King's College London newsletter

Communications in King's

A NEW YEAR MESSAGE

Largely as a result of the reuniting of theMedical School with the College in 1983,and the subsequent merger of the old King'swith Queen Elizabeth and Chelsea Collegesin 1985, King's College today has nearly7,000 students and is the second biggestSchool in the University of London. Ourrange of disciplines, from humanities, lawand education, through physical sciencesand engineering to medical and life sciences,is second to none in London. King's isnow, therefore, a stronger institution, bothin size and subject mix, than ever before.

We shall however, make the most of ourstrength only if everybody feels part of oneCollege. In my first few months here I havebeen very encouraged by the spirit ofcollegiality that pervades King's; there is ofcourse, an element of competition betweendepartments, but there is also a great deal ofcooperation. A key factor in maintainingthis collegiality - made panicularly difficultat present by our multi-site operation, isgood communications. Comment is clearlya major asset in this respect and one I wouldlike to take advantage of in at least twoways. Firstly, I propose that, in future,brief reports on all important meetingsshould appear in Comment so that peopleare aware of issues under discussion and ofdecisions taken. I also propose in thecoming months to ask different people towrite articles about various aspects of ouractivities so that we can all be betterinformed about what is going on in differ­ent parts of the College; if you have matterson which you would like to see an article,please make your views known.

Because of the dominant place that flOancehas assumed in higher education bothnationally and locally, I asked David Bal~

our Director of Finance and Staff, if he

would write the flfst of these occasionalarticles so that we all understand moreclearly the situation at King's. (See page 2).As he explains, we have a great deal to beproud of in that, starting from a very bleakposition in 1987, we have for the past threeyears balanced our books, recurrent-wise.The capital situation at the moment is lessfavourable than we would have wished, dueto the depressed state of the propertymarket which may cause us to defer thedisposal of some of our properties, and maytherefore have a knock-on effect on ourborrowing requirement in the short term.But in the longer term we are confident thatthe very ambitious site rationalisationprogramme upon which we are embarkedwill be successfully completed, as a result ofwhich the savings from increased efficiencywill give us a little more scope formanoeuvre.

I want to end this rather longer thanexpected introduction by adding that,although there can be no relaxing onfinancial pressure over the next few years(and we all wait for the UFC's prescriptionin February and March with some appre­hension), we must not adopt an attitude of'battening down the hatches' merely to

survive financially. V!!e shall survive - butthe price of financial survival must not beacademic stagnation. King's is makingtremendous progress; I believe the pace ofprogress can be maintained and evenincreased within the present financialenvelope, if we are prepared to change ourways of doing things, especially academi­cally. I add this last qualification becauseour expenditure on academic and relatedactivities represents the biggest part (about70%) of our budget. This is a matter towhich I would like to return in due course.

NEW YEARHONOURS LISTThe College offers its warmest congratula­tions to the following who received recogni­tion in the New Year Honours List:

Professor John Cadogan, CBE, PhD,DSc, FRS, FRSE, CChern, FRSC, received aknighthood.An outstanding student, John Cadogangraduated from King's in 1951 with a firstclass honours degree. winning the MillarThornson Medal in the process (the prizeawarded each year to the student whogained the highest first class degree), and theSamuel Smiles Prize. Continuing his studieshe obtained his PhD. He worked for a twoyear spell with the Civil Service, beforereturning to King's to lecture in the Chem­istry Department for seven years. Hiscareer has followed a most distinguishedpath from King's. He went on to becomePurdie Professor of Chemistry and Head ofDepartment at St Andrews before moving

(continued on page 3)

THE FINANCIAL SITUATION

1989/90 1988/89 1987/88 1986/87 1985/86OOOs OOOs OOOs OOOs OOOs

Income

Grants 38977 36264 34315 31901 31517Fees 9832 8702 8058 7003 6779Research Grantsand Contracts 18050 15830 13282 11697 9522

Other 10284 10156 7210 6103 559377143 70952 62865 56704 53411

Expenditure 76993 70881 62800 57808 53476

Surpl usi(Deficit) 150 71 65 (1104) (65)Accumulated DeficitB/fwd. (4660) (4731) (4796) (692) (627)

Accumulated DeficitC/fwd. (4510) (4660) (4731) (4796) (692)

The Recurrent SituationThe fInancial aspects of university opera­tions now command a much higher publicprofile than has hitherto been the case.Following DES intervention to avoidbankruptcy in several universities, Univer­sity College Cardiff being the most notablecase, the Government is increasinglyconcerned and active about what it sees asinefficient, even incompetent, financial man­agement within the university system.Almost daily some expression of concern,coupled with a list of those universitiesperceived to be at risk, is forthcoming fromeither the UFC, the DES or, perhaps evenmore alarming, the Public AccountsCommittee.

Recently, the Public Accounts Committeehas turned its attention to the University ofLondon and, perhaps correctly, has de­manded explanations to alleviate theincreasing concern over the financial plightof the University and its constituentColleges.

It would be foolish to pretend that thefinancial situation in London is not serious.In an environment of sustained reductionsin Government funding, significant centraladministration costs and the extra expenseof operating in London, it is perhaps notsurprising that all London Colleges aresuffering, and that some face quite seriousfinancial difficulties.

Against this background, I thought it wouldbe helpful to set the record straight, as itapplies to King'S. I hasten to add thatKing's, although frequently appearing in the'concern list', is not one of those Collegesdeemed to be at risk.

Prior to the merger, King's College, QueenElizabeth College, Chelsea College and theSchool of Medicine and Dentistry, werebeginning to experience the problemsassociated with grant reduction and un­funded inflation. In 1985 the newly formedKing's College London found itself facing a£3.6m accumulated revenue deficit and asubstantial (in excess of £2m) annualrevenue deficit predicted for the first year ofmerger.

By any measure the financial situation wasserious. Remedial action was urgentlyneeded and in early 1987 the College

introduced a financial strategy designed notonly to redress the financial imbalance butto begin to generate annual surpluses andthereby make some inroad into the accumu­lated defIcit. The total elimination of theaccumulated deficit was not expected to beachieved until the benefIt of economiesfrom consolidation of sites materialised inthe mid 1990s.

Whereas the College'S frnancial strategy hasbeen widely promulgated and accepted bythe UFC, the fact that we have an adverserevenue reserve situation (albeit oneplanned and expected to last for only alimited period), tends to figure prominentlyin external assessments of the College'sfinancial health, giving rise to murmurs ofconcern.

But make no mistake, the frnancial situationis under control: the College Treasurer inhis Report to Council on the Accounts forthe year ended 31 July 1990, stated:

'I am pleased to report that we haveachieved our frnancial aims (of having arevenue surplus) for the last three years anda balanced revenue account is again pre­dicted for the current fInancial year. Suchresults reflect great credit both on thefInancial organisation of the College and onthe large number of people throughout theCollege who have been prepared to backthat organisation with their effort, thoughtand cooperation.'

To give a little more detail in support of theTreasurer's comments, the table below

summarises the College's income andexpenditure account, excluding propertytransactions, for the last five years.

You will note that our accumulated deficithas, since 1986/87, been slowly reducing.

It is too early to predict what effect newUFC funding proposals will have on theCollege's future. However, continuedfinancial pressure is almost a certainty, butin this respect I would contend that theCollege has, in recent years, ably demon­strated its ability to manage its own affairsand I am therefore, confIdent it has theexperience and the will to cope with futurepressures.

The Capital SituationHand in glove with the recurrent financialstrategy, the College has embarked on amajor rationalisation of its scattered estate.This rationalisation process, which ofnecessity has a long time scale, should infinancial terms be considered quite inde­pendently of the College's recurrentfinancial situation: the capital projects willnot have any effect on the recurrentfinancial situation of the College, except, ofcourse, to reduce the recurrent costsassociated with our present multi-siteoperations.

In practice, the programme of rationalisa­tion can be divided into two discrete areas.

First, the consolidation of academicactivities onto the Thameside campus whichessentially involves the disposal of all sites

other than the Strand site and the recentlyacquired Cornwall House.

In very general terms, the acquisition andrefurbishment of Cornwall House and itsAnnexe, is to be paid for by disposalproceeds of all other academic sites.Leaving aside the current unfavourableconditions in the general property market, iti hoped that the capital sums realised bysales, when the market recovers, will beufficient not only to fund the refurbish­

ment of Cornwall House, but also to fundsome refurbishment of the Strand site.

Secondly, the College has undertaken amajor rationalisation of its residentialaccommodation and sporting facilities. Inthis respect the acquisition of the Wesrfieldresidential campus will enable the Collegeto consolidate a significant proportion of itsresidential places on a single high qualitycampus. This process involves the sale ofthose Halls within the academic sites beingdisposed of, and also Malcolm Gavin Halland Halliday Hall. The Halls of Residenceremaining outside of the Westfield campuswill be King's College Hall and WellingtonHall.

To date the Mitcham and Petersham SportsGrounds have been disposed of and a majornew quality sports ground at New MaIdenpurchased.

In very general terms the residential andsporting facility rationalisation process isexpected to be, in financial terms, largelyneutral in that, subject to market conditions,the sale proceeds associated with those hallsand sports grounds being sold will meet thecost of acquisition and refurbishment of theWestfield campus.

Both the academic and residential/sportsground rationalisation processes areremarkably ambitious, given the currentausterity in government capital fundingprogrammes.

With regard to the financial risk involved inthe rationalisation schemes, and this isperhaps the primary reason for commentingon the capital rationalisation programmes,the situation can best be summarised asfollows.

Having accepted the need to undertake thetwo programmes, there was little or noalternative but to accept an initial risk that

the cost of the purchase of Cornwall Houseand its Annexe and the refurbishment of thelatter, together with the purchase of the

estfield site (ie money that had to be put'up front') could not be covered immedi­ately by the sale of the properties. Thusthere was a need for interim external bor­rowing. We are now in a position where552 King's Road is no longer needed andcould be sold but unfortunately the slumpin the property market makes this aninau picious time to sell. The deferment ofthe sale means that we have to borrowfurther sums to tide us over.

I am pleased to report that we have success­fully made arrangements which will ensurethat the capital costs already expended andthose which are committed are fullycovered.

I should add that we are treating the interestassociated with any capital borrowing as afirst charge on the estate rationalisationcapital costs; it does not, therefore, in anysense, affect the College's recurrent financialsituation.

SummaryIn recurrent terms, given the currentfinancial climate and the particular prob­lems associated with London, King's canjustifiably claim to be one of the fewColleges that has come to terms withunrelenting financial pressure and inpractice is operating on a balanced budget.

In capital terms, given that the College'ssurvival as a major multi-faculty schooldepended on the Thameside campusconsolidation and the availability of goodquality residential facilities, the limitedfinancial risks associated with embarking onthese two major capital projects weredeemed acceptable. Even in the Light of afairly significant downturn in propertyvalues, this still remains our view.

Given these circumstances, whereas theCollege's financial strength is not as healthyas I would like to see it, particularly in thearea of general building maintenanceprovisions, it would be true to say that ithas the solid financial base required to facethe predictably uncomfortable financialfuture facing the university system as awhole.

David BallDirector of Finance and Staff

STAFF NEWS

(cominued from front page)

to Edinburgh University where he was theForbes Professor of Organic Chemistry. In1979 he joined British Petroleum as ChiefScientist at the Research Centre and since19 1 has been Director of Research. He isalso Visiting Professor of Chemistry atImperial College and Professorial Fellow,University College of Swansea.

Professor Cadogan has continued to enjoy aclose relationship with King's over theyears, becoming a Fellow of the College in1976, a member of Council in 1980 and theVice-Chairman of Council la t October.

Or Oavld Ingram, MA, DPhil, CPhys,FInstP was awarded a CBE.Or Ingram became Principal of ChelseaCollege in 1973, a post held until 1980 whenhe was appointed to his present position ofVice-Chancellor of the University of Kentat Canterbury. After gaining a degree fromOxford University he stayed on to continuepostgraduate research before setting out onhis academic career. His first teaching post,was at the University of Southampton,where he worked for seven years beforemoving to the University of Keele in 1959as Professor and Head of the Department ofPhysics, later becoming Deputy Vice­Chancellor. From Keele he went to ChelseaCollege.

Or Ingram served Chelsea College well andis perhaps best remembered for the vigorouscampaign he mounted on behalf of the

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College to obtain the site of 552 King'sRoad. The College of St Mark and St Johnhad been relocated to Plymouth leaving 552vacant and eventually to fall derelict.Through his personal efforts and againstvery strong contenders, Or Ingram securedthe purchase of the property for the use ofChelsea College.

As a tribute, Ingram Court hall of residencewas named after him and he was also electeda Fellow of King's in 1986.

Ernle Warrell has been awarded an MBE.Ernie Warrell joined King's in 1953 as alecturer in the Department of Theology andDirector of the College Choir; since 1980 hehas been the College Organist. He becamea Fellow of the College in 1979.

His working Life actually began in law, in asolicitor's office just across the road fromKing'S. After his war service with the RoyalScots, the Middlesex Regiment and SO E, heresumed his position as articled pupilassistant at Southwark Cathedral. Despitenot receiving any formal training as amusician he went on to take up a variety ofappointments in London churches, culmi­nating in 1968 when he became the Organistand Director of Music at Southwark Cathe­dral, a post he held for seven years. He hasalso been the Lecturer in Plainsong to theRoyal School of Church Music; the MusicalDirector of the Gregorian Association, andsince 1984, Chief Examiner in Music to theImernational Baccalaureate.

Under his direction the College Choirenjoys a wide reputation and performspublicly on many occasions. A recentexample of his hard work and dedicationresulted in the Choir making their first everrecording - Carols in Advent.

Ernie Warrell

APPOINTMENTSPROMOTIONSAND AWARDS

Professor John BarronThe College is delighted to announce thatProfessor Barron has been elected Master ofSt Peter's College, Oxford, from October1991.

John Barron came here in 1971 as Professorof Greek Language and Literature. He wasHead of the Department of Classics from1972 until 1984. Since 1984 he has com­bined his Chair with the Directorship of theInstitute of Classical Studies.

A fuller appreciation of his considerablecontribution to the College and the Univer­sity will be published in due course. In themeantime, we offer him our warmestcongratulations on his new appointment.

Appointment to ChairsJill MacLeod Clark has been appointed tothe Chair of Nursing Studies from 1July1990.

Christopher Marriott has been appointedto the Chair of Pharmaceutics from 1June1990. He joins King's from BrightonPolytechnic.

Richard Whish has been appointed to theChair of Law from 1January 1991. Hejoins King's from Bristol University.

Promotion to ProfessorColin Bushnell has been promoted fromReader to Professor of Pure Mathematicsfrom 1June 1990.

Martin Hughes has been promoted fromReader to Professor-of Chemistry from 1May 1990.

Andrew Porter has been promoted fromReader to Professor of History from 1October 1990.

Garth Swanson has been promoted fromReader to Professor of Physical Electronicsfrom 1 October 1990.

Appointment to ReadershipCostas Iliopoulos has been appointed toReader in Computer Science from 1January

1991. He joins King's from Royal Hol­loway and Bedford New College.

Sarben Sarkar has been appointed toReader in Theoretical Physics from 1December 1990. He joins King's from theRoyal Signals and Radar Establishment.

Promotion to Readership(from 1 October 1990)

Patrick Chabal has been promoted toReader in Portuguese.

Trevor Hall has been promoted to Readerin Physics.

Eva Lomnicka has been promoted toReader in Law from 1 November 1990.

Dietmar Rosier has been promoted toReader in German Language.

The Medical School's new appointmentsand promotions will be announced in thenext edition of Comment.

Director of Public RelationsThis month we welcome the College'S newDirector of Public Relations ChristineKenyon Jones, who joins the staff on 21January. Chris comes to us with 17 yearsexperience of press and public relationswork and she has been most recently PublicRelations Officer for the Council forNational Academic Awards. She will be incharge of Public Relations work in theCollege and she says she is particularlylooking forward to adding her contributionto a College in which there are so manyLively and exciting developments and whereso much has already been achieved in thePublic Relations field.

Chris worked on The Guardian beforegoing to Oxford to read English, and then,after a short spell of social work, becameassistant to the Head of Publicity at theNational Union of Teachers. She went onto become successively Press and PublicityOfficer for the National Association ofCitizen's Advice Bureau and Press Officerfor ILEA before taking up her appointmentwithCNAA.

Chris will be doing her best to get to knowKing's and to meet as many people aspossible when she arrives; she can becontacted on S2179.

John MuirVice-Principal

"·4;:.;

5

Accepting this challenge, he successfullyopposed the movement of Pharmacy andenthusiastically started to rebuild theDepartment following the merger withKing's. He strengthened the Professoriateand with the new management team inplace, and with considerable support fromProfessor Sutherland, a positive policy ofstaff recruitment and encouragement ofresearch was initiated. At the same time thePharmacy curriculum was developed in linewith the findings of the uffield Reportand joint appointments were made with theHospital Service and Community Phar­macy. This period was very demanding anddespite serving on numerous committees,Professor Gorrod still maintained a firmresearch base. This has led to nearly 200scientific papers, eleven edited books andbeing invited to address many majorconferences both at home and abroad.

in Biopharmacy in the UK, tenable atChelsea College. His research efforts haveconcentrated on the metabolism of nitrogencompounds ith particular reference tomechanisms involved in the biologicaloxidation of consistent nitrogen atomstogether with the toxicological conse­quences of the processes. He was promotedto Reader in 198 and Professor in 19 4 andawarded a DSc in 1982.

By 1984 morale in the Pharmacy Depart­ment was at an all time low, staffing hadbeen cut from 33 to 18 and diminishing re­sources threatened the continued existenceof the Department. Indeed the Universitywanted to relocate Pharmacy to St George'sMedical School, Tooting. Against thisbackground, John Gorrod was asked to

assume the Headship of the PharmacyDepartment.

In August 1990 John Gorrod relinquishedthe Headship of the Department after sixyear to take up Research Professorship.The Pharmacy Department had been put ona sound financial footing and morale hadreturned to a high level. The new positionwill allow the expansion of this research andcontinuous service on many committees.

Professor Colin ReeseAfter a distinguished career spanning over20 years as an undergraduate, researchstudent, research and official Fellow (ofClare College) and university teachingofficer (Demonstrator, Assistant Director ofResearch and finally Lecturer) at Cam-

During this period he introduced in vitrotechniques of drug metabolism into theDepartment and became the first Lecturer

Professor John GorrodJohn Gorrod joined Chelsea College in1965 having been elected to a SeniorStudentship of the Royal Commission forthe Exhibition of 1851, after qualifying inchemistry and biochemistry whilst workingas a research assistant at The Chester BeanyResearch Institute. The' 1851' allowed himto concentrate on the metabolism and modeof action of aromatic amines in relationshipto carcinogenesis; work which led to hisPhD.

RESEARCHPROFESSORS

ith effect from August 1990, ProfessorJohn Gorrod (Department of Pharmacy)and Professor COM Ree e (Department ofChemistry) were designated ResearchProfessors by the College. In the past,Professors Gorrod and Reese have, in addi­tion to running large well-funded researchgroups, carried substantial teaching and ad­ministrative loads in their respectivedepartments and have served on a numberof College commit'tees. In future, theirprimary responsibilities will be to pursueresearch. A short profile of both menfollows.

Professor Davies has been Vice-Chancellorof Liverpool University since April 1986and is also Chairman of the CVCP'sAcademic Advisory Committee. He willtake up his new position from 28 June 1991.

Neville Marsheville arsh, Alumnus Relations Officer,

has been elected Honorary Professor by theUniversidad acional Mayor de SanMarcos, Lima, Peru in recognition of hiswork on Peruvian snake venoms carried outwith the Faculty of Biological Sciences inLima.

Chief EngineerDavid Carn-her BSc, has been appointedCollege Chief Engineer in succession to rLes Cluk, ho retired in December 199

ir Carn.her took up his duties on 1January 1991.

CVCP appointmentPrafe or Graeme Davies, Vice-Chancellorof Liverpool University, has been elected asthe next Chairman of the Committee ofVice-Chancellors and Principals. He willsucceed Sir Edward Parkes.

Of his appointment Professor Davies said:'This is a challenging time when it isimportant to ensure that the contribution ofuniversities to education in our society isrecognised and properly resourced.'

bridge, Colin Reese came to King's in 1973as Daniell Professor of Chemistry.He immediately set about building up alarge research group engaged mainly innucleic acid chemistry, a field in which hewas already recognised as a world leader.Colin Reese's research work prospered atKing's, and this led to his election to theFellowship of the Royal Society in 1981. Inhis first 12 years at King's Colin Reeseinvolved himself in undergraduate teachingand also assisted Victor Gold, the thenHead of Department, by taking on anumber of administrative responsibilities; inaddition he served to a limited extent onCollege committees.

In September 1985, just after the merger andonly two or three days before the beginningof the academic year, Victor Gold diedsuddenly and Colin Reese was asked to takeon the Headship of the Department at 24

hours notice. As well as coping with thedifficulties which arose from there being aparticularly large number of academic staffand technicians in the merged ChemistryDepartment and the fact that it was operat-

ing on two sites, Colin Reese succeeded inhis approximately 3 year term as Head ofDepartment in equipping the Departmentwith state-of-the-art spectrometers andthereby enhanced its future competitivenessin research.

In the past two years or so since he has beenreleased from his administrative responsi­bilities, Professor Reese has raised substan­tial personal research funds and has in­creased the size of his group; he continuesto occupy a leading position internationallyin his field and receives numerous invita­tions to lecture abroad. He is now espe­cially engaged in a study which is designedto lead to synthetic ribonucleic acid (RNA)becoming as readily accessible to biologistsand biotechnologists as synthetic deoxyri­bonucleic acid (DNA) is at present; he isalso heavily committed to the synthesis ofcompounds with potential anti-viral andanti-tumour activity, and is the onlychemist on the Steering Committee of theMedical Research Council's AIDS DirectedProgramme.

A new face to a familiarplaceSome of you from time to time will come to

the Medical Centre to use of the variousservices that we provide. As a recentaddition to the staff, I wish to introducemyself by writing in Comment. My nameis Joan Keane and I have recently beenappointed as Sister in the Medical Centre atthe Strand campus.

My previous experience included workingas a Registered General Nurse and I alsotrained and worked as a midwife. I enteredthe speciality of occupational health nursingin December 1989, working for a large retailorganisation. On 3 December 1990 I arrivedat the Strand to take up my new post.

The Medical Centre plans various activitiesfor the coming year. Sister Jackie Donegan(Kensington and Chelsea) and I liaiseclosely and aim to run health promotionand awareness campaigns in the followingareas: alcohol awareness, smoking, immuni­sation and travel abroad, eating happily andhealthily on a low budget and other aspectsof health.

RetirementsThe College said farewell to two of its portering staff at Christmas time.

Fred Hoy, (Macadam Building) and Vic Allen, (Embankment) were given a splendid sendoff in Gal. At a well attended reception, Bob Redmond, the General Services Manager,thanked them both for all their hard work over the years and wished them well in theirretirement.

Wishing you all a very happy and healthyNew Year.

We will keep you posted regarding futureplans. Please do not hesitate to inform meabout any aspect of health promotion thatyou wish to be included, to use or, indeed,to discuss.

LETTERS

Joan KeaneStrand Medical Centre

I just wanted to thank everyone for theirkind thoughts after my husband, Tony, diedat the end of November. Everyone atKing's has been so supportive over the last18 months during Tony's illness and I havebeen overwhelmed by the number of lettersI received and by the verbal messages thathave been passed to me since his death.They really have helped me through atraumatic time.

We asked friends not to send flowers forTony's funeral but rather to make donations

Professor Colin ReeseProfessor John GOTTod

to the IB or our local Hospice inChelmsford, Essex. any of you contrib-uted towards a collection and I will beextremel pleased to donate £1 each tothese charities on your behalf. I am surethat Tony would have been very touched byeveryone's genero ity.

Thank you again.

Liz Auden-Davies

I read with interest the report of the'Working Parry on Social Facilities for theThameside Campus of King's CollegeLondon' published in Comment a whileago. As far as I can recall the aim of theproposal was to extend and improve thestaff facilities of the College. This wasthought best done by introducing theguiding principle that all staff facilitiesshould be available for all staff.

Contrary to the view of Lindsay, Daviesand Shad rake, (Comment December), I cansee no reason why this should make the 'lifeof the College ... much poorer.' It is timethat the antiquated facilities for staff atKing's were updated. I also believe thecommunal spirit of King's would be im­proved if the presently disenfranchised staffcould share the use of staff facilities. Undersuch a principle, the number and variety ofsocial events could only be extended.

John WrigglesworthBiochemistry(see article on page 8)

Many thanks to all my friends and col­leagues within the Catering Department andthroughout King's for being a great team towork with. Alongside the hard work Ienjoyed many a laugh, several times I maysay at my own expense (and let's notmention the peanuts Mr Bossino!)

Thanks also for the brilliant party fromwhich several sore heads, not to mentionbodies were incurred. And to clarify somerumours - yes, Mr W was seen doing anelegant lambada, Mr B some semi-rhythmicmovements to Viva Espana and those ladiesfrom Chelsea switchboard, the VacationBureau and Housekeeping some pretty neatfootwork to anything that was going.Another Mr B did however seem to requiresome basic training in coordination andtechnique (skinny women only need apply

for the post).

Finally, thanks for my elegant briefcasehich will undoubtedly impress them up in

Edinburgh. And so goodbye and as theysay in Scotland, 'aw Ta best and lang mayyer tums reek'. I said lums Mr B! See youup there.

Marjory McCallumEx-Deputy Catering Manageress (Chelsea

OBITUARY

Or Marjorie 8 M'EwenDr Marjorie M'Ewen who died (aged 83) inDecember was a much valued member ofthe academic staff of the Physics Depart­ment during the important period 1946-63when Professor Sir John Randall wasbuilding up the Department after the war.M'Ewen lectured in physics at St AndrewsUniversity from 1936 and in 1945 she metRandaLl who had been appointed Head ofDepartment after his great war-time successof inventing, with Harry Boot, the key toeffective radar. Randall was developingbiophysics research at St Andrews and wasso impressed by M'Ewen that, when he wasappointed Wheatstone Professor of Physicsin 1946, he invited her to move with him toKing's where he developed an internation­ally renowned laboratory which pioneeredthe development of molecular biology, thenew synthesis of physical and biologicalsciences. M'Ewen's scientific rigor andexacting standards of research contributedto the high quality of the adventurous bio­physical work at King's. Also her friendlyattitudes and helpful scientific cooperationwere very valuable in aiding the research.Her research, using light scattering, onD A and other biological macromoleculeswas refined and elegant and was an impor­tant part of the wide programme of researchat King's, including that of RosalindFranklin, which led not only to the D Adouble helix but also to the brilliant work ofJean Hanson on the mechanism of musclecontraction.

Marjorie M'Ewen was considerablyrespected as a human being; there was muchaffectionate feeling for her vigorous,upright, forthright and high spiritedcharacter, always humane and pervaded by

friendly good sense. She was speciallyconcerned about fairness and justice andwas no undue respecter of persons. I shallnever forget that after I was interviewed ontelevision when the obel Prize for D Awa announced, she took me to task for nothaving sufficiently emphasised the impor­tance of Sir John's contribution. I wassomewhat taken aback but she was right tohave raised the point. Marjorie had wisdomand humanity which also showed itself inher lively humour and sense of fun. Manyof her colleagues will remember heramusing stories of how she challenged fool­ishness or inefficiency, especially when thefault lay with some elevated person such asthe manager of Harrods. On the other handshe was greatly admired for her extraordi­nary determination and resolution when itshowed in her courage and patience infacing very severe bodily problems whichled to her early retirement and to increasingsuffering as she grew older. She was a veryfine example to us all; it was a privilege tohave known her. As a scientist and col­league she will be remembered withaffection and respect.

Professor Maurice WilkinsEmeritus Professor of Biophysics

There may be a need, for some readers, to

introduce Professor M H F Wilkins, FRS,Nobel Prizewinner, who kindly wrote thisarticle at my invitation.

Professor Maurice Wilkins was a colleagueof Dr M'Ewen's during her entire period atKing'S. He was then Deputy Director ofthe MRC Biophysics Unit within thePhysics Department which was the precur­sor of the Biophysics Department at DruryLane. Professor Wilkins, in associationwith Crick and Watson, gained the obelPrize in 1963 for his work on the structureofD A.

It is also worth recording that Dr M'Ewen'sundergraduate students, particularly incourses in Heat and Thermodynamics,included at various times Professor Gaunt,Professor Lightowlers, Professor Grant,Professor Sherman, and other members ofthe current academic staff of the PhysicsDepartment, including myself.

Professor R E BurgeVice-Principal

.::.7

A STAFF CLUB FOR KING'S?

NEWS ROUND-UP

INSTITUTE OFLIVER STUDIES

The first ever Institute of Liver Studies inBritain was established within King'sCollege School of Medicine and Dentistryat the beginning of December. The LiverUnit at the Hospital has gained an interna­tional reputation over the past 25 years.The establishment of the Institute on thesame site will mean close integration ofscientific research and investigation withclinical work.

The first director of the Institute, Or RogerWilliarns, has led the liver team at King'sCollege Hospital since 1966. The Institutehas a major research group of 75 scientistsand clinicians who are investigating areassuch as the cause and treatment of alcoholicliver disease, liver tumours, hepatitis andmetabolic disorders.

Much work concerns liver transplantation ­King's College Hospital is recognised as anindependent transplant centre for Londonwith an estimated 70 to 75 transplants beingcarried out this year. Furthermore, inSeptember the liver team was involved in acombined heart and liver transplant with theHarefield Hospital heart team.

A major new Liver Failure Unit is sched­uled to open at the Institute in April.

In 1988 Professor Stewart Sutherland set upa working party under the chairmanship ofJohn Muir with the task of making recom­mendations about the location, dispositionand governance of social space and socialfacilities on the Thameside campus. Thebackground to the setting up of the workingparty was the urgent need to make plans forthe occupation and redevelopment ofCornwall House and for the redevelopmentof the Strand campus, both of which, it was

Or Williams commented: 'The establish­ment of the Institute is a major developmenttowards understanding the complete rangeof liver problems. It will mean that infuture years we shall have even betterfacilities for treating our patients and todevelop our scientific work with King'sCollege School of Medicine and Dentistry,King's College in the Strand and theUniversity of London.'

WOLFSONRECOGNITION

Last summer we received a letter from theW olfson Foundation to the effect that theyplanned to make £0.5m available for a pilotscheme to help the Universities of Oxfordand Cambridge, Imperial College, Univer­sity College and King's College, Universityof London, in the recruitment of senioracademics. We were invited to submitapplications which would be considered ontheir merit by the Foundation.

Following discussion with the Foundationwe submitted, in September, applications forthree posts amounting to a total of £135,000.

On 2 January we received a letter to theeffect that the Trustees have awarded theCollege two grants in support of our newChairs of Chemistry and Genetics, to amaximum of £100,000.

It was very encouraging that King's wasinvited to take part in the pilot scheme; it iseven more encouraging that we have done sowell as to get 20% of the money available.

then anticipated, would take place within afairly short space of time. But there wasalso a feeling that with the considerableenlargement of the College resulting fromthe merger, it was appropriate to look againat the arrangements that exist for theorganisation of our common social life. Theworking party produced the Muir Report in1989 which was widely circulated anddiscussed at the time. It was intended toprovide a blueprint for developments over

the following decade, but it was recognisedthat many details would need to be filled inas the implications of those recommenda­tions were worked out - and indeed this iswhat has been happening behind the scenesas detailed plans are made for CornwallHouse. Among the recommendations madeby the working party, two are particularlyimportant to what follows: that access toStaff Common Rooms should be decided asfar as possible by the needs and tastes of theusers rather than by titles or grades in thesalary structure; and that a Social Commit­tee should be established which should beresponsible for planning and promoting theCollege social life and should receive thesubsidies at the moment given by theCollege to the existing social organisationsand have responsibility for deciding howthese resources should best be used.

In 1988 it appeared that redevelopment ofthe Thameside campus would follow fairlyrapidly, but the complete change in theproperty market has meant that the Collegehas for the time being, little room formanoeuvre in regard to capital expenditure:the occupation and redevelopment ofCornwall House is likely to take place overa slower time scale than originally envis­aged, and the redevelopment of the Strandcampus will be delayed. And that raises thequestion of what should be done aboutsocial facilities within the College in themeantime because there is widespreadrecognition that the social facilities cur­rently provided for staff of all levels arequite inadequate both in terms of the extentof their provision and their quality. Duringthe past couple of years this matter hasfrequently been raised and was brought intosharp focus at a meeting of the AmenitiesCommittee in May 1990 by complaintsmade about the lack of facilities for staff. Itseemed wrong just to do nothing in antici­pation that eventually the Thamesidecampus would be redeveloped, and thatthen the recommendations of the MuirReport could be implemented. The needwas to see whether any improvement,however modest, could be made now. Inthe event the Amenities Committee askedme, as its Chairman, to convene a meetingof interested parties to see whether it waspossible to begin now the implementationof the Report's recommendations as ameans of trying to improve the social facili­ties available to all members of staff.

That there is a need for improvement hardly

needs to be said: the problems are acute oneach of the site. However, it is not JUSt aquestion of social space and social facilities,but also a question of how these are bestorganised. The College has inherited fromthe merger four organisations whichprovide for the ocial needs of its staff: theSocial Clubs at the Strand and Kensington,

I the Seruor Suff Association at Kensin ton,and the Senior Common Room at theStrand. These are subscription clubs and aresub idised by the College in various ways:the membership of the four organisationstotals just over 800 out of more than 2,500members of staff currently employed by theCollege. The Muir Report included thefollowing comments on these organisations:

'[All] have deep historical roots andbetween them organise a range of activitieswhich provide most of the College'scorporate social life. [AB] have indicatedthat they would wish to cominue theirvoluntary and much appreciated efforts topromote social activity whilst recognisingthat the Thameside campus project willalmost inevitably mean changes in the man­agement of social facilities. We stronglyrecommend that when new provisions areset in place every effort should be made touse and involve the expertise and goodwillof these organisations:

The last sentence is very important, and hasbeen acted on. Representatives of the fourexisting organisations have participated inthe discussions over setting up new provi­sions (representatives from the Chelseacampus and Cornwall House Annexe havealso been invited to participate), and if anynew organisation is to come into being ithas to be with the support and cooperationof these existing bodies.

However, the question has to be askedwhether the interests of all staff would notnow better be served by a single organisa­tion rather than by four separate organisa­tions, and hence the proposal has been madethat a Staff Club be set up, which allmembers of staff would be eligible to join.Such an organisation would be able to speakto the College with much greater authoritythan the existing organisations. It wouldhave financial independence and securityand would be able to take its own line onmatters to do with social amenities. Morethan this, a Staff Club of the kind envisagedwould be in a position to organise a widerrange of social, cultural and recreational

activities than at presenL It might, forexample, uke the initiative in organisingsports such as bowls (at the College's veryfine facilities at 'ew 1alden and therecently acquired 'Griffin' sports ground inDulwich) or tennis in addition to the sportSalready played by members of staff. Or itmight take the initiative in organising suchactivities as bridge evenings or theatre visitsin addition to the dinners that already takeplace. Also it would be in a much strongerposition than the existing organisations tobring about a much needed improvement inthe social space - the bars and commonrooms. This will inevitably take time, butthere is one modest improvement that couldbe brought about at the Strand fairlyquickly. The possibility exists that theformer Committee Room could be handedover to a new Staff Club, and this could becombined with the existing Lower Com­mon Room to provide a much improvedfacility for all members of staff. Thus it hasbeen envisaged that the existing serveryshould be refurbished so that a muchgreater range of snacks and drinks could beserved, and the new enlarged CommonRoom be opened for longer hours, includ­ing into the early evening.

Plans of this kind have been discussedduring the past eight months by the groupset up by the Amenities Committee. Therehas been broad support for the idea of aStaff Club, but recognition that there willneed to be a transition before it comes intoexistence; the group has reached the pointwhere it cannot go any further without aclear indication of the support of the fourexisting organisations - and of someexpression of view from the large numbersof staff (some two-thirds of the total) whodo not belong to anyone of them, because itis very much hoped that many of thesewould join the new organisation. Accord­ingly the following plan has been agreed:

1. As soon as possible the Social Clubs atthe Strand and Kensington, the Senior StaffAssociation at Kensington and the SeniorCommon Room at the Strand will holdgeneral meetings at which the members willbe invited to support in principle theproposal that there should be a single StaffClub which all staff should be eligible tojoin. If the proposal is supported, the StaffClub would immediately come intoexistence in a provisional form, and aninterim committee would be set up. At adate in the future the responsibilities of the

exi ting organisations would be transferredto the Suff Club, but for the time being theorganisations would cominue to run therooms and facilities for which they have tra­ditionally been responsible.

2. The interim committee would consi t oftwo representatives each from the fourexisting organisations plus coopted mem­ber to ensure proper repre emation. Itwould be responsible for completing workon a constitution and determining initialrates of subscription.

3. From 1 October 1991 a common rate ofsubscription would apply to all four existinginstitutions, and there would be commonaccess to the facilities of all four institutions.(Rates of subscription clearly have yet to bedetermined, but in discussions so far it hasbeen envisaged that there might be levels ofsubscription based on salary). The CollegeAdministration has agreed that the Collegewould match the amount raised by sub­scription on a pound-for-pound basis.

4. From 1 October 1991 the subsidyprovided by the College would be handedto the interim committee which woulddistribute it as it thought appropriate to theexisting organisations. The committeewould take account of the size of member­ship or the organisations, but would notnecessarily distribute the funds on a pro rata

basis.

5. At some point in the future, it is hopedby the summer term 1992, the existingorganisations would be invited to take afinal decision to set up a Staff Club. If thedecision is positive, then on the same timescale the Staff Club would formally comeinto being on 1 October 1992 and would atthat point take over the responsibilities ofthe existing organisations. The affairs of theClub would be managed by an electedcommittee, but there would of course stillbe a need for local management committeeson the various College sites to look after thecommon rooms and bars and to organisesocial events, and it is anticipated that thesewould evolve naturally from existing ar­rangements.

Much more could be said about theseproposals, but I hope the above gives a fairidea of what is proposed. Members of thefour existing social organisations will havethe chance to comment on them at thegeneral meetings that are to be held. But

,.~

9

those who have views on these proposalswho are not members of any of the fourorganisations, and indeed those who aremembers, are invited to write directly to me(at the Strand campus), to express theirviews. I hope the proposal for a Staff Clubwill receive strong support because I believethat over a period of time it will lead toconsiderably improved social facilities forall staff.

Professor Michael KnibbChairman of the Amenities Committee

NEW NUMBERS

Staff in the Planning and Research SupportOffice (PRSO) would be grateful if col­leagues would make a note of their roomand telephone numbers as follows: Mr R SThirunamachandran, Research DatabaseAdministrator, Room 227, Strand Building,S2708; Ms B McDaid, Executive Secretary,Room 227, Strand Building, S2708. (NB MsMcDaid can also be contacted at KCLResearch Enterprises, Room EHIJ, MainBuilding, Kensington, K4649).

CENTRAL RESEARCHFUND

The Central Research Fund has beeninstituted for the purpose of making grantsto members of the University (other thanpresent undergraduate students and thoseregistered for a taught Master's degree)engaged on specific projects of research, toassist with the provision of special materials,apparatus and travel costs. Applications areconsidered each term and the next closingdate for applications is Friday 22 March1991. Forms of application and furtherparticulars may be obtained from theCentral Research Fund Section, SenateHouse, Room 2la, Malet Street, LondonWCIE 7HU. Telephone 071 6368000 ext3147.

FINANCE

Internal audit at King'sA direct consequence of a number of recentinitiatives has served to place the impor­tance of internal audit within universitiesfirmly under the spotlight. These haveincluded the following:

i The Report of the Steering Committeefor Efficiency Studies in Universities, 1985Garratt Report) made a clear recommenda­tion that universities should provide for aninternal audit service.

ii The Committee of Vice-Chancellors andPrincipals in their report entitled Guidanceon Structure and Practice ofFinancialManagement in Universities (1988) recom­mended that universities should establish aseparate internal audit arm to provide an in­dependent appraisal of the effectiveness oftheir internal control system.

iii The Education Reform Act 1988, whichestablished a new framework for the futurefunding of universities, spelt out the needfor a financial memorandum to be issuedsetting out the general conditions attachedto the receipt of public funds by universi­ties. This fmancial memorandum betweenthe new UFC and universities requires themto ensure that they have a sound system ofinternal financial and management controland to arrange for internal and externalaudit.

Following the formal adoption of the aboveby the Finance Committee, an InternalAudit Unit has recently been set up withinKing'S. This comprises three members ofstaff, being a Head of Internal Audit andtwo Assistant Auditors. The Head ofInternal Audit reports on a day-to-day basisto the Director of Finance and Staff and isultimately responsible to the FinanceCommittee.

The concept of an Internal Audit Unitservicing a university, therefore, is relativelynew and innovative, reflecting to a large

extent the increased emphasis on financialmanagement and the need to get the bestvalue from limited resources. It is alsoexpected that the Unit will provide addi­tional support in the development ofentrepreneurial activities.

The work of internal audit is governed byan Annual Plan, approved by the FinanceCommittee. This identifies areas for auditreview and is drawn up after consultationwith senior members of staff. The planallows for a range of different types of auditto be carried out and is initially based on anassessment of risk. It is intended that allaspects of College activity will be coveredduring any three year period. The maintypes of internal audit work included in theplan are as follows:

i Review of accounting system and relatedinternal controls.ii Detailed testing of transactions andbalances.iii Review of economy, efficiency andeffectiveness of operations.iv Review of implementation of corporateand management policies, plans andprocedures.

As a profession, internal audit has itselfgone through a period of change over thelast few years, being increasingly expectedto adopt more of an internal consultancytype role (with greater emphasis on 3 and 4above). This is certainly the approach beingencouraged for internal audit at King's. Inthis sense, it is hoped for the future that theInternal Audit Unit will be able to provideconstructive advice to managers and helpthem to identify significant value for moneyinitiatives.

For further information about internal auditwork, please contact one of the followingmembers of staff: Head of Internal Audit,Robin Shonfield (S2650), Assistant Audi­tors, Ahmed Shuaib (S2236) and JamesWrigg (S2664).

Gift AidAny queries about the 'Gift Aid' schemeintroduced by the Government in October,(Comment ovember), should be addressedto Mr B K Kirpalani, the Deputy Directorof Finance.

10.........$.:.~

:::. .....

It is hoped to hold the tests on the

SAFETY OFFICE

R o HarveyDeputy Financial Services Manager

* Reduced to £2,500 in respect of childrenunder 16 years of age, this being the legallimit.

4201

4201

3048G24

K4432A211

K4229EG8

K4525114

K4312430

4205/617G20

4205/6/7G20

4232211

4249309

4235201

41701213

4170/213

0730821621

081 9420495Berrylands

C2339Kitchen College House

C2332

Rogate Field Centre

Mrs CReed

King's College School of Medicineand Dentistry

Rayne Institute

Mr L AnscombeReception Desk

Mr J DaviesReception Desk

Mrs D RileyCRC Trials Centre

Miss J GaUagherCRC Trials Centre

Chelsea campus

Manresea Road

MrG WarsiPharmacy

Mr M WilliamsCatering

Mrs M DaleCRC Trials Centre

Or Yu Liang LiuAnalytical Pharmacology

Miss K PatersonOral Pathology

Mr L VydelingumNeurology

Atkins Building

Mr S ParkerBiosphere

Mrs A HussainBiomolecular

New Building

Mr R ThatcherAnimal House

MrC SeymourAnimal House

Sportsground

Mr J Grant

Kensington campus

Main Building

MrsJWilkComputer Unit

Ms S HollyPhysiology

S267110F

S2297Q26

S2715Q125

S3098LGI0

S3800

22222222

888

22222333

Extension No.Room No.

NameDepartment

Miss A MonkcomLibrary

Ensure your emergency telephone numberis displayed on your telephone.

First AidersTo contact a first aider dial internal emer­gency number or dial direct extension. Thefollowing list of first aiders is not a com­plete list but an update of the list publishedin Comment, Start ofSession. If required,the Information Office has spare copies ofthis issue.

Strand campus

Main Building

MrD FarrAnatomy & Human Biology

Mr J GreenbergPhysics

DrM HolwillPhysics

Marion MurphyAssistant College Safety Officer

Strand campusCornwall House AnnexeChelsea campusManresea RoadKing's College School ofMedicine and DentistryFireCardiac Arrest

Accidents and emergenciesIn the event of any emergency where yourequire assistance the following campustelephone numbers should be dialed:

Drury Lane Wednesday 30 JanuaryKensington(Atkins Building) Tuesday 12 FebruaryKensington(Main Building) Thursday 14 FebruaryChelsea(Manresa Road) Thursday 28 FebruaryStrand campus(10 am - 12 pm) Thursday 21 March

following dates:

Cornwall House Annexe

Miss L JarvisCES

£250

£50,000*£50,000*

£50,000*

Evacuation alarm testsDuring the Spring term and vacation, alarmaudibility tests will be held for each campusbuilding. The alarms will be sounded for 30seconds at 11 am, and room occupants willbe asked to complete an audibility testreturn form. No other action should betaken. There will be collection boxes forthe forms at building entrances.

Insurance has been arranged to covercriminal assault to employees over 65 andfamilies of all employees. This wouldinclude actions by Animal Rights groups.

Employees' own household insurance andcomprehensive motor insurance shouldcover their property.

In the unlikely event of an emergencyoccurring at this time the bells will continueto ring beyond 30 seconds and standardevacuation procedures should be followed.

Briefly, family is defmed in the case ofunmarried employees as the immediatefamily with whom they are residing: formarried employees, their spouse, childrenunder 18 and other children permanentlyresident.

The benefits are:Fatal injuryLoss of use or lossof eye(s) or limb(s)Permanent total disablementDamage to clothingand personal effects

Criminal assault insuranceEmployees of the College up to the age of65 are covered against assault under aUniversity of London Scheme, details ofwhich were published in the NovemberComment.

r K DaviesElectron Microscopy

Mr R SerumsElectron Microscopy

Miss V Legisterorbid Anatomy

Mr J UnderhillLiver Unit

Ms A RaynerLiver Unit

Dulwich Hospital

MrC Adams

Clinical Research Wing

S GreenThoracic Medicine

TFlemingThoracic Medicine

Old Medical School

Mrs 0 RippinAssistant Secretary's Office

New Ward Block

Or P CheesemanChild Health

PHARMACY

4160

4160

2692

2241

2241

3113

2083

2083

4010

4644429

LIBRARY NEWS

L1BERTAS catalogueerwork users of the Library's LIBERTAS

catalogue can now specify the campus fromwhich they are calling. This ensures that therecords relating to that campus are dis­played fIrst, and that the same inter-site res­ervation service is offered as inside theLibrary.

Users should log in with the UsernameKE LIB for Kensington; MA LIB forManresa Road, Chelsea; CORNLIB forCornwall House Annexe; and Strand usersshould continue to use LIBRARY. Toaccess the Library LIBERTAS catalogueover the network, use the command CALLLIB or CALL 000005141700.

ReminderFines are now charged on overdue books.

Library offices, StrandThe incorporation of 1SEB into the OldLibrary has marginally increased Libraryspace holdings. Since 1SEB was not usableas a Reading Room or book stacks area ithas been convened to offIces for theLibrary Administrative and Systems staff.

DATES FORYOUR DIARY

KCLAANNUALDINNER

Members of staff are invited to the 1991KCLA Annual Dinner on Friday 22February in the Great Hall., Strand campus.The guest speaker will be Professor StewanSutherland, Vice-Chancellor of the Univer­sity of London and former Principal ofKing's.

The evening will begin at 6.30 pm with asherry reception, followed by dinner at 7pm and carriages will be approximately at10.15 pm. The price of £15 includes sherry,a four-course meal, coffee and a choice ofwines or soft drinks. Alternatives to themeat course can be ordered. Dress will beblack tie or dark lounge suit.

Please contact Caroline Banholomew or PatGray in the Alurnnus Office at the Strand(52083/4) if you would like to attend.

The Department of Pharmacy's annualPrize Giving on 14 N07lember, with Profes­sor Hider presenting one ofO7ler 20 studentswho won awards.

Located in 1SEB are the:Librarian, Derek Law: Deputy Librarian,Patricia Rigby; Library Secretary, SandraSheldrake; Assistant Library Secretary,Denise Brooks; Senior Clerical Assistant,Linda Oxley, Senior Clerical Assistant(Finance), Kathryn MacDonald, SeniorSystems Librarian, Pete Sudell andSystems Librarians, John Henderson andAlaine Simpson. Access to 1SEB is throughthe Old Library, via lIe (the Reading Roomto the right of the Issue Desk as you enter).All telephone numbers remain the same.

Located on Strand Level One are the:Inter-Library Loans Supervisor, BrendaClements, S2133, Room 102; Issue DeskOffice, Geoffrey Bellringer and Sue Parr,S1178, Room 104; Readers Adviser,English, Alison Trott, S3570/3689, Room106; and Collection Development Librar­ian, Pete Sudell, Sl190, Room 107A.

Located on Strand Level Three is the:Readers Adviser, Sciences and Engineering,Michael Robbins, S3566, Room 305.

ROGATESTUDY CENTRE

Weekend coursesFriday 8 - Sunday 10 FebruaryWINTER TREESwith Joy Gadsby

The emphasis of the course will be onpractical identification - using silhouetteshapes, bark patterns, bud shape andmanagement, habitat and other evidence toidentify broadleaved trees. The weekendwill include illustrated lectures on thestructure of woodlands and their history asa managed resource and, weather permit­ting, field excursions in the vicinity of theCentre to woodlands of different soil types.

Joy Gadsby holds the Certificate andDiploma in Ecology and Conservation ofthe University of London and is a keenteacher in the adult education service with a

life-long interest in wildlife and conserva­tion.

Friday 22 - Sunday 24 FebruaryPLANT SYSTEMA TICSwith Mrs P E J Wiltshire

This is an introduction to the main charac­teristics of the major plant groups and theirevolutionary relationships. Algae will becovered only briefly and emphasis will begiven to the Bryophytes, Pteridophytes,Gymnosperms and Angiosperms. The aimis to survey the range and evolution ofvegetative and reproductive structures andto consider their adaptive significance.

Patricia E J Wiltshire is an HonoraryLecturer at King's and a research worker inthe Institute of Archaeology at UniversityCollege London.

Friday 1 - Sunday 3 MarchCONSERVATION AND PLANNINGIN WEST SUSSEXwith Ann Griffiths

The course will examine the background to

the growth of the incorporation of natureconservation in policy making and willexplore its practical implications in thecontext of West Sussex. Illustrated talksand site visits will be included.

Ann Griffiths is an ecologist working withthe Planning Department of West SussexCounty Council. She has responsibility forthe conservation and management of a widerange of nature reserves in the care of theCounty Council.

The above courses commence with dinner at7 pm on Friday and end after tea on Sunday.Costs: Inclusive of accommodation, tuition,meals and laboratory, £70. Non-residents,tuition and dinner, £48. Single roomsupplement, £5.

One day courseSaturday 9 MarchENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES FORPARENTS AND THEIR CHILDRENwith Or Mike L1eweUyn and Clive Daws

This day course will introduce parents andchildren simultaneously to the major issuesof global warming, ozone destruction andpesticide usage, and discussions will takeplace on how best to protect the future forour children and for their children.

Or Mike L1eweUyn is Director of the StudyCentre and has been a lecturer in theUniversity of London since 1968. CliveDaws is Warden of the Study Centre andwas Laboratory Superintendent in theDivision of Biosphere Sciences.

lOam - 6 pm. Costs: Inclusive cost oftuition, laboratory, coffee, two course lunchand afternoon tea, £23, children, £15.

Further details are available from AnneFinlay on (0730) 821621 or by writing toRogate Study Centre, The Red House,Rogate, Near Petersfield GU31 5HN.

STAFF KEEP FIT

Shake off the Old Year and revitaliseyourself for the New by joining Staff KeepFit. The 45 minute classes recommencefrom 23 January, taking place at 12.15 pmon the Strand campus in Room B2 (next to

Reprographics). The cost per class is £1,all welcome and don't forget to wear com­fortable clothing and trainers.

HEFANNUALCONFERENCE

The Higher Education Foundation'sConference on Academic Community:Discourse or Discord? will be chaired byThe Revd Or George Tolley, formerDirector, Sheffield City Polytechnic.

Starting at 8.15 pm on Friday 22 March andfinishing with the Chairman's concludingaddress at 9.15 am on Monday 25 March,the Conference will take place at FroebelCollege, Roehampton Institute of HigherEducation.

The Conference will explore aspects of theloss of a common academic culture, lan­guage and purpose, and will suggest ways inwhich this might be redressed at the levelsof the curriculum and of academic activitiesmore generally.

Conference fees are £160 residential, £120non-residential with reductions for HEFmembers. To book contact Or John Gay,Secretary, Higher Education Foundation,

Culham College Institute, 60 East St HelenStreet, Abingdon, Oxford OX14 5EB.Telephone (0235) 520458 or fax (0235)535421.

APPLIED MATHEMATICSCOLLOQUIUM

Details of the recently created OxfordCentre for Industrial and Applied Mathe­matics' programme and further informationabout its objectives will be circulated fourtimes a year to British mathematicians andscientists who request it. To be put on themailing list please contact the Director, OrAB Tayler, Mathematical Institute, 24-29 StGiles, Oxford OXl 3LB. Telephone (0865)270514, fax (0865) 273583.

The Centre is running the British AppliedMathematics Colloquium at the Universityof Oxford from 9 to 12 April. The pro­gramme will include five minisymposia onMathematical Biology, Materials Science,Mathematics in Finance, Weather andEnvironment, and Nonlinear PartialDifferential Equations.

Registration forms and further informationare available from the Secretary, BAMC,(address and fax no. as above). Telephone(0865) 273525, electronic mailbamC@Uk.ac.ox.vax. The closing date forapplications is 22 February.

UNION NEWS

Arouse your reps!Your departmental safety reps can only beeffective if you bring to their attention anysafety related problems you may havenoticed around your department or else­where. You can use your reps influence toget things done, so use them!

Your trade union safety reps have importantrights and legal protection under the Healthand Safety At Work Act 1974, these aredetailed in the Health and Safety Execu­tive's 'Brown Book.'* Safety reps caninspect any areas where their memberswork or may visit during the course of theirduties. Reps have the right to see safety

related documentation an employer mayhold, to consult factory inspectors directlyand, most importantly, they are entitled top~d study leave to anend tr~ningcoursesand time off to carry out their inspectionsand other functions.

If there are two or more reps in a workplacethey have the right to start up a union!management safety comminee. ithin theCollege we have a Safety Policy Committee,but the day to day administration and'policing' of the policy should be carriedout by local management in conjunctionwith your school safety comminee. Theconstitution and make up of school safetycommittees should be a matter for localdiscussions. another job for your reps (nopeace for the wicked!) If your school doesnot yet have a safety committee, badgeryour reps into helping to start one, theymay not thank you for the extra work butthe safety committee is your avenue forgetting your health and safety worries onthe record. Finally remember each tradeunion has a right to elect a safety rep so, it isquite possible for a department to have twoor three reps which could really get thingsmoving!

Glyn BakerMSF Safety Committee

*Safety Reps & Committees ISBN 0118839594, available from HMSO £2.

Non academic staffIntroduction to Computer SoftwareThree morning seminars have been arrangedfor staff who wish to learn about spread­sheets, databases and desktop publishing.The seminars are designed to provide basicinformation about the characteristics,practical applications and appropriateselection of these packages. All the semi­nars will start at 9.55 am and end by noon.The dates are as follows: Spreadsheets on24 January, Databases on 31 January andDTP on 21 February.

Supervisory SkillsPeople who supervise staff or who may be

developing towards that role as part of theircareer advancement, will find this coursevaluable. King's is very pleased to besharing this venture with Imperial Collegeand the six day course has been arranged forthe following dates: 7,8,14,15,21 and 22February.

Handling Discipline at orkLateness. absenteeism, failure to carry outduties, harassment, alcohol abuse, aggres­sion; how do you handle these and otherdisciplinary problems within the legal andCollege policy framework? Are youembarrassed when you have to confrontstaff? What are the pitfalls in taking orfailing to take action? This highly participa­tive course will make inroads into theseproblems and help participants to take ap­propriate actions. This one day coursearranged for 6 February is essential foranyone who has to deal with taff discipline.

Interviewing SkillsThis one day course on 27 February hasbeen arranged primarily as a follow up to

the 'Recruitment and Selection Skills'course. The techniques included in theprogramme will be applicable to a numberof different interviewing situations otherthan staff selection. The accent will be onpractical work. The outcome for partici­pants will be enhanced skills and confidencefor tiling part in interviews.

Reading and Memory SkillsThe recent Federal Courses have been fullybooked. Robert Poller and I have decidedto run a joint course to meet the demandfrom King's staff. There will be twomodules: Memory Skills on 20 March andRapid Reading Skills on 4 April. It aims to

help participants acquire skills for moreeffective learning, handling and communica­tion of information and will be led by Kath­erine Redway.

Minute Taking CourseThe Federal Course scheduled for 29January is full. I intend to organise a repeatduring the Easter break. If you have notalready applied, please let me know whetheryou wish to attend. This course is suitableto staff with little or no experience of takingminutes.

Word ProcessingJanine Morton will schedule a new round ofMicrosoft Word Training courses for IBMand Apple Mac PCs for mid February.

Please let us know about the topics whichyou may wish to cover. We shall endeavourto uilor the courses to your needs.

Ken Bromfieldon Academic Training Officer

Academic staffSmall Group Teaching23 - 25 January

Improving Lecturing13 - 15 February

Managing Work and Time18 February

Teaching Mature Students20 - 21 February

Handling the Press and Radio22 February

Applying for Research Grants inHumanities and Social Sciences8 March

Dealing With Stress at Work13 March

If you would like to attend any of thesecourses, or if you have any other trainingand development requirements, please con­tact Robert Poller, Academic Staff Trainingand Development Coordinator, S1165.

Were I to ask, 'What have I in commonwith Cardinal Richelieu?' I would probablyreceive some very interesting replies, not allof them complimentary. No one wouldguess that I have, as he had, an 'EminenceGrise.'

Before it is assumed that I have a Capuchinfriar lurking behind me, I must explain thatmy 'Eminence Grise' is Aunt Martha. Shehas had this nick-name for as long asanyone can remember because she hasalways dressed completely in grey. Thisharmless idiosyncrasy could easily betolerated were it not for her distressinghabit of giving presents to all the family ofhand-knitted, ill-fining grey garments.

This year the situation improved slightlybecause, it seems that she has given up

14).

knitting and presented me instead with ahairy, polo-necked, shop-bought sweater.Luckily it had been bought at a Kensingtonstore renowned for the ease with whichunwanted presents can be exchanged and Idecided to return it immediately.

I entered the store and strode up to theexchange counter only to be greeted by anenormous queue of people on similarmissions. In the hope that time mightdiminish the queue, I had decided to browseamongst the sweaters to seek a suitablereplacement, when I realised that I hadbecome involved in a cross between a rugbyscrum and the storming of the Bastille - Ihad unknowingly plunged into the NewYear sale.

Piles of sweaters lay everywhere whileshoppers, gripped by some son of massfrenzy seized sweaters, examined them infeverish haste and then threw them back onto the pile only to grab a fresh garment,having first raked over the pile with c1aw­like hands.

At last, much buffeted, I managed to flfld asweater in my size with a pleasing pattern. Ihunted for an alternative but it seemed to beuruque.

As I still had the original sweater in my bagand had no receipt, I decided that it wouldbe better to hide the new one away fromprying eyes until I had completed myexchange transaction. I found a suitablehiding place behind a lonely pile of unpleas­ant, multi-coloured shirts much reduced inprice and joined the queue.

I was non-plussed, was there a penny finefor not having a receipt? 'A penny?' Iasked blankly.

'Yes, a penny, then I can give you £20 invouchers.'

Clutching my vouchers, I fought my wayback through the scrum to retrieve myhidden sweater. It had gone.

I hunted around feverishly but found nosign of it until I saw a tal~ thin man wearing'my sweater' standing in front of hisadmiring wife. 'It's just right, Jack,' she saidwith an approving smile.

It looked awful. The sleeves were at least aninch too shon and there was a two inchexpanse of shin showing between thebottom of the sweater and the top of histrousers. To crown the horrible sight hehad replaced his bowler hat.

I hovered around in desperation while theyboth made infuriating sounds of approvaluntil I could bear it no longer and decidedto enter the fray.

'What a splendid pattern,' I said with abeaming smile. 'Yes, a really splendidpattern,' I repeated. 'A pity about its lengthand the short sleeves.'

'Oh, do you think it's too small?' sheasked, crest-fallen.

'No, not really - perhaps a few inches, but itwill probably stretch - or then again, it

might shrink,' I added.

Jack had silently removed it. 'The big onesare over there,' he said as he moved offtowards another pile.

In triumph I tried it on. It was too tight,the sleeves were too long and the patternmost disturbing. I threw it back to thewolves and headed for home.

Aunt Martha had telephoned while I hadbeen out. Would I please return the greysweater to her that afternoon. It was UncleGeorge's birthday present. My present wasstill lying on the top of her piano.

Cursing, I again descended Campden HillRoad to the High Street, entered the storeand joined the end of the returns queue. Iwas standing there trying to compose aconcise sentence that would explain mymission when I felt a tap on my shoulder. Itwas the tall man and his wife, laden with thefruits of their foray into the sale.

She smiled at me with obvious delight, 'I'mso glad that you dissuaded Jack from buyingthat coloured sweater. We've bought awonderful bargain - the only one left - justput into the sale - half price.' She nudgedher husband, 'show it to him, Jack.'

He opened his bag and I peered in. Lyingsnugly at the bottom was Aunt Martha'sgrey sweater.

90n MindelAtkins Reception, Kensington campus

There seemed to be some altercation at thefront of the queue involving a large woman,about twelve pairs of trousers, two counterstaff and a supervisor, so that the queuemoved very slowly. I was so interested inthe rumpus at the front and so unaware ofmy slow progress that I was surprised tofind that I had arrived at the counter.

LECTURES MEETINGS AND SEMINARS

INAUGURAL LECTURES

The bored assistant gazed at Aunt Manha'ssweater with lack-lustre eyes and waited insilence.

'My Aunt Martha gave me this for.. .'

She cut me short 'Receipt?' she asked.

'Er - no - you see it was a present from..'

She cut me short again. 'Gotta penny?'

HISTORYTuesday 29 JanuaryTHE SCOTTISH PARTY IN ENGLISHPARLIAMENTS 1640-1642OR THE MYTH OF THE ENGLISHREVOLUTIONProfessor Conrad Russell5.30 pm, New Theatre, Strand campus

FRENCHThursday 31 JanuaryThe word and the WordProfessor Richard M Griffiths5.30 pm, New Theatre, Strand campus

PUBLIC LECTURES

BYZA TI EA DODE GREEK STUDIES

Thursday 24 JanuaryDIO YSIOS SOLOMOS A D THE'SHADE OF HOM ER' (in Greek)Professor G Kechayoglou, Professor ofModem Greek Literature, University ofThessaloniki5.3 pm, Room 8C, Strand campus

AGECO CERNINSTITUTEOF GERONTOLOGYMonday 28 JanuaryAGEING IN OUR GENES .. . BUTHOW?Dr Tom Kirkwood, Head of the Labora­tory of Mathematical Biology at the

ational Institute for Medical Research6 pm, Great Hall, Strand campus

CE TRE FOR DEFENCESTUDIESMonday 28 JanuaryPOLITICAL SCIENCE, DOMESTICPOLITICS, AND SECURITYMichael Clark, Centre for Defence Studies

Monday 4 FebruarySECURITY AND INTERNA TIONALRELATIONSProfessor Philip Windsor, LSE

Monday 11 FebruaryINTERNATIONAL LA WANDSECURITY IN THE 1990sDr Glen Plant, LSE

Monday 18 FebruarySCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY ANDSECURITYDr Owen Green, University of Bradford

All the above lectures uke place at 5.30pm, Room 2C, Strand campus

CENTRE OF MEDICAL LAWAND ETHICSMonday 28 JanuaryEUTHANASIALudovic Kennedy, Vice President, TheVoluntary Euthanasia Society

Monday 4 FebruaryHAS HISTORY TAUGHT US TOCO TROL AIDS?Professor Michael Adler, UniversityCollege & Middlesex School of edicine

Monday 11 FebruaryTHE PERSISTE T VEGETA TIVESTATEProfessor Bryan Jennett, Institme of

eurological Sciences, Glasgow

All the above lectures uke place from1 pm - 2 pm, Room 1823, Strand campus

LAWTuesday 29 JanuaryLEGAL SERVICES I THE 1990sAustin Mitehell, MP5.30 pm, Room 2C, Strand campus

BRITISH I STITUTE OFHUMA RIGHTSTuesday 5 FebruarySELF DETERMINA TIO ANDPEOPLES' RIGHTSMs Susan Marks, Emmanuel College,Cambridge

Tuesday 12 FebruaryARE THERE ANY HUMAN RIGHTS?Professor Maurice Cranston, EmeritusProfessor of Political Science, LSE

The above lectures take place from1 pm - 2 pm, New Theatre, Strand campus

PHYSIOLOGYTuesday 12 FebruaryPOTASSIUM CHANNELS, METABO­LISM AND MUSCLEDr N B Standen, University of Leicester5.30 pm, New Theatre, Strand campus

SEMINARS

CENTRE FOR HELLENICSTUDIESMonday 28 January7WENTY FIVE YEARS OFARCHITECTURAL WORK ATMONEMVASIADr Haris Kalligas, Monemvasia and Athens

onday 4 FebruaryPAPADIAMA TIS' 'A DREAMAMO G THE WATERS': THE LIMITSOF! TERPRETATIO A DDIALOGIC IMAGI ATIODr Dirnitris Tziovas, Birmingham

Monday 11 FebruaryEROS A D THE PROTOCOL OFLOVE I THE BYZA TI EVER ACULAR ROMA CESTina Lendar~ Cambridge and London

Monday 18 FebruaryPALAIOCHORA: A SURVEY OF ABYZA TINE CITYGillian !nce

All the above seminars uke place at 5 pm,Room 86 (Classics Department), Strandcampus

HISTORY ANDPHILOSOPHY OF SCIE CEWednesday 23 JanuaryPLIMPTO 322: A REMARKABLEANCIENT BA BYLONIAN TABLETONNUMBER THEORYProfessor Christopher Zeeman, HertfordCollege, Oxford

Wednesday 30 JanuaryHISTORY OF THE MACHIAN PRO­GRAMMEDr J B Barbour

Wednesday 6 FebruaryWHAT IS BEHAVIOUR?Professor Ruth Millikan, University ofConnecticut

Wednesday 13 FebruaryTHE PLACE OF NON-STANDARDANALYSIS IN MATHEMATICSDr Moshe Machover, King's

Wednesday 20 FebruaryA COMPATIBILlST A CCOUNT OFLIBERTYDr David-Hillel Ruben, LSE

All the above seminars uke place at2.15 pm, Room 1806, Strand campus

16 ..........:::- ...

Wednesday 20 FebruaryNJ. NAG FORTRAN LIBRARYS3. SPSSx (PART 1)B2. UNIX(PART2)Wl. WORD (PART 2)W2. WORD (PART 1)Strand campus2 pm - 5 pm

IDetails from Strand Advisory (23AB)S2505; Kensington Advisory (A209) K4261.All the above courses are open to membersof King's and the institutions for which theComputing Centre acts as a coordinatingcentre. Members of other institutions withthe University of London may place theirnames on a waiting list and if any places arefree before the courses begin, they will beoffered a place in booking order.

UNDERGRADUATECONFERENCE

GEOGRAPHYTuesday 5 FebruaryTHIRD WORLDPiers Blaikie, University of East Anglia onexplaining land degradation, David Preston,University of Leeds on land abandomentand environmental regeneration: villageexperience in Luzon, Java and Ecuador, andAndrew Warren, UCL on desertification.For further information contact KevinMawdesley, Geography, Strand campus.3.15 pm, Nelson Mandela HaIJ

ICONCERTS

I

MUSICThursday 7 FebruaryLONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAAND PETER WIEGOLDImprovisations and group-composed pieces

Thursday 14 FebruaryELIZABETHAN LUTE MUSIC

1.05 pm, Room GOl, (Music Department),Strand campus

Wednesday 20 FebruaryDUFA Y AS A READER OF PETRARCHBojan Bujic, University of Oxford

All the above meetings take place at 5 pm,Room GOl, Strand campus

Cl. ELECTRONIC MAILKensington campus2pm-5pm

Wednesday 6 FebruaryLl. ADVANCED FORTRAN (PART 1)D2. EXCELStrand campus

Wl. WORD (PART 1)Kensington campus2 pm-5 pm

Bl.INTRODUCTION TO THE VAXKensington campus2 pm -5 pm

Wl. WORD (PART 2)Kensington campus2pm-5pm

COMPUTING CENTREWednesday 23 JanuaryCl. ELECTRONIC MAILDl. INGRES (PART 1)W2. WORD (PART 2)Strand campus

Wednesday 30 JanuaryDl.INGRES(PART2)Strand campus

Wednesday 13 FebruaryLl. ADVANCED FORTRAN (PART 2)SI. STATISTICAL CONCEPTSB2. UNIX (PART 1)Wl. WORD (PART 1)Strand campus

Tuesday 19 FebruaryW4. PACEMAKER (PART 1)Strand campus10 am - 1 pm

DEVELOPMENT STUDIESMonday 18 February

EW CROP OPPORTUNITIESOr Nazmul Haq, Director, InternationalCentre for Underutilised Crops, King's6 pm, Council Room, Kensington campus

Wednesday 13 FebruaryPARALLEL ALGORITHMS FORSUPER-PRIMITIVE STRINGS ANDSEEDSCostas I1iopouJos

Wednesday 20 FebruaryHIGHER ORDER LOGIC SYSTEMSMalcolm Bird

INSTITUTE OF ADVANCEDMUSICAL STUDIESWednesday 30 JanuaryBERIO'S HARMONYDavid Osmond-Smith, University of Su ex

COMPUTINGWednesday 23 JanuaryCOMPUTABILITY OF LOGICALNEURAL NETWORKSTeresa Ludermir

Wednesday 6 FebruarySOFTWARE MAINTENANCEProfessor Keith Bennett, University ofDurham

L..--_C_O_L_L_O_Q_U_IA__II C_O_U_R_S_E_S__

Wednesday 6 FebruaryERIK SA TIE'S ATTITUDES TOPUBLICATIONRobert Orledge, University of Liverpool

All the above meetings take place at1.15 pm, Room 3D, Strand campus.Telephone 52842/2588 for confirmation.

Wednesday 13 FebruaryINCIPIENT CLASSICAL TRAITS INTHE VIOLIN CONCERTI OFVI VALDI AND HIS IMMEDIATEFOLLOWERSJehoash Hirschberg, Hebrew University ofJerusalem

SMALL ADS

Flats for sale/to let

SydenhamOne double bedroom first floor conversionin a Victorian house, backing onto CrystalPalace Park. This flat is in good decorativecondition with original features, a securityentry phone system, gas central heating anda large communal garden. earest stationsare Sydenham Hill and Sydenham. Poll taX

£283. To buy £52,500; to rent £400 pemplus bills. Contact Marjory McCallum on0316610027 (evenings).

BrockleySelf-contained one bedroom flat withlounge, kitchen, bathroom and centralheating located in Brockley, South London,near BR station. Available 1 February - 30April. £350 per momh. Contact P S Howe,Department of Mathematics S2853 or 0716394299 or 061 445 9139.

Costa BlancaDetached villa sleeps 4/5 in Javea, CostaBlanca conservation area. Contact PaulineGale, S2446.

Maisonette to rentLuxury two bedroom maisonette with allfacilities, large lounge, kitchen/diner, centralheating and garden located in East London,near two underground stations. Availablefrom January 1991 on a minimum contractof six months. £450 per month. Familiesand academics welcome. Contact: Rev A RDuce, telephone 0522 529 468

Bike for saleRacing cycle 21.5· red Raleigh frame, 501tubing. Suntour index gears, Stronglightchain set, rest of specification Shimano.Excellent condition, £220 ono. ContactLindsay Elliott, Residences Office, Ken­sington campus on 333 4255 (work) or 3334226 (flat).

House exchangeAcademic couple would like to exchangetheir house in Ottawa for a house inLondon for three months during summer1991. Located in central Ottawa, the threestorey house is close to all shops, restau­rants., both Cnleton and Ottawa Universi­ties and the amenities of Canada's capitaLThe house has 8 large rooms and a basementwith washer and dryer. The cost of living isthe same, or a little less than in England.For more details write to Margaret Redding,56 Cwey Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K1S2R7, Canada. Telephone 0101 613 2346955.

THE CHEMISTRY STORE

There's Dave and Ralph and there's Macand me,

We give our best to try and please thee;A warm welcome you'll get at the

Chemistry Store;You'll be shown respect when you come

through our door;No request too large, no request too smal~

We want you to visit or give us a call;Of your needs for tomorrow, please tell us

today,Within five minutes they'll be on their way;All people are treated exactly the same,The terms we speak on - are first name;And if we can help you in any way,Whoever you are please come and say;Anything else then just see Ray,He'll try his best to 'make your day;'There's Dave and Ralph and there's Mac

and me,We give our best to try and please thee.

Ray RedmondChemistry Stores Manager

HAPPYHALF CENTURY

This is the 50th edition of Comment - thenewsletter started in December 1984 at thetime of the impending merger of King'sCollege, Queen Elizabeth College andChelsea College and paved the way for thekind of collegiality of communicationrefered to on the from page, We havedeveloped significantly since then and planto revise and develop further - as ever, yourideas and contributions will shape that. Letus know your news, views and comments,as outlined below.

Comment is the College's regular staffnewsletter, issued by the Information Office(telephone 52179) three times a term, withspecial editions if required. Contributionsare warmly welcomed from any member ofthe College. These may take the form ofprofiles of people or areas of interest, newsof events, views on College matters, photos,cartoons, items for sale, puzzles or quizzes.You can send your piece on 3.5· MicroFloppydisk, using the Microsoft Wordprogramme. Comment is sent to all staffand made freely available through theStudent Union. The copy date for the nextissue is 8 February 1991 for publication inthe week beginning 18 February 1991.