'I THE The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary's OLUME 38: ISSUE 109 FRIDAY, MARCH 19.2004 NDSMCOBSERYER.COM Solidarity debate sw-eeps catnpus Forum debates Students react to recognition, Catholic shirt campaign teaching By ANDREW THAGARD By CLAIRE HEININGER Associate News Editor News Editor On Thursday, talk about Following a day-long, bright "the shirt" likely referred not orange public pledge of to the popular kelly green gay/straight solidarity, mem­ number worn by students and bers of the Notre Dame com­ fans during Notre Dame _foot­ ball games, but to a project munity examined the policies sponsored by the unofficial of peer Catholic institution Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA), Boston College Thursday night also known as "United in as an example of progress Diversity," to promote made towards the acceptance of homosexuals on campus. · increased tolerance of homo­ Michael Yaksich, Boston sexual students on campus. College's director of Gay, Hundreds of students sport­ Lesbian, Bisexual and ed the bright orange shirts Transgender (GLBT) Issues, bearing the slogan "Gay? addressed approximately 130 Fine by me," and GSA esti­ students and faculty in mates that it sold 1,600 of DeBartolo Hall, explaining his them in the past few days. college's stance towards "This is a milestone event gay/straight student organiza­ because it lets the supporters tions and urging Notre Dame show who they are and lets to follow suit. everyone else - gay and "It is the Catholic obligation straight, in or out - see who to provide love and suppm·t for they are and how many they all ·- especially the least are," GSA leader Joe among us," Yaksich said as he Dickmann said. described the mission of Allies, Dickmann started the cam­ Boston College's gay/straight paign in response to a survey alliance that was granted full conducted by the Princeton recognition in April. "At Review that ranked Notre Boston College, we've found • MATIHEW SMEDBERG!The Observer Dame first in a list of 3 51 col- Gay Straight Alliance leader Joe Dickmann speaks to Michael Yaksich, Boston College's director see PANEL/ page 9 of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues, during dinner at South Dining Hall Thursday. see SHIRT/page 4 Student remains Wave of thefts at SDH continues Dining Hall. cases where bookbags were By KATE GALES "There had been kind of a taken at the South Dining Hall." in hospital after fall News Writer drop off, but that isn't to say NDSP has taken steps to pro­ that I the perpetrators I have tect students and their property. The recent thefts in South completely stopped," NDSP . "At the library, for example, Dining Hall have continued, as Assistant Director Phil Johnson we've encouraged people not to NDSP reported that two back­ said. He said that the investiga­ leave their materials unattend­ packs were stolen from the tion into the crime,s would con­ ed," Johnson said. He said that lobby Wednesday night. tinue. NDSP, as well as students, In a Feb. 23 article in The "Between Feb. 23 and now, would "work with library staff Observer, officials from Notre . students were on break for a to be on the alert for suspicious Dame Security/Police described week, and that period was rela­ activity." a wave of thefts occurring at tively quiet," Johnson said. the Hesburgh Library and South "[Wednesday], we had two see THEFTS/page 6 TIM KACMAR!The Observer St. Joseph County Police busted a party at the College Park Revelers ejected from DeBartolo apartment complex Wednesday, arresting six students. at the hospital, where he By SHEILA FLYNN By SCOTT BRODFUEHRER was transported by ambu­ Senior Staff Writer Senior Staff Writer lance Wednesday after the The Notre Dame student fall. Approximately 40 to 50 stu­ who fell from a second-floor St. Joseph County Police dents carrying a banner, play­ balcony during a St. Spokesperson Jaimee ing instruments and singing in Patrick's Day party at the Thirion said six students a makeshift St. Patrick's Day College Park apartment com­ were arrested during the parade Wednesday were eject­ plex remains hospitalized, party and police detained ed from DeBartolo Hall and and six students who were two more students who did North Dining Hall, some arrested during the party not cooperate with officers. receiving citations from Notre have been released from jail Police released both students Dame Security/Police, said on bonds ranging from $150 without arresting them, but students and University offi­ to $250. sent a report on one student cials. A spokesperson at St. to the prosecutor's office, "I don't know how we came Joseph Hegional Medical who will determine whether up with the parade," said sen­ Center said Mike Seiler, a or not to file charges. ior Paul Daday, who organized Notre Dame senior and Keough freshman Michael the unofficial event with his courtesy College Park resident, A group of students parade down Notre Dame Avenue on St. remains in stable condition see BUST/page 8 see PARADE/ page 8 Patrick's Day. Members of the group were cited by NDSP. I page 2 The Observer+ PAGE 2 Friday, March 19, 2004 INSIDE COLUMN QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHO IS CURRENTLY YOUR FAVORITE MUSICAL ARTIST(S)? Faithful citizenship Although it is a Friday and like me you are probably wishing it were still spring break or already Caitlin Efta Valerie Efta Liz McCorry Mary Ann Lukeman Sarah Schneider Teresa Blackwell summer break, I just want to Sophomore Sophomore Junior Freshman Senior Senior share a few thoughts that have been on my mind PW PW Off-Campus Walsh Off-Campus Welsh Family Sofia Bailon for the past ,, week. nMedeski, nRooney. "'Rufus ..Fountains of ··rhe ""Ludacris. ,, ,, I attended the Wainwright.,, ., CSC Seminar on Photographer Martin and Wayne. Stereophonics. Faithful Citizen­ Wood'' ship and the Upcoming Election in Washington D.C. for spring break. Although I did not return to campus with a tan, I certainly had a great experi­ ence and learned lots from the places I visited in your nation's capital. I'm not from the U.S., I'm from the wonderful country of Peru - where there are llamas, but we don't ride them by the way. On Wednesday of last week, we IN BRIEF observed a Senate session. The issue being debated was an amendment for yet another Looking for something free to increase of the military budget. do? Comedian Dat Phan is per­ While the amendment was being forming at 7 p.m. tonight in presented and refuted, there were O'Laughlip Auditorium at Saint barely any senators in the room. Mary's. Dat Phan was the win­ When it was finally time to vote ner of NBC's Last Comic they started entering the room. I Standing this past fall. The was amazed seeing how easy it event is free and open to the was for the great majority of sena­ public. Student comedians will tors to give a thumbs-up to the open. secretary recording the votes. Some of which were seemingly just Student Union Board will becoming aware of the issue being show the movie TimeJine voted on by talking to members of tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. their party. and 10:30 p.m. in DeBartolo I acknowledge it is only my for­ 101. Admission costs $3. eign -national-bird 's-eye-view of the situation, but after visiting Professional comedian Ty several organizations that Barnett will perform a set explained how many Americans tonight at 10 p.m. in Legends. live in poverty and how much a The event is free. small fraction of the military budget could help not only these O'Neill Hall will hold its Miss poor but those all over the world, I ND pageant Saturday at 7:30 CHUY BENITEZ!The Observer p.m. in Washington Hall. certainly did not feel at ease wit­ Jamey Stillings, a professional photographer from Santa Fe, N.M., shown here nessing how the politicians were Participants from Notre Dame's with photography professor Richard Gray, visited Notre Dame this week for a lec­ amending the billions as if these women's dorms will vie for the ture with art students and a photography workshop with the studio photography title. were peanuts. class. Yet, I did become aware of many positive things during the Seminar. The Bhangra Blast. spon­ I learned about the opportunities sored by the Indian Association organizations and individuals have will be held Saturday from 9 to participate in the U.S. govern­ OFFBEAT p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Center for - ment. Of how one can lobby or Social Concerns. The event will campaign for what one believes in. Couple arrested in fight after were charged with simple likes to push the buttons and feature Indian food, Bhangra Of how several people in many watching "The Passion" battery on March 11 after make random calls. There's music and dancing and free nations, especially college-aged STATESBORO, Ga. - A the two called police on each tape over the television con­ prizes. Admission is $5 and all students have attained important couple who got into a dis­ other. They were released trols to keep him from proceeds will be denoted to socio-political changes by peaceful pute over a theological point on $1,000 bail. changing the channel. charity to provide education means. after watching "The Passion According to a police But the boy's inquisitive and healthcare for poor Indian I guess I just want to remind you of the Christ" were arrested report, Melissa Davidson nature is no longer consid­ children.