Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The Observer
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Support The Observer
Observer Store Subscribe
The Observer

Opinion

The Observer

Sexuality a gift

By The Observer · Monday, Jan. 25, 2010

It has become painfully apparent since Jan. 13 that our community is not yet the Christian witness we hope to be. Many have noted an element of community as well as individual culpability; consequently, I am writing in the hope that our community, each of us, be a witness of truth in love.

The Observer

Covert Innsbruck decision a disservice to German department

By The Observer · Monday, Jan. 25, 2010

Last Monday, the University announced its decision to cancel its study abroad program in Innsbruck, Austria. The facts are few and repeated; the Innsbruck program was founded in 1964 and is Notre Dame's oldest study abroad program, over these 45 years there have been more than 1,400 student participants, it was canceled due to lack of interest and Berlin is a cultural hot-spot of prestige to which the University would much rather send its students.

The Observer

A foreign new policy

By The Observer · Monday, Jan. 25, 2010

A spectre is haunting Notre Dame —the spectre of defeatism. And it seems all the powers of old Notre Dame capable of exorcising it have been turned out or tuned out with no trace of the spirit of their once-contagious commitment to excellence.

The Observer

Keep 'The Shirt' kelly-green

By The Observer · Monday, Jan. 25, 2010

This one will be short and sweet. Stop changing the color of "The Shirt" every year. Keep it kelly-green permanently (similar to the color the students wear to the basketball games), not only for the obvious reasons that we are the "Irish" and our coach is named "Kelly," but so that all Notre Dame fans can finally have a uniform color to wear to the games, rather than some wearing blue, some gold, some green (including different shades of the same), or even white and, more recently, with the student section wearing a shade of yellow or even tan. Having a uniform fan color will also allow alumni to invest in kelly-green-colored coats or jerseys, which they will obviously need for the cold-weather games. We simply can't expect alumni to go out and purchase new coats or jerseys each year, just so they can be sure to match the ever-changing color of The Shirt.

The Observer

Not our place to judge

By The Observer · Monday, Jan. 25, 2010

Sometimes it takes a Viewpoint letter to bring about clarity. I would like to thank Patrick McHugh for his erudite letter about forgiveness ("Forgive and forget," Jan. 22). For the past week, I have been more annoyed than anything else about the comic hoopla, but I am now writing my own letter of support for adding sexual orientation to Notre Dame's anti-discrimination clause. While I will never wear a shirt that says, "Gay? Fine by me," I don't believe it is my place, nor Notre Dame's, to be judge of morality. And let us be honest: The only thing holding Notre Dame back is moral judgment.

The Observer

Keep 'The Shirt' kelly-green

By The Observer · Monday, Jan. 25, 2010

This one will be short and sweet. Stop changing the color of "The Shirt" every year. Keep it kelly-green permanently (similar to the color the students wear to the basketball games), not only for the obvious reasons that we are the "Irish" and our coach is named "Kelly," but so that all Notre Dame fans can finally have a uniform color to wear to the games, rather than some wearing blue, some gold, some green (including different shades of the same), or even white and, more recently, with the student section wearing a shade of yellow or even tan. Having a uniform fan color will also allow alumni to invest in kelly-green-colored coats or jerseys, which they will obviously need for the cold-weather games. We simply can't expect alumni to go out and purchase new coats or jerseys each year, just so they can be sure to match the ever-changing color of The Shirt.

The Observer

The Jesuits have it right

By The Observer · Friday, Jan. 22, 2010

The University of Notre Dame has said they do not want to include sexual orientation in their anti-discriminatory clause because that somehow endorses homosexual activity. I vote Jesuit! I went to the University of Detroit Mercy, a Jesuit school, and this is their non-discrimination clause: "The Program does not discriminate based on race, age, creed, gender, sexual orientation, color, national origin, marital status, religion, or any other factor prohibited by law. This applies to all aspects of its operations." Oh Snap Notre Dame! The Jesuits have very good credentials. They have been around for many centuries, and their priests are well qualified. Another great Jesuit school, Boston College has the following non-discrimination clause: "Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1863, Boston College is dedicated to intellectual excellence and to its Jesuit, Catholic heritage. Boston College recognizes the essential contribution a diverse community of students, faculty and staff makes to the advancement of its goals and ideals in an atmosphere of respect for one another and for the University's mission and heritage. Accordingly, Boston College commits itself to maintaining a welcoming environment for all people and extends its welcome in particular to those who may be vulnerable to discrimination, on the basis of their race, ethnic or national origin, religion, color, age, gender, marital or parental status, veteran status, disabilities or sexual orientation. "Boston College rejects and condemns all forms of harassment, wrongful discrimination and disrespect. It has developed procedures to respond to incidents of harassment whatever the basis or circumstance. Moreover it is the policy of Boston College, while reserving its lawful rights where appropriate to take actions designed to promote the Jesuit, Catholic principles that sustain its mission and heritage, to comply with all state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment and in its educational programs on the basis of a person's race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, marital or parental status, veteran status, or disability, and to comply with state law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of a person's sexual orientation." I bet most Jesuit schools have similar, welcoming environments. Go Irish! Beat Discrimination!

The Observer

Join others in the fight against discrimination

By The Observer · Friday, Jan. 22, 2010

Use your passion for something productive. A good adage to live life by, but here it refers to a specific situation. A group of Notre Dame students are circulating a petition to present to the University asking it to add sexual orientation to the non-discrimination clause. It's not a new cause, but it's a necessary cause. It's clear that this issue has support on campus. Many different student groups have proposed similar changes, most recently the Campaign for Human Dignity in March 2009. The group, sponsored by the Progressive Student Alliance, collected more than 2,700 signatures. Yet their requests were turned down, told by University President Fr. John Jenkins that the non-discrimination clause is a legal document, and adding sexual orientation to it might blur the line between orientation and practice and that that distinction, at a Catholic university, needed to be maintained. There are dozens of other Catholic universities in the country, however, that include sexual orientation in their non-discrimination clauses and also have GLBTQ student groups with official club status, another thing Notre Dame will not allow. This issue has continued to arise, and for good reason. The community needs to accept GLBTQ members fully. For the most part it does, but the University has not officially recognized this acceptance through the non-discrimination clause. The "Spirit of Inclusion" statement is not enough. Unfortunately, official recognition is not the student's call. What students need to do is sign this petition. And on Tuesday, show their support for the cause by wearing a "Gay? Fine By Me" T-shirt. Use your passion about this issue for something productive. The responses from both within and outside the University and College communities to The Observer's Jan. 13 comic displayed the outrage that results from discrimination against the GLBTQ community — and rightfully so. You've communicated your passion to us at The Observer in the form of e-mails, letters and phone calls, and we appreciate that. Now you have the opportunity to do the same with the University, to use your passion for something productive like this petition. The current Observer Editorial Board has supported this petition in the past. In our March 20 editorial, we noted that the Princeton Review has in the past ranked Notre Dame No. 1 in the "Alternative Lifestyles Not An Alternative" category — a clear signal that there are issues surrounding the acceptance of the GLBTQ community on our campus. We continue to support this petition and the goals it seeks. A University needs to create a welcoming sense of community to all its students. The University and those in its community do not have to choose between Catholic teaching and acceptance of its members; in fact, the two can and should go hand in hand. So harness that passion. Sign the petition. Encourage your friends to do the same. Help the student body display just how important this issue is.

The Observer

Forgive and forget

By The Observer · Friday, Jan. 22, 2010

Everyone makes mistakes. In regards to the cartoon (The Mobile Party, Jan. 13), everyone involved apologized, the editor resigned and the cartoon was banded. I believe that the apologies and actions taken after were done in full spirit and I am tired of reading people's reactions to something that has been apologized for again and again. As Christians, or even just as people, we are taught to forgive. This is not the last time someone will make an offensive joke about you and that statement can be applied to everyone. That is an unfortunate but real part of life and thinking otherwise is sadly unrealistic. Sure being made fun of sucks, but push that experience out of the way and use it to make yourself a stronger person.

The Observer

Goodbye Mr. Carroll, thanks for the memories

By The Observer · Friday, Jan. 22, 2010

The first time I saw Pete Carroll coach in person was in 2001 at Notre Dame Stadium. I was a freshman in high school that was first becoming infatuated with Notre Dame Football (and college football in general). The Irish won that game, the last time the Irish beat the Trojans, as both teams went on to have disappointing seasons. Since that year, however, the Trojans have been a college football juggernaut while our beloved Irish have been something of a national joke. As our Irish have floundered through numerous coaches over the past decade, Pete Carroll has built our rival into a team that was unquestionably the best of the aughts. USC won 1.5 national championships, their program produced three Heisman Trophy winners (until Reggie Bush's is taken away), they have dominated the Pac-10 almost every year, sent countless players to the NFL, and held an iron clad grasp on that jeweled shillelagh that we covet so very much (raise your hand if you couldn't name the trophy for our rivalry until now). Most of these years, the Irish have been a punching bag for the Trojans. In Carroll's typical game against our guys, the Trojans win by 30 points. Every once in a while (ok, twice) the Irish put up a fight, only to lose it all at the last second. Notre Dame fans have been crushed time and again by Carroll-coached teams and I should be ecstatic that the coach is finally rolling the dice with another NFL franchise. The thing is: I'm not ecstatic, but I'm actually a bit disappointed (or I was, as you'll read). The thing about Pete Carroll was that he had a great personality. He was a fun-loving coach that always seemed to be joking about things. He constantly played pranks on his team and brought celebrities to practice. When Carroll was on the sideline, Will Ferrell and Snoop Dogg were never too far behind. We knew Carroll was actually a person because he showed emotion during games (unlike Alabama's RoboCoach). Behind Carroll's goofy demeanor, we also assumed that he was a cheater. We assumed that Reggie Bush had an agent in 2005, we assumed that the recruitment of Joe McNight was tainted, no woand we assumed that Carroll knew all about these things. We derided the ‘Bush Push' because it was cheating and we always made sure to point out that LSU (and not USC) won the 2003 BCS Championship (with RoboCoach at the helm). I'm disappointed that Pete Carroll is leaving USC because these things make him incredibly easy to hate, and college football fans (well, all sports fans) love to hate people (Simmons disciples like myself might mention the term ‘sports-hate'). How could we not hate his goofiness on the sidelines or his pranks during practices? It is incredibly easy to hate a guy that brings Will Ferrell (especially post-Bewitched Ferrell) to practices, and even easier to hate a program that brings Snoop Dogg on the sidelines (and even easier to hate Snoop Dogg when he makes the Heisman pose wearing a USC jersey). Rooting against Pete Carroll was as easy as rooting against Ivan Drago. While we would have hated both just because of the teams they represented (USC and the USSR), the recruiting violations and obvious steroid use respectively made them even more villainous characters. Throw in the downright annoying personalities and we are left with classic villains in the mold of Darth Vader or the general in Avatar. However, now that Pete Carroll is leaving, we'll never have a chance to get the best of him. We'll never get a chance at redemption for all those American History X-style curb stompings that his teams put on us. It would be like if "Avatar" ended when that gigantic tree was destroyed and the scientists were in prison (sorry for the spoiler, but I assume everybody has seen it by now). I want the Irish to have their chance to shoot arrows into Pete Carroll and the mech-warrior type program that he has assembled. I'm also disappointed that Carroll is leaving because a win against him would have been a win against the best. I don't want a win against USC because they are mired in sanctions or struggling through a rebuilding process; I want a win against USC because our team was able to go toe to toe with the best team in the land and come out on top. A win against Drago would have meant nothing if Drago was just some random Russian boxer, and a win against USC will mean a lot less (although admittedly not as much less) if USC isn't the powerhouse that it has been. I want to beat the powerhouse that has the goofy-evil-cheater head coach, and when I first heard Pete Carroll was moving to the Seahawks I was really worried that USC would no longer be the power that they once were or still have a coach that it was easy to hate. But then (after I had already completed most of this column) they hired Lane Kiffin, the one coach in all of college football that will arguably be easier to hate than Carroll has been. "Kiffin-Kelly I" is coming in November, and I can hardly wait.

The Observer

Counseling at Women's Care Center

By The Observer · Friday, Jan. 22, 2010

In this column, "The Notre Dame They Know," I will interview individuals who have been influenced by the University of Notre Dame. I will seek to discover the unique role that Notre Dame has played in their life and vocational journey. It is hoped that this column will inculcate a deeper, more honest and more profound love for Our Lady and Her University.

The Observer

Goodbye Mr. Carroll, thanks for the memories

By The Observer · Friday, Jan. 22, 2010

The first time I saw Pete Carroll coach in person was in 2001 at Notre Dame Stadium. I was a freshman in high school that was first becoming infatuated with Notre Dame Football (and college football in general). The Irish won that game, the last time the Irish beat the Trojans, as both teams went on to have disappointing seasons. Since that year, however, the Trojans have been a college football juggernaut while our beloved Irish have been something of a national joke. As our Irish have floundered through numerous coaches over the past decade, Pete Carroll has built our rival into a team that was unquestionably the best of the aughts. USC won 1.5 national championships, their program produced three Heisman Trophy winners (until Reggie Bush's is taken away), they have dominated the Pac-10 almost every year, sent countless players to the NFL, and held an iron clad grasp on that jeweled shillelagh that we covet so very much (raise your hand if you couldn't name the trophy for our rivalry until now). Most of these years, the Irish have been a punching bag for the Trojans. In Carroll's typical game against our guys, the Trojans win by 30 points. Every once in a while (ok, twice) the Irish put up a fight, only to lose it all at the last second. Notre Dame fans have been crushed time and again by Carroll-coached teams and I should be ecstatic that the coach is finally rolling the dice with another NFL franchise. The thing is: I'm not ecstatic, but I'm actually a bit disappointed (or I was, as you'll read). The thing about Pete Carroll was that he had a great personality. He was a fun-loving coach that always seemed to be joking about things. He constantly played pranks on his team and brought celebrities to practice. When Carroll was on the sideline, Will Ferrell and Snoop Dogg were never too far behind. We knew Carroll was actually a person because he showed emotion during games (unlike Alabama's RoboCoach). Behind Carroll's goofy demeanor, we also assumed that he was a cheater. We assumed that Reggie Bush had an agent in 2005, we assumed that the recruitment of Joe McNight was tainted, no woand we assumed that Carroll knew all about these things. We derided the ‘Bush Push' because it was cheating and we always made sure to point out that LSU (and not USC) won the 2003 BCS Championship (with RoboCoach at the helm). I'm disappointed that Pete Carroll is leaving USC because these things make him incredibly easy to hate, and college football fans (well, all sports fans) love to hate people (Simmons disciples like myself might mention the term ‘sports-hate'). How could we not hate his goofiness on the sidelines or his pranks during practices? It is incredibly easy to hate a guy that brings Will Ferrell (especially post-Bewitched Ferrell) to practices, and even easier to hate a program that brings Snoop Dogg on the sidelines (and even easier to hate Snoop Dogg when he makes the Heisman pose wearing a USC jersey). Rooting against Pete Carroll was as easy as rooting against Ivan Drago. While we would have hated both just because of the teams they represented (USC and the USSR), the recruiting violations and obvious steroid use respectively made them even more villainous characters. Throw in the downright annoying personalities and we are left with classic villains in the mold of Darth Vader or the general in Avatar. However, now that Pete Carroll is leaving, we'll never have a chance to get the best of him. We'll never get a chance at redemption for all those American History X-style curb stompings that his teams put on us. It would be like if "Avatar" ended when that gigantic tree was destroyed and the scientists were in prison (sorry for the spoiler, but I assume everybody has seen it by now). I want the Irish to have their chance to shoot arrows into Pete Carroll and the mech-warrior type program that he has assembled. I'm also disappointed that Carroll is leaving because a win against him would have been a win against the best. I don't want a win against USC because they are mired in sanctions or struggling through a rebuilding process; I want a win against USC because our team was able to go toe to toe with the best team in the land and come out on top. A win against Drago would have meant nothing if Drago was just some random Russian boxer, and a win against USC will mean a lot less (although admittedly not as much less) if USC isn't the powerhouse that it has been. I want to beat the powerhouse that has the goofy-evil-cheater head coach, and when I first heard Pete Carroll was moving to the Seahawks I was really worried that USC would no longer be the power that they once were or still have a coach that it was easy to hate. But then (after I had already completed most of this column) they hired Lane Kiffin, the one coach in all of college football that will arguably be easier to hate than Carroll has been. "Kiffin-Kelly I" is coming in November, and I can hardly wait.

The Observer

Join others in the fight against discrimination

By The Observer · Friday, Jan. 22, 2010

Use your passion for something productive. A good adage to live life by, but here it refers to a specific situation. A group of Notre Dame students are circulating a petition to present to the University asking it to add sexual orientation to the non-discrimination clause. It's not a new cause, but it's a necessary cause. It's clear that this issue has support on campus. Many different student groups have proposed similar changes, most recently the Campaign for Human Dignity in March 2009. The group, sponsored by the Progressive Student Alliance, collected more than 2,700 signatures. Yet their requests were turned down, told by University President Fr. John Jenkins that the non-discrimination clause is a legal document, and adding sexual orientation to it might blur the line between orientation and practice and that that distinction, at a Catholic university, needed to be maintained. There are dozens of other Catholic universities in the country, however, that include sexual orientation in their non-discrimination clauses and also have GLBTQ student groups with official club status, another thing Notre Dame will not allow. This issue has continued to arise, and for good reason. The community needs to accept GLBTQ members fully. For the most part it does, but the University has not officially recognized this acceptance through the non-discrimination clause. The "Spirit of Inclusion" statement is not enough. Unfortunately, official recognition is not the student's call. What students need to do is sign this petition. And on Tuesday, show their support for the cause by wearing a "Gay? Fine By Me" T-shirt. Use your passion about this issue for something productive. The responses from both within and outside the University and College communities to The Observer's Jan. 13 comic displayed the outrage that results from discrimination against the GLBTQ community — and rightfully so. You've communicated your passion to us at The Observer in the form of e-mails, letters and phone calls, and we appreciate that. Now you have the opportunity to do the same with the University, to use your passion for something productive like this petition. The current Observer Editorial Board has supported this petition in the past. In our March 20 editorial, we noted that the Princeton Review has in the past ranked Notre Dame No. 1 in the "Alternative Lifestyles Not An Alternative" category — a clear signal that there are issues surrounding the acceptance of the GLBTQ community on our campus. We continue to support this petition and the goals it seeks. A University needs to create a welcoming sense of community to all its students. The University and those in its community do not have to choose between Catholic teaching and acceptance of its members; in fact, the two can and should go hand in hand. So harness that passion. Sign the petition. Encourage your friends to do the same. Help the student body display just how important this issue is.

The Observer

The Jesuits have it right

By The Observer · Friday, Jan. 22, 2010

The University of Notre Dame has said they do not want to include sexual orientation in their anti-discriminatory clause because that somehow endorses homosexual activity. I vote Jesuit! I went to the University of Detroit Mercy, a Jesuit school, and this is their non-discrimination clause: "The Program does not discriminate based on race, age, creed, gender, sexual orientation, color, national origin, marital status, religion, or any other factor prohibited by law. This applies to all aspects of its operations." Oh Snap Notre Dame! The Jesuits have very good credentials. They have been around for many centuries, and their priests are well qualified. Another great Jesuit school, Boston College has the following non-discrimination clause: "Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1863, Boston College is dedicated to intellectual excellence and to its Jesuit, Catholic heritage. Boston College recognizes the essential contribution a diverse community of students, faculty and staff makes to the advancement of its goals and ideals in an atmosphere of respect for one another and for the University's mission and heritage. Accordingly, Boston College commits itself to maintaining a welcoming environment for all people and extends its welcome in particular to those who may be vulnerable to discrimination, on the basis of their race, ethnic or national origin, religion, color, age, gender, marital or parental status, veteran status, disabilities or sexual orientation. "Boston College rejects and condemns all forms of harassment, wrongful discrimination and disrespect. It has developed procedures to respond to incidents of harassment whatever the basis or circumstance. Moreover it is the policy of Boston College, while reserving its lawful rights where appropriate to take actions designed to promote the Jesuit, Catholic principles that sustain its mission and heritage, to comply with all state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment and in its educational programs on the basis of a person's race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, marital or parental status, veteran status, or disability, and to comply with state law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of a person's sexual orientation." I bet most Jesuit schools have similar, welcoming environments. Go Irish! Beat Discrimination!

The Observer

Forgive and forget

By The Observer · Friday, Jan. 22, 2010

Everyone makes mistakes. In regards to the cartoon (The Mobile Party, Jan. 13), everyone involved apologized, the editor resigned and the cartoon was banded. I believe that the apologies and actions taken after were done in full spirit and I am tired of reading people's reactions to something that has been apologized for again and again. As Christians, or even just as people, we are taught to forgive. This is not the last time someone will make an offensive joke about you and that statement can be applied to everyone. That is an unfortunate but real part of life and thinking otherwise is sadly unrealistic. Sure being made fun of sucks, but push that experience out of the way and use it to make yourself a stronger person.

The Observer

Counseling at Women's Care Center

By The Observer · Friday, Jan. 22, 2010

In this column, "The Notre Dame They Know," I will interview individuals who have been influenced by the University of Notre Dame. I will seek to discover the unique role that Notre Dame has played in their life and vocational journey. It is hoped that this column will inculcate a deeper, more honest and more profound love for Our Lady and Her University.

The Observer

What we can do together

By The Observer · Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010

 The old saying goes that there are no atheists in foxholes. Even the most ardent non-believer, in this line of thinking, would desire to pray to a higher power in the face of great fear or impending death. Even though atheists themselves resent this implication, calling it an aphorism rather than a statistical claim, we can perhaps agree and hope that the worst of situations often brings out the best in each of us. So during this 100th anniversary Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, as I find myself praying for the many victims and heroes down in Haiti after the devastating earthquake and aftershocks, I believe and hope that there are no Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Evangelicals, Anglicans or Lutherans in Port-au-Prince right now, but simply followers of Christ, offering food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty and shelter to the homeless, binding up wounds and consoling the many who mourn.

The Observer

Spirit still missing

By The Observer · Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010

 We commend the Editorial Staff's intention to apologize for including "The Mobile Party" in your Jan. 13 edition. As you note, the publication of the cartoon was, indeed, an "egregious error in judgment." However, the content of your apology continues to create concern. Referencing what you claim to be the regrettable acts of others (Sen. Reid) as you apologize for your own regrettable actions is an attempt to justify your actions, to make them seem more common, and therefore, less objectionable. As children sometimes say, "Yes, it's wrong, but everyone does it! Why should I be the only one that gets in trouble?" 

Trending