Ray Novak's vision of a Canadian government with less control over health care and the Canada Pension Plan won him $10,000. The University of Calgary masters student is one of 10 finalists in the 2000 As Prime Minister Awards, a contest that challenges students from across the country to develop their
best ideas on how to improve the country.

"It is a neat contest because you write the essay and if you get to the next step it's all about how you present your ideas," said an at-ease Novak.

Editors, the Gauntlet,

I recently moved to Calgary from Toronto. Until I read your paper I thought there was no freedom of the press here. Everything I read in the newspapers printed here in this city had a slight but certain notion of being against the Liberal and NDP parties, against homosexuals and against the United Nations. I thought I came straight to hell, where nothing but racists and right-wing politics exist.

Then I read your paper.

The University of Calgary may house the new $200 million Alberta Children's Hospital intended to replace the existing 48-year-old facility. According to the Calgary Regional Health Authority, sites in five communities were short-listed, including the U of C's West Campus, Foothills Hospital, the former Motor Vehicles site on Bowness Road, Fire Park and Lincoln Park.

The first three sites are of particular interest as they are located on or near the U of C campus.

While many students waited in line and online to pay their tuition, University of Calgary administration and the Students' Union began tuition consultation for the next year.

The SU's President Toby White, Vice-president External Duncan Wojtaszek and Academic Commissioner Nic Porco represent the students in the discussion. Dean of Communication and Culture Kathleen Scherf, VP Finance and Services Keith Winter and VP Student Affairs Peggy Patterson represent the university at the table.

Facing a packed room of attentive listeners, University of Calgary President Dr. Terry White laid out his vision of the university's future and highlighted its recent accomplishments. Dr. White's Sept. 21 annual report to the community addressed a number of topics including student affordability and large class sizes.

The current trend on the nightly news involves portraying pissed-off motorists at the gas pumps. "If only prices would go down," they moan. "My life is so hard. How am I supposed to keep filling my SUV when gas is 69 cents a litre?" they wail. "It's preposterous," others exclaim. And it isn't just a Calgary phenomenon. Flip the channel to ABC, NBC or CBS and you'll see drivers at the pumps in Spokane bitching about the cost of a gallon of gas and muttering about how hard-done by they are.

Human kindness, from where does it stem? Is it something that truly comes from the good of our souls; or is there perhaps a darker side to it? Do you feel better after being kind to someone? What's the payoff?

It seems some people (pessimists perhaps, or perhaps not) believe human kindness is nothing more than yet another way humans try to control one another, and that there's always a selfish motive or payoff involved in the act of kindness. How, you may ask?