>jOEyv N I o Seaver The Newspaper of the London School of Economics Students' Union First published May 5, 1949 Octobcr 2-*th 1995 Page 8 -On the wagon with James MacAonghus ge*'" Page 11 - Simon Retallack on Michael Portillo's flag-waving speech at the Tory party conference Page 15 - Fantasy Beaverball™ is back by popular demand for a second season Troubles at High Holbom Even the police at the High Holborn protest are bored by the situation. Photo: Stephane Sireau News Editor The ongoing saga at the LSE's latest hall of residence entered a new stage last week, as a Government education minister officially opened the hall, students demonstrated and residents threatened a rent strike. The official opening of High Holborn Hall by Eric Forth MP last Monday was met by a protest organised by the Students' Union (SU). The picket of around twenty-five students, mainly from left-wing groups demonstrating against the government's higher education policy, made clear their opinion about both Mr Forth and the Conservatives more generally. However, they failed to make much impact on the residents of the hall, few of whom were involved in the protest. One masters student left the hall saying, "[I have] no idea what the demonstration is about." Mr Forth's tour of the £12.5 million "state of the art student residence", was criticised by some hall residents. The computer room he was shown is not yet operational, and the phones placed in student rooms were not connected. However, David Segal, Assistant Secretary at the School, who showed Mr Forth around the hall said there was no deception involved - "we made the position very clear with Eric Forth." With regard to the SU demonstration, Mr Forth, speaking exclusively to The Beaver, said he was "aware of the concerns of many students." However, he believed that many of the arguments made by student campaigners were hard to justify - the gradual move from grants to loans had not placed higher education out of reach of those from low income households. As to the long-term future of higher education funding - as discussed in The Beaver last week - Mr Forth refused to be drawn about Government plans, saying only that the issue was "being debated". Most residents of High Holbom-dubbed the "finest student residence in London" by the developer of the building - seem more concerned about some of the problems they have faced during the past few weeks in the hall, than student hardship. As Garth Mullins, one of those leading the campaign to obtain a rebate from School authorities, said, "There is a legitimate, large movement of people who are very angry." This anger is, however, tempered by the fear that the School may simply evict defaulting students from the hall - one student said "we're worried about being chucked out." Although unlikely, around 120 LSE students are actively looking for accommodation, and would almost certainly accept the offer of a place in High Holbom. The School has tried to make amends - all residents will receive £10 worth of free calls Continued on page 3 LSE first as strip club trades on Wall Street Juliet Horsley and Dhara Ranasingiie The LSE, so frequently referred to as a political "hotbed" has produced a graduate who appears to have taken this idea a little too literally. Unlike other alumni who have become presidents, prime ministers, ambassadors and Mick Jagger; ex-LSE student, Robert Watters, does not fall under any such category. Canadian born Mr Watters, having become disillusioned with a career in law, set up a "Gentlemen's Club" complete with "dancers" and a neon lit runwajj, which last week became the first such establishment to be publicly traded on Wall Street. Such an action merited front page coverage in The Guardian. Given the success of Mr Watters' recent venture it would seem this is an area ripe for expansion. Last year alone the club made a profit of $200,000, proving that Mr Watters' time at the LSE was not fruitless. Such profits have prompted other rival companies, for example Colorado's 'Bar & Grill' to consider following Mr Watters example and moving onto Wall Street. It has also been rumoured that Mr Watters plans to open a similar club in London stating "it certainly needs the excitement." 2 News Watts THE BEAVER OCTOBER 24,1995 on track John Watts MP, speaking at the LSE Conservative Students' Society. Photo: Anastasia Shorter Teuber issues ultimatum uNiotfci iPi "JACK T ast Thursday was a sad day for J—/Jack. Two great legends, one a winner, the olhcr a born loser, pa.ssed away into the great yonder. Red Rum, beloved of tnillioas, was quietly laid to rest at the site of his greatest victories. And; Bernardo Duggan. the eminent grease ofi LSESU politics, was buried in a hail ^ paper whilst giving his farewell speech. The juxtaposition is inappropriate.,' Bemsirdo is certainly no thoroughbred h<»se,; more m ass. In fact, the only thing he has remotely in common witli horses is that he lives in Argentina (rumours that he owns ^ stud fam there are unfounded). No.theimageJackthoughtofasthesoon-to-be Dr Duggan scurried up on to tiie stage wasofToad of Totid HalL without the style in clothes. The announceinent of his departure was : greeted with shock. This manifested itself in . a grave-like silence for niost of his speech, which from Bernardo's view was the worst possible thing to happen. It meant we heard his jokes. Or,rather, his attempted jokes. Jack thou^t ten years at the LSE wouldhawbeens enough time to think up some decent gags. . Instead, the UGM was reminded of the Tories* dress seme (Bernardo's polyester trou-. sers)andadvisednoltoreadtiie long-awaited thesis. Ha ha. After this false stert the starter gave his orders and si^alled that he had in fact tssd theaile-book,beforesendingthe UGMoff^" rare gallop tiirough the order paper. First up for debate was amotion on High Holbom. A rent strike! Militancy renjin®! Jack was ^palled to hear of the hsadships endured by the residents of WC2. No tel-i^)hones! No computers! Showers that wcdt!-No travel expeases to LSE! No utility bills!^ Somdiow, Jack's heart wasn'tmoved by ftiei obvious de|»ivation. Most occupants, it pears, are foreign students: peitiaps they are unaccustomed to picking a bit of their hair out of a shower plug-hole allowing Ae ' watesr to drain away instead of flooding Siej Rather than complain in an unsopMsti-| cated socialist way, Jack thought diat theyj should act as the maricet-place sovereigns? they are and move out. If the service isn*^ good eiough. don't avail yourself of it. There] are more than enough people eager to take' lUteirplace. s Therestwasequallypointle.ss.Gon^la!nts: l-abcftit student hardship, political agitation in ^marginal seats etc. Jack failed to see (he point of die left wanting to get rid of the Tones wten ¦- Labour have not exactly prcmiis&l to increase ^ student grants if they win (there will be lots of 'training, though). But, as the fiigsh Holbom:; ctebate illustrated, a sense of proportion rarely enters into the LSESU political arena. The new-found efficiency of tlie chair ! nearly resulted in a constitutional crisis. De-spitetherc bdngnothingelse todiscus.s, moves toclose the meeting early were opposed. Everyone was eager to watch one more race, preferably one in which tlie shapely fiBy Kate had no part. Her witming .streak of three motions had beme a bit predictable. The victoria^ however, are unlikely to be remembCTedby history withasmuchaffectioiasttieclassicwinsofthe Jason Kassemoff The Minister for Transport, John Watts, visited the LSE last Wednesday, as a guest speaker of the Conservative Students' Society. His talk centred around the emotive issue of rail privatisation. The new privatised system will be basically as follows. Rail stations, lines and their maintainance will continue to be run by Railtrack, which will be privatised itself within a year. Rolling stock companies will own the trains. Private companies will bid to take control of rolling stock companies and franchises for local services, successful companies paying 'track access charges' to Railtrack. The advantage of Railtrack owning the infrastructure is that private companies can concentrate their efforts on efficiency and consumer need. Along with profit, of course. Privatisation would make the existing public subsidy to British Rail unnecessary. Competition between several bidders would improve efficiency and reduce the need for a subsidy. The incentive is there for private companies to get more passengers on trains and to provide more services, to make a profit. The Minister said that there is an incentive to maximise services, not to "run them down", as Labour claim. Mr Watts was "confident" that the privatisation would be a "Renaissance" in rail travel, and that it would be as successful a privatisation as any other the Tory government has done. I suppose, subjectively, it depends on how successful we think those privatisations were! Beaver update Juliet Horsley Following last week's article concern ing the Beaver's financial state, the welcome news has arrived that the Student Union (SU) Treasurer has secured a substantial reduction in printing costs with County Print. This forms part of a larger company which will also have the pleasure of producing the LSESU Handbook, as part of the new deal. The deal reduces printing costs by £2000. Given printers' usual lack of flexibility regarding printing costs this represents a significant achievement and, together with an increase in the LSESU grant to The Beaver, should ensure The Beaver's future liquidity. The only pre-requisites are that the Students' Union maintains some commitment to the printers, who incidentally provide a better quality and more reliable service. LSESU has also agreed to help them contact other sabbaticals with the aim of securing more business. A deficit remains of £500 which, given previous figures, should be covered by advertising. Indeed, a profit is considered likely and can be put to use in capital investment. Suggestions for this include updating the present production system to Quark and buying more computers. Duncan McGrath The warning bells had begun to ring as soon as Professor Teubner's Inaugural lecture Altera Pars Audiatur: Law in the Collision of Discourses, had been posted. The reason for their ringing became all too clear as, last Tuesday, the Old Theatre began to fill with the great and the good from the various law departments of the University of London. But by then escape was impossible. What followed was Gunther Teubner's diagnosis and treatment of the Law's ills. The prescription offered was that the law should utilize its current position rather than retreat from it. Failure to do so would result in destruction of the law. The essence of the problem was that there exist a plurality of discourses which are on a potentially destructive collision course. Thus there are two options: let them collide and see who wins, or, utilize the profound elements of each to the benefits of the others. Despite Gunther Teubner being Professor of Law he chose the latter option. For this idea to work the law had to benefit from discourses both internally and externally. Internally the law should exploit its own various theories of cost benefit, politics, ethics etc and combine them in an assessment of what is equal and unequal. Equally use of foreign law needs to be recontextualized if it is to be applied effectively. Perhaps the most important warning of Professor Teubner' s was that the law should not trivialise cultural achievement and lose a sense of reality by enslaving it. Externally what the law should be con-cemed with is translation and not legal norms. Here Teubner criticized lawyers for making their decisions contingent on outcomes which would only result in the law being affected in the end. Other discourses needed to be considered, sociological findings utilized, and political context considered if the law is to function properly. The conclusion to all this was that the law has a new function to fulfil, which is to protect plurality and prevent damage from the collision of discourses. As such the law should protect autonomy. This means justice should be relative not hierarchical and therefore must not be conceived of as purely legal but rather as a part of each discourse. THE BEAVER OCTOBER 24,1995 News 3 Rosebery breakfast row Oliver Lewis We have always been told to eat breakfast as it is the "most important meal of the day". At present, students at Rosebery Hall cannot fulfil their mothers' instructions. Before the Myddelton Wing was built in 1993, of the 192 residents, only 23% of them breakfasted on weekdays. After the completion of the new wing which brought the total number of residents to 314, the breakfastly active dropped to 17.5%. This meant that serving weekday breakfasts became economically unviable - the fixed costs (staff, heat, light, water etc) of weekday breakfasts (7516 per 30 weeks), was being paid by all residents' rents to feed those who could be bothered to get up before 9.30. However, one person will never have mid morning hunger pangs, for the Bursar's contract includes breakfast. As the Bursar reassuringly puts it, "This service is very, very expensive." So, a The following people have been nominated for election to Students' Union posts and School committees: Voting takes place on Wednesday October 25 (in halls and outside the Old Theatre) and Thursday October 26 (outside the Old Theatre) Honorary President: Eric 'the King' Cantona (Footballing genius) Rik Mayall OJ Simpson (Innocent) OJ Simpson (Guilty) Honorary Vice-President Private Lee Clegg (Peace in Northern Ireland) Adrian Edmonson Robbie Williams (I'd shag him) Court of Governors Tony Armstrong (Independent Delta) Paul Stuart Bates (Independent representing students) Prema K Chainani (Independent) Nick Fletcher (Independent) Darrell Hare (Independent) Ali Iman (Independent) Philippe LeGrain (Independent voice for student representation) Adam Morris (Working for a better LSE) Gul Mukhey Reza Nader-Sepahi (LSE Law Society) Sorrel Osborne (Independent representative and accountable to you) Sam Parham (LSE Labour Club) Amal Sanderatne (Hall meals, phones and more computers) Tom Smith (LSE Labour Club) Nick Sutton (LSE Liberal Democrats) Arun Velusami (LSE Conservative Students) Dan Waggoner (American candidate from Texas) Scott Wayne (Independent) External Communications Ctte Guy Burton (LSE Liberal Democrats) Katie Fisher (LSE Labour Club) Amy Homer (Independent Delta) weekend service of "brunch" was introduced, which was more popular. The cutting of weekday breakfasts was, of course, "for the gain of the students": it meant that there would be an overall saving on the rent. Actually, this year's rent in Rosebery rose by 4%. Maybe cereal killing isn't the answer after all! While the right to freedom is contested in many parts of the world, the Right to Breakfast has never seen such a heated debate as is the case now. Students just like being pampered with cornflakes and tea a la carte. It makes us feel secure, and reminds us of home. The reality is, that to cover the fixed costs of weekday breakfasts each resident would have to pay an additional £2 per term. How can even the most impoverished student object to that? In order to try and resolve the issue, a Hall Society meeting was held last Monday. It rapidly turned into a chaotic affair in which emotions ran high. Tempers were frayed due to the Bursar's interference and the president's lack of managerial skills. Opinions will be sought through a hall-wide Samantha Means (LSE Conservative Students) Constitution and Steering Ctte Narius Aga (Independent Green) Angela Hallmark (Independent Delta) Darrell Hare (Independent) Enda Harron (LSE Labour Club) Toby Krohn (LSE Liberal Democrats) Gareth Loggenburg (LSE Conservative Students) Samantha Means (LSE Conservative Students) LSE Foundation Committee Katherine Pigott (LSE Liberal Democrats) Raheel Rashid Tom Scott (LSE Conservative Students) Dan Waggoner (American candidate from Texas) Student Liason and Support Committee Katie Fisher (LSE Labour Club) Katherine Pigott (LSE Liberal Democrats) Site Development Committee Nick Fletcher (Independent) Darrell Hare (Independent) Mohammed Khatid (LSE Conservative Students) Toby Krohn (LSE Liberal Democrats) Anjna Soumal (LSE Labour Club) Inter Halls Committee Darrell Hare (Independent) Sonia Hoppe (LSE Liberal Democrats) David Nicholson (Independent) Amal Sanderatne (Hall meals, phones and more computers) Ed Saper (LSE Labour Club) Postgraduate Officer Nick Kirby (New Labour, New Britain, New LSE) Philippe LeGrain (Independent voice for postgraduate representation) Francisca Malaree (LSE Labour Club) Raheel Rashid (Postgraduate officer) Rosebery Hall - no more big breakfasts! Photo: Jon Fenton-Fisher survey, and the result will be raised at the next Inter Halls Committee. Michael Ward (LSE Conservative Students) Mature Students' Officer Torsten Ahr^n (LSE Conservative Students) Julie King (LSE Labour Club) Finance Committee Philip Lenton (LSE Conservative Association) Ed Saper (LSE Labour Club) Academic Board Kate Hampton (Independent) Sorrel Osborne (Independent representative and accountable to you) Tom Smith (LSE Labour Club) Martin Sprott (LSE Conservative Students) Labour briefing Chris McAleely Austin Mitchell, the Labour MP for Grimsby, addressed a meeting of the Hansard Society at the School last week. Starting by welcoming interruptions and heckling, saying that it would be good practice for the forthcoming general election campaign, Mr Mitchell went on to give a clear outline of the Labour Party's aims and objectives, and sought to dispel any fears that it was a radical left wing, Marxist party. His speech was none too complementary about various political luminaries, calling Margaret Thatcher "a lunatic really", Ronald Reagan "an amiable old duffer" and Neil Kinnock "a loud mouthed idiot". He was however, honest in his appraisal of the Labour Party' s problems past, present and future. There was a danger, he believed, of Labour winning the next election and then failing to meet expectations. The problem lies in their attempt to appeal to a broad cross section of the electorate. When questioned he stated that he did not believe the Tories would win votes by cutting taxes. He said that the public recognise that you can only cut taxes to a certain extent and that they would rather money was spent on improving public services. Tony Blair appealed to the middle class, the voters Labour must win to their side to ensure success. A current joke is that Labour have finally realised that the Tories keep winning because they are led by a Conservative. So Labour has elected one to lead them as well. The Hansard Institute was founded in 1944 to promote parliamentary government. It is partly based at the LSE and partly at the Houses of Parliament. It is a neutral organisation well respected by all the parties and its president is the Speaker of the House of Commons. Among its current activities is the Commission on Democratic Citizenship, which essentially aims to get young people to vote. Holbom protest Kate Hampton, SU General Secretary protests against government education policy Continued from page 1 once the telephones are installed, and a free poster showing LSE's hall of residences. David Segal also promised that any students with justifiable complaints, which can be confirmed, should contact the School as a small recompense is possible. As he said, "If they've had a whole day without hot water, then we'll consider them." Photo: LSE Photographic Unit As The Beaver goes to print, it is difficult to predict which way the High Holbom rent protest will tum. Many students who don't live in the hall feel little sympathy for the plight of residents living minutes from the LSE. Furthermore, the School's most recent concessions may dampen the desire to hold a full-scale rent strike. Election time again! 4 Listings The Beaver Executive Editor Susha Lee-Shothaman Features Editor Nicola Hobday Business Manager Oliver Lewis Advertising Manager Moshe Merdler Arts Editor Leila Butt Campus Editor Dave Whippe Literary Editor Danny Silverstone Music Editor Wayne Rodgers News Editors Helena Mcleod Nick Sutton Photographic Editors Steven Hau Anastasia Shorter Politics Editor Issam Hamid Sports Editor Chris Cooper Cartoonist Hector Birchwood Staff: Mark Baltovic, Laure Beaufils, Graham Bell, Annika Boseenquet, James Brown, Toby Childs, Sarah Clifford, Sarah Davies, Teresa Delaney, Alex Ellis, Nick Fletcher, Scouse Gardiner, Deborah Goldemburg, Tom Greatrex, Kate Hampton, Richard Hearnden, Kerrie Henderson, Juliet Horsley, Helen Jamieson, Dana Johnson, Emma Justice, Sonia Kalsi, Sarita Khajuria, Toby Krohn, Philip Lam, Claire Lawrie, Karen Lie, Dennis Lim, Alex Lowen, Duncan McGrath, Dan Madden, Baljit Mahal, Nicky Maragliano, Jessica McCallin, Adam Morris, Ben Oliver, Sorrel Osbourne, Sarah Owen, Antonio Sosa-Pascual, Judith Plastow, Zaf Rashid, Mervyn Rees, Dhara Ranasinghe, Silvia Santoro, Stephane Sireau, Asim Shivji, Ina Woyseth and Hae-Yin. THE BEAVER OCTOBER 24,1995 European Society Tuesday, 24 October 5.00 pm, Vera Anstey Room (A 160) Sir Anthony Meyer Former MP and Thatcher Challenger The UK: At the heart of Europe Brazilian Society is having Portugese lessons If you are interested come to room G209 on Tuesday, 24 October at 5.30 pm We will have conversation and classes for beginners as well! Italian Society Intro Party Tuesday, 24 October 5.30 pm, Room A42 Everyone welcome New membership at the door Catholic Society General Meeting: open agenda and elections of new committee Tuesday, 24 October 5.30 pm Chaplaincy, Room K51 Living Marxism Tuesday, 24 October 7.30 pm, S421 The Myth of 'Social Justice' Claire Foster, Lecturer in Social Policy and Education More information call: Wystan 0171 278 9908 Liberal Democrats Weekly Meeting Thursdays, 12.15 pm Room S75 All Welcome AIESEC Thursday, 26 October 6.00 pm A220 Don Leslie How to become a management consultant European Society Friday, 27 October 12.00 pm Vera Anstey Room (A160) Jurgen Trumpf Council Secretary General Europe's Future and Challenge of Enlargement roQNOS Public Lectures Gender Institue Lecture Nancy Folbre, Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts, Engendering Economics: New Prespectives on Women, Work and Demographic Change Chair, Dr Henrietta Moore The Directors' Lectures Dr IG Patel, KBE, Former Director of the School Thursday, 26 October 1995 Equity in a Global Society Chair, Sir Peter Parker Founder's Day Lecture Mary Robinson, Irish President Friday 27 October 1995 Royalty Theatre, 5.30 pm Academic Freedom: New Frontiers or a Black Hole? Entrance by ticket only. LSE students should collect tickets from LSE SU Reception. Any queries telephone 7377 The Beaver always needs writers, photographers and assistants. Our meetings are at 6.00 pm in C023 AIESEC The Beaver is published by the London School of Economics Students' Union and printed by the Isle of Wight County Press Ltd, Brannon House, 123 Pyle Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, (01983) 825333 and at 112 Bermondsey Street, London, SEl 3TX, 01713781579. " Free tasting of Fair trade products - coffee, tea and chocolate - in the Quad on Thursday 26 October from 10 am to 4 pm THE BEAVER OCTOBER 24,1995 far out BUT WITH OVER 100 BRANCHES WORLDWIDE WE'RE NEVER FAR AWAY SPECIAL STUDENT & UNDER 26 FARES from/rtn from/rtn Paris £59 Los Angeles £270 Amsterdam £69 Toronto £216 Geneva £96 Vancouver £288 Athens £132 Kuala Lumpur £388 Rome £132 Singapore £419 New York £150 Hong Kong £518 Miami £240 Tokyo £633 ^ Portugal Street | o HougWon St The Strand London School of Economics, East Building Houghton Street London WC2 2AE LONDON, OXFORD, MANCHSSm, LEEDS, GMS60W, CAMBRIDGE... LONDON, NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES, TOKYO, BANGKOK, SYDNEY, AUCKLAND... STA TRAVEL 6 Letters THE BEAVER OCTOBER 24,1995 Freedom of speech For the attention of many a randy fresher Dear Beaver I was so pleased to read that someone was advocating the need for "profound debate" (Katrin Bennhold Beaver 426) that I thought to avail myself of what may prove to be a fleeting opportunity, Katrin argues that "freedom of speech is a vital characteristic of democracy and anyone intending to promote democracy must therefore guard and enhance the right to free speech at any time". She then argues, "this, however, does not imply absolute free speech" at this point I felt compelled to consider the meaning of the term VITAL and seeking clarity by way of the Oxford dictionary I discovered it meant," 1 of, concerned with, or essential to organic life. 2 essential to the existence of a thing, or the matter in hand." Katrin justifies her rejection of absolute free speech by arguing, "when democracy is challenged by a fundamentally undemocratic opinion, ie an opinion that classifies equality between humans as unnatural, then enhancement of free speech can indeed take the form of a restriction." In other words these chains will set you free! Is this New-speak? This begs the question of how opinions of any kind, however offensive, can be undemocratic. To suggest that ideas or opinions can cause inequality is to accept the long discredited Hegelian notion that first came the idea and then came material reality. It is real material circumstances that give rise to the ideas that exist today. Rather than banning them we have to confront them head on and expose their material roots if we are to effect change. Opinions that classify equality between humans as unnatural are undemocratic argues Katrin. If this is true then opinions that say that equality between humans is natural must be democratic. But there is no natural equality between humans. Some of us are weak, some are strong, some of can sing beautifully, more of us can only croak, the list goes on. What are our natural rights is best answered by Tom Paine in his Rights of Man. "Natural rights are those which appertain to man in right of his existence. Of this kind are all the intellectual rights, or rights of the mind, and also all those rights of acting as an individual for his own comfort and happiness, which are not injurious to the natural rights of others." Let me finish with a concrete example of defending natural rights. It was Salman Rushdie's natural right to publish his opinions in The Satanic Verses and indeed the LSE, the NUS, the whole of Western society and many beyond defended his right to do so yet his writings bitterly offended significant minorities in Europe and millions in Islamic countries. By Katrin Bennhold's logic and the logic of the NUS equal opportunities policy his work should have been banned. For me, I will defend anyone's right to publish, or speak their mind firstly because it is vital for a defense of democracy but also because as every child learns, sticks and stones can break your bones but names will never hurt you. Yours, Denis Russell Dear Beaver This letter is a reflection on a true story, and its moral should serve as a warning, and not be taken lightly. Only the names have been changed to protect the disgustingly guilty. It all began as an innocent birthday celebration, but the gathering of seedy little minds always leads to much lewder conduct. The male miscreants involved took it upon themselves to frequent one of the more entertaining establishments that Soho has to offer young minds such as these. With forethought and malice, they strategically placed themselves in seats at the foot of the stage of this celebrated strip-club. Before long, the scantily clad performers were strutting their stuffin the students' drooling faces. However, one Barry Lambos, LSE's representative at this extra-curricular field trip, was yet to be impressed by the goods on offer, in fact, his libido was still as tiny as his dirty little mind. That was, until, from the foot of the wings of the stage there appeared to him a goddess of pleasure, offering the fruits of passion..two of them in fact."Check out the bazoongas on that one," cried Barry, in a frenzy of uncontrolled desire and lust. "Good job I left my bird at home," he said, lovingly referring to his girlriend. Physical attraction is a powerful emotion, and it didn't take long for push to come to shove....although he didn't actually give it the whole kebab. Eager young Barry was overwhelmed by this vision of beauty that had taken a seat on his straining trousers. Mr. Lambos couldn't believe his luck. He felt like the star of the show as all eyes jealously drilled into this steamy scene. 'This is indeed a proud day for the LSE Accounting department. From this day forth, I shall keep score of my conquests. I'm doing it for the LSE," but before long Barry's little lamb had skipped away and he was left with nothing more than a wet patch and fond memories; a baby without his dummy. "I sucked her tit, did you see that?" he casually slipped into the conversation; and so the evening progressed, with Barry the centre of attraction. Alas, all good things must come to an end, but not in the way poor Barry had anticipated. The bearer of Barry's bad tidings came in the guise of a wisened elderly gentleman, the proprietor of the establishment. "Oi mate," he cried to our Barry, who was still glowing from head to toe, (not least in between), "You had a mighty fine time, we all did note. But did YOU see the appie in her throat, With our Harriette, you seemed happy as Larry, But only last week, HIS NAME WAS HARRY." NICE ONE SON, YOU DID US PROUD. Sincerely, Concerned friends. n Banque Paribas BANQUE PARIBAS PRESENTATION "YOUNG EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME" If you would like to find out more about Banque Paribas, one of Europe's top investment banks, and the career opportunities we can offer you through our global Young Executive Programme, you are welcome to join us for our presentation evening Date: Thursday 26 October , Time: 6.30 pm r Place: Banque Paribas > 33 wigmore Street, London ' Drinks and finger buffet will be served We look forward to seeing you For further information please contact your Careers Office THE BEAVER OCTOBER 24,1995 Letters 7 Haranguing Houghton Street Hany Dear Beaver With reference to Mr Reed's rather sloppy reply to HSH concerning mature students. About HSH, and any other writer on the paper: if what's written is not, as a non-news piece, entertaining, thought provoking, or otherwise interesting, then no-one will bother to read it. So it's to be expected that they will go over the top on occasion, and in HSH's c^ase most of the time. It should therefore be taken with a pinch of salt, or in other words, in a mature manner. It is certainly no cause of alienation between me and my friends, and anyway shouldn't adults, as we all are, be able to view this with any kind of perspective? As a mature student myself (I'm 27 too) I try to be tolerant of any immature actions of my academic peers, since I'm sure I did all that in my time, and although you say students have "plenty of common ground" I for some reason get the impression that you only really associate yourself with other mature students. The word youthophobic springs to mind, but of course I may be wrong, since I've never knowingly met you, and personally I don't like to form opinions of people I've never even met, especially when all I've got to go on is a newspaper article by them. Finally, if Mr Reed insists upon using Alf Garnet arguments like "paying tax ... for 10 years" as a reason to deserve a place in halls, and also has the attitude that his life has somehow been more worthy than that of the other students, then I fear he is unfortunately not getting out of his university education & life quite as much as the rest. Yours sincerely Michael Goulding Dear Beaver So Robert Reed (letters last week) thinks that Harry is a public school twat does he? I used to have free school meals as I grew up and I went to a normal school (albeit one where they taught how to spell and punctuate properly). Robert couldn't be further from the truth, apart from 'twat' and 'fat arse', and that applies for everything he had to say. The "I pay my taxes" argument is a fairly weak one even when it comes from those who work for fifty years, but when it Dear Beaver I am very surprised and sorry about the letter sent last week by Chris Lobb. I do feel, though, that Chris might be a bit mistaken. Apparently he is is a 'good friend of Kate Hampton'. Well, perhaps, if he had tried to do a bit of research nd actually ask someone such as Kate he might find out that the article 'A Voice' which he cites, is taken from the introduction to the report 'Review of Union Communications 1994)' which went on to be implemented in the creation of my post. Obviously, for others the introduction proved very persuasive and successully achieved its object. This being the case I chose to use it to introduce one of the other recommendations it suggested which was the idea of a Union page in the Beaver. But, this seems a bit besides the point. die last word... comes from someone taking advantage of the same subsidies and claiming similar benefits then it's a bit of a stupid statement to make. You had the opportunity to represent mud-makers everywhere and refute all I said, to tell everyone what you have done in your life and what your contribution has been to life. Instead, with judicious lack of basic English and mass usage of generalizations, all you've done is strengthen attitudes. Thanks. Houghton Street Harry Chris Lobb obviously has an agenda that extends beyond his letter. If, he had bothered to check the sentence cited on his computer grammar check he would find that it is in fact qiiite grammatical. Considering the influence that it went on to have the very last thing a sane person would choose to describe it as is 'infantile'. And if being unhumerous (sic) is a crime than perhaps he would like to charge a few others such as Martin Luther King or Socrates with the same crime, as they are generally considered to have been quite serious people. The simple thing is that if anyone is in fact "vacuous" and "egotistical", then surely it is the author of the letter, whoerer that might actually be, and not the target the letter was aimed at. Baljit Mahal Communications Officer Dear Beaver I disagree with Katrin Bennhold's view on Free Speech but unlike her I will defend to the death her right to say it Wystan Mayes Dear Beaver Houghton Street Harry was "quietly confident that not one fucker would reply" to his little piece about mature students was he? Not all of us are "absolute wankers, here because our first attempt at life has failed". Many have already made as much of a success as Harry is ever likely to do. We don't all have the advantage of living in nearby halls, some of us have to travel from the back of beyond in order to take advantage of an L. S.E. place and combine responsibility for families and homes with working and school life as well as taking active roles in S.U. societies (a lot more than can be said for some apathetic youngsters!) Not all of us can afford expensive dictaphones and L.S.E. scarves as our grants have to cover more basic necessities. We don't all ask stupid questions in lectures or even make your presentations look shit and there is even evidence that we don't all fuck up in exams. It might also interest you to know that we're here to enjoy ourselves as well and some have even pulled or been pulled! Of course there will always be the odd sad individual among "mature" students as well as "immature" students. Why don't you have a fart and clear your brains a bit then perhaps you'd produce less verbal diarrhoea! Anyway, I normally enjoy your column so cut the crap! Yours anciently, Viv Nunn Baljit bites back Dress to spook Prizes for best costumes! The LSE Law Society Presents &C 9{a[lx)zuem ^oat ^arty Hammicks Legal Bookshop Dress to spook Ptizes for best costumes! Board 7:30 pm Tuesday, 31 st October Depart 8:00pm Royal Princess, Charing Cross Pier Nearest Tube: Embankment, £6 members/£8 Non-Members .Hainmicks,LegalBopl«hqp.l?l/,l?2f^^^ 8 Features THE BEAVER OCTOBER 24,1995 To booze or not to booze James MacAonghus considers the pros and cons of a drunken night at The Tuns Legend has it that one of the true student's duties in life us to drink by the barrel-full, and keep those happy chappies at Carlsberg in full employment. Well, boys and girls, let me relieve you of this responsibility. Drinking is indeed one of the great social traditions of this country. Even the word itself betrays the social acceptance that alcohol commands. The question "do you drink?" is assumed to imply alcoholic drink - as if it were impossible to drink anything other than alcohol. May balls, gala dinners and fresher society meetings all seem to accept as compulsory the provision of alcohol. Let's face it, a cheese and lemonade party just wouldn't be the same. The brewing industry certainly wastes no time plugging their products to students. Look back to the stuff you received at Fresher's week and you will see everyone falling over themselves to give you free beer, or free meals with the purchase of just one pint of lager. Even the local photo development shop tempts you with a free pint if you let them develop your holiday snaps! Put two and two together, oh fellow students, and you will see that all this is not just the product of generous hearts. The more you drink, the more money your friendly brewery makes out of you. One pub on Shaftesbury Avenue has even found it worthwhile to personally provide every resident at 178 High Holbom with a bag full of lovely 'special offers'. These guys want your money and they want it real bad. If you do in the bar (what a surprise), you don't need to prove yourself an Olympic class drinker. In fact, the UK Department of Health has spent zillions of pounds devising a measurement system so that you a small glass (125ml) of wine (12%) =1.5 units half a pint of strong lager/beer/ cider (6%)=2 units 1 can (440ml) extra strong lager/beer/ cider (9%)=4 units a cocktail (3 measures of alcohol) = 3 units Using this system of units, the Department of health advises "safe" drinking levels of21 units per week for men and 14units per week for women, with one or two non-drinking days. Women have a lower limit because they are more at risk from the harmful effects of alcohol than men. One reason for this is that women are of generally smaller build than men. Another is that there is a lower water content in your average sheila's body than One unit of alcohol can be found in: Half a pint of lager One glass of wine One measure of spirits have some idea of whether you are drinking too much or not. You have to remember the deviations from this guide. Some drinks contain more than one unit of alcohol. For example, the average bloke. For both of those reasons, alcohol remains more concentrated in women and men. There are different reasons why students drink (apart from the masochists who relish a good hangover any day of the week). Peer pressure is a common one. If everyone else is drinking, you somehow feel that you have to as well. Linked to this myth that drinking is a macho pursuit, that it makes you more witty, sophisticated and attractive to the opposite sex. This, of course, is not true (I, for one, do not drink and still possess all of those qualities in abundance). On the contrary, as Macbeth tells us, drinking can adversely affect your performance in the sexual department. Often, people drink to overcome emotional suffering, or loneliness, or to drown their sorrows. This is Not A Good Idea - one drink will lead to another and another. Despite popular belief alcohol is not a stimulant. It is a depressant, and will just depress you more. Think of a better way to forgetyour troubles. My top tips include Haagen-Dazs ice cream, your favourite CD or an evening with Keanu Reeves/Sharon Stone. You may find it revealing to keep a Drinks Diary for a week. In it, write down i€y ? ^ itze f? ere:' According to Time Out, the average London student spends £1200 per year on drink. For this much money, you could: 1. Fly to New York and back eight times 2. Stay one night at the Ritz penthouse suite. 3. Become an Italian millionare 4. Enough Haagen-Dazs to take you through University 5. One tyre for the Mac Laren F1 how much you have drunk where and with whom. Then you will find out whether you really are drinking as much or as little as you thought you were - and probably why too. The majority of students are not chronic alcoholics, much as some of you may try to achieve that status. For a start, not everyone drinks (don't be dismayed). Either out of individual choice or religious belief, or for health reasons, some students abstain from alcohol. And they are nonetheless perfectly normal human beings with perfectly normal lives (as much as that is possible at the LSE). If you do think you are drinking more than you should, now is a good time to do something about it. Keeping the Drink Diary for a week may tell you when and where you do most of your drinking. Make a conscious effort to reduce the amount that you drink - in the end how much you drink is a choice you make yourself. However, if you would like some further help, the LSE councillors (Room E297,0171 955 7145) are actually quite friendly people who will not preach to you from on high. Unlike some 'advice lines', there are no religious undertones. They will keep everything you talk to them about in total confidence. If nothing else, you can talk to them when nobody can be bothered to pay you any attention. And if you do not like the look of them, they will even be kind enough to tell you about someone else you can to talk to instead. You may want to talk to one of the councillors about a consequence of drinking, rather than the drinking itself. Violence after your thirty-seventh pint for example. Or whether you have inherited some sexually transmitted disease from the girl/guy you went off with at the end of the night. If you really do not remember what happened, you may not even be worried about being pregnant. This, please note, is more likely if you are female than if you are male, or you may want to unload the cause of your drinking - for example loneliness or the break up of a relationship. Whatever the case, you can talk to a councillor about it. One of the few people who will listen to you waffle on about whatever you like without complaining. And while you are there, you can admire the very desirable Rabindranahth Tagore poster. Hopefully, though, you will not have any problems imbibing your alcohol. Just remember next time you approach your hundredth pint of the evening, that excessive drinking can cause depression, sexual difficulties, brain damage, hepatitis, cirrhosis, muscle disease, cancer, death .... and a severe reduction of your finances. THE BEAVER OCTOBER 24,1995 Features 9 Spaced out in London Sam Griffiths discovers his own personal space and investigates London's parklife This was my idea and I have only have myself to blame. OK, here goes. What does Damon from Blur have in common with Michael Foucault the founding father of poststructuralist thought? The answer is probably 'very little', except that both are currently very popular with British great threat to a thriving urban life. The Victorians were less naive, their obsession with parks and grand thoroughfares reflected an understanding that it is divisive for citizens to become isolated from each other. Imagine the futuristic nightmare the city would become in the wake of a teleporter. Yet such an invention would doubtless be students. Beyond this it is hard to imagine the two having a firm basis for friendship. Foucault would not be convinced by the cockney(ish) pop crooner that 'Carry on Camping' is the finest film ever made, while Damon would find fault in the French thinker's lack of a catchy chorus, or in the fact that he wrote in French. If only they knew it, the pair share an interest in 'Parklife', or more broadly, in the manner in which public spaces in our cities are utilised. While the former extols the virtues of pigeons and laughing at overweight joggers, the latter says that, "the present epoch will perhaps be above all the epoch of space". In other words the pentium processed speed of the IT age should mean that individuals can stop being preoccupied with the time taken to get things done, and shift their attention laterally into the public sphere. The space which is occupied by strangers. Travelling physically between places seems primitive in comparison with exploring the world-wide web or E-mailing somebody in Sydney. Most people cannot get it over with fast enough judging by the expressions seen on Kingsway at five past nine. It is too easy to focus entirely on reaching the relative privacy of the office, the classroom or the front door, without sparing a thought for the 'in between'. But the 'in between' spaces ultimately define the quality of life in a city. They are primary points of contact between different people; providing the cosmopolitan, hectic buzz which is the basis of civilised life. Parks, squares and street comers are often ignored as superfluous against the real business of the city. An oversight which is a very popular. A university environment like the LSE's is not just valuable because people from a variety of backgrounds study there but because everything is essentially visible and public. Students mingle, learn, gossip and experience just from hanging around Houghton Street. Equally a city such as It is too easy to focus entirely on reaching the relative privacy of the office, the classroom or the front door, without sparing a thought for the in between' London is far more than a sum of its parts. On returning from a trip abroad it is the spontaneous meetings and unlooked for discoveries which are remembered with greater pleasure than the inevitable sightseeing. Until the centrality of the in betweens to the identity of the city is recognised the deeper problems associated with city life such as crime and pollution will never be overcome. What should we look for? Many aspects of the city environment are in the hands of London's borough councils and we can only moan. A little story: on first moving to London six months ago, I dutifully purchased the 'Evening Standard' and read that Westminster Council was planning to prosecute umpteen Soho cafe owners for crowding the pavements with tables and chairs! Great, why not kill off one of London's most exciting districts? Their reason was that there was insufficient room for several pushchairs to pass! So what?! Ban the buggies I reckon. Fortunately the cafe owners seem resourceful enough to evade this ridiculous rule, but it highlights the council's cloud cuckoo land prioritising. Would this happen in Prague? Similarly the grassy centre of Leicester Square is locked early every evening. Why, when people want to sit there? Cities are not threatening places when they are full of people, only when everybody decides to stay at home. This is exactly what will happen if shortsighted councils insist on over regulating the best bits of London. The tube is a space which is a painful necessity. Sometimes it is worth taking the bus, (the 171a from Stoke Newington personally), into college, and avoiding that 'sardines in a can' rush hour feel on the underground. I was amazed the first time I travelled this way how all these places which had previously been separate little universes along the Piccadilly line were actually part of a comfortingly coherent whole. There are many times when taking a bus or walking is the easiest option. The benefit of being overground, apart from not being cramped up against someone's damp armpit, is that you are participating in London life just by being seen and helping to provide the 'bustle'. For LSE students Russell Square, Lin-coln's Inn Fields and South Bank are all nice places in which to read a book, so long as the weather's good. (See handy map). And you don't have to leave your bag in the lockers either. Women have particular difficulties in city spaces. Deciding how to get home at night is a recurrent dilemma. It is damaging and ultimately self tiSfi perpetuating if the city is seen exclusively as a male domain. Better lighting, planning and further regeneration is especially vital here. Women can help by not being passive to the climate of fear and insisting on their right to travel as they want, taking ten friends with them if necessary. The Women's Design Centre based in London has recently redesigned a multi-story car park in Broadmarsh, Nottingham that is 'woman friendly' . Hopefully this model could be repeated in London. If public places are dominated by traffic and cut off from each other then New York style ghettoisation beckons. There are signs that people in high places are noticing how everyday meandering in city space is essential to maintain London as a place remarkable for its liveliness rather than its crime figures. The Millennium Commission has in architect Richard Rogers, (designer of the Pompidou Centre's plaza), someone who is committed to the sustainable city. His millennium plans for London include more walkways, the pedestrianisation of Trafalgar Square, and the rejuvenation of the Thames as an active thoroughfare by effectively establishing a river based tube which would link major London sites such as South Bank and Parliament. It would be good to see. London's future success as a city of business and as a home to millions of people rests on realising its huge potential as a modem cosmopolitan city, not just an economic fact. Everyone, ("Aw the paypool", as one pop star would say) can play a role by getting out and enjoying the city they live in. You are now entering the space age. If jMUacflaciM o) .itKtkc 11: ii ^ Us* •• Si' Kim'» "a ¦&> CwieB) ViOTBRtJ IIWTI Mtteitiri Siitrir Chwnna CflB / / MsAW^FIIni :/ MBfuniri J 'St.. , f Suildiiia * E Bin msmirnTKa I t* % ikfMl 10 Students' Union THE BEAVER OCTOBER 24,1995 Union Editorial The current level of higher education funding is unacceptable. We, as students at the LSE believe that education is a right and should therefore be open to all regardless of ability to pay. Students have a vocation: study. They should be provided with sufficient financial support to study unhindered by financial difficulty. The maximum award for students in London is currently £2, 340 (down by 18% of 1990 levels), that can be supplemented by a student loan of a maximum of £1,695. This alone is not enough to live in London and is inferior to the level of support given to citizens on full benefit. Students are eligible for neither Income Support nor housing benefit during vacation periods. Mature students are also suffering due to the abolition of the Older Students Allowance. Furthermore most students are not on a full grant. The government relies on parental contribution as a supplement to grants. Yet the CVCP (1992) has found that half of parents are failing to provide their share. We reject the means-testing approach because, at the age of majority, students should be considered as individuals, not dependants. The means testing of grants also means that students with spouses are assessed as dependants thereof The loans system is inequitable and unaccountable. The Student Loans Company is renowned for its lack of both efficiency and transparency. Delays are commonplace. Additional assistance in the form of access funds does not meet demand. The quality of ourhigher education system is also under threat. Funding is administered by unaccountable quangos. Recent years have seen a decrease in real terms levels of funding to the institution per student. This has given rise to overcrowding, high staff-student ratios, stretched facilities and so on. It has increased the pressure on universities to rely on other sources of funding. The HE sector is becoming more commercialised with students being increasingly treated as consumers of rather than participants in their education. Institutions are obliged to launch fund-raising initiatives and recruit more high fee students (non- EU overseas students and postgraduates). It is likely that if already chronic underfunding continues some institutions may resort unilaterally to the imposition of top-up fees. This we regard as a threat to education as a public good. For these reasons we are opposed to current government HE policy and demand a review of funding to institutions and to in-dividuals entering HE._ Baljit talks back Free speech CO The 2nd UGM of this term raised a desire to know what the typical workload of the Communications Officeris. It seems this arises from agenuine curiosity about my job - so I will try to give a good picture of some of my efforts in past weeks. At Butlers Wharf I organised the Hall Welcome and with Martin Benedek and the Hall President Dennis brought nearly 130 students to LSE on that day. Working for New Students' Fair the issue of publicity for it was raised and promotion accomplished successfully, whilst still starting one of the largest societies at LSE - the LSE Olive Branch Society. Then, there is campaigns. Producing and designing material for both SU banners this term and posters is a regular workload. Add to this stewarding of SU events and ill N i o «J> looking after safe transport - unpaid. Five committees are included within this remit - Constitution & Steering, the Executive, Campaigns, the UGM and Beaver Collective. The recent UGM mandated the Exec, to attend a demonstration against high rents at High Holbom Hall of Residence which led to me personally contacting all Execs, to ensure the maximum mandated attendance. Finally, there is the tasks involved in collating and inputting articles for the Beaver and overall liaison with other officers. All in all this means a pretty full week for any part-time Executive. It might also be interesting to add that I have just produced a nine page report on practical proposals to improve SU Communications. A copy can be obtained by requesting one from SU Reception. Martin Benedek, Overseas Officer The complete incompetence of the Executive Committee con ceming the issue of banning or alio wing Hizb-ut T ahrir to voice their opinion on LSE premises truly amazed me at this week's Exec meeting. Kate Hampton, making full use of her exemplary knowledge of the Students Union Constitution, argued that because the members of Hizb-ut Tahrir were not students of the LSE, they had no right to use our premises to spread their rebellious views... Teresa Delaney added that the Executive Committee had the (moral) responsibility ofprotecting intimidated students from hearing such intolerable views. To me, the above-mentioned opinions sounded more like propaganda points of a Stalinist regime rather than the views of two democratically elected student representatives. Students of this college don't need to be told what the fashionable views are; they don't need to be protected from hearing evil (or simply radical) opinions. They can make that decision themselves - whether they agree with them or not - without relying on the "officially approved Executive viewpoinf. Hizb-ut-Tahrir will come back to next year's Freshers' Fair; they will be just as intimidatory to some students as they were three weeks ago; and we will ban them from LSE premises again. Is this what we want though? Do we want to just ignore the problem, and choose the easy way out by prohibiting them from entering our premises? Or do we want to provide a forum, an open discussion where they can present their contradictory views, and where all you frustrated, intimidated students can refute their radical ideas? The answer is fairly obvious to me. Notice of Union Meetings Constitution and Steering Committee Monday 5.00 pm Room El95 Executive Committee Wednesday 1.00 pm See SU Reception for Room Campaigns Committee Wednesday 2.00 pm See SU Reception for Room Union General Meeting Thursday 1.00 pm Old Theatre Finance Committee Thursday 3.00 pm Room E206 The week commencing 23-27 October the SU will be having its Disabled Awareness Week. There will be a workshop organised by the NUS officer for students with disabilities, Helen Garrod. Helen wil be speaking on problems that disabled students face in and around university campuses (Room E195,2.30 pm). There has not been an Awareness week for for students with disabilities for a long time. This is an ideal opportunity for students with disabilities to come forward and inform us of the problems they face during their course of study here. There will also be an access audit of the school's buildings whose findings I will be compiling and forwarding to members of the SU. For any suggestions please come and see me, Omer Soomro, in my office E295. Societies for all The Societies Officer reveals all about the exciting world of LSE Society My role is to co-ordinate the various activities of the societies that the LSE has to offer, ensuring interaction between them in particular. During my past two years at the LSE, one particular aspect struck me - societies tend to be cliquey and most gatherings tend to be informally restrictive to their members. The concept I plan to introduce is two or more societies gathering together and organising joint functions or parties, acting as a catalyst for cultural interaction. For instance, last year, we saw history being made when in the LSE when the Israeli and PLO ambassadors stood face to face. So, by carrying forward this idea, we could bring together the Pakistanis and Indians, or Turkish and Greeks, to show hostility lies between the governments and not the people. LSE is part of the global melting pot which we are seeing around us and I hope I can play my due role in this. I am always open to new ideas and can be contacted through my pigeon hole in the SU reception, or else you'll see loafing around Houghton Street anyway! . » " jp- .-