THE The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary's VOLUME 42: ISSUE 130 TUESDAY, APR! L 29, 2008 N DSMCOBSERVER.COM The long journey home Friends come together to help cancer patient George Porter-Young return to his family in England one last time asked. By CHRIS HINE "Six months to two years. But maybe News Writer more," Dr. Park said, trying to put as posi­ tive of a spin on it as he could. On a bitter cold January day in South At first, George's mind went blank. Bend, Dr. Dean Park walked into George "I said 'Well, there's only one person who Porter-Young's hospital room and shut the knows when I'm going to die,"' George door. said. "And that's God. I'm sure he will let Over the past few weeks, George, 72, had me know when it's my time." been passing out during his breaks at work After a few seconds he thought of one in Sbarro's in the LaFortune Student thing- his sister, Joan. Center, a pattern that alarmed his doctor. After listening to Dr. Park describe the Dr. Park, an oncologist, had put him various treatments he would have over the through a rigorous regimen of tests - from next few months - including hydration, X-rays to multiple bone marrow drills - blood transfusions and chemotherapy - i but this time George sensed something was I ; George called his sister in England. different in Dr. Park's demeanor; he rarely George dreaded this call to England. shut the door to talk to George. Joan's husband, Thomas, had just died of "I said, 'Hello, something must be up," cancer a few months earlier, and George George said in his British accent. It's been couldn't make it home for the funeral. How 42 years since George left his family in would Joan react now when George told England and came to America, but he her that he, too, had cancer? never lost that accent so many customers in DUSTY MENNELLA!The Observer "I thought 'Oh God, not another one,"' LaFortune have come to love over the past Former Lafortune employee George Porter-Young stands in front of postcards of Joan said. "I said to him, 'Please come back eight years. "You closed my door, you must every British ruling monarch at his home in South Bend. The Huddle is collecting home.' All my life I've always said he's been want some privacy." funds to help George move back to England while he battles bone cancer. gone to America. Wait until he's a little Dr. Park confirmed George's intuition. older and he's not well. He'll be back. And "I've got some bad news for you," he was. But George had no idea what that was. I've always said that." said. "Do me a favor," he told the doctor. "You "It's bone cancer," Dr. Park said. "And it George Porter-Young has stared death in But before Dr. Park could speak another better tell me the truth, because if you don't could lead to leukemia." the face before, and hasn't backed down. word, George interrupted him. George was tell me the truth, I'll be your worst enemy. Leukimia? George knew from experience As a young boy living near London during fed up with all the tests he was taking and But if you tell me the truth, then I'll be your - his uncle had suffered from it - that WWII, death was an everyday occurrence. the time he was spending in the hospital. best friend." leukemia was not curable. And so, George George said its coming was signaled by the He didn't want more tests. He didn't want Dr. Park told George the truth. asked one of the most painful questions of sound of Nazi war planes flying overhead Dr. Park skirting the issue. He just wanted "You have myelodysplastic syndrome," his life. to know the truth, no matter how chilling it Dr. Park said. "How long do I have left to live?" he see GEORGE/page 3 Juan Muldoon named new varsity Leprechaun University mascot. my section joked that I should Leprechaun Matt Phipps. The interviews and role-play dif­ By MADELINE BUCKLEY "I have learned to commu­ be the Leprechaun," he said. position of Notre Dame ferent scenarios that they News Writer nicate with a crowd and think "In the spring as tryouts Leprechaun is about more may encounter as on my feet, which are skills drew nearer, a cheerleader in than just sports, Muldoon Leprechaun, Muldoon said. Football fans will see a new absolutely necessary to work my section encouraged me to said. The judges have to eval­ And, of course, the prospec­ face on the sidelines in the a football crowd," Muldoon give it a shot. It was a long uate the candidates as public tive Leprechauns had to fall when junior Juan said. shot because they generally relations figures for the demonstrate their ability to Muldoon graces the field as Muldoon's desire to repre­ choose older students, but I University, as the Leprechaun work a crowd. the new varsity Leprechaun. sent Notre Dame as the got the J.V. position. frequently speaks with fans, "You have to conduct a Pep Muldoon said his experi­ Leprechaun began during his "That's where the dream all the media and participates in Rally on your own in front of ence as junior varsity Freshman Orientation. started." rallies and community serv­ a live crowd," Muldoon said. Leprechaun for the past two "During Frosh-0 I had a The grueling process of try­ ice. During the tryouts, the The judges watched to see years has prepared him for beard and I was about five outs began in early April to Leprechaun candidates have the busy role of being the feet [tall], so some people in replace graduating varsity to partake in mock media see MULDOON/page 4 Valedictorian: Josh Hammack ND ere a tes office for Zahm resident participated in Bengal Bouts, service outside of class envirol1111ent awareness in a variety of activities, includ­ important to you," he said. other environmental issues, said By CLAIRE REISING ing Bengal Bouts, interhall bas­ Senior Chris Izaguirre, who By KATIE PERALTA junior Lourdes Long, a repre­ News Writer ketball and soccer knows Hammack Assistant News Editor sentative to the Energy and and the University See Also from Zahm and Environmental Issues Although Joshua Hammack, admissions office's Bengal Bouts, said In its efforts to continue sus­ Committee. the class of 2008 valedictorian, high school ambas­ "LeMans hall his dedication tainability and environmental "[The office was created] to earned a GPA of 3.99. Zahm sador program. director gets new extends to his athlet­ awareness, Notre Dame has focus on energy and environ­ rector Corry Colonna said he Hammack said he apartment." ics, and that created the Office of mental action on campus," Long filled his college career with made time for all of Hammack seems to Sustainability, and had named said. "It will develop a sustain­ more than just academics. the activities that he page6 have an unending James M. Mazurek as its first ability strategy for Notre "lie's obviously well-round­ enjoyed during his source of energy. director. Dame." ed." Colonna said. "Everyone years at Notre Dame. "He seems to find Mazurek, a Notre Dame grad­ Long said the plans for the assumes ]being a valedictorian] "You just end up energy somewhere uate, will begin at his new post office's implementation have comes from your GPA, but in making time for the things that and is never too tired," he said. May 1. been in the works for about a Joshua's sake, it reflects the you want to do," he said. "You In addition to athletics, The new office, which was year, and that she is excited person he is." just have to find the balance for Hammack places service as a created in January, will focus on about Mazurek's appointment While maintaining his yourself and force yourself to University building efficiency grades, I !am mack participated do the things that are really see CLASS/page 4 and carbon strategy, among see OFFICE/page 4 page 2 The Observer+ PAGE 2 Tuesday, April29, 2008 INSIDE COLUMN QUESTION OF THE DAY: ARE YOU MORE LIKE THE TORTOISE OR THE HARE, AND WHY? Love thee Notre Daine I did not always know that I wanted to attend the University of Notre Dame. For a while, I thought the University of Jaime Minor Joel Sharbrough Kerry McGuire Robin Link Joy Hwang Shea Doyle Pennsylvania or possibly sophomore junior junior sophomore sophomore sophomore Dartmouth would be my top Cavanaugh Cavanaugh choice. They were both good Cavanaugh Keough Welsh Pam Cavanaugh schools, close to home and a bunch of my kids from high "I want to be "The tortoise, 'Tm like the 'Td be the 'Td be the tor- 'Td be the hare school always went there. toise- slow because I'd I decided to visit Notre Dame the hare, so I because of tortoise, tortoise, so I on a whim. could hop, hop, 'kinky turtle because I'm can outlive the and steady keep going and Two of my hop, hop, hop sex. slow, but I still hare." wins the race. " going and going Joseph McMahon best friends all day." don't win. " from high school both Assistant news went here, editor and I figured that even if I didn't like the school, it would be a fun weekend anyway.