---------------------------- ------- ---- -- -~--------------------------------- THE The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary's VOLUME 43: ISSUE 8 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBERS. 2008 NDSMCOBSERVER.COM ELECTION 2008 Campus groups mobilize over 2008 election College Dem, GOP clubs Nonpartisan ND Votes '08 support their candidates helps register new voters By KAITLYNN RIELY By KAITLYNN RIELY Associate News Editor Associate News Editor No matter who wins the presidential Since the beginning of the fall election this fall, there's going to be a semester, NDVotes '08 has regis­ big celebration at Notre Dame. tered 91 new voters and added 410 "We'll have the biggest party that people to its database, senior Notre Dame's ever seen," Edward Yap, Mallory Laurel, a co-chair for the the president of the Notre Dame College nonpartisan education campaign run Republicans, said. "Regardless of who­ by the Center for Social Concerns ever wins, we'll have tons of fun at it." (CSC) said. But Yap is hoping for a victory by the At the CSC's opening picnic last Republican ticket of Sen. John McCain week, the NDVotes '08 table was of Arizona and Gov. Sarah Palin of "just swarmed the entire time," Alaska. He said the club might look into Laurel said. booking an off-campus location to "I think, because this election in watch the election returns Nov. 4. particular is so exciting and monu­ Across the political spectrum, Notre !fiental, more people are interested Dame College Democrats co-president in registering to vote," Laurel said. AP John McCain, left, talks with opponent Barack Obama. McCain and Obama are both see PARTIES/page 4 vying for the presidency and have electrified both sides of the political spectrum. see NO VOTES/page 6 Students hopeful for upcoming season College 1 Upgrades for team, re-tooling of pep rallies excite student body after last year's 3-9 record undergoes ~ By TESS CIVANTOS of the National Championship to being 3-9, this season repre­ renovation News Writer sents a shot at redemption. ''I've experienced the highs of Putting the debacle that was a BCS game and the lows of a Construction takes place Notre Dame football 2007 in the loss to Navy," senior Dennis · past, students are excited about Rankin said. "So I'm excited to in dorms, classrooms the possibilities this upcoming experience the highs again." season holds, starting with San Diego State is anticipated tomorrow's game against San to be an easier opening game By MANDl STIRONE Diego State. than Georgia Tech last season, Assistant News Editor "''m excited to see how this and many students say they first game will play out," sopho­ expect a win. Saint Mary's underwent a more Octavia Ratiu said. "I don't "The schedule looks good, the massive renovation effort this think it's possible to do worse offense seems really improved," summer with 11 of the than last year.". sophomore Matt Robinson said. College's buildings undergoing For members of the senior ''I'm excited to get back in the construction. According to an The Observer File Photo class, who have seen Notre football stadium and see an Irish e-mail sent to the student body Howard Hall's mascot crowd surfs at a 2007 pep rally. This year, the Dame's storied program plum­ by Director of Facilities Bill rallies will feature competitions for prizes between dorms. met from being within seconds see FOOTBALL/page 4 Hambling. LeMans Hall, Havican Hall, Holy Cross Hall, Haggar College Center, Cushwa-Leighton Library, Angela Athletic Facility, Madaleva Hall, McCandless Band holds annual plaiding ceremony Hall, Moreau Hall, Regina Hall, Reidinger House and the Science Building have all been By LIZ HARTER ceremony, which will take place renovated. Saint Mary's Editor before the traditional concert LeMans Hall was under con­ on the steps in front of Bond struction as early ~s spring Hall at 1:25 Saturday. semester last year, Hambling Tailgating, watching the foot­ At the ceremony the senior said in an April 29 Observer ball players head to the stadi­ members will present plaids to article. um after the team Mass, buying the first year members of the "We have installed new drain steak sandwiches from the band to complete their uniform. lines to remove the water shed Knights of Columbus on South After the seniors present from the roof away from the Quad. Students and fans in their plaids they receive a spe­ sanitary lines and into our town for the Notre Dame home cial senior plaid that is distin­ storm water system. This opener against San Diego State guished by the gold cording repair has eliminated the have a lot of entertainment along its edges from a family numerous leaks that were opportunities vying for their member or friend. caused from the plugged down attention before the 3:30 p.m. "It's a way to honor the new spouts and backing up into the kick-ofT. band members for their first walls, causing interior finish If tradition is what catches home game, and a way to rec­ damage. Interior finishes that their interest though, the Irish ognize the seniors at the begin- LIZ HARTERffhe Observer were damaged by the water, faithful can attend the Band of Jim McGuire, left, Matt Meinig, middle, and Katie Putz show off the Fighting Irish's plaiding see BAND/page 4 their plaids, which represent different aspects of the NO community. see SMC/page 6 page 2 The Observer+ PAGE 2 Friday, September 5, 2008 INSIDE COLUMN QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO AT THE GAME THIS WEEKEND? Pageantry Rankings Football weekend is here again! That, of course, means that campus will transform from a sleepy little place and turn into Disneyland for a Liz Brown Shanna Goffinet Mickey Grusciniskl Lindsey Appelqulst Angela Slier eoupln days. To celebrate sophomore junior senior senior senior the occasion, John Tierney LeMans LeMans LeMans Regina LeMans we dneided to rnlease the offi- "The craziness "Not being 'The fact that cial Notre News Writer "/ want to see a "The awesome Dame Football of the student there. " we're going into unified team halftime show Pageantry body in the the game that plays their of the Band of Power Hankings, 08. (Disclaimer: stands." undefeated. strongest. " power rankings are not oftieial.) the Fighting Our goal is to rank football There's hope. " Irish ... and the pageantry items 1-10. We might not hot dogs." get that far, but we 'II give it a college try. 1. The game. This is too obvious. It shouldn't even really count. 2. The Alma Mater at the end of the game. People complained last year that we shouldn't sing it after we lose, or at least the players shouldn't sing it with us, but we IN BRIEF should sing it and the players should join us. The Alma Mater is more than Communion and Liberation a school tradition. It's a prayer. And at Notre Dame will be hosting it's really cool that Charlie Weis and its Beginning Day today from the players are willing to join with 4:30-6 p.m. in the Notre Dame nveryone else in the stadium for it. Room of LaFortune. All stu­ :~. Knights of Columbus Steak dents, faculty and staff are Sandwich sale. Best grub you can get invited to attend. before the game. Plus, the it raised over $60,000 for eharity last year. The Office of Student 4. The jig. I think the jig is more Activities will host comedian fun than the touchdown pushups. It Joel McHale, star, writer and gets even better when the band producer of E!'s "The Soup" speed up the tempo cause someone for an hour of comedic relief at in the row winds up messing up and 10 p.m. today on South Quad. everyone falls over. 5. Ollicer Tim McCarthy from the The Disabilities Studies Indiana State Poliee. Bad puns are so Forum entitled "Disability and much fun. Obsession: Can a psychiatric I'm a fan. Only not really. Think impairment have a history?" about it. will be held today at noon in 6. Candlelight Dinner. I like food. the Notre Dame Room of And the food at Candlelight Dinner is LaFortune Student Center. good. This would be higher, but the line is significantly longer than it is The first pep rally of the LIZ HARTER/The Observer ~ at 12:20 on Tuesdays. season is today from 6 to 7 I 7. Trumpets in the Dome. I didn't Members of Saint Mary's Student Activities Board (SAB) make cotton candy for p.m. in the Joyce Center know about it until sophomore year, students In the basement of the Student Center as part of SAB's the annual Arena. but it's worth fighting the crowds to Twilight Tailgate event. The event had to be moved from Library Green Into the see it. The Victory March is really Student Center at the last minute because of rain. The Notre Dame Glee Club powerful in the Dome. I like it more will have a "Kickoff Concert" than Concert on the Steps because it at 8 p.m. today at the doesn't spoil the half-time show. But Leighton Concert Hall in the a friend just disputed the spoil factor OFFBEAT DeBartolo Performing Arts of Concert via text message. She Center. Tickets are $5 for gen­ likes the concert because "you can UPS driver surpasses 1 Boyd told The Associated Fire department eral admission. The event is listen to the music, then you can million miles In truck Press that his truck's gone spokesman Bruce Garner sponsored by the Department focus on watching at halftime." PALESTINE, Texas - A through at least three said firefighters responded of Music.