Socially inept, athletically challenged, unattractive, klutzy, brace-faced, nerdy geeks with instrument fetishes, overalls and funny hats. This is the typical image that comes to mind when the words "marching band" are mentioned.

It's a mixture of soccer, rugby, basketball and NFL football all in one," describes Troy Rose, head coach of the local Aussie rules football club, the Calgary Kangaroos.

Though that might not clear the confusion about Australian rules football--a sport derived from Gaelic football--it might give a slight impression of how the sport works. It's somehow a mix of the kicking skills of soccer, the tackling and running of football, the free-flowing and physical nature of rugby, and the catching and jumping of basketball.

A generous donation has put the University of Calgary digital library back on track.

Last month, Don and Ruth Taylor pledged $25 million to further the creation of the Campus Calgary Digital Library, now renamed in their honour.

Don Taylor is a Calgary entrepreneur who formerly headed Engineered Air, a heating and air conditioning company. His wife Ruth is also a prominent Albertan, sitting on the Alberta mental health board.

The donation ensures the university can afford the library.

Looking for a chance to voice a beef about your university experience?

This semester the University of Calgary is holding a series of luncheons, giving students the chance to speak directly with the man himself, U of C president Dr. Harvey Weingarten.

"It's important for people like me to hear directly, not filtered, from students about things they want to tell me about the university," said Weingarten.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! The incantation of the name frees the monster trapped beneath a carefully constructed city of Astroturf green and cardboard cut-outs of houses and SUVs.

Editor, the Gauntlet,

[Re: comic strip, Dec. 7, 2006]

In the current copy of the Gauntlet, the back page features a comic strip with two people making "your momma so fat..." jokes. In the third frame, a third character enters holding a bloody severed head and says "your momma so fat, she couldn't run away."

It's that time of year again when you start getting numbers back in your classes before your finals and you realize, 'Hey, maybe I should've spent more time at class, and less time in the Den.'

Editor, the Gauntlet,

[Re: "The Muslim," letter, Dec. 7, 2006.]

Fact is evidently an unfamiliar concept to Allison Dube.

Mr. Dube criticizes my letter on Sarah Malik's article series, "The Muslim," for "faulting her for writing something she was not trying to write"--a "history of Islam." In fact, the lead paragraph on the first instalment says, in big black letters, "Sarah Malik examines the history of Islam."

Carleton University students opened up a can of Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms worms in December after passing legislation denying certain types of clubs funding, though whose rights are being violated is in question.

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 photo@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca

Also, the video corresponding to this photo is awesome. Check it out at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Buq8X8ScDR0.