News in Brief
Observer Staff Report
ND law student Erhard wins
local GOP primary
James Erhard, a third-year law student at Notre Dame, secured the GOP's top nomination for the sixth district in the Indiana House of Representatives. Erhard gathered supporters at Rocco's Pizza in South Bend to celebrate his nomination. "The support we have generated in the community indicates that the people of the sixth district are tired of Pat Bauer's type of leadership." In his comments to supporters, Erhard promised to support real tax cuts and comprehensive change in Indiana's education policy. "Unlike my opponent, I will fight for cutting our property taxes, and I will put our parents, teachers and students first," he said. Erhard said he plans to campaign hard throughout the summer and fall. Erhard's campaign message has focused on taxes and education. A supporter of comprehensive tax reform, Erhard favors property tax reduction, a permanent ten percent homestead credit and an end to inventory tax. Erhard also supports charter schools, school choice and vouchers. Erhard will receive his law degree later this month.
Date announced for Hesburgh's Congressional Gold Medal ceremonies
University president emeritus Father Theodore Hesburgh will receive Congress' highest honor for contributions to the life of the nation July 13 in Washington, D.C. The Congressional Gold Medal will be given to Hesburgh in afternoon ceremonies in the Capitol rotunda. Hesburgh, 82, stepped down in 1987 after 35 years as president of Notre Dame. His extensive record of public service included 15 Presidential appointments, the most visible of which was to the original U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in 1957. He has made trips to the Middle East as a member of a group set up in the Wye Plantation Treaty to maintain peaceful relations between Israel and the Palestinians, and he was sent on a UN fact-finding mission on refugees in the wake of the conflict in Kosovo. Legislation authorizing the medal was introduced by Notre Dame alumnus and Indiana Third District Congressman Tim Roemer. University president Father Edward Malloy, who succeeded Hesburgh, will be among the speakers at the ceremony. Glee Club director Dan Stowe and three Glee Club graduating seniors — Adam Charnley of Lapeer, Mich., Matthew McDonnell of LaCrosse, Wis., and Patrick Quigley of New Orleans — will perform as a quartet as part of the program.
Wild named valedictorian of
Class of 2000
Elizabeth Wild, a history and computer applications double major from Washington, Pa., has been named valedictorian of Notre Dame's 2000 graduating class. Wild achieved a 3.975 grade point average in Notre Dame's Honors Program and for her senior thesis composed a 200-page novel — one of four projects formally presented at the final colloquium. Wild is submitting her novel for publication. After graduation, Wild will work in Pittsburgh for McKinsey & Co., a managerial consulting group. She was a reporter for the University's student newspaper, The Observer, for two years and for the student magazine, the Scholastic, her sophomore year. She tutored in the University's First Year of Studies during her sophomore year, and she served as peer advisor for the University's First Year of Studies to younger members of the Notre Dame Honors Program. As a junior, she participated in the University's Washington, D.C., studies program. She also served as a student volunteer at the University's Early Childhood Development Center.
All News Stories for Wednesday, May 3, 2000
