B l u e S t a r ' 10 m i l e road r a c e . F o r t u n a t e l y for them ' P l a n e t of the A p e s ' ( ? ) d e l a y e d the start by some 15 m i n u t e s , enabling Rob Allinson to clear his system, o r so he t h o u g h t . . . . The course w a s uphill for the first four miles, then s w i f t l y down to f i n i s h w i t h a long, boring, undulating section back into H o r s h a m . P e r h a p s it w o u l d n ' t have b e e n s o bad i f we h a d n ' t p a s s e d s o many p u b s Despite these, Steve Webb s c o r e d a rare v i c t o r y o v e r a n ailing Rob A l l i s o n , completing the c o u r s e i n 55.10 m i n s . T h i s put him i n 27th p l a c e . The sight of a l l those pubs o n the c o u r s e w a s j u s t too much for u s e , a n d s o s e v e r a l e s t a b l i s h m e n t s h a d to be v i s i t e d w h i c h rounded o f f a pleasant days outing. Results: Steve'Webb. 55. tmins; Rob Allinson, 57.0 mins: Paul Clarke, 61.1 mins: Pete Johnson, 69.5 mins.
trouble though, a n d after in finding four controls about 9 0 m i n u t e s , h e n o t i c e d that h e w a s near the f i n i s h and decided to retire. Meanw h i l e , J o h n G i b b i n s h a d not w a i t e d for P e t e t o f i n i s h , but h a d a l r e a d y s e t o f f o n the third l e g . John d i d slightly b e t t e r , but the p r o x i m i t y o f n i g h t f a l l p r e v e n t e d h i m from f i n d i n g the l a s t f e w c o n t r o l s . O n the S u n d a y , the C o m b i n e d Harvesters' Trophy Event was h e l d where w e d i d rather better. D a v i d R o s e n w o n the 'Elite' course by several a n d Ian Isherwood minutes and Pete Johnson both completed their courses in about 120 m i n u t e s . Orienteering does not t ake p l a c e o n l y i n term t i m e s , a n d P G members are a c t i v e the v a c a t i o n s o n throughout most S u n d a y s . If y o u w o u l d l i k e t o h a v e a g o , k e e p an e y e on the C l u b n o t i c e b o a r d , or r i n g D a v i d R o s e n on 4 4 5 9 .
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Silver at J\Zf on treat TIM C R O O K S , a postgraduate student i n M e c h a n i c a l E n g i n e e r i n g ' s L u b r i c a t i o n laboratory u n t i l September l a s t y e a r , h a s w o n a s i l v e r m e d a l at t h e Montreal O l y m p i c s . H i s s u c c e s s c a m e i n the r o w i n g e i g h t s . T w o l e s s s u c c e s s f u l compe t i t o r s from the same l a b o r a t o r y w e r e N e i l K e r o n ( i n the c o x l e s s fours) and Dr.Graham P a u l , who who w a s i n the B r i t i s h F e n c i n g T e a m . T h e latter d i d , h o w e v e r , manage to get to the t hir d round o f the i n d i v i d u a l f o i l e v e n t - no mean feat i n itself.
Barbecue B a r b e c u e at L I N S T E A D H A L L t h i s Monday 2nd A u g u s t . F R E E A d m i s s i o n . F o o d from 8.30pm on the b a l c o n y . L i n s t e a d H a l l bar o p e l i from 7 p m . M u s i c as w e l l . N o r m a l student prices for food and d r i n k . A l l w e l c o m e .
STOP P R E S S