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Give me a break ...

By The Observer · Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010

Much like any other Notre Dame student, I am excited for Thanksgiving. The prospect of spending time with my family and eating great food has been what has motivated me for the week or two leading up to the break. I said to myself, "Just make it past this week; then you get to go home and be lazy for a while." However, as I am presently writing this in my confined dorm room and not my living room at home, I realize that there is a problem. Surely, many will agree with me and rally to my call for a week-long Thanksgiving break. However, I am not going take the traditional argument that has certainly been raised in dining halls and dorms rooms — citing other schools, the uselessness of these two days, or the fact that many pack up and leave early anyways if they don't have classes that take attendance seriously.

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Utah a special game

By The Observer · Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010

As I stood with the rain dripping off the hood of my poncho and looked out across the packed stadium now lit up by lights at the people clapping to the famous Fight Song being played by the band, I felt something in the air I couldn't describe. Something that took your breath away, brought a tear to your eye and a lump in your throat. Then I realized it was the magic of Notre Dame waking up the echoes, shaking the thunder from the sky and welling up pride in everyone in that stadium. We were winning a game that no one thought we had a chance of winning. We were beating a rated team when we had already lost five games. We were kicking "unbelief" — a word coined by "Rocket" Ismail — out of our house. Our guys were playing their hearts out and it showed.

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Braving the Winter Wonderland

By The Observer · Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010

The coldness has finally arrived and with it, the dynamics on the hallowed campus of Notre Dame will begin to change. Different attitudes and different fashions will set in as a clear sign that winter is here. Unfortunately, these are not the most positive attitudes and fashions. But that can all change this year! We can come together as one and begin to lay to rest the winter plagues on campus.

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Giving thanks for my bus stop characters

By The Observer · Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010

Typically, the third week of November uneventfully passes as Americans adjust to the dark days inherent to standard time zones and prepare for Thanksgiving gatherings or the predawn chaos of Black Friday's Christmas shopping season kickoff. We contemplate our reasons for giving thanks, but oftentimes mull through our daily routines without much of a reflection on our personal blessings until Thanksgiving Day abruptly arrives. In days long past, many at Notre Dame anticipated the match-up with those evil Trojans of Southern California or the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys traditional Thursday gridiron clashes. Giving thanks had its place among our other events and festivities.

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Magic that unites us

By The Observer · Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010

As an Arts and Letters major, I often get "interesting" ideas in my head which I usually attribute to my sporadic sanity. For instance, I was thoroughly convinced Fr. Hesburgh had an apartment on the 13th floor of the library (which apparently isn't true). I am also afraid when I am swimming backstroke in a pool that a great white shark will come up from underneath and eat me. Crazy, I know.

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Fighting the wrong (magical) battle

By The Observer · Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010

Although Catholics should admire the faith of Ryan Williams, his condemnation of Harry Potter ("The evil lurking in Harry Potter," Nov. 18) preaches the kind of ignorant fear that enables people of an otherwise good will to malign the Church as a whole. Were J.K. Rowling's best-selling fantasy series better understood by those who fear it, it would hardly appear to be dangerous or blasphemous. Many of the real textual examples that Mr. Williams could have cited would have painted a much less malevolent picture of the entertainment franchise.

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Yankee Stadium face off

By The Observer · Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010

When Notre Dame takes on Army this Saturday night, it's safe to say the game will be about more than just the action on the field. The matchup will be Notre Dame's second off-site home game, an event the athletic department hopes to make an annual occurrence.

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No . . . He survived

By The Observer · Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010

After reading Austin Holler's ill-conceived and poorly researched "rebuttal" ("A rebuttal," Nov. 17) regarding the current status of the honorable Falstad Wildhammer, we decided a rebuttal of our own was in order. Not only did Falstad survive, in fact he was the leader of Aerie Peak in Vanilla WOW through "Wrath of the Lich King." Hopefully soon he will take his rightful place on the Council of Three Hammers and all will be right in the world ... of Warcraft. I look forward to discussing these complex issues with you in person at Blizzcon 2011. Until then, it looks like you could use another reading of "The Shattering."

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In Loco Parentis?

By The Observer · Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010

The administration of Notre Dame never hesitates to heap praise upon itself for its vaunted policy of "in loco parentis." Personally, I know it comforted my parents greatly when the concept was described to them before they left me a thousand miles from home freshman year. They were told that Notre Dame would act as their son's parent in their absence; giving guidance, support and protection while also demanding discipline and accountability.

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Inclusion-Response Spirit

By The Observer · Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010

I would like to thank Alex Coccia for his viewpoint article ("Living up to the ‘Spirit of Inclusion' at ND," Nov. 17). Notre Dame, as a Catholic university, has the mission of upholding Jesus' call to love thy neighbor as thyself, as well as Catholic Social Teaching, which upholds the intrinsic value and dignity of every human being, regardless of their sexual orientation.

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Life is a game ...

By The Observer · Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010

Iconic movie character Forrest Gump told the world that "life was like a box a chocolates" in order to stress the seemingly unpredictable and capricious aspects of life. William Shakespeare's likened our existence to a drama, asserting that "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." These metaphors and similes are potent literary weapons capable of deconstructing and explaining human existence. Both Forrest Gump and William Shakespeare used these literary devices to create sense within the world's ultimate mystery — the human existence. Countless others have attempted to explain this same question. To this pantheon of possible answers, I humbly submit my own entry: Life is game of Tetris.

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The evil lurking in Harry Potter

By The Observer · Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010

As anyone who did not make the unfortunate decision to eat at North last night is already aware, this week Notre Dame has decided to pay homage to the Harry Potter franchise by hosting a Hogwarts-themed dinner at South Dining Hall. Along with the Yule Ball dance scheduled for Friday evening, the events form the centerpiece of student government's effort to celebrate this week's release of the seventh film of the Harry Potter series. They are also a shameless betrayal of this University's founding Christian principles.

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You are fantastic hosts

By The Observer · Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010

We just recently returned from a three day stay in South Bend that included attending the Utah-Notre Dame football game. We want to say thanks to the Irish students and fans for the gracious way we were treated. You were fantastic hosts and impressed upon us a standard of sportsmanship we would like to import to the University of Utah. I can only hope the vast majority of Ute fans treated you with similar respect and apologize if that did not happen. I hope we meet again but not until we find our offense. A job well done Irish!

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Winning during a time of loss

By The Observer · Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010

As autumn ends and the words "lake effect" become a more regular, and biting, descriptor in our daily weather report; as we have to sleep in later and later to wake up in sunlight (a challenge many in Dillon seem up for!); and the days of frisbees and bare feet on the quads fade from memory — the Church offers us November as the Month of the Dead. Well, we can't fault them for bad timing; November is, indeed, a time for losing. (Don't tell this to the football team … )

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Living up to the "Spirit of Inclusion" at ND

By The Observer · Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010

Acceptance comes from both the top down and at the individual level. To truly create a spirit of inclusion at Notre Dame, there are things that both students and the administration can do. The administration must add "sexual orientation" to the nondiscrimination clause. True, these are just words. But words send a powerful message. Certainly the University does not condone violence or harassment towards gay, lesbian or transgendered students, but the lack of "sexual orientation" in the nondiscrimination clause seems inconsistent with these beliefs. Second, the University should begin a course selection on Queer Studies.

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My Senior Day experience

By The Observer · Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010

A few weeks ago my friend underwent surgery that kept him temporarily bedridden at St. Liam's Hall, the University Health Services building. When I visited him at his luxury pad on the second floor (no sarcasm here — the rooms are nice) I bragged to him about my impeccable health record. It's true — since the day I was born, I haven't been to a hospital or any emergency health center on my own account. No broken bones, stitches, surgeries or serious illnesses.

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