Leaders give first student report to Board of Trustees
By LAURA ROMPF
Assistant News Editor
An hour an a half before most Notre Dame students walk to their first Thursday morning class, John Osborn, Mike Heinz and Brian O'Donoghue will board the University's plane and head to Washington, D.C. They will be the first students in Notre Dame history to attend the winter Board of Trustees meeting and actually play active role in the discussions.
"I think it is great we are able to attend the meeting," said Osborn, co-chair of the Board of Trustees reports committee. "I have been working on reports for three years … and we are making great in-roads for student relations with the Board."
Representing student opinion
When the trustees agreed to hear student input at the winter meeting, they also suggested a specific topic for the students to speak on — "Students' ability to understand and articulate their Catholic faith."
After receiving the topic, Heinz, Osborn and O'Donoghue advertised and invited students to come to a focus group where they handed out surveys and had discussions with students to determine what role Catholicism plays at Notre Dame. Osborn said around 30 total students attended the focus group.
"It is impossible to take 8,000 students and form one collective opinion," said Heinz, co-chair of the Board of Trustees reports committee. "We view ourselves as representatives and we've been put here on good faith … We've tried to gather a spectrum of student opinion.
Osborn shared the topic with the Senate Wednesday night, and in turn some senators told their dorms and O'Donoghue said this has generated more feedback.
"The survey questions were posted to some dorm list servs, and we have had several email responses," student body president O'Donoghue said.
The report will include an introduction, an overview of Catholicism and religion at Notre Dame and will then conclude three recommendations, Heinz said.
"We are explaining that there is a broad spectrum of Catholics at Notre Dame," O'Donoghue said. "From the very conservative Catholic to the very liberal."
"We are noting that there is not such a thing as a Notre Dame Catholic, and in fact there are a number of people on campus who are not Catholic," Heinz said.
Osborn said the report also mentions that students do not always learn about Catholicism in the classroom, but often from dorm mass, Campus Ministry retreats, hall staff and fellow students.
"We wonder whether the information they're receiving is right," Osborn said. "We hope students can use the Catholic doctrine and social teachings not only in their lives on campus, but also when they graduate. When students leave Notre Dame, they should have intellectual preparation for life, but also have a moral and faith base foundation they can build on."
The Recommendations
After gathering student input, Osborn, Heinz and O'Donoghue decided upon three recommendations they will present to the Board on Thursday.
Osborn said many students were dissatisfied with the required Theology 100 course on Biblical history, so they are recommending an alternative course be offered on Catholic doctrine and apologetics.
"Many students had already had a course on Biblical history or they were uninterested in the topic," Osborn said.
Heinz said the course will also teach Catholic opinion on contemporary topics such as abortion, birth control and homosexuality.
The second recommendation will call for more interaction between the Center for Social Concerns (CSC) and Campus Ministry. Osborn said if the two interacted, it would combine the social and spiritual aspects of faith.
"Students should take the practical aspect of faith they learn in the classroom and go out and use that faith for social justice and social outreach," Heinz said.
The third recommendation parallels the second by emphasizing practical faith. Osborn, Heinz, and O'Donoghue said they are recommending more programs be offered with the Center for the Homeless, the Logan Center and the Community Learning Center.
Heinz said in previous years, PLS students conducted literacy programs, accounting students provided help with taxes and some engineering students went to Haiti to build water canals.
"We want students to use these professional skills and realize you can be a success personally, but you can also make a difference."
The Presentation
Osborn, Heinz, and O'Donoghue will leave South Bend on Thursday morning at 8 a.m. and arrive in D.C. around 10:30 a.m. From the airport, they will head to Willard Intercontinental Hotel where they will put final touches on their power point presentation and speeches before going before the Board at 1 p.m.
Heinz said their presentation will follow the talk of John Cavidini, chair of the Theology department. The students will have the floor for 45 minutes, but they are leaving 20-25 of those minutes for questions from the Board.
"This is the first time students will be able to sit in on the full discussion and presentation," O'Donoghue said. "This is a remarkable step for students."
At 4 p.m., the students will board back on the University plane, and less than 12 hours after they left, they will return to Notre Dame around 6:30 p.m. Although the trip will be quick, Osborn, Heinz and O'Donoghue are aware of the impact it could have.
"I'm excited not only because it sets a precedent, but I think the trustees believe we're a credible source and they value student input in forming their own opinions," said Heinz. "I think this is a step to greater involvement with the administration."
All News Stories for Monday, January 29, 2001
