The other day when I walked through LaFortune, I passed by the wall of fame and glanced up at the plaques listing all the names of different student leaders from Notre Dame's past. On each plaque the little brass plate for the 2000-01 school year has been removed so the latest name can be added to the wall.

And then I saw the Observer Editor plaque and it sort of hit me right then. For as long as those plaques hang in LaFortune I will be remembered as the Editor of The Observer. My identity as Editor will be sealed in brass on the wall of the student center.

But my identity as Editor has been a permanent part of me since I was elected in March 2000. Everything I have done has not just been done by Mike Connolly but by Mike Connolly, Editor of The Observer.

My identity is permanent. I cannot choose to act as Mike Connolly, Editor and at other times, as Mike Connolly, Notre Dame junior.

All my identities are a part of me at all times. I am Editor of The Observer. I am a Notre Dame student. I am Irish Catholic. I am the son of Mike and Rochelle Connolly. I am a collection of many identities and all of those identities are permanently part of me.

Every one of my actions stems from my past experiences and every one of my actions reflects on my identities — for better or worse. If I do something stupid in my free time, it reflects poorly not only on Mike Connolly, American studies major, but on all of my identities.

So tonight, when I camp out on the quad with other Notre Dame students, I cannot claim to protest the actions of rectors and administrators solely as Mike Connolly, resident of Dillon 281. My entire identity will be on the quad and my actions will reflect on all my identities.

Student body president Brooke Norton and vice president Brian Moscona apparently do not share my view. Last night, Norton told The Observer that she and Moscona would attend tonight's sleepout to protest parietals — but not as student government officials. This is impossible. As student leaders, they cannot shirk their identities.

Norton and Moscona are always the president and vice president of the student body. They won the students' trust and earned the right to serve as president and vice president. They earned a new identity — one that cannot be casually shrugged off.

Whether they are passing resolutions in student senate, taking notes in government class, eating a cheeseburger in Reckers or protesting the CLC on South Quad, they are the elected leaders of the student body.

With those identities, also comes greater risk. If they choose to take part in the protest, they may anger and alienate administrators. This may make it more difficult for them to accomplish other student goals. But that comes with their identity and the choices they make.

I hope Brooke and Brian attend the protest tonight. I hope thousands of students sleep on the quads tonight. I hope there are dining hall workers, sociology majors, lacrosse players, Phish fans, Farley girls and every other type of Notre Dame student. But if you come, be ready to bring all your identities and accept all the consequences — good or bad — for your actions.

• Perpetual identity