/ ^ V THE U b se r v e r The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Marys VOLUME 42 : ISSUE 51 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2007 NDSMCOBSERVER.COM Early action applications up 11.5 percentNBC exec: University recruits more minority, international students; Peer college policy changes affect N D Bold pitches records and extracurricular By ROHAN ANAND activities than ever before,” News W riter Saracino said. “However, even more notable will be the Early Action applications Early action applications to amount of diversity — ethni­ the University rose to 4,247 cally, internationally, and Network vice president this year, up 11.5 percent from socio-economically — that will last year, Assistant Provost for be reflected in next year’s encourages fearlessness Undergraduate Admissions freshman class.” Dan Saracino said. Visitations to the admissions Number ot applications submitted 3,809 4,247 This year’s applicant pool office have also been up 16 ByJENN METZ includes a 45 percent increase percent this year, Saracino Assistant News Editor in the number of ethnic said, and admissions officers Number ot applicants irom ethnic minorities 551 799 minorities seeking early are receiving more inquiries Fearlessness is necessary when admittance to Notre Dame, as from students and high school entering the television industry, an Number ot international applicants 61 126 well as a 106 percent increase counselors via e-mail, phone NBC official said Ttiesday at Notre in international students. A calls and application requests. Dame. total of 799 minorities and 126 Saracino attributed the In a discussion titled “Developing international students submit­ increases in international stu­ Prime-Time ted early action applications dent applications to his office’s Television,” this fall, Saracino said. outreach efforts, which a part of the He called those figures include increased traveling to Film, “healthy increases.” other countries to market Television inlormaflon Irom “My projection is that we Notre Dame, mobilizing the and Theatre will come out of early action alumni abroad to contact high Talks series, me Admissions oiilce with an admitted group of stu­ Katie OnsBRViiH ORAmic/Madeline Nles dents with higher academic see EARLY/page 6 O’Connell, senior vice president of O’Connell drama C o u n cil o f R epresentatives development at NBC Entertainment, outlined careers in television and how a show grows from a pitch to pilot. 'Shirt7 president wants to go national In order to succeed, one must be able to articulate an opinion and “be fearless about that,” said By JOSEPH McMAHON early phases of production, Gott said, plans O’Connell, who spoke to an audi­ are already underway to sell The Shirt in ence of mainly FTT majors in the News Writer nationwide retail stores like J.C. Penney, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center’s Sears and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Browning Center. The Council of Representatives unani­ “J.C. Penney has actually already “It’s really easy not to like some­ mously approved Tuesday a new president approached us,” Gott said. “We want to turn thing,” O’Connell said. “Having a to head The Shirt committee next year and it into a nationwide program while main­ fearlessness, standing up for some­ discussed the possibility of selling The Shirt taining The Shirt’s identity.” thing ... those are the strongest nationwide. Gott stressed this last point. While he assets in this business.” The outgoing president of The Shirt com­ hopes The Shirt will be sold nationally, Gott At her current position, mittee, senior Brad LeNoir, presented junior said it will always remain a student-run O’Connell guided the pilot develop­ Jason Gott, vice president of the 2007 com­ project and a symbol of unity for Notre ment and launch of freshmen mittee, to the council. Dame supporters. series like “Chuck,” “Life,” “Bionic “Jason is the best candidate because of “I would take very great care to make Woman” and “Journeyman.” She the experience and ideas he brings to the sure it stays relevant to Notre Dame foot­ also is working on a mid-season table,” LeNoir said. ball,” he said. DUSTIN MENNELLA/ The Observer addition, “Lipstick Jungle,” based Gott said he has several new ideas for the _____________________ From left to right, Sheena Plamoottil, Liz Brown 2008 Shirt. Although the design is still in the see THE SHIRT/page 8 and Maris Braun sit at Tuesday’s COR meeting. see NBC/page 8 Role of religion in politics debated University remembers Panelists use JFK example to explore separation of Church, state soldiers, sends packages By MADELINE BUCKLEY ty service, said the care pack­ By ANN-MARIE WOODS News Writer ages are a way to show the News Writer troops support and let them Two student-professor know “there are students at teams faced off at LaFortune As Notre Dame students Notre Dame and other places count the days to go home for Student Center Tuesday night that have them in their Thanksgiving, one group as they debated the role of thoughts and prayers.” wants to remember fellow religion in politics. She said the packages will Political science professor Americans that don’t have the include items the soldiers privilege of spending the holi­ David Campbell and senior might enjoy, but do not neces­ day with their families. Kathleen Sullivan, a political sarily have access to while Bearing in mind men and science major, argued that they’re abroad, like candy and women in the armed forces religion doesn’t have a place beef jerky. But the care pack­ in the political spectrum. abroad, the Notre Dame ages will also have more prac­ Accounting Association Their opponents, Law School tical supplies, like sunscreen (NDAA) organized its annual professor Richard Garnett and and chapstick. care-package drive, inviting senior Corey Mehlos, co-presi­ Byrum said the NDAA has students to send gifts to dent of College Democrats, also received donations from deployed soldiers, primarily said there are times when different stores in the commu­ those in the Middle East. religion can be appropriate in nity to help pay for the things LINSDAY POULIN/The Observer The drive ends this weekend. political settings. in the packages. Law professor Richard Garnett, left, and senior Corey Mehlos speak Senior Elizabeth Byrum, see RELIGION/page 3 at a debate on religion in politics in the LaFortune Center Tuesday. NDAA co-director of communi­ see SOLDIERS/page 4 page 2 The Observer ♦ PAGE 2 Wednesday, November 14, 2007 In s id e C o lu m n Question of the Day: W h o s h o u l d N e w Y o r k p ic k if s h e w a n t s to f in d t r u e l o v e ? What almost came to be On Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007,1 traveled to Chicago see one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in concert. This was an adventure fraught with Concerta Holley Derek Ingle James Toner Kyle Peters Jude Ann Jasso near-disaster, creepy cabbies and what senior will become one junior junior junior junior of my biggest Anthony Conklin Howard Keough Keenan O’Neill off campus regrets. But it was still one of “Buddha. He’s “The “Flavor Flav. “She should’ve the most amaz­ Sports Wire “Midget Mac ing times of my Editor sexy. ’’ Entertainer Again. ” because he’s kept Midget life. because he just the right Mac. Great However, believes in the things come in since 1 cannot fit the entire story in this height. ” column, I will focus on one thing — the spiritual sm all story of my huge regret. realm. ’’ packages. ” In the immortal words of this influen­ tial man, I am going to tell you the end of the story first and then we’ll Tarantino it. The story ends with the lights suddenly re-illuminating the 20,000 some faces in the crowd, while a thunderous alarm sounded. Iz;t the adventure begin. n r ie f The show did not begin at 7. The show I B did not begin at 7:30. Nay, the show began at 8 — one hour late. The film “Working Women However, the audience’s grumblings of the World” will be shown were lost among gasps when the lights tonight at 7 in Cl 00 Hesburgh went out and we heard the announce­ Center Auditorium as part of ment. the film series, “International “This summer Dane Cook brings you Labor/1 si World — 3rd World ‘Rough Around the Edges. ” Clobal Economy.” Then a familiar voice, that of Dane Cook, interrupted with, “Hoy, that’s not “Loyal Daughters and Sons: this summer, that’s tonight!" Sexuality and Sexual Assault The crowd went wild and Dane Cook As Told by Notre Dame look the stage. As can be expected, the Students” will be performed at act was hilarious. I le had a lot of new 8 p.m. tonight through Friday material, and the old material he used at Washington Hall. Tickets was spiced up with new bits. are $5 and are available at the I couldn’t sit up straight at times and LaFortune Box Office. was clinging to my chair for support. My diaphragm hurt from laughing so hard. There will be a presentation In summary, I am glad I went to the on Careers in the Stale bathroom before the show (yes, I thought Department Thursday at 6:30 ahead). p.m. in Montgomery Now I will tell you about a moment Auditorium of LaFortune. that will haunt me for the rest of my life. It may well become the biggest regret Archbishop Celestino in my life. After Cook returned for his VANESSA GEMPIS/The Observer Migliore, the Vatican’s perma­ encore, he mentioned how much he Best-selling author and nuclear abolitionist Jonathan Schell delivers the lecture nent observer to the United loves Kool-Aid.