Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The Observer
Friday, June 12, 2026
Grad Ads
Observer Store Subscribe
The Observer

Opinion

The Observer

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.

The Observer

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.

The Observer

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.

The Observer

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.

The Observer

Light from loss

By The Observer · Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Notre Dame and Saint Mary's family has lost three members this school year.

The Observer

Just a mistake ...

By The Observer · Thursday, April 14, 2011

I would like to extend a "high five" to my classmate Fr. Tom Doyle and the Office of Residence Life. The University of Notre Dame prepared me for life in so many ways and I lived out most of my dream from 1985-1989 as a proud resident of Dillon Hall. But for years, The Office of Residence Life has handed out punishments that focused more on judgment and less on growth. Those passing judgment on the University's "soft" punishment of Michael Floyd should bear in mind how they would want to be treated if they were in his shoes. I was in his shoes in 1988. I, along with my classmate, created and sold the original Catholics vs. Convicts t-shirt. Yes, I was warned to stop by the Office of Residence Life. But I made a mistake just like Michael Floyd did and sold thousands of shirts on October 15, 1988.

The Observer

Celebrities, confessions and the Cross

By The Observer · Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Today's dining hall buzz is that [insert celebrity recording artist name here] has been spotted strolling around campus. The country-pop music singer is seen getting out of a black Escalade between Touchdown Jesus and the Stadium. Then, she struts up South Quad before making her way to Starbucks for a skinny vanilla latte.

The Observer

Where's the recognition?

By The Observer · Wednesday, April 13, 2011

As I read The Observer on April 12 I looked for some sort of article about the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. 150 years ago the Battle of Fort Sumter occurred. The confederates attacked the union fort and both sides called for war. The North fought for Union while the South fought to protect their constitutional rights and their home. The North tends to ignore that the war ever occurred while some of the South tries to hold on to their past.

The Observer

A gentlemenly rebuttal

By The Observer · Wednesday, April 13, 2011

The Men of Morrissey Manor take great exception to slandering of those who identify themselves as gentlemen in Humanity's Bro's recent article (Apr. 13). The iconic men Morrissey produces have long identified themselves as gentlemen first, and prided themselves on chivalrous conduct and always being ready, willing and able to indulge the faintest whim of a member of the fairer sex. It is clear that Humanity's Bro has never encountered one of these upstanding Manorites from the article's description of a gentleman as a stiff prissy with little self-control and no regard for the comfort of a lady. This is of course nonsense and the complete opposite of how a true gentleman strives to act. However the ladies of Notre Dame wish to dress, they should know that any true gentlemen will treat them in a courteous and honorable manner and anyone who does not is unworthy of the title our dying breed is trying to uphold.

The Observer

Who wants to tax a millionaire?

By The Observer · Wednesday, April 13, 2011

With April 15 just around the corner and all sorts of stories swirling through the news about budgets, deficit-reduction plans and national debt, it seems as though there is a greater than usual interest in the issue of taxation. Given that the United States is currently racking up trillion-dollar deficits like its nobody's business (compounding a national debt that already totals some $14 trillion) and is facing the prospect of having to drastically increase future spending in order to keep pace with rapidly growing entitlement obligations, it is no surprise to hear some shameless politicians claiming that "it's time for the wealthy to start paying their fair share in taxes." Truth be told, there are few phrases in the English language that are more infuriating than this one for a number of reasons.

Trending