THE The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary's VOLUME 42: ISSUE 68 FRIDAY, JANUARY 18,2008 NDSMCOBSERVER.COM College's five-year plan propagated One club President Mooney's 'strategic plan' underway after unanimous Board of Trustees vote sport not of Trustees approved it after their the plan, as suggested by the Some of the goals of the plan By KATIE KOHLER first meeting of the academic trustees. Most of these changes, include making Saint Mary's Sainr Mary's Ediror year, in October. however, were minor. more nationally recognized as squashed "The trustees approved the "Dr. Mooney took the board's one of the best colleges in the After a unanimous approval at plan unanimously and were very suggestions, but most were with nation, diversifying the campus, the Board of Trustees' meeting in pleased with the way it turned the format, not with the content," stabilizing and growing enroll­ October, Saint Mary's College out," Dampeer said. Dampeer said. ment and increasing financial ~[)students engage in President Carol Ann Mooney's Mooney announced plans for Mooney pitched the finalized resources. Each of the goals is "Strategic Plan" for the College the initiative in her College plan to California alumnae followed by Mooney's recommen­ squash events, matches has now been finalized, published Forum address in August 2006 between Thanksgiving and dations to fulfill them. and distributed to students, facul­ and held 12 one-hour sessions Christmas and received more While some of the goals are ty and alumnae through the throughout the fall to explain the positive feedback, Dam peer said. lengthier than others, they all By THERESA CIVANTOS quarterly College magazine The plan to the College community. "The plan is clear and easy to have similar priorities, Dampeer News Writer Courier and on the College A committee was later formed, understand. There isn't a lot of said. which included the President's fluff and it's all things we can "Several of the goals will be Website. When most people hear the The five-year plan, which Cabinet, four faculty members, a realistically accomplish," she happening simultaneously," word "squash," they think of trustee, the director of institution­ Dampeer said. "There are certain includes a series of goals and rec­ said. a dish passed around the ommendations for the College, is al research, the chief information While Mooney customized her people responsible for each goal table at Thanksgiving. For a now underway, executive assis­ officer, a staff representative and plan for the College's present sit­ - when it will happen, how long growing number of Notre tant to the president Susan a student representative. Within uation, she is not the first College it should take and how much it Dame students, however, Dam peer said. the committee, there were sub­ president to enact a five-year will cost. This way we can make squash is a sport that has The document, entitled "Plan to committees including plan. Former College President sure things happen." grown into a passion. Leadership 2012," is Mooney's Academic Initiatives, Student Marilou Eldred created a similar The plan is tailored to fit in the "People think it's a veg­ five-year strategic initiative for Initiatives and Resource plan during her administration. five-year window, but many etable," said Randy Rainosek, the College to enhance Saint Planning. "It was in the natural progres­ things, such as financial aspects, a member of the Notre Dame Mary's national reputation and Since their October meeting, sion to do [a plan] again," Squash Club. "It's such a academic credentials. The Board Mooney made some changes to Dampeer said. see PLAN/page 3 great sport though." Squash Club treasurer Pedro Gochicoa agreed, say­ ing that squash players get to travel, meet a lot of people and get exercise in an excit­ ing way. SMC students return from abroad Squash is a sport similar to racquetball and is somewhat popular in the northeastern Women experience fall semester academic programs in a trio of European countries United States. At the college level, nine players compose a squash team, with each play­ returnees have invariably er engaging in a one-on-one By KRISTEN EDELEN remarked that studying in match with a player from the News Writer Rome is indeed a life-changing opposing team until one team experience," Peter Checca, has won five matches. Professionally, squash is an Forty-two students have Italian professor and director of individual sport like tennis. returned from a semester the Rome Program said. abroad in Italy, Ireland and He believes the program's Many Ivy League schools Spain, while 29 of their class­ strengths are the interdiscipli­ have varsity squash teams, leading to a belief that play­ mates who are studying abroad nary aspect of classroom for the full academic year instruction and on-site visits, as ing squash gives competitive edge to college applicants at remain overseas. well as the connection between The Saint Mary's Rome pro­ courses and Italian culture. top-tier schools. "We do field a lot of e-mails gram had a fall 2007 enroll­ Lisa Anderson, a junior who ment of 51 students, with 12 of returned to the College from from high school applicants them staying for the academic Rome, agrees with Checca and wanting to play squash here," said Javier Palomo, year, and 4 7 students joining says she especially enjoyed her Italian cinema class. the club's vice president. them putting enrollment at 59 Photo courtesy of Mary Ellen Toth "They'll send us their for the spring semester. Sophomore Mary Ellen loth poses during a trip to Lisboa, "For the past 37 years, see SMC/page 4 resumes, and we have to tell Portugal. Toth is spending the entire year in Seville, Spain. them we can't help them get in; ~e're not a varsity sport yet. The Notre Dame Squash Club has been around since the 1980s, Rainosek said, but MLK Day sees increase in student enthusiasiTI "it disappeared for a while." In 2003, the club made a major comeback under the leadership of past president Saint Mary's students plan celebration of leader's life, 40 years after assassination James Zhang. "The club was pretty weak for a while; James Zhang and should be educated. I'm proud should be and the College is director of the Office of Geoff McCuen really brought By MANDl STIRONE to be a Saint Mary's woman," moving forward in leaps and Multicultural Affairs, Larisa it back," Gochicoa said. News Writer she said. bounds." Olin Ortiz - is comprised of "James Zhang started infor­ One major thing that is April 4 marks the 40th various faculty and staff on mally recruiting his friends In March 2007, then-Saint working into Hodges' vision is anniversary of King's assassi­ campus. to join in his sophomore Mary's student body presi­ the increasing enthusiasm nation. "In the past what we had, year." dent-elect Kim Hodges shared with which the birthday of the This year, instead of a series our office had a program and That style of attraction her dream for the future of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. is of various scattered events campus ministry had the remains. The club does not the College, while talking being celebrated this year, she held by different groups on memorial service. This year formally recruit, nor does it about her hopes for the said. campus, these groups will be we're coordinating all of that," hold try-outs to join. Diverse Students Leadership "It's just amazing to see how uniting under the newly­ Ortiz said. "You're not required to Conference. things are working into that formed Martin Luther King, Activities will stretch over have any level of skill to join "I have a dream about the vision," Hodges said. "I really Jr. Holiday Steering Monday, the national holiday, the club," Palomo said. "We way campus should be, how it feel like God is moving things Committee. should look, and how students forward the way that they The committee - led by the see KING/page 3 see SQUASH/page 4 page 2 The Observer+ PAGE 2 Friday, January 18, 2008 INSIDE COLUMN QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE jjFAMILY Guy" MOMENT AND WHY? Dude, vvhere' s tny bike? Andrea Jacobson Cory Hakanen John Fullard Liz Lefebvre Richie Davidson Fortunately, my Clover Hidge sophomore sophomore sophomore junior sophomore apartment was spared during the PW Sarin Knott Badin Knott barrage of burglaries over winter break. 'VVhen Mayor "When Stewie "The chicken My beloved pink bike, however, "The FCC song. "When Stewie was not. It goes to every says: 'Imagine West rolls around practices for the fights, because The ultra­ Mary Kate Malone outrageous the dance I'm in nuclear waste Olympics and they reference bright two­ Family Guy to get special crashes into the great movie wheeler was going to have to Assistant moment in powers like the glass case.... fights like stolrm some­ Managing Editor do to get our , time between about a minute insurance Griffins.' It's silly Uh-oh!" Indiana Jones. Dee. 18 and and a half" deposit back."' because it's .Jan. 15 from a bike rack outside llesburgh Library. realistic out of You might call me careless for nowhere." leaving the Pink Lady outside the library for such a long period of time. But who would have thought someone would take what wasn't IN BRIEF theirs with Touchdown .Jesus watching'? The saddest part of my story hap­ The film "Miss Navajo" will be pened Wednesday, when I spotted shown tonight at 7 and 10 in my bike leaning against a construc­ Browning Cinema in the tion fenee near Stonehenge.