THE The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary's VOLUME 38: ISSUE 51 WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 12.2003 NDSMCOBSERVER.COM ND screens controversial Chinese film Johnson, who is a personal shot underground in privately By ANDREW THAGARD friend of Yang, is partly responsi­ owned mines without the Assistant News Editor ble for today's screening of the approval of the government and film. He worked with Yang to at great personal risk for the Notre Dame's Department of translate the film and write crew. Many of the characters are East Asian Languages and English subtitles, and he assisted played by amateur actors who IJteratures will host a screening of in bringing the work to the atten­ also work ip the mine or live in filmmaker IJ Yang's "Blind Shaft" tion of foreign diplomats and jour­ the village. Ying has not disclosed at 8 p.m. tonight in DeBartolo nalists in Beijing. the identity of the village in order Hall. The film, which showcases The film, according to Noble, to protect the identity of these the lives of workers in China's utilizes a documentary style to tell actors. mining industry, was denounced the story of two con-artists who While the film is not officially by the communist nation. concoct a scam to collect money "banned" in China, Chinese gov­ "I think [the screening] is a from a coal mining company in ernment officials have criticized unique opportunity and a good rural China. The duo meets a the film's subject manner and way for students at Notre Dame to child whose kiridness causes one Ymg's failure to seek approval for have a glimpse of what certain of the members to think twice production and distribution. people's lives are like in China," about their actions. In China, individuals or compa­ AFP said Jonathan Noble, a visiting "It's very realistic in terms of the nies interested in making a film Chinese filmmaker Ll Yang displays the Silver Bear Award that · professor in the Department of depiction of the lives of coal min­ must seek the approval of a gov- he earned for his film "Blind Shaft." The film, which was East Asian Languages and ers in rural China," Noble said. denounced In China, will be shown at Notre Dame tonight. IJteratures. Parts of the film were, in fact, see FILM/page 6 SMC REMEMBERING Students appoints switch security campuses director for classes By ANGELA SAOUD ND, SMC students News Writer co-exchange courses Former South Bend police offi­ cer and criminal justice educator By ANNELIESE WOOLFORD David Chapman was announced Saint Mary's Editor as the new security director last week. As both Saint Mary's and Notre "The more I heard about the Dame's campuses prepare for position, the more interested I spring 2004 course registration, became in it," said Chapman. "I students are encouraged to pur­ missed working with safety and sue options that may not be avail­ security." able at their respective college. Chapman replaces Rosemarie ALISON NICHOLS/The Observer What is not offered in one cur­ Harris, who worked at Saint Members of the Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC programs participate In their annual riculum may instead be offered Mary's as the interim director for Veterans Day Retreat Ceremony at the Clarke Memorial Fountain on Tuesday. The ceremony, just across the street through the the past year. Harris replaced which was open to the public and concluded a 24-hour ROTC vigil, recognized and honored co-exchange program. veterans at Notre Dame. President Emertlus Father Theodore Hesburgh delivered an Although the program has see SECURITY/page 4 address and members of all ROTC programs lined up for the color guard. existed between the two schools since the 1960s, even before Notre Dame became a co-ed insti­ tution, many students are unaware of the opportunities it GRADUATE STUDENT UNION presents. "The only way that [students] really know about it is if they read the schedule of classes book and Members debate health insurance subsidies see that they're able to take class­ fying desired benefits to the while the loss rate for es there," said Laura Spaulding, By AMANDA MICHAELS small group of companies dependent insurance was associate registrar at Notre Dame. News Writer still in the business of pro­ over 1000 percent - an "If they can't find the kind of viding student insurance, astounding number, consid­ courses they want here, they tend In the midst of a vicious flu and accepting "the lowest ering only 10 families with to go to Saint Mary's." season, the Graduate bid witp the highest bene­ children are covered by According to Saint Mary's Student Union debate fits," said Young. MegaLife, members said. Registrar Lorraine Kitchner, the focw;ed on insurance issues, Currently, the rate of "(The insurance compa­ first indication that Saint Mary's specifically increasing rates insurance for graduate stu­ nies] will look at these num­ students receive of the co­ and University subsidies. dents on MegaLife, the bers and say the rates will exchange program is during the John Young, chairman of University's health insurance go up," said Young. "The recruiting stage. In meeting with tho health care committee, plan, is $767 per year­ cost of insurance is going to prospective students, admissions said that it was "not good over $1 million when the go up substantially next counselors at the College let them news" on the insurance 1,500 students on the plan year, I can guarantee that." know what is available in terms of front, as Ann Kleva, director are taken in total. In 2002- An added issue with the courses existing at both schools. of health services, is ready to 03, MegaLife paid almost rate hike is the fact that Once students begin taking begin the process on bidding $800,000 in medical costs, Kleva is negotiating for four ALISON NICHOLS/The Observer courses at Saint Mary's, aware­ on insurance rates for next creating an 82 percent loss benefits not currently cov- GSU co-vice president Meg Garnett, right, ness of the program is presented year. rate. Numbers for spousal and president Martlqua Post review the using other methods. This process entails speci- insurance were similar, see GSU/page 4 agenda of Tuesday's meeting. see CLASSES/page 6 page 2 The Observer+ PAGE 2 Wednesday, November 12, 2003 INSIDE COLUMN QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO STAY WARM IN THE COLD WEATHER? Defending business • Erin Jones Michael Foster Tracy Lei Seese David Gonzalez Meesch Miller Amelia Mlchelskl I think it is time for a rebuttal in response to the recent business Sophomore Graduate student Junior Freshman Freshman Senior major banter. As business majors LeMans off-campus LeMans Morrissey Welsh Family LeMans comprise 32 percent of the under­ grad population, one of us was bound to spea~ Katie Conklin up at some pomt. "Snuggling, of "Keeping a "Hot chocolate "Fuzzy Wuzzy... "Layering. " "Cuddling with As a business course!" warm buzz and sitting by a with hot sauce." my friends." major myself, I Advertising am really start- going from fire roasting ing to get irritat- Corby's." marshmallows." ed with the less than favorable not"riety that we have been encountering lately, and I am not just referring to the idea that college is a time for essays, not scantrons. Just because some of us are a bit career-focused does not mean that we put more emphasis on our wrinkle-free interview suits IN BRIEF than we do on our educational experiences here at Notre Dame. The business program is well­ Buy your tickets today for the known (nationally, thank you very annual Asian Allure Fashion much) for its broad-based curricu­ Show to be held on November lum that enables students to go 22 at 7 p.m. at Washington beyond their particular majors and Hall. Tickets can be purchased gain an understanding of a number at the LaFortune Box Office for of different disciplines. $7. Business majors are in no way limited in their learning perspec­ Marco Souza, a writer and tives. They jump at the chance to go visiting professor of Brazilian abroad, delve into second majors cultural studies. will deliver a within other schools, and drive pro­ lecture entitled "Amazon and grams like the Center for Ethics and Modernity: Rewriting Gone Religious Values or the Gigot Center with the Wind." The lecture for Entrepreneurial Studies. And I will take place today at 12:30 do not think that you will come p.m. in room 104 in the across many scantrons in the Tax Hesburgh Center. Assistance accounting program, management's Family Business Learn more· about the history course, the marketing Ad and interworkings of Teach for Campaigns class or those nine sec­ America. Wendy Kopp. the tions of Intro to Business Ethics that organization's founder and are being offered next semester. president. will discuss how she Personally, I am a business major turned her ideal of giving all because I have held an interest in ALLISON NICHOLS/The Observer children an "excellent educa­ this area of study since I was in A Saint Mary's student purchases baked goods on Tuesday afternoon. The cookies tion" into reality. The presenta­ middle school. Business majors are sale was held to benefit the Resident Hall Association and the Susan B. Komen tion will take place at 4 p.m. in not just engineering drop-outs - Breast Cancer Foundation. The sale continues today and Thursday from noon to 2 DeBartolo 101. A reception and some of us actually enjoy this stuff.