The Beaver
18th February, 1991
Newspaper of the London School of Economics Student Union
Issue 336
I have a dream...
Ashworth unveils his vision of the LSE in 2020
by Christian K. Forman
John Ashworth, the Director of the LSE, announced last Tuesday that the university is to undergo a number of dramatic changes in its curriculum and structure. This announcement was made to a packed theatre of the school's academic stalT.
The changes which Ashworth outlined in his address are very comprehensive and attempt to totally revamp the college. He believes that the proposed changes will be necessary for the school to survive and be viable in the next century
The first proposal put forth by the Director called for the division of the school into two independent parts: a research oriented gradu ate school and an undergraduate college.
Currently there is very little outward distinction between the graduate and the undergraduate program at the LSE. Both schools are housed at the school's Houghton street campus, and in many cases lectures are shared between both types of students.
However, the proposal put forth by Ashworth is aimed at making the graduate program almost a small university unto itself. He wants to drastically improve research facilities and create almost an "elite" institu-tionoftop-notch researchers and qualified graduates.
"The Graduate school will be the premiere research oriented institution of its kind in Europe with a world wide reputation for its research and for the quality of the researchers it trains," he said.
Ashworth argued these improvements would financially benefit the school because the increased productivity and output resulting from thesechanges would attract additional public and private research grants.
In conjunction with these changes, Ashworth also plans on improving and redesigning the LSE's undergraduate program.
Currently, undergraduates participate in a three year course, in which they study one of 16 subjects. Ashworth wants to lengthen the schooling period to four years and make the curriculum more European in flavour.
He argues that with the as-cendence of the EEC, Britain will heed a new breed of graduate that will be able to work effectively and easily in the new international market place. He wants the LSE to be the training ground for these new technocrats.
In the new "European program," the first two years of study will be dedicated to mastering the tools of international communication, such as language and information technol-

SSfiZyt.' i


Atfy ¦ ¦¦

¦v
nd the adva
k o< kn
Memorandum ol
r^oh m.ii.isot,
ogy. In the last two years the focus will be more on specific subjects such as government, law, and international economics. Ashworth believes that this system will create a person who isholistically suitedforthe international arena.
"The Undergraduate school will be renown for its scholars and acknowledged as the foremost center for the education and trai ning of those engaged in the management and administration of industry and commerce, government and public service in Europe," said Ashworth.
However, inorderforthe LSE to make these organizational changes, Ashworth explains, the school must go through some major physical and administrative metamorphoses.
"If we accept a mission of the kind that I have sketched out with a graduate school and an undergraduate school then we must think of expansion since neither could be viable if we are constrained to stay within our present University Funding Council numbers," he said.
However, expansion of the existing campus poses a major problem for the LSE. The Aldwych site, though conveniently locate in the middle of London, cannot easily be expanded because of the lack of purchasable space in the vicinity. Moreover, the cost of ex-
panding in the city is tremendous and may be beyond the school's means.
As a result, the Director tentatively suggested the concept of a two-site University. The new graduate institute would stay in the Aldwych since it would require more direct contact with government and international sources, and the undergraduate college would move to a second place as of yet unknown.
The last proposal offered by Ashworth concerned the structure of the academic year. Following the example set by many Oxbridge colleges, Ashworth suggested that the school year be extended to 50 weeks and that the student body be divided into two groups. The idea being that while group A attends school, Group B is on vacation and vice versa. This move would allow the u niversity to get much better use out of its capital resources, and also allow more students better access to limited school facilities.
"I believe it should be possible both to recognize the need for students and their teachers to alternate periods of teaching and periods for reflection and research with the need to use expensive facilities cost-effectively," Ashworth explained.
Ashworth estimates the cost of these new projects, excluding the purchase of land, to be in the range of "tens of millions of

pounds." As of yet, the school does not have the fundi ng necessary to sustain these changes. But he is hopeful.
"There is no sign at present that the government would even consider giving us any capital sum. Any such request would be treated as a not very good joke. We will have to give them a very powerful reason to support us and here I think we may h ave an opportunity to turn our 'two-school' strategy into a great opportunity," he said.
Ashworth argued that since the new improvements in the school would increase research output and produce more graduates, the state might assist the school in its proposals.
The Director also stated that private funding from Alumni and corporate sources will play a major part in these new developments.
Response to the Director's "vision" has been mixed. Rob Middleton, General Secretary of the LSE Student Union, said "It 's undeniably ambitious, and I think the next months will be interesting. However, I am rather worried because the Director is taking a huge gamble with the future of the school. If he is correct in his assessments, then he will be a hero. But what if he is wrong?"
Middleton continues," In redesigning thecurriculum, I think that the Director has forgotten

about the students who come to the LSE just to sharpen their mind, and do not want to become a European technocrat or academic. I think narrowing the choice of courses will really have a negative effect on these students."
When asked about the possibility of a two site campus, Middleton responded, " I don't really have any sentimental value to this place and I'm not really opposed to a move, but the people who are around when it happens will have a horrific time."
The President of the Association of University Teachers(AUT), Dr. James Kelly felt that the Director's plan had a number of flaws. He said, "I think that there will be a problem finding a suitable site for the new undergraduate college. Moreover, once the two site system has been established, you create two tiers of staff. The Graduate school will be seen as the 1st class and the Undergraduate as the 2nd class."
Moreover, Kelly feels that the new timetableing system would create problems because academics would not have extended periods with which to complete work. Moreover, he feels that the current summer lull also allows the administrative and. library staff a break during which time they can perform maintenance duties which help
Photo: Karl Fulton
keep the system running during the school term.
The Director's "vision" has also had response from the outside world. Reports were published in the Times, the Guardian, and the Evening Standard last week.
INSIDE
More Housing for Students 2
Marriott Speaks out Against Gays 2
Union Jack 2
Saint & Greavsie
3
Opinions: The Director's Vision
4
Nightline: Suicide Hotline
5
FUm, Art, Theatre Reviews 6,7
Sports : Harry's Sex Change 8
Commentary
The Beaver,!8th February, 1991
li
Union
Jack
It's a sad fact of life that political hacks at the LSE never get Valentine's Cards. Everybody knows this, but that doesn't stop the hacks trying to bluff it out. But it's the touchiness that gives them away, and a great deal of touchiness was in evidence last Thursday. Indeed, as Jack swaggered off to the Tuns afterwards, smugly remembering the sackloads of adoring mail that had arrived in the Beaver office that morning, he was hard-pushed to remember a UGM when feelings had run so high. The first inklings that this was to be a tenser meeting than usual came in Mel Taylor's report. Mel was annoyed about Valentine's Day because it shows us the extent to which lesbians and gays are oppressed. A salient comment, in light of later developments, but a trifle misguided in its reasoning. Does Mel really think that Valentine's Day is all about openness and honesty? Jack, who'd spent the previous Monday persuading acquaintances to write out his envelopes ("Hold the crayon between your teeth") and the previous Tuesday trekking to Dungeness to post them all, laughed a little cynically at this point.
Nor had we finished with Valentine's Day. One questioner wanted to know how many cards the sabbaticals had each sent and received. Interestingly, each sabbatical tried a different way to save face. Rob went for the "I don't care anyway" approach by dismissing the whole thing as "a monstrous capitalist exercise"; Mel went for the feeble "I don't know 'cos I haven't been home yet"; and Jon went for the blatant lie by saying he'd "got thousands 'cos everybody loves me."
Valentine's Day briefly departed from centre stage as the motions got under way. First was a series of constitutional amendments, which are very boring and therefore tend to be passed with the greatest possible speed. The amendments sailed through unopposed, as did the next, on mobilizing support for disabled access. As Jack has commented before, the thing about impending elections is that they do bring out the old reliable motions - like disabled access. Elections can revitalize faded hacks too -like ICirsty Ayre. Ms Ayre has made a bid for glory before, but was defeated by a traditional Labour Club carve-up organized by a vengeful boyfriend. "These kind of motions always get put to the front of the agenda by sabbatical candidates," grumbled Kirsty. The odds on another Kirsty Ayre sabbatical bid duly shortened.
It was over the motion on Section 28 and Clause 25 that tempers began to boil. The motion, introduced by the Lesbian and Gay Soc, would normally be passed without a second thought, but this was Valentine's Day, and people weren't thinking straight. Lee Marriott certainly wasn't. Lee's Tory mentors usually let him out to play now and again simply to relieve the tedium, but they must be regretting the decision to unleash him on Thursday. After a speaker had attacked the Government's legislation as an "assault on individual rights", Lee, undeterred by screams of "bigot", marched up to tell us that unless homosexuality was controlled, pedophilia and necrophilia would be next. The Union was, quite simply, gob-smacked. One outraged member proposed Marriott be expelled for "provocative crap." Nobody paid much attention, because everybody was watching Mel Taylor. Mel, through stified sobs, made a stirring counter attack which more than made up in emotive appeal what it lacked in audibility. "This is the kind of attitude we're fighting against every day of our lives," wept Mel, "and at last somebody has said what they actually think instead of just sitting there." One standing ovation later, Mel returned to make a coherent argument. What matters, said Mel, is the question of adult consent to an act, no matter how distasteful others may find it. The Union proved her point by consenting to an act many clearly found distasteful. It voted to let Lee stay.
Marriott nearly ejected from UGM for Anti-Gay remark
by Christian K Forman
Lee Marriott, an active member of the LSE Conservative Association, was almost ejected from the Union General Meeting last Thursday for a speech he made against a resolution that condemned Clause 25 of the Criminal Justice Bill, the highly controversial government law that prohibits Gay sex.
In the only speech against the resolution, Marriott argued that the legalization of Gay sex, "was the thin edge of the wedge for paedophilia and necrophilia."
This statement prompted a motion to expel Marriott from the proceedings.
The assembly seemed set on this course of action until Mel Taylor, Senior Treasurer of the LSESU and a Lesbian/Gay activist, spoke against the expulsion motion.
Taylor, in a tear choked ad-
dress, said "This is the kind of attitude we're fightingeveryday of our lives. Even though what he said is horrendous, I'm glad at last somebody said what they actually think rather than just sitting there."
She continued, "This is really what the tories stand for. I think we should make him stay and listen to what we have to say. Hopefully he can learn something."
With the end of Taylor's speech, the entire assembly burst into a standing ovation. The motion to eject Marriott was resoundingly defeated, and the anti-Clause 25 resolution passed with an overwhelming majority.
After the UGM, many in the LSE community expressed their outrage at Marriott's remarks.Jon Hull, Social Secretary of the LSESU, said "I think it's sad and outrageous that
someone who is 'educated' can hold such views. It is also indicative of our society, that shows, no tolerance towards others who can'toften defend themselves. It also shows the difficulties that Lesbians and Gays face, andMel Taylor displayed great courage in her speech and actions."
Dominique Bourke, Chairman of the Conservative Association, also lent his society's voice to the chorus of criticism. In a letter to the Beaver, he wrote," We in the LSE Conservative Association cannot condone Lee's remarks. As believers in the freedom of the individual we whole heatedly support an individuals right to decide what his or her sexual orientation shall be. We believe that they should be free from persecution from any group or individual, and as such applaud the Student Union's anti-homophobic stand. The Conservative Association is contemplating
disciplinary action against Marriott.
After the UGM, Marriott said, "I only just wanted to try and wind them all up. Too many people take the meeting too seriously. I just thought that saying what I did would get everyone going and it did."
However, even though his intentions were not malicious, Marriott still holds very provocative views on homosexuality. "Fm not opposed to what people do in private, but I do believe displays of affection by gays and Lesbians in public is horribly wrong. It is a basic moral problem. I think it is offensive to all forms of society. I also believe that the vast majority of homosexuals could seriously benefits from psychological help. I think that it is a psychological problem, and if it could help, I think itshouldbetreatedbytheNHS."
Student housing purchased by LSE
Accomodation for 100 in Rotherhithe
by Peter Harrad
The LSE has just purchased 18 houses in the Rotherhithe district of London to be used as student accommodation. The new development, which will provide approximately 100 extra beds for LSE students, will be available in April of this year.
The administration purchased these houses for £1.7 Million from Regalian Ltd, a property development company, headed by David Goldstone, a member of the LSE Court of Governors.
Rob Middleton, General Secretary of the LSESU, was skeptical about the legitimacy of the purchase. He explained that although the School had assured
him that the purchase was legitimate, he believed it was "strange" that the deal hadn't been approved through theusual channels and that the houses were owned by a company directed by amemberof the Court of Governors.
However, the purchase has been approved by the District Valuer, a state ofiicial who must approve tdl real estate contracts which involve public funds. His report verifies that the houses were purchased at market value.
Middleton also questioned how the school could spare £1.7 Million for this project, yet had refused to contribute any money to the Student Union Housing Association's plans to spend £25,000 on student housing.
Ali Nikpay, Union Welfare Officer, had not been informed of the purchase by school ofii-cials. He said, "The Student Union welcomes any increase in affordable accommodation for students. But it is incredible that the school has again failed to consult anyone. No thought seems to have been given to the suitability of the location or the scope for meeting gaps in the current LSE housing provisions for student parents and disabled students".
In addition to this development, the school also is planning to increase it's student accommodation capacity by expanding the existing facilities at Rosebery Avenue Hall. The administration hopes this addi-
tion will provide an extra 140 places by1993. Work is expected to start in December 1991. School officials have also revealed that the college is looking into purchasing another six sites to be used specifically for student housing.
Another question which has been raised is how Director Ash worth's "vision" could affect LSE accommodation policy. Many worry that his plan to establish a second undergraduate campus elsewhere in London would place existing halls of residence too far away from the new school.
The School hopes that the houses will particularly appeal to postgraduate students.

m -ss

NEWS BRIEFS
More than sparks tly in Law department Last Tuesday at 9:10pm, the London Fire Brigade was summoned to Houghton street to put out a small fire which started in a 3rd Hoor office in the Law department. The Fire Brigade spokesman said that the fire did moderate damage to the room. Officials believe that the fire was started as a result of an ash tray being emptied into a waste paper basket.
Reggie comes home to Kings
The King's College student body has at long last been reunited with its mascot "Reggie." "Reggie", a large metallic Hon, was stolen from the school by a gang of immoral Imperial banditslast year, and has just been discovered in the dark bowls of the school's mechanical engineering facility. The Student Union has given the oldboy a new paint job and filled him cement so as to prevent further pilfering.
Imperial Research
Imperial College has allocated £4000 to hire a market research company to determine what the student expectations are of the student union.
Peachtree Research will be conducting a two-week study of the question. They expect to have
the results before Easter vacation.
The decision was made at a special meeting of approximately 30 members of the student union council. The circumstances surrounding the decision have caused some controversy, as opponents feel that the president and vice-president of the student union, in their attempt to pass the motion, may have circumvented proper channels.
No more Marlboros
The Students Union at York University has witnessed an attempt to ban Marlboro cigarettes in SU facilities. The move comes as a result ofMarlboro's backing for the right-wing American senator Jesse Helms.
However, some in the York Union have argued against the move, saying it wiU simply "put people's backs up"
The Beaver, 18th February. 1991
CAMPUS 3
It's a game of two halves
Saint and Greavsie pick out the movers and the shakers in the forthcoming S. U. elections
Well, it's been a funny old game, politics. Saint, since we last went to print-shock election victory by D.S.G. starlet Jai Durai. She stormed home with some possible sabbatical election winning quotes, such as 'another step for a union free of dictator's dogma.' Whilst Rick Livingstone was said to be as 'sick as a parrot, Brian', this defeat puts Rick's chances back a couple of steps and consequently he moves out to 10/1.
Well, over to you Saint.
Well, Greavsie with party selection meetings only a very short time away, it's nice to see so many old favorites making publicity. On the left-wing, mentioned only two weeks ago, is Greg 'Pazza' Pasco with a couple of motions offered to the U.G.M.
Also challenging for a spot on the left is Katy Episcipo, with a ground moving motion on equal opportunities. Katy, is experienced on the left hand side of the field and is a stalwart of the ailing Labour Club.
Recent speculation has also pointed to Steve Peake as a potential Social Secretary candidate. Whether this is to aggravate 'Saddam' Boyd or whether he is just trying to alienate the people he hasn't already is another question. However, personal opinion is that he's got about the same chance as Sher-gar has of winning the next Derby.
At the moment the right remain reticent but no doubt they will fight a tenacious campaign again. Dominic Bourke and Ian Price look most likely to front Chris 'why does he wear cords?' Pincher's usual vitriolic battle.
Finally this week we have a chance to look at some of those that may be worth an outside bet. In previous weeks we've looked at favorites such as Stuart 'the bike' Wilkes, and it now seems that he is looking like an increasingly good bet at 20/l(odds shortening all the time).
However, this week Greavsie
went searching round for unlikely pretenders to the to the throne - he found one: first year American general course student C. K.
Forman. Forman, a little older than most of his opponents at 26 is running on an independent ticket. He's pushing for greater understanding of environmental issues and for the awareness of the plight facing the American Red Indian. He commented 'oppression and prejudice do not only exist in third world countries but in our own back yard.' He hopes to push for a scholarship scheme along the lines of the South African scholarship programme.
I'm afraid that's it for this week, just time for a list of the latest prices:
General Secretary:
Gareth Roberts (Lab): 5/4 fav. C. K. Forman (Ind. Red Indian): 33/1.
Jai Durai (DSG): 8/1.
Greg 'Pazza' Pasco (Green,Access,Welfare.): 8/1. Dominic Bourke (Con.): 33/1. Stuart Wilkes (Bike): 20/1. Leon Trotsky (S.W.P.); 500/1.
Senior Treasurer:
K. Episcipo (Lab.): 3/1 fav. Michael Yetty Goose Creature (Silly): 20/1.
Ian Prince (Con.): 25/1. R. Livingstone (Lab.): 8/1. A.N. Other (DSG): 15/1.
Photo: Alex McDowell
R.J. Wilson (Very Silly): 1000/1.
Social Secretary:
D. 'Saddam' Boyd (Ind.): 3/1. F. Macdonald(hadafarm): 10/1. T. Johnson (Ego): 12/1. S. Peake (Monster Looney): 35/ 1.
We can also give prices on Jon Hull, present Social Secretary to:
la| Be in his office before 10-30a.m: 6/1 and
[b] give up alcohol for more than a week, a long shot at:200/l.
Next week, we'll be looking at election blunders by former candidates for Sabbatical posts.
BATTLE CRY
m o-fi d. t t-\o
y€AKS
CCLn^ou	h 6 yS
fo ^ sccLKce ^'esoOtrces
So-jvift.
TOCLclv
ix-	(e. ^or-
re.soorc.e.%
-ttteitr cCeaeL hooLteS
xy 5o o rtC' ov-
ower	Vf ouy hollies.
Xf'S	of	, TKc- Cycle.
tS 200 OLV\eL* X
fcX "
e >Ci	o. /
d. le a
SAAA LESHNTCK '91
SAM
diary
This week a typical L.S.E. student writes:
The Perplexing case of Bingo and the Society meeting.
I find that whenever things in general appear to going well as a speed joyfully along the highway of life someone invariably throws a spanner in the old works. Such was the case one Sunday evening. That evening I sat quietly by the fire engrossed in that stunning whodunit' She should have told the traffic warden' by Darcy Starto. Jeeves had just shimmered in with a large B and S when a knock came at the door. Jeeves announced that it was young 'Bingo' Little a fellow inmate at that London School of Something or other that I venture to Occasionally. Bingo entered looking like a man who had just learnt that his Andy Warhol original is really just an old tin of Cambells Soup.
'Oh Bertie', he sighed, 'I'm in love with a girl in the Art Society's Life Drawing class which meets every Wednesday in C018 between 6 pm and 8 pm.'
'But I thought you had a thing going for Melanie Taylor' I replied.
'Haa!' Cried Bingo indignantly, 'Melanie Taylor was just a fiash in the pan! This is true love.'
I knew it was useless to argue with Bingo who is a natural romantic. In any case I was glad to see an end to the 'Comrade Bingo' phase which had led to him wondering around the L.S.E, in a beard.
'I've decided to leave the L.S.E.' continued Bingo 'and elope with my beloved honey bear.' He then proceeded to storm out of the room.
The news of Bingo's immanent departure from the L.S.E shocked me and I immediately rang for Jeeves.
'Have you heard the ghastly news?' I enquired when he entered.
'Yes indeed sir, most distressing.'
'Something must be done.' I said decisively.
'Sir it occurs to me that what is needed is a distraction.'
'You mean something to take young Bingo's mind off of
the fairer sex and back onto the straight and narrow.'
'Precisely sir.'
'Well Jeeves It just so happens that I know of the very thing that should do the trick. Kimmy Hoque has informed me that John Gummer will be speaking for the European Society on the subject of the 'Common Agricultural Policy' on Monday the 25th in A85. That should be just the ticket don't you think?'
'Well Sir, might I suggest that Mr Gummer might not be to Mr Little's taste?'
I could see his, point young Bingo had never been much of a one for Europe.
'What about Robin Corbett, he's talking about the 'Criminal Justice Bill' in the Vera Ansty room at 6 pm on Monday the 18th?
'I fear sir that Mr Little might avoid such a discussion after his previous experiences with the law.'
Jeeves I knew was referring to the last poll tax demonstration when I had suggested to Bingo that a certain Police man was in desperate need to be relieved of his helmet.
'We could get Bingo to audition for the Rag week Muli-cultural Fashion Show on Tuesday the 19th in the Quad between 6 and 7 pm.'
'If you recall sir Mr Little has never been found of dressing up.'
Jeeves was again correct and I was fast losing any hope of stopping Bingo from leaving me in the lurch. Then, just as I was about to suggest taking Bingo to see a speaker for the Bangladesh Society on 'the transition from Au-thoritainism to Democracy in the third world' on the 19th at 1 pm in A144 Jeeves had a brain wave.
'Sir, I believe our best option might be to take Mr Little to see the motion picture Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' which, I have been told, is performing in the Old Theatre at 6.30 pm on Tuesday 19th.'
'By Jove Jeeves, I think you have it. That should do the jolly old trick ehh what?'
'I believe so sir, it should also give you the chance to see that particular motion picture. Am I not correct in saying that you have also expressed a desire to partake of it?' I answered in the affirmative. I will never, however,
forget how close I came to losing one of my dearest friends and how I am eternally in the debt of my faithful servant Jeeves.
f
4 OPINIONS
The Beaver, 18th February, 1991
a
Post
Haste
Letters to E205 by hand or internal mail by 3 pm on Thursday.
In defence of Islam
Dear Beaver,
Why is it that R. J. Wilson blames Islam for the vvforld's "ills"? (Letters, Beaver Feb. 4, 1991)
Wilson outlines the atrocities committed by Saddam Hussein, yet neglects to list the many atrocities commited by non-Islamic leaders (2 million Asians killed by U.S. in Vietnam and Cambodia, the Holocaust - under Hitler; Churchill's the then colonial secretary, use of gas against the Kurds and Indians). He says Malcolm X preached superiority, the reality is that Malcolm X instilled an oppressed population with pride in their culture, ethnic origins and their future. People vifho do preach superiority come from many religions, e.g. the white "Chris-
tians" of South Africa's A.W.B. party.
Rather than making blanket statements equating terrorism with Iran, why does he not turn his spotlight onto western sponsored terrorism? (e.g. the Con-tras in Nicaragua). One cannot understand the "terrorist" acts of the middle east without putting it in the context of a region which has a history of economic and political domination by other countries.
Wilson believes Islam is arrogant, yet it is the only religion which, during the Ottoman empire, accorded respect to Christianity. In 1991 the arrogance ofthe U.S.A. is manifested in a most bloody and hypocritical war. Such arrogant hypocrisy is a greater danger to world security that Islam.
I find Wilson's desire to attribute international problems to specific races or religions and his consistent siding with the oppressor against the oppressed disgusting.
Daniel Trump
N.U.S. London general secretary
The
Beaver
Executive Editor Managing Editor News Editor Campus Editor Features Editor Arts Editors
Sports Editors
Pliotographic Editor Financial Director
Sarah Eglin Peter Harrad Kimball Forman Scott Kelly Sonia Lambert Thomas Cohrs SahrJohnny Hassan Zaman Suhul Bocreslon Alex McDowell Leo Griffin
Production Team Richard Stevens, Deep Valecha, Liz Langley, Nell Andrews.
Staff Ben Accam, Ivana Bacik,Edward Bannerman,Andrew Bayley, Steve Bradford,Pollyanna Bristol,Mike Chappell, Thomas Cohrs,Gail Colwell, Daphne Dare,Jonathan Drew,Sarah Ebner, Bronwen Grey, Ananda Guha,Madeline Gwyon,Daniel Harris, Cristian Herrera Salas, Maarit Kohonen, Jan Kolasinski.Gary Lidington, Sam Leschnick.Stavros Makris, Jason Milner.Kishor Mistry.Syed Mansoor Mohi-Uddin, Joan O'Mahony.Hok Pang, Swaha Pattanaik, Charles Peat, Chris Pincher, Rodrigo Pizarro, Miriam Quayyum, AidanRankin.Timna Rosenheimer,
Juanita Shepherd, MichielVan Hulten, Stuart Wilkes, Simon Williams, Karen Wortley.Mark Wynne—Jones.
Printed by Eastway Offset, 3-13 Hepscott Road, London E8
Typeset by U.L.C.C.
First One student's reactions to the
Hand
Director's
cc • •	55
vision
As John Ash worth admits in the conclusion to his "2020 Vision" document, "I am conscious that I have thrown rather a lot of ideas at you in rather a short time." It v/as inevitable that he would produce such a plan and within such a time frame.
Ashworth is an administrator par-excellence, he got the post of Director because of his proven track record for getting a job done with the minimum of fuss. If he wasn't in academia he'd be in public relations. But the pressure is on him to live up to expectations. To boldly go where no director has gone before, to prove that a biochemist can do the right thing for a bunch of social scientists, and most of all to prove himself as a shaker and mover of the academic world.
"The Vision" is a notable document.. It raises issues which must be dealt with if the LSE is to flourish in the future. However, as many a Corbus-ier-inspired tower block builder realised, knocking the "slums" down to erect gi-andiose visions often leads to disaster. My contention is that this document raises changes so massive that they will obliterate, within the space of twenty
years, the cosy LSE we know and love. Instead, I would propose a policy of gradualism, which should begin by ronsoli-dating our present position.
The heart of the vision is the proposal to completely separate the graduate and undergraduate parts of the LSE. A high powered Graduate School, on the American model, would be located in Houghton Street with an integral Research Institute catering for "hundreds of research students". Meanwhile undergi-aduates would be quietly tucked out of the way within 45 minutes of travel time to Houghton Street. This proposal is in itself shocking, demonstrating both a lack of understanding of how the LSE undergraduate and graduate elements interact, and a seeming contempt for undergraduates in general. Undergraduate social life provides a welcome relief to many postgrads from the rigors of the academic battle. While the postgraduates provide a measure of maturity unusual among British universities. Academically their work keeps undergraduate study "current", giving undergraduates opportunities to experience and leam from their research.
The vision also appears to call for administrative separation of the two elements, thus presumably creating two bureaucracies. Double the trouble, and double the cost.
Many students of LSE are attracted here because of its central location, undergraduates would lose this and what would happen to the School's halls of accomodation? Are we to see students paying to travel out of central London to go to classes, or is Rosebery about to be extended only to be sold in a few years time?
The structure of Undergraduate teaching itself is to be changed, to make way for the "European Course" and the "Academic Course". Designed respectively to forge the new generation of European Technocrats and provide LSE Graduate School fodder. The aim of teaching all students fluency in another European language (but why confine it to just western European languages? What about Slavic languages?) and I.T. skills is noble, as is the proposal for a four year course. But the danger lurking in the text of the vision is that if you don't want to study economics, law, gov-
ernment or sociology and even if you do, but lack foreign language ability, you might be better going elsewhere.
The second order considerations of the vision stem from the plan outlined above, and are dictated by having to fit in with it. On the issue of finance, the whole project is estimated to cost "tens of millions" exclusive of the cost of buying a new site in London. But barely a page is devoted to ways of raising such massive amounts of capital. Maybe the Director didn't pick up the point, at LSE summer school, that economists get distinctly edgy when planning to spend money they haven't got.
And the icing on the cake? A "cohort" teaching system for students and staff. Possibly consisting of two twelve-week terms or three eight-week terms. So while one group of students are on vacation, another group are in term time. Some academics are already wondering what they'll live on during the holidays when the LSE isn't paying their wages and they haven't got any research contract money.
Jason Milner
Criticism of UGM
Dear Beaver,
Last term a vote of no confidence in Mr. Boyd (Chair) was brought before the house. At the time I voted for him and stand by this still.
However, today at the UGM control was lost in the last 3 minutes which lead to a motion (brought forward by our comrades) being passed. This occurred because the left were making so much noise (none of it relevant to the debate-what is new) that Mr. Boyd was frightened into submission.
After the vote had been taken half the members of the house did not know whether they had voted for the motion, for the amendment or their parents into slavery. Why was the vote not held next week when everyone, including Mr. Boyd, has their wits about them? Why were the rabble on the left not evicted while they were making so much noise? Could it be Mr. Boyd wants their support in the Sabbatical elections?
-A B Warren
Freedom of speech
Dear Beaver,
What the hell are the left playing at? Why can't they make up their minds upon where they stand on civil liberties? Today, yet again, we see the hypocritical way the left operate with
their policy on freedom of speech. Two weeks ago they opposed a motion on freedom of speech, mainly because it was proposed by the Right. Today, the subject comes up again, and now they are all in favour of freedom of speech, as long as it is what they want to hear. Have they lost their ability to think as individuals, or are they just so fickle that they can't make up their mind. Please can they get their policies straight before they lose all their credibility. However I am afraid that they were allowed to get away with it yet again because of the low turnout at the meeting. If the moderates want their voices heard they must come to the meetings.
A.W.K. Graham
Lee Marriott
Dear Beaver,
Following the remarks made by Lee Marriot in last Thursday's UGM, it is felt necessary to make the views of the LSE Conservative Association clear, as distinct from the views of an individual member.
We in the LSECA cannot condone Lee's remarks. As believers in the freedom of the individual we wholeheartedly support any individual's right to decide what his or her sexual orientation shall be. We believe that they should be free from persecution from any group or individual, and as such as we applaud the Student Union's anti-homophobic stand.
Unfortunately, as an organization we can't apologize for any offence caused by any individual member of our organization, but we do wish to make it clear that his views in no way represent the views of the vast majority of our members.
Yours sincerely,
Dominic Bourke- Chairman LSECA
Sabbatical election announcement
Dear Beaver,
The high point in the Student union year is rapidly approaching - the time that all SU hacks and others have been waiting and preparing for. Yes, the Students Union Sabbatical elections will be taking place on Thursday 28th February 1991.
As returning officer I would just like to inform all LSE students of the timetable of events for the next couple of weeks. Nominations will have opened on Thursday 14th February at 2pm. Anyone wishing to stand for any of the following positions should collect a nomination form from either E297 or outside the Old Theatre. Copies of the Elections Regulations are also available from E297. These completed nomination forms should be returned to the ballot box in E297 by Wednesday 20th February at 5pm.
A hustings for candidates for the three sabbatical positions will take place in the union general meeting on Thursday 21st February, and this will be followed by an agents' meeting at 2pm. The campaign may then begin. Leaflets for printing should be presented to the Print Room E203 by 5pm Thursday
Positions available:-
General secretary *1 t
Senior Treasurer *1 > Sabbaticals
Social Secretary *1 J
Women's Officer *1
Overseas Officer *1
Postgrad Officer *1
Returning Officer *1
Constitution Comm*7
Executive	*7
Junior Treasurer *3
NUS London Conference Sdelegates
NUS National Conference Sdelegates
NUS Women's Conference Sdelegates
21st, and will be printed in baches. The copy for these leaflets should be available for inspection at the agents' meeting, and any objections should be raised at this time.
No candidate or campaigner shall interfere with the electoral material af any other candidate - such an offence shall result disqualification. Also no posters shall be placed on the walls of the School, except on the official notice boards.
Further hustings will take place during the Week before Election Day at the Halls of Residence, and at the LSE on Wednesday 27th February. Advance Voting will take place on Tuesday 26th February on the top floor of the Cafe, and the main election will be held from 9am to 7pm in the foyer of the Old Building on Thursday 28th February.
Anyone who wishes to help either on the Ballot Box or at the count is quite welcome (!!) and can contact me on 081 692 8844 or leave a note in my pigeon hole in E297.
Peter Mackey, Returning officer.
3 observers 3 observers 3 observers
LSE Print Room
E205
Photocopying, printing and design work at low rates.
The Beaver, 18th February, 1991
FEATURES 5
Putting yourself on
the line
Nightline turns 20, turns into a trust, and turns to you for support. Fiona MacDonald takes a closer look at the telephone help line.
You may not need us now,
you might never need us,
but we are here."
This is not an advert for a bank, but one of the slogans on a Nightline poster, part of a campaign to publicise the services offered by Nightline to all London students. Well, my initial reaction was "what services?" and "who is we?". But after being approached by a Nightline volunteer to write an article on the organisation, I had the chance to find out more about another of our rather elusive welfare services.
Alistar Goodall, this year's coordinator, invited me to his office because he is very keen on getting the word out about Nightline. I was sat down with a cup of British hospitality for a two hour chat with one of the most helpful welfare officers around. Alistar passed me a yellowed copy of the Imperial College version of'The Beaver" dated the 24th April 1971. The full page article describes the establishment of a night time telephone service to take calls from students of the London colleges as a reaction to a string of suicides commited by Imperial College students. This is how Nightline began, twenty years ago.
The service was modelled on the already established Samaritan help lines and the two existing Nightline services at Essex and Brunei Universities. The initial letter given to potential volunteers describes Nightline as a "confidential, non-judgemental, non-directive help and information service run by students." The phone service is open at night when personal problems can take on a desperate nature and when friends, family or other welfare services may not be available.
Students in London are subject to the additional pressures of living in a large and sometimes overwhelming city, where it can feel as if you are never noticed. Nightlife can also provide general information about
anything from train times to all-night chemists.
There are about 45 Nightlines that operate at universities all around England and Scotland, offering a welfare support system that goes beyond office hours. There are some suggestions for a nationally coordinated system, but basically individual universities operate the service as is best suitable for the callers they deal with.
The London Nightline is operated from 6pm to Sam every weekday during term time. The people who answer the phones are student volunteers who receive no monetary compensation for their time and effort. The only paid position at Nightline is the coordinator, which is a sabbatical post, elected on a yearly basis. Volunteers are self-selected through a process of training, and the coordinator and existing volunteers assess the suitability of students who wish to become volunteers. Remember that these volunteers are strictly students and not qualified counsellors. They are there to listen to the callers troubles, encouraging callers to use their own resources to deal with their own lives, as well as to provide a wealth of information about how to get out in and out of London.
Students interested in becoming volunteers should try and attend three of the training sessions set up at the beginning of the Micheal-mas and Lent terms. The sessions are designed to inform potential volunteers about the nature of the help line, and engage them in role-playing situations that resemble the variety of calls they will be receiving on an all-night shift. In the first session the coordinator explains some of the guidelines that volunteers must follow. Firstly they must maintain confidentiality about all calls, other volunteers, and the specifics of the training sessions. Secondly, they must maintain their own anonymity so that potential callers are not discouraged from phoning.
During these sessions the participant is also encouraged to assess their own suitability for
the programme. Nightline does not suit everyone. Students who are unable to curb strong beliefs about abortion, suffer from impatience or who lack impartiality are not encouraged to become volunteers.
The second set of sessions involve role-playing in which volunteers act in the position of a volunteer and a caller. This was as specific as Alistar got when describing what I would be involving myself in if I accepted his offer to take part. I felt I was being tested, and anxiety set in. Alistar wanted to be sure that my article would be written with sensitivity to those involved and confidentiality where required. It was only the need to let other students know what the service entails that led the coordinator to invite me to attend a training session at all.
Far from living up to my preconceived ideas of the "typical" volunteer, i.e. nursing students building on their active listening skills or psychology students analysing the angst of students, the people I met were from all the different colleges and a whole variety of courses. Selection is not made from one group at any of the colleges, in fact cliques are expressly discouraged.
Two potential volunteers sit back to back with the lights out to create an atmosphere as close as possible to the actual calls, and conducive to concentration. Existing volunteers sit in on sessions to offer advice on how the calls can be most appropriately answered. As Alistar stresses, Nightline is a listening service. Nightline needs good listeners (don't we all) able to convey warmth, respect, empathy understanding and genuineness. Under normal circumstances I would consider this a bit over the top, but aren't these really the the attributes we look for in our friends? Volunteers are not superheroes. Except in the case of straightforward information questions, callers will not be given a solution to the personal problems at hand. Nightline volunteers are able to refer

callers to other specialist organisations that will be able to deal more effectively and professionally with a caller's query. But volunteers will stay on the line with a caller until the caller feels ready to end the call, and although some callers hang up abruptly, volunteers do not hang up on their callers.
Two volunteers are on duty every night, not only to provide an increased service to callers but also so that someone else is there, since some of the calls can be quite intense and disturbing for a volunteer. Women in particular are often requested by callers and are therefore subjected to some of the more involved calls. Events are organised to facilitate the growth of a support network. A weekend is arranged outside London during the year when volunteers learn on a deeper level about themselves and the people they are working overnight with. Trusting your fellow volunteer is imperative, as all volunteers are acting under special circumstances. Having a companion to confer with or to take the next call if you need time to settle yourself is essential. The Samaritans and Rape Crisis centers conduct workshops at Nightline weekends providing valuable information that volunteers use to improve their listening skills and update their information services.
Nightline exists on contributions from London University Colleges and their Unions. Contributions are theoretically linked to the number of students at each particular college, but most colleges, including the LSE, do not meet this financial obligation full. In fact, some colleges who claim to have the Nightline service do not contribute at all. Nightline, like all welfare services in British universities, is suffering as a result of a budget which is contracting in real terms. The paramount threat to nightline is a complete loss of funding , since the university, the colleges and their Student Unions are not mandated to make any contributions to Nightline. How could services like Nightline become self-financing (which is one of the proposals for the alternative funding of Student Union services) ? Night-line is not asking the LSE Student's Union for more money, but are appealing to sabbaticals to campaign each year for a provision for Nightline in the Union budget as well as to keep pressure on the University not to reduce funding for our welfare service.
Alistar is now applying to make London Nightline a trust, to establish the organisation as a legal entity to prevent its demise due to the neglect of those colleges which are happy to claim Nightline as one of their services, regardless of whether or not they contribute. Nightline coordinators set up stalls at Freshers Fairs and this year have been provided with wallet sized cards by Imperial College to hand out to students who are all potential users.
Nightline is a special service because it keeps the hours that students do. Volunteers are students who are better able to help their peers deal with the social and academic pressures of student life. Students don't plan on using Nightline, and knowing that the organisation exists is an important first step.
NIGHTLINE 6pm to Sam 071-436 5561
A confidential help and information service for London's students
Photo: Alex McDowell
¦^TS
The Beaver, 18th February, 1991
Postcards from the edge
" She ain't heavy she's my mother
¥
Hovering close to the edge of life's perimeter and being plagued by negative forces threatening to cancel out our positive existence is something most of us try not to admit we have experienced. "Postcards from the edge" is more honest, because it deals with the subject of nihilistic existence openly and in conjunction it slices through the relationship between a mother and a daughter, examining the rifts and joints which make their life together so tumultuous. Dealing with a mother-daughter relationship was not purely incidental. Such a relationship is one in which particularly potent natural human forces are at play. Imagine for a moment, two women,
both successful in their own right, blaming each other for their inadequacies and their horribly empty lives but loving each other with that under-lying female intensity no man can enact.
Meryl Streep encapsulates beautifully a woman torn apart by dmgs and living in the shadow of her celebrity mother. Once again she out-did herself in preparing for the role (in the Dustin Hoffman mode) and spent some time in a drug rehabilitation clinic. I can't imagine what good it did her but that's me. Shirley MacLaine stars as the famous mother who is equally if not more, in a state of internal decay and rampant alcoholism, all thinly veiled in a shroud of pre-
tentiousness and excessive make-up. The movie traces the path of their respective destinies with a view to fusing them ultimately or at least put them on the same wavelength. Such a movie needs a man, you know, just to add some spice, some mystery, OK some sex. Dennis Quaid plays the man who demands and eventually usurps a large part of Suzanne's sexual energies but are his romantic lines fresh out of the movies he produces? Gene Hackman and Richard Dreyfuss put in cameo performances but were they necessary? Who exactly is paying them? Don't think that the subject matter is all serious, in fact it is a comedy, I am tempted to say tragi-comedy but I won't.
As a matter of fact it is very funny and one get's to see how some of those movie tricks are done while Suzanne(Meryl Streep) is working on various sets. Finally 'Comme piece de Resistance' Meryl Streep actually sings. She must have prepared for it by spending some time in a canary cage. Meryl stick to acting, you are fantastic at it. After that message to Miss Streep I must say that "Postcards from the edge" is a very good film, tackling a very good subject and hopefully appealing to a bloody good audience.
On general release from February 22
Sahr Emarco Johnny
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Sparks fly in a love quadrangle
Three women, one man. He is the husband, the lover, the rapist. They are the victims of lies, hard labour, solitary confinement and sensory depravation. Flying Ashes is the first of two plays by Julia Voznesenskaya to be staged at the ICA this month. Exchange Productions, a new young company,is dedi-
cated to the workshop method. The play is based on letters and Tony Craze's script lacks a sense of unity, yet Sarah le Broq's directing presents vivid images of episodes of the three women's lives.
Tanya (Candy Bierman), Irina (Amanda Todd), Lgzarina (Jane Hampson) all involved
with Nicolai (Paul Mowbray). There is a wife unwilling to give up her husband, there are intimate moments of two lovers, there is a violent confrontation with a rapist. But why are they all in prison? No clue is given. No reference to modern Russian History made. The whole exercise verges on stereotype, yet
the saving grace of this play is its young actors. Their empathy, instinct and obvious hard work blend with minimalist stage design and mystic lighting to deliver a punch of a play.
Flying Ashes delivers its blow on the ICA, The Mall, until February 23rd.
Stavros V.S. Makris.
ARTS
mm
Exhibitions:
MAN RAY: BAZAAR YEARS photography exhibition Barbican Art Gallery 071-638-8891
10 to 5:45 ev. day until 1 April GREAT IMPRESSIONIST PAINTINGS art exhibition Royal Academy of Arts 071-287-9579
10 to 5:00 ev. day until 14 April TURNER: THE FOURTH DECADE art exhibition Tate Gallery 071-821-1313
10 to 5:00 ev. day until 12 May STRIP SEARCH 2
Comic exhibition
Willesden Green Library Center
081-451-0294
Until 26 March
Theatre
FESTIVAL SHORTS
new plays from young playwrights
Royal Court Theatre Upstairs
071-730-2554
6	pm ev. day until 2 March
1 THOUGHT I HEARD A RUSTLING
by Alan Plater
Theatre Royal Stratford East
081-534-0310
7:30 ev. day until 2 March
IMAGINE DROWNING
by Terry Johnson
Hampstead Theatre
071-722-9301
8 pm ev. day until 5 March FLYING ASHES
Institute of Contemporary Arts ¦ 071-930-0493 8 pm ev. day until 23 February THE MERCHANT OF VENICE by William Shakespeare VOLPONE by Ben Jonson Lyric Theatre Hammersmith 081-741-2311
8 pm mon to sat until 2 March NOONDAY DEMONS
Man in the Moon Theatre 071-351-2876
7	pm tue to sun until 2 March THE MILLIONAIRESS
by George Bernard Shaw Battersea Arts Centre 071-223-2223
8	pm ev. day until 12 March Shows
CAMPING ON THE ALDWYCH by and with Julian Clary The Aldwych Theatre 8 pm ev. day until 5 March THE KING AND I by Rodgers and Hammerstein Sadler's Wells Theatre 071-278-8916
7 pm ev. day until 30 March Opera
OEDIPUS REX/BLUEBEARDS CASTLE by Stravinsky/by Bartok London Coliseum 071-836-3161
7:30 pm 19 and 22 Februaiy ONLY Films
POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE selected London cinemas KINDERGARTEN COP selected London cinemas DANCES WITH WOLVES selected London cinemas
na	- not reviewed yet
*	- not too sad if missed
**	- all right if you're in the area anyway
***	- well worth the effort
**** - be there or be square
Beaver Rating:
The Beaver, 18th February, 1991
ARTS 7
Sopranos soar as Bluebeard meets Oedipus
Operas of violence and incest
A leading national newspaper once called the ENO's approach "really generating the operatic audienceoftomorrow". Comparing their latest production to our usual idea of opera as something exhaustively boring, tremendously long and probably performed in an utterly alien language, one can hardly deny that claim. Oedipus Rex/ Bluebeard's castle are two 'mini-operas', almost predetermined to fit the average teenager's concentration-span ofjustabout one hour each.
Oedipus is probably the better known of the two, the story of the crippled saviour of Thebes who is doomed to be a toy of the gods and in the process unfortunately ( and unknowingly ) kills his father and copulates with his mother. Self-destruction of the tragic hero is inevitable in order to yield maximum delight to the bored gods of ancient Greece, as Sophocles must have known at the time of writing, I suppose. Quite sarcastic the original, quite powerful the chorus and quite dramatic the adaptation by Jean Cocteau whose artistic influence is well reflected in the stage setting of dominantly dark figures, only really contrasted by a giant red jaw, symbolizing looming doom and the fading hero who progresses from bright yellow shining star to blind and wasted human wreckage. Unfortunately, someone had the idea to
translate the lyrics into Latin, which appears to be a bit of a turn-off, but all is not lost since a mighty voice-over trustworth-ily escorts you from scene to scene in almost plain English.
Well, they say the best things come last and I guess someone at the Coliseum is adhering to that principle by staging Bluebeard after the break.
True, compared to the twisted plot of heroism, incest, fate and deception that could have guaranteed old Sophocles and his Oedipus a slot in prime-time TV, the simple "I-married-a-womanizer" ( better still, a mass-murderer) story of count Bluebeard and his last wife in the dark castle almost sound too trivial to be worthwhile. However, it features a striking advantage: You can actually understand what it's all (i.e. it is sung in English ). Bartok's music is brilliant and Gwynne Howell's ( Bluebeard ) and Sally Burgess's ( Judith ) voices are crystal-clear , carrying an air of suspense that truly makes you shiver in anticipation.
Strawinsky's music for Oedipus is as brilliant as Bartok's for Bluebeard, however, it looses a lot of charisma due to Oedipus' under-performance ( Philip Langridge ). Jean Rigby as the queen and wife is marginally better but unfortunately doesn't have a lot to sing...
Anyway, Bluebeard alone is well worth the visit to this
magnificent theatre and for those of you who have not been to the Coliseum yet this is a worthwhile opportunity to dip into the lighter waters of opera.
Oedipus Rex / BlueBeard's
Castle at the London Coliseum 7:30 19 and 22 February only
Thomas Cohrs
This little pig went to market...
Siiort plays of pigs, kids and donkeys
Have you ever written a play ? No ? Well, never mind, neither have I. On the other hand there are these two kids called Jenny and Jennie , both age 10, who have written a play that renders you defenseless to laughter. "Sally's suspected" is a play about a little girl, burglars, police, a villain and a donkey strangely enough, but they're constantly in pajamas. Sounds interesting ? There's more to come, another play called "a pig in a poke" introduces us to a dancing fillet who turns out to be a real hog, leading a crusade against female adolescent boredom and diet: strongly recommended fornon-vegetarians! As if this wasn't enough for one evening, you get a third play
,"Happy days are here again", which takes you on a leisure tour through Leicester ( ..did someone say "asshole of the world"?). Alright, the leisure is mainly of distinct male origin but might supply a line or two:"..loneliness for men is
here to stay. With women it is yet to come..".
All plays essentially feature the same brilliant young actors, where Moya Brady and James Durell (the pig) deserve special attention.
All this is now on offer at the
Royal Court Upstairs Theatre under the flashy headline "Young Writers Festival",( also called "FESTIVAL SHORTS") i.e. three short plays in varying order to be seen until 2 March.
Thomas Cohrs
Noise
Feature: Spacemen 3. On the eve of the final ever output by Spacemen 3, their 'Recurring' album, I feel it is fitting to reflect on their previous eight years and the reasons for their demise. They were certainly an inspired group of musicians, with the two founders Jason Pierce and Pete 'Sonic Boom' Kember at the forefront of their creativity. Having been great fi-iends for over six years, the friendship has now disintegrated to the point were they no longer speak, but harbour feelings of bitterness and betrayal against the other.
Sonic was from a wealthy family but preferred to channel his energies into music. He went to art college "because we thought we (J ason and himself) could meet people to form bands there." There he met Jason and they hit it off immediately. Jason remembers, "When we first started, we were just getting completely out of our faces and jamming on long continuous bits of music. But there was something about it that wasn't self-indulgent. We were all playing in a room, until something came through the roof, the sound we were hearing was like from some other planet or something, and that's what Spacemen 3 was." Their first gig was Christmas 1982, but they were to spend the next two or three years just "gigging every three months" and refining their sound. Their first recorded material was released was on the "Taking Drugs' bootleg in the States. This was just a collection of demos they had done at the end of 1985. Their fist record deal was with Glass Records who released their first three singles ('Walking with Jesus', 'Transparent Radiation' and 'Take me to the other side') and first two albums ('Sound of Confusion' and 'Perfect Prescription'). They then switched labels to Fire Records who fought off the advances of Creation by promising the release of a CD single. It was during the recording of the 'Playing with Fire' LP for Fire that cracks began to appear in Pete and Jason's friendship. There were arguments about the songwriting credits and also problems with their new manager, Gerald Palmer. On this Sonic has this to say: "We trusted him at first... We sacked him ages ago but he wheedled his way back in with J ason, and he's trying to control the whole situation through Jason." Also Sonic confesses, "Another thing that caused a lot of problems is that my passion for drugs hasn't decreased over the last ten years. And there was perhaps a bit of a conflict with the people in Spiritualized being alkies when I was taking drugs. I didn't particularly feel there was a problem, except when I didn't allow them to be pissed for playing. The drugs I take you can play on, but you can't do that with alcohol unfortunately, it's a bit like driving. I'm sure there was some resentment about that." The situation deteriorated. Sonic recalls, "There's a situation within the band where Jason doesn't speak to me. If I phone him up, he won't talk to me; if I'm in the same room for an hour, he will act as though I'm not there. It was a real ugly situation." The split finally occurred because of the solo projects each were undertaking, Jason under the name of Spiritualized and Pete with his solo album 'Spectrum'. Each thought the other was going behind his back. Sonic remembers the split vividly, "When the band split up, I cried. I really did. After eight years, it's the closest thing almost to a marriage." Adding to this hurt was the fact that Jason had labelled him a megalomaniac; "I had to look it up in a dictionary when they said that. Oh, it was horrible."
So here ends the history of a great band but the hurt still remains. This is obvious from the plentiful interviews conducted over the last few weeks. Again quoting Sonic, "Jason was my best friend for years. We were born on exactly the same day -November 19. We were very good friends for a long, long time.". Jason adds, "Pete now, he seems like a really nice guy, but he's not the Pete I used to know. The Pete I used to know was a bit of a c'®'** and that's probably why I liked him.... Forget the band, it was Pete and me, our output, that produced something we both loved so much. Nobody wants to lose something they love..."
Hok Pang
8 SPORT
The Beaver, 18th February, 1991
Houghton
Street Harry
You may have noticed from last week's column that the Houghton Street Harry you know and love is no more. Yet before you all break down in tears, let me console you. Do you remember watching Doctor Who all those many years ago ? Yes? Well, think of the times when the Doctor metamorphosed, and Jon Pertwee became Tom Baker, who later became Peter Davison. That is almost what has happened to Harry, except that his metamorphosis has been just a little more drastic. Harry has turned into Harriet...
I have been trying to think of all the wonderful advantages of being a woman in the world of sport. It has been very difficult, as, apart from perhaps tennis and athletics, women do not get a very good showing. However, after long hours of intense thought, I have come up with one: it is that when you go to a football match (as opposed to the cinema, theatre or anywhere else), there is hardly ever a queue for the ladies' toilet. There, nowyou know!
I have just realised that on this, my very first column, I have already brought the tone down to a lamentable level, a clear demonstration of my lavatorial sense of humour. I suppose that I should now go on to say something useful. As I have already mentioned football, what better than to carry on with that topic.
There are a few things in the football world that bother me - why for example, does Gary Lineker always play well for England, but not for Spurs? And why it is that Graham Taylor never picks Gai-y Mabbutt? But before you think that I have a Spurs fixation (even though it may be true), why does John Barnes never manage to play well for England, and what the reason is for continually playing him? He was certainly not missed in the World Cup.
Talking of the World Cup (spot the tenuous Radio 2 link!), there was another player we did not miss. Yes, that's right, Mr Bryan I'm-worth-playing-because-I'm-a-nice-person-and-the-papers-like-me-even-though-I-always-get-injured-even-if-the-ball-is-nowhere-near-me Robson.
Robson has recently reappeared to announce his ambition of getting 100 caps for England. He has also cleverly used the Press in his campaign - it was difficult to open a newspaper a few weeks ago and not spot the profusion of pictures of "Good old Bi*yan" holding up a card with the hardly subtle message "88 not out"
written on it. Robson is 34 years old, hardly young in the world of football, and still has 11 more caps to go before he fulfills his desire.
This may not be very friendly of me, but I fail to see why he should still be playing for England. It appears he only played against Cameroon because Piatt, McMahon and Webb were injured -1 hope that was the real reason, because international football is not the place for great sentiment (although I suppose you could argue that it was fine for this "friendly"). If Robson only needed one or two more caps to reach the magic century, it would then be cruel not to play him. Yet he needs eleven, and unlike club football, where matches are played weekly, and games quickly pass, it is a different matter at international level. Eleven games would clearly include vital matches in the European
Championships, where the idea is to win by playing the best possible team, not to play someone just because they want personal fulfillment. Taylor should be picking younger players, and giving them the chance to prove themselves. If he wants to go for more established club players, then he should give McMahon more of a chance. Remember it's not the taking part that matters at this level - it's the winning or losing! We should be looking to the future and picking the best team, rather than making an "old" man happy.
Fourth class
Football
RSMII......................................4
LSEIV.......................................1
This was another substandard performance by the LSE IVs, hampered by having only 10 men from the kick-off. The defence played well, with Andrew Cox havinga particularly impressive debut. In goal Clive Vachar performed his usual heroics, saving a penalty for the second time this season. Aamir Khan was unfortunate enough to put the ball past his own keeper, although his overall performance was sound. The three man midfield struggled, mainly due
Sticky moments
Hockey
LSE SecondXI.........................2
KCH SecondXI.......................0
The LSE Seconds won their first outing this term (in fact their first this season) with an unconvincing display against a depleted King's College Hopital side on a bitterly cold day last week. It was always going to be a farcical day, and Jon quickly got into the mood by asking a bystander where the "Griffin Club" (a Sainsbury's sports centre of all things) was while standing no more than two feet away from an enormous sign pointing to the entrance. The opposition had by then managed to round up all of five players, with two more on the w^y - they were, for some reason, "on the phone." Offers for a member of our team to defect, as by this time we already had the walkover, were politely refused.
The pitch was frozen hard, which made the ball bobble, passing difficult and skilled play, if the Seconds could ever produce any, almost impossible. Martin, our goalkeeoer, was untroubled early on, which gave him the opportunity to endlessly moan about the forwards' lack of skill. Luckily the opposition goalie was incompetent, and quickly let the


¦	""x,'
...........
The LSE First XI showing how it's done
ball dribble between his legs, which were akimbo at the time.
It started snowing soon after, which together with the rather severe wind-chill factor, stuck everyone's hands onto their sticks. Comments to the effect that only the English would contemplate playing in such conditions abounded. It did not seem to bother KCH, who created
asuccession of chances on the break, and who at times seemed more likely to score.
LSE replied with another ludicrous goal in the second half-with the goalie caught out of position a defender was left to run aftertheball, desperately trying to hit it back between his legs. That effectively sealed KCH's challenge. All that was left was
Photo: Alex McDowell
to prise our frozen hands off our hochey sticks.
The team would undoubtedly benefit from an abil ity to take its chances in front of goal, of which there were hundreds, especially in the first half. It is a bit unrealistic, though, to expect to play well with no team practices, little match practice, and this time no team to play against.
to being outnumbei'ed. The forwards Dave and Simon battled gainfully against RSM's tight defence, marshalled by their sweeper, who was the game's outstanding player.
The only noticeable feature of the team's performance was the first goal of the season, a beauty of an overhead from all of forty yards, for the captain and hardworking midfield non-stop dynamo, Laurie Ryan. It was in keeping with the IV's mixed season, relatively safe from relegation, and, even more frightening, promotion.
Laurie Ryan
Football Focus
Disunited
Rumelows Cup semifinal (first leg):
Manchester United............................2
Leeds United.......................................1
This clash at Old Trafford between two of the games traditional giants failed to live up to its billing. The first half, in particular, epitomised the worst aspects of current league football as both teams littered the spectacle with niggly fouls and negative tactics. The Italians in the '70's would have called it "catennacio".
As T.V. pundits often say, the game needed a goal. Lee Sharpe answered the call, taking full advantage of a weak back header by the Leeds fullback, Mel Sterland, who at one time had been a benificiary of Bobby Robson's dubious selection policies in an international in Saudi Arabia. The gifted United winger thereby extended his goal-scoring run in this competition after his hat-trick at Highbury, and looks odds on to win the Young Player of the Year award. Last season United fans would have been accustomed to seeing their side lose a lead almost as soon as they had got it and shades of the past returned as Leeds centre-back Chris Whyte volleyed his side's equalizer three minutes later. The match suddenly lit up and ten minutes from time Brian Mclair scrambled home the winner for the home team. Substitute Wallace blasted wide from a favourable position in the dying seconds, a miss which could prove costly for Manchester United as they take their slender lead to Elland Road in a couple of weeks' time. Hassan Zaman
Sporting lessons
The English game has always been enhanced in some way by World Cups. In 1982, it was the plethora of attempted Brazilian-style free kicks, in '86 it was the Mexican wave, and from last summer in Italy we've been brought back the Red Card. Sending-offs en masse are in fashion with refs, even if the players, managers and the fans don't enjoy it.
The crackdown by the powers that be on the "professional foul" have disrupted the game, in a way the Mexican wave never could. From where I sit, the hot blooded last ditch tackle has always been part of the English game - this 'professional foul MacCarthyism' will only end up taming an exciting sport. Perhaps we should give up on tackling alltogether?
In 1994, our sights will be set on America, and what will be brought back from there? Cheergirls on the terraces perhaps? Its a funny ol' game.
Once again Diego Maradona has been caught with his hands in the wrong place. Italian police are to investigate claims that the fiery Argentine has been enjoying the services of a local Neopolitian brothel. As on the pitch, it is believed Diego has the power to take on 2 at a time. More seriously, the world famous sport star is entangled in allegations of drugabuse. There have been continuous rumours of Maradona's illicit actions going back to Ai-gentina's shameful performance in the last World Cup . Unlike his famous exploits on the pitch where he has never been seriously penalised, our hero is facing a possible jail sentence. Will he be locked up ? Or will he get away with the 'hand of God' excuse again and fly off in his helicopter at half -time.	Shaun Sethi
Deja vu?
The race for the title progresses predictably
As the Barclays Division One programme resumes this weekend after its unscheduled midwinter break, it is high time to reflect on events so far this season and make a few bold predictions for it's remainder. Let me stick my neck out and tip Liverpool for this year's title since it is difficult to look beyond Kenny Dalglish's men for England's premier piece of silverware. Despite going through a shaky last few months in terms of lacklustre performances, mediocre results and large-scale team injuries, the Merseysiders still sit defiantly at the top of the League. As it is accepted footballingl folklore that the Reds turn on a power surge in the middle to closing stages of the season, there is little reason to disbelieve that the title will be on its way to Anfield by late April. Recent big money signings by 'Canny Kenny,' namely Jimmy Carter and David Speedie only serve to reinforce this belief.
The only team likely to challenge the Northern supremacy are George Graham's Arsenal reflecting the fact that the much heralded 'battle for the championship' is in fact been a two horse race. However, despite the inspiration of Anders Limpar's wing play and the elegance of Paul Davis in midfield^ the Gunners lack the overall flair and firepower to bring the title back to London. Superbly efficient and organised they may be and possessors of a brilliant shotstopper in David Seaman , but the fact is that the League title is seldom won on primarily defensive skills. The 'boring, boring Arsenal' tag will surely condemn the Gunners to second place.
Other prime contenders for UEFA Cup places are the surprise packages of the season, Crystal Palace and Leeds United. However, I have seen enough of Steve Coppell's side to suggest that the Eagles will come down to earth with a bump in the closing stages of the season, as sides get to grips with their long ball style based largely on the firepower of Ian Wright and Mark Bright up front. Leeds play a slightly more orthodox game harnessing 'Arsenal like' defensive efficiency and organisation to the creative skills of the evergreen Gordon Strachan in midfield, but despite lauding their'top three' aspirations, I feel there is still a long way to go before the current Leeds side can be mentioned in the same breath as the all conquering Don Revie outfit of the late Sixties and early Seventies.
Turning to the battle at the other end of the table, I can see Derby County - by far the worst team I have seen this season - Sunderland and Luton, - dropping into the Second Division.
Robert Smith