/ ^ V THE bserver OThe Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Marys VOLUME 43 : ISSUE 75 TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2009 NDSMCOBSERVER.COM Archbishop speaks on religous trends B oard o f G overnance St. Mary's Vatican official discusses the secularization of Europe, the Church's shifting role said that economics, politics, to host By LAURA MCCRYSTAL and bio-technology in Modern News Writer Europe become detached from religion and morality. The influence of the Catholic “In this panorama, the influ­ conference Church in Europe is declining ence of Christianity on social as a result of secularization, life is greatly weakened,” he said Archbishop Angelo Amato said. By ASHLEY CHARNLEY in a lecture Monday night. While some people argue News Writer Amato, who was appointed that Modern Europe does not by Pope Benedict XVI last July need to rely on its Christian Saint Mary’s will be host­ to oversee the canonization of roots, Amato disagrees. He said ing this year’s Indiana Catholic saints, delivered Notre the Church has always con­ Residence Hall Organization Dame’s annual Terrence M. tributed to European civiliza­ Conference (IRHOC) Maura Keeley Vatican lecture spon­ tion. Clougherty, president of the sored by the Nanovic Institute “Europe cannot be under­ Residence Hall Association, for European Studies. stood without Christianity,” he said at Monday night’s Secularization is a trend in said. “It loses its originality and Board of Governance (BOG) which people feel “emancipat­ identity,” ANDREW WEBER/The Observer meeting. ed from religious bonds,” he Amato said he hopes Europe Archbishop Angelo Amato delivered Notre Dame’s annual The event, entitled “Will said. Secularism, a worldwide will blend tradition with its Terrence M. Keeley Vatican lecture Monday night. You Be My Leader?” will problem because it does not modern views so that it will bring almost 100 students accept religion as an important find a greater respect for only a link to Europe’s roots, he said. “Europe must profess from all over the state of reality, is especially apparent democracy, freedom, and the but it is also a solution for the itself to be Christian.” Indiana to campus on Feb. in Central and Western Europe, dignity of the human being in future, he said. Amato said hope for the 6, 7, and 8. The weekend he said. the future. “Christianity is the basis of will include leadership pro­ With secularization, Amato Christianity is therefore not modern thought and morality,” see VATICAN/page 3 grams, and awards will be handed out to participants. “This IRHOC conference is one of the biggest confer­ ences we have had in a long time, so we are very excit­ Notre Dame awarded for sustainability efforts ed,” Clougherty said. This week the Student pledge drive to see which Syracuse” he said. “A lot of Sustainability will accept stu­ A cadem ic Council (SAC) is By LIZ LEFEBVRE school could gain more people com m itted to dent proposals for ways to use holding Religious Studies News Writer pledges. Carbonrally allowed us to win the prize money that will week on campus, student The drive, sponsored by the competition, and in the increase Notre Dame’s sustain­ body vice president and Notre Dame has recently Carbonrally.com, encouraged same way, a lot of people com­ ability. head of SAC Sarah Falvey received two honors that high­ students, faculty, staff and mitted to reducing their car­ To dow nload a proposal said. There will be a light the University’s commit­ alumni to reduce their carbon bon footprints will help us to form, please visit Thomas Aquinas Symposium ment to increasing sustainabil­ emissions. control climate change.” www.green.nd.edu . All propos­ on W ednesday night in the ity on cam pus from Notre Dame’s pledge count Kobeski also noted the als must be submitted by Student Center Lounge at 7 Carbonrally.com and the of 1,932 beat out Syracuse’s importance of this event to February 2. p.m., she said. Marine Stewardship Council 1,446 commitments. The win­ increasing Notre Dame’s sus­ Notre Dame received a sec­ University President (MSC). ning pledges have committed tainability, especially in light of ond honor when it became the Father John Jenkins will be The University won $10,000 to reducing carbon emissions the $10,000 prize. first major university to be speaking at the event about from a competition held in by nearly 48 tons. “Winning the NBC awarded a chain-of-custody Aquinas’ influence at Notre conjunction with Syracuse Junior Connor Kobeski, who Carbonrally Challenge will certification from the MSC in Dame, Falvey said. University in November as part worked with GreeND to regis­ help the Office of order to guarantee sustainable “It’s really great. of NBC’s Green Week. In addi­ ter students during Green Sustainability to make even seafood in the dining halls. Especially having just cele­ tion to making the Notre Week, cited GreeND as a cru­ greater environmental MSC is a global nonprofit brated our Saint Mary’s her­ Dame-Syracuse football game cial part of the competition’s changes across the university.” organization committed to pro­ itage, our heritage is very carbon neutral and increasing success. Kobeski said. moting the best environmental much shaped by Aquinas,” recycling on game day, the “GreeND members’ dedica­ Students can take an active choices in seafood through its Falvey said. University also participated in tion to getting people signed role in helping to make these a sustainability commitment up gave us the edge over changes, as the Office of see AWARDS/page 3 see BOG/page 4 ECDC seeking student volunteers SMC to test security alert Center needs help with program for children ages 2 to kindergarternsystem this afternoon program for children from age in swings,” she said. By CASEY KENNY 2 to kindergarten and utilizes a Students work the same explain what students could News Writer By ALICIA SMITH developmentally appropriate schedule each week and, News W riter expect from the test. curriculum.” therefore, really get to know “We try to test at least once The Early Childhood The 80-90 student volunteers the children they are working per academic year. We do this Development Center (ECDC) at with the program work along­ with, Kosik said. Saint Mary’s students, faculty to make sure the system works Notre Dame, on Bulla Road side teachers and assist the “There is a wide range of and staff will be receiving an e- properly,” vice president of stu­ behind the library and directly children with various activities, children in the program from a mail, text message or phone dent affairs Karen Johnson across from Fisher O’Hara- she said. variety of ethnic backgrounds call at 4 p.m. today as the said. Grace Graduate Student “Students volunteer 2 hours and socio-economic groups,” College’s Emergency The test works by sending a Housing, is looking for student per week and spend time with she said. “The volunteers can Notification System is tested, message through the service volunteers for the Spring the children in various capaci­ choose the age group with according to an e-mail sent to the College contracts with. The semester, according to Terri ties [from I working on the cur­ whom they feel most comfort­ the student body last week. message is sent to students cell Kosik, the executive director of riculum with teachers, reading able.” Students received the e-mail phones and their e-mails ECDC. stories to children, teaching Kosik said that while volun- one week prior to the test date addresses. Kosik said the center offers a them to ride bicycles, painting to inform them when the test “dynamic, recreational-based with them [and] pushing them see ECDC/page 4 would be occurring and to see ALERT/page 4 page 2 The Observer ♦ PAGE 2 Tuesday, January 27, 2009 Inside C olumn Question of the Day: H o w a r e you celebrating Chinese N e w Ye ar? If I were a a superhero... f . Like any other young college student, sometimes (okay often) I sit back and won­ der what I should do with my life. I would Bridget Meade David Schaller Jeremy Way Krystal Holtcamp Samantha Tulisak prefer something exciting, fulfilling and useful to humanity. A subsequent romp through fantasy land obviously follows this freshm an senior senior freshm an freshm an type of life planning. LeM ans Alumni Dillion M cCandless LeM ans And I’ve decided, in an ideal (insanely Jess Shaffer “Ordering “Buy an “I’m going to “Watch ‘Mulan’ “I would totally unrealistic) world, 1 Chinese food American car.' burn incense to and kiss a dance with a would be a super­ Assistant Scene and looking up my ancestors.” Chinese man. ” hero. Editor dragon. ” Being a superhero Chinese swear is the best of all worlds. You get to use really cool powers, words. ” do good by kicking butt, and be useful to society while being loved and adored by all. In addition, you’d get to chill with fascinat­ ing and dynamic (and fictitious) characters, who would automatically have to be your friend just because you’re a superhero too. It’s kind of like dorm life at Notre Dame. Sororities and Fraternities lite; half the In B rief “clickiness,” twice the fun. Clearly, hanging out with Superman, The Winter Career and Spiderman, Wonder Woman, X-men, the Internship Fair will be held Hulk and the Fantastic Four would Wednesdayfrom 4-8 p.m. in the undoubtedly be a mind blowing experience, Joyce Center Fieldhouse. The no explanation needed here. I’d even let in event is free and open to stu­ the Cullen Family and the cast of Harry dents from Notre Dame, Saint Potter, who all fight evil and use some Mary’s and Holy Cross.