Opinion
Black hole
By
The Observer
· Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010
I am thoroughly convinced that I live in a black hole. Notre Dame's bubble is successfully disconnecting me from the world one "Message Send Failure" at a time.
Traditions of failure
By
The Observer
· Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010
I understand the complaints about the Celtic Chant a few weeks back. After all, it is a moment of student silence and hand motions (then again most students don't make any sound until the opposing team breaks the huddle anyway), but I do understand it is a very high volume number which when blasted towards the huddle of the opposing team can result in inaudible play calling.
Faith
By
The Observer
· Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010
But how can we make sense of teleology in this late age of the world — now, after the genius of Machiavelli, Hobbes, and Darwin, after the courage of Marx, Nietzsche, Freud and Foucault? For in their relentless suspicion of the system of the world as they received it — a suspicion so intense as to border on the neurotic — there is indeed a genius, a courage: to change the system of the world — to revolutionize our understanding of the divine order, as did Spinoza, Kant and Hegel — seems the highest expression of our humanity. But to overthrow the very idea of a system — to deny that there is any order to be found, as did Marx, Nietzsche, and Freud, beyond the lies that we are willing to tell ourselves — seems something more than human — or would, had these thinkers not shattered the transcendent.
Pro-progressive
By
The Observer
· Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010
It is no surprise that politics and current events are common discussions in everyday American life. You might walk down your dorm hall and hear fellow students discussing the legality or immorality of abortion or walk past a couple of people in the Bookstore talking about the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Rallies
By
The Observer
· Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010
My Notre Dame brothers and sisters, as you may or may not be aware, on Oct. 30, Comedy Central's Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert will be holding competing political rallies on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Seeing as the vast majority of Stewart and Colbert's audience are college students (and according to my rough estimates, most of the students on our campus are fans of one, if not both comedians), we should have a Notre Dame bus trip to Washington to show our support at these rallies.
State of the game
By
The Observer
· Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010
Students, as a member of the Class of 1975, I am tired of seeing our fine tradition of producing competitive football teams diminished to being the "joke of the day" on national TV programs for years now. The college sport is a minor league for the NFL, do not kid yourselves. We need the horses, and they can too graduate. Just look at all the graduates Lou Holtz produced. The difference is we now are not attracting blue chip players who can compete at the top levels as in the past.
Embrace the city
By
The Observer
· Monday, Sept. 27, 2010
Football weekends, dorm events, fall break, Halloween, Thanksgiving and spending time with friends make fall a special and exciting time at Notre Dame. As we bring out winter coats for the 60 degree weather, we find ourselves dreading the imminent end of fall and start of winter. However, winter is full of many wonderful opportunities as well, such as the first snowball fight on the quad, seasonal Starbucks drinks, the holiday spirit and the chance to participate in the Center for Social Concerns (CSC) Urban Plunge.
Jersey pride: not an oxymoron
By
The Observer
· Monday, Sept. 27, 2010
I'm probably one of the only graduate students at Notre Dame who studies the art and culture of New Jersey. (Seriously. I go to conferences and deliver papers on this stuff.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
An educational obligation outside the classroom
By
The Observer
· Friday, Sept. 24, 2010
Notre Dame students have plenty to say.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
