-----------------------------------------. THE The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Marys VOLUME 43: ISSUE 114 TUESDAY. MARCH 31.2009 NDSMCOBSERVER.COM No changes made to Student Jenkins, University reject petition to add sexual orientation to protected groups leaders Currently, the clause states By-ROBERT SINGER the University does not dis­ News Writer criminate based on converge "race/ethnicity, color, nation­ University of Notre Dame al origin, sex, disability, vet­ President Father John eran status or age." Jenkins, C.S.C., rejected University spokesman on campus appeals to add sexual orien­ Dennis Brown provided tation to the University's Jenkins' rationale for the By MADELINE BUCKLEY nondiscrimination clause University's stand. during a discussion Monday "He explained that our rea­ News Editor with the leaders of the sons for excluding sexual ori­ Campaign for Human Dignity entation from the nondis­ Student body president Bob about a petition the group crimination clause remain Reish said the Intercollegiate submitted earlier this month. the same now as in 1997," Symposium - a conference "From the beginning of the Brown said. "That is,. after between student government meeting he made it clear that careful analysis from both representatives from Midwest he didn't want to reconsider the legal and theological per­ universities that took place at the nondiscrimination spectives, it was determined Notre Dame this weekend - is IAN GAVLICK!The Observer clause," Progressive Student that adding the clause may an "investment in the future" for The Campaign for Human Dignity petitioned the University to add Alliance president Bridget the student body. sexual orientation to its discrimination clause on March 18. Flores said. see PETITION/page 3 "I think the conference went better than expected for a con­ ference in its first year," Heish said. "I think each school brought a different perspective that we could relate to." Mock trial club sends teams to nationals The conference involved six breakout sessions in which rep­ resentatives from Vanderbilt Four Notre Dame students won awards at Opening Round competition over the weekend University, Washington University in St. Louis, Purdue University, By IRENE ZAJICKOVA Ryan O'Connor, a senior politi­ Northwestern University and News Writer cal science major, said prepara­ Notre Dame exchanged ideas tion gets more intense when the • about how student government spring semester arrives. should work, Heish said. · Mock trial is one of the more "Fall semester, I practice about Student body vice president time-consuming activities avail­ four hours a week," he said. "But Grant Schmidt, who will take his able at the University, according in the spring when we have most position as student body presi­ to Bill Dwyer, the coach of Notre of our competitions, it can be dent Wednesday, said the sympo­ Dame's mock trial team. eight or 10 hours a week." sium offered many ideas for "You know the TCES they pass A mock trial competition con­ improving student government. out to students?" Dwyer asked. sists of four rounds. Two rounds "Something Northwestern does "This class is in the top 1 percent are spent presenting the case really well is offering an evalua­ of all classes in terms of time from the plaintiffs side, and two tion of off-campus housing spent working for it." are spent arguing for the options," he said. Mock trial is not only a club defense, according to O'Connor, Schmidt said he has since but also a credited course. It who has been accepted into looked into creating a similar meets every Thursday night for Georgetown University's law evaluation system for students Photo Courtesy of Allison Ciesielski two hours, and students practice school. living off-campus to complete. One of the Notre Dame Mock Trial teams, with coach Bill Dwyer, on their own in order to fully competed in the Opening Round National Competition last weekend. grasp the skills taught in class. see MOCK/page 4 see REISH/ page 4 CAMPUS LIFE COUNCIL Ne~ buildings seek Multicultural clubs Inust publicize LEED certification University should focus on retaining minority student, task force says based on buildings' innova­ By LAURA McCRYSTAL tion and sustainability in News Writer site planning, water man­ By SARAH MERVOSH agement, indoor environ­ News Writer Notre Dame emphasizing mental quality, material use sustainability through the and energy, Marsh said. A survey of international and pursuit of Leadership in Construction projects cur­ multicultural students suggested Energy and Environmental rently seeking LEED certifi­ that multicultural and interna­ Design (LEED) certification cation include Ryan Hall, tional clubs or events need better for current and future con­ Stinson-Remick Hall and the publicity, Diversity Council struction projects, University Purcell Pavilion addition to Representative Brigitte Githinji architect Doug Marsh said in the Joyce Center. said. a lecture Monday night. Marsh focused on Stinson­ "I noted that people who "Buildings have the tough­ Remick Hall, the new engi­ answered said they had not par­ est impact of the environ­ neering building that is ticipated in any of these events or ment," Marsh said. "There is scheduled to open in had not heard of them because a huge opportunity to posi· January 2010, to explain the they were not well publicized," tively impact those outcomes innovations that contribute Githinji said. "Because of this, by different designs." to LEED certification. [the clubs] tend to be more inclu- TOM LA!The Observer The United States Green The building's reduction of Student body president Bob Reish, center, presides over Building Council (USGBC) see CLC/ page 4 his final Campus Life Council meeting Monday~_ gives LEED certifications see LECTURE/ page 6 page 2 The Observer+ PAGE 2 Tuesday, March 31, 2009 INSIDE COLUMN QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT IS THE BEST ITEM THAT THE DINING HALLS HAVE TO OFFER? Make a decision Since the onset of the "Odrama," I have been very conflicted as to where I stand on the issue and what I should do. A lot of me thinks that since I am a sophomore, I have no real place object­ Sarah Essaied Rachel Tran Tom Pesch Chase Riddle Huong Ngo ing to anything that happens at gradu­ freshman freshman freshman freshman junior ation. But it does make me think, what McGlinn Farley Morrissey Keenan P.E. would I do if I were a senior? I Stephanie DePrez think the issue "The barbecue, "Whatever you "Wajfle batter. "Chocolate "Pita bread. " merits examina­ Assistaint or the gyros, or can smuggle Straight, sprinkled tion, even if I am Scene Editor , in no position to those mini out in your uncooked wajfle doughnuts. react. sandwiches pockets." batter." I have been in a number of classes with the bacon, where I felt bad, even guilty, for having the gut reaction of "I don't want Obama turkey, lettuce here." Listening to the mainly one­ and tomato." sided opinions of other students talk about the "embarrassing factions" who are objecting and the "radical, selfish Have an idea for Question of the Day? E-mail [email protected] Catholics" who are taking graduation from the seniors, I can see how easy it would be to say, he's coming, it's over, get over it. IN BRIEF But I came here because Notre Dame is a Catholic university. We've been toe­ A lecture titled "To Cry or ing the line of that title for a while, call­ Not to Cry: Heritage, Genetic ing ourselves a Catholic university with Identity, and the Ambivalence great pride and distinction, so proud of Belonging in Argentina" that we aren't just one or the other­ will be given today by Dr. we have peace<tbly reconciled being a Graciela Cabana of the top research university with our com­ University of Tennessee at 3 mitment to education with a Catholic p.m. in 117 DeBartolo Hall. identity. But I think the issue's finally come to a head. That's what this The Center for Asian Studies "Odrama" is really about- which will host a symposium called comes first, Catholic, or University? "The Church in Asia, Part 1: If we are a university first, then by all East Asia" today from 9 a.m. means, the President should be speak­ to 7 p.m. in the Hesburgh ing here! Education and open-minded­ Center Auditorium and Great ness should come first in all things, and Hall. The symposium aims to we should operate on a platform of explore the past, present, and openness to hearing anyone, without future of Catholicism in Asia, questioning speakers who might other­ and will feature three scholars wise be held accountable for positions focusing on the Church in that are contrary to Catholic doctrine. Japan, China and South If we are Catholic first, then why Korea. should Notre Dame confer its prestige upon someone who as acted in ways The play "Our Town," by that violate core Catholic doctrine? I VANESSA GEMPISfThe ObseNer Thornton Wilder will be think that President Obama coming" Irish lacrosse player Jake Marmul goes for the ball in the team's 11-6 victory over shown today through here has become such a (national) Bellarmine. They take on Villanova today at 4 p.m. Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and issue because Notre Dame, Catholic Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in Decio University, has never had to choose its Mainstage Theatre of the ultimate designation in such a public, DeBartolo Performing Arts definitive way. Center. The play was first To listen to students of differing views published and produced in discuss this topic is to witness negotia­ 1938, and depicts life in tions between a person speaking Greek OFFBEAT Grover's Corners, New and a person speaking Swahili.