THE The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary's VOLUME 43: ISSUE 124 FRIDAY. APRIL 17.2009 NDSMCOBSERVER.COM Brennan Bolhnan named valedictorian University Senior biological science major, peace studies minor earned 4.0 GPA, plans to attend medical school appoints professors to their houses. we're an amazing group of sophomore year working in a By MADELINE BUCKLEY Our learning doesn't have to young people." Catholic worker shelter for gameday News Editor be confined to classes and Bollman, a biological sci­ women and taught English in homework and clubs." ence major and peace stud­ Cambodia the following sum­ Brennan Bollman, the class Bollman said she is grate­ ies minor from St. Joseph, mer. Both service projects of 2009 valedictorian, ful for the Mich., said she will attend were organized through the director earned a 4.0 grade point opportunity medical school next year in Center for Social Concerns average, but she said many to speak to the hopes of becoming a (CSC). By IRENA ZAJICKOVA of her most valuable learn­ her class at doctor, but she said a career "Living in that shelter is News Writer ing experiences from the graduation. in medicine was not always what really got me engaged past four years have hap­ "I know her goal. in social issues," she said. "It At the request of the ad hoc pened outside of the class­ that my "I came to Notre Dame was really a transformative Committee on Safety, room. class is full thinking I would go more experience." Security and Hospitality, "One of the things I've of incredi­ along the lines of biomedical Bollman said her experi­ University President Fr. John enjoyed most about being at b I y research," she said. "But it ences helping individual peo­ Jenkins has appointed Notre Dame is spending time e n g a g e d Bollman was doing the summer serv­ ple through service projects Michael Seamon as director with friends who will engage and accom- ice programs that reawak- drew her away from of gameday operations, issues beyond the class­ plished people, and I'm just ened me to the idea of being research and towards medi­ according to a University room," she said. "I have one of them," she said. "I a doctor." cine as a career. press release. groups of friends who will will just work hard to speak Bollman spent 10 weeks Seamon, the current assis­ cook dinner and invite their well on our behalf because during the summer before see BOLLMAN/page 8 tant vice president for University events and proto­ col, has accepted the addi­ tional position. His responsibilities include Jenkins faces criticism; asks to meet coalition managing the football game­ day safety, security and hos­ pitality operations that run Group of alumni launch President withdraws through various University organizations. Web site to tally sum invitation to meet after In an Oct. 14 article, The Observer reported the ad hoc of withheld donations group makes requests committee was formed in response to complaints of By MADELINE BUCKLEY By AARON STEINER aggressive behavior from News Editor News Writer police and ushers. The committee released a Seeking a "change of leadership" University President Fr. John report in March, detailing at Notre Dame, a group of alumni Jenkins formally extended an invita­ recommended actions the launched a Web site Thursday to tion to meet with a student coalition administration should take, attempt to quantify the amount of group, ND Response, which has including installing a game­ money the University will lose in voiced concerns about the invitation day operations director. donations as a result of University to President Barack Obama to speak Seamon said a large part of President Fr. John Jenkins' invita­ at Commencement, but Jenkins his job is to make sure Notre tion for President Obama to deliver declined to meet with the group after Dame continues to have a the 2009 Commencement address, they made several specific requests in lasting effect on those who said David DiFranco, a founder of a reply to his invitation. visit its campus. the site. IAN GAVLICK/The Observer According to a press release from "In my conversations with Students participate in prayer rally held by the see ALUMNI/page 6 NO Response coalition Sunday April 5. see JENKINS/page 8 see SEAMON/page 6 Sophomore. plays Hogwarts comes to Notre Dame 'Wheel of Fortune' Event features Harry Potter-themed dinner, decorations boredom. By CASEY KENNEY By IRENA ZAJICKOVA "All my buddies back home News Writer News Writer are on the quarter system, so I was home by mys.elf for a solid South Dining Hall was filled with Notre Dame sophomore Nick month and I was bored out of magic and enchantment Thursday Normandin has fulfilled a dream my mind," Normandin said. evening when the Freshmen Class that many college students may "One day my mom suggested I Council and Notre Dame Food Services secretly have - to appear on a try out for a game show, so I hosted Notre Dame's first Harry Potter widely watchnd game show. decided to do 'Wheel of Night. Tonight, millions will sen him Fortune' bBcause I'm good at The event was planned a<> a fun occa­ appear on the popular gamP that." sion that would appeal to a wide audi­ show "Wheel of Fortune." The auditions took place in ('nce, according to Vineent Lau, a fresh­ Normandin. a science-busi­ Los Angel('s, which is a 45- man and the coordinator ofthe event. ness major from Zahm House, minute drive from Costa Mesa, "The idea f(,r the event arose bPcause auditioned and secured a spot Normandin's hometown. He said so many people notir.ed the similarities the experience was unlike any between South Dining Hall and the din- on the show last summer. PAT COVENEYfThe Observer Normandin said that he was South Dining Hall features decorations and mainly motivated to do so by see WHEEL/page 6 see HOGWARfS/page 6 food from the Harry Potter series Thursday. INSIDE TODAY'S PAPER Keyes joins Terry's efforts page 4 • Harangody enters draft page 24 • Wilco concert review page 12 • Viewpoint page 10 page 2 The Observer+ PAGE 2 Friday, April 17, 2009 INSIDE COLUMN QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS? Winter is worthwhile During the cold winter months, I often question why it is I chose to go to school at Notre Dame. I Angela Carothers Jordan Matulis Johanna Kirsch Sarah Spieler Stephen Santay have never been a fan of the cold, and while the winters in senior freshman junior freshman sophomore Connecticut aren't that much Badin Howard McGlinn PW Alumni warmer, they aren't nearly Liz O'Donnell ''My room ... "The Pink "O'Shag "Starbucks ... "Leighton as bad as they are here in except Lounge in stairwell because you Concert Hall in lovely South News Production apparently rm Howard Hall. window bays ... can't use flex the DPAC ... Bend. It is Editor alergic to it." It's pink and it's fun to scare points off great concerts., days like yes­ fi , terday that I un. people" campus" remember why I decided to go to school north of the Mason Dixon line. As I sit out on the lawn behind McGlinn writing this column, I have become aware of just how Have an idea for Question of the Day? E-mail [email protected] little I would accomplish if I went to school in Florida. It is currently 62 degrees and IN BRIEF 2:30 in the afternoon, and I have no intention of doing anything for the rest of the dav other than sit­ An exhibit entitled ting outside and soaking up the "BFA/MFA Candidates' rays (and of course attending the Thesis" will held in the Harry Potter dinner in SOH). If I O'Shaughnessy Galleries in went to school anywhere down the Snite Museum of Art on south, 62 degrees would probably Friday. The exhibit opens at constitute a breezy spring after­ 10:00 a.m. Admission is free. noon. After my first winter here in South Bend, I have come to The "Italian Drawings recognize anything over 55 Seminar'' exhibition will degrees as acceptable for warm begin at 10:00 a.m. on Friday weather. For that matter, since in the Scholz Family Works returning from Spring Break, I on Paper Gallery in the Snite have refused to don anything but Museum of Art. The exhibit flip flops. will have 16th and 17th cen­ Lets hypothetically say that tury drawings by Italian mas­ Notre Dame was set in Miami. I ters. have to imagine the rate of atten­ dance of classes would drop sig­ The Ten Years Hence nificantly. Speaking for myself, I Lecture Series entitled can tell you that I would be much "Future Think: How to Put more inclined to spend my after­ Change in Perspective and noons at the beach than sitting in See More Clearly What is some building learning about Coming'' will be held in Machiavelli or Darwin. But, there PAT COVENY/Observer Jordan Auditorium in the is a downside to this. We pseudo­ Students break dance Thursday afternoon outside of South Dining Hall for Mendoza College of Business. Eskimos in Northern Indiana can Project Fresh, a club that educates students about the four elements of hlp The lecture will begin at appreciate days like yesterday hop, while students watch. 10:40 a.m. on Friday. where the weather is beautiful. While on Spring Break, some "Community Organizing: friends who went to school at the Getting at the Root of the University of Tampa came down Problem" will be held at 1:00 to Naples to visit.