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Dating and relating

By The Observer · Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012

Things happen very fast in the current generation. Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, there is a good reason why top chefs do not prepare elegant meals in a microwave. Clearly one of our issues on campus is the sometimes frantic pace with which we build relationships. There is no one to blame for the demise of the dating ritual on this campus. It is what it is. In my curiosity to understand why men and women have abdicated ownership of this social norm, I engaged ten students (5 women; 5 men) in single-sex conversations about their opinions around this issue. Although I cannot extrapolate these comments to all men and women on campus, this is what I discovered.

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Draft day

By The Observer · Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012

With spring training underway, pitchers are working off the rust in their shoulders, hitters are stepping back into the batter's box and new faces populate the baseball fields in their respective major league parks across the country, preparing for opening day. At the same time, fantasy baseball managers are re-evaluating strategy, combing through stats and preparing for draft day.

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Not a post-racial society

By The Observer · Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012

In recent days, both the Black Student Association and the African Student Association have been the targets of racially motivated crimes. The nature of these transgressions? Placing fried chicken wings in the LaFortune mailboxes of both organizations. When they hear about this, many Notre Dame students will likely react with exasperation. "It's just a joke!" people might say. "A joke in poor taste, but a joke all the same."

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Caruso and the Canon

By The Observer · Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012

There is a comforting predictability in Gary Caruso's "Capitol Comments." In fact, it is hardly necessary to read one of his columns to guess at its content: denunciations of Catholic teaching on contraception, abortion and sexuality or reckless mockery of the hierarchy of the Church. Every column begins with the same half-truths, logical lapses and misrepresentations of Catholic dogma — these would be laughable if they were not so serious. Appeals to that learned authority, the EMHC at St. Matthew's Cathedral, and attacks on Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell are seldom far behind. If I were Caruso's professor, I would be forced to warn him of the consequences of recycling ideas from old essays as original work. As it is, I find the rhythm and regularity almost soothing — like a faucet dripping in the background or a dog barking in the distance.

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Remembering Gail Walton

By The Observer · Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012

Students and alumni of Notre Dame alike can think of personalities from their time at the University that left an indelible impression upon them. For those of us who had the good fortune to sing in the Liturgical Choir under the direction of Dr. Gail Walton, she was one of those personalities.

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The fried chicken

By The Observer · Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012

For those of you that missed the email from Fr. Tom Doyle last Friday, somebody put fried chicken pieces in the mailboxes of the Black Student Association and the African Student Association.

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A gliding star

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012

Impossible means nothing to young Krista Kellner, who is a perfect example of an individual who has persevered through both physically and mentally limiting obstacles and has inspired athletes of all abilities from all over the world. Krista's genuine passion for ice-skating acts as a driving force to prevent her from being defined or limited by her disability.

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What I Don't Know

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012

Last week, a friend told me light roast coffee has more caffeine than dark roast.

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Forgoing the pity party this Lent

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012

In case you didn't notice people walking to class with ashen crosses on their foreheads this Wednesday, Lent has officially begun. At Mass on Ash Wednesday, we were told, "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return."

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A Lenten proposal

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012

A great number of people in past years have been concerned about Notre Dame's policy of not serving meat in the dining halls on Fridays during Lent. However, neither side of the argument ever addresses the fact that the dining halls are not doing enough to support the Lenten season.

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Education in the arts

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012

Some of the most brilliant minds in the human race have mastered visual arts, but most modern students stop learning visual expression techniques after the clay snowmen they make in middle school. Leonardo Da Vinci used drawing to explore the human form, and the late Steve Jobs often explained how a typography class he took in college helped him in his work at Apple.

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Leprechaun Legion

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012

I want to applaud the article, "Legion Expands to Unify Irish Fans at Sporting Events," (Feb. 20) written by Drew Pangraze in Monday's issue. As a dedicated fan of all Irish athletic teams, I have seen a number of positive changes surrounding our teams directly supported by the Leprechaun Legion. From basketball and hockey to soccer and volleyball, the Legion has taken the lead in unifying our student body in support of our entire athletic family and produced amazing results. No one can deny the wonderful job the Legion does with men's basketball as our team consistently ranks among the national leaders in home winning percentage.

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A case for increasing taxes on the rich

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012

Unprecedented inequality, a weak economy and rising deficits have propelled the question over whether or not to increase taxes on the richest Americans to the forefront of the American political discourse. Based on America's current and future fiscal situation, along with the growth in income inequality over the past 30 years, I will make the case for increasing taxes on the richest Americans.

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A case for fair taxation

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012

We should tax the rich people more. It makes sense, doesn't it? You have just fallen into the trap. You have accepted the premise put on by liberals to separate a group of people, your fellow Americans, and to treat them differently. Negatively. It literally is the same as saying we should tax African-Americans more, or we should tax Jewish people more. It discriminates against them, creates class envy at the minimum and class hatred and bigotry at the worst. These are the same type of tactics used by socialists to spark failed and bloody communist revolutions across the world only decades ago. These are the same type of tactics used by racists and extremists to eventually justify violence or genocide. It's dangerous thinking.

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On Lenten sacrifice

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012

This morning, I read "Lenten Promises: A How-To Guide," (Feb. 20) by Ms. O'Donnell, and although I appreciate the reminder for Lenten sacrifice, I must respectfully disagree with a few points.

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A call for solidarity

By The Observer · Monday, Feb. 20, 2012

Monday marked the beginning of National Body Image and Eating Disorders Awareness Week, a week that is meant to promote positive messages and healthy outlooks regarding one's self-image. As a member of the Notre Dame community, I, for one, am so proud that our school takes the initiative to promote such an event. More than 10 million women and 1 million men nationwide struggle with either anorexia or bulimia and millions more struggle with binge eating disorder. As a woman who has battled an eating disorder myself (and won!), I want to take this time to send a message of solidarity to all people on this campus.

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Big East champs

By The Observer · Monday, Feb. 20, 2012

Congratulations to the members of Notre Dame Men's swimming and diving team on your Big East Championships. You came into Da Burgh and left no question about who the best team is in the Big East. You are the hardest working group of people I have ever met. I am so happy for all of you.

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Basketball magic

By The Observer · Monday, Feb. 20, 2012

For most of my first 12 years on Earth, I was a fairly casual college basketball fan. I had my two favorite teams ­— Notre Dame and Kansas — but besides that I did not have too substantial of an interest. That all changed in March of 2002 when my father acquired tickets to four first-round NCAA Tournament games at the United Center in Chicago.

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