Cross-country runners are a unique breed of athlete. Who else would run 10 km as fast as they can simply to cross a finish line? Who would simply want to run, not chase balls or tackle opponents? Who would want to deal with the mental and physical pain of it?

Lanny Mann does. So do Andrew Alley, Nathan Kendrick, Steve MacIntyre, Aaron Swanson, Gerry Stewart and Brian Carruthers.

At least we made the top 10.

The University of Calgary placed 10th in a field of 15 in Maclean's magazine's Ninth Annual Universities Rankings issue, which came out Mon., Nov. 8. Though the university finished two places higher in the category than last year, U of C officials feel the institution did not get enough credit for its strengths.

The University of Calgary Model United Nations team returned from its Nov. 11-14 Philadelphia competition on a victorious high. The team placed second after Yale University in a two-way tie with Harvard.

The Philadelphia Conference is the largest Model UN conference in the world in the Fall semester. As the only Canadian school participating in the 60 university, 1,200 student competition, the U of C delegation proved themselves in an international field.

The Campus Food Bank is trying to feed all the hungry Bob Cratchits this Christmas.

Starting Nov. 22, the Holiday Food Drive will highlight the needs of hungry students on campus.

The week-long food drive will feature numerous events, campus- wide donation tables, and end with a Planet Smashers concert on Fri., Nov. 26. Some of the other events happening on campus include a food pyramid, Multicultural Clubs Casino and a silent auction.

What constitutes an acceptable balance between public and private medical services? Alberta Premier Ralph Klein thinks he has the answer in contracting public services to private practitioners. Apparently, though, he claims a tier-two system is not in our future. Right...

The Canada Health Act guarantees universality of "medically necessary" services based on need and without financial barrier. Does Klein's main point regarding health care measure up to this standard?

The paranoia that resides in each and every one of us can be a powerful thing--and photo-radar taps right into it. Traditionally, you know when you are caught speeding: the red and blue lights in your rearview mirror make it painfully obvious. With photo-radar, you're never sure. It could be lurking anywhere, ready to take a picture when you are least expecting it, announcing itself weeks later in a nondescript envelope. There could be one on its way right now.