....... ,,,,,,, '' ,,.,, .............. •H• FAME: Celebrities play basketball. Why? page 2o Danny Williams Ineinorial's student newspaper receives a word of advice from those who think themselves VoLUME 54, NuMBER 7 www.themuse.ca OCTOBER 23, 2003 pages Newfoundland gets the blues By NADYA BELL their representatives in gov­ ernment. Danny Williams is the new Voter turnout this year was premier of Newfoundland and 72 per cent, seeing a 13 per cent Labrador, as the government increase from the 1999 provin­ changes party hands for only cial election - a high turnout by the third time since confedera­ North American standards. tion. During the election, Memo­ The election marks the end rial's Students' Union voted to of 14 consecutive years of Lib­ ban Danny Williams from stu­ eral rule, which started when dent space because he refused Clyde Wells defeated the Con­ an invitation to a Canadian servative government in 1989. Federation of Students (CFS) Like most people, student Tara debate on post-secondary is­ Vicars was not surprised when sues. Danny Williams's Conserva­ However, the union's VP tives were declared winners of External Thorn Duggan was the provincial election. realistic about the change in Since the election was de­ government, saying he plans clared on Sept. 29, the advance to work with the Conservatives polls showed the Conservatives over student issues whenever in a healthy lead, and 20 min­ possible. utes after voting closed, CBC Duggan felt the motion ban­ called the election a Conserva­ ning Williams was necessary to tive majority government. draw attention to post-second­ Despite an election cam­ ary issues during the campaign, paign that offered little of as there was little debate over interest for students, Vicars, the crucial issue of tuition. Af­ a first-year nursing student at ter three consecutive years of Memorial, thought more young reductions, both the Liberal people voted this year than in and Conservative parties prom­ the past. She said all of her ised a tuition freeze. friends made an effort to vote, showing an active concern for Please see CONSERVATIVES, 2 Political defeat and victory-Virginia Waters By SARAH FLYNN specific plans for the future, and JESSICA MONTES Dunderdale was enthusiastic about her role as an MHA. Kathy Dunderdale, victor in "I haven't looked a whole Virginia Waters, was the star lot beyond today, you know, the at her lively headquarters on first goal was to win my seat, Tuesday night. and I'm enjoying that moment Amid shouts of "Kathy, right now," she said. Kathy, Kathy" and "What a "I know that there's a lot of woman," Dunderdale was hard work ahead, and tomor­ proudly elected as one of Dan­ row morning I'll get up and I'll ny Williams's team. The room be ready to go, to roll up my was packed with PC support­ shirtsleeves and play whatever ers enjoying the open bar and role the new premier sees fit." cheering whenever good news The new representative for appeared on TV. Virginia Waters, which has the Although she could not state most voters in the province, says students will benefit from a PC government. As promised arts by Williams, Dunderdale says tuition will remain at its cur­ rent level. "I think the education sys­ tem is going to be strengthened in the province. I think tuition fees are going to be frozen, and we're going to look at ways of MATTHEW MURRAY reducing costs to the univer­ The Conservative party hammers Liberals into opposition. sity," she said. Stephanie Brennan, a politi­ cal science student at Memorial and president of PC MUN, en­ NDP survives the Blue Wave thusiastically agrees. Brennan The School of Music echoed the opinion of many in By ALEX BILL Both Harris and Randy Col­ ris, a member of the House of the room, saying the province lins managed to hold onto their Assembly since 1990, competi­ sneaks up on people needs change. She says stu­ Tuesday's provincial election seats in Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi tion was stiff. Karen Carroll of when they least dents stand to gain a lot from may have made huge changes and Labrador West, but no the PCs made it a close contest, expect it and play the PC government. for both the Liberals and the other party hopefuls were able and Harris was one of the last "We're so happy that New- PCs, but little has changed for to be victorious. candidates to be declared a saxophones. Jack Harris and the NDP in the Collins won his seat in Lab­ page 15 Please see PC, 2 past three years. rador comfortably, but for Har- Please see HARRIS, 3 INSIDE news 1-7 • editorial 8 • opinion 9-10 • feature 12-13 • arts & ent 14-16 • science 18 • sports 20 • classifieds 22-23 You don•t have to elect us. we•re always here. PAGE 2 ELECTION OcToBER 23, 2003 Conservatives 34, Liberals 12, and NDP 2 Continued from 1 But according to Duggan, the motion won't hurt the union's ability to work with the new gov­ ernment. "The motion specified the twenty-first, so after midnight tonight, [Danny Williams] can pop by anytime he wants," said Duggan. However, there was some con­ cern from the NDP party over Williams's approach to post­ secondary policy. NDP leader Jack Harris was worried about Williams's position on student issues. "It's disappointing that the person who failed to show .at the student debate, and show that kind of interest in student is­ sues is going to be sitting in the premier's chair," said Harris. Candidate Liam Walsh, the former CFS representative, came last in a three-way race in St. John's North. Walsh had seri­ ous concerns about students' welfare under a Conservative government. "For every student who voted for Danny Williams tonight, I hope you're going to join with other students when he decides to raise tuition fees and cut needs-based grants, 'cause I think that's what we're going to see happen," said Walsh. Part of Williams's appeal to voters is that he came across as a competent leader. "He seems like he knows what he's doing," said Vicars. Newfoundland and Labrador tends to follow strong individual leaders, such as pre­ vious premiers Joey Smallwood and Brian Peckford. "It doesn't get any better than this, I can tell you," Wil­ liams shouted in his acceptance speech to a crowd of supporters. Aside from the joy, he took a Williams highlighted the quick speech confirming his de­ als showed strong support in to winning a seat in the Llk.e very personal tone, referring to fisheries, federal equalization feat in the election. But he was the popular vote, which Grimes Melville district. Brandon Pardy his business successes as a moti­ payments, oil and gas industry positive about the Liberals' role promised to build on in the fu­ was a close second to the Con· vation for his run for office. management, and healthcare as in the next government as oppo­ ture by fighting for core Liberal servative John Hickey, losing by "I have been blessed to ex­ areas of concern for his future sition, and indicated he would values as the opposition. only 290 votes. perience enough success to government. He also reiterated continue as a leader. "My wish is that [the PCs] Of Labrador's four seats, one achieve a certain level of inde­ a campaign slogan opposed to "My plan now is to focus with absolutely succeed for all of us, went to Randy Collins of the pendence. And with that inde­ direct government support for our new team ... on our new role. because what we want is a bet­ NDP, one was Conservative, and pendence came the opportunity the economy. And we will roll up our sleeves ter, greater Newfoundland and Liberal candidates won the oth· for me to give something back to "There will be no more givea­ and knuckle down to that in Labrador," said Grimes as he er two, making the only area be· the province that has given so ways," said Williams. our not-to-distant future," said acknowledged defeat. sides southern Newfoundland to much to me and to my family," Ex-premier Roger Grimes Grimes. The Labrador Party, a new elect mostly Liberal members. said Williams. seemed relieved as he gave a Despite the loss, the Liber- regional party, came very close With files .from Alex Bill. PC Kathy Dunderdale kills Water Noel's quest for a fourth term Continued from 1 Heart High School, says this loss foundland and Labrador fi­ will cost students a lot. She says nally has the government that people decided their votes with· it deserves. It's about time.... out considering policies and the There's going to be more atten­ personalities of candidates. She tion to the students," she said. is particularly concerned since "Education, post-secondary she plans to attend Memorial education, tuition reduction, soon. all this is really important to "Liberals were planning to the PC party and Danny Wil­ do a lot of good things for edu· liams himself, and I think that cation. Free education for high students will benefit more than school is not paying for books. I with a government led by the think that's important, and they Liberals," said Brennan. tend to be overlooking that. ... Susan Leonard, a recent For some reason people were graduate of Memorial, also sup­ voting for the party and not the ports Dunderdale and Williams. person," she said. She would like to see the prob­ Several students at his head· lem of out-migration of students quarters felt Noel deserved solved.