the Observer The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s Volume 44 : Issue 62 thursday, december 3, 2009 ndsmcobserver.com Pro-life task force hosts panel discussion Special task force continues work, meets with various campus groups to develop recommendations 12:30 p.m. today in the work earlier this semester, sor of theology and director dent body,” Brinig said. By AARON STEINER McCartan Courtroom of the they’ve spent time talking to of the Institute for Church “We’ve talked to a number of News Writer Law School. The event may various groups on campus — Life. the different department lead to the creation of a s h e e s t i - Brinig said the Task Force’s heads and deans and people Notre Dame is jumping into white paper on the topic, mated 100 various groups are address- like that.” the public policy debate on organizers said. p e o p l e i n ing various areas related to Brinig said the Alumni conscience clauses today, in The event is just one of total. life issues, like pregnancy Association and various part due to the work of a several things the new task “ W h a t support and adoption, or, University administrators special pro-life task force force — which was formed we’ve done like today’s event addresses, have been involved, as well launched by University partly in response to the con- i s w o r k e d conscience clauses. as groups outside the President Fr. John Jenkins troversy surrounding i n s m a l l In talking with groups on University — including the earlier this semester. President Barack Obama’s groups and campus, Brinig said they’ve locally headquartered The Task Force on Commencement visit last v a r i o u s met with the gamut of stu- Women’s Care Center, and Supporting the Choice for spring — is working on. p e o p l e Brinig dents, faculty and adminis- other organizations in Life and the Notre Dame Law Task Force co-chair h a v e h a d trators. Washington, D.C., Seattle School are co-hosting a panel Margaret Brinig, professor of meetings with different “We’ve met with a whole and St. Paul. discussion on conscience law and associate dean at groups,” Brinig said. bunch of the various Right to Discussions have produced clauses from the perspective the Law School, said that She chairs the Task Force Life [campus groups] but also of a Catholic university at since the group started its with John Cavadini, profes- with the president of the stu- see PRO-LIFE/page 8 Project Warmth holds winter clothing drive CCAC By ADRIANA PRATT And with the weather is discusses News Writer growing colder, the CSC partnered with St. Michael’s If the temperature in South Laundry and the Hammes Bend doesn’t drop below 32 Notre Dame Bookstore to off-campus degrees, many homeless launch Project Warmth, a have nowhere to sleep and campus-wide initiative that are left cold on the streets, encourages students to Mike Hebbeler, director of donate winter outerwear to safety student leadership and sen- South Bend residents in ior transitions at the Center need, hopes to raise both for Social Concerns (CSC) awareness and participation By MEGAN HEMLER said. this season. News Writer “What happens when it’s “If people can give some- 33 degrees? When people thing they’re wearing or Off-campus safety domi- can’t get shelter and there’s something that they’re not nated the discussion of the no weather amnesty, they wearing, it would be great,” Community Campus freeze,” Hebbeler said. “It Hebbeler said. Advisory Coalition (CCAC) kind of struck me when I St. Michael’s Laundry picks Wednesday afternoon at the was hanging out downtown up all of the donations, Downtown Office of the and there were homeless cleans them and brings them University. people who kept calling the back to the CSC. The group is composed of SUZANNA PRATT /The Observer weather line to check the The Hammes Bookstore representatives from Notre A collection box for the project warmth winter clothing weather and wait for it to Dame, Holy Cross College drive sits in Pangborn Hall. drop one more degree. see WARMTH/page 8 and Saint Mary’s College as well as officials from South Bend city offices and agen- cies. The Coalition discussed the progress made so far on Housing an issue for abroad returnees a number of proposals to increase overall safety in the South Bend community, By MADELINE BUCKLEY for them,” she said. “For especially the neighbor- News Editor everyone else, it’s really frus- hoods and apartment com- trating to feel like you don’t plexes immediately sur- have a home, especially since rounding Notre Dame. Like many students studying you make such good friends The neighborhood watch abroad this semester, junior within a dorm.” proposed at various safety Elizabeth Benson recently But the Office of Residence meetings in recent months filled out a housing form to Life and Housing (ORLH) will has not yet begun, associate move back on campus in the most likely find spots on cam- vice president for Public spring, but unfortunately, no pus for all students returning Affairs Tim Sexton said. space is left in the residence from studying abroad — just “We want to make sure hall she has lived in for the not necessarily in the dorm of that as students come and past two years. their choice, according to go this program continues Benson, who is currently Grant Woodman, associate and is sustainable,” Sexton studying in London, knew last director of ORLH. said. spring that there would be no However, the Office will try “I think the unique part is room in Breen Phillips Hall for to place students in the hall of that there’s an involvement the spring semester. their preference when possi- of groups that haven’t been “Coming back to campus is ble, he said. involved before from both really easy for people who live in dorms with enough space see HOUSING/page 6 ANDREA ARCHER | Observer Graphic see CCAC/page 8 INSIDE TODAY’S PAPER Sophomore strings rosaries page 3 N Weekend Calendar page 12 N Women’s Basketball tops Eagles page 24 N Viewpoint page 10 page 2 The Observer N PAGE 2 Thursday, December 3, 2009 INSIDE COLUMN QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG? Coaching candidates Brian Kelly, Bob Stoops, Gary Patterson, Urban Meyer. We’ve all heard the names being thrown around Everistus Obiakor Justin Sherman Meredith Durant Mary Kate Valdivia Kristin Alvarado on ESPN as the front-runners for our currently vacant (what’s that, you didn’t freshman sophomore freshman freshman freshman hear?) football Dillon Duncan Pangborn Welsh Family Welsh Family head coaching Allan Joseph position. While “‘Oh Come, Oh “Jingle Bells.” “12 Days of “Here comes “12 Days of I’m sure any of Sports these men would Wire Come, Christmas, Santa Claus.” Christmas.” do a decent job Editor Emmanuel.’ I because every running the pro- year we act it gram, I’m going like the way it to suggest some other candidates that is sung.” out as a haven’t been getting as much buzz. Pay family.” attention, Mr. Swarbrick. Tiger Woods: Can you imagine the quality of fist pumps and awkward high-fives after every touchdown? Plus, he could live on campus and get Have an idea for Question of the Day? E-mail [email protected] ResLifed after crashing his car on his way to Reckers at parietals. Officer Tim McCarthy: If he’s clever enough to come up with 8 new puns a IN BRIEF year for 50 years, he’s clever enough to out scheme opposing coaches. Plus, The American Red Cross have you ever heard 80,000 people will hold a blood drive today more silent than during his announce- at Legends from 10:30 a.m. to ments? The man commands respect. 4:30 p.m. To schedule an Joe Girardi: The Yankees, baseball’s appointment, call 574-299- greatest power, had fallen on hard 1388 or visit givelife.org and times before Girardi arrived on the use the code “irish.” scene. Two years into his job, he’s brought them back to the top. Why Michael Desmond, can’t he do the same for this traditional Distinguished Advisor for power? Plus, Notre Dame might be the Conversion Technology of BP only place with enough money to hire America, Inc., will deliver a him away from the Steinbrenners. lecture today at 4 p.m. in the Mark May: It’s simple. We hire Mark Carey Auditorium of the May, he can’t be an analyst anymore, Hesburgh Library. The lec- drastically improving the quality of ture, “Future Automobile ESPN football coverage. Plus, his hate Fuels: Fill up or Plug In?” is for Notre Dame could be a valuable part of the Notre Dame Energy motivational tactic for the players. Center’s Distinguished Lecture Megan Fox: She might be the only Series. It is free and open to thing that could convince Jimmy students, faculty and staff. Clausen to stay for another year. Manti Te’o: OK, maybe not as head Pasquerilla East Hall will coach. But he basically is the defense, hold its signature event, anyway. So why not a player-coordina- SUZANNA PRATT/The Observer “Silent Night, Silent Auction,” tor? Students shop at the As You Wish imports sale in LaFortune Student Center tonight from 6:30 p.m. to 9 Morgan Freeman: He’s doing his best Wednesday.