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The point of diversity

By The Observer · Wednesday, April 27, 2011

I completely agree with Ms. Lujan's April 27 letter ("A different way to be Latino") where she says, "Our identity is marred by placing ourselves in an exclusive, single-minded group."

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A different way to be Latino

By The Observer · Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The article in The Observer ("Latino students maintain culture on campus," April 20) portrayed Latinos as a victimized group and implied that MEChA is the way Latino students maintain culture on campus. I share a background with the students in this article — I was an immigrant, am a native Spanish speaker, a first generation college student, etc. etc. — but I want to emphasize that I do not share the same view.

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Violence across the world: Something is wrong when being raped is a crime

By The Observer · Tuesday, April 26, 2011

I believe that many would agree that violence against women (VAW) is wrong. Many would be outraged to see their sister, mother, friend or daughter suffer the trauma of rape. The big question at Notre Dame and Saint Mary's isn't whether or not violence against women is wrong, but what is the appropriate way to deal with and prevent it. I would dare to say that women who have been raped on either campus are not penalized for it; rather we question whether the rapists are penalized sufficiently for their crime.

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Empowered individuals

By The Observer · Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Mr. Martin ("University response to Declan Sullivan tragedy," April 20) is rightly outraged at the negligence that led to the deaths of two students in 1991 and the death of Declan Sullivan in 2010. I am of the opinion, however, that Mr. Martin's suggestions for increased oversight miss the point, failing to address a key issue present in both incidents.

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Happy marriages

By The Observer · Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Too many couples are locked into unhappy marriages these days. The divorce rate is higher than ever. The institution of marriage is foundering. What are we going to do?

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University response to Declan Sullivan tragedy

By The Observer · Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Careful analysis of the report reveals that a low ranking official — with insufficient information on the severity of the weather — authorized an action. Lacking severe weather protocol or senior advisement, the low ranking official's clearance resulted in a Notre Dame student dying. In official statements following the tragic event, Notre Dame's administration publically committed to taking any and all steps to prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again.

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Taco Bell's delivery

By The Observer · Tuesday, April 19, 2011

There are certain eternally-perplexing questions that have troubled humanity since the inception of rational thought. What is the ultimate nature of reality? What is the purpose of our existence? And perhaps most confusing — why doesn't Taco Bell deliver?

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Is this good enough?

By The Observer · Tuesday, April 19, 2011

At a time in the semester when I know that I ought to be focusing on my papers and exams, an email arrived in my inbox Monday morning that I could not ignore ("Message from Fr. John Jenkins," April 18). Reviewing in disbelief the press release on the University's investigation into the death of Declan Sullivan last October, and then the full report with similar incredulity, I could not help but think back to the Charlie Weiss era and his ill-fated proclamation, "9-3 is not good enough."

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Taxing the richest

By The Observer · Monday, April 18, 2011

Ryan Williams (April 14, "Who wants to tax a millionaire?") makes a series of undocumented assertions more suited to talk radio than to these pages.

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Accuweather?

By The Observer · Monday, April 18, 2011

Two years ago, as I began to visit and apply to different universities that could potentially become my second home for the next four years of my life, I did not have any particular preference as to where I truly wanted to go.

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Carbon tax: the reasonable solution

By The Observer · Monday, April 18, 2011

Growing unrest in the Middle East has resulted in a more than 60 cent jump in U.S. fuel prices in a two month time period. Rising fuel prices are threatening recovery from the recession just as job numbers and economic indicators are showing real signs of improvement. Why does the United States continue to tolerate economic reliance on foreign oil from volatile Middle Eastern countries? The answer is fear among legislators that any policy solution responsible for a short-term increase in energy prices will destroy a political career. This political cowardice is already resulting in drastic increases in energy prices by making the well-being of U.S. citizens and the health of the economy liable to foreign governments. Political inaction is resulting in the worst-case scenario. Costs are increasing for non-renewable energy sources while the US is falling behind the rest of the world in developing renewable technology.

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How green is your Notre Dame experience?

By The Observer · Monday, April 18, 2011

Inspired by Bradley McDonald's "How interesting is your Notre Dame experience?" (March 25), I have devised my own highly sophisticated scoring mechanism for rating how "green" you've been during your time at Notre Dame thus far. From personal experience, I can assure you that it's entirely possible to score well on both of these tests. Hopefully my column on green alcohol proved once and for all that fun and the environment are not mutually exclusive. Since excelling at everything is our lifeblood as Notre Dame students, I challenge you to adopt any of the green behaviors below that you haven't already.

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Yo. You. Right There. Don't Even Think About Skipping My Final Column!

By The Observer · Sunday, April 17, 2011

So here it is — the final time you will ever have to read my rants and raves about the University of Notre Dame and its oh-so-interesting students (once you get your tears under control, please proceed with caution). Then again, I could be that alumnus in the Viewpoint section. On more than one occasion. As for those who still have to hear my rants until I actually do depart from here, I do not apologize.

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Objectivity (continued)

By The Observer · Sunday, April 17, 2011

It is not, of course, just exhaustion that inhibits reflection: While I am not really comfortable unless it is over ninety degrees outside, my mother cannot function in anything over room temperature. But all of this serves only to emphasize Blackburn's point that, "While we characterize ourselves and others as courageous, modest, prudent, sympathetic and so on, it turns out that we are much more fragmented and contextually variable than these terms suggest." With sufficient rest, diet and exercise, I have wisdom, compassion and courage in abundance; without sufficient rest, diet and exercise, I have nothing, and I suspect that many of you, were you to look into your hearts, would say the same of yourselves. "Much work in social psychology," echoes Blackburn, "suggests that people act more from moods and forces that are themselves set by situations rather than from settled dispositions such as prudence, kindness and the rest." Morality has everything to do, it seems, with luck — or, at any rate, with sleep and temperature — not with virtue.

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Haters gonna hate

By The Observer · Sunday, April 17, 2011

I represent a persecuted minority at Notre Dame, a group subjected to malicious verbal abuse, endless unflattering parodies and immediate harsh judgment from fellow peers — Jersey kids.

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