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The Observer

Opinion

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College reform

By The Observer · Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Having gone through the bread and butter years of college, I now understand that not all we learn here is adequately preparing us for the future. As I enter the last two semesters of my college career, there are many classes within my major that I won't have the opportunity to take — classes that could be very useful in finding my career path. I came to college specifically to prepare myself for my future career in private industry. But, regardless of our ambitions, what we all get is a smorgasbord of liberal arts education enforced through a core curriculum. Yes, there is something more to college education than just what you learn in your major, but in this day and age, where children across the world are gunning to beat us in business and innovation, can we really afford to take the extra time?

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Allies for spirit of inclusion

By The Observer · Wednesday, April 6, 2011

We all may have different reasons for deciding to come to Notre Dame — academic, religious, athletic, familial or some combination of these and more. Notre Dame's tradition attracts people with similar values and aspirations, acknowledging their uniqueness while providing them with a firm sense of commonality. More often than not, over time one can firmly establish a reassuring sense of community here.

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My confession

By The Observer · Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Forgive me, journalism, for I have sinned. It has been three years since I converted to the craft, and never in that time have I felt the need to confess.

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A community that listens

By The Observer · Tuesday, April 5, 2011

A member of our community committed suicide last week. I do not know Sean Valero, nor do I know any of the circumstances surrounding his death. What I do know, however, is that suicide is often the end result of untreated or unsuccessfully treated depression, and depression is a serious illness.

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Hobbes on room picks

By The Observer · Tuesday, April 5, 2011

In his famous philosophical work "Leviathan," Thomas Hobbes outlines what he calls a "State of nature," an anarchic situation characterized by a war of all against all with each person struggling for survival. Having recently experienced room picks here at Notre Dame, I can't help but feel like Hobbes somehow had the room selection process in mind when came up with this idea.

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The bright side of education

By The Observer · Tuesday, April 5, 2011

When we hear about education these days, the typical news is both dire and ominous. One of the most prevalent refrains is that America lags embarrassingly behind other nations in standardized test scores. Another is the inadequacy of our STEM education — science, technology, engineering and math. We are barraged by information about how American students are in free-fall compared to our ruthlessly ambitious Chinese counterparts, books revealing how our university system fails to develop critical thinking skills, reports on the mess of our public school system. Some debates are bitter and rusted down from years of stagnation (think affirmative action and teachers unions).

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The right conscience

By The Observer · Tuesday, April 5, 2011

What comes to mind when you hear "HEI"? Most of us would either draw a blank or immediately think about liberals, radicals, or simply orange jumpsuits. This, however, is not a political, radical, or anti-Notre Dame matter; it is purely a matter of fighting an injustice that has manifested itself in our University's endowment in a hotel company that stifles and abuses its workforce.

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Disappointing finish

By The Observer · Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Monday's NCAA men's basketball championship provided a significant, if sloppy, conclusion to the 2010-2011 season. The uncommonly low final score of Connecticut's 53-41 win over Butler leads me to ask only one question: When do they play the second half?

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R-E-S-P-E-C-T

By The Observer · Tuesday, April 5, 2011

In response to the light dusting of controversy surrounding the letter "Ladies, be decent" (April 4), I offer the following thoughts:

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Imperfection is perfection

By The Observer · Monday, April 4, 2011

My name is Shannon McDowell, and I have a secret. I'm obsessed. I use two different facial cleansers, two different shampoos, two different lotions, two different types of toothpaste and two towels when I shower. I pace when I talk on the phone. If I misplace a sock I will search for hours until I've found it. I've never lost a sock. I'm a perfectionist. I'd rather arrive 40 minutes early than one minute late. I tear myself apart in front of the mirror. I worry. I double-check that the door is locked. I fixate myself on the tiny details most people never see. I'm my own worst enemy.

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Spread the word to spread the lotion

By The Observer · Monday, April 4, 2011

As South Benders finally emerge from a cold, grey winter, I think many of us view the sun as a long lost friend finally gracing us with his presence after a long period of standoffish evasiveness. Yet, in the midst of rejoicing over the return of the prodigal sun, we tend to forget the hazards of excessive and unguarded association with our sorely missed companion. Last Wednesday, Colette Coyne, an activist from Long Island, NY, came to LaFortune's Montgomery Auditorium to remind students of these hazards.

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Wedding capitalizers

By The Observer · Monday, April 4, 2011

As the royal wedding draws closer, my Anglomania is reaching an all-time high. I mean, I've always been fascinated with all things British (Alexander McQueen, "The Queen," Hugh Grant and obviously Harry Potter). My interest in the royal wedding is just a natural step in my desire to know more about Great Britain.

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Tomorrow is trash day

By The Observer · Monday, April 4, 2011

For those of you who have managed not to be bombarded with a "days of the week" refresher from Rebecca Black in the last two hours: Since today is Tuesday, tomorrow will be Wednesday. However, more importantly, tomorrow is also trash day, but not your ordinary "day-everyone-sets-their-trash-outside-on-the-curb" kind of trash day. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Tomorrow, I challenge you to not use trashcans at all.

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Style' in the eye of the beholder

By The Observer · Monday, April 4, 2011

I never thought I'd be compelled to send a letter to The Observer, but the presumptuousness and superficiality of Kevin Brainard's letter ("Ladies, be decent," April 4) requires a rebuttal.

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The issue with 'The System'

By The Observer · Sunday, April 3, 2011

It seems as though every time I am in the dining hall and around campus I hear yet another person talking about the event "The System: Opportunity, Crisis and Obligation in K-12 Education." I consistently hear about how excited they are to hear that Michelle Rhee is coming to campus. I am really feeling the hype around campus for this event coming up soon. But, could some of the panelists' ideas and policies be overhyped?

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