THE The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary's OLUME 43: ISSUE 113 ' MONDAY, MARCH 30.2009 NDSMCOBSERYER.COM State College Dems convene at ND Campus Students and elected representatives look ahead to policy formation and 2010 elections turns off By ROBERT SINGER shift national electoral trends - and for re-electing him. Assistant News Editor "In our congressional district lights for President Obama won by Five months after helping to 25,000 votes and his margin in turn Indiana "blue" for the the state was approximately first time in 44 years and with 25,000 votes," he said. "This Earth Hour their sights set on further district is a Republican-leaning change, College Democrats district. All of you worked hard By LIZ O'DONNELL from across the state met across the state and here in News Writer Saturday in DeBartolo Hall for our district in particular." the 2009 Annual College ''I'm incredibly grateful to Democrats of Indiana you," Donnelly added. Notre Dame participated in Convention to elect statewide The conference attendees the global World Wide Fund officers and instruct members looked ahead to strategy, as for Nature (WWFJ Earth Hour on fundraising tactics. local party leaders kept an eye 2009 this weekend as an Congressman Joe Donnelly, a on the future, emphasizing the effort to show the community, Democrat who represents importance of revitalizing the and world, the importance of Indiana's 2nd District, opened economy and the conse­ slowing down global climate Photo courtesy of Spencer Howard the convention by crediting quences of the 2010 midterm change. Congressman Joe Donnelly, D-lnd., spoke Saturday in campaign volunteers from last "The simple act of flipping DeBartolo Hall to College Democrats from across Indiana. fall's election for helping to see DEMS/page 4 the switch multiplied across the world was designed to show that we care about, want solutions to, and can make a difference to slow global climate change," said Lisa Bunn, a Notre Dame jun­ Hundreds run 13.1 miles in winhy mix ior and member of GreeNO who participated in the Annual Holy Half Marathon raises thousands for charity as runners wind through grounds event. Most of the major cities in "We had 159 more run­ the world took part in Earth By NORA KENNEY ners than last year.... Wow. Hour, which took place from News Writer We made $4,580 more than 8:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday last year for registration evening. Battling the rain, sleet and fees," Kickham said. From coast to coast, build­ snow that doused Notre The event began Saturday ings went dim as major cities Dame Sunday morning, 534 with Mass in Alumni Hall's in the United States observed runners navigated a 13.1- chapel and a pasta dinner in the hour of darkness. mile course that started and the Coleman-Morse Lounge, "The [WWFJ organized the ended at South Dining Hall and ended with an awards event globally, and cities in for the annual Holy Half ceremony on Sunday at 88 countries participated by Marathon. 12:30 p.m., when senior turning off non-essential The turnout was a sur­ Kieran O'Connor was recog­ lighting," Bunn said. prise for event coordinators nized for being the first Notre Dame's contribution Gabby Tate and Sean male to finish at 1:12:46 to the effort included turning Kickham, both sophomores. and senior Casey Robertson the lights off on both the "It was absolutely amazing was recognized as the first Golden Dome and Touchdown DAN JACOBSffhe Observer especially for a snowy, woman, with a time of Jesus. In addition, students Holy Half Marathon participants begin the two-loop course rainy, sleeting, freezing around campus at South Dining Hall Sunday morning. day." Tate said. see MARATH 0 N/ page 4 see LIGHTS/page 6 Duncan holds Highlander Games Mothers visit Saint Scottish-themed festivities might become dorm's signature event Mary's junior class By CASEY KENNY News Writer place," said Megan Beckman, Anyone walking near South By ALICIA SMITH president of the class of 2010. Quad Saturday likely heard News Writer "It is a great weekend to have the sounds of Scottish music in order to show your parents, and the enthusiastic cries of Members of Saint Mary's mom or dad around Saint those participating in and class of 2010 had the chance to Mary's and let them see what watching the modern-day spend some quality time with you do throughout the year." Highland Games sponsored their mothers this weekend The Junior Board, which by Duncan Hall. during Junior Mom's Weekend. consists of Megan Carroll, The event was an adapta­ Mothers were invited to come Emily Cook, Sarah Ryniak, tion of the traditional Scottish to campus Friday at 3 p.m. Kelley Jeske, Karlee Jeske, Highland Games and featured Approximately 240 mothers Amy Leicht, Kristen Hesano food, music and games of were on campus last weekend and Beckman, planned and skill, strength and endurance, to obtain some quality time hosted the event. which included spear-throw­ with their daughters while Saint Mary's junior Katie ing, catapulting water bal­ experiencing Saint Mary's. Ineich's mother and aunt par­ loons through rings, dodge­ "It has become a tradition at ticipated in the event. ball and a variety of other Saint Mary's that each year a "My mom and my aunt Scottish-inspired activities. PAT COVENEYffhe Observer Sophomore Parents' Weekend, attended," Ineich said. "I had a Students participate in the Scottish-themed Highlander Junior Moms' Weekend and see GAMES/page 6 Games Saturday on South Quad. Senior Dads' Weekend takes see MOMS/page 4 page 2 The Observer+ PAGE 2 Monday, March 30, 2009 INSIDE COLUMN QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT WOULD YOU RATHER PLAY BOOKSTORE BASKETBALL IN: RAIN OR SNOW? War on Walsh begins It has been over a year since the victo­ ry celebrated across campus on V-W Day. Those heinous Amazons were stopped, their encroachment upon the Anna Nanigian Chelsea Clark Natalie Dehen Neva Lundy Steve Kubik Steve Santay rights of Otters and those who call Otters friends halted. Our sophomore sophomore junior sophomore sophomore sophomore war was just, our Matt Gamber Lyons Walsh McGlinn Lyons O'Neill Alumni fighting superior, our valor unassail­ "Hail, "Snow." "Definitely able, and our tum­ Sports Editor "Snow. It's more "Wintry mix." "Rolfs." mies furry and full preferably. " fun. " snow. of shellfish. But since that victory, we free Darners have been guilty of a grave error. We have been content to rest on our laurels; frolicking, swimming and grooming without a care in the world. We Sorinites, the vanguard of liberty and fashion sense, have had the wool pulled over our eyes. Darkness has descended over the land. A darkness that knows no boundaries, no respect. A darkness that treads upon the sacrosanct grass of God Quad, and IN BRIEF uses the front stairs of the Dome, even though it won't be graduating for few A lecture hosted by the Higgins years. A darkness that doesn't smell bad, Labor Studies Program called per se, but that has an odor that makes "Working for Social Justice: us uncomfortable. From the Fields of Immokalee, It began small, with protestation of the Florida to the Fields of Sinaloa, terms of the Treaty of Bond Quad. We Mexico" will take place today at Otters are a fair breed. The agreement 7:30p.m. in 131 DeBartolo Hall. was just: their leaders were tried in an Fair Food Across Borders nation­ intramural court and assigned responsi­ al campaign coordinator Melody bility for the fighting, and we Otters Gonzalez, NO '05, will give the maintained control over their arms lecture. caches (no more than two per person) as well as exclusive use of the dumpster A lecture titled "To Cry or Not behind their building. to Cry: Heritage, Genetic But the terms set forth, 14 in total, Identity, and the Ambivalence of were apparently too much. After allying Belonging in Argentina" will be with and eventually annexing the given Tuesday by Dr. Graciela Knights of Columbus building (their Cabana of University of small yet culturally rich neighbor to the Tennessee at 3 p.m. in 117 south), these women have now threat­ DeBartolo Hall. ened an invasion of St. Ed's, (a historical­ ly neutral dorm) to facilitate a game of The Center for Asian Studies Assassins with Keenan, a game will host a symposium called denounced in a Hall Presidents' Council "The Church in Asia, Part 1: meeting as "totally lame." East Asia" Tuesday from 9 a.m. This unacceptable breach of the PAT COVENEYfThe Observer to 7 p.m. in the Hesburgh morality of this University is something Sophomore James Sollitto carries senior Bill Columbus, both of Keough Hall, during Center Auditorium and Great for which we cannot stand! For too long the 'Storming of the Castle' event of the first annual Highlander Games Saturday. Hall. The symposium aims to have we lain idly by, cracking clams on explore the past, present, and our stomachs while floating in the lake. future of Catholicism in Asia, and The threat is real, and the horror of war will feature three scholars focus­ is upon us once again. Though the path ing on the Church in Japan, will be difficult and the carnage China and South Korea. unspeakable, we must act. We must fight OFFBEAT with every fiber of our beings. And The play "Our Town," by though we will lose good men, probably Company to launch kosher ods certified by a rabbi. It when a piece of paper fell Thornton Wilder will be shown around the beginning of May, the price of Mexican tequila will retail for $41.95 a bottle.