f
A. 4d WEDNESDAY, 10 MAY 1967 No. 2A£
MARTIN WALKER
labs to
P R O F E S S O R
L A 1 T H W A I T E
v .
Architectural Assoc ia t ion as Fourth C o l l e g e
Plan totters as UGC
delays finance The execution of the plan for the amalgamation of the School of
the Architectural Association and Imperial College is running into
difficulties over finance. The University Grants Committee, who
must necessarily meet the recurrent operating costs of a school for 380
New university students—estimated at £210,000—have mot yet agreed
to the proposals. A decision is expected in the Autumn. However
there are growing fears about the outcome of the decision.
In addition, a large number of students at the A.A. are against the amalgamation.
When the plan was submitted in 1964 to the Architectural Association, it was hoped that the U.G.G. would also provide the initial capital for the site—on the IC " campus "•—and the construction of a building to house the school. The sum required, is estimated at £670,000. Due to the freeze, and the decrease in university expansion after the Robbins era, the U.G.C. is proving to be parsimonious.
BEHIND SCHEDULE
The plan for the amalgamation was formally agreed upon by the two bodies in 1964. However, the implementation of the proposals has already dropped behind schedule—for to quote from a paper setting out the proposals at that time—
" It is hoped that the proposals set out in this paper might be progressively implemented so that they would be fully operative at the beginning of the 1967-72 quinquennium . "
It is vital to the Architectural As
sociation that a positive decision from the U.G.C. be obtained within the next six months. The lease on their present premises at Bedford Square, W.C.I, terminates in 1972 Before accepting further students next year (the course takes five years), they must obviously be sure of a building to house the school from that date.
RESERVATIONS STUDENTS
FROM AA
The plan is running into further difficulties from opposition by AA students. In a letter to the Times last month, last term's chairman of AA student union claimed that two-thirds of the students were opposed to the merger. This term's chairman, Chris Libbe, does not agree however and stated : " It was a pointless letter to write."
Libbe might be doing his utmost to crush opposition, but there undoubtedly exists a large amount of opposition among the students to the amalgamation.
cash lost
C A R N I V A L Q U E E N
Vanita Deshmukh, who was
crowned at the May Ball last
Friday. Vanita is a third year
chemistry undergraduate.
B U U 8 8 U I 8 U I
IN THIS ISSUE
Professor Laithwaite discusses Engineering and Imperial College. PAGE 6
The Architectural Association
and plan for Amalgamation with
I.C. PAGE 5
PHOENIX review by Edward
Pank. PAGE 5
Banned Rag Mag.
Sells like hotcakes
COLCUTT PAGE 6
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • a • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •uSiSSSSSS
A banned Rag Mag is more interesting than a readily available one. Tony Duke might have banned the Rag Mag but sales Have since soared.
According to Duke three thousand copies were printed and those three thousand copies were meant to be burnt. Duke was alleged to have said that only two copies were outstanding. Already about 200 copies have been sold under the counter at Southside.
The Executive is turning a blind eye to this activity in the hope that some of the printing costs will be recouped.
Peter Potter, the editor of "Bog,'
Staff, have been asked to raise some of the cost of the printing by carnival stunts and " other means."
Since\ the original idea some five months ago, " Bog " has always been a rather doubtful concern. It started as a private venture. The staff, apart from its blonde editor, included Bob Russell, ex-FELIX cartoonist, now at Art School, and several other members of Aeso I.
Towards the end of last term the proofs were shown to the Carnival Committee, who censored a certain portion of the magazine for " ob-
has been called before the Union -Executive. He, with his Editorial Cont. page 3
MAY BALL
CHAOS The May Ball proved a fiasco
as twsfoap followed mishap due to
chaotic organisation. £139, in
tended for the artists at the Ball,
was lc* \j the Chairman of
the Entertainments Committee,
Stewart Chapman. The Carnival
Queen finalists, to be elected on
the night, had to buy their own
tickets—hence one of the finalists
refused to attend — and the
crowning ceremony failed as
crown and gown were lost.
"It was like a ightmare," said Chapman, when FELIX interviewed him on Sunday over the missing £139. Chairman drew £139" in cash to pay for the artists at the Ball, but fearing that more drink would make him irresponsible, he handed the money to his gfr! nd, a second year undergrade., v k Chemistry. She placed it in her sir. ;vening-bag. Later she was reported to be sick. According to Chapman :
" She apparently tripped and fell down the Stairs in the Union and walked out in a daze. I didn't see her —she left at about 1.30 a.m."
Chapman was later alleged to be walking around carrying a bottle of whisky, unaware of the fate of his girl-friend and the money.
However Chapman stated :
" 1 finally phoned her home in the morning and she was there but couldn't rem mber anything that had happened. She was badly
v_
uised and had obviously had a b accident. At 8 o'clock on Saturday evening we found the wallet—empty—on a ledge outside the window of the artists dressing-room. The police could find no fingerprints on it.
On Sunday the artists at the Ball had still not been paid.
Meanwhile Jerry Stockbridge, Carnival Cc-ordinator, looked for about two hours before he found the Carnival Queen's crown and cloak. Apart from Ann Hay, ICWA president, the other finalists were not sent tickets. Sue Gibbs therefore did not attend and Vanita Deshmukh had to buy her own ticket. With the finalists for Queen then reduced to two, Vanita was finally crowned as Queen,,
2 FELIX
Has Mugger idge had
enough ? The latest obsession with Mal
colm Muggeridge seems to be
Christianity. This was the chief
point emerging from his very
interesting General Studies lec
tures on the last day of the last
term. Beginning his talk after a very loud
round of applause, Mr. Muggeridge started off by talking about his " medium "—the " telly " as he called it—which, as he later admitted, he frequents so often to bolster his ego. But some points made by him were perhaps frightening, and certainly most pertinent, to the subject in question. He began by citing " Wagon Train " and " Peyton Place " as examples of the Western world's chief exports to the developing countries. This he thought symbolised the failure of Western civilisation and technology. He claimed, I think correctly, that our knowledge of ourselves has remained almost stagnant while technology has overtaken us—one only has to go to Montreal's Expo. '67 to realise this. His view seemed to imply that the growth of advanced technological methods and products(
all material goods, somehow hamper, or have hampered till now, the parallel growth of spiritual humanitarian knowledge and that it leads to the suffocation and stagnation of culture.
Mr. Muggeridge's fears stem in the main from his basic belief that something has gone wrong with western civilisation and that it will continue to decline. He asserted' that the main fault in the Utopia as imagined by
our forebears—and almost accomplished by the Scandinavian countries —was the basic assumption that the gratification of the need for material goods and sensual pleasure is the prerequisite to human happiness. His answer to everything lay in a " return " to Christianity as the guiding light of people's lives.
Mr. iMuggeridge now seems to be preaching complete puritanism: the restraint of bodily desires as the path to " happiness." This he calls Christianity. In view of his derision of the " establishment" Christian Church, and despite his qualifying statement, " I say Christianity, being a Western European," I would still attack him on being narrow-minded, especially since this comes from a person as cosmopolitan as he. The principles he holds form the basis of most religions — certainly Hinduism and Buddhism—and the keystone of Yoga : in short a " Mind over Matter." So what new has Mr. Muggeridge to offer 7
R. MOHAN.
Maths & Physics
Society Dinner Excellent food, speeches containing
good clean jokes and nothing of a smutty nature. These were the major features of a highly successful Maths and Physics Society Dinner held in Southside Senior Common Room.
A new innovation this year was a demonstration given by Dr. Warne-Beresford, President of the British Society of Hypnotherapists, an unusual and interesting addition to the usual speech, discussing the wacs and limitations of hypnotism for curative purposes.
W H A T S O N WEDNESDAY 10
Southside Stomp. " Spencer's
Washboard Kings " and " The
Splinter Group." 20.00 South-
side.
Film Festival. " What a Way
to Go " and " The Love God
dess." 19.30 and 24.00 concert
hall.
Opera. Excerpts from "Car
men" and two Gilbert and
Sullivan operas. 19.30 Royal
College of Music.
THURSDAY 11
Dramsoc Revue.
READ THE NEW
GRAHAM GREEN ?
MADE UP YOUR MIND
ABOUT VIETNAM ?
—OR THE COMMON
MARKET? NO!?
IT'S TIME YOU
VISITED THE
HALDANE LIBRARY
Open 10.0 a.m.—7.0 p.m.
(10.0 a.m.—5.30 Wed.)
during term.
FRIDAY 12
Dramsoc Revue.
SATURDAY 13
Morning: Stunts and collect
ing. Watch for details.
Afternoon: Garden Fete in
Princess Gardens.
Evening: Grand Finale with
"Jimi Hendriv Experience '
and other groups.
Tickets for all the above events
will be on sale in the Union and
Southside every lunch time.
FELIX Staff meetings Tues
days and Thursdays 13.15 press
room.
LAMLEYS technical & general
books
art materials
drawing instruments
stationery
paperbacks
1.3 & 5. Exhibition Rd.,
London S.W.7.
N e w s f rom
the o t h e r
f i f ty states from FACTOR
From America we hear that at OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY, " The man in a black bag" is attending a lecture course. Nobody except the lecturer in charge knows who he is. He comes to lectures completely covered by a black bag except for a pair of bare feet sticking out of the bottom. In conversations with students and newspaper reporters he says he is doing it as a philosophical experiment."
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, after two students were disciplined for kissing each other an campus, 600 students took part in a mass kiss-in."
At FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY an 18-year-old girl student was disciplined for posing nude for photos in a university administrative building. A banner was seen saying " nude power."
At FORDHAM UNIVERSITY (N.Y.) an experiment in teaching is to be carried out in the newly-formed Bensalem College. There will be 30 students and staff in the college. No formal classes or exams are planned. Students and staff will plan the syllabus together and will be free to go on foreign exchanges, civil right and peace corps work. The only entrance qualification is to have a working knowledge of URDU, of all things. " We hope to make life so interesting that students won't need LSD," said the organiser.
At PRINCETON UNIVERSITY a survey of 150 undergraduates by a student group indicates that up to 15 per cent of Princeton's 3,500 students may use mild drugs such as Marijuana, LSD and Hashish. No evidence of " hard " drug taking (heroin, cocaine, etc.) was found.
Atom Power
is cheaper
says Penney
He then gave a brief outline of the use of the moderator to transfer neutron energy to thermal energy, and the effect of increasing fissions probability by slowing the neutrons. Next he described the principles of several types of reactor as developed by the U.K.A.E.A. He started with the Boiling Water Reactor and its low efficiency of about 30 per cent, and included a mention of the methods of controlling the speed of reaction. He then went on to describe the pressurised water reactor, with about the same efficiency, and the gas-cooled reactor, with an efficiency of up to 43 per cent. He explained that one large cause of the low efficiencies with gas-cooled reactors was the use of heat exchangers and steam turbo-alternators. He predicted that this would give way to gas turbines delivering up to a hundred megawatts. He finished this section of his talk with an outline of the fast reactor at Dounreay, with its double heat exchanging system using 1000 tons of liquid sodium, and its ability to breed fuel at a greater rate than it uses it.
Sex change in IC Exec. Those of us who, having nothing
better to do di/ring Tuesday lunch-time, read SENNET, will, no doubt, have noticed some controversy recently over I.C.'s men-only bar.
In last week's issue, our beloved president defended this practice of segregation ; thus one would assume that in this, a year of strong presidency, former traditions—especially this one—would be upheld.
This being the case, it is the unpleasant duty of FELIX to reveal to its readers a sad increase in the sex-ratio at IC.
Last Sunday evening, any self-respecting member of the Union, in entering this male preserve, would have been shocked to observe that three former members of ICWA (including their president Ann Hay) supping in the bar. Since Howard made no attempt to remove these three one can only assume that he was " in the know" concerning this sad biological state of -affairs. Djai Howell, strange to relate, seemed unperturbed by the affair.
However one shudders to think of the consequences if the change had occurred after the Carnival Queen elections—that is, if Ann Hay had been elected.
None of these ex-Icwarians has yet disclosed which Sunday newspaper gets their story.
The other section was a brief talk on the economics, where Sir William said that cost considerations are far more involved than is usually realised in such effects as production costs for very large structures, methods of transportation of such structures and the safety standards imposed. He claimed that nuclear power stations now provide electricity at a cost 25 per cent cheaper than coal-fired stations.
He pointed out that these stations are economically affected by commercial, political, and scale considerations.
During coffee after the lecture, Sir William exposed the apparent greater efficiency of the Tennessee valley stations as a mathematical trick on the part of the Americans, which makes about 70 per cent, difference in the cost of electricity.
The lecture, which was attended by about one hundred people, was illustrated by a set of slides, showing British nuclear power stations.
R. BASS.
" It is possible to prove anything," said Sir William Penney, the
new Rector of Imperial College, on, the economics of nuclear tech
nology at the Wells Society on Monday, 1st May.
Sir William started his lecture by running over the basic fission process used in all nuclear reactors, and! the processes necessary in order to get enriched fuel.
F E L I X
C O L C U T T Once more the silly season is
with us. This is the time of the year when the majority of the students, at this college, try to find time for some revision and examinations. However, most of them are busy with militant non-support of the Charity Carnival, or enthusiastic and heated disinterest in who will be what in the Union next year, so this is often a difficult task. In fact this proves to be so difficult, in some cases, that they do not find time for any work and they do not even bother to take their exams at all. But not to worry, they rest safe in the knowledge that they can plead severe mental strain, and then the college can arrange for them to repeat the year with a renewed grant. This is becoming particularly common in certain departments of RCS and whilst there are, no doubt, genuine cases of mental strain, for many it is just the easiest way out. The worst feature of all is that the people who run the Union or take any active part in Union activities are usually so overworked that their academic work suffers. Such people are not likely to miss their exams, taking them with a "Death before dishonour" spirit. This means that, in many cases they either fail or get a worse degree than they otherwise might have done and because they have taken their exams they have no chance to repeat, or if they do, it is without a grant. All this makes
Free
University of
West Berlin from FACTOR
The West Berlin City Authorities were made to look slightly ridiculous when students were accused of plotting to kill Hubert Humphrey, the U.S. Vice-President. Eleven people were arrested including eight students. A court later ruled that the students should be freed for lack of evidence. The students are now being called ' The Custard-Pie Assassins " in West Germany. The " Chemical Bombs " that the city authorities said were to be used to kill the Vice-President were harmless smoke bombs. The students said that the smoke was to be used to disorganise the police while they plastered the Vice-President with bags of flour, yoghourt, cream cakes and custard pies.
1,000 students staged demonstrations during the visit.
"RED "PROVOS ?
The arrested students belong to a provc-type organisation that has contacts with the Chinese Embassy in East Berlin. Both the East Germans and the West Berlin authorities are trying to crush them.
West Berlin authorities are anti-student anyway. Free University students were recently called "the red louse in_ the fur of the Berlin Bear," and the city authorities have recommended to the University Administration that any student taking part in demonstrations against U.S. policy in Vietnam should be expelled at once. "
one wonder whether, in the less genuine cases, the college isn't taking child psychology a little too far.
This year, thanks to the courage of people like Jerry Stock-bridge and his men, the Carnival Board has at last broadened its outlook. It has realised that the way to make a lot of money is not by taking it from the same faithful few who support most Union activities, but to appeal more to the general public. They have also spread the work more evenly over the three constituent colleges, and at last the Carnival looks like making a substantial profit. The Folk concert in the Albert Hall is a step in the right direction, and perhaps next year the more useless functions like the garden fete will be dropped. The efforts of this year's committee are self-evident. There is a spate of little green posters radiating out from the college in all directions; not even Harrods' windows are inviolate, and nor it seems were the twenty or so students who had their names taken by the 'bules. But still the fact remains that the majority of students in this college, especially the P.G.s, do not support carnival at all, and most of the work is done by the same faithful few.
The owners of the following cards each won a share in the Carnival Treble prize-money over Easter :
Nos. 662, 873, win £7 10s. each. Nos. 1932, 1059, 1101 win £2 10s.
each. Nos. 615, 711, 715, 761, win
£1 17s. 6d. each. Nos. 46, 112, 136, 385, 510, 825,
841 win £1 Is. each. The Treble, which has now finished,
made a profit of £55 l i s . 6d. Participation in the competition—its first year of existence—was very encouraging for future years. Estimates show that around 10 per cent of I.C. Undergraduates bought shares although
It was, no doubt, this that caused the overworked people on the Carnival Board to slip up over the production of the carnival mag. This remarkable work seems to have been printed witiT its destination on the cover. It's a pity that Mr. Peter Potter didn't think of the waste of Carnival funds before he inserted his lavatory-wall sections. It seems that the original draft was carefully vetted by the Carnival Board and certain sections removed. Instead of replacing them with less " blue" material, the editor choose to replace them with sections that were humorless and obscene. Presumably the Carnival Board didn't have time to re-check the proofs and £140 worth of magazines were printed. Tony Duke quite rightly withdrew them and ordered their destruction, and that was supposedly that, but it is a well-known fact that many copies are still in existence and are being sold for about 7/6 each. A prominent member of the Union was heard to remark Well, at least we've recouped about £50." I've always thought that destroyed means "burnt" and not "disposed of in an underhand manner." If you want a copy try 122, 362, or 612, but don't tell the President about it.
relatively small interest was shown by P.G.S.
F MORRIS (Pool Promoter).
C N D : Bob Orr elected
At the CND Annual General Meeting, Bob Orr was elected unopposed to succeed Malcolm Duckett of ICCND.
After greetings had been exchanged with the Socialist Society it was decided that more joint action should be promoted on issues like Vietnam.
3
Phoenix has been published a t
last, despite the lack of support from most of the college. Mike Wilson has managed to put together one of the best issues in recent years. He is now faced with the problem of selling it when nobody wants to help. Perhaps the President should ban it and then it would sell itself. Sorry, Robb, banning FELIX wouldn't have the same effect,
The Maths department has just fitted new locks on its doors'as a result of the long-distance phone call farce. It was supposedly from this department that somebody spent most nights phoning Norway and running up a large bill. So far the only people who have suffered in any way are the Profs, in the department who are locking themselves out. Meanwhile rumours are still going around about who was responsible and anybody who is known to have spent a few weeks in Norway seems suspect. A well-informed Icwarian seemed to think that she knew the culprit. She would not say who, but merely inferred that it was a well-known figure in the Union. The college might have been better employed trying to find the culprit, rather than locking the stable doors. . . .
P.S.^I haven't thought of a Presidential candidate yet, unless Ken Weale can be persuaded to stand.
Rag Mag cont. from p. 1
scenity and libel." Potter agreed to these cuts, but later without a consulting the Committee, inserted a further body of more, rather than less, obscene material, resulting in " Bog's " final form. The copies were printed over the vacation. Jerry Stockbridge has since received a bill for 3,000 copies, although several informed sources consider that 4,000 were produced.
SOLD IN MINES
They were delivered to the Union Office at the beginning of term. It seems that the original plan was to sell as many -as possible for a limited period of two days—at least to cover costs—and then to have it banned ,to prevent it spreading too far. Be that as it may, on Tuesday, as reported in the last issue of FELIX, Duke, together with the Executive, decided to ban " Bog " for obscenity in the extreme—apparently too late and in
completely. On Tuesday afternoon Mines Vice-President John O'Reilly, unaware of the ban, removed the Mines quota from the Union office. On hearing of the ban O'Reilly handed practically all of his stock to Carnival man Frank Morris. It is said that three were sold for the stated price of 2/6 in Mines. The immediate effect of the ban was to raise the price, in a few cases to 10/-, before it settled to a steady 5/-.
£100 TAKEN ?
Although Potter will now have to pay for the printing by further, stunts, it is certain that the total of £123 will in any case be offset by sales of banned copies—if only to a limited extent. Tony Duke has made some effort to burn as many copies as possible—a few were even retrieved from early buyers—and puts the takings at around £40. Others consider £80 or even £100 more likely and it is not impossible that the full cost could be found. 500 copies seemed to have escaped incineration. If each is sold the magazine could break even.
Treble Results
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4 FELLX
C EDITOR'S
omment
A FOURTH CONSTITUENT COLLEGE
We are a limited College at present. Academically and within our range we can compare our standards favourably with those of any other similar academic institution in the world. Financially we must be one of the most affluent in Europe. And yet outside the laboratory our graduates exercise little power in Britain. As Prof. Salam has pointed out, consult Anthony Sampson's " Anatomy of Britain " and you will find Imperial College mentioned once whereas Oxbridge has half a chapter. This is because in the past IC has produced, technologists and scientists and in general, fewer men of note outside the laboratory. Now, it is the role of IC to aspire to the finest academic level. This is achieved through our academic staff and our research students. The majority of undergraduates however never go on to higher degrees. They leave to fill the gaping stomach of industry, and industry and the nation require organisers, managers, people with ideas but people with the thrust to push those ideas through. How many highly qualified graduates after ten years are actually using their disciplines directly. Very few.
This rote—to fit graduates for management—IC has also to fill. To achieve the maximum in this sphere requires a broad " university environment." IC must not merely be a " super-tech," it must be a university too.
The amalgamation with the Architectural Association is a first and major step in this broadening. In the words of the late Rector, Sir Patrick Linstead :
" Architects and engineers have much to learn from each other and proper collaboration between them can be of great value to the nation. Moreover, it can broaden the intellectual horizons of the individuals concerned. . . . To share expert teaching is valuable, to be thrown into social contact at the undergraduate stage is eQually if less obviously so."
If the amalgamation fails at this stage; either through a lack of finance from the University Grants Committee, or through the dissatisfaction of the students at the Architectural Association, it will be a crucial blow not only to the Architectural Association but above all to Imperial College. It could well be a mortal blow to the aspirations of the College to become more than a "super-tech," as envisaged in the philosophy of our late and inspiring Rector Sir Patrick Linstead.
We sincerely hope that no effort is spared by the College authorities in forcing this plan to fruition.
BANNING THE RAG MAG
Our Rag Mag is banned for " obscenity in the extreme " and is then sold with tacit approval under the counter. The whole idea of obscenity is a subjective concept and unique to our Western Christian philosophy. It depends on we the readers, rather than they the writers, whether we see an article, photograph or film as obscene. And if we in Imperial College were an isolated community and had a more enlightened attitude, there would be no need to ban the magazine as obscene.
However, we exist in The British and supposedly Christian community and an obscene Rag Mag would lower the-name of our College. The Executive have therefore acted in the right manner in banning the Mag.
If they had not banned the Rag Mag for obscenity, they would have done as well to ban it for the sheer incompetent production it is. It is an absymal, humourless and puerile effort at a comic magazine* and we could not afford to have such a pathetic and unsophisticated ragjbearing the name of our College, in circulation.
It is as well too, that Carnival has recouped some of its losses on the magazine by selling it under the counter to internal students only. If they wish to waste 5/- or 7/6 in the purchase of such drivel, they are welcome to.
But how did the whole situation of the banned Rag Mag arise in the first place ? Why was its production not organised and watched continually by the Executive ? This is incompetent. It will probably cost Carnival approximately £300, when loss of revenue from the magazine is considered. The Executive complain that additional and more obscene material was added after they had read and censored the proofs. According to the printers this is not true, and in any case it is no excuse. Carnival would have a greater financial success with a less casual approach by people who have contracted to do the job.
SYNDICALISM
A world student movement
by FRED GAULT
In some parts of the world Student Activism is a rule of life rather than a shocking exception, In the Canadian Province of Quebec, for example, the Student Syndicalist Movement has long been a popular one on French campuses and fashionable, during periods of national entnte, among periods of national entente, among the English.
The Syndicalist see himself as the member of a trade union movement rather than the carefree youth revelling in the college " experience." A student, he feels, is a " young intellectual worker," whose task it is to learn, and thereby make himself a more productive member of society.
If you acknowledge that increas-ingt your productivity potential is itself a productive occupation, then the student may be considered a worker little different from a farmer or a plumber. And, is it not discriminatory to deny a person engaged in a socially useful occupation the rights of other workers ; the right to organise and to engage in collective bargaining for grants, or, if you prefer, salaries ?
The concept of salary rather than a grant carries with it the advantage that the students is no longer kept or tolerated by the society he lives in but is actually serving it. As an integral part of society, and as an intellectual worker, it is his duty to examine his society and its government and to speak out loudly when he see social injustice. As a member of a trade union movement he is naturally aligned with the people. His production will ultimately benefit.
Over the past year in Quebec the syndicalist Union des Etudiants Generate de Quebec has held at least one major show of solidarity with the Quebec labour movement when hundreds of intellectual workers poured out of the universities to swell
FRED GAULT is a Canadian now working
towards the D.I.C exam in theoretical physics. He is a graduate of Carlton University, Ottawa, where he was a militant President of the Union. He later went on to McGill University where he took an M.Sc. and became president of the graduate students' union.
picket lines around a factory. Representatives of UEGQ advise the provincial cabinet on student grants, which are a far cry from salaries, but a beginning. The recently defeated Liberal government of Quebec campaigned some years ago on a platform of free education and it is hoped that a united Student-Labour front can lobby that dream to reality.
Not every student in the province is by any means a Syndicalist. There is opposition and apathy. To be a.
Syndicalist requires commitment and commitment clashes with the modern cynicism ; it also implies a dignity in being a worker, which some people find hard to swallow.
FELIX London, S.W.7 Internal 2881 Telephones : KEN 2963
EDITOR : D. E. POTTER
Asst. Editor : Nigel Shindler With : Colcutt, Adam Gawronski, Sports Editor : Alan Robins Frank Morris, Colin Harrison, Steve News Editor : Stewart Barnes Mallinson, John Mullaly, Paul Smith, Photographic Editor : Dave Ormiston Dave Sullivan, Mike Yu, Ian Wil -Business Manager : Richard Davies liams, Paul Heath, Caroline, Lynda, Sales Manager: Chris Palmer Gillie and Beryl. Advertising Manager : Robin Hall Production Manager : Peter Mundy Cartoonist : Dick Gentle Whats On Editor : Ken Simpson.
Advertising Agency: Educational Publicity (Partners) Ltd. C H A 6081
1
FELIX
UtUw to FELIX
The meaning of a
U niversity Education
Sir, In the present issue of " Phoenix,''
Mr. Mike Edwards, in an article on the responsibilities of a Student Union, suggests that the prime function of such a body should be to partner the staff of the University in the planning and execution of academic teaching. This view if implemented would, it seems to me, soon destroy a large part of what is to be gained from a University education and reduce a university to a machine for mass producing academic knowledge implanted in human brains (a
•description often applied to technical colleges and colleges of advanced technology in this country).
A university has always had a corporate identity and character in which teaching function plays only a part; even with to-day's emphasis on the importance of teaching the undergraduate session occupies little more than half the year. A university character stems from the personalities and experiences of generations of its academic and administrative staff and from their original work. Experience of a university atmosphere is a
valuaole pari ot education and students should not expect to be able to change it to suit them during their brief undergraduate stay. The recent furore at the L.S.E. over the appointment of a new Principal was quite unjustified.
Though the Students' Union has a valuable part to play in academic liaison with the staff (i.e. in the academic suh-committees existing in several departments at I.C.), its main function should be to create " potential leaders in society," as suggested by Mr. Edwards, provided the opportunity for experience outside academic work, and interaction with other students. Owing to its limited range of academic studies, I.C. is particularly vulnerable to those who would make it a mere teaching machine. Let us hope that our Union will continue to pay sufficient attention to the other half of our education.
Yours faithfully,
Paul V. Briscoe
School of the Architectural Association
A PLACE IN I.C? The Architectural Association shares, with Oxford and Cam
bridge, a unique beginning. All three were initiated by discontented young men striving to teach themselves a discipline. They themselves founded the A.A. in 1847 to hire and hear lecturers to discuss papers and to hold design classes. From this small but spirited beginning, the A.A. has grown into an institution embracing over three thousand practising architects and containing a school of international reputation.
Tne School has strong links, through its membership and through teaching, with tropical centres. Led by its students between the wars it helped to pioneer modern architecture and the new approach to design that that entailed.
The School has 380 students, the " undergraduates" pursuing a five year course. Their education is divided between studio design projects and lecture courses involving the fabric of buildings, communications and services (history of architecture, sciento-fic and economic ideas, etc.), and professional studies. Although they are students in the sense that they are learni'1'- and have examinations to pass . / have an extraordinary amount of power. Theirs is the role, not of the glorified schoolboy with book in front and university rod behind, but of partner in the educational system. Student and lecturer
share responsibility. The students can rid themselves of incompetent lecturers and tutors : they have an effective vote and are probationary members of the Architectural Association. It is this close link with the practising professional body of architects which is unique and which they value highly. The intimate link between student and practising architect is mutually stimulating, especially so since their lecturers are practising architects themselves.
What then is the plan for the incorporation of the school in IC ? The School would become the fourth Constituent College of IC and have equal status with RSM, RCS and C&G. Graduates of the School would then
gain University of London degrees, and the School would be represented on all the relevant governing bodies of IC. It would have an academic staff of 39 including four professors. Having University status its operating costs would be paid by the University Grants Committee.
The present premises of the Association and School are in Bedford Square, W.C1. A site in the immediate vicinity of IC, for the construction of a new building to house the School and its parent body is being negotiated at present. For the School, the advantages of the amalgation are immense. It will gain University status so that the main burden of financing the School will pass from the student pocket to the U.G.C. The teaching will benefit by contact with other university teachers in allied disciplines. Finally the students themselves will benefit by living in a University environment and meeting a wider range of students.
In fact, however, it was IC who made the initial approach to the A.A., proposing the amalgamation, and for IC, the broadening in scope of its character, disciplines, and undergraduate body is vital. In one step IC will gain 400 students, different and refreshing in their approach, to their work and lives. IC can only gain by their admission.
The present premises of the Architectural Association in Bedford Square
Phoenix
reviewed
by
* Edward Pank
Imperial College has need of a magazine like this. The idea of the Phoenix is right, but the present management is not developing it. There is a real danger of the magazine dying out through lack of good advertising, but above all lack of the organisation to tap whatever writing talent that we have at I.C. The high quality of the actual production is unfortunately belied by its contents.
The editorial is on an interesting subject, namely our relations as students with the state and the brain-drain. This is a large and complex matter, but one is left with a series of only half-drawn ideas and undeveloped comparisons which are rather unsatisfying.
The best article in the magazine is that on the psychology of " Westerns." But even here one is disappointed by seeing the earlier psychologists swallowed whole in a welter of Jungian and Freudian anlysis. It is interesting that the author saw fit to enrich our language by the addition of the word " irreality."
The subject of " Welfare and Taxation " is given most cursory treatment by David Reich. This article attempts to demolish the political ideas of centuries with a few awkward strokes. Even outrageous statements are little supported by argument or facts.
The only poem of any note is " The Chess Match," but unfortunately the religious theme is brought in too late to be effective. Would-be poets should be reminded that blank verse is probably the most difficult form to use effectively.
The article on the history of science is definitely on the right lines, but is rather too like the prospectus for a course at I.C., and the author's good ideas die of neglect.
The stories might best be described as unfortunate. The " gjmmick " is always the weakest way to end a short story. " An Ordinary Mortal " lacks action and is rather mundane. " Harold be Thy Name " is just the thing for nostalgic Dan Dare fans. One would trrnk that someone at the best Tech in Lritain could do better.
The photograph of the old man opposite " L a i " on page 29 is the most striking feature of the magazine. The composition and technical achievement add richly to the theme. It is unfortunate that those put off by the over hairstyled woman on the cover will not see it.
The magazine ends with a semi-hysterical outburst about students' rights and responsibilities. This article belongs at a stretch in FELIX—not in a literary magazine. One cannot escape the impression that " Phoenix " was too hastily assembled. " Phoenix " should play an important role in the life of a College of Technology ; let the literate among us step forward.
6 FELIX
E X T R A O R D I N A R Y
E N G I N E E R
by Mart in Walker
In one sense Prof. Laithwaite fits the popular picture of the good-natured but non-nonsense practical engineer. But he also has wide interests outside his field of heavy electrical machines. He founded a pop group in 1935, and has published papers in entomological journals on the love life of months. Beginning his career as an instrument repairman in the RAF, he didn't discover electrical engineering until he was 21. Since then, he has never looked back. He is now well known for his work on the linear induction motor and his " Propulsion Without Wheels." He is married with four children.
P R O F E S S O R
L A I T H W A I T E
One hears a lot in this country about ideas which die at the experimental stage without being developed commercially. Do you consider this a serious problem ? If so, what is being done about it ?
This is quite a serious problem. However, quite a lot is being done about it, particularly by Lord Jackson who is pushing for greater cooperation between university departments and industry. It doesn't affect me personally, because I seem to be getting my ideas developed by industry.
Do you think that money for development is more readily available in America ? Have you been tempted to go there ?
Yes, it is. And I have had offers to go to America. But I have never been tempted to go. I am very English, I suppose.
You have described the job of engineering as the economic exploitation of observed phenomena, the main objectives of the engineer being to make money. What, then, does an engineer do in a university besides teaching ?
Well, my kind of engineer spends his time inventing. An engineer actually is not so much concerned with truths as he is with concepts. He tries to devise new concepts and to select from them those which are profitable—both for himself, and for his company. I am Very interested in en-
Gregarious
Graduates and other young professional
people all join the
S A M O V A R CLUB
Wine and Music evenings, toffee parties, swimming talks, tennis, etc. S.a&, Samovar Club. 13 Lloyd Square, WJC4
gineering in industry, and assist by consulting for several organisations.
Who would own the development rights on a device of some sort discovered or invented by a professor at a university in the course of his work ?
Let me answer this by saying what happens in a case in point. At the moment I happen to have a couple of patentable ideas. The National Research and Development Corporation will finance the patent, which is taken
out by three parties : the inventor, the college, and the Corporation. The N.R.D.C. will then try to exploit the idea commercially. There is a revenue sharing agreement between the college and the N.R.D.C., and the college decides what the inventor's share will be. An engineer is actually better off financially as an academic than he would be in industry for this reason. In industry his ideas would belong solely to his company.
What qualities do you think make a good engineer ?
Primarily an awareness of three dimensions, an intuitive consciousness of three-dimensioned objects, and the ability to correlate the feel and sight of objects. Some of this is inborn, and some acquired early in life. A good engineer may be made or broken as a small child depending on whether he acquires this feel for solid objects or not. He must also be sound in logical argument of the sort used in mathematics, although he needn't be a good mathematician. But most of all he must have enthusiasm for his subject and the will to
Mind over matter ? It's easy when you know how , . .
FELLX 7
learn. He jiust be curious. These are the things I demand from a potential research student.
In educating potential engin
eers, do you believe in giving
them as general an academic and
practical education as possible (at
the undergraduate levr.-.) ? Or do
you believe in early « 1
intensive
specialised study ?
One can overgeneralise education, bearing in mind that a seventeen-year-old in general doesn't know what he wants tq do. I believe in the indli-vidual : if a chap knows what he wants to do it is tragic if the sharp edge of his enthusiasm is blunted by extra courses on topics which do not interest him. My personal ambition is to raise another Maxwell or Faraday, not just a generation of good engineers. My department subscribes in the main to broad education. I have been accused of lecturing only to potential research students — perhaps fairly, but it annoys me that a third year specialist in my subject gets only eleven lectures from me and forty-four from L.S.E.
In America a large number of
engineering graduates go into
business and civil administration.
Is this a trend in Britain ?
Among the people who run Britain's industries to-day, there are still many who are self-made men. Business management, for instance, is often composed largely of men who have risen from the shop floor. Unfortunately their minds are for the most part not formally trained, and they are handicapped by a lack of respect for academic's. In a sense, Britain is waiting for these men to retire. Engineers should then fill some of these managerial and administrative posts, but whether this is a trend or not, I dont know. It should be.
Do you think it is the job of
this college to produce engineers
and scientists—or technologists in
general—for industry, or people
who are more generally qualified
for management and the civil
service ?
First of all, let me say that engineers and scientists are the same thing. I feel quite strongly about this, for many people in high places are stating publicly that an engineer is not a scientist.
Nationally speaking, the Germans and the British are best at producing new ideas, and these are what we should try to export. To do it, we must be good at engineering. Thus the most important thing for this country is to encourage the best students to study applied science at university. At the G.C.E. level, the only sciences they know are physics, maths and chemistry. And this is all their teachers know. Thus if senior peonle keep emphasising that engineering is not science, the brighter science students in schools will simply not choose it as a career and the country will suffer. I am sure that too often the advice of a careers master is : " If you are not good enough to read physics, you can always do engineering." They should explain that there is engineering science and pure science.
I try to attract good students from the schools into applied science through my membership of one of the G.C.E. Examination Advisory Boards, which advise on syllabus revision. One of the main iobs of the college is to encourage the best students we have. If we don't, no one else will . After that we can also hope to produce good people for industry including management.
How would you feel about the
introduction of schools of busi
ness administration and of the
social sciences into Imperial
College ?
This will be all right if the people taking business administration are doing it instead of, not as well as, engineering. Our students are busy enough as it i s ; they don't have enough time to pursue their own interests. That is partly inevitable because of the amount to be learned— we can't teach them all they have to know in three years. It all goes back to the will to learn : oppose the stu
dents' wishes and you'll make them, dull boys. Tell them what's good for them and they won't like it. I think engineers should be given the option of not doing general studies, for example. Let the bright students specialise ; if a student has brains, he will learn about things outside his own field of specialisation anyway.
Do you conceive Imperial Col
lege as expanding eventually into
a university with a full spectrum
of humanities ?
No. Other parts of the University of London do this ; why should we ? Besides we haven't enough space for our existing facilities, let alone room for expansion. 1 would like to see I.C. become the M.I.T. of England by concentrating on being best at what we are already doing.
What is your principal problem
in organising research at the pre
sent time ?
I think perhaps, getting enough hands and brains to do the work. In the last few years none of our new graduates have stayed on for research. It is hoped that after a period in industry they will return, but once a man has worked in industry and got married, he's not going to come back to do postgraduate work at £800 a year or so. As a result, we have not enough people to try out all the idsas we should like
It is relatively easy to get money for research equipment but incredibly difficult to get a man's salary and this seems to be a very curious national policy.
Martin Walker, who has
written this series of articles on
prominent academic figures in
IC. is a Canadian and graduate
of Carlton University, Ottawa,
where he worked on the stu
dent newspaper. He is now a
postgraduate in physics.
A CAREER IN
Tha KaJdo steel-making process. Today, oyer half of Britain's steel comes from processes developed within the past ten yean.
T a k e a g o o d l o o k a t s t e e l a n d t h e r o a d t o t o p m a n a g e m e n t . In t h e h i g h l y
a d v a n c e d t e c h n o l o g i c a l w o r l d o f s t e e l , t h e r e is c a l l fo r g r a d u a t e s w i t h m a n y
d i f f e r e n t s c i e n t i f i c a n d e n g i n e e r i n g q u a l i f i c a t i o n s . T h e r e a re e x c i t i n g o p p o r t u
n i t i e s i n c o m p a n i e s a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y t o w o r k o n n e w p r o j e c t s a s w e l l a s i n
p r o d u c t i o n , p l a n t m a i n t e n a n c e a n d q u a l i t y c o n t r o l .
A b o v e a l l , t h e s t e e l i n d u s t r y o f fe rs o p p o r t u n i t i e s to p r o g r e s s to t o p - l i n e m a n a g e
m e n t , a s m a n y o f t o d a y ' s l e a d e r s i n t h e i n d u s t r y h a v e p r o v e d . For d e t a i l s o f
a c a r e e r in S t e e l g e t in t o u c h w i t h y o u r U n i v e r s i t y A p p o i n t m e n t s B o a r d .
B r i t i s h I r o n a n d S t e e l F e d e r a t i o n S t e e l H o u s e T o t h i l l S t r e e t L o n d o n S W 1
FELIX
C A R N I V A L
W6dnCSd3]f May 10th 8:00pm
SOUTHSIDE STOMP S P E N C E R S WASHBOARD KINGS B A R
and the SPLINTER GROUP 5s
and afterwards in Union MIDNIGHT FILM FESTIVAL
thursday & friday ? 3 o P m
" O V E R T H E E D G E " 'scintillating wit scathing'
1 D R A M S O C REVUE
Concert Hall Price 3s.
Saturday 8 to12pm
GRAND FINALE DANCE with JIMI
3 BARS HENDRIX
EXPERIENCE
t i c k e t s 10s each support ing groups
9
RUGBY CLUB IN IRELAND
GUINNESS ALMOST VICTORIOUS
After a Gale Force 8 crossing it was a rather weary party of Rugby players that fell off the boat in Dublin with nothing but a cold, rainy day to greet them. At the Customs certain members of the group had to pay import duty on their breath alone.
After a couple of hours sleep the five healthiest members were dragged out of bed by Fagins to play against Guinness Brewery. The rest of the team could only summon the strength to locate the bar. While Rayner and O'Reilly had been dragged out by " Boo-Boo" Smith to locate Trinity College to arrange Tuesday's game it was at 6.30 a.m. the following morning that Guinness scored a techni-cal(?) knock-out over Smith in the 21st round, Trinity having been forgotten long ago.
9-8 WIN
Sunday saw the visit to Navan Rugby Club for the first game of the tour. After travelling through a snowstorm en route the players found a pitch in similar condition to themselves. However, with Pine in his usual sparkling form, the tough Navan forwards were gradually overcome by a recovering I.C. team. Despite a gale force wind the ball was thrown around with gay abandon and I.C. eventually ran out worthy winners by 9—8, thanks to tries by " Doddy," Riley and Bell.
At the dance that evening Powell and Vickerstaff indulged in a highland fling that had Robbie Burns turning in his grave.
FAST T.C.D
On Monday the team travelled to Trinity College to face a big, fast experienced Trinity X V . The events of the previous night solved the problem of team selection and it was 15 apprehensive black and blue jerseys that took the field. However, last night was soon forgotten and I.C. opened with some of their finest Rugby of the season, treating the large number of spectators to a feast of open Rugby. However keen T.C.D. tackling prevented a rout, and I.C. were unlucky only to have 11 points on the board at half-time, due to Bell, a hard-working forward, Dodson and Earl, none of which were converted thanks to some inglorious shots at goal. Unfortunately half-time brought snow, hail and anything else the heavens could offer. The game then closed up some and after Vickerstaff had put one of the T.C.D. second rows to sleep, some time before his usual bedtime, the game warmed up to offset the effects of the snow. However Irish tempers proved nothing to match the soothing effect of the I.C. pack and order was soon restored. Doddy then went on to score another fine try which Riley converted with a magnificent kick from under the posts.
RECORD BROKEN ?
Tuesday was the I.C. Sabbath and the day was spent trying to break the Guuinness drinking record. As the recorder was the first to fall the record was only broken unofficially. In the evening Williams, suitably aided by Kelly, entertained the Limelight Club to the green green grass of home and many other Welsh ditties.
She was closely followed by that merry ploughboy John Lum with a selection of Irish ballads, though the Irish didn't seem to recognise them as such.
U.C.D. BEATEN
The final game against U.C.D. was nearly a tragedy due to their turning out a young, fit, extremely keen side. However the old old hands in the I.C. front row — Casson, Powell and O'Reilly—soon subdued the fiery Irish forwards with their experience and with Lum dominating the line-outs, I.C. managed to provide ample ball for the three-quarters. John Earl dropped two beautiful goals and John Kelly, showing all his early fire and determination went over for a magnificent try. Time after time I.C. were saved , by Pine whose defence was as secure as the Rock of Gibraltar and I.C. eventually ran out worthy victors by 9 points against 3.
On the whole a grand tour was enjoyed by the College and the behaviour and spirit, both on and off the field, left behind with the Irish a very favourable impression of I.C.
MEMBERS ONLY
There are some people who have not handed in their Rugby Shirts or Dinner Money. These must be in by N E X T M O N D A Y AT.THE LATEST Please give either to J. O'Reilly or leave at the Cloakroom.
To get the most into the least
R.CS. MOTOR CLUB NEED A MINI
R.C.S. Motor Club has received an invitation to enter a "Most in a Mini" Contest at the "Grand Mini Festival" at Brands Hatch on Sunday, 28th May, organised by B.M.C. and the Mini 7 Club. None of our members at present owns a Mini saloon, so if Y O U own a Mini saloon and are willing to consider entering this competition, send a note to the Secretary, R.C.S. Motor Club, via the Union letter rack, to ask for more details.
The first prize in this competition is £25 and the driver and team will be given Brands Hatch privilege passes for the day. There will be a full programme of motor races for all
types of cars, organised by the B.R.S.C.C., and the Mini 7 Club will present the Festival Events, which will include two Grand Parades, a "Pop-Art" Mini Painting Contest, driving tests, skid-pan demonstrations, a fashion-house parade, a Gala Fancy Dress Competition, and the " Most in a Mini " Contest.
Anyone volunteering his car would have its suspension temporarily strengthened by the Motor Club to enable it to take the extra weight and. of course, every effort will be made to ensure that the car cannot suffer in any way.
BRIAN MEGGINSON (Hon. Sec, R.C.S. Motor Club)
H o w a n a c c o u n t
w i t h t h e
W e s t m i n s t e r
c a n p l a y a n
i m p o r t a n t p a r t
i n y o u r c a r e e r
THINGS CAN BE very difficult when you get out on your
own. Everything suddenly, frighteningly ^pensive. Ends
hardly ever seeming to meet. The Westmiast r can help
you, as it helps thousands of young people cveiy ear.
1. As you get into your stride. You'll soon have money decisions to make (types of insurance, mortgage problems, and so on). Your local Westminster Manager has immense experience of such problems. Let him help you draw up a personal budget that will give you a chance to build up a small reserve of capital.
2. The price of success. The more successful you are, the more expenses you will have. And the more you'll need to keep track of where your money's going. Clothes, entertainment, foreign travel, children's education. The Westminster gives you a precise record of how you spend your money and will pay all your regular bills by ' standing order'.
3. When you reach the top. Sooner or later you'll have to invest quite substantial sums of personal capital. The quality of your life after retirement depends on how you do it. The best advice comes from someone who knows you. That's when you're doubly glad you joined the Westminster early, and built up a good relationship with your Manager.
4. A word about your Manager. His instinct is not to warn, but to help. Call in on your local Westminster Manager—you'll see what an up-to-date bank can do. And you'll probably find he is prepared to reduce the cost of your bank charges in the early years of your career.
Have a talk this week with your local Westminster Manager. Ask how he can help you in your career. The Westminster has over 1,380 branches in England and Wales. Head Office: 41 Lothbury, London, EC2.
This was not actually the sailing club on an Easter cruise, nearer the Goon Show on safari. The cruise was better nlanned, and eaually enjoyable.
CRUISING A L O N G
Over the Easter vacation, about 37 people put out to sea in various small boats under the auspices of the Deep Sea Section of the Sailing Club. This section has recently expanded rapidly, seven boats being charterecr this time from Lymington, Salcombe and Maldon in Essex, the cruises covering a total distance of nearly .3000 miles.
FLAG PLANTED
Among other things, the Torrey Canyon was visited, the Scilly Isles circumnavigated and the French canals and rivers sailed upon. The Imperial College flag was planted on most of the Channel Isles, and the South and East coasts, of England were thoroughly explored. One boat defied nature by beating into a force 8 gale, whilst the crews of the two East Coast hpats witnessed, another yacht blow up and sink at close quarters, fortunately no one being injured
CHARTER FEES
The main object of the section is to give members experience of deep-saa sailing, navigation and seamanship. The only difficulty is one of money—the charter fees are all paid put of members' pockets. The Union has gone someway towards alleviating this by generously providing money for safety equipment and charts, but the ultimate goal must still remain a boat of our own with which to win ocean races.
DOING ANYTHING THIS VAC?
AEGENA CLUB
organises student travel, villa
parties, tours and cruises in
GREECE TURKEY CYPRUS
Details from: 25 Hills Road, Tel. 63256 Cambridge
E A S T E R H O C K E Y
T O U R On Friday, March 24th, fifteen
members of the club left England by the night boat from Harwich to the Hook of Holland. Arriving W '6.30 a.m., we took a train to Amsterdam and thence to Alkmaar, about 30 kilometres away. We remained there for three days and took part in an international festival. The games were played on Sunday and Monday. On Sunday, I.C. played against Lyons University, an Alkmaar side and a side from the Hoek, H.D.M. Drawing the first game against Lyons, I.C. went on to win the next two games and this half of the draw. The final was . played on Monday against " Clipper "Hamburg, a side containing three internationals. This game was played in very wet conditions and I.C. held their own, but for one total breakthrough of which Clipper took full advantage. We thus lost 1—2 and came second in the festival.
While in Alkmaar, the sides stayed with members of the home club and were showered with an embarrassing amount of hospitality. No one was allowed a second's boredom.
GRONONGEN
On Monday evening, we left with our hosts for, the next three days, Forward, the Gronongen University side, who had also been at the festival. Unfortunately, due to the rain, outdoor hockey was out of the question, so Forward took us sailing, sightseeing, wined and dined us in great style and arranged some indodr hockey. We took to this game very quickly and in a friendly tournament did not disgrace ourselves, nor that evening did we disgrace our hosts when they provided us with a limitless supply of liquor.
HOMEWARDS
On Friday, 31st March, we returned to Amsterdam where we visited the Heineken Brewery and did some sightseeing. The night was spent in a hotel recommended to us by Forward and we left Holland the nex\ day with many very pleasant memories.
U. L. CHAMPS I. C. take Womens Ath let ics Cup
This year's U.L. Championships, Jd last Friday and Saturday, pro-iced some twenty contested events.
There were some outstanding results, and I.C. ended with three cups in its possession—two individual and one team. The latter—the Sherwood Challenge Cup for Women — is awarded on a factor basis. Thus the points scored are multiplied by a factor, based on the number of women in each college—so I.C. had a generous allowance. However, this in no way detracts from the meritorious achievement, particularly as our points were scored by only two competitors. Ann Burrell, who retained her high jump title, gained the 80m. hurdles and was second in the long jump-y-and Margaret Lumley was second in the hurdles.
BARTON WINS In the competition for the remain
ing three cups, I.C. were unplaced in the "Men's Factor Cup," were third in the " Roseberry Men's Cup," only a few points behind U.C., but some way behind Guy's Hospital (last year's winners), and were third in the " Imperial College Women's Cup," behind Royal Free Hospital and Royal Holloway College.
Individual cups were won by Nick Barton, in the 880, and Mike Evans, in the high jump. N. Barton recovered well, from being boxed in at the start, to take the lead during the first lap, and hung on to win in 1 min. 58.5 sec. This was slightly slower than his last time, and by no means as easy a race. As expected M. Evans main rival was team-mate Mole Weaver, and a close competition resulted. Both cleared 5 ft. 10 in., and failing at 6ft—M. Evans won with fewer failures.
CONVINCING WIN FOR BECK
From I.C.'s point of view, the performance most worthy of a cup was by Richard Beck, in the 440. How* ever, there is no cup for this event. R. Beck won convincingly, beating :hampion I. Morgan (Guys), and achieved a personal best of 49.4, just 0.3 sees, outside the College record. This was after running two fast 220s —finishing second in the final.
Another College athlete who achieved a personal best was Paul Jones, who increased his best triple jump to 45 ft. 1 in.—this with a below full offered attempt, to end a sequence of no jumps. However, John Myers (St. Mary's) won with a jump of 48 ft. lin.—this beating the University record, held by ex-I.C. jumper D. Smith. Former Cambridge athlete, Dwamoa Adu, now of U.C.H. was second on 46 ft. 9in.
LONG JUMP
In the long jump, a disappointed Derek Wade managed only 21 ,ft. H i in. and had to concede victory to his Belgrave Harriers clubmate John Mitchell (Royal Free Hospital). The latter also found time between jumps to win the 100 yds., but, due to a blustery headwind, his time was only 10.4 sees. I.C. produced three of the placed runners in the steeplechase. Howard Smith finished 3rd, and Tony Mason, running his first steeplechase, finished 5th. Dave Downie cleared only 9 ft. 6 in. in the pole vault—a foot below his best winter jump—and finished 4th. With training his form should begin to return.
SUCCESS
Unexpected points were gained in the 120 yds. hurdles, where College champions (Ten Weh Sam), after leading all the way, lost to Domaigne (Guys) in the finishing straight. Neil Johnson (I.C:) ended in fifth place. As expected, the College results in the field events were poor—there was only one thrower competing. With more competitions in this sphere, I.C. might well have won the championships.
This was one of I.C.'s more successful championships, and as a result I.C. should now be providing a proportion of the U.L. team. Consequently the college team, for this term's matches, will be somewhat reduced in strength. Thus new members will be needed —• anyone interested should contact the club and watch the notice board.
I. R. WINSHIP.
me i Ik.-™ A scene from the steeple-chase event at the championships, held at Motspur Park Photo—D. Ormiston
Published by D. E. Potter for and on behalf of FELIX BOARD
Imperial College, London, S.W.7. and printed by WEST LONDON
OFFSET CO.. 86, Lillie Rd., London, S.W.6. Tel.: FUL 7969
E d i 1 o r : S t e w a r t • - B a r n e s
M a y B a l l : . - s t e w C h a p m a n r e p l i e s
S i r -
T h e s t o r y r e f e r r i n g - ; t o - M a y B a l l C h a o s : : i s t h e m o s t b i a s e d
n o n - r e p o r t i n g a r t i c l e I h a v e s e e n s i n c e r e a d i n g l a s t S u n d a y ' s
" N e w s , o f t h e W o r l d " . T h e a r t i c l e a n d f a c t s h a d ' b e e n . e d i t e d t o m i s
r e p r e s e n t t h e t o t a l s t o r y . W h a t ' s t h e p o i n t o f a l l o w i n g a " F E L I X
r e p o r t e r i n t o t h e M a y B a l l i f h e i s n ' t g o i n g t o r e p o r t i t ? T h e M a y
. B a l l d i d n o t s t u m b l e f r o m m i s h a p t o m i s h a p d u e t o c i i a a t i c o r g a n i s
a t i o n a s t h e a r t i c l e i n f e r s , ' . T h e r e - w e r e t w o m i s h a p s , n e i t h e r - h a v i n g
a n y t h i n g t o d p W i t h t h e E n t s C o m m i t t e e .
T h e m o n e y w a s m y o w n r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , a n d t h e o n u s f o r g i v i n g f r e e
t i c k e t s t o C a r n i v a l Q u e e n f i n a l i s t s l i e s w i t h t h e P r e s i d e n t . C h a p m a n
( m y s e l f ) s p e n t t h r e e h o u r s i m a g i n i n g a b o u t t h e " f a t e o f . . h i s g i r l
f r i e n d " . W h e n t h e c a s h w a s f i n a l l y n e c e s s a r y ; I t o o k . a t a x i t o h e r
h o m e o n h e a r i n g h o w s i c l c s h e h a d b e e n .
T h i s y e a r ' s M a y B a l l w a s r e g a r d e d b y m o s t p e o p l e a s b e i n g t h e
m o s t e n t e r t a i n i n g a n d t r o u b l e f r e e f o r s e v e r a l j r e a r s .
T h i s w a s d u e m a i n l y t o E n t s C o m m i t t e e a n t i c i p a t i n g t h e p r o b l e m s
a n d a v e r t i n g o n t h e n i g h t t h o s e t h a t c o u l d n o t b e f o r e s e e n , i . e .
a r r a n g i n g a n o t h e r b a n d ^ a t t h i r t y m i n u t e s n o t i c e , t o p l a y i n p l a c e
o f o n e w h o h a d n o t t u r n e d u p , p e r s u a d i n g a g r o u p t o p l a y t h e c o n
t r a c t e d t i m e .
I c o n s i d e r t h e a r t i c l e g r o s s l y u n f a i r t o t h e E n t s C o m m i t t e e .
R . S . C h a p m a n ( C h a i r m a n . . . - o f E n t s ) E d i t o r ( P E L I X ) : ;
A p a r t f r o m t h e l o s s o f m o n e y , f o r w h i c h M r . C h a p m a n h a s h i m s e l f
. . . a c c e p t e d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , n o b l a m e w a s a p p o r t i o n e d i n t h e a r t i c l e
c o n c e r n e d t o a n y o n e , l e t - a l o n e t h e E n t e r t a i n m e n t s C o m m i t t e e , f o r
t h e m i s h a p s t h a t o c c u r r e d a t t h e B a l l ,
( F u r t h e r l e t t e r s h e l d o v e r t o n e x t i s s u e )
U n i o n M e e t i n g I n c u o r a t e - C . I . A . . D e b a t e
I t s e e m s - t h a t t h e ~S . A . M . ( S t u d e n t A p a t h y M o v e m e n t ) i s w i n n i n g ; y e t
a n o t h e r U n i o n M e e t i n g w a s i i i q u o r a t e .
W h e n , a t a b o u t 1 . 2 0 w h e n o n l y 1 0 0 p e o p l e h a d t u r n e d u p , T o n y D u k e .
s u g g e s t e d t h a t a m o t i o n t h a t I . C . U , s h o u l d a p p l y f o r a g r a n t f r o m t h e
C . I . A . s h o u l d b e d i s c u s s e d a s a d e b a t e , t h e m e e t i n g a g r e e d .
T h e m o t i o n , w h i c h w a s o r i g i n a t e d b y P e t e R u h e m a n , w a s l i g h t -
h e a r t e d a n d w a s m e a n t t o . r e d u c e p o l i t i c a l t e n s i o n i n t h e U n i o n .
T h e m o t i o n w a s p r o p o s e d b y M i k e E d w a r d s a n d o p p o s e d b y P a v e
R e i c h . T h e d e b a t e w a s m o s t a m u s i n g ( D e b a t e e s p l e a s e t a k e n o t e )
P r o p o s i n g t h e m o t i o n . M i k e E d w a r d s s u g g e s t e d t h a t , s i n c e t h e
U n i o n w a s i n f i n a n c i a l d i f f i c u l t i e s , t h e C . I . A . w a s a g o o d s o u r c e o f
m o n e y a s i t t i e d f e w s t r i n g s t o i t , , u n l i k e - t h e X . 3 . B .
D a v e R e i c h o p p o s e d , s a y i n g t h a t i t w a s b a d - e n o u g h b e i n g d i r e c t e d
b y a S o c i a l i s t g o v e r n m e n t ; d i d w e w a n t t o b e p u p p e t s o f A m e r i c a n
c a p i t a l i s t s a n d r u n b y t h e W h i t e H o u s e a n d ' t h e p e n t a g o n ?
T h . e m o t i o n w a s - p a s s e d b y 101+ t o 1 h P w i t h 2 8 a b s t e n t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g
t h e E x e c u t i v e . •• . .
S . E . B a r n e s
H a l l d i s c i p l i n e ?
P o u r p e o p l e w h o - t h r e w a 2 1 s t b i r t h d a y p a r t y l a s t " S a t u r d a y i n T i z a r d
h a v e n o w b e e n g i v e n t h e c h o i c e o f a £ 1 0 f i n e o r a w e e k o u t o f H a l l ,
a s t h e r e s u l t o f a u n a n i m o u s d e c i s i o n o f T i z a r d H a l l C o m m i t t e e , A n
u n i n v i t e d g u e s t , a c e r t a i n - : . ' . . - , p r e s s e d t h e f i r e - a l a r m
b u t t o n a n d t h e f o u r p a r t y - g i v e r s a r e b e i n g ' h e l d r e s p o n s i b l e , " T h e
H a l l C o m m i t t e e i s c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e q u e s t i o n o f s a f e t y ' : . , i t w a s
s t a t e d . " P e o p l e s h o u l d n o t - c r y ' w o l f r f o r f u n . " T h e d e c i s i o n i s
u n d e r s e v e r e c r i t i c i s m ' f r o m a l l - s i d e s . ( S e e l e t t e r o v e r )
L a t e F l a s h . - i ? o l x C o r . c e r t
T o n i g i a t s T u e s d a y , t h e F E L I X s t a f f w e r e w o r k i n g i n a n e m p t y U n i o n .
W i t h " a n e s t i m a t e d i j . , 5 0 0 a t t e n d i n g , i t w o u l d a p p e a r t h a t t h e m a j o r
e v e n t o f C a r n i v a l w e e k i s g o i n g t o b e y e t a n o t h e r s u c c e s s - . f o r t h i s
y e a r ' s ' n e w - l o o k ' C a r n i v a l C o m m i t t e e .
T h e c o n c e r t w a s o p e n e d l a y T o n y D u k e w h o h o p e d t h a t i t w o u l d b e
t h e f i r s t o f m a n y s i m i l a r o c c a s i o n s , a n d A l f g a r n e t t w h o a s k e d w W h o
w a s t h a t t o f f e e n o s e d g i t ? "
T h e i n t e r v a l w a s e n l i v e n e d b y R u g b y - s h i r t e d g i r l s c o l l e c t i n g
m o n e y f o r a c e r t a i n c h a r i t y .
P a r k i n g M e t e r s
E v e r y o n e a t I . C ' . a c c e p t s , , I p r e s u m e , t h e n e e d f o r s o m e f o r m o f
c o n t r o l o v e r c a r - p a r k i n g i n l a r g e c i t i e s . I n t h e c a s e o f L o n d o n , t h e
p o w e r s t h a t b e h a v e o p t e d f o r p a r k i n g m e t e r s a n d t h e s e c o i n - h u n g r y
d e v i c e s a r e p r o p o s e d f o r t h i s a r e a f r o m n e x t J a n u a r y .
L a s t T h u r s d a y , I . C . U n i o n h a d M r . B a n n i s t e r o f t h e G - . L . C . p a r k i n g
c o m m i t t e e a l o n g t o e x p l a i n t h e r e a s o n s a n d a n s w e r q u e s t i o n s . R e _ b e g a n
b y m a k i n g i t c l e a r t h a t a n y c o m m e n t s p a s s e d w e r e o n l y h i s o w n o p i n i o n
a n d w e r e n o t t o b e r e g a r d e d a s o f f i c i a l .
H e t h e n o u t l i n e d t h e G - . L . C . p a r k i n g p o l i c y . T h i s i s b a s e d o n
g i v i n g p r i o r i t i e s t o v a r i o u s k i n d s o f v e h i c l e s . I n h i g h e s t t o l o w e s t
o r d e r t h e y a r e ; - m o r n i n g t r a f f i c , s h o r t t e r m p a r k e r s , m e d i u m t e r m
p a r k e r s a n d t h e n a l l - d a y p a r k i n g . R e s i d e n t s , h e s a i d , h a d a g o o d
c a s e f o r s o m e p r i o r i t 3 ? - .
S u g g e s t i o n s f r o m t h e f l o o r g i v i n g a l t e r n a t i v e s a n d ^ s u g g e s t i n g
m o d i f i c a t i o n s w e r e m e t w i t h t h e o b j e c t i o n ' T h a t i s n o t g . L . C .
p o l i c y ' . M o s t o f t h e a u d i e n c e s e e m e d d i s s a t i s f i e d w i t h t h i s .
F o r r e s i d e n t s , t h e r e a r e p l a n n e d s o m e a l l - d a y m e t e r s , b u t t h e s e
w i l l n o t b e s u f f i c i e n t t o g o r o u n d . R e s i d e n t s w i l l h a v e t o o b t a i n
p e r m i t s t o u s e t h e s e p l a c e s . A s k e d i f p e o p l e i n H a l l w e r e r e s i d e n t s ,
M r . B a n n i s t e r r e a d o u t t h e C i t y o f W e s t m i n s t e r d e f i n i t i o n o f r e s i d
e n t s . T o q u a l i f y , a p e r s o n m u s t h a v e h a d t h e i r u s u a l o r m a i n r e s i d
e n c e h e r e f o r o n e m o n t h i n t h e p r e v i o u s t w e l v e m o n t h s . H a l l r e s i d
e n t s w o u l d t h u s b e e l i g i b l e a f t e r o n e m o n t h .
Q u o t e f r o m ' V a r s i t y * - C a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y N e w s p a p e r ) _
" V e r o n i c a N e e d h a m i s " i n h e r ' t h i r d y e a r a n d i s p r e s i d e n t o f t h e
H o m e r t o n U n i o n . S h e i s p l a y i n g a l e a d i n g p a r t i n t h e c a m p a i g n t o
g e t t h e 3 E d . ' I p l a n t o l e a r n f o r a y e a r i n F r a n c e b e f o r e I s t a r t
h e r e ' . . . . ' A t K o m e r t o n w e c o m b i n e t h e h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n o f t h e s t u d e n t
w i t h a t r a i n i n g f o r t h e p r o f e s s i o n . . . . t h e s p e c i a l a b i l i t y o f o u r
g i r l s a l l o w s u s m o r e s c o p e . . . . i t i s a n a t u r a l t h i n g t o e x p e c t f r o m
a g i r l . . . i t i s n o t f a i r t h a t t h e y s h o u l d b e p e n a l i z e d . '
S i r -
I s h o u l d l i k e t o t a k e t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y o f m o s t s t r o n g l y p r o t e s t
i n g a t t h e T i z a r d D i s c i p l i n a r y C o m m i t t e e ' s c o n c e p t o f j u s t i c e w h i c h
r e s u l t e d i n t h e o n e w e e k o u t / g 1 0 f i n e p u n i s h m e n t s f o r t h e o r g a n i s e r s
o f S a t u r d a y ' s p a r t y .
T o s e t o f f f i r e a l a r m s i s i n d e e d a s e r i o u s o f f e n c e , b u t i s t h e r e
a n y p a r r a l e l i n B r i t i s h l a w f o r p u n i s h i n g t h e o r g a n i s e r s o f t h e
f u n c t i o n b u t n o t t h e o f f e n d e r h i m s e l f ? T h e r e h a s b e e n n o s u g g e s t i o n
t h a t t h e p a r t y w a s l e s s w e l l c o n t r o l l e d t h a n t h o s e p r e v i o u s l y o r g a n
i s e d b y t h e H a l l C o m m i t t e e a n d i n d e e d i t a p p e a r s t h a t t h e o r g a n i s e r s
a r e m e r e l y c o n v e n i e n t s c a p e g o a t s u n d e r t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e H a l l
c o m m i t t e e o f w h o m a n e x a m p l e c a n b e m a d e . T h e r e i s n o t h i n g t h e y
c o u l d h a v e d o n e t o a v o i d t h i s o c c u r e n c e a n d s u r e l y t h e p u r p o s e o f
b e i n g r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e b e h a v i o u s o f y o u r g u e s t s i s t o a l l o w f o r
m i s b e h a v i o u s o n t h e p a r r f c o f g u e s t s n o t . u n d e r C o l l e g e " " j u r i s d i c t i o n .
I n t h i s c a s e t h e of f e n d e r i s a k n o w n , m e m b e r o f t h e C o l l e g e , h a s c o m
m i t t e d w h a t i s a l v a o s t c e r t a i n l y a C o l l e g e o f f e n c e a n d c a n r e c e i v e
p u n i s h m e n t a p p r o p r i a t e l y w h i c h w i l l a l s o s e r v e a s t h e n e c e s s a r y d e t e r
r e n t t o o t h e r s .
W h a t f u r t h e r p u r p o s e c a n b e s e r v e d b y t h e s e e x c e e d i n g l y h e a v y
p u n i s h m e n t s a t t h i s s t a g e o f t h e y e a r ? T h a t t h e H a l l C o m m i t t e e w i s h
t o d o t h e i r u t m o s t t o p r e v e n t t h i s o c c u r i n g a g a i n i s u n d e r s t a n d a o l e
b u t t h e y h a d b e t t e r s w a l l o w t h e i r p r i d e a n d l e a v e p u n i s h m e n t t o t h a t
o f t h e a p p r o p r i a t e p e r s s o n b y t h e a p p r o p r i a t e a u t h o r i t i e s .
L e t u s h o p e t h a t I I . C . c a n s t a y ' c l e a r o f t h e k i n d o f p s e u d o -
j u s t i c e c o m m o n l y m e t e d , o u t a t o t h e r u n i v e r s i t i e s f o r t h e c o n v e n i e n c e
o f a u t h o r i t y . H .W . S t a t o n - B e v a n
W i t h ; J o h n M u l l a l y , f a ^ T W i l l i a m s , K i ^ c k ^ c T a r k e T P e t e " M u n d a y K e n S i m p s o n