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University deserves 'LGBT-unfriendly campus' trophy

By The Observer · Monday, Jan. 24, 2011

Let me begin by stating clearly, I am a heterosexual male who loves Notre Dame as much as anyone on campus and believes ardently in the purpose of the school to promote Catholic values and educate at the highest level. It is precisely due to my love of this University that I am so disturbed that while we pride ourselves in topping lists across academia and athletics, we continue to be public champions for homophobia. The Princeton Review consistently ranks Notre Dame among the worst in accepting the homosexual community. In 2010 we were fourth on their list of "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Unfriendly" campuses. Easy and painless reforms can be made this year to move in a more tolerant direction that do not challenge the Catholic DNA of Our Lady's University.

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Martin Luther King dinner

By The Observer · Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011

Which race is best at math? Which race would you want on your basketball team? Finish this sentence: _______ men can't jump. If you had to think about these responses you are probably in the minority. The bottom line is we all operate under certain assumptions that often don't reflect the whole story. But a one-sided story is an incomplete story, which leads to false pretenses. On the other hand a one-sided story is safe because there is no opposing side to challenge our perceptions. Even still a complete story remains invaluable simply by presenting the opportunity to understand the differences and similarities between the opposing sides. A wise friend of mine and Notre Dame alumnus told me, "The more we express our misunderstandings of each other, the better we come to understand each other in time."

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Condemnation

By The Observer · Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011

I found Friday's front page article on the continuing Lizzy Seeberg saga particularly compelling ("Jenkins: Seeberg investigation had ‘integrity,'" Jan. 21) The accused student's attorney Mr. Power suggests the existence of cell phone records which significantly contradict Seeberg's written account of the events. In light of these claims, there is certainly room to view Lizzy Seeberg negatively for the first time. If Mr. Power is correct (and for the sake of fairness this "if" must be stressed) Seeberg's honesty is called into question and our picture of the events changes drastically. It is distasteful and unproductive to attack the character of a young lady so unfortunately deceased, and I hope no one stoops to that. But I do hope we take this opportunity to realize that not too long ago many of us accused a fellow student of committing a crime so horrible it caused Lizzy Seeberg to kill herself out of shame. We accused Notre Dame of protecting its football program at the expense of Lizzy's life. We didn't know a thing about what happened, did we? Really, we still don't, other than that the reported crime was far more minor than we were initially led to believe. Guys, let's learn to be gentlemen. And all of us, let's not be so quick to condemn.

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Groupon

By The Observer · Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011

There is a popular saying that goes "Secrets, secrets are no fun if you don't tell everyone." I usually bring this phrase up when my friends are trying to withhold information from me, but I feel it is time that I reveal a secret of my own. No, it isn't that I am a superhero. My secret is I am a kleptomaniac.

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My pick for my Commencement speaker

By The Observer · Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011

By now, it should be clear that I love to complain and make fun of a lot of Notre Dame quirks and student behaviors. Heck, if it were not for these numerous things, I would resort to boring you with political columns. This column, though, is dedicated to something that actually makes me quite upset, angry if you will, about Notre Dame — the process of picking a Commencement speaker.

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The rhetoric of political Pygmies

By The Observer · Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011

Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's inauguration as well as the two year mark of President Obama's inaugural ceremonies. While both presidential messages were lofty and uplifting, our political dialogue today remains more petty and filled with personal greed than when Kennedy entered the presidency. As a World War II veteran, Kennedy was strong on defense like Obama. Kennedy, like Obama, believed in a governmental role to solve problems and in tax decreases to spur the economy. However, political communications strategies changed drastically since the days of Camelot.

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Re-evaluating politics in rememberance of Christina Taylor Green

By The Observer · Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011

Christina Taylor Green. Until a few days ago, we didn't know Christina. We weren't aware of this vibrant nine-year-old's budding interest in politics. We remained ignorant of her love for swimming, gymnastics and baseball. We had no idea she delighted in picking blackberries. Now, we will never forget her name. Christina. Taylor. Green.

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Mike Brey a class act

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

On Tuesday night, I arrived back at my dorm at about 10:30 from the store. After shuffling for a couple of seconds to find my ID, I heard a voice behind me. "Mind if I follow you in?" I turned around, and behind me stood Coach Mike Brey. I opened the door for him, and he then proceeded to walk throughout the dorm, knock on doors and talk to students to make sure they were coming out in force for the Cincinnati game. He did all of this while he could have been at home with his family on a Tuesday night.

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Let it rip

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

What's the effect in our own lives of feeling chosen? Remember walking down your high school hallway to where the list of who made the basketball team or the Spring play was posted? Squinting over the heads of the swarm of your classmates, your heart thumping, eyes darting up and down the list. Remember the feeling you got when you saw your name?

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Liberated woman's theology

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

Well that was a provocative title, wasn't it? Now that I have your eyes, let me start off with a disclaimer. This is not a piece advocating the "make me a sandwich" train of thought when it comes to the denouncement of new age feminism. What it is, rather, is a surface examination of the college educated American female growing up under the influence of liberated woman's theology. These personal observations can and should be qualified as limited, but nonetheless are a valid sample taken from the stated population and proper analysis can be rendered.

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One less lonely Class of 2011

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

Thank you, Notre Dame football, for making everyone forget that the Class of 2011 is the losingest class in the program's history. It has not felt that way for the past two months. We saw an unbeaten November, which included our first win over USC since 2001, and a dominant win over Miami in the Sun Bowl. The last Notre Dame class to see two wins in bowl games? That would be the Class of 1996.

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L.A. football

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

Oh to be a kid again. Don't you remember going to (insert NFL stadium here) and soaking it all in? Hey Dad, let's play catch before the game in the parking lot. Can I get a hot dog at halftime? These seats are awesome. Oh sorry, I was reminiscing there. And by reminiscing, I mean fantasizing.

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A DREAM Deferred

By The Observer · Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

If there was ever a heartfelt piece of legislation, it's the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, better known as the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act is a measure that will greatly reform America's dysfunctional immigration system in the short term by ensuring hundreds of thousands of young, undocumented students a piece of the American dream.

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