News

Republican election watch ends in disappointment

The Notre Dame College Republican election watch only met disappointment when incumbent President Barack Obama beat former Gov. Mitt Romney with enough electoral votes to claim another four years in office Friday night.

Phishing scam targets Notre Dame students, staff

Members of the millennial generation current Notre Dame students are fairly tech-savvy, but the Office of Information Technology (OIT) has seen a significant increase in the number of students falling for phishing scams this year.

Minute by minute, fighting until the end

BOSTON - After a long day of travel, including more than four hours of flight delays, we finally checked into the Revere Hotel just before 7 p.m. We quickly changed and headed off to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC), the central hub of Election Night 2012 for the Romney/Ryan campaign. We are based in the Press Filing Center, which is playing host to hundreds of reporters from around the world as they cover the GOP side of the presidential race. Here is a minute-by-minute account of the night's events. 7:08 p.m.: We are dropped off by our cab at the BCEC and make our way to the security check-in. The building is lit up with red, white and blue, and loads of Republicans, young and old alike, are being bused to the center. 7:36 p.m.: After some major help from our media contact, we head through security and make it into the Press Filing Center, which is only about half full. Fox News and CNN are playing on two large screens in the front of the room, flanking a stage. The first few rows are for the traveling press - The New York Times, Newsweek and The Los Angeles Times, to name a few. There is even a spot for Canal+, a French network. The major broadcast and cable networks - Fox News, ABC News, NBC News and so forth all have their own rooms. 7:44 p.m.: We receive word in the Press Filing Center that Romney's plane has landed in Boston, and hopefully is on his way to the BCEC. 7:48 p.m.: In news back home, Notre Dame alumnus Joe Donnelly is deadlocked at 47 percent with Republican competitor Richard Mourdock in the race for Indiana Senator. Donnelly, who also graduated from the Notre Dame Law School, leads Mourdock by just over a thousand votes. 7:51 p.m.: 41,557 tweets per minute are sent with the hashtag "#election2012," according to Fox News. That is some serious thumb exercising out there. 8:05 p.m.: We eat some food. Polenta, pork, garlic chicken and artichoke - It's pretty good, except they ran out of dessert. 8:09 p.m.: We are reminded that while it is America who is choosing its president tonight, the entire world is watching the election. We have run across members of the press with accents that run the gamut from French to German, British to Indian. 8:15 p.m.: It is interesting to see the rate the different networks are reporting the results of states' electoral votes. Fox News is way ahead, counting 78 for Obama and 82 for Romney while CNN is at a more conservative 64 for the President and 56 for the former Massachusetts governor. 8:20 pm.: And Domer Joe Donnelly is ahead by almost 40,000 votes according to CNN. If elected, he would be the first Irish alum in the Senate in modern history. 8:27 p.m.: CNN just showed a shot of huge crowds outside in Chicago supporting Obama. We saw no such thing on our way into the BCEC - Boston may be Romney headquarters, but Massachusetts is a solidly "blue" state. 8:51 p.m.: CNN was just cut out for a moment for Fox News. We almost lost Anderson Cooper for a moment, but thankfully he is back on the big screen. 9:00 p.m.: 14 states with 156 electoral votes just closed their polls. Also just in - Michigan, Romney's home state where his father was once governor, will send its 16 electoral votes to Obama 9:05 p.m.: Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia, a Notre Dame alumnus, phones in to the BCEC on a video screen and offers thanks to the Republican volunteers who have gathered in Boston. He said he looks forward to calling the Republican candidate "President Romney" come tomorrow morning. 9:07 p.m.: CNN declares GOP will maintain lead in the House of Representatives and the foyer at the BCEC erupts with applause. 9:31 p.m.: Are we headed for Armageddon? Fox News has the two candidates in a tie; Romney and Obama are locked at 153 electoral votes. 9:39 p.m.: Romney senior strategist Ed Gillespie takes the stage at BCEC and said he is "optimistic and confident" about the ballots rolling in around the country. 9:40 p.m.: Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio comes in via videoconference, saying this is the campaign he has most enjoyed being a part of. He said the Republican campaign "channeled energy and enthusiasm of Mitt and Paul" in his home state. 10:03 p.m.: More states polls just closed, including several swing states. All of a sudden, the Fox News anchors are going crazy with the video screen and potential outcomes of states swinging either "red" or "blue." Technology at its finest. 10:15 p.m.: A Spanish-language network just was reporting next to our desk in the Press Filing Center. The back half of the room is pretty full, but as you get to the front of the room with larger media outlets, it is largely empty. Only a few members of the Romney traveling press are here. 10:30 p.m.: According to Twitter, the 2012 election has already become the most tweeted-about U.S. political event in history. No surprises there. In other news, Romney is ahead of Obama by nearly 1.5 million votes in the popular votes - but is in the fight of his life for electoral votes. 10:40 p.m.: And we have switched to local news at the Press Filing Center, as incumbent Republican Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts has lost to Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren. Brown is giving a concession speech, and is gracious in defeat. 11:01 p.m.: With many West Coast states' polls closing, Fox News has Obama leading Romney in Electoral College votes, 244 to 193. He needs just 26 more to clinch the presidency. Several swing states' ballots - including Ohio, Florida and Nevada - are still being counted. 11:10 p.m.: CNN projects Obama will win Iowa. From the shots of Chicago, it looks like the crowd is going wild. 11:12 p.m.: Fox News has Obama within eight electoral votes of the presidency. The network projects him winning the crucial battleground state of Ohio. 11:14 p.m.: NBC has declared Obama the winner of the 2012 presidential election. Phones are starting to ring at the BCEC Press Filing Center, and for the first time of the night, there is a palpable buzz in the room. 11:18 p.m.: Fox News and CNN have called it too. Time to get to work in the Press Filing Center - keys are being pattered at, all sorts of foreign language chattering is flying back and forth and phones are ringing off the hook. 11:25 p.m.: Now Fox News is claiming they may have projected an Obama win in Ohio win too early, as the candidates are neck-and-neck with 72 percent of ballots reported. According to one Fox News correspondent, Romney's staff in Boston is "frantically crunching numbers" and is not prepared to make a concession speech. 11:44 p.m.: According to an aide, Romney is not ready to concede. Supporters are sticking around the BCEC ballroom. It looks like we may be in for a long night. Of note is that Romney still has a comfortable lead in the popular vote. 11:59 p.m.: Candy Crowley of CNN says the BCEC contingent is a "quiet crowd" and says Romney is still not ready to concede. 12:07 a.m.: Although the network says there is no word on a concession call from Romney to Obama Fox News is talking about the Republican candidate's post-campaign life. Crowd shots of BCEC ballroom are somber. It looks like the beginning of the end. 12:28 a.m.: "What's [Romney] doing really, sobbing uncontrollably?" says the Canadian reporter behind me. The press is antsy for some sort of indication as to when Romney plans to come out concede the race. 12:32 a.m.: Still waiting on any word as to when Romney plans on addressing the crowds here at the BCEC. 12:35 a.m.: Obama is finally ahead in the popular vote, according to CNN. 12:50 a.m.: We hear Mitt Romney is to speak at 12:55 a.m. EST. 12:55 p.m.: Romney takes the stage at the BCEC ballroom to raucous applause, announces he has called President Obama and conceded the race. "I pray that our president will be successful in guiding our nation," he said to the audience. 1 a.m.: Romney wraps up his concession speech. "We have given our all to this campaign. I so wish, I so wish, that I had been able to fulfill your votes to lead the country in a different direction," he said. "But the nation chose another leader, and so Ann and I join with you to urgely pray for him and for this great nation." 1:37 a.m.: Obama takes the stage in Chicago with Michelle, Malia and Sasha in tow to deliver his victory speech. 1:59 a.m.: Obama has wrapped up his victory speech. After nearly seven hours at the BCEC, we're ready to wrap this puppy up. Romney lost and Obama won, but it was an incredible experience to be in Boston covering the event.  

Decision made

BOSTON - It's all over. At 12:55 a.m. today, Mitt Romney walked out on to a stage at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) to raucous applause from Republican supporters. Upon reaching the podium, he told the audience he had just called President Barack Obama to congratulate him on his victory and second presidential term. "This is a time of great challenges for America, I pray that our president will be successful in guiding our nation," he said. Looking forward to Obama's second term, Romney urged politicians and citizens alike to work together for the benefit of the United States. "The nation, as you know, is at a critical point. At a time like this, we can't risk partisanship," he said. "Our leaders have to reach across the aisle to do the people's work. And we citizens have to rise to the occasion." The former Massachusetts governor advocated for all elected leaders to work together and push past partisanship.   "We look to Democrats and Republicans and government at all levels to put the people before the politics," he said. "I believe in America. I believe in the people of America." Romney said he ran for office because he was "concerned" about America, but because of solid political foundations, has great hope for the future of the country. "This election is over, but our principles endure," he said. "I believe the principles upon which this nation was founded are the only sure guide to a resurgent economy and to a new greatness." In his address, Romney thanked his running mate, Wisc. Rep. Paul Ryan, and urged him to continue to contribute his political efforts to the American nation. "Besides my wife Ann, Paul is the best choice I have ever made," he said. "And I trust that his intellect and his hard work and his commitment to principle will continue to contribute to the good of our nation." Romney then thanked his wife Ann and his family for their support and efforts in his run for president. Last, he acknowledged the huge team of supporters who made his campaign possible. "I don't believe there has ever been an effort in our party that can compare with what you have done over these past years," he said. In the closing remarks of his speech, Romney said he and Ryan "put everything on the field" in the hopes of guiding America in their vision. "We have given our all to this campaign. I so wish, I so wish, that I had been able to fulfill your votes to lead the country in a different direction," he said. "But the nation chose another leader, and so Ann and I join with you to earnestly pray for him and for this great nation." Earlier in the evening, just after 9 p.m., Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia, a Notre Dame alumnus, phoned into the BCEC from Virginia on video screens with personal words of encouragement for the Romney campaign. He said he was excited with voter turnout in his state, saying four to five districts were staying open late for voting. "We're excited about the momentum we had going into the campaign." McDonnell said he was enthused with the work of Republican volunteers in the state and thought the state might swing to Romney, though its 13 Electoral College votes eventually went to Obama. "We remain very optimistic about our chances to win here in Virginia," he said. "But because of the exceptional work of volunteers here and tremendous 'get out the vote' effort, and Gov. Romney's personal conviction and positive message ... we think we're going to carry the day." As hundreds looked on at the BCEC, McDonnell thanked Republican volunteers for their "incredible sacrificial support" in propelling Romney's presidential campaign around the country. "Your leadership, your being good ambassadors for the governor all over this great country, we know we need a change in leadership, and Gov. Romney and Paul Ryan are the ones who will do it," he said. At the time, McDonnell said he anticipated tomorrow morning, when he could address the former Massachusetts governor by a new title. "I'm looking forward to calling President Romney in the morning," he said. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, who stood in for Obama in practice debates with Romney, phoned in to the BCEC via videoconference around 9:40 p.m. with a message of support. "Everybody tonight better be extremely proud of the work they have done," he said. Portman, a veteran of nine presidential campaigns said he has never been "prouder" than his participation with the Romney/Ryan ticket. He noted the campaign's motto from the popular television show "Friday Night Lights" - "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose" - and said this was evidenced in efforts in his home state. "We have clear eyes. ... We certainly have full hearts," he said. "And finally, we can't lose. We're doing the right thing for our state and our country. We feel really good about it."  

President Obama to serve second term

Members of Notre Dame College Democrats took over the first floor of LaFortune Student Center Tuesday night to watch state-by-state election results come in. Students arrived as early as 7 p.m. and stayed throughout the evening, which culminated in President Obama winning a second term as President.

Four more years

CHICAGO - Forward. For months, President Barack Obama has been asking voters to help him move forward to four more years in office. On Tuesday, the voters did just that. hat remained a tight race until well after the polls closed Tuesday, Obama defeated Republican opponent former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney in an Electoral College battle to win a second term in office. Obama nearly swept the hotly contested battleground states to solidify his victory, carrying Colorado, Iowa, Ohio, New Hampshire, Virginia and Wisconsin. At Obama's election night rally at McCormick Place in Chicago on Tuesday night, crowds cheered periodically throughout the night as major television news outlets predicted electoral victories in those swing states, culminating with rousing applause and joyful cheers from supporters when the first reports began projecting an overall victory for the incumbent president at 10:20 p.m. Because votes in many states had yet to be counted at the time of those projections and races in Ohio and Florida were too close to call, Romney delayed formally conceding the election at his Boston headquarters 11:55 p.m., when he delivered a formal address to supporters. When Romney began his concession speech with congratulations for Obama, the Chicago crowd erupted into cheers and began chanting, "Four more years!" almost immediately after Romney concluded his five-minute address. But the energized crowd had to wait until 12:38 p.m. for Obama, First Lady Michelle and their daughters Malia and Sasha to take the McCormick Place stage prior to the President's address. With his signature rhetorical flair, Obama began his speech by thanking his fellow Americans for their perseverance in the face of significant challenges and expressed hope for the future of the country. "Tonight ... you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America, the best is yet to come," he said. Throughout the 20-minute speech, Obama relied on anecdotes of ordinary Americans' experiences to highlight his vision for a "generous America, a compassionate America, a tolerant America" and emphasize their unique roles in shaping American democracy as a whole. "Democracy in a nation of 300 million can be noisy and messy and complicated," he said. "We have our own opinions. Each of us has deeply held beliefs. And ... when we make big decisions as a country, it necessarily stirs passions, stirs up controversy. That won't change after tonight." "These arguments we have are a mark of our liberty, and we can never forget that as we speak, people in distant nations are risking their lives right now just for a chance to argue about the issues that matter." Invoking his campaign slogan - "Forward" - Obama addressed the audience, the country and the world about the reality of progress in America and the need to "move forward" as a united nation. "We will disagree, sometimes fiercely, about how to get there. ... Progress will come in fits and starts," he said. The president made an appeal directly to those who voted for his opponent, calling the election a new beginning for increased communication and collaboration. "A long campaign is over," he said. "Whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you. I have learned from you. And you've made me a better president." Freedom and responsibility extend to all Americans, regardless of individual background, to make a place for themselves in our diverse nation, Obama said. "I believe we can keep the promise of our founding, the idea that if you're willing to work hard, it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like," he said. "It doesn't matter whether you're black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, abled, disabled, gay or straight. You can make it here in America if you're willing to try." As he closed his address, Obama asked the country to "sustain that hope" he campaigned on in 2008 and use it to change America's future. "I believe we can seize this future together because we are not as divided as our politics suggests. ... We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and forever will be, the United States of America." After the President's rousing conclusion and a shower of confetti on the audience, ZiweFumudoh, a 20-year-old junior at Northwestern, said the Election Night experience was "life-changing." "The atmosphere tonight was absolutely electrifying," she said. "This was my first time voting ever, so it was nice to be around people who have the same ideas about where this country should go." Monica Yi, also a Northwestern junior and first-time voter, said the rally amplified her feelings about the President going into his second term. "I'm a huge Obama supporter, so this was amazing and one of the coolest things I've ever experienced," she said. "I thought his speech hit all the good points I wanted to hear, so I'm really psyched for the next four years, and I think we have a lot to look forward to."  

Alumna discusses HIV, AIDS research

Saint Mary's alumna Mary Anne Luzar will share new developments in her research in AIDS and HIV treatments Nov. 14, bringing her extensive work in the global fight against these diseases to the College. Luzar, a 1972 graduate, is the chief of the Regulatory Affairs Branch of the Division of AIDS at the National Institute of Health. The lecture, titled "The Door Finally Opens for HIV Prevention: A Review of the Exciting Results of Two International HIV Prevention Clinical Trials and Their Impact on HIV Prevention Research in the 21st Century" will discuss her work in this field. The lecture will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Room 105 of the Science Hall. The Division of College Relations and the Career Crossings Office are sponsoring the event. Libby Gray, director of development for the College, said the college is excited to welcome Luzar back to campus. "As a Saint Mary's alumna and accomplished scientist, Dr. Luzar brings expertise that will benefit Saint Mary's students as well as local members of the medical community," Gray said. "We are delighted to have her present the latest findings on two studies that offer hope in the global fight against HIV and AIDS."

Lecture explores Chile's policies

Following the retrenchment of social policy under a period of turbulent military rule, Chile has endeavored to drastically reform its healthcare and pension systems, aiming to reduce poverty, inequality and provide a model for other nations seeking change.

Student develops application

By BRIDGET FEENEY For senior Monica Murphy, Saturday was noteworthy not only because of another football victory, but for also reaching a major milestone in her life with the release of an app in the iTunes store she helped write and design. The app, called Beautiful You, was launched Saturday and is designed to provide girls and young woman with motivation and inspiration for their everyday lives. In the promotional video her team made, Murphy said she hopes users find the app moving. "Your purpose is bigger than big," she said. "When you believe in yourself, you take bold steps towards the life you were meant to live. I want to help empower you so you can transform your mind and understand all the potential you have. We hope that you will find this app to inspire you throughout your daily life." Murphy founded the app with sophomore Meghan Roder and the help of Indiana State University student Cory Rehs, whom she met through a mutual friend. Murphy said the project has taken nearly a year to develop. "My team and I spent about 11 months writing encouraging content, while Cory got to work on developing and designing the app," Murphy said. "A developer's fee costs $100." The content users purchase ranges from quotes to reflections to interactive subject matter. "On this app, you will find encouragement, challenges and reflections, all to inspire you - as well as a unique interactive piece to help support you in your walk of sisterhood and personal growth," Murphy said. Murphy said she is excited her dream of creating an app has been achieved. She said she is grateful for the opportunity this app affords her and Roder to reach women on a wider level than before. "Meghan and I are two ordinary college students who had an extraordinary dream," she said. "Our app, Beautiful You, allows us the opportunity to impact females on a broader level. We want to build the kingdom and felt called to team up to use the genuineness of our gifts. So many girls and women are hungry for purpose in their lives and want to be encouraged and inspired." The app costs 99 cents and is now available for sale on iTunes. Contact Bridget Feeney at bfeene01saintmarys.edu

Coastal areas cope with storm devastation

Two weeks ago, senior Katie Murphy had been looking forward to spending Thanksgiving at home with her family in the waterside community of Island Park, N.Y. But two weeks ago, Superstorm Sandy had not yet made landfall on Long Island, N.Y., flooding Murphy's home and causing damages significant enough to keep her family, who evacuated north to the home of an aunt, out of the house for the next several months. "If all goes well, my family expects to move back into our home by mid-February or early March. However, it could take much longer," Murphy said. "My aunt's house is packed, so my brother and I are stuck here for Thanksgiving. It'll be really nice to finally see my family on Christmas." Sandy, which began as a hurricane and was downgraded to a tropical storm before it hit land in New Jersey, barreled into the East Coast on Oct. 29, affecting coastal communities of several states. Over a week later, many communities are dealing with the aftermath of the storm, which often includes lack of power, destroyed buildings and homeless residents. "We don't have power, plumbing or clean drinking water," Murphy said of Island Park. "The National Guard, FEMA and countless volunteers have been working around the clock to provide my community with bottled water, food, blankets and clean clothing." While Sandy was devastating Murphy's community, junior Tom White's family remained in their home and waited out the storm about 20 miles north of Island Park in Garden City, N.Y. His immediate family was lucky compared to the experiences of others; his home's worst damage was due to a tree that fell on the garage. But his extended family, who live nearby in the small beach community of Breezy Point, did not fare so well. "My cousins effectively lost their home due to tremendous flooding from the storm," he said. "Rebuilding down there will be incredibly difficult but New Yorkers are known for their resiliency. We will get through this no matter how strenuous the toil." In addition to flooding from the nearby water, over 100 homes in Breezy Point were engulfed by a fire during the storm. The result, White said, was a devastated town that "looks like a warzone." Power, water and heat returned to White's house over the weekend. But prior to the restoration, White said the lack of communication with his family has made his week difficult. "Insofar as I could not contact my family for the duration of the storm, I felt tense and nervous this past week," he said. "I wanted nothing more than to be there with them to ride out this monster. Focusing on school this past week has been challenging because of the chaos Sandy has wrought in the greater scheme of things." Senior Jill Giunco said the most difficult part of Sandy has been attempting to imagine how the affected areas look. For as long as she can remember, the Colts Neck, N.J., native spent her summers visiting the beaches and attractions along the coast, only a short drive from her home. "I think I will be in complete shock to go home during Thanksgiving and see all of the changes," she said. "The shore is totally different ... It's a weird feeling that so much of the landscape around the shore and the beaches I grew up going to will be so different." While her home did not incur any terrific damages, Giunco said the basement of her house flooded during the storm, and her family remains without power. Many of her friends live on the shore, however, and the damages to their homes are much more extensive. Several have lost their homes entirely, Giunco said, due to either excessive flooding or fire. "My mom was telling me about a friend in a nearby town, Freehold, whose home had a great deal of water damage," she said. "When the electricity finally went on for them, the damage had messed with the wiring and the entire house went up in flames." Although flames and floods have left areas up and down the East Coast in a state of disaster, Murphy said the residents are what truly compose a community. "My town will never be the same. The boardwalk and beaches were completely destroyed. I never expected to see something like this," she said. "Fortunately, my community is extremely close and very committed to rebuilding our town." Contact Mel Flanagan at mflanag3@nd.edu

Analyst highlights persecution

Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world today, according to the International Society for Human Rights, which says 80 percent of all religious acts of discrimination target Christians. In his talk Monday night titled "The Global War on Christians," CNN's senior Vatican analyst John Allen highlighted countries experiencing heavy persecution of Christians today and debunked myths about such conflicts while arguing that the American Church can take a bigger role in addressing these heinous acts. Allen's address was the second keynote address of the "Seed of the Church" conference on Christian martyrs. "We are talking in my opinion about the most dramatic, most compelling, most urgent Christian narrative of our time," Allen said. Allen said according to the Pew Forum, persecution of Christians occurs in 133 countries. According to Aid to the Church in Need, about 150,000 Christians have been killed in religious conflict each year of the 21st century. "In the hour that we are going to be together tonight, somewhere on this planet, 11 Christians are losing their lives," Allen said. "This number is not only astonishing but obscene." One place Allen described as an epicenter of Christian persecution is Iraq. Even though this region was an integral part of the early Church, Iraq's Christian population has shrunk from between one and a half and two million in 1991 to fewer than 450,000 today, Allen said. "A Church that took two millennia to construct has been gutted essentially in two decades," he said. Since American intervention in Iraq has exacerbated sectarian tensions, putting Christians at greater risk for persecution, Allen said the American Church has an obligation to assist Iraqi Christians. "Given what we profess as Catholics and given the responsibility we bear as Americans, the fact that the situation facing the Church in Iraq is not a ... top-of-the-brain concern for the Catholic Church in the United States is nothing less than a moral scandal," he said. "Our failure to apply our last best efforts to meaningful gestures of solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Iraq is quite simply inexcusable." Allen said most people falsely believe Christian persecution can only come from regions where Muslim extremism is prevalent. "If somehow tomorrow, radical Islam were to disappear, the threats to Christians would hardly be gone," he said. "What we face is a bewildering cocktail of threats." Some threatening groups include radical Hindus in India, nationalists in Turkey and even radical Christians, Allen said. Christians can also be persecuted in countries such as Mexico where they are the overwhelming religious majority, he said. Another myth about Christian persecution is it is a political issue, Allen said. "If we are going to take a clear-eyed look at the global war on Christians, we cannot try to see it through the funhouse mirror of secular politics," he said. Most of all, Allen said Americans can support persecuted Christians abroad merely by being mindful of their situation. When he interviewed Christian Syrian refugees in Lebanon during Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Beirut, Allen said they all agreed on how Western Christians could help them. "Do you want to know the number one must popular answer by far they gave me that they said would make the most tangible and appreciable difference to them?" he said. "The answer was, 'Don't forget about us.' ... You and I cannot solve the problems of the world. We can't make the violence in Syria go away tomorrow, but we can try to find creative ways to broadcast the message that we have not forgotten them and that we are paying attention." Contact ToriRoeck at vroeck@nd.edu  

Pittsburgh game draws massive crowds

Editor's Note: This article has been edited to reflect a correction of inaccurate reporting on arrests by the Indiana State Excise Police in South Bend. 

Concert raises awareness

Members of the Saint Mary's community were treated last to select songs from two different artists with personal connections to Saint Mary's and Notre Dame on Thursday. Trent Romens, whose sister, Taylor Romens, is a senior at the College, and Pat McKillen, a graduate of Notre Dame, were welcomed to Saint Mary's campus for a benefit concert held by the Saint Mary's Dance Marathon. Amy Tiberi, president of Dance Marathon, thought the benefit concert got the message the committee was trying to get across to the community. "The concert went well. We had a good turnout and I think that everyone who came to see the show really enjoyed both of the performers," Tiberi said. "Trent and Pat both tailored their sets to our audience which was really awesome." Tiberi said the committee was hoping for more people to be at the show, but they were by no means disappointed with the crowd. "You always hope for the best in terms of turnout," she said. "Trent and Pat were both awesome. Both have an acoustic style and they were a great way to relax on a Thursday evening for friends. It was great entertainment overall." Kate Kellogg, vice president of finance for Dance Marathon, said the event was a success. "All of our proceeds went directly to Riley Children's Hospital and we raised about $200, not including any donations we received from the texting campaign," Kellogg said. "We hope to continue with other texting campaigns in the future at other Dance Marathon events." Kellogg said it was a great way to spread the word about the Dance Marathon and to continue to raise awareness on campus and throughout the community. "This is the first time we've done a concert in the fall and it was a fun way to kick off our pre-registration for the marathon which is on March 23," she said. "We have had 126 students registered thus far. Moving forward, we have upcoming giveback nights at local restaurants such as Between the Buns and Chipotle later this semester." Tiberi said the committee is thinking "Rock Out for Riley" will continue to be an annual event for Dance Marathon as it grows in the future. "We have a Riley Family Dinner in the Noble Family Dining Hall coming up on Nov. 30," she said. "Right now, our biggest focus is building more awareness for what Dance Marathon is and recruiting dancers for our event in March. We have a lot of momentum building right now and we are just trying to carry it to next semester so we can keep the ball rolling. It's really exciting to see all the potential this year has for us." Tiberi, Kellogg and the rest of the Dance Marathon committee will be holding a texting campaign during Riley Week in February and again on the day of the marathon, March 23. More information will be available as the dates get closer. Contact Jillian Barwick at jbarwi01@saintmarys.edu  

Club fosters Wall Street networking

The Notre Dame Wall Street Club is planning trips to New York, Boston and Chicago to allow current members to visit firms, connect with alumni and increase the University's presence on Wall Street. Although the club is in the early stages of planning, the trips will be daily trips for small groups, and include visits to four or five financial firms in each city to form a network for Notre Dame students. Senior club co-president Lauren Baldwin said the club wants to keep the group small in order to facilitate personal communication between group members and Notre Dame alumni working on Wall Street. Senior Shawn Cappello, another one of the club's three co-presidents, said these trips will "take the club to the next level." "These trips are part of a larger plan to legitimize the club and increase Notre Dame's presence on Wall Street," Cappello said. The club, which was founded in 2010, currently has an estimated 300 active members and 880 students on the email list, making it the largest undergraduate business-oriented club. Three co-presidents and 9 vice presidents make up the club structure. These members communicate with the Investment Office, Career Center, Notre Dame alumni and senior mentors in order to form a network for group members. Sixty percent of members are freshman and sophomore, which Baldwin said is an emphasis of the club. "We're connecting freshmen and sophomores with firms they will potentially be interviewing with," Baldwin said. Cappello said the club's rapid growth is proof of its necessary role it serves for so many students. "The club is a long overdue resource for students," Cappello said. "This allows for students to get internships and receive great support from Notre Dame alumni." Baldwin said weekly club meetings are divided into two halves. The first half is devoted to teaching financial skills and the second half focuses on interview skills. "This club helped me so much in the past two years," Baldwin said. "This is the reason I have become so involved." Cappello said senior members of the club conduct mock interviews to help improve underclassmen's interviewing skills. The club also plans to introduce workshops to teach members financial modeling skills, like comparable companies analysis, discounted cash flow, and LGO modeling skills, that are not taught until senior year. "These are skills I had to teach myself like other finance majors," Baldwin said. "This will give freshmen and sophomores important skills they need." The club has also introduced new initiatives in order to attract non-business major members, a group that makes up 8.3% of the group. "Executives want a wide array of experiences," Cappello said. "We've gone to non-business related classes and let students know about the resources we have." Cappelllo said the club will begin its speaker series in the second semester, which will include information on topics like real-estate, private equity, and hedge funds. Contact Ben Horvath at bhorvat1@nd.edu

Group discusses campus safety

The members of Campus Life Council discussed on-campus safety at its meeting Friday afternoon.

Fire at SMC contained

Saint Mary's students, faculty and staff were alerted early Saturday morning of a fire in the basement of the Moreau Center for the Arts in a theatre set storage area.

Student voters consider faith

Jenkins blesses new accelerator

University President Fr. John Jenkins dedicated and blessed the new SU Pelletron nuclear particle accelerator Thursday, calling the occasion "a great step for Notre Dame." The dedication ceremony was held on the first level of the new 4-level space within Nieuwland Science Hall that houses the accelerator. In attendance was physics professor Michael Wiescher, who played a key role in bringing the accelerator to Notre Dame and has worked in the department for 27 years.

Fan pens book at age 10

Writing a book is nothing short of impressive. Penning 100 pages and publishing that work at age 10 is extraordinary.

Scholar lectures on law

Days before Americans head to vote for the next president of the United States, legal scholar Akhil Reed Amar lectured Friday on the country's Constitution and its place as a national symbol.