Friday, September 22, 1995• Vol. XXVII No. 25 TilE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME AND SAINT MARY'S Support staff lies at lower The fight end of pay scale By MEGAN McGRATH of a News Writer The next time you berate a department secre­ tary for telling you a class is closed, keep in mind that this person is one of the lowest paid people on the Notre Dame campus. Never mind lifetime that this person, often a woman, is computer lit­ erate, well-spoken and skilled in dealing with difficult situations, especially angry students. Parseghian Foundation In an attempt to inform the University commu­ nity of the disparity between staff salaries and sponsors events to raise the jobs they perform, the Gender Studies money for medical research Department hosted a discussion group on that subject Thursday afternoon. The group ·Was By MIKE NORBUT moderated by Teresa Ghilarducci, associate pro­ Spom Edimr fessor of economics, and Jean Porter, associate professor of theology. Quietly, Notre Dame and Northwestern fans Among the issues discussed were the low pay gathered in the Joyce Center. At first, the peo­ of support staff, both in comparison to the ple weren't exactly sure what they were waiting University and the South Bend area, and inher­ for; the end of the line was too far from the ent problems within the employment structure front. But that's what tends to happen on the of university staff. first football weekend of the year. "It is clear that we don't value the service of When word spread, it was like a magnet, tile women who occupy secretarial positions," drawing people even closer, yet farther from Porter said during the emotionally charged dis- · the front. But everyone was patient. cussion. "In economic terms, our support staff "What are we waiting for, Dad?" a young Irish has not been shown gratitude for their profes­ fan asked. sional growth and loyalty to their departments." "Ara Parseghian is signing autographs," the Many of the support staff in attendance veri­ boy's father answered. "He won two national fied Porter's statements, sharing feelings of championships with Notre Dame." frustration and loss of dignity. A common Photos courtesy Parseghian "Wow, that's more than Lou Holtz," the boy problem among staff was being over-qualified Foundation answered, wide-eyed. for their current position, but having to leave Ara Parseghian has Providing a backdrop for Parseghian were the department to recieve proper compensation. faced many battles on Irish articles up for auction. But the money did "Middle management, that is, department and the football field, but he not go to some man wishing to get rid of his col­ program chairs, have little say about salary and now faces a battle for lection of memorabilia. It was for the Ara raise classifications for their staff," Porter said. his three grandchildren Parseghian Medical Research Foundation. "It is frustrating because we cannot award who have been diag­ "I was there signing autographs for 2 1/2 merit properly within our department." nosed with Niemann­ hours that day," Parseghian said. "It was so According to literature distributed by the Pick Disease Type C, an incurable genetic disor­ exciting with all of the spirit that the fans Gender Studies department, the starting wage der. It was for this rea­ showed." for a secretary at the University is $6. 70, mak­ son that he founded the Spirit is something he witnessed first-hand as ing it one of the lowest paid occupations, despite Ara Parseghian Medical coach of the Fighting Irish from 1964-74. Spirit the relatively high level of skills needed. Research Foundation and support from the Notre Dame community is In addition, Ghilarducci discussed a 1993 sur­ which works to fund what keeps him going now. vey of the 100 major employers of the South research on the dis­ The Ara Parseghian Foundation is less than a Bend area. A comparison of secretarial wages ease. Recent spon­ year old. It was developed after the coach found found Notre Dame to rank near the bottom of sored events have that three of his four grandchildren were diag­ these local companies. included an auction, a concert by Chicago, and nosed with a genetic disorder that as of now "Relativ.e. to the amount of work, skill, efficien- does not have a cure. the play 'Coaches.' ' ~ see ARA/ page 6 ~ see SlAfF/ page 6 I Senate battles for respect late faculty opinion and for this Administration, Th~. Faculty Senate:. purpose may, at its discretion, " ' . ·.·~ . ·.··. ·.;•, conduct faculty meetings and faculty seek to referenda," the Handbook s_aid. 3:311-fi::~o p.m. Tours r .. Main Circle "The Senate also receives from 4:30p.m. ng Band Rehearsal Main Building · improve relations other groups in the University 4:45-8:00 p.m. Glee Club Retlaarsal Crowley Hall Editor's note: The following is items requiring consideration 6:45p.m. Band steps off for ~ny Band Building by the faculty. 7:00p.m. Pep Rally the second of a two-part series JACC (Gate 10) examining the relevance and group," Sheehan said. "With respect to matters of conflict of the Faculty Senate. According to University academic concern, the recom­ Saturday, September 23 Provost Timothy O'Meara, the mendations of the Senate are -- - ·- ·1'- - - - - ' Today, The Observer looks at the interaction between the Faculty Senate, which consists referred to the Executive 8:,30 a~m. .. · .March~ BarnHtehearsal Loltus Center Senate and the administration. entirely of members elected by Committee of the Academic 8:30-12;30 J.~\/· Alumnl AospjtahtYDenter JACC North Dome their peers, is involved in the Council, which shall place the 9:3oa.m. ,·• . MMaetii)O · .,. esc By GWENDOLYN NORGLE governance of the University in recommendations on the agen­ 10:00·1f:aD.•.Jn~.( ..C~rteader Petformances NO Bookstore Assistant News Editor two ways: through the forma­ da of the Council. 10:40-1 M'l.nt •. Cheerleader Performances JACC, North Dome tion of faculty opinion and "Consistent with the forego­ 11:30-12:00 p.llt Glee Club- NO in Review JACC, North Dome In examining the role of the through the rite of agenda on ing, the Senate may adopt rules 12:D0-12:30 p.ll. · Shenani,gans Pedormance JACC, North Dome Faculty Senate and considering the Academic Council, which, and bylaws relating to the de­ 12:00-12:45 p~m. MiKthing ~ndConcert Main Building whether or not it is more than like the Senate, is a legislative termination and election of 1:10 p.m. Matching SamtPrftgame Show Notre Dame Stadium "just a debating society," one body. members and officers, the es­ 1:30 p.m. NOTRE DAME VS.JEAA.S Notre Dame Stadium question must be asked: Is the In describing the role of the tablishment of committees, and 4:15p.m. MasS' .... ·; . ., . · : · Sf&pan Center : administration willing to listen Senate, O'Meara cited Article other conduct of its business." 4:30-7:00 p.m. Car~dl~llght Q!tlAGt:Bllffe) · .. Dining Halls , ~· to the Senate? IV, Section 3, subsection b of According to O'Meara, this ·- ---- -·- ------- - •-'"'"-'·- ·- "--- ~ ~~~ ~ ',' l'~ ' I/ - j;,., ' . .J. And this question, said the "University of Notre Dame description, along with the Sunday, September 24 Richard Sheehan, a former Faculty Handbook," which Senate's accomplishments, il­ Senate chair of two terms , is states that "the range of con­ lustrates that "the voice of the best addressed to members of cern of the Faculty Senate ex­ Senate since its inception has the administration. tends to matters of affecting the been important at Notre "The Faculty Senate is not faculty as a whole." just one more special interest "The Senate seeks to formu- see SENATE/page 10 page2 The Observer • INSIDE Friday, September 22, 1995 • INSIDE COLUMN • WORLD AT A GLANCE Quebec mulls independence from Canada In defense MONTREAL regarded managers. The province's Could Quebec go it alone? gross domestic product of roughly No problem, say the separatists $120 billion is comparable to Austria's, of tnen campaigning for independence. But and in land area it would be the an array of doomsayers predict world's 18th largest nation. hardship and financial chaos if the But Quebec also has an 11.1 percent mostly French-speaking province jobless rate, higher than the Canadian and facial hair votes Oct. 30 to break away from average of 9.6 percent. Its tax burden Canada. and deficit-to-GDP ratio are among the Stereotypes are ~su­ A crushing debt burden, higher highest of any province, and it has the ally damaging to the Andy Cabiness interest rates, an exodus of entrepre­ fastest-growing elderly population, group or groups they SportS Copy Editor neurs and professionals. Those are meaning social costs will be borne by a target. Many such among the dire forecasts from ana­ dwindling number of working-age tax­ stereotypes have severely damaged gender lysts who believe severe labor pains payers. relations here in Notre Dame, Indiana. Two would accompany the birth of a sov­ There are crucial disputes, as the of the worst are: SMC women are much bet­ ereign Quebec. referendum campaign intensifies, over ter-looking than ND women, and all ND guys The separatists, who trail slightly Quebec's deficit and its share of the care about is sex. in the latest opinion polls, admit $550 billion federal debt. Generalizations like these are unfair and Quebec has economic problems but Quebec currently pays 24 percent of have been causing problems for years. I've accuse their opponents of scare tac­ the interest on the federal debt, reflect­ had classes at Saint Mary's, and I can't say tics.