the Observer The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s Volume 44 : Issue 121 friday, APRIL 9, 2010 ndsmcobserver.com Future of Library hangs in limbo Washington Ohmer to take interim role after director steps down; petition calls for improvements chosen as to fill the gap. By SARAH MERVOSH “I’m really excited about News Editor it. It’s a great opportunity,” top of class Ohmer said. “I’m happy to The Hesburgh Library serve as long as needed.” may boast a nationally rec- ognized image on its Strategic plan for 2010 facade, but the future of Ohmer said a major goal the Library itself is not as is formulating a strategic clearly established. plan for the future direction By KATIE PERALTA After a year of renovation of the Library. The Assistant News Editor talk, a petition calling for University is currently in the Library’s improvement the planning stages for the and the recent stepping strategic plan, but nothing Notre Dame announced down of its director, the has been written yet, she Katie Washington of Gary, Library hangs in a state of said. Ind., as the valedictorian of limbo. Ohmer will also chair the the graduating class of 2010 But Assistant Provost committee for the strategic Wednesday. Susan Ohmer, who was plan, which she hopes will Having earned a 4.0 GPA in recently named interim be finished next spring. b i o l o g i c a l director of the Hesburgh s c i e n c e s Libraries, said she is ready see LIBRARY/page 4 JACLYN ESPINOZA | Observer Graphic with a minor in C a t h o l i c S o c i a l Te a c h i n g , CommUniversity Day spurs service Washington said she owes the By KRISTEN DURBIN In addition to on- and off- s u c c e s s Washington News Writer campus projects, a chil- she’s had dren’s festival for all com- to the support she’s gotten munity families will take from loved ones. From painting houses and place on Irish Green, as “By no means do I feel like fire hydrants to working at well as hourly campus I’ve done this on my own,” the Center for the walking tours. The day of she said. “I’m humbled and Homeless, over 700 stu- service will culminate with grateful to have had this dents will participate in 35 a community picnic at the experience at Notre Dame.” different service projects Robinson Community Washington, who received benefiting the South Bend Learning Center. the announcement Tuesday community for Saturday’s “This is an opportunity evening, said she is still pro- s e c o n d a n n u a l for everyone from Notre cessing the news. CommUniversity Day. Dame and the surrounding “I’m still trying to distill A number of these proj- community to get together my feelings and get a grasp ects are sponsored by stu- to interact,” junior Rachel on what it really means,” she dent groups and campus Roseberry, co-director of said. “It’s very surreal.” offices, such as Circle K, the event and outgoing During her time on cam- Photo courtesy of Denise Baron GreeND, the Psychology Social Concerns chair, said. pus, Washington was the Participants in last year’s CommUniversity Day help make signs Club and the Center for outside of the Robinson Community Learning Center. Social Concerns. see SERVICE/page 6 see STUDENT/page 4 College increases Construction to close campus roads tuition by 4.76 percent New hockey arena, other projects expected to be finished on time By AMANDA GRAY Assistant News Editor percent, from $636 to $660. By ALICIA SMITH Students can also expect a Although new construction Associate Saint Mary’s Editor 2.96 percent increase in room projects — such as a new and board, making an average arena for the hockey team In order to maintain the double room price rise from — are expected to close quality of the academic and $9,206 to $9,480. some roads around campus, co-curricular programs at Speller said the projected Vice President of Business Saint Mary’s College, the increase is smaller than in Operations James Lyphout Board of Trustees have previous years. said he expects the con- authorized an increase in “Tuition increases for the struction will proceed tuition for the 2010-11 aca- four previous years were five smoothly. demic year, Richard Speller, percent each year,” Speller Roads around the Joyce vice president for Finance and said. Center, including Holy Cross Administration said. Speller said the increases Drive, will be closed until The percent of increase for would be beneficial to enhance Sept. 1 for the construction the 2010-11 academic year programs that directly affect of the new ice arena. will be 4.76 percent, raising students. “We have worked with tuition costs from $28,980 to In the previous year, the Barton Malow, the construc- Image courtesy of James Lyphout 30,360. Additionally, Speller An artist’s rendering provides a glimpse of what the said fees will increase 3.77 see TUITION/page 6 see BUILDING/page 6 new hockey arena will look like when it opens in Dec. INSIDE TODAY’S PAPER Juniors named Truman Scholars page 3 N Roots concert preview page 14 N Women’s lacrosse preview page 28 N Viewpoint page 12 page 2 The Observer N PAGE 2 Friday, April 9, 2010 INSIDE COLUMN QUESTION OF THE DAY: IF YOU COULD HAVE A HOLLYWOOD BEST FRIEND, WHO WOULD IT BE? Survival of the frosh As Ferris Bueller once so famously remarked, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and Jennifer Prather Kelly Clune Claire Priestley Katie Hester Maria Sheehan Allison Kincaid look around every once in a while, you could miss it.” freshman freshman freshman freshman freshman freshman In just about a McCandless McCandless McCandless McCandless McCandless McCandless month, I will be Emily Schrank returning home “Taylor Swift “All 19 of the “Kim “Ashton “Will Ferrell “Jennifer to the great state News Wire o f S o u t h Editor because I love Duggar Kardashian Kutcher because I’ve Aniston. Who Carolina for the her and her children.” because she because he’s always wanted wouldn’t want summer and will have successfully (knock on little brother is rolls with some always funny to know what to be her wood!) survived my first year of coming to Notre incredibly and easy on the his hair felt friend?” college. For me, that is pretty Dame next attractive pro eyes.” like.” hard to believe. In the midst of the endless year!” athletes.” papers and countless tests, it may seem like the days don’t go by fast enough. But before we know Have an idea for Question of the Day? E-mail [email protected] it, the days eventually turn into years and we’ll be out in “the real world,” the comforts of our homes under the Dome far behind us. IN BRIEF I was reminded of that fact this past weekend, when my family The Halftime A Cappella came to visit me for Easter. Student Musical Group are per- As we sat and visited with my forming their Spring Concert dad’s former Howard Hall mate tonight at 7:30 p.m. in (yes, Howard Hall was once a Washington Hall. Tickets are $3 men’s dorm), they began to dis- in advance or $5 at the door. Call cuss their approaching 30-year 574-631-8128 for tickets. reunion this summer. Both my dad and his friend could not A classical music concert will be believe that so much time had performed by the Academy of passed since they themselves had Saint Martin in the Fields been Notre Dame students, but tonight at 7 p.m. in the Leighton still said that it “felt just like yes- Concert Hall at the DeBartolo terday.” Performing Arts Center. Tickets As much as it pains me to say, I are $15 for students, $22 for fac- know that, all too soon, my ulty and staff and $32 for general friends and I will be in the same admission. Tickets can be pur- situation: reminiscing and longing chased by calling 574-631-2800. for the “good old days” of Notre Dame. The film “Seven Samurai” will Time is certainly a tricky thing be shown Saturday at 2 p.m. in and it is a concept that has the Browning Cinema at the always been puzzling to me. DeBartolo Performing Arts Some moments in life seem to Center. Tickets are $3 for stu- drag on, while others happen in EILEEN VEIHMEYER /The Observer dents, $5 for faculty, and $6 for the blink of an eye. Students receive henna tattoos in the Saint Mary’s College Student Center general admission. Tickets can be As my father’s conversation Thursday for SMC Tostal. The opening of the event featured activities and free- purchased by calling 574-631- with his old friend suggested, bies including t-shirts, a photo booth and food vendors. 2800 or by visiting the DeBartolo events that may have occurred Performing Arts Center box years ago, often feel as if they office. happened just yesterday. Meanwhile, things we may have The 2010 BFA/MFA experienced in the not so distant OFFBEAT Candidates’ Theses Exhibition past, seem to have taken place will be shown Sunday from 1 ages ago. Judge fired over teen Henson had moved and at work to lunch breaks. p.m. to 5 p.m.