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To cheer or not to cheer?

By The Observer · Monday, Sept. 27, 2010

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.

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Caffeine culture

By The Observer · Monday, Sept. 27, 2010

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.

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Catholics in Britain

By The Observer · Monday, Sept. 27, 2010

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.

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Progressive Day

By The Observer · Friday, Sept. 24, 2010

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.

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A call for ethical investment

By The Observer · Friday, Sept. 24, 2010

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.

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A 'Swift' analysis

By The Observer · Friday, Sept. 24, 2010

I think it's safe to say this campus has a thing for Taylor Swift. I won't say her adoration has reached Lou Holtz proportions, but the girl is pretty much beloved by most members of the student body.

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Denying communion to Gov. McDonnell

By The Observer · Friday, Sept. 24, 2010

For our nation's commander-in-chief or the chief executive of each state, no more important duty exists than to officially order a person to serve in harm's way or to condone the death of a citizen. Commuting a death sentence and pardoning a prison term are counterbalancing features within the framework of elective office. This week, Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (Notre Dame ‘76) chose not to save the life of convicted murderer Teresa Lewis, but rather, refused to commute her death sentence, thus sending her to her execution. His action gives pause to Catholics whose definition of a pro-life agenda includes not only objection to abortion, but an opposition to war and capital punishment.

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Saturday challenge

By The Observer · Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010

This Saturday we will host a very impressive Stanford team, a team that mirrors the pugnacious toughness and determination of their head coach. We will win this game only if we return to our underdog, blue collar Fighting Irish roots and show the Cardinal that, what tho' the odds be great or small, our toughness and determination overwhelms theirs. We must be relentless.

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Public service announcement

By The Observer · Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010

Attention: This is for the dogs that feel the need to shower in the bathrooms of all the male dorms across campus. I have a bone to pick with you.

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A shore thing

By The Observer · Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010

This past Tuesday, I took advantage of a two-hour lull in the afternoon to go to the gym and put in a workout. On the walk back to Alumni, I rolled up my shirtsleeves and tried to get a tan on an uncharacteristically sunny day, an attempt that failed miserably. When I got back, I put in a load of laundry.

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Modification

By The Observer · Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010

I would like to modify my complaint published in The Observer of Sept. 22 ("Gingrich visit to ND.") As per correspondence and research with University administration, and the "Correction" published in today's South Bend Tribune, the facts appear somewhat different today, as follows:

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Note to self: don't be like the rich man

By The Observer · Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010

Today marks the autumnal equinox, which for the northern hemisphere marks the official end of summer and the beginning of fall. Here, that inexplicably means a forecasted high of 90 very un-fall-like degrees. What's wonderful about living in South Bend is that (say what you will about our humid summers, the much-maligned "permacloud" of winter, the way spring seems to consist of about three days that sneak in between slushy brown snow and sweaty heat) we're really, really lucky to have four actual seasons here.

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The American Dream

By The Observer · Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010

The last time I heard anyone use the term "The American Dream" in conversation, George W. Bush was still in office. This recession has really made a lot of us forget where we come from. In the America I remember from 2006, anybody could become anybody with the right attitude and plan because the America of 2006 had the same spirit and identity as the America of 1776. Freedom is a powerful tenet and it implies that even though we are all born the same and we all die the same, what we do in between is really up to us.

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Realignment and research

By The Observer · Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010

I agree with Andy's comments about why Notre Dame should remain an independent entity in football ("Conference realignment 101," Sept. 21). In fact, I am one of those who say an emphatic "No!" when asked if we should join the Big Ten conference. I will never want to see our storied football tradition and history be gradually whittled away by being part of a conference.

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Counterculture

By The Observer · Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010

I've had many discussions with friends about Notre Dame's lack of ‘counterculture' or ‘alternative lifestyles' or whatever you want to call it. But recently I had an epiphany: Notre Dame does indeed have a counterculture, in the sense that many of the core beliefs shared by this culture go very much against prevailing trends outside "the Notre Dame bubble." I would single out the Irish Rover as one of the premier exponents of this counterculture — the voice thereof, if you will.

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Cheer for Old Notre Dame

By The Observer · Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010

The class of 1964 holds the current record for most losses at 25. The class of 2011 has witnessed 23, and we are only three games into our fourth year.

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Gingrich Visit to ND

By The Observer · Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010

Notre Dame policies and Notre Dame double standards never cease to amaze and appall those of us who work here: just two days after we faculty and staff received a letter reminding us of the policy that prohibits using university funds to sponsor partisan speakers to campus, Notre Dame received the Republican poster-boy Newt Gingrich, who was in town to "Stump for Walorski" according to today's South Bend Tribune.

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Give me a reason to shake up the thunder

By The Observer · Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010

I am writing in response to Todd Velianski's letter to The Observer ("Shake up the thunder," Sept. 21). In the letter, Todd expresses his "dismay" over the "abuses" by majority of the upperclassmen not cheering on the football team enough for his liking.

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The point of the gospel of life

By The Observer · Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010

We would like to tactfully contest some points Mr. Mullen brought up in the discussion of Mr. Williams' editorial ("Gingrich is not Obama" Sept 20). Regarding the death penalty, Mr. Mullen's quotation of Church teaching is correct, but he makes a very common misinterpretation. While it is true that the Church believes the death penalty to be defensible in some cases, in which it is "the only possible way of defending human lives against the unjust aggressor," that should not be a concern in the United States today.

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