opinion

Power

By The Observer · Wednesday, March 21, 2012

It is sometimes said that Nietzsche believes that "might makes right." This is not wrong, exactly, though it is sufficiently ambiguous to be seriously misleading.

Exposing NDH

By The Observer · Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Let's just cut to the chase: North Dining Hall is inferior to its counterpart in the South.

Peace, the world and faith

By The Observer · Wednesday, March 21, 2012

It is impossible to take even a glance at the news these days without being bombarded by reports of violent conflict around the world, from the uprising in Syria to the continued violence of the LRA and Joseph Kony. This reporting leaves something to be desired, however. As active world citizens we, and likely many of you as well, desire to learn not only about the current state of these conflicts but also how they might be transformed into a sustainable peace. It is with this goal in mind that the Notre Dame Student Peace Conference will be bringing student presenters and experts, including the keynote speaker Molly Kinder, Class of 2001, from around the country to campus on March 30-31. This conference will provide a great opportunity to engage in dialogue on the many ongoing efforts to promote peacebuilding around the world with fellow students and the broader community of peace scholars. Given the unique Catholic character of our university, we are pleased to be partnering with the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland to host both a panel and a workshop examining the intersections of faith and global policy centered on some of the most important issues of our time.

A random walk to the Final Four

By The Observer · Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The stock market can seem so erratic. One day it's up and analysts are screaming "buy, buy, buy!" The next day it's down and the only "bye-rs" left are the washed up members of N*Sync.

Save swing night

By The Observer · Tuesday, March 20, 2012

I bear grave tidings. Swing Night at Legends has been downgraded to a Thursday and could stand a chance to be eliminated entirely next semester due to last semester's attendance. I express the opinion that last semester was a fluke. Swing Night has always been an easy free way for the students here to experience swing dancing and has always been a blast since I have been here. A Thursday nightclub event does not do it justice, for it drives away the people who have class and work due Friday. This night is supposed to be available for everyone, not just diehards who will come no matter when it is. We have to get this night back to the weekend, but we can only do that by showing up to this one TONIGHT. I call for the suspension of work and sleep for just one measly hour from 12 to 1. Use this time to come to Legends and show that a weekend Swing Night is necessary, and, furthermore, that it is impossible to be contained on a Thursday. The night is ours for the claiming. Come take it.

It's baseball season

By The Observer · Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Last Friday, I witnessed the basketball team lose early in the NCAA tournament in a disappointing last minute loss. After the game, one of the sports writers summed it up best: "Well, it's baseball season." I could not agree more. It's finally baseball season!

Game Change' a wake-up call for voters

By The Observer · Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Over spring break I watched "Game Change," HBO's recently aired political drama based on the 2008 presidential campaign and the selection of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate. It essentially paints Palin as an uninformed and poorly versed politician, to say the least. Picking her as McCain's running mate was done in an attempt at making a bold move to energize the party and had little to do with her qualifications for the job. The movie even goes so far as to strongly question the former Alaska governor's mental stability at various points during the campaign (apparently a nutritional plan grounded on Diet Dr. Pepper and thousands of 3x5 information cards do this to a person).

Mad for March Madness

By The Observer · Monday, March 19, 2012

This year, March brought quite a few surprises to South Bend - sunny skies, green grass, warm weather - but to me, March has always meant one thing and one thing only: March Madness. Already some of my friends are rolling their eyes. After one weekend of competition, they are already tired of the constant presence of basketball in their lives.

Feeling lonely? Try Lent

By The Observer · Monday, March 19, 2012

Most of us know that we enter into the 40 days of Lent, in part, in imitation of Jesus, who before beginning his public ministry entered the desert for 40 days, where he was tempted by but ultimately overcame Satan. I always begin each Lent with this image of Jesus battling in the desert. Perhaps imagining Jesus duking it out with Satan provides a bit of a spiritual adrenaline rush as my own 40 days begins; but, like most adrenaline rushes, it wears off soon after. So here we are, halfway through Lent, with some Lenten resolutions perhaps already by the wayside while others are badly leaking. We stand in need of some motivation, a halftime pep talk, a reinvigorated purpose for persevering in the Lenten promises and self-denials to which we committed with such determination way back on Ash Wednesday.

State of disaster

By The Observer · Monday, March 19, 2012

Warren Buffet, America's most famous investor, often says: "You don't know who is swimming naked until the tide rolls out." The Great Recession has revealed many different policy shortcomings in America that were hidden during the 1990s and 2000s by a relatively strong economy. Some such shortcomings are the massive unfunded obligations that states face due to their retirement obligations for public sector workers. While it may not seem interesting or important, this situation is already having a devastating effect upon the states. If left unreformed, it could even lead to a new economic crisis.

#LoveTheeNotreDame

By The Observer · Sunday, March 18, 2012

March 7, Stanford Hall and Alumni competed for the men's interhall hockey championship. Compton Arena was filled with 300 guys from Stanford Hall and Alumni. Vuvuzelas were blaring and Frosh-O chants were roaring. Heated shot after shot was fired at the Alumni defense, but each time the agile Alumni goalie snatched up the puck. Alumni had two quick breakaway goals and things weren't looking great for the Griffins. However, with continued determination, belief and maybe a little bit of karma, Stanford was able to come back from being down 2-0 with only four minutes left in the game to win 3-2 in overtime. For a more detailed account of the game, ask any Stanford Griffinite.

Kickstart it

By The Observer · Sunday, March 18, 2012

A large group of people can be a tremendous source of money and encouragement. At least, that is what internet startup Kickstarter is trying to prove. Described as a way to fund creative projects, Kickstarter is an online hub for people who have really ambitious ideas, but very little financial backing. Users of the site post descriptions of their projects alongside short videos as a means to pitch their idea. They set a target monetary goal and a time limit to reach it and they're off. People who visit the site can fund projects in exchange for tiered give-backs from the creators. But here's the catch: If the project reaches the goal in the allotted time, the creator gets the money. If not, nobody spends a dime.

The challenges of the weekly laundry day

By The Observer · Sunday, March 18, 2012

People make fun of me a lot for my wardrobe. I did a quick inventory; I own something like six t-shirts. Four of them rep my beloved Kansas City Royals and the other two display my affection for Kansas University basketball. To match them, I have three pairs of basketball shorts. Aside from a handful of dressier clothes for special occasions, this is pretty much all I've got.