Opinion

Carnatic music

The Homo sapien is a highly gregarious creature. Its constant need to express and share was the basic premise for the development of multifold languages as we know today. There are around 10,000 languages spoken globally and we have various platforms to express them. The air is rife with communication. We talk, but is anybody listening? Enter Art. Art, in my opinion, is born out of a need to share the real you. Unfiltered. Unfettered. It is a place where you do not need to don an avatar to adapt. It is a state of pure, unadulterated consciousness. From the graffiti artist to the virtuoso, they all share the same plane. My portal to that place is through Carnatic music. Carnatic music is an Indian Classical art form and has a Hindu origin.  Predominantly practiced in Southern India, I was exposed to this ancient art at the age of five. Sruthi (the musical pitch), Swara (the musical note), Raga (the mode or tune) and Tala (the rhythmic cycle) are the basic elements on which this mesmerizing musical journey is built. Carnatic music, unlike many other musical genres, is heavily dependent on the vocals and is almost a cappella in nature. I still remember my first class. I was awestruck by the timbres and tones of various human voices around me. As a child, it was an intimidating first experience, but I somehow could not resist going back to class. I began to look forward to it each day. This childhood love continued well into my teens and I practiced it even in high school. Eventually, my voice developed and I began to perform at Kacheris (concerts). ML Vasanthakumari, a diva of Carnatic music in her day, was my muse and through her compelling vocals, I understood the language of human emotion. Carnatic music has always been an enigma to me, which propels me to delve further into it. It has a calming, almost tranquil, effect on my mood. It is a time machine, where I can traverse annals of time in an instant. It fosters strong bonds between people and makes me connect with others in ways never experienced before. I have become much more confident as an individual and also enjoy the happiness my music brings to people. Music has a surreal way of explaining the most difficult things for it appeals directly to the heart and not to the intellect. It is disconcerting to see this genre of music being sidelined under the guise of being "passe." While I do enjoy more trendy and instrument-heavy genres of music that have cropped up, only Carnatic music seems to be able to offer a platform to showcase the human voice in its purest form. I am privileged to have in me a piece of tradition that I will be able to hand down to the next generation. Sometimes I wonder how things would have shaped up, had I walked away from that mildew teak door that harbored behind it, a million different voices, waiting to be heard.

New leaders here and everywhere

This is an important time for our country, our own newspaper and our campus as a whole. On Monday, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden publicly swore their oaths of office to begin their second term at the country's helm. On Wednesday, The Observer announced the election of a new Editor-in-Chief for the 2013-14 publication year. And today, petitions for student government executives are due, with elections to follow shortly. The introduction of a new leader to any organization or community marks an important event. A new leader can signal a shift in policy to bring real change to the daily lives of that leader's constituents. A new leader can introduce new ideas and creative problem-solving, and a new leader can build upon the best work of his or her predecessor. Accordingly, we must choose leaders with the work ethic, determination and moral fiber essential to positive leadership. Notre Dame's campus has no shortage of individuals with the aforementioned traits and then some. Our campus is full of students who have a history of leadership - in test scores and GPAs, on the playing field and at the front of student government. As belabored by our high school counselors, prestigious universities consider demonstrations of leadership just as they do our grades, and the Admissions Office at Notre Dame continues to garner the best of the best leaders from high schools around the country and the world. We still see that tendency to lead among our students here at the University. We all know a person who forgoes sleep and a social life to save the whales, sit on three student government groups, captain an interhall team and run hall council. Plenty of students make a life out of going above and beyond - and for many of us, we have fallen into believing leaders have to be hyper-scheduled and unbelievably driven. And when we just expect a few individuals to shine above all the rest, we run the risk of becoming complacent. With every social issue in the surrounding community, there is an opportunity to take initiative. With each on-campus problem that goes unnoticed or unaddressed, there are still more ways students can put their leadership skills to use without titles or nameplates. While the majority of us feel something between love for and obsession with this University, we can hardly call it perfect. In real life, we should strive to be leaders in our clubs, activities, majors and residence halls. We excelled to get to Notre Dame - and we should still excel here. Most of us hope to one day be in leadership positions, whether it be in government, the corporate world, medicine, service or even as the heads of families. So why take a four-year sabbatical on the leadership qualities that got us to this University and that we hope to rely on down the road? We have many opportunities to lead here on campus and the upcoming election in student government is perhaps the most immediate. Student government does work on campus that is sometimes unseen and underappreciated, but its office can be a conduit for important projects by student leaders at Notre Dame. There's no question extraordinary leadership can have a huge impact at every level of society. There's no question that each Notre Dame student - from a freshman thinking about joining student government to a senior about to step into the real world - has the capacity to be an extraordinary leader. There's no question that Notre Dame offers chances to lead, whether that means reaching out to someone who is suffering or standing before the entire student body as a club leader. Let this week be a reminder that we have countless opportunities to be leaders on our campus and in our communities, right here and right now.

Gazing into the abyss

Six million Jews were murdered by Hitler's Nazi regime during WWII. Stalin dispatched roughly 20 million persons. In only 100 days, at least 500,000 Rwandans were murdered by their own countrymen. On Sept. 11, 2001, Osama bin Laden masterminded an attack that killed nearly 3,000 Americans and shattered the lives of so many others. We rightfully cringe at these statistics. If it's difficult to really process such absurd numbers, just start by imagining that everyone you love - no, everyone you have ever met or known or even know of - being removed from your life. Half a million people will descend upon the national capital to protest a subtler genocide. Since 1973, nearly 56 million children have been slaughtered by the very same parents who gave them life. No empathetic endeavors can make that fact make sense. There is simply no justification for this, one of the most horrific genocides in history. But if I had to think of an explanation for why Americans get up in arms, devote billions of dollars, hours of service and volunteer time, and dedicate their lives to preventing such atrocious episodes as those described above from continuing or happening again, while simultaneously citing a "right" that awards legal license to murder others (or their own) children for convenience?s sake ... well, I can't finish that sentence after all. Hitler and Stalin are universally acknowledged as embodiments of evil. We all remember the degree of rejoicing with which the news of bin Laden's death was met. These men, all together, directly took less than half of the innocent lives that we ourselves have taken in the past four decades in the war against the unborn. These men had justifications for their choices, though: they weren't slaughtering the innocent so much as defending ideals, defending rights, defending themselves. Yet everyone agrees that these men and their philosophies epitomize evil. What does that say about us and ours?

Fr. Tom Tallarida

"As I look to the Day of Christ, you give me cause to boast that I did not run the race in vain or work to no purpose." Phil 2:16 Fr. Tom Tallarida used this verse in his reflection on  the 60 year anniversary of his priesthood. He died Jan. 5. Words cannot express how much I loved this man. I met him when I was an undergrad at ND. My roommate and I attended daily Mass at Zahm where Tom was the rector. He was my friend in the truest sense of the word. I knew he loved me, because he made this apparent through his demonstrative nature and his willingness to be there for me at a moment's notice. He married my husband and me, baptized my children, and buried my father. His life demonstrated that love is an action verb: it is what you do more than what you think or say. He acted on his commitment to be a priest of integrity and love. He always did what he thought was right, despite possible negative consequences for himself. He considered rules and procedures secondary to ministering effectively, and always chose the person over the rule. This sometimes caused conflicts with the powers that be. Fr. Tom is the best priest I have ever known. I was nourished by his positive regard for me over my entire lifetime. ND is full of caring professors, rectors and peers. My hope for all current ND students is you will meet those who will become "your people."Fr. Tom was one of my people and his profound influence on my life is one of the best things I received from my Notre Dame education. Academic achievement is important, but showing up for one another and forging authentic relationships is equally important. I remember a few courses I took, a few great professors, and lots of the anxiety of studying and striving. What has remained with me are the friendships I forged, and those I grew to love. I love you, Fr. Tom. RIP.

The Butler Way

With ESPN's "College GameDay" in HinkleFieldhouse for a primetime matchup between No. 8 Gonzaga and No. 13 Butler on Saturday night, the Bulldogs (the Butler variety) didn't disappoint.

Support student hockey season

To the Athletic Department:

Have a green semester

To my bundled-up, shivering, teeth-chattering Domers,

Newsflash: Manti Te'o is still a hero

Heroes make the world go around. They give us inspiration and a reason to become better, to overcome obstacles. However, even in movies and books, heroes are human too, prone to the same flaws.

The drive-by friend

Everything old can be new again

Welcome back, and - though it feels like an inaccurate term when it's 21 degrees outside - welcome to the Spring Semester 2013. Likely you have some new courses, a new schedule, some super-clean notebooks and folders recently purchased at home or from the bookstore. A new semester almost always provides a chance for a fresh beginning. Sort of like New Year's or Lent, only with an academic twist: "I will start my papers earlier than the night before they're due," "I will review my notes after class" or "I will quit checking Facebook during class." This past Tuesday, January 15, marked the anniversary of a little-known beginning here at Notre Dame. 169 years ago Tuesday, the Indiana legislature officially chartered the university, "L'Universitad de Notre Dame du Lac," as Fr. Edward Sorin, CSC, named it in his native French, or "The University of Our Lady of the Lake." Perhaps you've already heard the famous story about Fr. Sorin's arrival in November of 1842, when he looked out over the wooded and snow-covered property from up between Corby Hall and Old College, and - thinking he saw only one lake under all that snow - dedicated Notre Dame to the care of Mary, Our Lady.   At the time of Fr. Sorin's brave (some might say improbable) beginning, the Congregation of Holy Cross, the religious order of priests who sent him from France into the "mission territory" of Indiana, was still close enough to its own beginnings that Fr. Sorin knew well the founder of the Congregation, Fr. Basil Moreau, CSC. Fr. Moreau, now called "Blessed" to signify his one-step-away-from-sainthood status, knew the Catholic Church in France needed a bold new beginning after the French Revolution. His priests, brothers and sisters tended to the re-education of the children and families in France who had been deprived of religious instruction and parish life. However, even at the same time Blessed Basil wanted to bring the faith to mission territory and - lucky for the future Notre Dame - Indiana fell squarely into that category. Fr. Sorin's five hundred acre woods and (as he would soon realize) two lakes became the site of the third Catholic university established in the United States. The essential, inspirational influence of the Congregation of Holy Cross remains central to Notre Dame. Our beginnings are always with us in the best sense of the word, no matter how many times our campus and academic communities here welcome new students, begin new semesters, offer new majors, dedicate new buildings or open new residence halls. Whether we are new here or have been a part of the community for many years, we can draw upon the zeal and energy of the Congregation of Holy Cross and challenge ourselves at the same time, to contribute the best of who we are to what Notre Dame will become. This Sunday we will celebrate the Feast Day of Blessed Basil Moreau, CSC, in each of the residence halls, at the Basilica, and at Holy Cross parishes all over the world. On campus, the "Think you know Moreau?" scavenger hunt will give clue-hunters a chance to explore this place in a whole new way (here's a clue for you: sign up at campusministry.nd.edu). January is a month for the brave at Notre Dame: It's cold, dark, and sometimes knee-deep in snow. It's a time for new beginnings and re-commitment to our community, our work and our studies. But Januarys at Notre Dame have grown out of a brave legacy since they were nothing more than what Fr. Sorin's imagination could describe. As he wrote to Fr. Moreau during those very early and difficult days, "We shall not fail to find a blessing here." Now it's our turn to find the blessings and to offer our own as well.

Everything old can be new again

Welcome back, and - though it feels like an inaccurate term when it's 21 degrees outside - welcome to the Spring Semester 2013. Likely you have some new courses, a new schedule, some super-clean notebooks and folders recently purchased at home or from the bookstore. A new semester almost always provides a chance for a fresh beginning. Sort of like New Year's or Lent, only with an academic twist: "I will start my papers earlier than the night before they're due," "I will review my notes after class" or "I will quit checking Facebook during class." This past Tuesday, January 15, marked the anniversary of a little-known beginning here at Notre Dame. 169 years ago Tuesday, the Indiana legislature officially chartered the university, "L'Universita de Notre Dame du Lac," as Fr. Edward Sorin, CSC, named it in his native French, or "The University of Our Lady of the Lake." Perhaps you've already heard the famous story about Fr. Sorin's arrival in November of 1842, when he looked out over the wooded and snow-covered property from up between Corby Hall and Old College, and - thinking he saw only one lake under all that snow - dedicated Notre Dame to the care of Mary, Our Lady.   At the time of Fr. Sorin's brave (some might say improbable) beginning, the Congregation of Holy Cross, the religious order of priests who sent him from France into the "mission territory" of Indiana, was still close enough to its own beginnings that Fr. Sorin knew well the founder of the Congregation, Fr. Basil Moreau, CSC. Fr. Moreau, now called "Blessed" to signify his one-step-away-from-sainthood status, knew the Catholic Church in France needed a bold new beginning after the French Revolution. His priests, brothers and sisters tended to the re-education of the children and families in France who had been deprived of religious instruction and parish life. However, even at the same time Blessed Basil wanted to bring the faith to mission territory and - lucky for the future Notre Dame - Indiana fell squarely into that category. Fr. Sorin's five hundred acre woods and (as he would soon realize) two lakes became the site of the third Catholic university established in the United States. The essential, inspirational influence of the Congregation of Holy Cross remains central to Notre Dame. Our beginnings are always with us in the best sense of the word, no matter how many times our campus and academic communities here welcome new students, begin new semesters, offer new majors, dedicate new buildings or open new residence halls. Whether we are new here or have been a part of the community for many years, we can draw upon the zeal and energy of the Congregation of Holy Cross and challenge ourselves at the same time, to contribute the best of who we are to what Notre Dame will become. This Sunday we will celebrate the Feast Day of Blessed Basil Moreau, CSC, in each of the residence halls, at the Basilica, and at Holy Cross parishes all over the world. On campus, the "Think you know Moreau?" scavenger hunt will give clue-hunters a chance to explore this place in a whole new way (here's a clue for you: sign up at campusministry.nd.edu). January is a month for the brave at Notre Dame: It's cold, dark, and sometimes knee-deep in snow. It's a time for new beginnings and re-commitment to our community, our work and our studies. But Januarys at Notre Dame have grown out of a brave legacy since they were nothing more than what Fr. Sorin's imagination could describe. As he wrote to Fr. Moreau during those very early and difficult days, "We shall not fail to find a blessing here." Now it's our turn to find the blessings and to offer our own as well.

All but a job

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.

It's time to do something about guns in America

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.

No regrets, one request

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.

Homosexuals anonymous

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.

Top five

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.

Our future of inclusion at Notre Dame

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.

A step forward for the University

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.

Stub snub for Holy Cross

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

Champion recycling

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.