Norton should adopt broad ideas
Observer Editorial
Observer Editorial Board
With its election of Brooke Norton and Brian Moscona as president and vice president, the Notre Dame student body has sent a message: they are happy with the way student government is running now.
Norton/Moscona will continue the programs begun by the O'Donoghue/Norton administration. It will expand some O'Donoghue/Norton initiatives as well as create new programs which continue the philosophies of the O'Donoghue/Norton administration.
Norton/Moscona has the platform the student body clearly believes is best. They are the leaders of the students and their programs should be given top priority.
The other six tickets' platforms should not be ignored, however. There were too many innovative and positive ideas not included in Norton/Moscona's platform that the new administration should adopt.
Norton/Moscona should extend an olive branch to their former rivals and integrate them into their administration.
Demetra Smith and Yogeld Andre brought up important issues of social justice and community service that could improve the relationship between Notre Dame and South Bend, and received kudos from much of the Notre Dame community.
Smith and Andre's plan to create service oriented scholarships was one of the most innovative and intriguing plans of the election. Norton/Moscona should adopt this plan into their platform and make Smith/Andre's vision a reality.
Victoria Fetterman and Maureen Gottlieb had a realistic and effective plan for increasing campus safety. Gottlieb/Fetterman had a plan to walk around campus with security and identify the dark areas that need more light and the isolated areas that require call boxes. This would be a simple step toward increasing campus safety. Norton/Moscona should ask Gottlieb and Fetterman to help implement this program at Notre Dame.
The runner-up ticket of Ryan Becker and Nikki McCord should also not be ignored by Norton/Moscona. Plans to bring back SafeRide and elect more student representatives to the Campus Life Council are fresh solutions to old problems.
Norton/Moscona have the experience and the insider know-how to solve the problems facing Notre Dame today. They must not forget, however, to include new ideas and new programs to ensure student government does not go stale.
All Viewpoint Stories for Friday, February 16, 2001
