Opinion

Travesty at ND

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010

By all accounts, Notre Dame is a relatively pricey school. However, tuition at least in theory can be justified by the education that we as students are receiving and the jobs that this education should provide (again this is in theory as I am a senior Finance major and thus far unemployed). The room and board is in excess of $10,000, which is more than it costs to attend a variety of schools in total. The food at the Dining Hall is fairly good if not occasionally repetitive. However, a real problem exists at least for some of us in the fine dormitory of Dillon Hall. While it's not enough that our rooms are shoeboxes compared to some of the dorms on campus, residents of the third floor have to suffer the indignity of having only two working showers in one of the two bathrooms that service the floor. Dillon has roughly 300 men in it. If we can assume an equal division of people per floor, that means 100 guys have seven showers to choose from. As a rational person could imagine, that creates quite the logjam in the morning. This logjam, while a major inconvenience when an individually is fully able, is a nightmare when a person like say me has been on crutches until this point in the semester. Whether I choose to go to the bathroom on the other side or attempt to go down to the second floor, crutching while holding one's towel up to avoid inadvertently flashing the cleaning ladies and carrying a shower caddy is an immense juggling act that I have nearly failed at numerous times. Though I have perhaps come at this point in a fairly roundabout way, to put it simply, Notre Dame this is ridiculous. A superintendent in any apartment that costs $10,000 for nine months out of the year would be fired if he/she was unable to resolve an issue over this length of time. Notre Dame should be held to no lower standard. For my money's worth, I want to be able to shower with ease.

Orientation and identity

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010

I am a man. Regardless of my psychological, spiritual or emotional inclinations, my physical body has a natural sexual orientation. My body is naturally created to be complemented by a woman. The man and woman's bodies fit together, almost like a puzzle. Man and woman are created for selfless, monogamous relationships, physically revealed through our body orientation and hormones, such as oxytocin.

A reckless train of thought

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010

I was standing in the line at the Café Commons (the café in the business school) the other afternoon, jockeying for position between the checkout line, the coffee line and the sandwich line. After giving up on finding the right line, and embarrassingly bumping into a bunch of kids with my backpack, I surrendered and ran away. I could only think of one thing: how can a top business school run such a hectic, poorly designed coffee and sandwich joint? Waddick's, that bastion of liberal art impracticality, runs relatively more efficiently and still offers delicious breakfast sandwiches.

Celebrate Tory Jackson

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010

The Notre Dame family should take a moment to recognize and celebrate the contribution of Tory Jackson. A team-first player asked to step in to a critical role as a freshman, Tory has consistently been the consummate leader and model teammate. Although he won't be considered a statistical great, the values of hard work, competitiveness and teamwork that he embodies should be celebrated by all of us.

Passing of Zinn

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010

Amidst the news of President Obama's State of the Union Address, Haiti relief efforts, J.D. Salinger's death and Notre Dame's "Spirit of Inclusion" debate, a noteworthy event went without its due attention: the passing of Dr. Howard Zinn. I encourage you to spend a few minutes getting to know Dr. Zinn — veteran, activist, professor, writer, historian and passionate speaker. Pick up "A People's History of the United States" or Google his name to better understand Matt Damon's praise of Zinn's work in "Good Will Hunting" over a decade ago. Writing to include the plight of overlooked groups of people and sharing the perspective of the conquered overlooked in standard history texts, "People's History" is a must read for all persons of conscience to better understand the experience of all Americans in history. Many lives have been changed and refocused after having read this book. And he lived it; growing up in the slums, picketing with the workers, traveling to Vietnam with Fr. Daniel Berrigan, challenging the "establishment" and his superiors in academia. Dr. Zinn reminded each of us that "You can't be neutral on a moving train," and I pray that his legacy of action and exposition on behalf of the poor and marginalized will be remembered by the Notre Dame community. Rest in Peace Howard Zinn; as one of your admirers I will refuse neutrality in the fight for justice.

Thanks from ND Right to Life

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010

On behalf of Notre Dame Right to Life and all those who took part in the 2010 March for Life, we would like to express our warm and heartfelt gratitude to those who generously assisted us in planning and making possible Notre Dame's participation in this year's March in Washington, D.C.

Bouts for Bangladesh

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010

The Notre Dame community responded with characteristic generosity to the earthquake disaster in Haiti. Every year at this time, however, we remind ourselves of another nation, comparable in some respects to Haiti, in which Notre Dame is involved. That is Bangladesh, roughly the size of Wisconsin with a population about half that of the United States. In Bangladesh, 57.45 infants die out of every 1,000 live births; in Haiti, 62.33; in the United States, 6.3. The per capita income in 2008, in U.S. dollars, in Bangladesh was $1,500; in Haiti, $1,300; in the United States, $47,000. Cyclones and other natural disasters are frequent and severe in Bangladesh including, in September 1998, the most severe flooding in modern world history. It destroyed 300,000 houses, killed over 1,000 people and made 30 million homeless. Two-thirds of the country was underwater.

Stop mud-slinging

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010

As one of the five organizers of last Wednesday's demonstration, I would like to first thank everyone who came out and supported us, whether in person or in prayer. The turnout was beyond what we had expected and was encouraging for us who are working hard for equality.

Time to act on GLBT issues

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010

As a recent alumnus and member of the 2006-07 Student Senate, it is disheartening to witness the actions — or, rather, inaction on the part of this administration — taking place on Our Lady's campus.

Thanks from an alumnus

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010

Thank you for having Gary Caruso write a Letter expressing an alumni viewpoint. Many alumni read The Observer to learn about what is going on at our university.