Opinion

Life in the Genomic Age

Ten years ago, the Human Genome Project was completed. Many scientists toiled for years to complete the project, which involved determining all three billion base pairs of DNA that make up a human being. Like the great collaborative quests of the past, such as sending a man to the moon, the Human Genome Project was a testament to what can be achieved through a national will and a unifying goal. And while new revelations about the way our genes work and how they are modified are produced constantly, the sequencing of the genome still represents a milestone in the history of science and a time to reflect upon the broader issues raised by such an intimate understanding of ourselves.

Why we wore red for 'Progressive Day'

Yesterday College Democrats sponsored an event called "Progressive Day." Inviting all of those on campus who consider themselves progressive to wear blue, the campus political group cites that the reason for Progressive Day was to expose the fact that progressives on campus do exist and are actually quite numerous.

Homefield advantage, R.I.P.

I'm an ‘87 grad. Despite seeing a lot of frustrating games as a student, I have NEVER been in a more desolate sold-out stadium than Saturday's. Even with the game still in reach at 19-6, all 81,000 of us could hear Crist clap his hands before every snap and the Stanford bench tipping its defense with "Pass!" and "Run!" calls. It couldn't be clearer that Notre Dame no longer has any home field advantage.

Challenge to the Notre Dame student body

Let me begin by saying that I have the greatest respect for the ND student body. They have excelled in so many ways just to be accepted to the University and they continue to distinguish themselves while attending Notre Dame. However, I was both surprised and disappointed by some things I witnessed on campus during the Stanford game weekend. Let me list them.

Equality in the workplace

Dear Notre Dame,

Please, leave us football

Be the best

Dear Student Section,

Black hole

I am thoroughly convinced that I live in a black hole. Notre Dame's bubble is successfully disconnecting me from the world one "Message Send Failure" at a time.

Traditions of failure

I understand the complaints about the Celtic Chant a few weeks back. After all, it is a moment of student silence and hand motions (then again most students don't make any sound until the opposing team breaks the huddle anyway), but I do understand it is a very high volume number which when blasted towards the huddle of the opposing team can result in inaudible play calling.

Faith

But how can we make sense of teleology in this late age of the world — now, after the genius of Machiavelli, Hobbes, and Darwin, after the courage of Marx, Nietzsche, Freud and Foucault? For in their relentless suspicion of the system of the world as they received it — a suspicion so intense as to border on the neurotic — there is indeed a genius, a courage: to change the system of the world — to revolutionize our understanding of the divine order, as did Spinoza, Kant and Hegel — seems the highest expression of our humanity. But to overthrow the very idea of a system — to deny that there is any order to be found, as did Marx, Nietzsche, and Freud, beyond the lies that we are willing to tell ourselves — seems something more than human — or would, had these thinkers not shattered the transcendent.

Pro-progressive

It is no surprise that politics and current events are common discussions in everyday American life. You might walk down your dorm hall and hear fellow students discussing the legality or immorality of abortion or walk past a couple of people in the Bookstore talking about the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Rallies

My Notre Dame brothers and sisters, as you may or may not be aware, on Oct. 30, Comedy Central's Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert will be holding competing political rallies on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Seeing as the vast majority of Stewart and Colbert's audience are college students (and according to my rough estimates, most of the students on our campus are fans of one, if not both comedians), we should have a Notre Dame bus trip to Washington to show our support at these rallies.

State of the game

Students, as a member of the Class of 1975, I am tired of seeing our fine tradition of producing competitive football teams diminished to being the "joke of the day" on national TV programs for years now. The college sport is a minor league for the NFL, do not kid yourselves. We need the horses, and they can too graduate. Just look at all the graduates Lou Holtz produced. The difference is we now are not attracting blue chip players who can compete at the top levels as in the past.

Embrace the city

Football weekends, dorm events, fall break, Halloween, Thanksgiving and spending time with friends make fall a special and exciting time at Notre Dame. As we bring out winter coats for the 60 degree weather, we find ourselves dreading the imminent end of fall and start of winter. However, winter is full of many wonderful opportunities as well, such as the first snowball fight on the quad, seasonal Starbucks drinks, the holiday spirit and the chance to participate in the Center for Social Concerns (CSC) Urban Plunge.

Jersey pride: not an oxymoron

I'm probably one of the only graduate students at Notre Dame who studies the art and culture of New Jersey. (Seriously. I go to conferences and deliver papers on this stuff.)

To cheer or not to cheer?

I arrived home from The Backer early Sunday morning, sat down in front of my computer, and knew that I had to break the only established rule I had for this column. I promised myself I would not write about anything Notre Dame football until the end of the season, but Saturday struck a chord that I had to vent about. You see, I have been one of those "do every cheer, sing every Victory March, yell during every defensive play" students the past three years. I love the glory in having an aisle seat that provides me the ability to jump wildly when the Irish step up and make a play. Ask anyone who even vaguely knows me and they will confirm that my mood on Sundays and more than likely into the week is determined by the result on Saturday. But for the first time since the Georgia Tech-Notre Dame game on September 1, 2007, I became quiet. A silent observer, if you will. With the exception of the Victory March and Alma Mater, I said very few words, uttered no cheers, and attempted to lash out as little as possible at some horrible play calls, terrible officiating and poor performances.

Caffeine culture

If you're anything like my friends and me, Starbucks downs your flex points just about as fast as you down its tall vanilla lattes.

Catholics in Britain

Monday, Sept. 20 I was afforded the rare opportunity of a personalized tour of Westminster Abbey in London. Not only did I examine the grave sites of Mary Queen of Scots, Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin, but also something much more powerful. What made the tour even more amazing was that the current Pope, Benedict XVI, had been at the Abbey just days before in his first visit to the United Kingdom, and first papal visit to the UK since 1982.

Progressive Day

In preparation for Progressive Day on Sept. 28, a few of the Notre Dame College Democrats feel it is important to let the rest of the community know why they are progressive.

A call for ethical investment

For over a year now, students have been in dialogue with the administration about Notre Dame's investment practices, particularly concerning Notre Dame's investment in the hotel company HEI. HEI Hotels & Resorts is the seventh largest hotel management company in the U.S. and has received over $1.2 billion from University endowments, using this money to buy hotels in order to turn them over and sell them again at a profit. According to workers, cost-cutting tactics at some HEI properties, such as reducing staffing levels and shortages in basic materials, have considerably increased workloads.