THE- The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary's VOLUME 43: ISSUE 64 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2008 NDSMCOBSERVER.COM Exams add stress to the holidays CAMPUS LIFE COUNCIL National study suggests students underprepared for class, finals; have other priorities CLCpasses By AARON STEINER director Nahid Erfan. She said Transfer-0 News Writer that students at Notre Dame are typically "motivated and hard According to a national survey, working." studying and preparing for class But with final exams looming resolution is not high on many students' to in the days ahead, many students do list, and as finals approach, reported feeling overwhelmed by Weekend would focus this leaves many students feeling coursework, especially exams. nauseous at the thought of Senior Apurva Aslekar said he more on student life exams. was "stressed" about the work he The most recent National has to get done in the coming Survey of Student Engagement, days. By AARON STEINER released last month, reported "I have 45 pages to write by News Writer that about one in five students next Monday," he said. frequently come to class without Junior Gavin Green said that The Campus Life Council unani­ completing readings or assign­ part of the stress is "the build up mously passed its second resolu­ ments -just one example of at the end of the semester" that tion of the year Monday, calling being underprepared. really makes things difficult. for Student Affairs to play an That may or may not be the "Usually when it's more spread JESS LEEffhe Observer active role in Transfer case at Notre Dame, according to Seniors Nick Ward and Kristine Murphy study in the basement Orientation. Learning Resource Center (LRC) see EXAMS/page 4 of the Hesburgh Library to prepare for finals. Meg MacCaughey, chair of the Task Force on New Student Introduction to Notre Dame, said the resolution seeks to encourage greater involvement of Student Affairs in the orientation. NDSP to offer free winter storage Currently, the Office of Admissions organizes the program. "We feel that it has a great aca­ Service will be available for bikes, cars and off-campus valuables beginning on Dec. 18 demic focus," MacCaughey said of the current format, "but not as much the student life portion of it The release date for when the By LIZ O'DONNELL ... and that's what we're really bikes will be available for pick-up News Writer trying to target." is yet to be determined, but there The resolution asks Fr. Mark is also an option of pick-up by Poorman, the vice president of The Notre Dame Security/Police appointment. Student Affairs, to consider creat­ (NDSP) are offering free winter For students who will be leaving ing a review committee to see storage for both on and off cam­ their cars on campus over the win­ how Transfer Orientation might pus students, relieving them of ter break, they can store their better integrate the resources of worry about the safety of their vehicles in the D2 South Parking his office, including the Office of items. Lot. After 5 p.m. on Dec. 20, the Residence Life and Student NDSP offers three different stor­ area will be locked and will reopen Activities. age areas for current Notre Dame Sunday Jan. 11 at 9 a.m. Council members questioned students. NDSP requested that students whether the task force wanted to Starting Dec. 18, students will remove all personal belongings change the format to be more like have the opportunity to store their from the car and certifY that it is Frosh-0. Some transfer students bikes in Gate D of the football sta­ locked before leaving. have expressed concerns that the JESS LEEffhe Observer dium. They can drop their bikes As with the bike storage, there is program would be too much like Bikes are left in the snow on South Quad. After Dec. 18, students will off between the hours of 10 a.m. · be able to store bikes in Notre Dame Stadium for the winter. and4p.m. see NDSP/page 4 see CLC/page 4 Students present on social change Senior sponsors Returned volunteers cite health, education, language as causes ofhardship meal for homeless By ROBERT SINGER News Writer mation on community service, By LIZ HARTER one-time volunteer events, serv­ SainlMary's Editor Barriers to health, education and ice-learning, special speakers language, as well as the corrupting and events relating to communi­ influences of racism and sexism, Thanks to a Saint Mary's sen­ ty engagement. cause economic hardship and ior, students were not the only "Theresa was the one with the social tension in the developing ones able to enjoy the Noble idea for the dinner and I world. according to the 13 Notre Family Dining Hall's annual thougbt it was a great opportu­ Dame students who presented at Student Christmas and Feast of nity for us to share our bounty," the "Cultural Differences and Social the Immaculate Conception holi- · Call said. Change Student Forum" Monday day dinner last night. Klinkhammer, a resident night. About 35 guests, including assistant in Regina Hall, sent an Senior Caitlin Ivester taught babies and children, attended e-mail to her residents letting English at a high school in the the event from the Center for them know that the guests mountains of Costa Rica for two the Homeless in downtown would arrive on campus at 5 months this past summer. She South Bend. p.m. and inviting them to attend recalled· explaining to her students Senior Theresa Klinkhammer the dinner. Call sent an e-mail why it was important for them to brought the idea to Carrie Call, informing the student body of learn English. the director for the Office of the eve·nt as well. "As I spoke I realized that my JESS LEE/The Observer Civic and Social Engagement Call told students that they Kerry McGuire, who volunteered in Oaxaca, Mexico this summer, (OCSE). The OCSE is a resource see CULTURE/page 4 speaks at Monday's "Cultural Differences and Social Change" forum. center for the College with infor- see SMC/page 4 page 2 The Observer + PAGE 2 Tuesday, December 9, 2008 INSIDE COLUMN QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO AFFECT SOCIAL CHANGE? Fearing winter in the Bend? I can't rom em bcr nxpcriencing a winter without snow. I allegedly lived in the Katie Shakour South as an infant, courtesy of an Air Sarah Lyons Julian Corona Mary DeAgostino Caroline Shakour Foree dad, but if I lived through a winter without loads of that lluffy white stuff, senior senior sophomore senior sophomore l'vH chosen to block it out of my memory. off-campus Lewis St. Ed's Lewis WelshFam l'vn bnen a proud resident of New Hampshire for the "And on "Dismantling "Nothing." "Practicing my "/proudly brew past fourteen years - well. when I'm Analise Lipari Wednesdays, the patriarchy." Lauren Kummer Starbucks not living in the we wear pink. " impressions, coffee." Bend - and even if and researching there's no snow on Scene Editor Christmas day, you women's can safely have faith sexuality and that tho good stuff will come eventually. HIV." There's skiing, sledding and snow­ trekking to be had, and it's all pretty wonderful. Snow has blanketed campus as well, and I couldn't be happier. I love that crunch underfoot as I cross snow-laden sidewalks, and the twinkle that lingers on IN BRIEF your eyelashes after the flurries have melted. There's nothing like making snow A public talk on "American angels. or having snowball fights (unless Politics: A New Era?" is taking you get one of those back-of-the-neck­ place Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the and-down-the-collar snowball hits that Intercultural Studies gives you a head cold. Boo). Auditorium of the Hesburgh Well, at least during fall semester. Center. Dr. William Kristol will As I look around a campus clothed in be speaking on the impact of white !luff, I can't help feelif1g a slight the recent election. sense of dread. Like the ethanol perma­ doud that blankets our skyline in a The 6th annual Christmas at weird, light-orangn haze, the dread of the CoMo featuring the ND what's to come has me spooked. Celebration Choir and What's got me so concerned? The Instrumentalists will be held threat of February. on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in I know, I should enjoy the moment and the Coleman-Morse Center. not freak out about the future. (I've tried The event will feature n~llec­ to apply that Iogie to my s(mior year, by tions on Christmas traditions by tho way, and have soundly failed.) But if NO international students. A then~·s one thing that can dampen my freewill offering will support campus reverie, it's the spring semester the Holy Cross Missions in Haiti. wintnr blues. You know what I'm talking about - or, SIBC will host a Cambodian if you're freshmen, you will. l don't mean dinner Wednesday at 6 p.m. in more snnw in general. I'm talking about the Dooley Room of LaFortune the oppressive cold, bone-chilling winds Student Center. The club will and tundra-like fenl to campus that set­ ALLISON AMBROSE/The Observer sell rood to benefit Cambodian tles in during that second month of the Defensive end Pat Kuntz {96) and the Irish football team pray before their Nov. 29 dinner. The donation is $5 and year. game at USC. Notre Dame will take on Hawaii Dec.