UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Candidates talk about VOLUME 48 | ISSUE NO. 29 | FEBRUARY 14 | 2008 Post-Secondary Counting PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION Education EXAMINING VOTES News page 5 Features page 14 #JHTIPFTUPGJMM &E4UFMNBDI 1SPWJODJBMelection issues &EJUPSJBMQBHF Opinions page 18 An interview with THE WILDROSE ALLIANCE News page 7 Alberta elects a new government next month THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY GAUNTLET | VOLUME 48 | ISSUE NO. 29 | FEBRUARY 14 | 2008 contents photo to the editor “Blues 101” by Ken Clarke (Nikon D70) n celebration of Black History Month, Calgary blues guru IGary Martin sang, played and discussed his passion to a noon hour crowd at Speaker’s Corner in MacEwan Hall last Th u. Gary will continue his History of the Blues performance on Th u., Feb. 14 and wrap it up on Th u., Feb. 28 with a full band. Anyone can submit an original photo to the editor. Drop off your high-resolution photo along with your name, contact information and a brief description including type of camera (not exceeding 30 words) to room 319 MacEwan Student Centre or email [email protected] Provincial election madness news page 5 Playoff timez! sports page 22 The news section looks at all things provincial. We examine Calgary-Varsity All the winter teams made the playoffs! Whee! Read about it in sports! candidate stances on pse. Liberal leader Kevin Taft sits down for a one-on-one and the leader of the newly formed Wildrose Alliance party gives you the lowdown on what could be a realistic alternative for the right. And much, much more. The not-politics section entertainment page 27 Nothing political in entertainment this week, just chats with the university’s writer- in-residence, a band from Fort McMurray, theatre reviews and the annual Oscar Rep’n the pop features page 13 preview! Shazam! Who knew the world of electoral reform and electoral boundaries was so fascinat- ing? Read the features section to fi nd out more about these two deliciously interest- ing subjects. The Gauntlet passes judgement ap page 33 You may have noticed the plethora of posters plastered on the wall that range from innocuous to absurdly, trancendentally pointless. Turns out there’s an su election You’ve been very naughty opinions page 17 going on! We couldn’t just let that go without the Exxtreem criticsm you have This week, opinions dives into the provincial election and discusses the potental come to know and love (hate?) in the ap section. Oh, who are we kidding? Nobody impact on students. But before that, we talk about bdsm! Grin & Barrett is back, reads anything anyway. with more leather than you can shake a phallic symbol at. The fun all starts on page 17. LSAT MCAT GMAT GRE Preparation Seminars Complete 30-Hour Seminars Proven Test-Taking Strategies Personalized Professional Instruction Comprehensive Study Materials Simulated Practice Exams Free Repeat Policy Personal Tutoring Available Thousands of Satisfied Students Oxford Seminars 1-800-779-1779 / 780-428-8700 www.oxfordseminars.com editorial and letters February 14 2008 Editor-in-Chief: Chris Tait 220-7752 The Rise and deKlein of the [email protected] News Editor: Katy Anderson 220-4318 [email protected] Entertainment: Ryan Pike 220-4376 [email protected] Progresssivesive CConservativeons Party Sports: Amanda Hu 220-4376 [email protected] hen Don Getty position and it is unfair to blame Opinions: Ændrew Rininsland 220-4376 took the reins of the folly of the Conservatives solely [email protected] the Alberta Tories on his leadership. Stelmach wasn’t Features: Jon Roe 220-4318 W [email protected] in , he had big shoes to given an easy task when he took over fi ll. Th e Progressive Conservative the party. In Klein’s desperate eff ort Photography: Geoff MacIntosh 220-4376 party had been in power since to pay down Alberta’s billion [email protected] and had gained popularity debt, he made cuts everywhere he Production: Christian Louden 220-4376 under Peter Lougheed’s leader- could while keeping oil royalties [email protected] ship. Unfortunately, Getty’s poor low to encourage growth of the Illustrations: Paul Baker 220-4376 performance led to speculation industry. Education and health care [email protected] as to the party’s future while the suff ered massive hits in funding as News Assistant: Sarelle Azuelos 220-4318 Alberta Liberals grew stronger. a result, and Alberta has been left [email protected] Facing defeat in an upcoming elec- with crippled hospitals and a gov- Escapes And Pursuits: Jordyn Marcellus 220-4376 tion, Getty resigned and passed the ernment unwilling to do anything [email protected] torch to the charismatic ex-mayor about rising tuition. While Klein Academic Probation: Ben Hoffman, Garth Paulson, and Kyle Francis 220-4376 of Calgary, Ralph Klein. was making cuts to health care, [email protected] In response to the defi cit that had billions of dollars in oil royalties Three Lines Free: Cam Cotton-O’Brien 220-4376 built up from over-spending, Klein went uncollected. Th is means bil- [email protected] turned the budget around, slashing lions of dollars could have been Business Manager: Evelyn Cone 220-7380 all kinds of social programs in an funnelled into social programs or [email protected] eff ort to bring Alberta out of the remained in the hands of taxpayers Advertising Manager: John Harbidge 220-7751 red. He gained wide popularity for rather than lining the pockets of oil [email protected] penny-pinching and continued companies. When it came time to up Graphic Artist: Ken Clarke 220-7755 to gain stronger majority govern- royalties, Stelmach came under fi re [email protected] ments in Alberta, capturing of from wealthy Conservative voters legislative assembly seats by , who feared increasing the royalties Network Manager: Ben Li dropping back to in . When would drive industry out of Alberta Contributors Courtenay Adams, Todd Andre, Andrew Barbero, it came time for Klein to retire, like and cause a substantial slump in the Lesley-ann Barrett, Laura Bennett, Cole Christensen, Lougheed, he would leave big shoes economy. Aft er Klein fi nished pil- Jonathan Davies, Joshua Goard-Baker, Sara Hanson, Mercy Lamola, Martin Lussier, John McAwesome, to fi ll for long-shot candidate Ed laging social welfare and achieved Derek Neumeier, Daniel J. Pagan, Austin Paladeau, Stelmach. his goal of paying Alberta’s debt, Stewart Pallard, Chris Pedersen, Andrew Sedor, It wasn’t long before Stelmach’s he passed out prosperity cheques Alyzée Sibtain, Andi Smith, Lora Yee, Darren Young leadership came into question. He supporters in Calgary. He recently eral cabinet posts and has been an to Albertans as if it would make Golden Spatula Andrew Barbero, for writing two–count ‘em–two last- was compared to Harry Strom— lost support of current Calgary MLA since . up for the lack of social infrastruc- minute stories. Werd! whose leadership of Social Credit Montrose MLA Hung Pham due to Th is provincial election will see a ture, and promptly announced his Furor Arma Ministrat led to the fall of the party’s -year what Pham described as poor deci- new party arrive onto the political retirement. Room 319, MacEwan Students’ Centre rule of Alberta in the election— sions and dishonorable actions on scene. Th e Wildrose party and the If Stelmach wants to avoid University of Calgary 2500 University Drive, NW when blogger Dave Cournoyer pur- the part of party leadership. In the Alberta Alliance have amalgamated becoming the next Harry Strom, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 chased edstelmach.ca and forwarded byelection, Klein’s Calgary to form the Wildrose Alliance, whose he’s going to have to fi nd a way to General inquires: 220-7750 traffi c to the Wikipedia entry on the Elbow riding was lost to Liberal right-wing stance may be enough to regain confi dence in his leadership. http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca The Gauntlet is the offi cial student newspaper of the University former premier. A group calling Craig Cheffins, striking a crip- fi nd their way into the legislative Th e loss of longtime and well-sup- of Calgary, published most Thursdays throughout the year by the Gauntlet Publications Society, an autonomous, incorporated body. themselves Albertans for Change pling blow to the party’s ability to assembly. With candidates run- ported party members isn’t going Membership in the society is open to undergraduate students at the U of C, but all members of the university community are encouraged to has also recently criticized him in hold seats in conservative country. ning in the provincial election, the to bode well for him in an election contribute. Opinions contained herein are those of individual writers, and do not necessarily represent the views of the entire Gauntlet a series of print and television adver- Furthering the lack of confi dence in Wildrose Alliance stands to gain the that promises to split the right-wing 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 tisements, arguing Stelmach lacks a Stelmach’s leadership is evidenced support of disaff ected voters who vote. In addition to big shoes, Klein any submission judged to be racist, sexist, homophobic, libelous, or containing attacks of a strictly personal nature. We reserve the plan for the future of Alberta. With by current fi nance minister Lyle traditionally support the Tories. Th is left a big mess and Stelmach is going right to edit for brevity. Grievances regarding the Gauntlet follow a three-step process which requires written decisions from the Editor, a provincial election looming ahead, Oberg’s announcement he would could mean voters will either elect to have to step it up if he’s to stop the GPS Board of Directors, and the Ombudsboard.