the Observer The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s Volume 44 : Issue 118 Wednesday, March 31, 2010 ndsmcobserver.com ‘Every day was special’ Student art Observer office manager Shirley Grauel retires after 30 years as a ‘second mother’ to many showcase By JENN METZ newspaper, she knew it was per- “I love interacting with every- cent the person she appears to fect. body every day. They stay the be: loving, committed, loyal, nur- Senior Staff Writer exhibited “And here I am now, 30 years same age, but I keep getting turing,” she said. “I am incredi- later, working in a basement of a older, but I never felt the gap,” bly proud that this mom to so In the summer of 1980, Shirley building,” she said on her sec- she said. “I respected the stu- many actually is my mom.” Grauel turned down a job work- ond-to-last day as The Observer dents, and it just worked out so Though 30 years in one posi- at the Snite ing in a basement. office manager. well.” tion might seem like an eternity A mother with young children, Known for her hugs, her candy Shirley’s time at The Observer to many, it didn’t feel that way to she called the University regard- bowl and her daily line-up of has not only shaped her own life, Shirley. By AMANDA GRAY ing an ad for an administrative daytime television, Shirley has but her family’s as well. Her “Every day was special,” she Assistant News Editor secretary position. When the been a constant presence at The daughter, Jill O’Hara, said her said. “Where else would you get University called back about a Observer, and staffers over the earliest memories of her mom hugs everyday, and students Candidates for Bachelor’s of new, nine-month job working years have come to know her as are of her working at The walking up to say ‘I love you?’ I Fine Arts (BFA) and Master’s with the student-run campus their second mother. Observer. When she was very could have a bad day, but I don’t of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees young, Shirley would bring her to ever leave here in a bad mood.” have come together to display work in the LaFortune offices During her time at The their art once again. when she was too sick for school Observer, Shirley has collected The BFA and MFA thesis and she would watch “The Price many memories and stories to projects are currently on dis- is Right” with the students work- share about the students she play at the Snite Museum of ing. worked with — her second fami- Art and will be until May 16. “It took me a long time to ly. She recalled one staffer even “This annual exhibition of understand what my mom calling her from the recovery culminating works by seniors meant when I’d hear her tell room after delivering her first and third-year graduate stu- people that she could ‘sell her job baby. dents in the Art, Art History because it’s so great,” Jill said. “The weddings I’ve been invit- and Design Department As a student at Notre Dame in ed to, the e-mails I get that demonstrates a broad aware- the 1990s, Jill said she was they’re having tailgates or the ness of the themes and touched by how much her moth- notes that are left on my desk processes of contemporary art er was loved on campus. every Saturday during the foot- and is often provocative,” a “When students who I didn’t ball season … I feel like I can go Snite Museum press release even know would approach me anywhere and I can find one of said. and tell me how wonderful she is the former people,” she said. The Efroymson Family Fund … I would smile and agree with After about 10 years on the Emerging Artists Awards were them, and then wonder if it was job, Shirley realized she had a given for the fourth consecu- odd that my mom was more pop- lucky feeling. tive year, the press release ular on campus than I was,” she “I realized not once had I got- said. said. ten up in the morning and said, The winners of the awards Jill said Shirley’s love for her ‘Oh man, I’ve got to go to work.’ were MFA students job and for the students who It was always, ‘I get to go to Christopher Andrews and work at The Observer “is gen- work,’” she said. “I wish every- Ryan Bantz and BFA students uine and deep.” one could experience that.” Shelley Kornatz and Takashi VANESSA GEMPIS/The Observer “I don’t think she realizes the Observer alumni will reunite Yoshii. Wednesday is Shirley Grauel’s last day as The Observer’s hearts she’s touched over the office manager, a position she has held for 30 years. years … but I do. She is 100 per- see SHIRLEY/page 9 see ART/page 8 Honorary Student government changes hands ND degree Schmidt and Weber Soler, Bell take office reflect on term, give Thursday; look forward recipients advice to new staff to goals for 2010-2011 By JOSEPH McMAHON By SARAH MERVOSH announced Associate News Editor News Editor By SARAH MERVOSH When outgoing student body As sophomore Catherine Soler News Editor president Grant Schmidt and looks forward to her term as stu- vice president Cynthia Weber dent body president, which will Notre Dame will award eight entered office a year ago, the begin Thursday, she said commu- honorary degrees at this year’s duo was determined to enact nity relations would be a priority Commencement in addition to initiatives to make student gov- for her administration. the honorary degree it will give ernment relevant to the stu- “A main goal of ours is for stu- Commencement speaker Brian dent body. dents to feel compelled to go into Williams, the University “We didn’t take on personal the community, feel safe while announced Tuesday. preferences,” Schmidt said. they’re there and also give a lot to Williams, anchor of NBC “Students were constantly giv- South Bend, but also get a lot out Nightly News, will receive an ing us feedback. It made our of being an active member of the honorary doctor of laws degree. jobs a lot easier.” community,” Soler said. The additional recipients come The administration soon Student body vice president- from a variety of backgrounds, found the best way to find out elect Andrew Bell said strengthen- such as education, engineering, what students cared about was ing relations between the law, philanthropy and the not through formal student Observer photo illustration by Pat Coveney University and the community will Senior Grant Schmidt, left, leaves the office of student body see DEGREES/page 8 see SCHMIDT/page 6 president as sophomore Catherine Soler takes over Thursday. see SOLER/page 9 INSIDE TODAY’S PAPER Making a Living lecture page 3 N Men’s lacrosse facing Villanova page 24 N Boy Meets World page 13 N Viewpoint page 10 page 2 The Observer N PAGE 2 Wednesday, March 31, 2010 INSIDE COLUMN QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT WERE YOU AFRAID OF WHEN YOU WERE A LITTLE KID? Thanks, Shirley Today is our beloved Shirley Grauel’s last official day as The Observer office manager. You make a lot of friends working in the same place for 30 years, and Yiting Zheng Anne McCarthy Jacob Szczudlak Paul Salazar when I asked former staff members to share their memories for a special column to commemorate freshman freshman freshman freshman Shirley’s years at The Observer, I received an over- McGlinn Pasquerilla West Dillon Keough whelming response. All of those who e-mailed me shared the same message: Shirley is generous, kind, loving and a second mother to all who have had the “Mermaids.” “I was afraid of “My little “Drowning.” honor of working with her. the dark.” sister.” David Dziedzic, Editor-in-Chief, 1983-84 It was a tremendous comfort knowing that she would be there, every day, taking care of everything. And the one semester that she wasn’t there (Craig took a job Jenn Metz assignment in San Diego and the family went with Senior Staff him),was the worst semester Writer of my four years. Personally, Have an idea for Question of the Day? E-mail [email protected] I don’t know what I would have done without her. She was like a “guardian moth- er” placed on campus to keep me straight and focused. IN BRIEF Michael Ortman, staff member, 1978-82 I’ve stayed in touch with Shirley over the years. In “All Art is Propaganda” will the fall of 2006, my then-20-year-old son Patrick had be displayed today in Special applied to transfer to Notre Dame. I made sure we Collections Room 102 of stopped by The Observer so he could meet Shirley. I Hesburgh Library. The exhibit told him since mom would not be moving with him to will open at 8 a.m. South Bend, that if he ever needed a mom, whether he worked at The Observer or not, Shirley was it. Daily Mass will be celebrat- ed at 11:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. Patrick Peters, Ad Sales/Operations, 1999-2002 today in the Basilica of the Over the years I spent with Shirley, I learned Sacred Heart. patience, understanding, the art of listening and how to look at issues from another perspective.