What does that sign say?

The trick is to either vault the gate (which has been there since June), or to be an Elec Eng with management student....

It is also possible to follow business school students in through the swipe access doors and then use the back stairs into the cafe, although I am not sure if you can potentially be kicked out by security for being in the area if you are not from the Business school.

I wonder if imperial will keep listing its subjects as its name, will it become Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine and Business studies and more and more and more. What a silly name!

Seeing as the buisness school want to be independant why not cast them off along with the large debt that is rumoured to exist from Tanaka's rumoured lack of payment for the building bearing his name?

What makes it worse is the encroachment of the business school into mech eng, despite their shiny new building. Not only do they take over parts of the rest of campus, they're shutting off parts of the new building ...

I think charging for space in Imperial College might have led mech. eng. to lose some of its space.

I think you will find Mech Eng have loads of space - however I do agree that the Tanaka school should not have been allowed to take over the extremely good reading room we had.

But noone ever listens to what the students want...

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/4262918.stm

Do you think Imperial might follow their stance on non-payment?

I think the ICU president should take this up and get us access to the coffee shop.

To be honest - who wants to use the c**ppy overpriced café in the business school anyway..?

what sort of business mind is running this building then,

turning away customers from their cafe, ithink the imperial college population can learn alot from this remarkable, innovative business plan

"...be open to all students, just like cafes in SAF & EE"

Ermm the EE students (at least) have been told the café in EE is a Senior Common Room so only for Postgrads and staff

Although the cafe in EE is plugged as one for postgrads and staff, undergraduates can still get their food there, but they are not allowed sit in the area, instead are asked to use the UG area on the other side of the foyer.

hahaha

I agree with steve, there are plenty of better places to get a cup of coffee, even for MechEngers. If Tanaka and all want to demonstrate how successful debt based economies are, let them get on with it. What they haven't yet realised is that permanent economic growth is neither possible on a finite planet with finite resource and energy input, and that turning customers away will only reduce their turnover, unless retained 'professional' customers really are richer than their 'student' counterparts.

Sid - I think undergrads can now sit there without fear as the sign that used to stipulate that the use of the cafe was for postgrads, lecturers etc disappeared at the start of the last academic year.

Hi all, I'm the Press and PR Manager for the Business School and I'd like to clarify the point about access to the Business School coffee shop. We have had a number of big computer thefts in the BS over the past 12 months, but the demand by our students for even more computers continues to grow. We can't just keep replacing computers when they're nicked, so the decision was taken to restrict access to the building for security reasons only.

This topic will be discussed in the issue of Felix due next week Thursday.

Well, its being discussed fine here!

Dear Susie,

we understand the cause for concern, but didn't having a receptionist and a security guard at the entrance to the basement all through last year help at all?

Maybe it might be a good idea to make the access to computer labs card controlled rather than the whole basement.

Whats to say that the theft wasn't carried out by those with access!!

This is why you bolt computer equipment to the desks, and have security question anyone wandering around with bolt cutters or grinding equipment (Tanaka is a business school, not an engineering department!). Or indeed, anyone walking out carrying desks with computer equipment bolted to them.

Dear Susie,

Are you trying to say that only Business School students are not suspects to theft and all other Imperial students are?

Maybe Tanaka students should build their own sports centre. That way they won't have to share with all the untrustworthy and thieving non-business students.

Or then again, maybe we could all start acting like a proper university and share our resources and not restrict each other from enjoying being a part of Imperial. We're not working for rival companies yet.

Anthony B

lol@Anthony & Ashley - here here!

Dear Susies, clearly this plan hasn't quite been thought out properly - perhap you could forward our suggestions (that the business school invest in bolting down their computers and having swipe access to computer labs) to someone who can comment on them?

The interesting part is that the computer labs etc I know of in Tanaka are all swipe locked and have been for ages. Surely another swipe lock blocking everyone isn't really going to help reduce theft from these areas.

Of course it probably isn't TBS thats suffering from reducing access to the Cafe, as that'll probably be ran by College Retail, which means we'll probably all end up paying in the end to subsidise there little 'private members club'.

To admit to having had several computer thfts is to admit to GROSS INCOMPETENCE with regards to surveillance and security, and basic anti-theft precautions.

I've never heard that computer thefts have been a problem anywhere else on campus, and to use this as an excuse to barricade off the café is utterly ridiculous.

DoC has swipe card access everywhere on their lab floors - they dont get theirs stolen. (In fact they give them away!)

So therefore it must be some other fault of the swipe card readers if people can steal stuff from swipe card accessible only areas.

Out of interest, if you have a free elective in the Business School, how do you get in ? :) (my swipe card says Maths) and would we be able to use the café then ???

I guess its preety obvious that the reason for restricted access isn't a securty oriented one. In fact, it has been heard that the snooty Business School students might have had something to do with it.

NEWSFLASH! if you want to 'grab' a drink or snack at 'Tanaka', read on:... if you arrive early....

Dear Entreprenerus' Challenge mailing list subscribers,

This is just to let you know that if you want to attend our Thursday evening lectures, from now on you will need to register in advance and arrive a few minutes early.

This is because the lectures are held in Tanaka Business School, which has restricted access for security reasons. Unfortunately we have no control over this.

Once you are registered, you will have to sign in at Tanaka reception, and bring your student card. Expect there to be a queue for people to sign in, so allow time for this!

A member of Tanaka staff will be on the door to receive you from 5:30pm. We will close the door at 6 pm, so if you really want to attend the lecture, just don't be late! If you arrive early, you can grab a drink or snack in the Tanaka cafe.