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The Observer

All but a job

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013

I consider myself a well rounded person. I get good grades, I make a mean pecan pie and I have a sparkling set of pearly whites. It would seem I have it all in life (in Twitter-speak, I'm #blessed). However, there is one gaping hole in my existence: a job. Whereas most of my friends have their lives lined up after graduation, I still have no clue what I will be doing or where I will end up. Ideally, I would like to eventually host the fourth hour of the "Today Show," but I realize I may need a backup plan. Here are some potential career paths I believe I am exceptionally well qualified for. Chapstick model: After my teeth, I would say my favorite body part is my lips, especially my lower lip. I wouldn't go so far as to say it is Angelina Jolie-esque, but it definitely could hold its own on any Hollywood red carpet. What better way to show off my best physical asset than as a Chapstick model? Fun fact: My favorite flavor of Chapstick is raspberry lemonade. Cheese taste tester: You know how parents always talk about how they don't have a favorite kid, but they love their kids in different ways? That's how I feel about cheese. Mozzarella is like my quiet, reliable child, always making a pizza tasty. Parmesan is spunky, adding some kick to a pasta dish. Goat cheese is flashy and outspoken. I mean, maybe I could even save myself some cash and never have kids and just keep a lot of cheese in my fridge. Human shark bait - News flash: I love sharks. I have a shark backpack, a shark apron, shark shirt, shark pillow and even shark underwear. Shark Week is my favorite week of the year. While I am terrified of dogs (my friends used to have to put them in their crate before I came over for play dates), I absolutely adore sharks. What better way to make friends with a shark than as human shark bait? No, I wouldn't actually be eaten. Think of it as me playing a friendly prank on one of my future finned friends. Castmember on a "Real Housewives" show: I like to gossip. I like white wine (Chardonnay, please). I'm blonde. I talk really loudly. I can flip a table just fine (I'm looking at you, Teresa). I don't care if the rest of the cast is Beverly Hills born-and-bred, I could definitely hold my own in terms of sass. I think I would fit in perfectly. So if you're an employer looking for a Chapstick model, cheese taste tester, human shark bait or a new (and young, male) castmember for a "Real Housewives" show, or any combination of the above, I'm your guy. Until then, I'll just have to enjoy being funemployed.

The Observer

It's time to do something about guns in America

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013

At 9:35 A.M on December 14, 20-year-old Adam Lanza, wearing military armor and equipped with a rifle and two handguns, shot and killed 20 children and six adults. The carnage was horrifying, with the medical examiner confirming that each dead child sustained between two and 11 bullet wounds. Words cannot describe the evil and horror that occurred, but I use words in this letter to conservatives that something has to be done about guns in America. Sandy Hook is just one of the 61 American mass shootings since 1982, most notably Columbine in 1999, Virginia Tech in 2007, Fort Hood in 2009, the shooting of a Congresswoman in 2011 and the mass shooting at a movie theater in Aurora this past summer. Sadly, America does not just have a major problem with mass shootings, but overall homicides by firearms as well. America has 3.2 murders per 100,000 people as a result of firearms. To some this may not seem like many, but it does in comparison to other industrialized countries, such as France (0.1), Canada (0.5), the UK (0.2) and Switzerland (0.8), the second highest country. Not surprisingly, America also leads the world in guns per 100 people with 88, nearly double as the next highest country, Switzerland (46). According to the Children's Defense Fund, 2,800 children die every year as a result of gun violence, which is the equivalent of a Sandy Hook shooting every other day. Gun laws will not prevent every shooting and it is possible that gun laws would not have prevented Sandy Hook (although most of the children were killed by an assault weapon that was purchased legally). Sandy Hook symbolizes the horror of America's gun violence epidemic and the need to do something about it. If there was ever an event that called for new controls on guns, it is Sandy Hook. Without doubt, the safest and most efficient way to prevent another Sandy Hook is to enact common sense, reasonable gun laws that allow people to purchase certain handguns and shotguns, but do not allow them to buy assault weapons, limit the number of guns one can purchase and end purchases to the mentally ill. This must occur on the federal level, because city and state gun controls are weakened by guns that pour in from places with less strict gun laws. As what usually happens after a mass shooting, conservative politicians refuse to take any major steps about restricting access to guns or steps to prevent mass shootings (even if they may say differently in public). Conservatives usually reference the Second Amendment of the Constitution as an argument against new gun controls. Americans do have the right to bear arms, but no democracy can have a right without restrictions. In America, the First Amendment protects the freedom of speech, but the Supreme Court has ruled one cannot yell "fire" in a crowded theater, nor can one defame someone's reputation. There have to be limits. And as the Supreme Court has ruled before, gun controls can coexist with the Second Amendment. What is perhaps the most perplexing is how many conservatives simultaneously identify as "pro-life" and oppose common sense gun controls. NY Times columnist Thomas Friedman perhaps put it in perspective the best: "In my world, you don't get to call yourself 'pro-life' and be against common-sense gun control - like banning public access to the kind of semiautomatic assault rifle, designed for warfare, that was used recently in a Colorado theater ... 'Pro-life' can mean only one thing: "respect for the sanctity of life." And there is no way that respect for the sanctity of life can mean we are obligated to protect every fertilized egg in a woman's body, no matter how that egg got fertilized, but we are not obligated to protect every living person from being shot with a concealed automatic weapon ... The term 'pro-life' should be a shorthand for respect for the sanctity of life. But I will not let that label apply to people for whom sanctity for life begins at conception and ends at birth. What about the rest of life? Respect for the sanctity of life, if you believe that it begins at conception, cannot end at birth." Sandy Hook was just one of a string of mass and solo shootings that comprise America's gun violence epidemic, which without question is partially due to the high prevalence of guns in our society. But even with scenes of crying parents and cold, hard numbers, conservatives still refuse to do anything to prevent gun violence. Whether it be out of courage or conviction, guilt or anger, I ask my conservative friends to support common sense gun controls that still allow people to bear arms, but could help lower the high prevalence of gun homicides and the mass shootings in America.

The Observer

No regrets, one request

By The Observer · Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013

We have no regrets. We booked our hotels after Pitt. We booked our flights after USC. We prayed we would win tickets in the lottery. 99% of us didn't. We appealed to our spouses and better sensibilities that this was a once in a lifetime event. They submitted. And then we paid way too much for tickets. We begged our parents to take the grandkids for a few days. They couldn't say no. We had used up our fun tickets for the year by January 7. We flew from places like Rhode Island, South Dakota, Idaho and Texas. We arrived in South Florida to eternal sun and optimism. We may have had a cocktail (or two). We saw dear friends we haven't seen in 10, 15, 20 years. We felt an energy, a passion and a part of something that we haven't felt in a long, long time. It felt like home. We tailgated like champions. The Blues and Greens outnumbered the Reds at least 3 to 1. Of the 55,000 Domers in the stadium, we were the 40,000 who stayed until the clock said 0:00.  We have no regrets. We would do it all over again, even if we already knew the ending. We thank you. We have one request. At one of the greatest games in our history, we failed to acknowledge maybe our greatest tradition, and that is standing together as one family and singing our praise to our Beloved Lady of the Lake. Our feeling of emptiness in the stands grew ever deeper when we could not acknowledge the good fight and send off our team properly for having one of the greatest seasons we can remember, and for giving all of us alumni the opportunity to experience what we did. Maybe it was the overwhelming grief of the moment. Maybe it was the bureaucracy of the Orange Bowl Committee and their stages and ensuing presentations. But I ask you, next time, make it happen. Give us the opportunity to thank the team for a tremendous season, and show us a little love for the sacrifices we all made to be there in support. Misery loves company, and we all could have used a little family love around about 0:00. We are ND.

The Observer

Homosexuals anonymous

By The Observer · Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012

Fr. John Harvey began the Courage Apostolate in 1980. Fr. Harvey was known as a man with great compassion and love for Catholics experiencing "same sex attraction." Under Fr. Harvey, Courage has reached much of the American Church and has worked as a "spiritual support group" for "Catholic men and women with same-sex attractions who desire to live chaste lives in accordance with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church." It has been suggested that Notre Dame start its own chapter. Such a group could perhaps be helpful to some students.

The Observer

Top five

By The Observer · Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012

Whether you're on Team Ticket or Team No-Ticket, here is the top five greatest animated Christmas films that everyone can watch and be happy about.

The Observer

Our future of inclusion at Notre Dame

By The Observer · Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012

n October of 2011, Progressive Student Alliance initiated the 4 to 5 Movement in an effort to address the need for greater inclusion on campus for members of the community who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning (GLTBQ) and their allies. We sparked a legitimate conversation, bringing the topics of sexual orientation and gender identity into the mainstream discourse on campus to foster an environment in which allies are not afraid to express their support. The 4 to 5 Movement has brought together a diverse group of students to address these issues. These efforts would not have been possible without the collaboration and tireless commitment of students, faculty, staff and senior administrators.

The Observer

A step forward for the University

By The Observer · Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012

Since 1986, almost every Student Government administration has advocated for expanding inclusion in the Notre Dame Family to better include GLBTQ students. The Rocheleau-Rose Administration is no exception.

The Observer

Stub snub for Holy Cross

By The Observer · Monday, Dec. 3, 2012

Sunday night, I was initially ecstatic to find out that a generous alumni donated money to reduce the cost of the championship tickets. I anxiously started reading over the rules for application and noticed that only Saint Mary's and Notre Dame students are allowed to enter the student lottery. As a transfer student from Holy Cross College, I find this ridiculous. Speaking from experience, Holy Cross students try their best every day to contribute to the Notre Dame community. Even when they are relegated to the worst seats in the student section (seats for which they pay more money than Notre Dame students pay for theirs), they cheer their hearts out for the Irish. Still, there is no place for them in the lottery. Some people have told me not to get so wrapped up in this since I am on this side of the road now. It may be true that I am in love with Notre Dame, but regardless of where I attend school now, I will always have a place in my heart for "that school across the road." It disappoints me that Notre Dame couldn't find it in theirs to include these students in this monumental occasion. On a less serious note: When the Irish were losing by 14 points to Pittsburgh in the fourth quarter with their title hopes in the balance, what song sparked the comeback? The "Rudy" theme song. Who was cheering loudest at that moment? The Holy Cross students. Go Irish. Paul Kearney sophomore Keough Hall Dec. 2

The Observer

Champion recycling

By The Observer · Monday, Dec. 3, 2012

To my sleep-deprived, "All I Want For Christmas is You"-singing, HeIsManti-voting, fellow students: I'm so sorry for bringing this up, but finals week is approaching. This is about the time we start to wonder what we did with our lives during the rest of the semester and reprioritize our schedules. So, obviously, our first priority remains reading articles on Notre Dame football, memorizing the lyrics to "Miami" and watching as many highlight reels as we can. After all, how often do we get to see pictures of Mark May wearing a leprechaun costume or Rick Reilly polishing helmets?   In this article though, instead of celebrating our team, I would like to celebrate all of you and your tailgating skills. More specifically, your recycling skills were pretty great. At the BYU game, you all hit a diversion rate of more than 53 percent, and your average throughout the season was about 41 percent. While I'm extremely proud of you all, we could be doing a wee bit better. On average, we generated about 1.3 pounds of trash per person in attendance. Before you get defensive, I realize there are some people who come to tailgate who don't end up going to the game, and I realize that you can't control the actions of others who may or may not be able to identify blue bags from white.   Surprisingly, during the University of Michigan game, we managed to recycle the most - 25 tons. On the other hand, we also generated the most trash - 1.8 pounds per person. While I know it's a little late in the year to be giving out green tailgating advice, we still have Miami. I don't know what the tailgating scene will be looking like, but I'm asking that you try, just try, to find a blue bag or a recycling container. We have a reputation for being classy, and we can't let South Beach get the best of us. See you all on Jan. 7, The GreenMan Email your predicaments to The GreenMan at askthegreenman@gmail.com and let him answer you with a sustainable twist. The GreenMan will be here every other week to provide you with insights you never knew you were missing out on until now. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

The Observer

Tension headache

By The Observer · Monday, Dec. 3, 2012

Ah, yes, what would a good thing that happens to Notre Dame be without its trusty confederate - controversy?

The Observer

Finals week isn't so bad

By The Observer · Monday, Dec. 3, 2012

While I'm definitely not looking forward to the tests and projects that next week will bring, there are a few reasons why I look forward to finals week each year. Though many of my friends resent that I have more papers than hard-core exams and more projects than cramming, I am still going to take this opportunity to put into writing the parts of finals week that can be just a little bit enjoyable (even if you do have have plenty of tests to study for).

The Observer

Smicket tension

By The Observer · Monday, Dec. 3, 2012

We were not aware that the student tickets for the two schools competing in the national championship would be allotted to three schools.

The Observer

Lottery logic

By The Observer · Monday, Dec. 3, 2012

To the surprise of some, on Sunday it was announced the BCS student ticket lottery would be open to Saint Mary's students. Without a doubt, this will rekindle the long-standing debate regarding the relationship between Notre Dame and Saint Mary's. Saint Mary's is, and always will be, a part of the Notre Dame family. As the topic heats up, I would urge everyone to stay on the topic of ticket sales and keep their arguments away from the value of the relationship between the two schools. This isn't about the relationship, or even Saint Mary's in particular. To me, this is about the connection between the Irish and their student body. For two years, I covered sports teams at both schools. Saint Mary's teams are not the same as Notre Dame teams. Notre Dame teams are not the same as Saint Mary's teams. Athletes and coaches do not consider them to be the same. Rather, they attribute their successes to their separate schools. Both academic institutions have separate athletic teams to represent each individual school, with which comes a unique connection to each corresponding student body. There is a sacred connection between collegiate athletes and the students they directly represent. To many students at this University, attending the National Championship isn't just an opportunity to watch some of the best athletes in the country compete for an NCAA title. For many, this is an opportunity to watch their friends, classmates and peers strive for excellence. They are all current students at the University of Notre Dame. No other fan or supporter, even alumni, can claim that exact connection with the Fighting Irish. When those elite athletes take the field, they represent the Notre Dame student body as well. Thus, it is only fair the students being represented by the team have a special advantage in watching that very team represent them. The student lottery gives a select group of applicants an advantage over all other fans to attend the game and support the team. Methods like this are a time-honored tradition, giving the students of the University represented a higher chance of attending the game. Due to the unique connection Notre Dame students have with the team, this is an advantage that needs to be protected. Conversely, Notre Dame students cannot claim to feel that same connection to any other athletic team, including teams from Saint Mary's. All  fans of Notre Dame deserve a chance to go to the game, especially the Saint Mary's students who have followed the team so closely this year. Yet, for all the aforementioned reasons, in some form or another, it's the students of Notre Dame who deserve precedence over other applicants in the application process.

The Observer

SMC at the BCS

By The Observer · Monday, Dec. 3, 2012

I found it incredibly disheartening to read the article, "Championship ticket tension" and the comments that have arisen from it. I'm a proud student at Saint Mary's College, and I've been so blessed to attend the school that I do. However, I've also considered myself blessed to have Notre Dame right across the street. These two institutions have such a strong history, and it's sad that instead of this historic season bringing the communities together, it's tearing them apart.

The Observer

Christmas break panic

By The Observer · Monday, Dec. 3, 2012

It is December of my senior year, and I am in a panic. I have finals coming up, I only have one semester left with all of my friends before being thrust into the real world, and I don't have a job.

The Observer

Just say 'Hello'

By The Observer · Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012

Like many Saint Mary's and Notre Dame students, I am currently keeping myself from falling into a school-induced coma by consuming obnoxious amounts of caffeine and listening to Pandora as I sprint to the finish line of the semester. I am not the only senior, or student, for that matter, who is feeling the strain before finals week even commences.   Because we are all so busy, I think we sometimes forget to notice those around us. Before Thanksgiving break, my mom came to pick me up. As we took the stairs down from my fifth-floor single we passed a couple of other students. Not taking any notice of them, I continued on my way - but my mom, behind me, said hello to them. "Sarah, don't you guys ever say hello to each other?" she said, shocked at the indifference I and the other students showed to one another. This made me think: Do I say hello to other people as I encounter them or do I ignore my fellow human beings? This past week, I have tried to look beyond the stress in my own life and say hello to everyone I encounter in the hall or in the stairwell alone. There are three responses to this: Some people smile and say "Hello" or "Hey" back, some just smile and others will flat-out ignore me. Since some people responded, I concluded that students in general are not so stressed that they can't take notice of their surroundings. It's more likely that they just feel awkward and don't want to confront the situation. I'm challenging others and myself to say hello to each other despite the uncomfortable feeling, even during a stressful time like the week before finals. Students at Saint Mary's and Notre Dame are serious about their studies. It's easy to ignore the girl passing in the hall alone or the other boy in the elevator, but interacting with a new student allows us to build the community that is Saint Mary's and Notre Dame. Some people think I am a bit strange for trying to say hello to everyone. If you're still not convinced, here are three reasons to say hello: 1. You learn how to approach people you have never met - a useful skill for the real world beyond college. 2. You might meet someone who could change your life. 3. You may make someone's bad day a little better. So instead of pulling out your phone and pretending to text next time you pass someone in the hall, look up, smile and say hello. Who knows who you might encounter? Contact Sarah Swiderski at sswide01@saintmarys.edu The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

The Observer

The beauty of music

By The Observer · Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012

You can never have too much music. The soul revels in it, and its deepness can sweeten any bitter moment. On Saturday afternoon, I rushed to DeBartolo Performing Arts Center because I was late for a sacred organ music recital. I eventually made it to the Reyes Organ and Choral Hall. The usher opened the door like a magician, and all at once the organ emerged - colossal and stunning, from the burnt-orange wood to the gleam of its lead-tin pipes. The whole mass of it resembled the ruins of classical Greece. The pipes, like columns, were remarkable - steady, thick and silver, bearing the weight of the timber. Ornamental sculpture of mollusks, waves, water lilies, roses, rabbits, owls, cardinals, grasses and tulips hugged the colonnades, inspired by the idea that everything that has life and breath praises God. Only the organ's shadow surpassed it in size. And, like the temples, the organ housed the sacred - music that manifested sweet mysteries, where the melody of faith flourished and the soul loved its beliefs. During some songs, the tune trickled into my ears like the whistle of a nightingale. During others, it splashed against my heart like a tempest tide, bellows striking the core, not ending until my ribs slowly ceased to tremble. And with that, everybody applauded and left. This is the life of the organ. I write about it now to share with you, as you hold onto this paper while eating lunch or dinner, or perhaps sitting at your desk. After running helter-skelter from class to class, with finals looming in our thoughts, seize a moment of freedom to indulge in a choir, a concert, a recital or perhaps the morning birds on their branches. It's a refreshment from headphones and buttons, and a liberation from dullness and anxiety. To the Theology Department, the Master of Sacred Music program and the artists who performed on Saturday: Thank you. Steven Fisher freshman Fisher Hall Dec. 2

The Observer

Cliff notes

By The Observer · Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012

The fiscal cliff is a combination of automatic tax increases and spending cuts, all scheduled to start Jan. 1, 2013. One component is the expiring "Bush tax cuts," or $4 trillion in temporary tax measures passed in 2001 and 2003. Another component is the "sequester," the consequence of the famous "super committee" failure to reach a major deal. The sequester, $2 trillion in automatic cuts to defense (something Republicans dislike) and to social programs (something Democrats dislike), was supposed to give members of the committee an incentive to reach an agreement. The super committee could not reach an agreement, however, forcing the sequester to begin Jan. 1. There are other smaller, but still significant provisions, such as the expiration of the payroll tax cut, physician Medicare reimbursement cuts and the expiration of unemployment insurance extensions, all starting on Jan. 1.   Amidst this policy uncertainty, the nation's debt ceiling, which currently stands at $16.3 trillion, will be "hit" by the end of the year. Raising the debt ceiling is not a question of spending more money, but allowing the Treasury to borrow money to meet its current obligations. Not raising the debt ceiling would lead to a default, the most irresponsible fiscal measure that any country can pursue. Even before it started, the fiscal cliff has weakened the American economy through tremendous uncertainty. This uncertainty has delayed decision-making on investment and hiring for small businesses and corporations. The actual implementation of the fiscal cliff, though, would be devastating. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the fiscal cliff would cause the American economy to contract at a rate of 5 percent (leading to a new recession) and increase  unemployment from 7.9 percent to 9.1 percent. If America went off the cliff, the stock market would plunge, interest rates would begin to rise and faith in the American economy would be shattered. Deficit reduction is necessary for our country's fiscal future, but the methods of the fiscal cliff are misguided because massive deficit reduction policies should not be implemented immediately. The budget deficit would be smaller, yes, but America would face a situation similar to the eurozone: A recession with weak projected growth and high-budget deficits. The optimal course for America is to stimulate the economy now through short-term government spending, but couple it with long-term balanced deficit reduction that begins in small doses and increases as the economy strengthens. There are countless scenarios for the fiscal cliff's outcome. Amongst all the options, a policy consensus is beginning to emerge: Avoid the cliff by passing a deficit reduction package of approximately $4 trillion with 25 percent coming from increased tax revenues by broadening the tax base and eliminating loopholes, and the other 75 percent coming from cuts to entitlements, social spending and defense. This is the framework of the "Simpson- Bowles" plan that has received support not only from the policy and business communities, but also from liberal, moderate and conservative members of Congress. Will we go over the fiscal cliff and see unemployment rise, the economy weaken and economic confidence fade? Given everything that has happened over the past few years, it is largely reasonable to think America will squander the opportunity created by the fiscal cliff. As the countless political pundits offer their takes on the outcome, I look to a perspective offered by Alexis de Tocqueville, whose famous tour of America in the early 19th century, chronicled in "Democracy in America," is still an inspiration for Americans today. Tocqueville said that in the United States, "events move from the impossible to the inevitable without stopping at the probable." Adam Newman is a senior political science major. He can be reached at anewman3@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

The Observer

Black magic

By The Observer · Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012

Black Friday is a prime example of the power of American consumerism. Stores gradually start to go from the red to the black, hence the name Black Friday. And because of the importance of this spending season to the stores, they want to ensure that they have a huge consumer base, regardless of the implications. For example, in the past couple of years, stores have expanded their hours into Thanksgiving Day. In 2010 and 2011, Toys 'R' Us and Walmart opened Thursday at 10 p.m. This year, many major stores followed their lead, and others opened even earlier. Thanks to our consumption-focused society, this day, previously reserved exclusively for thanks and family time, has now been given the name "Gray Thursday." Stores do not respect Thanksgiving enough to wait until midnight to open. The main reason is they cannot afford to, since they are competing against one another for buyers. Being among the first stores to open is critical because it can lead to drawing more customers. However, opening early affects both employees and shoppers. Many employees have to sacrifice their relaxing Thanksgiving dinners and time with family. Some shoppers feel pressure to do the same. Pretty soon, we'll be seeing Thanksgiving dinners set up on the sidewalks outside of Walmart because buying gifts trumps having a quality holiday dinner with family. That is the message that the stores are sending to our society. This message - that consumerism equals happiness and materials are more important than relationships - is willingly accepted throughout the holiday season. If a person does not have the best purse, shoes, computer or phone, then they don't have as much worth. The message that our society sends is that what someone buys is a direct result of how much money they make, and how much money they make shows how important they are. This sometimes results in a competition to buy the best gifts for loved ones during the Christmas season. But a better gift to give would be our time, and the unspent money could be given to those who are actually in need. This idea is from the Advent Conspiracy (AC) movement. AC's YouTube videos help us reflect on Christmas and what it is really supposed to be. They explain that Americans spend about $450 billion dollars on Christmas every year, when all it takes to make clean water available to everyone in the world is $10 billion. If we donated just 2.2 percent of what we spend on Christmas to Living Water International, an organization that AC has continually supported, more than a billion people without clean water and sanitation would be given those necessities. But as Americans, we are often more concerned about other "crises," like having the latest iPhone. God forbid we ever let something happen to us where we feel like a "black sheep," a term that has been applied to BlackBerry users. We buy the latest gizmos and gadgets instead of focusing on real crises in our world, like the necessities of food, health, shelter and clean water. One of the points from the AC videos was that "right now you stand in line to buy things others don't need, while others must stand in line because they can't afford the things they need." This quote is never truer than on Black Friday.   In Mackelmore's song "Wings," he articulates that society has made consumption run in our veins: "My movement told me be a consumer and I consumed it." But in the end, the consumption just consumes us. We end up focusing on insignificant material things, when really we could be giving the gift of our time instead of shopping for the "perfect" material gift. The memories will last longer than any gift. So, instead of leaving Thanksgiving dinner early to buy that flat screen, spend the holiday with your family and donate the money you saved to a family in need. If this doesn't sound appealing to you, you can check out Target's 2013 Black Friday - it's already up on their website, of course. Bridget Galassini can be reached at bgalassi@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

The Observer

Just say 'Hello'

By The Observer · Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012

Like many Saint Mary's and Notre Dame students, I am currently keeping myself from falling into a school-induced coma by consuming obnoxious amounts of caffeine and listening to Pandora as I sprint to the finish line of the semester. I am not the only senior, or student, for that matter, who is feeling the strain before finals week even commences.   Because we are all so busy, I think we sometimes forget to notice those around us. Before Thanksgiving break, my mom came to pick me up. As we took the stairs down from my fifth-floor single we passed a couple of other students. Not taking any notice of them, I continued on my way - but my mom, behind me, said hello to them. "Sarah, don't you guys ever say hello to each other?" she said, shocked at the indifference I and the other students showed to one another. This made me think: Do I say hello to other people as I encounter them or do I ignore my fellow human beings? This past week, I have tried to look beyond the stress in my own life and say hello to everyone I encounter in the hall or in the stairwell alone. There are three responses to this: Some people smile and say "Hello" or "Hey" back, some just smile and others will flat-out ignore me. Since some people responded, I concluded that students in general are not so stressed that they can't take notice of their surroundings. It's more likely that they just feel awkward and don't want to confront the situation. I'm challenging others and myself to say hello to each other despite the uncomfortable feeling, even during a stressful time like the week before finals. Students at Saint Mary's and Notre Dame are serious about their studies. It's easy to ignore the girl passing in the hall alone or the other boy in the elevator, but interacting with a new student allows us to build the community that is Saint Mary's and Notre Dame. Some people think I am a bit strange for trying to say hello to everyone. If you're still not convinced, here are three reasons to say hello: 1. You learn how to approach people you have never met - a useful skill for the real world beyond college. 2. You might meet someone who could change your life. 3. You may make someone's bad day a little better. So instead of pulling out your phone and pretending to text next time you pass someone in the hall, look up, smile and say hello. Who knows who you might encounter? Contact Sarah Swiderski at sswide01@saintmarys.edu The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.  

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