/ ^ \ THE O b s e r v e r The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Marys VOLUME 40 : ISSUE 69 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2007 NDSMCOBSERVER.COM University suspends McAlarney Two tickets Irish point guard to miss spring, summer semesters following December possession charge face off in Brey thought he was dressing were as surprised as I am, they football team for a parietals vio­ By BOB GRIFFIN Kyle ... tonight for the St. John’s were shocked.” lation. In early 2002, football SMC race News W riter game,” Janice McAlarney said. Senior Associate Athletics players Lorenzo Crawford, “I have not spoken to Coach Director John Heisler told The Justin Smith, Donald Dykes and Davis-Kennedy first Notre Dame basketball player Brey [since the decision was Observer Tuesday he was Abram Elam were dismissed Kyle McAlarney was suspended made]. He’s unable to comment. Notre Dame from the University following pair to be eliminated for the spring and summer 16 miles sports information director accusations of raping a female semesters Monday and is cur­ away from Bernie Cafarelli said she could Notre Dame student in an off- rently on his way home to me right now not comment due to privacy campus house. Later in 2002, By KELLY MEEHAN Staten Island, N.Y., his mother with the laws. Irish running back Julius Jones Saint Mary’s Editor said in a phone interview team, and Brey cannot comment on the was suspended for academic Tuesday afternoon with The he’s where situation either, Cafarelli said. delinquency. The Annie Davis-Courtney Observer. he has to be. McAlarney, who was pulled Since McAlarney is suspended Kennedy ticket was the first elim­ Janice McAlarney said her son I don’t blame over during a routine traffic for the spring and summer inated Tuesday from the three- — a sophomore who was basketball in stop near campus early in the semesters, not dismissed — McAlarney way race for the helm of Saint charged with possession of mar­ this at all. I morning on Dec. 29, is at least which under the University’s Mary’s student government. ijuana Dec. 29 — was not dis­ think he was the seventh Notre Dame athlete disciplinary handbook, du Lac, While that pair clinched 24 per­ missed from the University, but caught way off guard also. to face suspension or dismissal means permanent expulsion — cent of the vote, the Colleen the news of a two-semester sus­ “The athletic department and in the past eight years. he will have the opportunity to Ferreira-Jenny Antonelli and Kim pension came as a shock. [Notre Dame Athletics Director] In 1999, Irish tailback Tony Hodges-Kelly Payne tickets are “[Notre Dame] coach [Mike] Dr. I Kevin] White told me they Driver was suspended from the see MCALARNEY/page 4 competing in the runoff election that began at 12:01 this morning and will end at 11:59 tonight. Percentages will not come into play during the runoff calcula­ tions — meaning the pair with Students, professors evaluate Bush address the most votes wins. With approximately 35 percent of the student body voting, State of the Union reaffirms Iraq troop increase, generates debate nationwide, on campus Ferreira-Antonelli received 38.3 percent of the vote — a mere 1.9 percent more than Hodges- By JOHN TIERNEY and Payne, at 36.4 percent. The nar­ KAITLYNN RIELY row lead, candidates said, makes News Writers the opportunity to campaign for the runoff more valuable than ever. U.S. President George W. “I’m optimistic that we’ll get Bush’s State of the Union more voters,” Hodges said. “I address Tuesday night came at think our biggest draw is the a time when his approval rat­ open forum meetings where stu­ ings are low and Republicans dents will be able to voice con­ and Democrats alike are ques­ cerns, comments and what’s in tioning his recently announced their hearts.” plan to send more than 20,000 While Hodges and Payne new troops to Iraq. announced their promises and Bush reiterated his optimism catered to voters with free cook­ about his recent decision to ies outside Noble Family Dining deploy more troops to Iraq as Hall Tuesday, Ferreira-Antonelli he appeared before the joint did not let their lead overlook the session of Congress and mil­ need to continue their campaign. lions of Americans looked on — “[Being the top vote-getters] among those Notre Dame stu- CHRISTAIN SAGARDIA/The Observer makes us feel that we are com- Taking a break from snacking and studying, students gather around one of the new flat-screen televi­ see PRESIDENT/page 6 sions in the LaFortune Student Center to watch Bush’s State of the Union address Tuesday. see ELECTION/page 6 Coalition reexamines 'West Wing' actor visits College Los Angeles, based on Smith s toward theatre majors. By LAURA BAUMGARTNER Lunch Fast program Obie award-winning one- “Smith will be working with News Writer woman play, at 7:30 p.m. the theatre students and actu­ ident, junior Jessica Pillarella. Tuesday night in Vander ally running an interactive By STEVE KERINS “One of the best things about Renowned actor, playwright, Vennet Theater. class with them,” she said. “I News Writer us is that we steer clear of the author and producer Anna As a theatre major, senior think it will be a great experi­ politics ... I think anyone can Deavere Smith, known for her Rachel Sokolowski said she has ence for the students and will It has been more than 30 agree that feeding the hungry roles in “The West Wing,” “The especially looked forward to really give Smith the opportu­ years since the World Hunger is a good thing.” Practice,” “Philadelphia” and Smith’s visit. nity to engage with our stu­ Coalition (WHC) began to con­ The WHC’s primary activity “The Americ­ “After graduation [theatre dents.” front Notre Dame students on campus is the Wednesday an President,” majors] have a huge variety of Fitzpatrick also said Smith with the stark realities of mal­ Lunch Fast, in which students is a featured options, and it’s definitely excit­ will be having lunch exclusively nutrition in some of the poor­ pledge to donate one meal per guest lecturer ing to see someone who’s taken with the students of the theatre est nations on earth. week from their meal plans. of the Saint herself so far in her field,” she department. Now, after watching partici­ The money from the unused Mary’s com­ said. “It’s very inspiring to have Theatre department chair pation slacken in its signature lunch is then given to the WHC, munication her come and share her John Pauley said he hopes Wednesday Lunch Fast pro­ which forwards it to organiza­ and perform­ thoughts.” Smith’s visit will “open stu­ gram, the Coalition is prepar­ tions dedicated to stamping out ance studies Smith will present a series of dents’ eyes to think about pos­ ing to renew its commitments hunger. department lectures open to the public over sibilities they might not have to feeding the hungry and rais­ “The Wednesday Lunch Fast, this week. Smith a three-day period. Assistant thought about,” especially ing awareness by encouraging for a low semester, it brings in The College professor of communication those considering a career in student involvement in new $8,000,” Pillarella said. “For a prepared for Smith’s arrival by and performance studies the performance arts. ways. great semester we’ll bring in introducing her work to the Colleen Fitzpatrick said Smith’s “We do our best to fight community — it hosted a free first presentation, “The Art of hunger,” said the group’s pres­ see HUNGER/page 4 screening of the film “Twilight Listening,” will be targeted see ACTOR/page 4 page 2 The Observer ♦ PAGE 2 Wednesday, January 24, 2007 Inside C olumn Question of the Day: W hat’s your favorite movie of all time? ESP me Apple has once again excited gadget geeks and businessmen alike by unveil­ ing the iPhone, which, in his demo of the new product, Apple CEO Steve Jobs so eloquently described as “cool” and & “awesome.” Watching the Jeff Albert Anne Marie Giangiulio James Aldridge Kallen Wade Laura Martinez Marcela Monsalve Vince Houghton keynote demo on senior sophomore freshman junior sophomore graduate student Apple’s Web site Graphics Pasquerilla West Keenan Knott Howard Pasquerilla East off campus got me thinking Editor about the way the transfer of infor­ “‘A Few Good “‘Roots’ “Godfather. ’ I “‘Ferris “I would need “‘Super mation is constantly being revolution­ ized. M en’ — I ’m because it’s my like to see Bueller’s Day to check my Troopers. ” Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, the cre­ partial to any­ roots. ” people get Off.' I wish I facebook... but ators of YouTube, gave the world a new thing Aaron shot. ” could have done ‘Monsoon outlet for conveying information Sorkin does. ” that in high Wedding’ (whether viewers find it relevant or ridiculous). But beyond the simple con­ school. ” (Bollywood) or veying of information, I am consistently ‘My Fair L ady’ struck by how quickly the knowledge of o r ...” a particular video can spread, especially at a place like a college campus (think: “OMG — shoes.”). Since people seem to be taking it upon themselves to use these contrivances to establish communities, small or large, In B rief where they can interact with like-mind­ ed individuals, it seems more than likely that product designers will actually put A reading of Homer's Iliad the establishment of these communities will take place today in the at the forefront of their future designs.