/ ^ V THE bserver OThe Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Marys OLUME 41 : ISSUE 118 MONDAY, APRIL 16,2007 NDSMCOBSERVER.COM Affleck-Graves on loan company boardLGBTQ Executive vice president made $58,984 in eight months, but says position is not ethical conflictawareness whether student loan compa­ lender Citigroup, according to Affleck-Graves said. By KEN FOWLER and nies illegally offered bribes or a report this weekend from Affleck-Graves said he is not KAITLYNN RIELY kickbacks to financial aid Bloomberg News. on the board of any other loan week starts News Writers directors at schools in order to Student Loan Corp. sought corporations and maintained re m a in on out Notre Dame and Affleck- that his situation is different Students will observe Executive Vice President th e sch o o l’s Graves for the position, the than the positions college John Affleck-Graves became p r e f e r r e d executive vice president said. administrators under investi­ national day of silence the 12th college official nation­ lender list He said he communicated with gation have held. wide identified as receiving or to earn a University President Father Unlike financial aid directors compensation from a student spot on the John Jenkins, Director of at other colleges under investi­ By EMMA DRISCOLL loan company on the preferred coveted Student Financial Strategies gation, Affleck-Graves is not in News Writer lender list of the official’s col­ directory. Joseph Russo and Vice the chain-of-command on stu­ lege — and while ethical A f f l e c k - President for Finance John dent loan decisions. questions have been raised, Graves Sejdinaj before accepting the He noted that all decisions Stand Against Hate, a week Affleck-Graves said Sunday his r e c e i v e d Affleck-Graves position. about financial aid and stu­ designed to spread awareness case is different from the cases $58,984 in “I spoke with Father John dent loans are sent through about issues faced by the les­ being investigated by New salary for eight months as a about it and went through the Sejdinaj’s office. bian, gay, bisexual, transgen­ York Attorney General Andrew director for Student Loan Financial Aid office and decid­ “The key thing is what inter- d er and questioning (LGBTQ) Cuomo. Corporation, a lender affiliated ed that it would probably be a community — including Cuomo is investigating with Notre Dame-preferred good thing for us to do,” see LOANS/page 4 harassment and discrimina­ tion against LGBTQ individuals — begins today with the hope of bringing the issue back to the center of campus con­ sciousness. Matt Phipps chosen as new leprechaun The message against dis­ crimination of members of the LGBTQ community is some­ official mascot of Notre Dame thing that week co-organizer By ROHAN ANAND since 1965. Casey Scott feels is very News Writer Before tryouts began, Phipps important, especially for Notre said that he was excited but < Dame. There’s a new leprechaun in nervous “because of the tough “I think it’s important town. competition.” But he was glad because I think this issue often Senior Kevin Braun, who that he was at least assured a is overlooked and kind of just served as the mascot for the slot on the cheerleading team pushed to the side,” she said. Irish football team this past sea­ for the fall football season. Scott said that the issues of son, handed over the title to jun­ “Even if it still doesn’t work hate and discrimination are ior Matt Phipps, who on Friday out,” he said before the competi­ critical in general, and at won the competition to become tion. “I’ll still be wearing poly­ Notre Dame they are especial­ the University’s mascot. Phipps ester on the field.” ly significant for LGBTQ stu­ has also served on the varsity He, however, won’t have to dents because of the tension cheerleading squad for the past worry about that anymore. between the Catholic doctrine 3 years. Also returning as the and homosexuality. Seven male students per­ Leprechaun on the blue squad “I think there are a lot of formed stunts, led cheers at next year will be sophomore misconceptions between the mock pep rallies and conducted Juan Muldoon. two groups,” she said. media interviews in front of Coincidentally, Phipps and Fellow co-organizer Andy more than 100 students and a Muldoon attended rival high Magee said shedding light on panel of judges Friday at the schools in Dallas and have discrimination is essential Joyce Athletics and Convention enjoyed their partnership on the because many people do not Center to compete for the gig of cheerleading squad for the past raB U know about it. varsity Leprechaun for 2007-08 two years. O bserver file photo “The best thing we can do to school year. The leprechaun and cheerleaders run across the field of Notre Dame The Leprechaun has been the see TRYOUTS/page 3 Stadium in 2005. Junior Matt Phipps will wear the green next year. see WEEK/page 3 Hodges assumes new role Right to Life club hosts Saint Mary's president, vice president take on duties as term starts collegiate conference the second of four planned con­ By LIZ HARTER By AARON STEINER ferences targeted at college stu­ News Writer News Writer dents. Each conference centers around one of four points of Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Since the Saint Mary’s Students from Notre Dame, “Evangelium Vitae.” student government Saint Mary’s, Holy Cross and a “The response was extremely, turnover occurred April 1, host of other colleges convened overwhelmingly positive,” Walter student body president at Notre Dame this weekend for said. “The speakers gave many Kim Hodges and vice pres­ the second annual Pro-Life [students] insights that they had­ ident Kelly Payne have Collegiate Conference, hosted by n’t thought of.” smoothly transitioned into the Notre Dame Right to Life Students from Midwestern col­ their new roles. club. leges including Purdue, Loyola Hodges became the first Starting on Friday, nationally (Chicago) and DePaul traveled to black woman in the recognized speakers spoke about campus to join the strong contin­ school’s 152-year history “various issues dealing with life gent of pro-life students from ever to hold the position from conception to natural Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and when she took office. She death” at venues across campus, Holy Cross. Walter said atten­ said she anticipates the said club president Mary Liz dance from students outside the upcoming year. Walter, a junior. area was greatly improved this “As a leader, I pray that I NAib hfciNLUN/1ne uoserver Walter said the conference — year with and overall attendance Kim Hodges, above, and Kelly Payne have assumed their positions as focused on the theme “I came Saint Mary’s student body president and vice president. see HODGES/page 6 that they might have life” — is see PRO-LIFE/page 6 page 2 The Observer ♦ PAGE 2 Monday, April 16, 2007 Inside C olumn Question of the Day: W hat is your favorite r e c e ss activity? This could get awkward I don’t remember what I was doing on May 5 last year, but some­ how I managed to miss National Make Out Day. Never having heard Sandy McShea Betsy Dilla Marisa Villano Eleanor Huntington Courtney Ball Juliana Hoffelder of such a holiday, I was surprised as freshman freshman freshman freshman freshman freshman I scrolled down O’Neill Lyons Lyons Cavanaugh Cavanaugh Cavanaugh my Facebook Bridget Gilloon newsfeed the other day to see 7 was a fat kid, “Red rover, “Gossip on the “Four-square fo “Tag, ’ because I“I liked to race ^ r a p / t e r so I engaged in endlessly monkey bars." sho. ” liked chasing the boys. ’’ on attending this minimal without doubt. ” the boys. ” event. physical Since I haven’t been invited yet activity. ” (my fingers are still crossed), I clicked to find out where I could go to crash the party. Apparently, it is taking place everywhere in the world from midnight on May 5 to noon on May 6, with a break from 2 to 9 in the morning for most partici­ pants at Notre Dame, of course. Personally, this holiday could not come at a better time. I have just In B rief recovered from mono, which gives me lifelong immunity to the disease. Also, I will be fleeing the country T he Notre Dame Bands next semester, which could help Chamber Ensembles co n cert prevent awkward situations. will take place to n ig h t at 7 p.m. in Leighton Concert Hall However, I can’t help but think that National Make Out Day might be a in the DeBarlolo Performing scam created to spread diseases Arts Center. It is a free event, and encourage Notre Dame’s infa­ but tickets are required. The mous hook-up culture. Wait, never Brass Ensemble explores a mind, I was just on the phone with wide range of musical genres my mom. including Renaissance, But then again, is making-out Baroque and orchestral tran­ really that dangerous? Aren’t we in scriptions. college to experience new things and learn from our mistakes? After There will be cholesterol all, we’re only going to get older screenings tomorrow from and wiser ... hopefully. Maybe 7:30 to 10 a.m. in 234 Grace someone will meet their future Hall. No appointment neces­ spouse on May 5 or at the very least sary. walk away with some fond memo­ ries of when they were young, stu­ Notre Dame women’s soft­ pid and unattached.