Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The Observer
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Support The Observer
Observer Store Subscribe
The Observer

Opinion

The Observer

Europe's double conundrum

By The Observer · Monday, Oct. 3, 2011

There seems to be a lot of good news coming out of Europe in the past couple of days. First, Greece recently passed a new string of austerity measures, most notably a new property tax, aimed at closing its budget deficit. This will likely satisfy the troika, composed of the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and European Union, which administers the bailouts given to Greece. As a result, Greece will likely receive the next part of its bailout package, about $8 billion, which will keep the Greek government solvent until December.

The Observer

Grinding my gears

By The Observer · Monday, Oct. 3, 2011

Reading Dr. Moss' article "Hip-hop night education" (Sept. 30) made me think (which, if you ask my friends, is something I do not do nearly as much as I should).

The Observer

Who needs to readjust?

By The Observer · Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011

Last week, Gary Caruso argued that "religious institutions need to adjust in a way that casts off ancient and outdated traditions whose time to end is upon us." Caruso was questioning University President Fr. John Jenkins' recent petition to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) that the definition of "religious employer" in the pending health care regulations be expanded so that the University will not be required to issue contraceptive services in future health insurance packages.

The Observer

Al-Awlaki killing had to be done

By The Observer · Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011

Last Friday, Sept. 30, U.S.-born terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki was killed in an American counterterrorism operation in Yemen. Al-Awlaki, who maintained U.S. citizenship, was a key player in al-Qaeda's effort against the United States and, according to U.S. officials, was instrumental in the planning of multiple attempted terrorist attacks on American soil.

The Observer

Challenging a taboo

By The Observer · Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011

When I read Dr. G. David Moss's article "Hip-hop night education" (Sept. 30), I felt myself agreeing with a lot of what he said.

The Observer

Catholic identity

By The Observer · Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011

I applaud Fr. Jenkins's recent petition to the Department of Health and Human Services for a more inclusive conscience clause. It shows a commitment to Catholic moral teaching and adds an influential voice to those of all religious groups seeking a conscience clause to protect their beliefs.

The Observer

Child within

By The Observer · Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011

While cleaning out my closet this summer, I discovered artifacts of a former self — the child. This pack rat left me with a week's worth of cleaning, discarding and donating. Who did she think she was, collecting hundreds of Walgreens birthday cards and 2nd grade grammar worksheets?

The Observer

Hip-hop night education

By The Observer · Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011

If you ask a relationship expert what comprises a healthy sexuality, s/he will most likely talk about the qualities of respect, trust, mutual benefit, etc. If you ask someone in the general public this same question, research indicates that s/he would either 1) have no clue or 2) believe that it means the absence of STD's.

The Observer

More than winning

By The Observer · Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011

Winning matters at Notre Dame, but it is not all that matters. Christopher Lilly ("The football coaching internship continues," Sept. 29) has that much right. What Lilly has wrong is his argument that Brian Kelly feels differently. Kelly undoubtedly wants to win, but he assuredly knows other things matter as well.

The Observer

Notre Dame is a "bro" school

By The Observer · Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011

Meeting someone new at Notre Dame is almost always accompanied by an obligatory string of "getting to know you" questions. Students ask each other where they're from, what they want to study, what hall they live in and, if they're really short on conversation topics, why they chose to attend Notre Dame.

The Observer

The government's not-so-insensible "conscience clause"

By The Observer · Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011

This week, Notre Dame president, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., publicly commented on the Obama administration's proposed health regulations governing women's preventive services. In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius — "the daughter of a distinguished Notre Dame alumnus and faculty member," as Jenkins noted to strengthen his case — Jenkins referred to President Obama's 2009 commencement address at Notre Dame. While speaking about abortion rights at that time, the president spoke of his agreement with Jenkins for "a sensible conscience clause" exempting religious institutions that oppose abortion procedures from such mandates. Unfortunately, Jenkins now muddies the issue with an attempt to equate contraception with abortion.

The Observer

My "year off"

By The Observer · Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011

In preparation for last night's Postgraduate Service Fair, the Center for Social Concerns interviewed Joe Kolar, current AR in Duncan and former Lasallian volunteer. Among other things, Joe was asked why he took a year off. This is what he said:

The Observer

In the sight of the angels

By The Observer · Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011

Do you believe in angels? Do you think they really exist or do they only live in movie characters like Clarence, the big-hearted angel-in-training from "It's a Wonderful Life"? Or are they just handy for solving philosophical puzzles — say, about the number of angels dancing on the head of a pin?

The Observer

The football coaching internship continues

By The Observer · Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011

Brian Kelly drew the wrong lesson from last year. When Dayne Crist was quarterback, Kelly called plays like a river boat gambler. After losing Crist to a season ending knee injury, freshman Tommy Rees was thrust into the starting role and Kelly started calling conservative games designed to just win, rather than to win with style. The team rallied around its rookie quarterback, thrived in a more sensibly called offense and reeled off four wins.

The Observer

Our kind of diversity

By The Observer · Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011

Wow. My first Inside Column ever. And — you'll agree with me after you read this — probably my last.

The Observer

How Catholic is Notre Dame?

By The Observer · Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011

This is a question that is asked somewhat frequently around here. And since many of those asking the question say that the answer is "not too Catholic" or that Notre Dame has lost its soul, I feel compelled to write a few words to the contrary. Notre Dame is a very Catholic place.

The Observer

Alcohol and personal responsibility

By The Observer · Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011

According to the Sept. 15 issue of The Scholastic, there were two reported sexual assaults on campus in 2009. That is two assaults too many. In a press release regarding changes to the University's sexual assault policy, Vice President for Student Affairs Fr. Tom Doyle said, "Sexual misconduct can have no place at Notre Dame, and we are committed to continuing to protect the safety and human dignity of every student." To ensure that sexual assault really doesn't have a place at Notre Dame, the University and the student body need to make an enormous change in attitude regarding alcohol. The changes to Notre Dame's sexual assault policy, although excellent, address the symptoms and not the causes of sexual assault. According to Officer Keri Kei Shibata of NDSP, "nearly all reported sexual assaults on campus involve alcohol. The percentage is near 100 percent when the assault is committed by someone who is known to the victim (a friend, acquaintance, friend of a friend, classmate, person met at a party or bar, etc.). The vast majority of sexual assaults reported on our campus (just like all other campuses) are perpetrated by acquaintances or people known to the victim."

The Observer

The life of a true fan

By The Observer · Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011

As of this writing, the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays are tied atop the American League Wild Card standings and, with two games to play, the outlook is bleak for a Red Sox fan. At the beginning of September, the Sox held a seemingly insurmountable eight-game lead. Calling to mind the collapse of the 2007 New York Mets, Boston has gone 6-19 in the final month of the season. At this point, only the most ardent Boston optimist would hope that the team can outplay Tampa in the season's final two games.

The Observer

Irony in the paper

By The Observer · Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011

In flipping through yesterday's paper, I happened to discover that the question poll of the day was rather selective. The question, "What is your favorite Pokemon and why?" was asked mostly to people of a certain ethnicity: Asian. As a multiracial individual, I find it somewhat amusing, but I feel that some folks do not. So keep that in mind next time, Observer staff — especially if you're going to run a viewpoint titled Asiatic Gaze in the same paper.

Trending