http://www.felixonline.co.uk/archive/IC_1990/1990_0882_A

Friday 9th November Number 882

o m Stevens Sacked—Rob Northey Stays O n p2,3 Rag Weik Guide pi0,11 London Cycling Campaign p4 Freedom Fighter Fang Li Zhi pl2

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The Ides of November T o m Stevens, the Business M a n a g e r for I m p e r i a l C o l l e g e , was d i s m i s s e d in an u n e x p e c t e d m o v e last F r i d a y . H e was not g i v e n a n y notice a n d c l e a r e d his desk in three hours, after b e i n g c a l l e d in s p e c i a l l y o n his d a y off. T h e r e has b e e n m u c h s p e c u l a t i o n u p o n the reasons b e h i n d the a c t i on, but n o b o d y is a w a r e of, or w i l l i n g to r e v e a l , the full official m o t i v e s b e h i n d the s a c k i n g .

Q u e s t i o n e d officials w e r e k e e p i n g their k n o w l e d g e close to their chests as r u m o u r s spread. M r R o b N o r t h e y t o l d F e l i x that he w a s 'surprised' b y the m o v e , a l t h o u g h his a n s w e r s w e r e short a n d o b v i o u s l y p r e - p l a n n e d . It is k n o w n that M r N o r t h e y had been quite s u r p r i s e d by the fact that F e l i x had not q u e s t i o n e d h i m u p o n the m a t t e r earlier.

M a n a g i n g D i r e c t o r of the College, A n g u s F r a s e r , was also k e e p i n g tight l i p p e d o v e r the situation. H e r e a c t ed i n m u c h the s a m e w a y o v e r M r N o r t h e y ' s d e c i s i on to r e s i g n three w e e k s ago a l t h o u g h he s e e m e d m o r e confident about this issue. W h e n asked about the reasons b e h i n d the s a c k i n g he said that he w a s 'not g o i n g to m a k e a n y c o m m e n t ' o n w h y M r Stevens was dismissed, a n d that he did not see the a d v a n t a g e i n speculation.

In p a r t i c u l a r M r Fraser w o u l d not c o m m e n t o n the speed of dismissal or the reactions of the R e c t o r , n o w in India.

T h e R e c t o r was present at the time of

the m e e t i n g w h i c h d e c i d e d the fate of M r Stevens a n d left for India o n 2 8 t h O c t o b e r , five days before the dismissal w a s m a d e . It is thought that a d e c i s i o n was m a d e that d e p e n d e d u p o n the o p e n i n g of the t e n d e r e d bids for M o n t p e l l i e r o c c u r r i n g o n 1st N o v e m b e r , for w h i c h the r e s e r v e p r i c e w a s & 7 . 5 M . It w o u l d appear that no suitable applications were received.

M r Stevens was i n s t r u m e n t a l , in part, i n the setting up of the C l a y p o n d s contracts w i t h the estate agents Cluttons, w h i c h lost the C o l l e g e a n estimated ÂŁ 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 , a n d was in c h a r g e of the sale of M o n t p e l l i e r Hall.

A n g u s Fraser d i d say that a r r a n g e m e n t s had b e e n m a d e to split the responsibilities of T o m Stevens job. T h i s n a t u r a l l y i n c l u d e d R o b N o r t h e y o n the c a t e r i n g side a n d G o r d o n M a r s h a l l , the r e l a t i v e l y n e w D i r e c t o r of Estates, o n the estates side. T h i s split leaves the situation m u c h as it was before the a p p o i n t m e n t of a Business M a n a g e r . H e d i d not h o w e v e r w i s h to m a k e a n y further c o m m e n t o n the a p p o i n t m e n t of a n e w p e r s o n to the n o w v a c a n t p o s i t i o n . It is thought that these matters w e r e discussed at a n u n s c h e d u l e d m e e t i n g at 170 Queensgate, the Rector's r e s i d e n c e , o n W e d n e s d a y .

P e o p l e present i n c l u d e d A n g u s Fraser, Peter M e e a n d o n e of the Deans from the Constituent U n i o n s .

Angus Fraser-No Comment A s far as C l a y p o n d s w e n t he said that he h a d ' n o t h i n g to say o n that point at this t i m e ' but the matter w a s b e i n g p u r s u e d to finalisation, as h a d b e e n planned.

R o b N o r t h e y is n o w s t a y i n g o n as Refectories M a n a g e r a n d is l i k e l y to be here untill s o m e t i m e a r o u n d J u l y . O n this matter A n g u s Fraser said he had had a chat w i t h R o b a n d that t h e y h a d a g r e e d to defer his finishing date. P r e v i o u s l y , after M r N o r t h e y ' s r e s i g n a t i o n , he had failed to p e r s u a d e h i m to r e m a i n , despite a two hour long meeting.

College Day Elicits Response Y e s t e r d a y , the threat of a l o n g e r c o l l e g e d a y p r o d u c e d the largest t u r n o u t for a U n i o n G e n e r a l M e e t i n g (UGM) this year.

One motion and two bye-laws were passed, the m o t i o n b e i n g that the U n i o n President, P a u l S h a n l e y , s h o u l d c o n v e y to the W o r k i n g P a r t y o n the C o l l e g e D a y the stance that changes to the c o l l e g e d a y are not acceptable a n d that the, o v e r theoretical, w o r k l o a d s s h o u l d be r e d u c e d f r o m their artificialy h i g h state.

T h e first b y e - l a w c h a n g e , s p e e d i n g up the m e r g e r of I C U a n d St M a r y ' s w a s passed w i t h o u t discussion. T h e s e c o n d , a l l o w i n g sabbaticals to stand for a s e c o n d

y e a r was passed after a short debate. T h e b y e - l a w c h a n g e w i l l not a l l o w a student to have m o r e t h a n t w o sabbat i cal years a n d restricts c a m p a i n i n g to acts that i n no w a y affect their sabbat i cal duties. B o t h of these b y e - l a ws must be passed at the n e x t U G M at St. M a r y ' s before t h e y are accepted.

After the b y e - l a ws had b e e n passed, P a u l S h a n l e y a s k e d the a s s e m b l y for feedback to t a k e to the W o r k i n g P a r t y as he felt that he w a s not a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e student in this m a t t e r . T a k i n g a series of votes, he found that most of the students present w o u l d prefer the c o l l e g e d a y to

Chair Awarded Dr T o n y R i d l e y , w h o has r e c e n t l y w o r k e d on the E u r o t u n n e l project, has been a n n o u n c e d as the holder of the Rees Jeffreys C h a i r of T r a n s p o r t E n g i n e e r i n g in the D e p a r t m e n t of C i v i l E n g i n e e r i n g .

T h e C h a i r is s p o n s o r e d b y the Rees Jeffreys R o a d F u n d w h o ' s interests are based u p o n the r e c o g n i t i o n that t r a v e l a n d m o v e m e n t of goods has to b a l a n c e d w i t h the l i m i t a t i o n s of l a n d space a n d

2

enviroment.

T h e R e c t o r said that ' H i s a p p o i n t m e n t w i l l serve further to e n h a n c e the w o r l d w i d e r e p u t a t i o n of the D e p a r t m e n t ' .

The Imperial College Engineering School has a l r e a d y b e e n n o m i n a t e d b y s e v e r a l h u n d r e d a c a d e m i c s w i t h i n the E C , in a p o l l , as the best i n E u r o p e a n d this a p p o i n t m e n t c a n o n l y help to k e e p it's status as s u c h .

r e m a i n as it is, a l t h o u g h s o m e w o u l d tolerate a n e x t r a half hour i n the morning a n d / o r evening.

Most of the objections to a n y changes s t e m m e d either from t r a v e l i n g times a n d the difficulty of r e a c h i n g the college e a r l y in the m o r n i n g or the difficulty of getting to hall meals i n time.

T h e R C S h a n d e d to P a u l a s u r v e y that h a d been u n d e r t a k e n in v a r i o u s departments. T h e o v e r w h e l m i n g statement m a d e b y 646 r e p l i e s to the s u r v e y was that the c o l l e g e d a y s h o u l d r e m a i n as it is.

KO! A flying e l b o w sent C a t h y M c C l a y , City a n d Guilds U n i o n President, into c o n c u s s i o n last T h u r s d a y . T h e hit a n d r u n e l b o w o c c u r e d o n the d a n c e floor of the C & G Boat P a r t y .

C a t h y was tended by W a r w i c k M u l l e n a n d C l a i r e K e r r y w h i l s t the party c o n t i n u e d a n d was t a k e n to hospital w h e n it e n d e d . C a t h y s a i d that she h a d not been into c o l l e g e m u c h d u r i n g the w e e k but w a s r e c o v e r i n g .

•in "MM A i m

Print Unit Sell Off Cuts to t he C o l l e g e Print U n i t w i l l l e a v e it w i t h o n l y t w o r o o m s a n d a r e d u c e d set of e q u i p m e n t . T h e lost space w i l l b e filled b y C o n t i n u i n g E d u c a t i o n , a section w h i c h runs outside courses to raise m o n e y for Imperial.

T h e m o v e of C o n t i n u i n g E d u c a t i o n f r o m

l e v e l three of Sherfield leaves space for an International Office a n d a S c h o o l s L i a i s o n Office. T h e s e offices a r e d e s i g n e d to increase t he student i n t a k e into Imperial.

T h e e q u i p m e n t lost from t h e Print Unit, e x c e p t for a n offset p r i n t i n g press that

-ik*m Ml£l iffmr

has b e e n r e t u r n e d to t he m a n u f a c t u r e r s , has b e e n sold to t he C o m p u t e r C e n t r e .

This equipment included a n A 4 collating m a c h i n e , a task w h i c h w i l l n o w b e performed b y a collating photocopier.

Grand Larceny Continues I m p e r i a l C o l l e g e S e c u r i t y Officer T e r r y B r i l e y has a s k e d c o l l e g e m e m b e r s to ' s h o w a little r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n shutting doors a n d u s i n g l o c k s ' f o l l o w i n g t he recent spate of thefts.

A thief stole articles i n c l u d i n g a p e r s o n a l stereo from t he U n i o n G y m a r e a this w e e k , t h r e e b i c y c l e s w e r e stolen, a n d a c a r was b r o k e n into at t he rear of t he

C h e m i s t r y b u i l d i n g . A m i c r o w a v e has b e e n stolen f r o m F i s h e r h a l l , f o l l o w i n g the theft last w e e k of a v i d e o r e c o r d e r .

M r B r i l e y said that as t he h a l l h a d a g o o d k e y s y s t e m t h e thief o r t h i e v e s ' c o u l d b e o n e of our o w n ' . ' U n s o c i a l b e h a v i o u r ' o n t he part of a n u m b e r of i n d i v i d u a l s caused s o m e toilets in t he M e c h a n i c a l E n g i n e e r i n g b u i l d i n g to

Brighton Rock B o , o n e of t he C i t y a n d G u i l d s U n i o n s ( C & G U ) i n v i o l a t e mascots, c o m p l e t e d t h e L o n d o n to B r i g h t o n r u n o n S u n d a y . Last y e a r B o b r o k e d o w n t w e l v e m i l e s from the target, t he first time i n fifteen years that it h a d n o t c o m p l e t e d t h e r u n . T h i s y e a r it t o o k five hours ( i n c l u d i n g a half h o u r break) t o r e a c h its d e s t i n a t i o n

Passengers w e r e the P r e s i d e n t of C & G U , C a t h y M c C l a y , a n d t he Guild's D e a n , a l o n g w i t h t he C & G U v i o l a t e mascots, S p a n n e r a n d B o l t . T h e d r i v e r was Jonathan Edge with Robert Evans and R o b e r t J a c k s o n c o - d r i v i n g for half of the j o u r n e y e a c h .

Rag Week Plus Handcuff-o-Grams is a n e w s e r v i c e d e s i g n e d b y t h e R o y a l C o l l e g e of S c i e n c e U n i o n for this year's R a g W e e k . F o r £ 5 y o u c a n h a v e t w o p e o p l e of y o u r c h o i c e handcuffed t o g e t h e r a l l d a y (or until t h e y buy t h e m s e l v e s out of it).

Soup Imperial College C o m m u n i t y A c t i o n G r o u p ( I C C A G ) a r e l o o k i n g for p e o p l e to help i n their w e e k l y soup r u n to t he homeless of L o n d o n . T h e y a r e also i n v o l v e d i n t h e r u n n i n g of a p l a y g r o u p for the m e n t a l l y h a n d i c a p p e d . T r a v e l expenses m a y be p a i d, a n d the sessions m a y r u n late into the ni ght. A n y b o d y interested s h o u l d contact C a r o l i n e C r u t t w e l l ( B i o c h e m 3) o r H i l a r y A d a m s o n (Biology 3).

R a g raised £ 4 2 7 . 1 5 o n S a t u r d a y d u r i n g the L e u k a e m i a R e s e a r c h P u b C r a w l . T h e top c o l l e c t o r s w e r e Pete B o w e n a n d Martin H e i g h w a y w h o roused themselves on S u n d a y a n d c o l l e c t e d £ 1 2 3 . 2 3 i n Brighton.

b e c o v e r e d i n e x c r e m e n t . M r B r i l e y said that this c o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d to b e criminal damage.

He a d d e d that t he theft of the U n i o n B u i l d i n g sign f r o m the front of Beit A r c h had b e e n n o t e d a n d that t h e culprit w a s ' p r o b a b l y t o o e m b a r a s s e d ' to rectify t he theft.

Dissident Professor F a n g L i Z h i f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y of C a m b r i d g e w i l l be s p e a k i n g o n ' T h e Anthropic Principle' on Wednesday. T h e talk w i l l be h e l d i n t he P h y s i c s b u i l d i n g at 1.15, v e n u e t o b e a n n o u n c e d . E v e r y b o d y is w e l c o m e .

Directors A n e w D i r e c t o r of D e v e l o p m e n t has b e e n a p p o i n t e d . D r J i l l P e l l e w w i l l take u p her post i n e a r l y J a n u a r y . T h e post of D i r e c t o r of M a r k e t i n g has n o t y e t b e e n filled.

Library Merger T h e Collection Development Working Group of the Imperial College/Science Museum Joint Libraries Advisory Committee h a v e b e e n a s k i n g users of t he l i b r a r y w h i c h p e r i o d i c a l s t h e y w o u l d like to h a v e o n t he shelves, a n d f r o m w h a t y e a r t h e y s h o u l d b e p l a c e d i n t o storage.

T h e r e a s o n for this initial s u r v e y is to m a k e a n e s t i m a t i o n of the space a v a i l a b l e

to t he w o r k i n g g r o u p w h e n t he t w o libraries merge. Imperial College L i b r a ry is h o p i n g that there w i l l b e m o r e space m a d e a v a i l a b l e to t h e m .

Miss Hurst, from the C e n t r e for E n v i r o n m e n t a l T e c h n o l o g y L i b r a r y , said 'The response of t h e s u r v e y has n o t b e e n overwhelming.'

Before going to the clinic, Richard Eyers gets on his bike.

Cycling Imagine n e a r l y 2000 cyclists a l l t r a v e l l i n g in o n e d i r e c t i o n b e t w e e n B a t t e r sea a n d T r a f a l g a r S q u a r e , w i t h traffic b r o u g h t to a c o m p l e t e standstill. W e l l , at 2 . 1 5 p m last S u n d a y , that is e x a c t l y w h a t h a p p e n e d .

A n o r g a n i s a t i o n c a l l e d the ' L o n d o n C y c l i n g C a m p a i g n ' (LCC) g a t h e r e d cyclists from a l l o v e r L o n d o n to meet i n B a t t e r sea P a r k , a n d c y c l e to a r a l l y i n the s h a d o w of N e l s o n s C o l u m n . T h e turnout w a s e x c e l l e n t , a n d w a s o b v i o u s l y d u e to the e x t e n s i v e a d v e r t i s i n g c a m p a i g n that lead up to the e v e n t - if y o u h a v e a b i k e a n y w h e r e in College, y o u p r o b a b l y found a leaflet o n it at s o m e t i m e before S u n d a y .

For those of y o u w h o n e v e r s a w the handout, the r a l l y h a d t w o purposes. T h e first is e x p l a i n e d i n t h e title ' B i k e for a B r e a t h of F r e s h A i r ' , w h i c h speaks for its self. T h e r e is definitely a p o l l u t i o n problem in London, and the L C C wanted to highlight this. ' O n e in five p e o p l e a r e seriously endangered by air pollution i n L o n d o n . F o r s o m e pollutants, s u c h as b e n z e n e , there is n o r e c o g n i s e d safe l e v e l . A m o n g those p a r t i c u l a r l y at risk are c h i l d r e n , p r e g n a n t w o m e n a n d the e l d e r l y . ' , states t h e i r leaflet i n e y e c a t c h i n g r e d t y p e , t h o u g h s a d l y they h a v e n e g l e c t e d to q u o t e the s o u r c e of this information.

If y o u w o u l d like to see the facts about p o l l u t i o n (in L o n d o n ) , 1 c a n r e c o m m e n d a recent article i n the ' L o n d o n Cyclist', N o v / D e c issue. E n t i t l e d ' Y o u r Last G a s p ? - E v e r y t h i n g y o u a l w a y s w a n t e d to k n o w about v e h i c l e p o l l u t i o n (but w e r e to ill t o ask)', the feature runs t h r o u g h a l l the possible p r o d u c t s of v e h i c l e exhausts.

It asks b o t h h o w dangerous t h e y are a n d w h a t c a n be d o n e to reduce t h e i r emission? It is n o t s i m p l y a n attack o n a l l n o n e c y c l e r o a d users a n d m a k e s s o m e c o n s t r u c t i v e suggestions. It is w e l l w o r t h a read, e v e n for s u c h k n o w l e d g e a b l e science students as those at IC,(apparently t h e r e a r e a few!).

T h e s e c o n d p u r p o s e of t h e r a l l y w a s to get better c o n d i t i o n s for c y c l i n g . O t h e r t h a n i m p r o v i n g the air q u a l i t y i n L o n d o n , (the L C C c o n c e r n t h e m s e l v e s specifically w i t h this city), t h e L C C s m a i n a i m at t h e m o m e n t is to see that their p r o p o s a l s for a 1000 m i l e n e t w o r k of c y c l e routes t h r o u g h o u t L o n d o n are a d o p t e d as s o o n as possible. A p l a n w h i c h has a p p a r e n t l y b e e n t a k e n u p b y the D e p a r t m e n t of T r a n s p o r t a n d the L o n d o n C y c l i n g F o r u m .

So W h a t H a p p e n e d In Battersea ?

B e t w e e n m i d - d a y a n d 2 . 1 5 p m the c r o w d s of cyclists g a t h e r e d i n Battersea P a r k . It w a s refreshing to see s u c h a v a r i e t y of c y c l i n g 'types' i n o n e p l a c e .

T h e r e w e r e o f c o u r s e t h e stereo-type ' r a c i n g enthusiasts' w i t h t h e i r e x p e n s i v e bikes a n d t h i g h c l i n g i n g l y c r a , but t h e y w e r e i n the m i n o r i t y . O r d i n a r y cyclists

Revolution

w h o s e m a i n interest is i n u s i n g t h e i r b i c y c l e s to get from A to B (or m a y b e Z) w e r e also s t r o n g l y r e p r e s e n t e d . It w a s extremely cold but entertainment b y a brass e n s e m b l e a n d a skiffle g r o u p h e l p e d the t i m e to pass, as d i d a d e m o n s t r a t i o n of stunt c y c l i n g b y the w o r l d champion,(at least I t h i n k that w a s his title).

A t 2 . 1 5 p m the hoards g a t h e r e d to l e a v e the park, b i k e s of a l l d e s c r i p t i o n s w e r e t h e n r i d d e n o u t a n d across C h e l s e a b r i d g e . T h e sight w a s a n i m p r e s s i v e o n e , a steady s t r e a m of riders w e n t a l l t h e w a y to T r a f a l g a r Square. T h e P o l i c e w e r e e x c e l l e n t a n d traffic w a s b r o u g h t to a c o m p l e t e standstill. O n e t a x i d i d t r y t o j o i n i n ( o b v i o u s l y i n support of the cyclists!) but he w a s s o o n t u r n e d b a c k .

T h e r e w a s s o m e enthusiastic t o o t i n g of

e m p h a s i s w a s o n the fact that c y c l e traffic has g o n e u p 4 0 % i n the last t w o years and cycle accidents have gone up b y a quarter i n o n e y e a r. T h i s he b l a m e d , partly, at least, o n the n o n - w e a r i n g of helmets. It w a s later stated b y a n o t h e r speaker, that statistically, injuries w o u l d b e r e d u c e d far m o r e if m o t o r i s t s a n d pedestrians w e r e to w e a r p r o t e c t i v e headgear! S t r a n g e l y e n o u g h m e n t i o n s of P o l l T a x from a m i n o r i t y i n the c r o w d was ignored.

L a b o u r M . P . J e r e m y C o r b y n w a s far m o r e c h a r i s m a t i c i n his address, s a y i n g that if three m i l e s of m o t o r w a y w e r e c a n c e l l e d t h e n t h e c y c l e routes c o u l d be i m p l e m e n t e d straight a w a y , t h o u g h he m a d e n o offer o f e x a c t l y w h e r e t h e y c o u l d a l l be put. H e t h e n w e n t o n to c a l l for limits o n p r i v a t e c a r use i n the C a p i t a l

The Campaign Banner Sported At Battersea Park horns w h i c h w e r e r e c e i v e d b y c h e e r f u l w a v e s , w h i c h must h a v e infuriated those d r i v e r s w h o w e r e t o o t i n g because t h e y couldn't m o v e for up to t h i r t y minutes lovely.

T r a f a l g a r S q u a r e - the speeches begin.

O n c e i n the Square w e h a d to stand i n the c o l d for a b o u t forty m i n u t e s w h i l s t v a r i o u s p o l i t i c i a ns said the s a m e sort of things, but w i t h v a r y i n g degrees of success.

First to address the masses w a s Roads Minister, Christopher Chope. H e was c l e a r l y i n f a v o u r of t h e L C C p r o p o s a l s '...too m a n y cyclists are t h e i n n o c e n t v i c t i m s of a c c i d e n t s w e must n o w ensure the s p e e d y i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of the 1000 m i l e n e t w o r k . . . ' - t h o u g h his

and for better p u b l i c transport, a l l of w h i c h w a s of course p o p u l a r .

F i n a l l y the other s p e a k e r w o r t h a mention was L C C chair Paul Gasson. H e stated that a l t h o u g h b i k e s w e r e the transport of t h e future, ' A t present o n l y 4% of j o u r n e y s i n L o n d o n a r e b y b i k e c o m p a r e d w i t h u p to 2 0 % i n s o m e c o n t i n e n t a l capitals'. H e c a l l e d for p o l l u t i o n m o n i t o r i n g a n d the s e a l i n g off of the c a p i t al if levels b e c o m e dangerous.

T h e r a l l y i n its self w a s u n d o u b t e d l y a success, but it r e m a i n s to be seen w h e t h e r the g o v e r n m e n t c a n get its act together. W i l l they do w h a t w o u l d benefit thousands of p e o p l e , i n c l u d i n g cyclists, or w i l l the p r o p o s a l s b e c o m e lost i n the c u r r e n t bout of ' w h o ' s g o i n g to be o u r leader?' that c u r r e n t l y upsets the government.

Photo: Lisa Longstaff O n O c t o b e r 24 at the H o u s e of C o m m o n s o v e r 160 p e o p l e , m a i n l y w o m e n , of m a n y ages, races a n d nationalities, c e l e b r a t e d T i m e Off For Women w i t h a l i v e l y speakout: Count Women's WorkLegislation Now!. E v e r y y e a r Time Off presses g o v e r n m e n t s to c o u n t w o m e n ' s unwaged w o r k in every country's G N P , the basic statistic of w o r k a n d w e a l t h .

W o m e n students i n colleges a n d universities t a k e part i n Time Off e a c h year, h i g h l i g h t i n g , for e x a m p l e , the w o r k of s u r v i v i n g o n a grant, m a d e m o r e difficult n o w w i t h the loss of benefits, the e x t r a w o r k w o m e n have to d o to p r o v e themselves a c a d e m i c a l l y , the fact that w e h a v e less c h a n c e of e a r n i n g higher wages, a n d the w o r k of students w h o are mothers. Time Off 90 student actions i n c l u d e d leafletting a n d p e t i t i o n i n g at W a r w i c k University and Froebel College, South L o n d o n , a n d a r i m e Off-Day Picnic in O x f o r d c i t y centre. Time Off w o n a p a i d d a y off for w o m e n e m p l o y e e s at Bristol P o l y a n d Cardiff U n i v e r s i t y Students' U n i o n s i n r e c o g n i t i o n of their u n w a g e d w o r k — a guarantee n o w w r i t t e n into their c o n s t i t u t i o n.

T h e Spe a kout, c o - c h a i r e d b y W i l m e t t e B r o w n (Black W o m e n for W a g e s for Housework) a n d Nina Lopez-Jones (English C o l l e c t i v e of Prostitutes), o p e n e d w i t h news of progress t o w a r d s c o u n t i n g w o m e n ' s w o r k legislation i n B r i t a i n , E u r o p e , T r i n i d a d a n d T o b a g o a n d the U S .

W h i l e Time Off presses for legislation, it

also aims to e n s u r e that w o m e n , a n d not legislators, define the u n w a g e d w o r k w e w a n t c o u n t e d b y c o u n t i n g it ourselves. In a hall d e c o r a t e d w i t h c o l o u r f u l balloons a n d banners, w o m e n spoke out about the h o u s e w o r k of c a r i n g for families, for others a n d for ourselves; w o r k i n g o n the land; fetching f i r e w o o d a n d water; the w o r k of o v e r c o m i n g the d i v i s i o n s b e t w e e n us, s u r v i v i n g a n d c h a l l e n g i n g r a c i s m , a p a r t h e i d , ageism, d i s c r i m i n a t i o n against lesbian w o m e n , t h e i m p o v e r i s h m e n t of m i n i n g c o m m u n i t i e s , l o w p a y , no p a y , the p o l l t a x , sex w o r k b e i n g m a d e i l l e g a l , rape a n d other violence.

W o m e n w i t h disabilities, i n c l u d i n g w h e e l c h a i r users w h o w i t h the help of the organiser h a d to struggle to get into an o u t r a g e o u s l y inaccessible H o u s e of C o m m o n s , m a d e clear that people w i t h disabilities a r e also 'carers', c a r i n g for themselves, c h i l d r e n a n d others.

D e s c r i b i n g s o m e of that w o r k , C l a i r e G l a s m a n of W i n V i s i b l e ( W o m e n w i t h V i s i b l e a n d Invisibale Disabilities) said: 'Most of m y u n w a g e d w o r k of disability is not caused b y m y disability b u t b y social policies are priorities w h i c h d e p r i v e us of m o n e y , services, carers of o u r c h o i c e , and appropriate equipment and t e c h n o l o g y to adapt o u r h o m e s a n d the e n v i r o n m e n t for o u r e v e r y d a y use.'

T h e m e e t i n g heard messages of support from the P a y d a y men's n e t w o r k against all u n w a g e d w o r k , from M P s a n d trade

unionists; a n d reports of Time Off 90 activities i n about ten T h i r d W o r l d a n d m e t r o p o l i t a n countries, a n d 14 towns a n d cities i n B r i t a i n .

S e l m a J a m e s , founder of the W a g e s for H o u s e w o r k C a m p a i g n w h i c h c oordi na t es Time Off, o p e n e d the S p e a k o u t s a y i n g that w h i l e M P s 'debated w h e t h e r to g i v e C h i l d Benefit to some, m a n y , o r no w o m e n , as if it w e r e a c h a r i t y , i n fact the m o n e y is a right—a s m a l l p a y m e n t for the w o r k of m o t h e r i n g . ' T h e r e w a s unanimous agreement o n the following resolution:

This meeting is outraged that the government who have been throwing &2m a day into the Gulf feel they can spare only &1 for an increase in Child Benefit to mothers for some children.

E v e r y o n e w e l c o m e d the c o m i n g together of b l a c k a n d w h i t e w o m e n f r o m so m a n y different b a c k g r o u n d s s p e a k i n g out about their w o r k as a reflection of h o w m u c h the Time Off m o v e m e n t is g a i n i n g ground!

Students w h o ' d like to t a k e part i n Time Off, i n v i t e speakers, o r help circulate the ' W o m e n C o u n t — C o u n t W o m e n ' s W o r k ' petition a v a i l a b l e i n 23 languages a n d i n E n g l i s h b r a i l l e , contact the W a g e s for H o u s e w o r k C a m p a i g n , K i n g ' s Cross W o m e n ' s C e n t r e , 71 T o n b r i d g e Street, W C 1 H 9 D Z . T e l : 071-837 7509

PI REVIEWS

Israel The state of the art

T h e B a r b i c a n C e n t r e is r u n n i n g an A u t u m n season of Israeli arts a n d culture.

T h e art is b r o a d b a s e d : p a i n t i n g , sculpture, p h o t o g r a p h y , film a n d talks are all o n offer. I visited the Chagul to Kitaj e x h i b i t i o n (9th Level) a n d Israel—The Stormy years (5th Level).

Chagul to Kitaj: Jewish Experience in the Art of the Twentieth Century, to g i v e it its full title, is the first major e x h i b i t i o n in B r i t a i n to b r i n g together a b r o a d range of w o r k s w h i c h reflect J e w i s h themes a n d c o n c e r n s this c e n t u r y .

T h e first few galleries focus o n r e l i g i o n a n d the family; c o l o u r s a n d textures are vivid. The thread then weaves Jewish c u l t u re in w i t h its e n v i r o n m e n t . T h e r e is a fascinating display of set designs p r o d u c e d by J e w i s h artists at the t i m e of the Russian R e v o l u t i o n i n c l u d i n g w o r k b y Nathan A l t m a n and Robert Falk.

S o m e of the greatest figures i n the t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y are featured, s u c h as Marc Chagull and Jacob Epstein. Their w o r k is s h o w n alongside that of l e a d i n g Israeli artists s u c h as R e a v e n R u b i n a n d A n n a Ticho.

A separate section o n the H o l o c a u s t includes p o w e r f u l w o r k s c r e a t e d b o t h d u r i n g a n d after the w a r years. T h e y s h o w the r a w edge of p e r s o n a l a n d c o l l e c t i v e a n g e r a n d grief.

O n the g r o u n d floor are w o r k s w h i c h h a v e b e e n p r o d u c e d w i t h i n the last ten years. A l t h o u g h this art is m o r e c o n t e m p o r a r y the themes c a n be traced b a c k t h r o u g h the entire e x h i b i t i o n .

A narrow wooden gangway, r e m i n i s c e n t of a b u i l d i n g site leads out from the e x h i b i t i o n into t h e 'sculpture c o u r t y a r d ' . A t the e n d of the g a n g w a y is an o l i v e tree c l o s e l y g u a r d e d by tall w o o d e n r a m p a r t s . S u r r o u n d i n g this s y m b o l w e r e other images of M o t h e r E a r t h a n d g o o d . M y favourite was the bright y e l l o w n u d e astride a b r i g h t y e l l o w b i c y c l e p e d d l i n g m a d l y in pursuit of peace.

Israel—the stormy years is o n the fifth floor. T h e e x h i b i t i o n is a c o l l e c t i o n of photographs by Robert Lepa and Misha Bar-Am. Robert Lapa, a Hungarian Jew, arrived in Israel in 1936. H e h e l d a fervent interest in the n e w c o u n t r y a n d , but for an all p o w e r f u l w a n d e r l u s t , he w o u l d have settled there. H i s pictures are direct a n d , to the m o d e r n eye, p e r h a p s e v e n n a i v e . H i s c a m e r a r e c o r d e d w h a t he saw: no frills.

M i s h a B a r - A m b e l o n g e d to the n e x t g e n e r a t i o n w h e r e ideals w e r e often swamped by political complexity and bitter struggle. H i s p h o t o g r a p h y is less direct a n d m o r e q u e s t i o n i n g t h a n Lapas'; his actual t e c h n i q u e a n d its message are m o r e subtle.

W h a t e v e r y o u r p o l i t i c a l persuasion the B a r b i c a n ' s Israeli season is a fun a n d i n e x p e n s i v e c u l t u r a l feast. Israel State of the Art (£4 full £ 2 concession) closes o n Years J a n u a r y 6 1991. Israel—The Stormy (free) ends o n N o v e m b e r 29. D o n ' t miss them!

A n n a Teeman.

Backstage tours of the National/1 want to be a Vicar

O n e c o m m o n feature of fringe theatres, b e t h e y the n u m e r o u s v e n u e s a r o u n d L o n d o n o r the e v e n m o r e n u m e r o u s E d i n b u r g h sites, is their i n t i m a c y (ie t h e y ' r e small). Most p r o d u c t i o n s use t h e m as if they w e r e a n o r m a l theatre, i g n o r i n g t h e a u d i e n c e .

T h e first of these short o n e act c o m e d i e s defies this c o n v e n t i o n , b y m a k i n g the a u d i e n c e part of the b a c k s t a g e tour party.

O u r guide takes us o n a tour, not o n l y of the ' N a t i o n a l ' itself, but of the j a r g o n , pretentiousness a n d p r e t e n c e that are the e n d e m i c c o m p l a i n t s of t h e a t r i c a l hangers o n . T h e w o r d D a h l i n g s springs to m i n d .

A d m i t t e d l y s o m e k n o w l e d g e of theatre w o u l d be useful, o t h e r w i s e most of the jokes are g o i n g to leave y o u mirthless, but in the m a i n this is a v e r y funny spoof.

So, w e m o v e o n t o the s e c o n d half of the e v e n i n g - / Want to be a Vicar. A q u i r k y little tale of a girl w h o has aspirations to the c l ot h. She has a w e l s h m u m w h o w o u l d prefer her to b e a tart, a b o y f r i e n d w h o has a Jesus c o m p l e x a n d a v i c a r w h o l o v e s babies. In the course of half an hour, o n e actress takes us t h r o u g h her life, from t h e o l o g i c a l college v i a A m e r i c a to success as a transvestite v i c a r .

T h e a udi e nc e 's r e a c t i o n to the p l a y was v e r y m i x e d . M a n y p e o p l e s e e m e d to find it m e r e l y silly, w h i l e others w e r e i n stitches. A l c o h o l c o n s u m p t i o n level s e e m e d to p l a y a fair part i n d e t e r m i n i n g reaction.

T h e theatre is a b o v e a p u b , so m y a d v i c e w o u l d be:- if y o u f a n c y a d r i n k other at r e g u l a r i n t e r v a l s. T h e w o r d is a n d a bit of c o m e d y , this m a y be w o r t h a l o v e , as distinct from s e x , for the t w o visit, if o n l y for the N a t i o n a l segment. b a c k e d beast o n l y puts i n o n e a p p e a r a n c e These plays are at the E t c e t e r a T h e a t r e in the w h o l e film. T h e r e l a t i o n s h i ps C l u b , O x f o r d A r m s , 265 C a m d e n H i g h b e t w e e n the players are affected b y the R o a d , N W 1 . T h e B o x Office is o n m i n o r c h a r a c t e r s' o w n b i z a r r e l o v e lives.

071-482-4857. M e m b e r s h i p is 75p a n d W e i r d but s t r a n g e l y affecting stuff. student tickets cost £ 3 .

T h i s is not a film that has spent m u c h Pendragon. time c u r r y i ng public acceptance c o m m e r c i a l i s m doesn't s e e m to h a v e b e e n sitting in the director's b r a i n as an e c o n o m i c c o n s c i e n c e . L u c k i l y the film is all the better for it. F u n n y , r o m a n t i c a n d e x c i t i n g , it w i l l m a k e a perfect e v e n i n g ' s viewing.

Pendragon.

Love at Large H a r r y D o b b s ' p r i v a t e life is falling apart. H e is o n the e d g e of t u r n i n g forty, his girlfriend i m a g i n e s that he is s l e e p i n g w i t h a l l his clients a n d he is f o l l o w i n g the w r o n g m a n . H i s latest, seductive a n d m y s t e r i o u s client Miss D o l a n has h i r e d h i m to f o l l o w ' R i c k ' , a m a n she is infatuated w i t h . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , R i c k a r r i v e d at the B l u e D a n u b e late a n d H a r r y is after F r e d e r i c k K i n g instead.

W h o ' s that f o l l o w i n g H a r r y , though?

T h e plot of this m o v i e is m o r e t h a n a little c o n v o l u t e d , a n d doesn't quite m a n a g e to e x p l a i n itself b y the e n d , but I h a v e a s n e a k i n g s u s p i c i o n that isn't m e a n t to be i m p o r t a n t . S o m e b o d y is p u l l i n g a bluff o n us. T h e m o v i e is t r y i n g to pass itself off as a d e t e c t i v e film, a n d i n d e e d T o m B e r e n g e r , w h o doesn't so m u c h speak, as g r o w l a r t i c u l a t e l y, is the e p i t o m e of a h a r d - b o i l e d d e t e c t i v e . R e a l l y , t h o u g h , in its heart of hearts, it's a l o v e story, or at least a story about l o v e .

T h e c h a r a c t e r s a l l h a v e their o w n p h i l o s o p h y about l o v e , a n d have a strange t e n d e n c y to inflict it o n e a c h

—Film

—Theatre

—Exhibition

Bullseye REVIEWS

I

M m m m . Just m y l u c k . M y first r e v i e w for F e l i x , a n d it's a bit of a t o u g h y (Fnarrr). It's h a r d to say w h a t the w h o l e point of it is. T h e plot r e v o l v e s a r o u n d t w o o v e r the hill v i l l a i n s ( M i c h a e l C a i n e a n d R o g e r M o o r e ) w h o are the n e a r perfect doubles of t w o (successful!) c o l d fusion scientists ( M i c h a e l C a i n e a n d R o g e r M o o r e ) , a n d a great deal of m o n e y .

In style, the w h o l e t h i n g s e e m s to be a tribute to the B r i t i s h c o m e d y m o v i e s of the sixties, c o m p l e t e w i t h naff film q u a l i t y , naff d i a l o g u e , naff effects a n d naff jokes. T h e y e v e n s e e m to h a v e gone so far as to use w h a t appears to be a r i d i c u l o u s l y l o w budget. O n t op of this the film is o v e r l y l o n g , e s p e c i a l l y i n the m i d d l e parts, w h i c h e n d up d r a g g i n g horribly.

H o w e v e r , the e n d does c o m e together m u c h better than y o u ' d e x p e c t , a n d e v e n m a n a g e s to k e e p a fair l e v e l of t ensi on,

The Maids Tragedy

despite the fact that y o u k n o w what's

g o i n g to h a p p e n , a n d s o m e gratuitous c r u e l t y to pigeons! M r C a i n e is h u m o r o u s in his t y p i c a l b u m b l i n g w a y , a n d M r M o o r e is at last b e g i n n i n g to s h o w his age (all of it), w h i c h serves h i m right.

S o m e light relief for a l l the sex-starved IC males is p r o v i d e d in the f o r m of D e b o r a h B a r r y m o r e as a y o u n g C I A agent w h o m a y or m a y not be the d a u g h t e r of o n e of the heroes, a n d the farcical t r e a t m e n t of the B r i t i s h a n d A m e r i c a n i n t e l l i g e n c e (?) agencies is b r i l l i a n t l y d o n e (Yes, O K , I adm it it: I l i k e the Carry on... movies!).

So, if y o u ' r e o l d e n o u g h to r e m e m b e r the o r i g i n a l films this w i l l p r o b a b l y i n v o k e a pleasant sense of nostalgia. If y o u ' r e not, t h e n it's a gentle w a y to waste a c o u p l e of hours a n d a fiver, but it's p r o b a b l y m o r e sensible to w a i t for the v i d e o , get s o m e beers i n a n d i n v i t e a few friends a r o u n d for a l a u g h .

A l i e n Sex F i e n d .

Flatliners

I

W r i t t e n n e a r l y four h u n d r e d years ago this is a tail of l o v e lost, d e c e p t i o n , a d u l t e r y a n d d e a t h . In total four p e o p l e d i e , all s t a b b e d a n d t w o self inflicted. T h e plot is too c o m p l i c a t e d to go into i n the space a v a i l a b l e but its themes of s e x u a l frustration a n d intrigue are as r e l e v a n t n o w as w h e n it was written.

T h e q u a l i t y of the a c t i n g w a s superb throughout, no c h a r a c t er s h o n e a b o v e the others a n d o v e r a l l it was a v e r y professional a n d c h a r i s m a t i c p e r f o r m a n c e .

T h e set w a s definatly d e s i g n e d w i t h a h e a v y m i n i m a l i s t i c slant, c o n s t i s t i n g of three chairs, a table a n d a b e d there w a s n o t h i n g for the actors to h i d b e h i n d .

For a p l a y w r i t t e n just after the S h a k e s p e a r e a n p e r i o d the language is v e r y 'quaint' but the c l o t h i n g a n d the set contrast against this b e i n g a m i x t u r e of b o t h m o d e r n a n d 30's styles.

E n t e r t a i n i n g a n d thought p r o v o k i n g , it is v e r y m u c h w o r t h a l o o k but y o u haven't got l o n g . ' T h e M a i d ' s T r a g e d y ' p l a y s at the B a t t e r s e a A r t C e n t r e , L a v e n d e r H i l l , Battersea u n t i l the 18th November. Concessions are ÂŁ 3 , m e m b e r s h i p is ÂŁ 5 per a n n u m . T h e b o x office is o n 071-223 2223.

Ian H o d g e .

Film Choice Goodfellas, The little Mermaid, Ghost, A Shock to the System, Bad Influence.

F i v e m e d i c a l students take life, a n d death, in their ha nds in a m a c a b r e e x p e r i m e n t e x p l o r i n g the limits of k n o w l e d g e . O n e by o n e t h e y submit themselves to a near d e a t h e x p e r i e n c e , c o n t r o l l e d b y their colleagues.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y the e x p e r i e n c e does not e n d w h e n t h e y are r e t u r n e d to the l i v i n g ; their sins c o m e to haunt t h e m , c a u s i n g violence and pain.

T h e students e a c h have their d a r k secrets (obviously) but they v a r y in their 'sinfulness'. It is u n d e r s t a n d a b l e that k i l l i n g s o m e b o d y c o u l d p r o d u c e guilt feelings that take o n a s u p e r n a t u r a l f o r m .

It is less c l e a r w h y the act of o p e n i n g a forbidden d o o r a n d startling y o u r father, just before he dies o n the r o a d , s h o u l d h a v e the s a m e c h i l l i n g effect. A l s o , w h a t is so sinful about h o m e v i d e o s ?

T h e a n s w e r m a y lie in the assertion that there is no absolute scale against w h i c h to m e a s u r e a 'sin'. T h e m e a s u r e m a y be y o u r o w n c o n s c i e n c e , in w h i c h

petty m i s d e m e a n o r s m a y b e c o m e heinous c r i m e s . D o e s this m e a n that a c o l d b l o o d e d k i l l e r w i l l not be t o r m e n t e d , o r w i l l a c h i l d h o o d act p r o d u c e m i s e r y b e y o n d the g r a v e ?

It is a credit to the film that it gives t i m e o v e r to reflecting o n these points t h r o u g h o u t the story, in passages that c o u l d be c o n s t r u e d as tedious in a n y other p r o d u c t i o n . O n e catches oneself t h i n k i n g ' W h a t if?' as i n d i s c r e t i o ns w e l l up from the d a r k c o r n e r of the m i n d that you thought y o u h a d l o c k e d .

T h e o n l y quibbles I h a v e w i t h this film are the use of cliches s u c h as the c l i m a x o c c u r r i n g o n h a l l o w e e n a n d the l a m e a n d u n b e l i e v a b l e e n d i n g . T h i s , I feel, was c o n c o c t e d to leave the a u d i e n c e w i t h a feeling of w e l l b e i n g , instead of h a v i n g to l e a v e the c i n e m a feeling d e p r e s s e d a n d u n l i k e l y to r e c o m m e n d the film, w h i c h , incidently, I do.

Toby Jones.

Iron Maiden

Bored!

Hammersmith Odeon 18.10.90 Take It Out On You LP Bored! are f r o m A u s t r a l i a a n d I'm g o i n g to say t h e y s o u n d like ACDC a n y w a y . B e t that has pissed t h e m off. T h e r e is m o r e to it t h a n that. T h e l y r i c s are h a r d c o r e i n the Black Flag m o u l d w i t h r a u n c h y riffs to b a c k it up. T h e bass is g o o d a n d t w a n g y a n d is t u n e d to w i t h i n a n i n c h of b e i n g a d i d g e r i d o o o n S w e e f Charity.

B e n e a t h this neo-punk e x t e r i o r l u r k s a definitely H e n d r i x r o o t e d guitar style.

T h i s is r e f r e s h i n g i n contrast to the g r i n d i n g bits, but y o u h a v e to c h o k e o n y o u r o w n v o m i t to get a w a y w i t h o v e r t w o minutes of feedback at the e n d of a track, the Final Solution.

H a r k , I hear a b a n d p l a y i n g ! C a n ' t still be the support. W a i t , it's Maidenl Must h a v e c o m e o n e a r l y so t h e y c o u l d c a t c h last orders afterwards.

So, u n f o r t u n a t e l y, I a m u n a b l e to g i v e m y c o n s i d e r e d o p i n i o n o n t h e first t w o songs. T h e favourite, Wrathchild, w a s n e x t i n line, s o u n d i n g as h a r d a n d r a w as ever. T h e y t h e n p r o c e e d e d to p l a y the n e w a l b u m , No Prayer For The Dying, bar about three songs, the title track, a Steve H a r r i s n u m b e r , b e i n g the most i m p r e s s i v e . A s m a t t e r i n g of the tried a n d tested classics s u c h as The Trooper a n d

Hallowed Be Thy Name were a d d e d to g o o d effect, b u t w e r e t o o t h i n o n t h e g r o u n d for m y l i k i n g . T h e y e v e n left out

Running Freel T h r o u g h o u t the set, H a r r i s ' bass lines t h u m p e d out the r h y t h m , the strings s t r i k i n g the frets g i v i n g a n almost p e r c u s s i v e effect. J a n i c k G e r s , m o r e suited to the Maiden style t h a n his

predecessor A d r i a n S m i t h , s e e m e d to enjoy himself, c l a m b e r i n g o v e r the a m p stacks, a n d w a s n e a r l y u p to the s t a n d a r d of his counterpart, D a v e M u r r a y . N i c k o M c B r a i n p e r f o r m e d a d m i r a b l y o n the skins, as a l w a y s , w h i l e B r u c e D i c k i n s o n s c r e a m e d , hissed a n d g r o w l e d (in tune, most of the time) from start to finish.

T h e stage set w a s h a r d l y as l a v i s h as e x p e c t e d , a l t h o u g h a t e n foot E d d i e (see a n y a l b u m c o v e r , y o u non-believers) d i d appear d u r i n g the song Iron Maiden.

B r u c e k i n d l y r e f r a i n e d from k i c k i n g it's head i n a n d t e a r i n g out it's brains as he d i d a few short years b a c k .

T h e y s e e m to be g o i n g b a c k to their roots, d i s p e n s i n g w i t h the l a v i s h a n d e x p e n s i v e effects. P e r h a p s t h e y ' r e s t r a p p e d for cash! Nonetheless, it w a s a v e r y e n j o y a b l e m o s h , as a l w a y s , a n d a must for a n y r o c k m e t a l fan.

T h e p r o d u c t i o n is not o b t r u s i v e a n d i n c l u d e s a v a r i e t y of fade-in styles f r o m s m o o t h a n d s l o w to J o h n P e e l . T h e o v e r a l l s o u n d is p r o b a b l y t o o d i r t y for a w i d e m a r k e t , s o u n d i n g d o w n r i g h t live.

A l l the tracks get a g e n e r a l ' Y e a h ' , e x c e p t , m a y b e , Satellite, w h i c h is a Pistols c o v e r a n d u n n e c e s s a r y . I w o u l d just l i k e to be the last person i n this r e v i e w to say the title of t h e last n u m b e r . Motherfuckin'

Motherfucker.

Mungo

U p The Irons.

R. Snell

Nirvana Astoria 24.10.90 M e a n w h i l e , i n the b o w e l s of the A s t o r i a , fans w e r e a r g u i n g o v e r the reset c u b i c l e a n d o v e r a l l s u p r e m a c y of Godflesh. T h e e n s u i n g v e r b a l battle w a s a c a d e m i c , for o n this o c c a s i o n , Godflesh w e r e w e l l b e l o w their u s u a l b o w e l - t h r a s h i n g standard. T h e p o u n d i n g r h y t h m s e e m e d r e p e t i t i ve a n d h o l l o w , a n d the stage e m p t y after L 7 ' s o v e r - a m p e d guitar frenzy. O n l y t o w a r d s the e n d of the set, after the a d d i t i o n of a s e c o n d guitarist, d i d t h e y s e e m to get into their stride w i t h Like Rats a n d Pulp. E v e n the multitudes of crusty's s e e m e d d i s a p p o i n t e d .

After Godflesh, a r e m a r k a b l y strange c h o i c e of support, L 7 ' s t r a s h y o v e r l o a d c o u l d be o n l y be t o p p e d b y Nirvana's i m m e n s e o p e n i n g . P o w e r e d b y the n i n e foot h u m a n p o g o , C h r i s , o n bass a n d a solid d r i v i n g beat, the r h y t h m section w a s r o c k solid a n d p r o v i d e d a perfect b a c k d r o p for K u r d t ' s s u p e r h u m a n efforts at w h a t used to be a t w o m a n j o b .

W i t h the d e m i s e of Mudhoney, Nirvana

8

w e r e set to take the l e ad i n the sub-pop set. H o w e v e r t h e y are at present l o o k i n g for a deal w i t h t h e majors 'for c o m m e r c i a l reasons'. Sell out or not, their n e w single does not i n d i c a t e a l o w e r i n g of standards. T h e n e w s o u n d is m e l l o w e r but m o r e d i v e r s e a n d s h o w s a n e w side to the b a n d .

T o n i g h t , C h r i s w a s as tall as the stacks, a n d K u r d t ' s c l e a n guitar cut t h r o u g h the sludge left b y Godflesh's N e a n d e r t h a l set.

If a udi e nce r e a c t i o n w e r e to be a m e a s u r e of greatness, Nirvana are t r u l y gods. O l d favourites Love Buzz, Negative Creep a n d Paper Cato w e r e interspersed b e t w e e n the n e w e r , m e l l o w e r songs. A l l w e r e r e c e i v e d w i t h w i l d stage-diving as the b o u n c e r s t r i e d to stem the tide.

T h e e n c o r e p r o v e d the w o r t h of the n e w single as is s l i p p e d i n easily w i t h t h e monster Scool, w h i t t l e d d o w n to c r u c i a l riffs a n d c r u s h i n g . Nirvana h a v e m e l l o w e d , but still shred.

Seb

Robert Riley & the Buffalo Club Gone Too Long 12" T h i s b a n d h a v e a s t u p i d n a m e . T h a t is a l l there is to s a y , apart from that the l y r i c a l style is sa d l y s o m e h o w f a m i l i a r , the piano support s o m e t h i n g from a T V theme. S o d , I don't e v e n like this c o u n t r y d r i v e l about h o w s a d s o m e b l o k e is, b u g g e r objectivity.

Mungo

Eat Interview T h e t i m e : 5 . 4 5 p m , the p l a c e : the ladies toilets i n the A s t o r i a . A n g e , M i c h a e l H u t c h e n s look-a-like a n d Eats' l e a d singer sat o n the w i n d o w s i l l s t r a d l i n g a s i n k l o o k i n g b o r e d w h i l s t P a u l , guitarist, busily m a d e a spliff. W h e n a s k e d w h y t h e y c a l l e d t h e m s e l v e s Eat, P a u l r e p l i e d 'It's like a r e f l e c t i o n of our c o n c e r n for c o n s u m e r i s m . H a , no, it's p r o b a b l y because the first s o n g w e e v e r w r o t e together was c a l l e d Eat Eat Eat so it s e e m e d to fit'.

N e x t there w a s a l o u d b a n g as the toilet d o o r flew o p e n a n d in stepped a n A s t o r i a m u s c l e m a n 'Get out of here y o u fucking arseholes', nice c h a p , it's r e a l l y o d d too, he l o o k e d like J i m m y Saville.

W e restarted the i n t e r v i e w backstage fighting to be h e a r d o v e r the s o u n d c h e c k of the s u p p o r t group. Eat have b e e n together for t h r e e years n o w a l t h o u g h a l l of the m e m b e r s h a v e k n o w n e a c h other for m u c h l o n g e r a n d h a v e b e e n i n v a r i o u s other groups, m o s t n o t a b l y Pete H o w a r d , f o r m e r Clash d r u m m e r , but t h e y h a v e o n l y r e a l l y b e e n a p u b l i c b a n d since F e b r u a r y last y e a r w h e n t h e y w e r e s i g n e d up b y F i c t i o n r e c o r d s . T h e b a n d is L o n d o n - b a s e d a n d has a c l o s e affinity to the city. ' O u r first a l b u m re fl e c t ed our life in L o n d o n at the t i m e of t h e b a n d f o r m i n g , squatting, m o v i n g a r o u n d v e r y q u i c k l y l u g g i n g e a c h others' gear a r o u n d , l i v i n g in e a c h others' pockets'.

Eat don't r e a l l y fall into a n y m u s i c a l c a t e g o r y as s u c h . T h e i r s o u n d has a l m o s t a M a n c u n i a n feel about it but is s a v e d b y the r o c k guitar a n d p u n k i s h v o c a l s . T h i s strange m i x t u r e c o m e s f r o m the fact that all of the m e m b e r s h a v e different m u s i c a l tastes, r a n g i n g f r o m dance to blues.

T h e y are c u r r e n t l y w o r k i n g o n a n e w a l b u m w h i c h is due for release in F e b r u a r y . It's t a k e n about five w e e k s to r e c o r d so far a n d s h o u l d be finished s o o n . ' W e feel that o n this a l b u m w e ' v e finally found ourselves musically and we're well pleased at w h a t w e ' v e d o n e so far, a l t h o u g h I d o n ' t like the n e w single m u c h . It's g o o d , but not quite right. T h e v o c a l s are out of tune a n d the guitars aren't l o u d e n o u g h . ' T o n i g h t is t h e last night of their U K stint w h i c h b r i n g s an e n d to a n e x t e n s i v e E u r o p e a n tour. C o v e r i n g G e r m a n y , D e n m a r k , F r a n c e , to n a m e but a few countries. ' W e ' v e r e a l l y e n j o y e d this tour.

E s p e c i a l l y p l a y i n g D e n m a r k , it w a s brilliant. It's r e a l l y laid b a c k . R e a l l y

fantastically c i v i l i s e d . L i k e , the festival w e p l a y e d there w a s so c o o l . Y o u c o u l d do anything, anywhere. There was even an S & M tent there if y o u ' r e i n t o that sort of thing. W e p l a y e d t w o gigs there, o n e i n the afternoon a n d one in the e v e n i n g since They Might Be Giants didn't s h o w .

T h e best part was w h e n w e d o n e a oneoff gig in the jazz tent, there w e r e all of these p e o p l e sitting a r o u n d s m o k i n g pipes a n d w a r i n g c a s u a l sweaters a n d w e c a m e o n . T h e p l a c e just filled w i t h D a n i s h r o c k e r s . S e c u r i t y c o u l d n ' t handle it a n d begged us to get off stage so that t h e y c o u l d r e g a i n c o n t r o l of the place. It was great, w e l o v e one-off gigs, t h e y ' r e the i c i n g o n the c a k e .

'I r e m e m b e r p l a y i n g w i t h the Wonderstuff o n c e i n G l o u c e s t e r , a n d w e c a m e o n stage a n d I got this wet r e e k i n g b r a right i n m y face, the t w o cups just stuck, one o n e a c h ear, it was gross, b l o o d y funny t h o u g h . M y wife was g o i n g to a r r a n ge for s o m e o n e to t h r o w pants l i n e d w i t h P h i l a d e l p h i a at us w h i l s t w e w e r e o n , that w o u l d h a v e b e e n w e l l s i c k m a k i n g 'cos w e w o u l d n ' t h a v e k n o w n . ' T h e b a n d h a v e no q u a l m s about p e o p l e b o o t l e g g i n g t h e i r concerts. ' W e r e a l l y like the i dea of s o m e o n e h a v i n g a k i n d of r e c o r d of the g i g t h e y w r e at, s o m e t h i n g to r e m e m b e r it b y . I'm not so sure about the p e o p l e w h o b o o t l e g to m a k e m o n e y because most of the time t h e y are s e l l i n g sub-standard copies a n d a r e b a s i c a l l y r i p p i n g the fans off. W e g a v e The Mission the i d e a of setting aside part of the v e n u e y o u are p l a y i n g at just for r e c o r d i n g e q u i p m e n t so that p e o p l e c a n m a k e decent bootlegs. I r e m e m b e r t a l k i n g to W a y n e o n e n i g h t in a bar a n d s a y i n g y o u k n o w w h a t y o u s h o u l d do m a t e a n d he w e n t sort of ' O h right, y e h , b u r p ' as he tends to do in the e v e n i n g 'cos he's usually out of his b o x b y 5 o ' c l o c k , so he goes ' E h . . . y e h . . . a r g h . . . . m m m ' a n d passed out, n e x t c o n c e r t they w e r e d o i n g it.'

Eat h a v e serious m o n e y p r o b l e m s at the m o m e n t . T h e tour, a l t h o u g h they p l a y e d to p a c k e d c r o w d s , has lost m o n e y a n d they are o n the v e r g e of b a n k r u p t c y .

H o p e f u l l y t h e y w i l l get the m o n e y t h e y n e e d from the n e w a l b u m but things are g o i n g to be h a r d o v e r the n e x t few m o n t h s s u m m e d up w e l l b y P a u l : 'Sometimes I wish I was w o r k i n g in Dixons'.

Brian.

Steve Ragamuffin' verbosely speaks out on...

FELIX

Charitable Fun

B y n o w e v e r y o n e s h o u l d kno.w w h a t R a g is. T h e m a i n a i m is to raise m o n e y for c h a r i t y whilst h a v i n g a fun t i m e . T h i s m a y s e e m i m p o s s i b l e , but it does w o r k . I feel totally justified in s a y i n g that, because a n y o n e w h o turns u p to a R a g W e e k event w i l l a u t o m a t i c a l l y raise s o m e m o n e y for the w o r t h w h i l e charities w e support this y e a r a n d e x p e r i e n c e the best w a y to enjoy yourself that's legal. So w h a t is R a g W e e k ? T h i s is t w e l v e days of events starting next W e d n e s d a y . E a c h event is w o r t h g o i n g to, so enjoy yourself, let y o u r hair d o w n , forget a l l about those (erm)...lectures.

Ta very much, Steve, H a p p y IC Rag C h a i r m a n .

H o w to m a k e a fully f u n c t i o n i n g R a g Week.

Ingredients: Lots of students, each with...

1 sense of humour 1 sense of adventure 1 monster thirst 1 brain Stockings, basque, goats etc 1 sci-fi fetish 1 plastic bag and box of cotton wool Lots of work to do Some lecture notes (A4, any subject) The desire to be entertained (TDTBE)

First, w e take the cotton w o o l , plastic b a g a n d monster thirst a n d put t h e m into the J C R o n W e d n e s d a y 14th. H e r e w e e x p e r i e n c e the B e e r Festival. T h i s is the t r a d i t i o n a l start to R a g W e e k . T h e r e are 60 barrels of beer, cider a n d perries. It runs from 12 n o o n 'till 1 1 p m . T h e w a y it w o r k s is: y o u b u y a glass for £ 3 , this carries the official beer festival logo a n d is the o n l y r e c e p t a c l e into w h i c h beer is s e r v e d , a n d p r e s u m a b l y quaffed. F o r the health food fiends, there s h o u l d be curries a n d burgers too. T h e m o n s t e r thirst s h o u l d be a l l o w e d to soak in a l c o h o l for a n y of the 11 hours of the festival. T h e plastic b a g is for w r a p p i n g u p y o u r b r a n d n e w R a g M a g , w h i c h is l a u n c h e d at the festival. T h e w r a p p i n g protects the R a g M a g from the r e a d e r , a n d v i c e - v e r s a . If y o u don't h a v e a sense of h u m o u r for y o u r ingredients list. O n e c a n be found free, in the M a g .

Special l i m i t e d e d i t i o n ' E l e p h a n t s C o m e 91' t-shirts w i l l also be o n sale from the R a g stall a l o n g w i t h other t-shirts, mags, mugs etc. T h e c o t t o n w o o l is used to w r a p the student a n d / o r b e e r glass, to a v o i d getting it s m a s h e d .

O n the T h u r s d a y (15th) w e h a v e R o c k y H o r r o r Disco in the U n i o n L o u n g e . T h i s requires the b a s q u e a n d s t o c k i n g s . T h e night i n v o l v e s a bar e x t e n s i o n , a disco, thanks to the Ents kids a n d also the film.

T h e basque a n d s t o c k i n g s h o u l d then be left to stand until (i) the R a g R a i d or (ii)

10

T h e M i nes D i r t y Disco.

F r i d a y (16th) sees the H y p n o s i s Lecture. F o r this, take a l o n g the sense of a d v e n t u r e a n d the b r a i n to the great hall.

M a r t i n S T a y l o r is a v e r y g o o d hypnotist.

I've e v e n seen h i m hypnotise people to l a u g h at F E L I X , or e v e n strange, i m a g i n e that e v e r y o n e else in the r o o m was s l o w l y t a k i n g off their clothes. T h e lecture is a must for a n y o n e w h o ' s sceptical of h y p n o s i s or just wants a brilliant night's e n t e r t a i n m e nt (bring T D B T B E ) . If y o u ' r e not sure about v o l u n t e e r i n g , don't w o r r y . M a r t i n has m o r e to lose t h a n y o u if he does a n y t h i n g n a u g h t y a n d he doesn't do a n y t h i n g too e m b a r r a s s i n g a n y w a y . If y o u ' r e still b u i l d i n g the R a g W e e k at this point, let y o u r b r a i n r u n free a r o u n d the r o o m . Let s o m e b o d y else c o n t r o l it for a w h i l e .

O n S a t u r d a y w e b e g i n to get ra t her busy. W e h a v e the Sci-Fi M a r a t h o n i n the S C R w h e r e y o u c a n w a t c h v i d e o s a n d p l a y games. B r i n g a l o n g y o u r sci-fi fetish w i t h y o u for 12 hours of i n t e r g a l a c t ic bliss. F o r a n y b o d y w h o ' s s t o r e d a w a y the basque etc, t h e y s h o u l d c o m e in v e r y h a n d y at the Rag Raid. T h i s is a trip to Reigate to c o l l e c t for B I B I C a n d is lots of fun. It leaves the v a n p a r k at 10am. In the e v e n i n g S C A B take o v e r , for S C A B Night. D o n ' t w o r r y it's n o t infectious, just the e n t e r t a i n m e n t / p e r f o r m a n c e p e o p l e (Dramsoc, R o c k s o c , O p s o c etc) putting o n o n e b i g p r o d u c t i o n . So g i v e T D B T B E some exercise.

O n S u n d a y , y o u h a v e the c h a n c e to get out of y o u r b r a i n a n d socialise, w i t h an i n t e r - C C U bar night. E v e r y o n e s h o u l d be p r o v i d i n g a b a r r e l ( i n c l u d i n g me) so it s h o u d t u r n out to be v e r y interesting indeed.

M o n d a y p l a y s host to C o m e d y Night i n the C o n c e r t H a l l . T h e r e a r e a c o u p l e of c o m i c s a n d a c o m p e r e . E n t s are p r o v i d i n g a disco, w i t h a b a r until 12 o ' c l o c k .

N e x t c o m e s the C & G U Slave A u c t i o n , o n T u e s d a y 2 0 t h . So if y o u h a v e y o u r 'lots of w o r k to do' ready, w h y not get s o m e b o d y else to do it. S l a v e s are b r o u g h t for a 24 h o u r p e r i o d (any time) but must be fed a n d w a t e r e d . If y o u p l a n to go for a n y of the tastier morsels, it's best to g r o u p - b i d , as R u g b y Club usually p r o v i d e fierce c o m p e t i t i o n . If a n y o n e wants to be a slave they c a n sign up in the Guilds Office ( M e c h E n g , L e v e l 3).

This is f o l l o w e d b y E x e c Initiative, w h e r e the e x e c s are d r o p p e d off i n the m i d d l e of n o w h e r e a n d h a v e to get b a c k to College, a r m e d w i t h o n l y a l O p piece, a R a g c a n a n d c h a i n e d to s o m e b o d y else.

In the e v e n i n g w e h a v e a B a r n D a n c e in the J C R , w h i c h is pretty b a r n - l i k e .

It's b r a i n t i m e again o n W e d n e s d a y 21st, w i t h the B a r Quiz. T h e r e ' s a c h a n c e to beat that m o n s t e r thirst b y w i n n i n g lots of beer a n d s e v e r a l o t h e r prizes too.

T e a m s s h o u l d be up to five p e o p l e. O n T h u r s d a y l u n c h t i m e there's p l e n t y

h a p p e n i n g in B e i t Q u a d . F o r a few pennies y o u c a n s h o w y o u r a p p r e c i a t i o n of the U n i o n a n d C C U execs b y p o u r i n g unpleasant things o v e r t h e m . M e a n w h i l e , o v e r h e a d there are A e r o s o c Darts flying a r o u n d . T h e r e ' s a p r i z e for the furthest a n d longest flights. T h e planes are l a u n c h e d from Beit roof. So, those lecture notes are A 4 aren't they? A t night ther's the super, m a s s i v e , R C S S m o k i n g Concert. T h i s is a c o l l e c t i o n of ra t her dubious acts. A n y o n e w h o possesses a sense of h u m o u r is w e l c o m e to enter an act. If y o u h a v e a n y ideas, see L o u i s e Rafferty, R C S Office, O l d C h e m i s t r y .

T h e entire U n i o n B u i l d i n g is t a k e n o v e r o n F r i d a y (23rd) for Guilds C a r n i v a l . B y this point, if y o u feel v e r y t i r e d but don't w a n t to stop, y o u ' r e R a g W e e k is n e a r l y c o m p l e t e , h o w e v e r first y o u mut bttle t h r o u g h t w o bands, v i d e o s , films a n d a c o u p l e of discos, burgers, c o c k t a i l s a n d a 2 a m bar e x t e n s i o n . A n y p o t e n t i a l helpers, see L u c i a C l i p s t o n e , C h e m E n g II (or C&GU).

R e l a x a t i o n is the n a m e of the g a m e o n S a t u r d a y 24th. W e start w i t h a leisurely streak b a c k f r o m H a r r o d s : a leap from a truck, w e a r i n g o n l y a p a r a c h u t e , outside Harrods—it's T h e S p o n s o r e d K a m i k a z e Parachute J u m p . (No b r a i n , but a sense of a d v e n t u r e required)—see Steve F a r r a n t D o C III or at the R a g M e e t i n g if y o u w a n t to take part).

T h e afternoon has B a r Sports. So teams of p e o p l e w h o w a n t to s h o w their e x p e r i e n c e at darts, s h o v e h a ' p e n n y , b a c k g a m m o n etc s h o u l d m e e t in the bar.

T h e r e ' s also a k n o c k o u t p o o l t o u r n a m e n t i n the S n a c k B a r .

O n S u n d a y (25th) it's C C U time a g a i n .

T h e t r a d i t i o n a l Tug-o-Wa r takes p l a c e at 11am i n P r i n c e s G a r d e n s , f o l l o w e d b y a possible Raft Race o v e r the Serpentine for the C C U e x e c s .

A n d then, finally, o n M o n d a y 26th w e h a v e the M i n e s D i r t y Di sc o. T h e k e y w o r d here is ' D i r t y ' . T h i s has a r e p u t a t i o n for b e i n g p r o b a b l y the wildest d e b a u c h e r o u s p a r t y in R a g W e e k . It's o r g a n i s e d b y the R S M a n d a n y t h i n g goes.

(Except p e r h a p s the goats, so cross those off the ingredients list.) So get that k i n k y u n d e r w e a r out of the closet a n d s h o w y o u r p e r v e r s i o n to a r o o m full of strangers.

That's about it r e a l l y , e x c e p t there are Hitsquad (Guilds), G n o m i n g , G r i mR e a p e r y a n d Pint-a-grams (RCS Office) a n d K i l l e r (RCS Office) r u n n i n g t h r o u g h o u t R a g W e e k . So go a n d see the respect i ve p e o p l e for i n f o r m a t i o n .

OT1X)

The Nominated Rag Charities 1990 1. T h e B r i t i s h Institute for B r a i n Injured C h i l d r e n (BIBIC) is based in Somerset a n d is an o l d f a v o u r i t e w i t h IC Rag. T h e y a r e a s m a l l c h a r i t y w i t h a t u r n o v e r of less t h a n £ 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 . T h e y give r e m e d i a l help to m e n t a l l y h a n d i c a p p e d c h i l d r e n , a t t e m p t i n g to give t h e m b a c k c o n t r o l of their bodies, t e a c h i n g t h e m how to use t h e i r muscles a n d limbs. T h e y also give help a n d a d v i c e to their families so that t h e y c a n l e a d a m o r e n o r m a l life.

2. T h e W o r l d Wildlife F u n d (WWF) was established as a c h a n n e l for p o p u l a r c o n c e r n about c o n s e r v a t i o n to create effective a c t i o n . T h i s c o v e r s c o n s e r v a t i o n of the g l o b a l e n v i r o n m e n t a l o n g s i d e that of e n d a n g e r e d species.

3. E l e - D r i v e w a s set up r e c e n t l y as a c h a r i t y a n d is c o n c e r n e d w i t h the p r o t e c t i o n of w i l d elephants i n A f r i c a .

T h e p r o t e c t i o n is m a i n l y against the s l a u g h t e r i n g of elephants i n a most horrific w a y for an u n n e c e s s a r y c o m m o d i t y — t h e i r i v o r y . E x p e d i t i o n s take p l a c e w h i c h c a r r y out i m p o r t a n t i n f o r m a t i o n g a t h e r i n g a n d r e s e a r ch o n behalf of this c h a r i t y .

4. Quest C a n c e r Test (formerly Quest for a Test for C a n c e r ) r e s e a r c h into e a r l y c a n c e r d e t e c t i o n i n c l u d i n g w o r k at the G a l t o n L a b o r a t o r y w h i c h is part of U n i v e r s i t y C o l l e g e here in L o n d o n .

R e s e a r c h is c u r r e n t l y b e i n g c o n d u c t e d into s c r e e n i n g m e t h o d s to detect genetic

EVENT DATE Beer Festival WED 14 Rocky Horror THURS15 Hypnosis Lecture FRI16 Sci-Fi Marathon SAT 17 Rag Raid SAT 17 SCAB Night SAT 17 Bar Night SUN 18 Comedy Night M0N 19 C&G Slave Auction TUES 20 Exec Intitiative TUES 20 Barn Dance TUES 20 Bar Quiz WED 21 Aerosoc Darts THURS 22 Exec Torture THURS 22 THURS 22 RCS Smoking Concert Guilds Carnival FRI 23 Sponsored Event SAT 24 Bar Sports/Pool SAT 24 SUN 25 Tug-o-War & Raft Race Mines Dirty Disco M0N 26

PLACE JCR Lounge Gt Hall SCR Concert Hall Union Bar Concert Hall ME220 Beit Quad JCR Snack Bar Beit Quad Beit Quad Concert Hall Union Building Union Bar Princes Gdns JCR

st FELIX

p r e d i s p o s i t i o n to c a n c e r. T h e cancers being studied include colon, thyroid and testcular, s o m e of w h i c h c a n also affect children.

5. L e u k a e m i a R e s e a r c h F u n d are c o m m i t t e d to the r e s e a r c h of L e u k a e m i a a n d r e l a t e d b l o o d disorders a n d to the t r e a t m e nt a n d c a r e of patients t h r o u g h o u t the U n i t e d K i n g d o m . P r o g r e s s is s u c h that up to 6 0 % of c h i l d r e n w h o d e v e l o p the disease h a v e e v e r y p o s s i b i l i t y of a c u r e a n d a d v a n c e s in the t r e a t m e n t of adults h a v e also b e e n m a d e . H o w e v e r , a c u r e in m a n y cases r e m a i n s e l u s i v e .

TIME 12-11pm 8pm-1.30pm 8-11pm llam-llpm.

10am-5pm 8pm-2am 7.30-10.30pm 8pm-lam 12.45-2.30pm 3-8pm 8pm-1.30am 8pm 12.45-2.30pm 12.45-2.30pm 8pm-2.30am 8pm-3am 11am 3pm 11am 8pm-1.30am

PRICE £3.00 £2.50 £3.00 £1.00 £2.50 £3.00

£2.50 £1.00 20p/shot 50p/throw £2.50 £3.50/£4.50 £3.00 £2.50 11

China.

Roland Flowerdew investigates the history that led to Professor Fang Li Zhi's release from

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Freedom Fightei

Professor F a n g L i Z h i , the dissident C h i n e s e astrophysicist w h o has b e e n d e s c r i b e d as "the most o u t s p o k e n C h i n e se scientist i n the last ten years", is e x p e c t e d to lecture at I m p e r i al C o l l e g e n e x t W e d n e s d a y . (See the n e w s pages for m o r e details.) Professor F a n g r e c e n t l y escaped from C h i n a , after a y e a r in the U n i t e d States' embassy in P e k i n g . H i s release was p r o b a b l y p a r t l y i n e x c h a n g e for the r e s t o r a t i o n of " m o s t - f a v o u r e d n a t i o n " t r a d i n g status of C h i n a b y the USA.

o u t s p o k e n , in o p e n or s e m i - o p e n c i r c u m s t a n c e s . H e m a d e a lot of speeches at u n i v e r s i t i e s , a n d b r o u g h t a n insight into w h a t w a s g o i n g o n . M a n y of the ideas or t h i n k i n g of the students w h o d e m o n s t r a t e d i n T i a n a n m e n Square originated with him.

T h e students w e r e the p e o p l e w h o o p e n l y stated t h e i r dissatisfaction w i t h the C h i n e s e system. Interestingly, the d e m o n s t r a t i o n i n T i a n a n m e n Square w a s not so m u c h b e c a u s e of the l a c k of p o l i t i c a l f r e e d o m , a l t h o u g h this is a major issue, but b e c a u s e of i n c r e a s e d e c o n o m i c freedom without controlling laws and effective t a x a t i o n .

W h a t part d i d Professor F a n g p l a y i n the C h i n e s e students' protest in T i a n a n m e n S q u a r e , a n d w h y was he a key figure in the i m p r o v e m e n t of SinoA m e r i c a n relations?

D u r i n g this c e n t u r y m a n y changes h a v e t a k e n place i n C h i n a , the t h i r d largest c o u n t r y i n the w o r l d , a n d h o m e to a quarter of the w o r l d ' s p o p u l a t i o n . U n t i l the e a r l y 1900s, C h i n a was u n d e r the rule of dynastic e m p e r o r s , a n d e n j o y e d a p o l i t i c a l syst e m m u c h as is seen i n present-day S o u t h K o r e a , S i n g a p o r e a n d T a i w a n : e c o n o m i c freedom but l i m i t e d political freedom.

China's c i v i l i s a t i o n is o n e of the oldest in the w o r l d , but until the e a r l y n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y it r e m a i n e d in r e l a t i v e isolation from s u r r o u n d i n g civilisations.

T h i s isolation m e a n t that C h i n a failed to react to the threat posed b y the rise of i m p e r i a l i s t ic nations s u c h as G r e a t B r i t a i n , a n d it suffered in conflicts s u c h as the O p i u m W a r i n 1839-42, at the e n d of w h i c h H o n g K o n g was c e d e d to B r i t a i n .

After this point i n t e r n a l t r o u b l es d i v i d e d the c o u n t r y , w h i l s t the W e s t a n d J a p a n became controlling powers.

T h e last C h i n e s e dynasty e n d e d i n J a n u a r y 1912. T h e Nationalist party attempted to unify the c o u n t r y , establish statehood a n d i n t r o d u c e d e m o c r a c y .

However, they never had complete c o n t r o l o v e r the w h o l e c o u n t r y : the p o w e r was w i t h the a r m y a n d r e g i o n was set against r e g i o n . M i n o r c i v i l w a r s b r o k e out b e t w e e n Nationalists, C o m m u n i s t s a n d local warlords.

T h i s strife w a s t h r o w n into confusion w h e n J a p a n i n v a d e d in 1937, w i t h the loss of m a n y lives a n d the destruction of m u c h of the n a t i o n a l infrastructure. T h e Japanese o c c u p a t i o n c o n t i n u e d until the e n d of the s e c o n d w o r l d w a r .

O n c e m o r e c i v i l w a r b r o k e out b e t w e e n the Nationalist a n d C o m m u n i s t parties.

T h e C o m m u n i s t party h a d the support of the peasants w h o c o m p r i s e d the vast majority of the p o p u l a t i o n , a n d w e r e p e r c e i v e d to h a v e t r i e d h a r d e r a n d d o n e a lot m o r e against the o c c u p y i n g Japanese.

T h e c i v i l w a r c l a i m e d b e t w e e n 11 a n d 12 m i l l i o n lives, a n d e n d e d w h e n the Nationalist p a r t y fled to the i s l a n d of T a i w a n a n d p r o c l a i m e d the People's R e p u b l i c of C h i n a . T h e g e n e r a l p o p u l a t i o n of C h i n a w e r e p l e a s e d that the

FELIX

W h a t h a p p e n e d was that restrictions w e r e lifted: p e o p l e are a b l e to b u y s m a l l houses, to o w n c o r n e r shops, to o w n cars B U T the o n l y p e o p l e w h o c a n afford to do this are those i n o r w h o h a v e relatives in the C o m m u n i s t p a r t y structure. Not o n l y this, but supplies of g o o d s to shops are c o n t r o l l e d b y p a r t y officials, a n d go

to those w h o k n o w o r b r i b e t h e m .

A n y t a x a t i o n s y s t e m that e x i s t e d before the rise of C o m m u n i s m has b e e n forgotten, h e n c e those w h o h a v e influence c a n m a k e m o n e y a n d get r i c h v e r y q u i c k l y , w h i l s t h e l p i n g no-one else.

T h e p a r t y leaders still h a v e absolute p o w e r , a n d their families m a k e the most of it, a fulfilment of the O r w e l l i a n " a l l are e q u a l , but s o m e are m o r e e q u a l t h a n others." In o t h e r w o r d s , a f e w p e o p l e are in the posi t i on to m a k e a lot of m o n e y (and do so), but at the e x p e n s e of e v e r y o n e else.

d e s c r i b e d p r e v i o u s l y , the l a c k of p o l i t i c a l f r e e d o m , the l a c k of true e c o n o m i c f r e e d o m , the l a c k of f r e e d o m of s p e e c h and thinking.

T h e night after the massacre in T i a n a n m e n S q u a r e (4 J u n e 1989), Professor F a n g sought s a n c t u a r y i n the US embassy, w h e r e he r e m a i n e d for n e a r l y 13 m o n t h s . A t the e n d of June this y e a r , he a r r i v e d i n the U K W i t h his wife, Professor L i S h u x i a n , a n d has since t a k e n up a guest r e s e a r c h professorship at the Institute of A s t r o n o m y , U n i v e r s i t y of Cambridge.

T h i n g s c a m e to a h e a d i n M a y last y e a r w h e n the i n e r t i a l "fear b a r r i e r " was b r o k e n : the students' feelings w e r e s h a r e d by the g e n e r a l citizens a n d w o r k e r s of P e k i n g , c u l m i n a t i n g w i t h the d e m o n s t r a t i o n s . T h e g r i e v a n c e s are m a n y : the p e o p l e are not h a p p y w i t h the b u r e a u c r a c y a n d c o r r u p t i o n of the present g o v e r n m e n t , the l o w wages a n d h i g h inflation, the l a c k of restrictions as

T h e r e s t o r a t i o n of trade l i n k s w i t h C h i n a has b e e n w e l c o m e d b y dissidents i n this c o u n t r y , because t h e y c o n s i d e r that sanctions w i l l o n l y m a k e the c o u n t r y m o r e i n t r o s p e c t i v e a n d isolated. T r a d e must c o n t i n u e so that p e o p l e in C h i n a can see s o m e of the outside w o r l d a n d tell others w h a t it is r e a l l y l i k e . T h e c a m p a i g n for C h i n e s e d e m o c r a c y continues...

Opinion: US-Arab Alliance Crumbles Demonstration outside Chinese Embassy in June last year.

C o m m u n i s t p a r t y h a d c o m e to p o w e r : the c o u n t r y was no longer in a state of c i v i l w a r , but was i n d e p e n d e n t a n d free from foreign c o n t r o l .

U n d e r the l e a d e r s h i p of M r M a o Z e d o n g , C h i n a t u r n e d to the U S S R for a d v i c e in b u i l d i n g a socialist superstate. In the e a r l y 1950s, a l l l a n d w a s t a k e n into state o w n e r s h i p , a n d the possession of m a c h i n e r y , p r o p e r t y , farm a n i m a l s a n d so on was f o r b i d d e n . S l o w l y d i s e n c h a n t m e n t b e g a n to set i n .

In 1958 M r M a o a b a n d o n e d the Soviet a p p r o a c h , a n d l a u n c h e d the "Great L e a p F o r w a r d " ; o r g a n i s i n g peasants into c o m m u n e s , a n d f o r c i n g t h e m to meet state-set p r o d u c t i o n targets. D u r i n g this time intellectuals c r i t i c i s e d the C o m m u n i s t party, a n d 20-30% of u n i v e r s i t y lecturers w e r e p u n i s h e d for their c r i t i c i s m s .

T h e "Great L e a p " d i d not w o r k : the c o m m u n e s y s t e m h a d to be r e l a x e d a n d i n c e n t i v es h a d to be i n t r o d u c e d . T h e r e c o g n i t i o n that e c o n o m i c U t o p i a was unsuccessful d i d not e x t e n d to politics, a n d i n 1966 M r M a o i n t r o d u c e d the Cultural Revolution.

This was an attempt to stop the e m e r g e n c e of a n i n t e l l e c t u a l elite, a n d was the e x t e r n a l effect of a p o w e r struggle w i t h i n the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y . It a i m e d to clear out all capitalistic ideas a n d thoughts, a n d w i p e d out a l l the previous economic achievements. A s in the F r e n c h R e v o l u t i o n , m a n y p e o p l e w e r e

d e n o u n c e d as b e i n g " b o u r g e o i s " a n d "class e n e m i e s " , a n d tens of thousands were killed.

A l t h o u g h m a n y p e o p l e a c c e p t e d this, others b e g a n to l o o k b a c k a n d t hi nk.

Perhaps a f r i e nd o r r e l a t i v e h a d b e e n k i l l e d for s a y i n g things against the state, but was a n y t h i n g w r o n g w i t h that? T h e y started to doubt.

T h e C u l t u r a l R e v o l u t i o n e n d e d in 1976 w i t h the death of M r M a o , a n d M r D e n g X i a o p i n g c a m e to p o w e r . A t first he a l l o w e d c r i t i c i s m , a n d there w a s a little m o r e f r e e d o m . A r o u n d 1977 there was the " P e k i n g S p r i n g " , s i m i l a r to Speaker's c o r n e r in H y d e P a r k , w h e r e p e o p l e sp o k e out, a n d posters w e r e a l l o w e d . H o w e v e r , p e o p l e b e g a n to get b o l d e r a n d started to criticise the then-current s i t u a t i on a n d M r D e n g himself, w h i c h he failed to appreciate, so the l i m i t e d f r e e d o m was r e m o v e d altogether.

In 1979, a C h i n e s e w o r k e r , f o r m e r l y i n the a r m y , b e g a n to criticise the Communist party. M r W e i J i n g Sheng, d e s c r i b e d as " a p i o n e e r in C h i n e s e d e m o c r a c y " , said that M r D e n g s h o u l d not be t r e a t e d like an e m p e r o r or another Mao. H e was j a i l ed for 15 years, the official reason b e i n g that he had l e a k e d a m i l i t a r y secret to a foreign journalist.

(Since he h a d no access to m i l i t a r y secrets this is h a r d to believe!)

It was after the i n c a r c e r a t i o n of M r W e i that Professor F a n g b e c a m e m o r e

Why d i d the U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a , Israel's most p o w e r f u l ally, c o n d e m n her o v e r the T e m p l e M o u n t K i l l i n g s ? . T h e U S is p e r c e i v e d as f r i e n d l y t o w a r d s Israel a n d i n i m i c a l t o w a r d s the A r a b w o r l d . It was n e c e s s a ry to r e a s s u r e her n e w A r a b m i l i t a r y allies w h e r e her l o y a l t y l a y .

T h e U S p r e s e n c e i n the Gulf a n d S a u d i A r a b i a has c o m p l i c a t e d r e g i o n a l p o l i t i c a l , religious a n d m i l i t a r y p r o b l e m s . T o a M o s l e m , the p r e s e n c e o n M o s l e m s o i l of a Jew, C h r i s t i a n o r p a g a n is totally u n a c c e p t a b l e ; to be w i t h i n o n e t h o u s a n d k i l o m e t r e s of M e c c a o r M e d i n a , the holiest of M o s l e m sites, is s a c r i l e g i o u s .

T h e U S a r m y is the major foreign force i n the Gulf—US a r m y m e n are c o o k i n g sausages o n S a u d i A r a b i a n s o i l w h i l e A m e r i c a n w o m e n are free to w a l k a r o u n d w i t h u n c o v e r e d faces a n d e x p o s e d s k i n .

T h e U S , Israel's most p o w e r f u l a n d richest foreign sponsor, is n o w a l l i e d m i l i t a r i l y w i t h almost the entire A r a b w o r l d for m u t u a l p r o t e c t i o n against the w h i m s of S a d d a m H u s s e i n . T h e a l l i a n c e is v u l n e r a b l e : p r e c a r i o u s e n o u g h for the U S to sponsor its first U n i t e d N a t i o n s c o n d e m n a t i o n of Israel.

Why does the U S n e e d this a l l i a n c e so b a d l y ? T h e U S e c o n o m y is a mess; the budget deficit is h i g h a n d a n e w w o r l d recession m a y be i m m i n e n t . O n e m a n , S a d d a m H u s s e i n , controls a large p r o p o r t i o n of the w o r l d ' s o i l supply. T h e crisis c o u l d not have c o m e at a m o r e i n o p p o r t u n e t i m e . Despite a l l the e c o n o m i c reasons for m i l i t a r y i n t e r v e n t i o n , the A m e r i c a n g o v e r n m e n t must justify b o t h its initial r e a c t i o n a n d its escalating presence in the Gulf to the

A m e r i c a n people.

T h e i r first justification w a s the defence a n d m a i n t e n a n c e of i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y a c c e p t ed n a t i o n a l b o u n d a r i e s . H o w e v e r , in recent w e e k s the U S has i n t r o d u c e d the phrase 'a n e w w o r l d o r d e r ' . T h e y c l a i m that out of the crisis c a n c o m e p e a c e a n d s e r e n i t y to the w h o l e Volatile region.

T h e v u l n e r a b i l i t y of the o i l s u p p l y f r o m the Gulf is not a n e w issue. D u r i n g the Iran-Iraq w a r , the majority of foreign support w a s g i v e n to Iraq, w h i c h w a s p e r c e i v e d as a lesser threat to the o i l s u p p l y to the W e s t . It w a s at this stage that the C I A a c t i v e l y s p o n s o r e d S a d d a m Hussein's rise to p o w e r in Iraq. T h e Soviet U n i o n s u p p l i e d a r m s a n d m i l i t a r y h a r d w a r e , w h i l e the G e r m a n s a n d B r i t i s h h e l p e d set up its c h e m i c a l w e a p o n c a p a b i l i t y . Its future n u c l e a r c a p a b i l i t y (only five to ten y e a r s a w a y ) was a i d e d

by B r i t o n s , G e r m a n s , Italians a n d F r e n c h .

B r i t i s h relations w i t h A r a b countries are a m b i g u o u s ; they are tainted w i t h the effects of i n t e r n a t i o n a l t e r r o r i s m . T h e b o m b i n g of P a n A m flight 103 w a s o r g a n i s e d b y a P a l e s t i n i a n terrorist g r o u p , based in D a m a s c u s a n d s u p p o r t e d b y S y r i a n s . T h e attempt to b o m b an E l A l flight in w h i c h the p r e g n a n t Irish girlfriend of a P a l e s t i n i a n w a s t r i c k e d into c a r r y i n g a b o m b in her suitcase, again r e c e i v e d b a c k - u p from S y r i a n s . S y r i a n s c o n t r o l the t a k i n g a n d release of hostages in the L e b a n o n ; it seems that no hostages w i l l be r e l e a s e d until B r i t a i n restores diplomatic relations w i t h Syria.

I n t e r v e n t i o n b y E u r o p e a n d the U S o n behalf of the A r a b w o r l d against S a d d a m

H u s s e i n c a n e a s i l y be i n t e r p r e t e d as i m p e r i a l i s t ic a c t i o n . T h i s is distasteful to a n A r a b w o r l d w h i c h has suffered m u c h foreign i n t e r v e n t i o n i n r e c e nt times.

H i s t o r i c a l l y the M o s l e m countries w e r e u n i t e d in a n A r a b w o r l d a n d at times there w e r e n o b o r d e r s . H o w e v e r , this w a s before the c o n c e p t of n a t i o n a n d nationalities r e a l l y e x i s t e d . M o d e r n - d a y b o r d e r s are s e e n as h a n g o v e r s from i m p e r i a l i s t i c d a y s . A l t h o u g h A r a b s share a c o m m o n r e l i g i o n this has n o t a l w a y s l e d to p e a c e in the r e g i o n : as a l w a y s , the quest for p o w e r a n d yet m o r e p o w e r o n the part of a few results i n strife a n d instability.

-

It was i m p e r i a l i s t i c i n t e r v e n t i o n that s h a p e d the m o d e r n m a p of the M i d d l e East r e g i o n . K u w a i t is a p r i n c i p a l i t y , the c r e a t i o n of w h i c h w a s h e a v i l y s u p p o r t e d by the B r i t i s h h i s t o r i c a l l y . F o r a brief p e r i o d i n its h i s t o r y K u w a i t was part of a n c i e nt Iraq. H o w e v e r , the use of a n c i e nt borders as an e x c u s e for i n v a s i o n is invalid.

S e v e r a l w e e k s after the i n v a s i o n of K u w a i t , S a d d a m H u s s e i n l i n k e d a possible m i l i t a r y w i t h d r a w a l from K u w a i t w i t h a n Israeli w i t h d r a w a l f r o m G a z a a n d the West B a n k . A t that point Israel was i n e x t r i c a b l y d r a w n into the conflict. T h e w o r l d w a t c h e d a n d w a i t e d . T h e killings at the T e m p l e M o u n t w e r e a gift to S a d d a m H u s s e i n . It put the A r a b - U S a l l i a n c e u n d e r threat. Israel lost her b l a n k e t U S support a n d her i n t e r n a t i o n a l c r e d i b i l i t y , a n d the first c h i n k w a s m a d e in the front against Saddam Hussein.

Anna Teeman.

St FELIX

of mud, mist and more.

Mountain bike enthusiasts Colin and Liz discover the delights

Lake District Bik ers

M o u n t a i n b i k i n g is a n a c t i v i t y fast g r o w i n g i n p o p u l a r i t y i n this c o u n t r y .

C e r t a i n l y a q u i c k s u r v e y of bikes c h a i n e d up a r o u n d IC w i l l s h o w that i n c r e a s i n g n u m b e r s of p e o p l e are rejecting thin slick tyres a n d d r o p handlebars i n favour of c h u n k y tyres, straight h a n d l e b a r s a n d n u m e r o u s gears—the h a l l m a r k s of a M T B .

But h o w m a n y of these city d w e l l e r s a c t u a l l y j u m p o n their m o u n t a i n m a c h i n e s a n d head for the h i g h hills for s o m e r e a l off-the-road terrain?

C o l i n a n d I d e c i d e d to d o just that.

Colin was already a keen mountain biker w i t h quite a bit of off-road e x p e r i e n c e as w e l l as b e i n g a n e x p e r i e n c e d w a l k e r a n d c l i m b e r . I, o n the other h a n d , a m (or was) a c o m p l e t e n o v i c e w h o hadn't r i d d e n a b i k e for years a n d I a m also i n c r e d i b l y unfit. G u l l i b i l i t y is another of m y traits, a n d w i t h o n l y a little a r m t w i s t i n g 1 w a s p e r s u a d e d to p u r c h a s e m y v e r y o w n M T B a n d to s p e n d t e n days p u s h i n g it u p hills in the L a k e District.

Despite b e i n g o n l y a v e r y recent a d d i t i o n to t h e vast range of o u t d o o r activities, m o u n t a i n b i k i n g ' s rise i n p o p u l a r i t y has b e e n v e r y n o t i c e a b l e a n d it has e a r n e d as m a n y e n e m i e s as it has fans. B e c a u s e of this, restrictions h a v e quickly been introduced, only allowing m o u n t a i n b i k e s o n roads a n d b r i d l e w a y s ( w h i c h prevents t h e m f r o m b e i n g used o n s o m e of the best off-road t e r r a i n a n d f r o m r e a c h i n g a lot of peaks). These restrictions i n c l u d e o p e n l a n d as w e l l as footpaths as w e d i s c o v e r e d o n a o n e i n a million meeting with a National Park r a n g e r close to the t o p of K i n d e r Scot o n o u r practice w e e k e n d i n t h e P e a k District.

B e c a u s e b r i d l e w a y s are f e w a n d far between, and vary considerably in c o n d i t i o n w i t h a n u n c a n n y habit of e n d i n g i n the m i d d l e of n o w h e r e , w e p u r c h a s e d The Mountain Bike Guide—by J e r e m y A s h c r o f t w h i c h w a s to b e c o m e our Bible during our holiday. This handy

little b o o k describes routes a n d rates t h e m a c c o r d i n g to their difficulty (very s i m i l a r to c l i m b i n g guides).

F r o m this w e selected five routes r a n g i n g f r o m easy to difficult, a l l fairly close to H a w k e s h e a d , w h i c h w e m a d e o u r base.

It w a s r a i n i n g w h e n w e set off f r o m o u r respect i ve h o m e s o n the first m o r n i n g w i t h o u r h e a v i l y o v e r l o a d e d bikes; it h a d stopped raining w h e n w e arrived, b y s o m e freak of nature, o n t h e s a m e t rain a n d almost o n t i m e . A l l w a s w e l l . C o l i n said that it w a s o n l y four m i l e s to H a w k e s h e a d if w e w e n t across the l a k e on the ferry, a n u g l y c a b l e - d r i v e n p l a t f o r m that trundles to a n d fro across L a k e W i n d e r m e r e a l l d a y . It w a s m o r e l i k e s e v e n m i l e s , a n d the hill u p to F a r S a w r e y n e a r l y k i l l e d m e . It started to r a i n again: a l l w a s n o t so w e l l . O n a r r i v i n g i n H a w k e s h e a d w e p i t c h e d o u r tent a n d

w e n t to c h e c k t h e n e x t day's w e a t h e r forecast—rain.

Our e n t h u s i a s m w a s u n a b a t e d a n d the n e x t m o r n i n g w e set off o n o u r first ride: Claife H e i g h t s , the s m a l l h i ll w h i c h separates the v a l l e y c o n t a i n i n g Hawkeshead a n d Esthwaite Water from W i n d e r m e r e . T h i s w a s the easy route, h o w e v e r the b r i d l e w a y w e chose to get o n t o the route w a s a n y t h i n g but. A humungous log-towing machine had been t h r o u g h a n d c h u r n e d u p the steep a n d u n e v e n track, l e a v i n g huge puddles of that w o n d e r f u l substance w h i c h attracts m o u n t a i n b i k e r s like flies t o a cowpat—MUD. If w e w e r e k e e n , full b l o o d e d fearless MTB'ers w e w o u l d have ploughed o n t h r o u g h a n d got c o m p l e t e l y plastered w i t h the stuff, but w e w e r e n ' t ; w e got off and walked round. W h e n w e d i d reach the p r o p e r route, easy s e e m e d t o o h a r d a description—a s m o o t h w i d e forest t r a ck w h i c h m e a n t a v e r y fast d o w n h i l l r u n to the shores of L a k e W i n d e r m e r e w h e r e w e stopped for l u n c h a n d l a u g h e d at the p e o p l e t r y i n g to w a t e r s k i . T h e n w e w e r e off a l o n g the side of the l a k e to the r o a d from the ferry a n d u p the hill ( w h i c h n e a r l y k i l l e d m e the p r e v i o u s day) to F a r S a w r y . T h e r e w e c o n t i n u e d onto a b r i d l e w a y w h i c h l e d u p to o p e n l a n d o n the t o p of the hill w h e r e it b e c a m e quite r o c k y w h i c h m a d e the r i d i n g m o r e challenging.

To b e successful at off-road c y c l i n g s e v e r a l t e c h n i q u e s are n e e d e d to o v e r c o m e obstacles s u c h as large stones, logs, holes a n d ruts, w h i l e still g o i n g f o r w a r d . Q u i t e a m e a n feat w h e n y o u r legs feel like jelly, y o u ' r e gasping for b r e a t h a n d sweat is p o u r i n g off e v e r y square i n c h of y o u r b o d y . A l l it t o o k w a s o n e e x t r e m e l y fit l o o k i n g w o m a n o n the same m o d e l of b i k e as m e to go h a m m e r i n g past at t o p s p e e d to totally

destroy m y c o n f i d e n c e . N e v e r t h e l e s s w e finished the r o u t e i n t w o hours (only half a n hour m o r e t h a n the b o o k said) a n d it w a s b a c k to the c a m p site for a Pasta C h o i c e a n d a n e v e n i n g d r y i n g out i n t h e pub.

T h e n e x t d a y w e m o v e d u p a g r a d e to a m o d e r a t e r i d e i n G r i z e d a l e forest. T h i s is a n a r e a p o p u l a r w i t h h i r e b i k e r s as there are c l e a r l y m a r k e d c y c l e routes a l o n g s m o o t h forest tracks. O u r route, h o w e v e r , a v o i d e d these a n d w e n t a l o n g a less-than-smooth b r i d l e w a y w h i c h t o o k us out of t h e forest, across the t o p of the hill a n d d o w n to C o n i s t o n W a t e r .

T o d a y ' s s p e c i a l i t y as far as the w e a t h e r was concerned was wind, v e r y strong w i n d . A l l attempts to ride a l o n g the grassy t r a ck o n the t o p e n d e d w i t h b i k e a n d rider s p r a w l e d o n the g r o u n d .

Despite b e i n g o u r longest actual route it w a s fairly fast d u e to a n e i g h t m i l e blast a l o n g the r o a d beside the l a k e before a steep b o g g y b r i d l e w a y b a c k u p t h r o u g h the forest a n d t h e n b a c k d o w n the r o a d to H a w k e s h e a d .

T h e n e x t d a y the w e a t h e r t o o k a definite t u r n for the w o r s e : it r a i n e d h e a v i l y . S o w e st a y ed i n o u r little tent o n l y v e n t u r i n g out to visit the B e a t r i x Po t t er g a l l e r y a n d to c o o k o u r V e s t a Sweet a n d S o u r c h i c k e n . Y u m m y .

Now that o u r a c h i n g m u s c l e s h a d b e e n rested for a d a y w e w e r e bright a n d b r e e z y , r e a d y 'for a n eight a n d a half m i l e r i d e to t h e start of o u r route, this b e i n g the G a r b u r n Pass o v e r the o t h e r side of W i n d e r m e r e to H a w k e s h e a d . T h i s

St FELIX month's issue of MBUK describes the G a r b u r n Pass as totally r i d e a b l e if y o u ' r e g o o d . W e w e r e n ' t g o o d e n o u g h a n d a fair bit of p u s h i n g w a s r e q u i r e d u p the pass w h i c h w a s quite steep a n d r o c k y . T h e rest of the r o u t e w a s r i d e a b l e if s o m e w h a t b o g g y . W e w e r e still full of life w h e n w e started o n the e i g ht a n d a half miles b a c k to the c a m p s i t e . W e w « r e totally d e a d w h e n w e got there; t w e n t y five m i l e s h a d d e f i n i t e ly t a k e n their toll, but w e w e r e s o o n d o w n at t h e p u b p l a n n i n g the n e x t day's a d v e n t u r e .

T h i s w a s the W a l n a Scar R o a d (short version), a n d it p r o v i d e d us w i t h o u r first encounter w i t h 'real' mountainbikers. S i x of t h e m a p p e a r e d f r o m n o w h e r e as w e were pushing our bikes ungracefully over s o m e r o c k s . W i t h i n seconds they w e r e u p o n us a l l r i p p l i n g muscles, e x p e n s i v e b i k e s a n d shades. ' T e a m L e m m i n g ' they w e r e c a l l e d , a n d w i t h a b r i e f h e l l o as t h e y passed t h e y v a n i s h e d o v e r the h o r i z o n l e a v i n g us f e e l i n g a mite inadequate.

T h e next t w o days w e r e uneventful because o n e w a s S u n d a y w h i c h is, as e v e r y o n e k n o w s , a d a y of rest, so w e o n l y d i d t e n miles—to a n d from A m b l e s i d e for l u n c h . O n t h e other d a y m y b r a k e s failed, so w e h a d t o c y c l e t o W i n d e r m e r e to the nearest b i k e shop to get a r e p l a c e m e n t . After that w e m a d e a n a b o r t i v e attempt to re-do Claife H e i g h t s but the r a i n p o u r e d d o w n a n d half-way round w e gave up a n d tottered back to the campsite m u c h to m y relief a n d Colin's disgust.

B y this time the b a d w e a t h e r h a d got to C o l i n a n d h e w a s n o t q u i t e his usual bright a n d s p a r k l i n g self. I said 'don't w o r r y it'll b e l o v e l y t o m o r r o w : the s u n w i l l shine a n d the birds w i l l sing a n d a l l w i l l be h u n k y - d o r y ' . A n d so it w a s .

T h e W a l n a S c a r R o a d is a n o l d packhorse r o a d w h i c h leads up f r o m C o n i s t o n past the O l d M a n a n d o v e r a r i d g e s o u t h of D o w C r a g , B u c k P i k e a n d B r o w n P i k e .

At the t o p of t h e pass o u r r o u t e left the road, going steeply d o w n o v e r boggy ground, along a bridleway through to a r o a d w i t h a steep d o w n h i l l s e c t i o n to the m a i n r o a d b a c k to C o n i s t o n . T h i s w a s definitely the best route w e d i d , no doubt h e l p e d b y t h e perfect w e a t h e r , b u t it w a s c h a l l e n g i n g for m y n e w f o u n d skills. T h e t e r r a i n v a r i e d f r o m the r o c k y W a l n a S c a r R o a d , to b o g g y grassland w h i c h is a w k w a r d to r i d e o n but m a k e s a soft l a n d i n g , t o a n a r r o w p a t h i n t h e forest interspersed w i t h s l i p p e r y tree roots. T h e s c e n e r y w a s beautiful a n d m y j o y o u s m o o d c o u l d n o t e v e n b e b r o k e n b y the first fall to d r a w b l o o d . O n a r r i v i n g b a c k in H a w k e s h e a d w e felt w e t h o r o u g h l y d e s e r v e d o u r m e a l i n the p u b .

T h e fact that the n e x t d a y w a s just as nice m a d e l e a v i n g a n d g e t t i n g b a c k to the city a l l t h e harder.

A l t h o u g h I m o a n of t h e hell at t h e t i m e it w a s a great h o l i d a y ; r a i n , scars, bruises, Pasta C h o i c e s , t i n y tent, s m e l l y socks a n d all. M o u n t a i n b i k i n g is h a r d w o r k but the effort pays off; m y fitness a n d skill i m p r o v e d a lot o v e r t h e h o l i d a y a n d I'm r e a d y for m o r e .

B e t w e e n us w e spent £ 2 0 0 o n the h o l i d a y , most of this o n f o o d (and d r i n k ) .

C a m p i n g m a d e it c h e a p e r t h a n s t a y i n g i n a y o u t h hostel o r B & B b u t t e n nights i n a t i n y tent w a s c e r t a i n l y m y limit. C o l i n of course, c o p e d m a g n i f i c e n t l y ; his r i d i n g was brilliant, he n e v e r c o m p l a i n e d a n d he w a i t e d for m e a l l the t i m e . E n o u g h to put mere mortals like m e to shame, but he does have a m o r e e x p e n s i v e b i k e !

15

Chris Riley reports on the recent Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (IMM) Remote Sensing conference in which two Soviet scientists out-shined the multi-million dollar satellite technology on display, with their revolutionary telepathic prospecting methods of oil exploration.

Where Earth meets Sky T h i s w e e k s a w the l o n g a w a i t e d I M M c o n f e r e n c e o n R e m o t e S e n s i n g at the v e r y u n m e m o r a b l e N o v o t e l in H a m m e r s m i t h . R e m o t e Sensing, as the name implies, involves surveying a planet; air, sea o r l a n d w i t h o u t direct contact.

S u c h i n f o r m a t i o n from a i r b o r n e sensors offers a different p e r s p e c t i v e; a s y n o p t i c or b r o a d area c o v e r a g e that m a k e s it possible to v i e w entire m o u n t a i n ranges, r i v e r d r a i n a g e basins or c o m p l e t e w e a t h e r systems. Isolated r e g i o ns c a n be m a p p e d a n d elevations, g e o l o g i c a l formations, d r a i n a g e systems, w a t e r depths or land-use patterns c a n be recorded quickly and accurately.

T h e I M M C o n f e r e n c e a i m e d to c o n c e n t r a t e o n R e m o t e S e n s i n g as a n o p e r a t i o n a l t e c h n o l o g y for the m i n i n g a n d p e t r o l e u m industries. T h e nature of this subject b r o u g h t the f i r m l y E a r t h based t r a d i t i o n a l geologists into contact w i t h 'high-flying', i m a ge p r o c e s s i n g , n u m b e r c r u n c h i n g c o m p u t e r buffs.

T a l k in the bars, e x h i b i t i o n halls a n d restaurants w a s of GIS ( G e o g r a p h i c I n f o r m a t i o n Systems) Raster G r a p h i c s , VGA m o n i t o r s , m i c r o , m i n i a n d super c o m p u t e r s , p a r a l l e l p r o c e s s i n g , 286's, 386's, L a n d s a t T M ( T h e r m a t i c M a p p e r ) , M S S (Multi-Spectral Scanners), S P O T (the F r e n c h satellite), p a n c h r o m a t i c images, false c o l o u r c o m p o s i t e s , p a t t e r n r e c o g n i t i o n , D E M ' s (Digital E l e v a t i o n Models), M T M ' s (Digital T e r r a i n Models), b a n d ratios, e d g e e n h a n c e m e n t s , dropouts, spectral signatures, m e g a b y t e s , gigabytes a n d 'trilobytes'!!

C o m p a n i e s e x h i b i t i n g at the conference r a n g e d from A / S G E O T E A M (representing E N E R G I A — t h e R u s s i a n e q u i v a l e n t of N A S A ) to the K e n t - b a s e d N i g e l Press A s s o c i a t e s — f o u n d e d in 1972 b y a former I m p e r i a l M S c student; all p r o u d l y d i s p l a y i n g aesthetically p l e a s i n g false colour images.

M o u s e s c l i c k e d a n d h a r d discs w h i r r e d , s e n d i n g s w i r l i n g paint b o x pictures of artificially c o l o u r e d deserts a n d m o u n t a i n ranges onto h i g h r e s o l u t i o n screens.

T h e r e w e r e those d e v e l o p i n g software to strip a w a y v e g e t a t i o n c o v e r i n g s from images, r e v e a l i n g p o t e n t i a l m i n e r a l settings a n d thus p r o m p t i n g the real destruction of the v e g e t a t i o n d u r i n g e x p l o r a t i o n ! O t h e r s w e r e content to d e v e l o p e d u c a t i o n a l software packages to t e a c h i m a ge p r o c e s s i n g t echni ques to people w h o could then write more e d u c a t i o n a l software!

All this effort was a i m e d at c u t t i n g

down on time and money consuming f i e l d w o r k , thus m o v i n g t o w a r d s the e x t i n c t i o n of the geologist! C o l o u r f u l , glossy poster e x h i b i t i o n s c o m p l e m e n t e d the flashy c o m p u t e r s i m u l a t i o n s . T w o researchers from Imperial College; Q M W a n g , a n d N P Vassos d i s p l a y e d their w o r k r e s p e c t i v e l y o n basin analysis in C h i n a a n d m i n e r a l e x p l o r a t i o n in S o u t h Africa. L i u Jian Guo and John M c M M o o r e of the R o y a l S c h o o l of M i n e s presented a paper on image enhancement of g o l d a l t e r a t i o n i n south-east S p a i n .

O t h e r speakers c a m e f r o m A m e r i c a , Russia, the U K , F r a n c e , G e r m a n y , S p a i n , C h i n a a n d S w e d e n . G e o l o g i s t s sp o k e of o v e r - a c t i v e p a t t e r n r e c o g n i t i o n software a p p l i e d to i m a g e s to h i g h l i g h t faults, roads, fences, p i p e l i n e s a n d a n y t h i n g else v a g u e l y straight. C o m p u t e r buffs sp o k e of na use a t i ngly user-friendly GIS w h i c h integrated satellite images w i t h g e o l o g i c a l maps, g e o c h e m i c a l data, g e o p h y s i c a l data a n d a n y t h i n g else t h e y c o u l d l a y their hands on!!

B P , a co-sponsor, b l e w its o w n trumpet d e a f e n i n g ly a n d splashed its n e w ' o l d '

g r e e n logo a l l o v e r the screens.

T h e stars of the three d a y s w e r e the Russians w h o told of their n e w m e t h o d s for forecasting o n s h o r e a n d offshore o i l a n d gas. T h e y t a l k e d of s i m p l y d r a w i n g c o n c e n t r i c c i r c l e s a r o u n d the locations of a n o m a l o u s g e o c h e m i c a l samples. W h e r e these circles intersect turns out m i r a c u l o u s l y to be the s o u r c e of the a n o m a l y . T h e s e circles c a n be thought of as spheres in three dimensions—thus p r o v i d i n g a d e p t h to the a n o m a l y . T h e c r u c i a l radius of the c i r c l e s was c a l c u l a t e d by ' c o m p l e x m a t h e m a t i c s ' ; the details of w h i c h w e r e to be kept a secret, p a r t l y due to the death of the l e a d i n g scientist in a car c r a s h .

T h e y couldn't e x p l a i n the findings a n d s i m p l y e x p l a i n e d that it w o r k e d in 7 0 % of cases. F u r t h e r m o r e t h e y had c o l l a b o r a t e d w i t h the famous m e n t a l s p o o n b e n d e r U r i G e l l e r i n a sort of ' o i l d i v i n i n g ' e x p e r i m e n t b y testing his p r e d i c t i o n s of n e w o i l fields in S i b e r i a , Stautsev a n d K a r a s e v c o n c l u d e d their talk w i t h the statemen 'so this m e t h o d w o r k s well!'.

Introducing

Nigel the Biro N i g e l the B i r o w a s o n e of life's footnotes, a l w a y s n e g l e c t e d a n d forgotten, his friends c a l l e d h i m N B . O n c e u p o n a t i m e he w a s a h u m b l e F e l i x b i r o , but he b e c a m e b o r e d w i t h his t i r e s o m e m u n d a n e e x i s t e n c e . B e i n g used to p r o o f r e v i e w s a n d features w a s n o life for a n a s p i r i n g y o u n g b i r o . S o , o n e d a y he d e c i d e d to m a k e a r u n for it. L e a p i n g ball first into the office b l a c k hole, he w a s t r a n s p o r t e d far a w a y , n e v e r to return....

Join us for the FELIX '90 DINNER on Friday 7th December 7.30pm for 8.00pm

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Dear Chris, S o r r y about m y s u d d e n d i s a p p e a r a n c e last w e e k , but b e i n g used o n the E d w i n a C u r r y article w a s too m u c h for a self r e sp e c t i ng b i r o . 1 have to say that m y n e w life is m u c h m o r e i n t e r e s t i ng w i t h my n e w o w n e r .

He's v e r y w e l l off a n d l i v e s i n a b i g house not far f r o m y o u . H e prefers to s p e n d other people's m o n e y e v e n t h o u g h he's got lots of his o w n . F o r a k n i g h t b a c h e l o r , his s a r t o r i a l taste l e a v e s a lot to be desired, 1 m e a n r e a l l y , strip a n d spot lighting in a panelled room? His residence is v e r y large, so m a y b e I've o n l y seen the t a c k y bits.

He took m e a l o n g to a m e e t i n g this w e e k , a n d w h e n he left m e o n the table I h a d a c h a n c e to o v e r h e a r a c o n v e r s a t i o n he w a s h a v i n g w i t h s o m e b o d y f r o m the l o c a l c o u n c i l . I a m so p l e a s e d to h a v e s u c h a g e n e r o u s o w n e r w h o wants to b u i l d lots of r o o m s for y o u n g p e o p l e he k n o w s . H e must like t h e m a lot, because he's t r y i n g to k e e p t h e m a l l together, i n fact he's e v e n g i v i n g up a nice g a r d e n (something to d o w i t h a p r i n c e 1 believe) for t h e m .

The nice m a n from the c o u n c i l said that there w o u l d not be a p r o b l e m w i t h p l a n n i n g p e r m i s s i o n , a n d m y o w n e r says he c a n get the m o n e y f r o m H a r l i n g t o n (the b a n k s here h a v e p o s h n a m e s , don't they?). I d o find it difficult to b e l i e v e that there w o n ' t be a n y interest o n a £ 2 m i l l i o n l o a n , t h o u g h . Lots of the y o u n g p e o p l e e v e n t u a l l y b e c o m e accountants, so m a y b e t h e y a r r a n g e it.

He w a n t s it to be a n i c e surprise so he's not t e l l i ng a n y o n e about it. So k e e p it u n d e r y o u r hat Chris.

A n y w a y , I h a v e s o m e n i c e contracts to sign, so I'll w r i t e a g a i n s o o n ,

Lots of love,

Food, Wine & More Galore!

Students SI8, Staff £24 EVERYONE IS WELCOME Contact Chris on ext 3515 or in the FELIX Office

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Hockey Football IC H - 4

K i n g s II—0

E v e n t h o u g h h e wasn't p l a y i n g o n Saturday, P G a s c o i g n e sadly c o u l d n ' t t u r n out for IC II to s o l v e their p l a y e r shortage. W i t h o u t his p r e s e n c e IC still m a n a g e d to w i n , in fact r a t h e r c o n v i n c i n g l y , to l e a ve K i n g s II w i t h tears in their eyes. T h e y w e r e n o m a t c h for the superior IC t e a m . R M u t h o o c h i p p e d the k e e p e r beautifully f r o m outside the b o x to give IC the lead. C G i l m o u r m a d e it 2-0 w i t h a close r a n g e h e a d e r. T h e s e c o n d half s a w the a p p e a r a n c e of S B a r r y , the fragile c e n t r e - f o r w a r d , w h o finished off t w o classy t e a m m o v e s w i t h ease. A b i a s e d ref was K i n g s ' o n l y defence against the r a m p a n t IC. A n excellent team performance was e n h a n c e d b y debut right b a c k A A n w a r .

C h a r i n g C r o s s II—0

IC I V - 1

After h a v i n g b e e n beaten 2-0 (by the 4ths) a n d 9-1 in their o p e n i n g games of the season, the 5ths d e c i d e d to i m p r o v e their chances b y i m p o r t i n g a p l a y e r from a higher t e a m to influence this m a t c h .

V e r s a t i l e m a y be the w o r d of the d a y as P h i l , the 5ths C a p t a i n , d e c i d e d to do this right b a c k in g o a l .

Setting aside this strange lapse of intelligence, t h e y began the g a m e w i t h s o m e attractive football, a n d in fact it w a s w i t h i n these o p e n i n g ten m i n u t e s that the c r u c i a l goal w a s s c o r e d . Initial intense pressure l e d to N i c k M i l l m a n t a k i n g IC's first c o r n e r . T h e b o x was p a c k e d , the tension high, but the c o r n e r s e e m e d to be c u r l i n g in too c l o s e to the k e e p e r , a n d the cause s e e m e d futile.

Perhaps due to the c h i l l w i n d b l o w i n g , or the i m p o s i n g c h a r a c t e r of the 5ths, the opposition's k e e p e r s e e m e d to hesitate and then c o m p l e t e l y p a n i c as he found himself t o t a l l y m u s j u d g i n g the cross. P h i l , s t a n d i n g just b e h i n d the s a i d keeper, c o l l a p s e d i n a n a g o n i s e d heap, as the ball, to his i n n o c e n t surprise, passed t h r o u g h the goalie's hands, hitting h i m o n the shoulder, to r e b o u n d into the net.

F r o m t h e n o n , IC felt justified in p l a y i n g w i t h a c e r t a i n a i r of c o m p l a c e n c y , almost to their regret. T h e o p p o s i t i o n b e g a n to pose m o r e of a threat than was initially e x p e c t e d , a n d it was o n l y s o m e g o o d d e f e n d i ng that kept the s c o r e intact.

18

IC Ladies 1 - 0 Southgate A d e l a i d e II—0 T h e I m p e r i a l C o l l e g e t e a m was s o m e w h a t a p p r e h e n s i v e about p l a y i n g o n the Southgate c a b b a g e p a t c h after the delights of the I m p e r i a l astroturf.

N e v e r t h e l e s s the skills of I m p e r i a l w e r e so finely t u n e d that w e still c o u l d n ' t stop the b a l l or e v e n hit it!

Imperial m i r a c u l o u s l y m a n a g e d to p r e v e n t the o p p o s i t i o n f r o m s c o r i n g .

C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s must go to the I m p e r i a l defence for b e i n g c o n s i s t e n t ly strong throughout.

The f o r w a r d line was s o m e w h a t

m u d d l e d due to the fact that it consisted of five inners. A f e r a few hints f r o m the C a p t a i n , D a r r e l l a n d C a r e n w o r k e d out w h e r e the w i n g s w e r e but didn't see the point of u s i n g t h e m .

W e had s e v e r a l attacks at goal w h i c h w o u l d h a v e b e e n m o r e p r o d u c t i v e if our p l a y e r s h a d r e m e m b e r e d that it was h o c k e y not football. W e w e r e u n l u c k y not to score, but if the t e a m c o n t i n u e s to i m p r o v e as it has in the last few games, t h e r e w i l l be no s t o p p i n g the ladies.

Badminton I m p e r i a l C o l l e g e B a d m i n t o n C l u b had a p r o m i s i n g start to the U A U season, b e a t i n g K e n t U n i v e r s i t y at h o m e in a l l three m a t c h e s . Despite h a v i n g three first t e a m players out, t h e y w o n their matches c o n v i n c i n g l y w i t h the loss of o n l y o n e game.

M e a n w h i l e the s e c o n d t e a m had no difficulties w h i t e - w a s h i n g the opposition— m a i n l y because K e n t seconds didn't t u r n up! T h e t e a m , m a i n l y m a d e up of freshers, w e r e d i s a p p o i n t e d to w i n this w a y — h o p e f u l l y t h e y w i l l get a g a m e n e x t time.

T h e IC ladies also h a d a c o m p a r a t i v e l y easy w i n . T h i s y e a r the ladies' t e a m is a lot stronger a n d w i l l h o p e f u l l y progress into the latter stages of the c h a m p i o n s h i p .

T h e f o l l o w i n g W e d n e s d a y IC first t e a m had a close s h a v e against the v i s i t i n g t e a m from R H B N C . T h e m a t c h got off to

a g o o d start w i t h IC w i n n i n g the first t w o games. T h e v i s i t o r s took a d v a n t a g e of the lack of c o n c e n t r a t i o n b y IC to l e v e l the score before IC got b a c k i n c o n t r o l , w i t h Reshan Jumar and Richard Langford g i v i n g IC an i m p o r t a n t p o i n t c o m i n g f r o m b e h i n d to w i n the rubber, set a n d m a t c h 17-16 to m a k e the score 4-2.

IC firsts h a d to w i n o n e m o r e g a m e out of three. J i n Y e e L i m a n d A l a n C r o w failed to do so l o s i n g a tight g a m e 15-5, 15-17, 14-15. It was d o w n to the reliable p a i r i n g of B h a r a t Popat a n d T r e v o r K e r n i c k w h o w r a p p e d up t h e i r m a t c h easily m a k i n g the final s c o r e 5-4 to IC. T h e ladies c o n t i n u e d t h e i r w i n n i n g streak this t i m e w h i t e w a s h i n g their o p p o n e n t s 9-0. IC men's s e c o n d t e a m r e p e a t ed the score p l a y i n g their first U A U m a t c h this season.

Running I m p e r i a l C o l l e g e has p r o d u c e d t w o of the best female r u n n e r s i n the U n i v e r s i t y of L o n d o n this y e a r . H e l e n M a c i n t o s h a n d K e r i W a r d e n - O w e n have b e e n selected to run in the W o r l d W o m e n ' s Student R o a d R e l a y C h a m p i o n s h i p s in O s a k a , J a p a n .

T h e y w i l l be w i n g i n g their w a y r o u n d the w o r l d a l o n g w i t h the o t h e r si x m e m b e r s of the U L t e a m at the e n d of N o v e m b e r .

T e n foreign countries are represented i n c l u d i n g U S S R , U S A , Italy a n d A u s t r a l i a as w e l l as 20 Japanese t e a ms t a k i n g part.

It is an i n t e r n a t i o n a l event w i t h s e v e r a l O l y m p i c athletes c o m p e t i n g .

H e l e n is this y e a r 's U L C r o s s - C o u n t r y C a p t a i n a n d she was part of the 1989

E k i d e n t e a m . Last y e a r she b u m p e d into B o n o a n d B B K i n g i n the h o t e l a n d o n their w a y h o m e to L o n d o n , the t e a m w e r e m o b b e d in T o k y o !

So if this has w h e t y o u r appetite, the trials for n e x t year's t e a m start at the U L Athletics Championships in March, a l t h o u g h p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e current Cross-Country events will gain y o u preferential s e l e c t i o n . T h e r e are six distances to r u n : 2 x 7 . 5 k m , 2 x 6 k m , 1 x 5 k m a n d 1 x 3 k m , so there is p l e n t y of choice.

If y o u w a n t to k n o w m o r e contact H e l e n M a c i n t o s h ( C h e m E n g 4).

Sailing T h e w e e k e n d of 3 a n d 4 N o v e m b e r t u r n e d out to be one of great contrasts as far as IC S a i l i n g T e a m w e r e c o n c e r n e d .

T h i r t e e n t e a m s from all o v e r the c o u n t r y h a d c o n v e r g e d at the W e l s h H a r p for a w e e k e n d of sailing, d r i n k i n g a n d bonfire m a k i n g . T h e t r o u b l e started d u r i n g the first m a t c h against IC O l d Boys, who administered a sound thrashing a n d continued through Saturday until a short, s h a r p s w i m l e d to a substitution in o u r last race of the day.

S w a n s e a ladies h a d a b a d start but w i t h a fumble at the b o t t o m m a r k b y our s e c o n d boat, t h e y m a n a g e d to get past a n d t h e y a c h i e v e d a 2,3,4 w i n n i n g c o m b i n a t i o n . In a last b i d to stave off defeat the offender t o o k a different route to the finish to the rest of t h e field; o n l y to find himself in s e c o n d p l a c e across the line a n d IC w i n n i n g their s e c o n d r a c e this term.

It w a s n o w t i m e for the m a i n part of the day's business: the l i g h t i n g of the bonfire, the setting off of f i r e w o r k s a n d the d r i n k i n g of beer.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y w e w e r e s c h e d u l e d for the first race the n e x t m o r n i n g , but a q u i c k s e a r c h t h r o u g h the b o d i e s l i t t e r i n g the c l u b h o u s e c o u l d o n l y locate a g r a n d total of t w o t e a m m e m b e r s (out of six).

Undaunted, Richard Murray and Henry N e b r e n s k y d e c i d e d to c o m p e t e a n y w a y after b o r r o w i n g a few p e o p l e a n d L i a m ' s late a r r i v a l . Just as w e w e r e l e a v i n g the p o n t o o n , w e f a c ed U E A a g a i n . T h e y h a d a l r e a d y beaten us the p r e v i o u s d a y , but s o m e s m a l l b a t t e r e d r e m n a n t of t e a m spirit p u l l e d us together for a confusing hectic r a c e that left t h e m defeated.

W e set off i n a g o o d m o o d for o u r n e x t race. S w a n s e a II h a d c l e a r l y not r e c o v e r e d f r o m the night before, their defence c r u m b l e d as w e s w e p t to a 1,2,3 v i c t o r y . U n f o r t u n a t e l y the rest of o u r races e n d e d u p b e i n g c a n c e l l e d .

Do you need a cupboard?!

A 53cm x 90.5cm x 180cm wooden cupboard in a very good condition; used for only 3 months. It was bought for £200, but it'll be sold for £ 9 5 .

The cupboard is in Linstead Hall Basement. If you want to have a look at it or get more information please contact: Maha Halabi, BSc III Computing

Clubs Dance D a n c e C l u b a c t i v i t i es are i n full s w i n g n o w , w i t h the B a l l r o o m , L a t i n A m e r i c a n a n d R o c k ' n ' R o l l lessons w e l l attended a n d the teams t r a i n i n g h a r d . W e are starting a n I n t e r m e d i a t e R o c k ' n ' R o l l class o n M o n d a y e v e n i n g s at 6 p m in the J C R . A n y b e g i n n e r s from last y e a r or p e o p l e w i t h s o m e e x p e r i e n c e are w e l c o m e to c o m e a l o n g .

W e are h o l d i n g a 24-hour s p o n s o r e d d a n c e m a r a t h o n for the B B C C h i l d r e n in N e e d A p p e a l o n N o v e m b e r 1 6 / 1 7 in the J C R . Not quite as t i r i n g as it s o u n d s participants h a v e to d a n c e 12 hours (minimum!) o n a r o t a s y s t e m . This w a y w e a l w a y s h a v e a g o o d n u m b e r o n the floor. Last y e a r w e raised £ 5 , 0 0 0 . W e ' d like to do better this y e a r , so a n y o n e interested i n h a v i n g a lot of fun for a g o o d cause c a n c o l l e c t details f r o m a n y of o u r lessons.

A q u i c k p l u g for the 1990 L o n d o n B a l l o n D e c e m b e r 8. T h i s e v e n t c o m b i n e s lots of s o c i a l d a n c i n g w i t h the c h a n c e to enter c o m p e t i t i o n s , e v e n at b e g i n n e r l e v e l . It is a great o p p o r t u n i t y to s h o w off y o u r n e w steps in a light-hearted a t m o s p h e r e .

Details a v a i l a b l e in lessons.

W e w i l l be starting n e w b e g i n n e r s classes in J a n u a r y for a l l y o u w o u l d - b e dancers w h o d i d n 't get g o i n g a n d j o i n i n this t e r m . So c o m e a l o n g a n d l e a r n to d a n c e in t i m e for the S p r i n g Balls!

Enviro T h e S o c i e t y h a d its first l u n c h t i m e lecture o n O c t o b e r 2 2 , g i v e n b y D r S h a n k l i n of the B r i t i s h A n t a r c t i c S u r v e y o n the ' O z o n e hole o v e r the A n t a r c t i c ' . T h e title of the lecture differed from the one a d v e r t i s e d , a n d w e w o u l d l i k e to apologise for this a n d p r o m i s e that it w i l l not h a p p e n a g a i n . T h e lecture was v e r y enjoyable w i t h s o m e spectacular slides.

T h a n k s to a l l of y o u w h o a t t e n d e d the lecture, a n d w e hope to see y o u in our future events.

M a n y m o r e lectures a n d events h a v e b e e n a r r a n g e d for this t e r m , w h i c h w i l l be listed in the Society's newsletter sent to a l l c u r r e n t m e m b e r s . T h e list of m e m b e r s i n c l u d e s o n l y those w h o j o i n e d this y e a r , a n d so please r e n e w y o u r m e m b e r s h i p (£1.50) at the w e e k l y m e e t i n g , w h i c h takes place e v e r y M o n d a y at 1 2 . 3 0 p m i n t h e Southside U p p e r Lounge.

ULU Gay & Lesbian T h e three m e e t i n g s h e l d so far this t e r m h a v e a t t r a c t e d a large a t t e n d a n c e .

M i c h a e l C a s h m a n (Eastender's Colin) s p o k e to us o n O c t o b e r 11 about the n e e d for m o r e e q u a l i t y for lesbians a n d gays in B r i t a i n . A question-and-answer session h i g h l i g h t e d w h a t w e c o u l d all do to help this c o m e about.

O u r first s o c i a l o c c a s i o n (October 18) e n a b l e d n e w faces to get to k n o w e a c h other. A n e w c o m m i t t e e for 1 9 9 0 / 9 1 w a s elected, a n d the society's l i b r a r y of o v e r 80 b o o k s was m a d e a v a i l a b l e to a l l those present. A d i s c u s s i o n was i n i t i a t ed c o n c e r n i n g e x p e r i e n c e s of ' c o m i n g out', a n d a n y lessons learnt w e r e passed o n to those w h o n e e d it.

T h i s c o m i n g w e e k o u r guest s p e a k e r is C h r i s Smith—the o n l y 'out' g a y M P in the H o u s e of C o m m o n s . H e w i l l be t a l k i n g about L a b o u r ' s p o l i c y t o w a r d s lesbians a n d gays. A n o p p o r t u n i t y for questions a n d d i s c u s s i o n w i l l follow.

W e meet e a c h w e e k , as a l w a y s , at 7.30pm in R o o m 2 D (second floor) of the U n i v e r s i t y of L o n d o n U n i o n , Malet Street, London W C 1 .

F o r further i n f o r m a t i o n or c o r r e s p o n d e n c e , y o u c a n c o n t a c t the c o m m i t t e e t h r o u g h the s o c i e t y p i g e o n h o l e o n the g r o u n d floor at U L U , or to m e v i a the G e o l o g y d e p a r t m e n t student m a i l here at IC (second floor, R S M ) .

M a n y t h a n k s to last year's c o m m i t t e e for a m a r v e l l o u s job at s u c h initial short n o t i c e . I w i s h M i c h a e l P h i l l i p s all the best in G e n e v a .

Photo D o y o u w a n t to learn h o w to d e v e l o p a n d print y o u r o w n films? If so w h y not c o m e a l o n g o n a n y T u e s d a y to Southside U p p e r L o u n g e at 1pm. W e r u n lessons in developing and printing black and white a n d p r i n t i n g c o l o u r negatives a n d t r a n sp a r e n c i e s. W e h a v e o u r o w n fully e q u i p p e d d a r k r o o m w i t h a l l necessary materials to d o b l a c k a n d w h i t e a n d e q u i p m e n t for d o i n g c o l o u r w o r k .

If y o u are s i m p l y l o o k i n g for facilities to do y o u r o w n w o r k a n d are a l r e a d y proficient then just c o m e a l o n g to find out m o r e details.

19

Scribbler's Corner LETTERS

Aardvark Dear FELIX, It's time for a w h i n g e at the e x p e n s e of Southside B a r ; for today I was n e a r l y p h y s i c a l l y e x p e l l e d from the upper l o u n g e for m e r e l y c l o s i n g a w i n d o w .

A group f r o m the O r i e n t e e r i n g C l u b w e r e sitting beside the w i n d o w s in the upper l o u n g e , e n j o y i n g s o m e food from Belushi's after a h a r d t r a i n i n g session.

T h i s was until a m a n w i t h a p a i n t e d face c a m e a n d o p e n e d t h e m a l l . (Without e v e n a s k i n g us if w e m i n d e d getting cold.) A s y o u w o u l d e x p e c t the outside air was c o l d a n d c a m e straight in to attack us.

V e r y s h o r t l y w e a l l b e g a n to feel c o l d . I think it w o u l d h a v e b e e n w a r m e r to h a v e sat outside! D u e to this I d e c i d e d to close

s o m e of the w i n d o w s a n d stop the draft, a n d the waste of energy.

W h e n I w a s d o i n g this the same strangely p a i n t e d m a n (?) a p p r o a c h e d m e to leave t h e m o p e n . T o this I e x p l a i n e d that it was c o l d a n d w e w a n t e d to stay w a r m . Besides there was no one in the disco yet getting i n c r e d i b l y hot due to g y r a t i n g their bodies to Bros. So I c l o s e d some m o r e w i n d o w s , the c h i l l air was n o w s t a y i n g w h e r e it s h o u l d be, outside a n d a w a y f r o m me! I did h o w e v e r say that I w o u l d re-open t h e m w h e n I left, o r w h e n the disco got g o i n g . S t r a n g e ly I was told that this was i m p r a c t i c a l . (I c l o s e d some more windows.) Once he'd noticed I was i n f o r m e d that I'd be forcibly r e m o v e d

from Southside if 1 closed a n y m o r e .

I t r i e d e x p l a i n i n g in v e r y s i m p l e w o r d s that I was c o l d a n d the disco was e m p t y , but all to no a v a i l . It was the H o u s e Rules that d e c r e e d that the w i n d o w s must be o p e n . H e also told m e that he 'didn't g i v e a shit h o w m a n y people w e r e downstairs'.

Is this r e a l l y the w a y in w h i c h to r u n Southside w i t h stuck-up dictators w h o can't listen to reason? I d o n ' t t h i n k so. It is h o w e v e r a v e r y I m p e r i a l C o l l e g e w a y of w o r k i n g .

Yours sincerely, Shaun West, Orienteering Secretary.

Club

Aardwolf Dear Chris, I w o u l d l i k e to express m y c o m p l e t e disgust at the insult d i r e c t e d at the A r a b p e o p l e a n d at A t h e n a ' s racist c o n c l u s i o n that because a person's f i a m e is not Joe B l o g g s (or a n y other ' t r a d i t i o n a l ' E n g l i s h s o u n d i n g name) that he must be foreign.

F o r his i n f o r m a t i o n :

What's O n A N UP-TO-THE-MINUTE GUIDE TO EVENTS IN A N D A R O U N D IMPERIAL COLLEGE

—I a m E n g l i s h , b o r n a n d b r e d —I h a v e not i n v a d e d a n y of HIS allies — B r i t i s h universities are as m u c h m i n e as HIS. If a l l A t h e n a c o u l d find w r o n g w i t h m y letter was m y careless use of v o c a b u l a r y , t h e n I hope he has learnt s o m e t h i n g from

Water Polo 7.30pm Sports Centre. Come along and join in one of the most physically demanding sports ever inveted.

FRIDAY Yacht Club Meeting 12.30pm Huxley 413.

Rag Meeting 12.40pm Union Lounge.

Friday Prayers l.OOpm Southside G y m . See Islamic Society.

Kung Fu 4.30pm Union Gym. C.U. Prayer Meeting 5.00pm 413 Maths.

Christian Union Meeting 6.00pm 308 Computing.

Swimming 6.30pm Sports Centre. New members always welcome to join in fun fitness training.

Fencing Club Training 6.40pm Club training.

Shaolin System Nam Pai Chuan 7.30pm Southside Gym.

20

the rest of it.

In future, I h o p e x e n o p h o b i c bigots w h o w r i t e in stick to s o m e t h i n g t h e y k n o w a little bit about.

Saleem Chowdhery.

SATURDAY Splot Soc Trip 7.45am Meet at Beit Quad Arch for first trip.

Remember your cheque books!

Boat Club J9.00pm Putney Boathouse 2.00pm Pub Crawl Meet Union Snack Bar. In aid of Leukaemia Research. Free disco afterwards.

Kung Fu Club 4.30pm Wu Shu Kwan in Southside G y m .

SUNDAY Sunday Service 10.00am Anteroom Sherfield Building. See West London Chaplaincy.

Catholic Chaplaincy 11.00am 53 Cromwell Road.

Wargames U D H . All welcome.

Yoga Southside G y m .

Kung Fu Club Wu Shu Kwan in the Union Gym. Boat Club Putney Boathouse.

l.OOpm 3.00pm 4.30pm 9.00pm

MONDAY RockSoc Meeting 12.30pm Southside Upper Lounge. Come and hear the latest (beer optional). A l l abnormalities welcome.

Basketball Club 5.30pm Volleyball Court. Men's Team.

Keep Fit 5.30pm Southside Gym. 6.00pm Rock 'n' Roll Lessons JCR. Intermediate.

Swimming 6.30pm Sports Centre. New members always welcome to join in fun fitness training.

Aaron's Beard

Pear Sir

LETTERS Dear Sir, In r e p l y to A t h e n a ' s letter of 2.11.90.

I must q u e s t i o n t h e m o t i v e s of o n e w h o is p r e p a r e d to t a k e pot-shots at b o t h candidates for t h e R C S U P r e s i d e n t i a l e l e c t i o n , but is not p r e p a r e d to p r o v i d e his/her real name.

T h e e l e c t i o n c o u l d h a v e been better publicised, b u t both candidates r a n extensive publicity campaigns, every aspect of w h i c h c a r r i e d t h e dates of hustings a n d results. A s usual, the h a c k s w e r e t h e o n l y o n e s w h o v o l u n t e e r e d to m a n ballot b o x e s a n d o n e c a n n o t e x p e c t t h e m to stand a l l d a y . F o r these reasons, the v o t i n g stations consisted of a hack, a c h a i r a n d a b l a c k b o x , t h e latter b e i n g the usual r e c e p t a c l e for v o t i n g slips. If t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d A t h e n a w i s h e s to

q u e st i on the honesty of t h e p e o p l e w h o c o u n t e d t h e votes, p a r t i c u l a r l y the staff m e m b e r w h o w a s present, m a y I r e m i n d h i m / h e r that this is a v e r y serious allegation a n d should be taken u p with the r e t u r n i n g officer.

T h e letter d i d h a v e s o m e v e r y v a l i d points; t h e R C S U h a d m a n y p r o b l e m s last y e a r . T o o few p e o p l e t r i e d t o d o t o o m a n y jobs, h e n c e the a c a d e m i c failure, w h i c h w a s rife a m o n g s t last year's officers. T h i s h a d l e d to a p o o r a c a d e m i c i m a g e , w h i c h w e a r e s e e k i n g to r e m e d y .

O n to t h e last aspect of the letter. If a n o n - h a c k s t a n d i n g for e l e c t i o n a n d w i n n i n g m e a n s 'fucking t h e hacks', then d o it! J a m e s B r i a n t , a n o n - h a c k , r e c e i v e d m u c h support f r o m t h e officers d u r i n g his Presidential campaign. H e w a s shown

Chris,

U p o n r e a d i n g t h e article b y A t h e n a , I feel o b l i g e d to a n s w e r i n s u p p o r t of M r S C h o u d h e r y . A t h e n a ' s sole p u r p o s e i n his insolent article is to slag S a l e e m a n d A r a b c u l t u r e off. M a y b e h e s h o u l d b e r e m i n d e d that parts of o u r culture a c t u a l l y o r i g i n a t e f r o m t h e F a r a n d M i d d l e East. Is his article t h e 'Last Resort' seen as the arguments a r e too weak to withstand a n y f o r m of debate.

Yours, B

Muratori.

Rock n Roll 7.00pm JCR. Beginners Water Polo 7.30pm Sports Centre. Come along and try one of the most physically demanding sports.

Latin American 8.00pm JCR. Beginners/Improvers

TUESDAY C.U. Prayer Meeting 8.30pm Chaplain's Office Riding Club Meeting 12.30pm Southside Upper Lounge. Come and see how it feels to have 16 hands between your legs.

Christian Outreach 12.30pm Elec Eng 508. 'Who or what is the holy spirit?'

Radio Modellers 12.30pm Southside Lounge.

Cathsoc Mass 12.30pm Mech Eng 702. Followed by lunch.

Sailing Club 12.30pm Southside Lounge.

Jewish Society Meeting 1.30pm Union Building, first floor (UDH). Naomi Cohen

Dear

P.S. G o t a n y spot c r e a m ?

—Monday Lunch

Chris

I w a s most s h o c k e d to find a horrendous slur o n m y character i n Felix 8 8 1 . In t h e letter 'Spotty H a c k s ' that s l a g g e d off t h e R C S U it w a s i n c o r r e c t l y stated that I w a s i n t h e t o p 12 of t h e y e a r . T h i s is a l i e a n d I d e m a n d a n i m m e d i a t e a p o l o g y f r o m t h e letter w r i t e r (I d i d pass fairly w e l l though!)

P e r h a p s t h e letter w r i t e r w a s confused s i n c e t h e H o n . S e c . of G u i l d s w a s t h e person i n the top twelve.

Yours, Joe Fernley C&GU Vice-President

from SACSJ. Radio Modellers 5.30pm Student training workshop, Mech Eng. Keep Fit 5.30pm Southside G y m .

Amenesty International J>.30pm Clubs Committee Room. Weekly meeting.

Social Ballroom 6.00pm JCR. Beginners.

Judo 6.30pm Union Gym. Latin American 7.00pm JCR. Bronze Medal Class.

Yoga 8.00pm Southside G y m .

Letters, Small Ads, Whats On

—Tuesday Lunch News

—Thursday...

Top floor N W corner Union Building. Every week.

Kung Fu Union Gym.

1.30pm

Rowing Club Putney Boathouse.

Shaolin System Nam Pai Chuan Southside Gym. Basketball Club Volleyball Court. Women's Team Kung Fu Club Union Gym. W u Shu Kwan.

Chrisian Outreach Huxley 342.

2.00pm 7.00pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 8.00pm

THURSDAY

WEDNESDAY Keep Fit Southside Gym. Cycling Training Meet at Beit A r c h .

Wargames U D H . All welcome.

Micro Club Meeting

W e a r e a l w a y s l o o k i n g f o r suggestions on i m p r o v i n g the Union. W e ' v e made a lot of c h a n g e s i n the last c o u p l e of m o n t h s a n d this has b e e n reflected i n t h e large n u m b e r of first y e a r s w h o h a v e e x p r e s s e d interest i n a l l aspects of t h e R C S U . If y o u h a v e a n y i n p u t o r w a n t t o get i n v o l v e d , c o m e a l o n g to the office at any time—you're always welcome.

Suzanne Ahmet.

Deadlines: Features & Clubs

Aaron's R o d Aasvogel Dear

h o w the U n i o n runs a n d p e r s o n a l l y i n v i t e d to e v e n t s a n d meetings. In fact, n o t h i n g w o u l d please us m o r e than to see h i m getting i n v o l v e d w i t h t h e U n i o n , especially if h e wishes to c o n s i d e r standing a g a i n .

12.30pm 1.00pm 1.00pm

Fencing Training Intermediate & advanced coaching.

Balloon Club Meeting Southside Upper Lounge.

Y H A Meeting Southside Upper Lounge.

11.30am 12.30pm 12.30pm

1.15pm

21

Abaya Dear Chris, H a v i n g r e a d the s e c o n d letter b y A t h e n a , I n o w realise h o w m i s t a k e n S C h o u d h e r y w a s to attempt to r e p l y w i t h a sensible factual a r g u m e n t . It is clear that A t h e n a likes b e i n g c o n t r o v e r s i a l a n d i n f l a m m a t o r y , h o p i n g to o v e r c o m e apathy. I a m , h o w e v e r , c o n c e r n e d (honest, 1 a m l o s i n g sleep o v e r that one!) that there m a y be some p e o p l e out there a m o n g y o u r r e a d e r s h i p w h o a c t u a l ly h o l d s u c h v i e w s . It is quite hopeless to t r y to reason w i t h s u c h people, b u t fortunately the majority of y o u r r e a d e r s h i p a r e quite sensible p e o p l e . I thought it w o u l d b e w o r t h w h i l e to l o o k at the w o r k i n g s of A t h e n a ' s few b r a i n c e l l s i n a n attempt to e x p l a i n this strange p h e n o m e n o n .

T h e r e a r e t w o points I w o u l d like to m a k e here. First, I w o u l d l i k e to apologise to all G r e e k s a n d a d m i r e r s of G r e e k culture f o r t h e ra t her i n a p p r o p r i a t e n a m e chosen b y t h e s p e c i m e n i n q u e s t i o n . T o a v o i d confusion I s h a l l refer to o u r subject as ' A t h ' , thus s p a r i n g A t h e n a t h e h u m i l i a t i o n of b e i n g associated w i t h A t h .

S e c o n d l y , m a y I a p o l i g i se i n a d v a n c e for m y i g n o r a n c e of A t h ' s language but I do h a v e a n e x c u s e . Y o u see, I c o m e f r o m an a n c i e nt c i v i l i s a t i o n , a n d w h i l e A t h ' s ancestors w e r e o c c u p y i n g c h a r m i n g c a v e dwellings and communicating in a c o m b i n a t i o n of grunts a n d b o d y odours, m y ancestors w e r e a l r e a d y quite fluent i n an a n c i e nt language. A l a s , it w a s n o t E n g l i s h . I a m , h o w e v e r , m a k i n g a n honest attempt to l e a r n t h e l a n g u a g e . T h i s is d u e m a i n l y to the fact that I a m s t u d y i n g at o n e of 'his' U n i v e r s i t i e s (thus subsidising the G o v e r n m e n t ) , a n d n o t because I h a v e

Postgrad Lunch 12.30pm Chaplains Office (10 Princes Gardens). See West London Chaplaincy.

Fencing Training 12.30pm Beginners Training.

Fencing Training 1.30pm General.

Gliding Club Meeting l.OOpm Aero 266. Come and arrange a trial flight. A l l newcomers welcome.

Papua New Guinea Exp. '90 5.30pm Meet W 3 / W 2 (near Beit Arch). Three intrepid third years speak.

Keep Fit 5.30pm Southside Gym Midweek Service 5.30pm Chaplains Office (10 Prince's Gardens). See West London Chaplaincy.

Social Ballroom 6.00pm JCR. Intermediate.

Judo 6.30pm Union Gym. Social Ballroom 7.00pm JCR. Beginners.

Latin American 8-.00pm

22

i n v a d e d a n y of his allies. O n that point, I don't quite see t h e w i s d o m i n l e a r n i n g A t h ' s language if all I w a n t to d o is invade o n e of his c o u n t r y ' s allies, but o n the other h a n d , b e i n g allied to K u w a i t , it m a y be w o r t h w h i l e for c u l t u r a l l y m o r e a d v a n c e d p e o p l e like himself to l e a r n its language.

B a c k n o w t o A t h ' s b r a i n c e l l s . It is interesting to see the w a r p e d logic i n m i n d s s u c h as his. T a k e , for e x a m p l e , his v i e w s o n m a t u r e cultures. H e assumes, of course, that his culture is s e v e r a l h u n d r e d years m o r e m a t u r e t h a n others. I p r e s u m e he also thinks that it is better for the future of t h e w o r l d as a w h o l e if all peoples of t h e w o r l d s adopt his culture. I don't k n o w about y o u , but I w o u l d w o r r y if t h e a c c e p t e d n o t i o n of a g o o d time, i n the w o r l d ' s most m a t u r e culture w e r e to be: t h e e l i m i n a t i o n of a l l traces of b l o o d f r o m one's a l c o h o l , followed b y excessive vomiting, urinating t h r o u g h o t h e r people's letter b o x e s a n d abusive b e h a v i o u r t o w a r d s all p e o p l e d e e m e d to b e of a 'less m a t u r e ' culture.

A n o t h e r interesting i l l u s i o n i n t h e s p e c i m e n 's c l o u d e d r e a s o n i n g , is that w h o l e races c a n b e c u l t u r a l l y i m m a t u r e .

T h i s o b v i o u s l y m e a n s that b a c k w a r d n e s s is h e r e d i t a r y. T h i s c o u l d b e of great v a l u e to scientific r e s e a r c h into a n t h r o p o l o g y , since it p r o b a b l y m e a n s that A t h ' s ancestors used to r e l i e v e t h e m s e l v e s i n the e n t r a n c es of e a c h others' caves, a fact w h i c h , if v e r i f i e d b y a n y e x c a v a t i o n s o r s u c h like, c o u l d e x p l a i n a h e l l of a lot!

A s for A t h ' s p o l i t i c a l v i e w s I t h i n k that they are not really w o r t h examining, not e v e n i n jest, because for m a n y p e o p l e i n this c o l l e g e i n c l u d i n g myself, it w o u l d b e

JCR. Gold medal class.

ICCAG Soup Run 9.15pm Meet Weeks Hall Basement to take food to London's homeless.

Small Ads ADVERTISE SOMETHING H E R E FOR FREE. ANNOUNCEMENTS • CANNIBALISM: The Papua New Guinea Expedition 1990, expanded upon by George 'Cockroach' Beccalono, 'Fungus' Schoeman and Mad Bad Fernly. Meet W 3 / W 2 near Beit A r c h on Thursday at 5.30pm. Free refreshments afterwards.

• WARNING: If you were resident in College accommodation on October 10, are eligible to vote, but have not yet received an invoice, you will NOT be entered on the electoral roll

by College. To become registered you should go to your local town hall and ask there. A n y queries should be directed to the Residence Finance Office, 2 nd Floor, 15 Princes Gardens, phone int 8649.

in v e r y b a d taste i n d e e d . I still meet friends w h o h a v e just c o m e o u t of K u w a i t , a n d h a v e lost c o n t a c t w i t h m a n y others w h o a r e still there. T h e r e a r e p e o p l e i n this c o l l e g e w h o s e families a r e still inside. L i v e s h a v e b e e n lost a n d m a n y m o r e c o u l d still b e lost. T h e e n d result of a l l this is m o r e frustration a n d o p p r e s s i o n of those ' c u l t u r a l l y i m m a t u r e ' p e o p l e for the sake of e v e r y o n e else's p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c interests.

F i n a l l y , let u s n o t forget that p e o p l e like A t h i n p o s i t i o n s of p o w e r a r e dangerous. It was n o t so l o n g ago, that t h e y w e r e i n hysterics about t h e b a c k w a r d c u l t u r e c o m i n g o u t of Iran, a n d w e r e all i n f a v o u r of S a d d a m H u s s e i n '...spending his m o n e y , n o t for t h e g o o d of t h e p e o p l e , but o n a r m s , d e v e l o p i n g nuclear weaponry, chemical weaponry, fighting l e n g t h y w a r s a n d k i l l i n g people...' . Yours sincerely, Amin

El-Choly,

DoC PG.

P.S. I a m e x p e c t i n g a r e p l y f r o m A t h , because m y c r i t i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n of t h e n o n - f u n c t i o n i n g of his b r a i n reveals that he w o u l d not pass up o n s u c h a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o m a k e e v e n m o r e a fool of himself. I u r g e y o u to cast the same c r i t i c a l e y e o n s u c h a r e p l y , to witness for yourself h o w s u c h ' m i n d s ' w o r k .

P.P.S. It is quite possible that the s p e c i m e n is quite a w a r e of its sad affliction, a n d therefore refuses to r e v e a l its true n a m e . C o m e o u t of t h e closet A t h , it m a y n o t b e c u r a b l e , but w e c a n stop it s p r e a d i n g .

LOST & FOUND • FOUND: Scarf at Elec Eng Buffet. Contact Martin Stevenson via Elec Eng pigeonholes, particularly if young, female and attractive.

• FOUND: Black Daler (artists?) diary found in Southside on October 25. If it's yours contact Shelagh on 071-603 0374 (ground floor).

FOR S A L E / W A N T E D • L O W ENERGY light bulbs. SI 1.50 each. Ring Clare Smith, Env Tech ext 7204.

• K M D 100W valve amp + homemade 4x12 £200 Axxeman guitar processor £150. 071-228 0187.

• W A N T E D : 6" slide rule with case. Contact Tom Yates on internal 6757.

PERSONAL • J E R E M Y : you salad. Take the cabbage off my photo or prepare to be decked. K. • HELP: Is there anyone from Graffiti Soc out there who knows how to use the silk screen?

Please phone Felix on 3515 and ask for Toby.

• RICHARD: Hope the operation at the clinic goes well.

Manager's Bit

Dismissal rt:<.».:<.<. i ^ ^ ^ The s a c k i n g of T o m Stevens, i n a s u d d e n m o v e b y C o l l e g e , has b e e n o n e of the most i n t e r e s t i n g things to h a v e h a p p e n e d this t e r m . Not that it r a n k s as life o r d e a t h o n t h e scale of e v e n student life at this p l a c e but just b e c a u s e of t h e m o n u m e n t a l b a c k s t a b b i n g that has g o n e into his e x p u l s i o n . T h i s b e i n g b a c k e d u p by the best b i t of secret k e e p i n g that w e h a v e seen to date. n

R u m o u r s a r e best kept t o those y o u u * i * ».u k n o w o r least c a n see. T h e y a r e c e r t a i n l y not for p e o p l e w h o utter t h e w o r d ' w a n k e r ' to t h e r e f r i e n d / s as they a r e p u t t i n g d o w n t h e p h o n e . If y o u w a n t to k n o w the i n s i d e story c o m e a l o n g a n d h e l p collate o n T h u r s d a y e v e n i n g s .

Challenge

^ ^ D..™„.,..„

A s the h e a d l i n e suggests, it is n o t just the w i s h of a n i n d i v i d u a l that has led to this a c t i o n , but t h e c u l m i n a t i o n of m a n y k n i v e s . It is w e l l k n o w n that t h e feelings of c e r t a i n p e o p l e has not h e l p e d i n the s a l v a t i o n of M r Stevens a n d it is unfortunate to s a y the least that he failed in t h e conquest of his job. It is after a l l n e c e s s a ry for the e s t a b l i s h m e n t to g u a r d against f o u l - u p s , a n d i m p o r t a n t for us to note that it is also i n o u r interest.

The b i g q u e s t i o n is w i l l R o b N o r t h e y stretch further his e m p l o y e m e n t w i t h C o l l e g e after h i s J u l y d e f e r m e n t i n a n e w p o s i t i o n w i t h i n the h i e r a c h y .

Rumours D u r i n g t h e w h o l e business a b o v e 1 w a s t e l e p h o n e d at t h e office to c o n f i r m t h e r u m o u r that R o b was infact s t a y i n g o n .

The g e n t l e m a n c o n c e r n e d w a s most hesitant i n g i v i n g his n a m e a n d w i s h e d to r e m a i n ' a n interested student'.

A f t e r t a l k i n g to B e n j a m i n a n d S h a n i n t h e office it c a m e to light that Benj h a d b e e n t a l k i n g to the E d i t o r of L o n d o n Student.

O h y e s I said...the girl y o u w e r e w i t h i n the U L U b a r last night. H e l o o k e d i m p r e s s e d that I k n e w this a n d I s i m p l y said that I h a v e spies e v e r y w h e r e . S h a n t h e n laid d o w n t h e c h a l l e n g e to find o u t w h a t he h a d got upto i n L e e d s o v e r the last few days at a c o n f e r e n c e that he attended.

The forfits w e r e e x c h a n g e d a n d m y s e a r c h b e g a n . S o far I a m q u i t e h a p p y to report that t h i n g s a r e g o i n g quite n i c e l y on m y side of things. I h a v e l o c a t e d his r o o m mate a n d obtained a r u n d o w n o n half t h e s t o r y , a n d h a v e m a n y m o r e leads to chase u p . 1 w i l l t h e r e f o re be p u b l i s h i n g a report o n h i s antics n e x t w e e k a n d it l o o k s like he w i l l be s w e e p i n g a n d h o o v e r i n g m y offices i n t h e near future.

Credits: A n d y a n d R o s e for splendiferous w o r k this w e e k o n t h e p r i n t i n g a n d typesetting side.

News E d i t o r : T o b y iw Reviews Editor: A d a m T Music Editor: Sarah Features E d i t o r : R o l a n d Science E d i t o r : Ian Photo E d i t o r : R i c h a r d Cartoon Editor!: A n d y B u t c h er The Team: A d a m H , Christopher Riley, J a m e s , J e r e m y , T h e E n g l i s h C o l l e c t i v e of Prostitutes a n d a l l t h e p s u e d o n y m e d r e v i e w e r s that I can't t h i n k of at this t i m e of night.

T h e C o l l a t o r s were: J o e F e r n l e y , K e v i n O'Conner, Christy, Louise, Frank, Lucia, Chris B r o w n e , Stephen H o b o r o u g h , Cathy McClay, Kate Doulton, Karl Edwin, M i c h a e l N e w m a n , Ian, A d a m T , J a m e s , a n d Steve. a n d f r o m last week: A n d y B u t c h e r , M a t t D i x o n , Sue A h m e t , Chas, ' R i c , F r a n k , R i c h a r d , T o b y , J a m e s , M i c h a e l , a n d Ian. Staff M e e t i n g 1pm T o d a y .

Felix is produced for and on behalf of the Imperial College Union Publications Board and is printed at the Imperial College Union Print Unit, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BB (Tel 071-225 8672). Manager: Chris Stapleton, Business Manager: Jeremy Burnell. Copyright Felix 1990. ISSN 1040 - 0711.

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Abortion in Ireland T h i s w e e k w a s ' W e e k of A c t i o n ' i n Ireland for f r e e d o m of i n f o r m a t i o n a n d w o m e n ' s right to a b o r t i o n . I m p e r i al C o l l e g e U n i o n has b e e n a s k e d to set up a s o l i d a r i t y c a m p a i g n w i t h the Irish universities a n d colleges in their fight against this issue.

Ireland is the o n l y E C c o u n t r y w h e r e it is illegal for a p e r s o n to ' p e r f o r m , attempt o r assist i n a n a b o r t i o n ' . In I r e l a n d a b o r t i o n is still a n offence p u n i s h a b l e b y 'p e n a l s e r v i t u d e for life'. A n d n o w , since 1985, it is i l l e g al e v e n to g i v e i n f o r m a t i o n on abortion.

H o w e v e r , the student u n i o n s in Ireland h a v e c o n t i n u e d to o p e n l y g i v e i n f o r m a t i o n about a b o r t i o n i n E n g l a n d for Irish w o m e n . In 1988 4,000 w o m e n registered w i t h B r i t i s h a b o r t i o n clinics as Irish nationals but it is b e l i e v e d that the s a m e n u m b e r a g a i n refused to r e v e a l their Irish addresses. A t present, student u n i o n s i n I r e l a n d b e l i e v e that t h e r e is a n e e d to p r o v i d e a b o r t i o n i n f o r m a t i o n but t h e y are facing i n c r e a s i n g pressure from all sides.

In 1988 S P U C (The S o c i e t y for the P r o t e c t i o n of the U n b o r n Child) took legal a c t i o n against the four e l e c t e d student u n i o n officers of U n i v e r s i t y C o l l e g e D u b l i n . S P U C got an i n j u n c t i o n preventing them from giving information

about a b o r t i o n in E n g l a n d . T h e u n i v e r s i t y officers also b e c a m e l i a b l e for n e a r l y £ 5 0 , 0 0 0 c o u r t costs a n d , s i n c e u n d e r Irish l a w , student u n i o n s h a v e n o legal status the officers are p e r s o n a l l y liable for this m o n e y . In 1989 the s a m e t h i n g h a p p e n e d w h e n S P U C t o o k fourteen n e w student leaders to c o u r t a n d as a result t h e y a r e a g a i n p e r s o n a l l y liable for further costs of £22,000.

to p r o v i d e a b o r t i o n i n f o r m a t i o n t h e n y o u c a n p e r s o n a l l y support the c a m p a i g n b y g o i n g to a f u n d r a i s i n g benefit gig organised by L S E on Wednesday D e c e m b e r 5. Posters w i l l be up a r o u n d C o l l e g e at a later stage. A l s o , if y o u h a v e a n y ideas o n h o w I m p e r i a l C o l l e g e U n i o n c a n b e c o m e p e r s o n a l l y m o t i v a t e d in this c a m p a i g n please contact the U n i o n Office w i t h y o u r ideas.

If y o u b e l i e v e that the Irish student u n i o n s s h o u l d be h e l p e d a n d s u p p o r t e d b y B r i t i s h student unions in their efforts

M a r i a n n e P u r c e l l , IC W o m e n ' s Officer.

CITY & GUILDS HITSQUAD Flan your friends during Rag Week

St Mary's Annual RUGBY CLUB BALL

£1.50 students £3.00 notables Lecturers, etc, on request Call at the Guilds Office to book your hits

Saturday 17th November 9pm £10 single, £18 double Tickets on sale at St Mary's Held at St Mary's Formal dress

SCIENCE, ART & ETHICS International scientist and poet talks about science and creativity.

'Miroslav Holub is one of the half dozen most important poets writing anywhere' —Ted Hughes, Poet Laureatte.

TUESDAY 13th NOVEMBER 1.15PM READ LECTURE THEATRE, 5TH FLOOR, SHERFIELD O r g a n i s e d b y the National Poetry Society, as a part of a national tour, a n d IC H u m a n i t i e s Deptartment