What students are talking about today (October 16th edition)

1. After nine years as premier of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty stepped down last night and prorogued the legislature. By 9 p.m., the newspapers had stories suggesting he’ll run for the federal Liberals against Justin Trudeau. Paul Wells writes that he would be astonished by that. “But then, McGuinty has already astonished me once tonight,” he adds. Wells explores the Teflon Premier’s legacy and examines a (possibly) telling recent speech.

2. A man rejected from medical school at New Zealand’s Auckland University decided to go anyway. He spent two years attending classes, labs, and hospital placements and was only caught when a classmate put his name on a group assignment.

3. A 28-year-old woman who was walking to the University of Windsor Monday was told by a man carrying a fake gun to hand over a computer bag. The woman described the gun as  “two sticks taped together.” The University of Windsor Campus Police arrested and charged a 21-year-old.

4. Foxconn, the company that manufactures Apple’s iPhone, has admitted that underage “interns” as young as 14-years-old work at one of its factories in China. Are we really that surprised?

5. Going into tonight’s U.S. presidential debate, President Barack Obama seems to have stemmed a slide that followed his weak performance in the first debate. Obama has 47 per cent support nationally compared to Republican Mitt Romney’s 45 per cent, reports Reuters/Ipsos.

6. Obama may be busy prepping, but he did find time to weigh in on the feud between American Idol judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj. On a Miami radio show, he was asked whether he thinks the dueling pop stars can resolve things. “I think both outstanding artists are going to be able to make sure that they’re moving forward and not going backwards.” Yes, this really is news.

7. Quebec’s corruption inquiry continues. Former construction boss Lino Zambito has accused the mayor of Laval of claiming a financial cut on construction contracts. He also says he funneled $88,000 over the last decade to all major Quebec political parties, but especially the Liberals.

8. A tentative contract has been reached for University of British Columbia and University of Victoria support staff, including “modest wage increases” in the final two years of a four-year deal.

9. A group of “hacktivists” who are part of Anonymous say they have tracked down the man who allegedly blackmailed 15-year-old Amanda Todd with sexual photos. Todd committed suicide last week after posting a video about bullying and sexual exploitation. Read more in The Star.

10. Nova Scotia universities are facing a demographic decline, but making up for it through rapid growth in the number of international students. There are 6,300—up 700 from last year.

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