UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY VOLUME 49 | ISSUE NO. 10 | AUGUST 7 | 2008 DAVEDAVE TAYLORTAYLOR MOMO ELSALHYELSALHY THE LIBERALS NEED TO REBUILD THEIR PARTY. SO FAR TWO MEN HAVE STEPPED FORWARD TO TAKE A RUN AT THE HELM. PAGE 3. Cover by Paul Baker editorial and letters August 07 2008 Editor-in-Chief: Jon Roe 220-7752 [email protected] News Editor: Sarelle Azuelos 220-4318 Social change in the era of cool [email protected] Entertainment: Amanda Hu 220-4376 niversities were the hotbed of politi- notion that liberalized capitalist democracies are While there are elements of fashion to [email protected] cal activism and social change. Th ese the end all, be all of political systems. hipsterism, more than anything it’s an entire Sports: Brad Halasz 220-4376 U institutions of higher learning were the Capitalism has worked its way into every nook social phenomenon. It’s pseudo-intellectual- [email protected] places where counterculture brewed and young and cranny of our society. Th e market has become ism at the cost of meaningful content and the Opinions: Cam Cotton-O’Brien 220-4376 [email protected] intellectuals fought against the norms of their the panacea to our economic woes and any non- desire to party for peace. It’s the conde- Features: Katy Anderson 220-4318 more conservative elders. As time has gone on, mainstream ideas have become a simple niche for scending belief that there’s no way to better [email protected] the counterculture has been slowly and insidiously teenage rebellion and an exploitative source for cool- society, as it’s inherently corrupt and how the Photography: Paul Baker 220-4376 co-opted until it was nothing more than a fashion- est new clothing trends. Th is is the fi rst generation people in the mainstream are just pathetic [email protected] able choice and a shallow attitude about sticking of youths who have grown up under the ideology “sheeple.” Production: Ryan May 220-4376 it to some formless authority fi gure. of all-encompassing capitalism and now rebellion Th is is where the eff ect on students comes in. [email protected] Th is shallow form of pop culture consumption is a commodity that can be bought and sold. Much has been made about the lack of student Illustrations: Gina Freeman 220-4376 [email protected] has infected the attitude of youth. Now universi- Hipsterism is the perfect representation of this involvement and the apathy that permeates the Business Manager: Evelyn Cone 220-7380 ties are full of so-called “hipsters,” more obsessed movement of capitalism-infl uenced, wannabe-cul- University of Calgary campus. People are more up [email protected] with buying the coolest new print of Converse tural insurgency. As westernized free enterprise in arms about prices of the pitchers of beer at the Advertising Manager: John Harbidge 220-7751 hi-tops than trying to change the world. Th e latest economics homogenizes and dulls the uniqueness Den then they are about the Darfur confl ict. Th e [email protected] Adbusters attempts to tackle the selling-out of the of a particular subculture—Avril Lavigne-ing punk lack of credit card payment for tuition is more of Graphic Artist: Ken Clarke 220-7755 counterculture in their latest issue, the cover story rock and Souljah Boy-ing hip-hop—advertisers an issue than the lack of aff ordable housing [email protected] titled, “Th e Hipster: the Dead End of Western have a thirst for more and more unique and or treatment of women in the workplace. Network Manager: Ben Li Civilization.” It’s an overwrought and whining alternative sub-cultures to co-opt. Students used to be pissed off about Contributors Asma Chaudhry • Ben Hoffman • Jordyn Marcellus attempt at a polemic against the movement, but But once something becomes too main- important things—then they’d at least Daniel Pagan • Ryan Pike • Ændrew Rininsland the backing idea is that capitalism has co-opted stream and is no longer cool, the corpora- try to show a little backbone. Now Chris Wanamaker and pacifi ed the counterculture since the end of tions must fi nd a new source of trendiness the only way the Students’ Union Golden Spatula Chris Wanamaker, for getting an awesome-tastic fi rst story. the Cold War and has made rebellion against the to suck on like a vampire. Hipsterism can get anyone involved is with the Furor Arma Ministrat status quo a trendy thing to do for the – set. is the epitome of it. promise of free pancakes or some kind Room 319, MacEwan Students’ Centre University of Calgary Ever since the Berlin Wall fell, the domi- of party-atmosphere. Just look at 2500 University Drive, NW Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 nant ideology in the world has been Political Action Week. No General inquires: 220-7750 capitalism-driven liberal democracy. one cares. Why should they? http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca The Gauntlet is the offi cial student newspaper of the University of Calgary, published most Thursdays throughout the year by the Gauntlet Publications Society, an autonomous, Very few in university now have ever Th ere’s a sale on at American incorporated body. Membership in the society is open to undergraduate students at the U of C, but all members of the university community are encouraged to contribute. Opinions contained herein are those of individual writers, and do not necessarily represent the had to deal with a battle of clearly Apparel. views of the entire Gauntlet staff. Editorials are chosen by a majority of the editorial board. The Gauntlet is a forum open to all U of C students but may refuse any submission judged to be racist, sexist, homophobic, libelous, or containing attacks of a strictly personal nature. defi ned ideologies like those that We reserve the right to edit for brevity. Grievances regarding the Gauntlet follow a three- step process which requires written decisions from the Editor, the GPS Board of Directors, and the Ombudsboard. The complete Grievance Policy is online at: gauntlet.ucalgary.ca. erupted during the Cold War Jordyn Marcellus The Gauntlet is printed on recycled paper and uses angry, bitter wannabe cool kid-type ink. We urge you to recycle/use the Gauntlet as a towel for end-of-summer beach parties. and have grown up under the Gauntlet Staff GAUNTLET AUGUST 07.08 3 news Editor: Sarelle Azuelos—[email protected] The race to be leader of the Liberals Jon Roe Editor-in-Chief “I think [communication] is a skill we absolutely need if we’re going to be hey lost seven seats in March, a leader in June and successful in explaining ourselves, in building T now have six months to pick relationships with ordinary Albertans and, someone to reorganize and rebuild their party. hopefully, winning elections.” Th e Alberta Liberal Party has had -Dave Taylor, a trying few months. Th ey dropped Calgary-Currie MLA and Liberal leadership contender from seats in the legislature to nine in March’s provincial election—even aft er polls showed Albertans wanted change from the -year-old reign of the Progressive Conservative party. Th ey are saddled with almost , in debt, and at the end of June, Kevin Taft , party leader since , announced he would be step- ping aside. But both Mo Elsalhy and Dave Taylor, the only two so far to announce their intentions to run in the party leadership election in December, think not everything is as bad as it seems and that the Liberals taking gov- ernment is not an impossible feat. Taylor has been an MLA since in Calgary-Currie and a broadcaster Katy Anderson/the Gauntlet previously. He feels his ability to com- Both Calgary MLA Dave Taylor, above, and former Edmonton MLA Mo Elsalhy have put their names into the Liberal leadership race. municate is why he would make a great leader. “I understand marketing and the Saskatchewan Party did and what I build itself an identity that Albertans View MLA David Swann is among the “I think [communication] is a skill importance of one-on-one connec- hope to do in Alberta.” can trust and votes will follow. Th e potential candidates, but, according we absolutely need if we’re going to tions,” Elsalhy explained. “I know Mount Royal College instructor of Progressive Conservatives main- to Taylor, is undecided between run- be successful in the importance of building trust policy studies Keith Brownsey said, tained their dominance of rural ning for the Liberal leadership and explaining our- and relationships with people. I did regardless of who wins the leader- Alberta in the last election and the pursuing a new “united left ” political selves, in build- it as a health professional and as a ship, the party needs to rebuild in Liberals will have to win seats outside party that would combine members ing relationships small business person.” all ridings and put together con- of urban centres in order to have a of the Liberals, the Alberta NDP and with ordinary Th e Liberal party has not formed stituency organizations that a win- hope at forming government. the Green Party of Alberta—an idea Albertans and, a government since the s and ning campaign can be built upon. Taylor explained that this comes that Brownsey thinks is absurd. hopefully, win- in the last four elections have fl uctu- He added that the Liberals have a back to identifying what the Liberals “All the united left movement ning elections,” ated between seven and seats, as realistic shot at government even as stand for and developing more agri- would do is weaken any opposition to said Taylor.