Last Wednesday, The Irish Rover published an article titled “Associate Director of Gender Studies Secretly Books Rooms for Condom, Plan B Distribution.” The article details how professor Pamela Butler, associate director of Gender Studies, has allegedly been “secretly” booking rooms for Irish 4 Reproductive Health. The group defines itself as an “all-volunteer, student-led, community-based organization advocating for reproductive justice.”
Since 2003, The Irish Rover has served as an independent student publication “devoted to preserving the Catholic identity of Notre Dame,” according to the paper’s mission statement. The Rover is guided by three objectives: to “defend the Faith and honorable traditions of this great university,“ to “articulate conservative principles, and to “engage in collegial debate.”
These principles, as they are stated, are not necessarily harmful — the Rover has the right to express and defend its Catholic faith and beliefs. However, in its application of these principles, the Rover distorts the Faith, using it as a justification for harmful and dangerous rhetoric.
While I may disagree with many of the positions taken by the Rover, I actually quite enjoy reading the publication. I admittedly surround myself with a somewhat ideologically homogenous friend group; however, I believe I would be doing myself a disservice, academically and personally, if I did not actively engage with viewpoints I do not hold. After all, I chose to come to Notre Dame for both the institution and the student body’s commitment to diversity of thought.
The Irish Rover’s recent article expresses a different opinion, platforming dangerously misleading claims and beliefs that only put the people mentioned in the article in harm’s way. The author legitimizes a quote that equates the distribution of contraceptives and abortion resource pamphlets to the hypothetical promotion of “white supremacy.” Another quote states the Plan B pill has an “abortifacient action,” which, for lack of better terms, is just wrong. Finally, the cover photo that accompanies the article on the front page of the newspaper’s website and its print publication plasters professor Butler’s likeness with a mocking and intimidating tone, especially when considering it comes from a Catholic-conservative publication. These components contribute to an unnecessary villainization of reproductive-justice advocates.
The aforementioned article is not the first the Irish Rover has written regarding Irish 4 Reproductive Health. On Nov. 5, the Rover published another article “‘Safe Sex’ Club Continues to Use University Facilities.” In it, the author reports on a workshop hosted through the organization and its alleged violation of the Student Activities Office’s policies.
I don’t know enough about SAO’s policies to know whether Irish 4 Reproductive Health is truly in violation of them. And I do think the articles could have been a fascinating read on “unofficial clubs” at Notre Dame. The article instead decides to attack the club and its leadership. After the article was published, the club stopped publically transmitting the location of its meetings.
One thing that truly bothers me about the Irish Rover is its blatant hypocrisy. There is a valid concern about Irish 4 Reproductive Health’s use of University buildings when it is not an official club, but in the same breath, the Irish Rover celebrates the “revival” of the Theology Club, another currently unofficial club. The Rover can’t have it both ways just because they align with the values of the Theology Club. It’s unreliable journalism.
Further, the Rover has no issue with putting professor Butler and other leaders of the group on blast while protecting and allowing casual racism under the guise of anonymity. In the same print newspaper that contains Garecht’s article, the Rover allows this quote in an article on student reactions to President Donald Trump: “We need to reduce immigration, particularly Indian immigration into this country, as I simply don’t feel comfortable as a woman with mass-third world migration from countries that don’t respect basic female dignity and personal space.” Every quote in the story was published without attribution.
Why are we protecting this kind of speech? Have we no regard for the prevalent Indian population here at Notre Dame? It’s purposely divisive. It’s dangerous. And this quote doesn’t even come from an opinion-based article, which are typically given more leeway in the journalism industry to provoke dialogue through evidence-based claims.
We need to have a better conversation about what constitutes “journalism.” Journalistic inquiry isn’t about presenting claims that endanger others without clear evidence, or unnecessarily vilifying university faculty. It isn’t about allowing a clearly racist sentiment to tear through the student body. Journalism is about reporting on news and information for the public with a commitment to truthfulness, accuracy and impartiality.
The Irish Rover has an opportunity to platform Catholic journalism and in the past it has. But in its current form, all I see are scare tactics aimed at attacking any ideologies they believe go against their notion of Catholic ideals. As freshman Contessa Barron said, “Just because a club disagrees with a majority opinion does not mean that you can marginalize them. The University has opened itself up to other beliefs and faiths, and you don’t get to disregard their opinions just because you disagree with them.”
Notre Dame deserves a student newspaper that challenges ideas, not people. The Irish Rover can choose to be that paper. But right now, it is choosing something else.
Sophia Lekeufack is a freshman from Boyds, Md. currently living in Lyons Hall. When she's not studying political science or crying doing her Program of Liberal Studies readings, you can find her crocheting, walking or playing BS. You can contact Sophia at slekeufa@nd.edu
