Hot Topics: Last Year on Campus
By Jason McFarley
It's tough enough finding the way from the dorm to class to the dining hall and back. First-year students don't want to get lost in the conversation loop, too.
Briefly, here's a look at the last year's news at Notre Dame and Saint Mary's that might still come up in conversation on both campuses.
* The so-called "sea of red" Nebraska fans in Notre Dame Stadium Sept. 9, 2000 was a sore subject last fall. The Irish lost to the Cornhuskers before a crowd laden with Nebraska fans in red attire. Originally the season's most anticipated game, it turned into one of the most embarrassing — not because of the three-point loss, but rather the dubious move by thousands of Notre Dame ticketholders — especially faculty and alumni — who apparently sold their tickets to Nebraska backers.
*Underage Notre Dame and Saint Mary's students were involved in police raids at two popular South Bend bars. An Oct. 13, 2000 bust of Finnigan's netted 147 citations, and one at Benchwarmer's on Jan. 25, 2001 resulted in 18 students being ticketed. Busted students were cited on minor in a tavern charges and faced state law-imposed fines and community service in addition to University-imposed sanctions.
*On Oct. 24, 2000, then-vice-presidential candidate Sen. Joesph Lieberman, D-Conn., talked up religion to a packed Washington Hall audience on Notre Dame's campus. The speech by the liberal politician was met with protests outside the Hall as well as a brief interruption inside by a pro-life advocate. President George W. Bush was the keynote speaker at Commencement last year, and used his first commencement address as president to discuss faith-based charities.
*Last fall and winter, leukemia claimed the lives of three people with Notre Dame ties. On Sept. 20, 2000 20-year-old junior Brionne Clary died. On Jan. 29, 2001, San Diego native Scott Delgadillo passed away. In the fall, the 14-year-old spoke at the pep rally before the Notre Dame-Purdue football game. Two days later, junior Conor Murphy died at age 20.
*Women made major breakthroughs at the University in 2000-01. In the fall, then-senior Molly Kinder became the first woman selected to the Irish Guard, which leads the Notre Dame marching band onto the football field before games. In February, then-junior Brooke Norton was elected the first female student body president.
* While "The Vagina Monologues" was performed on campus in 2000, Saint Mary's President Marilou Eldred nixed plans for a repeat performance of the controversial play in 2001. What ensued at the College was a months-long battle — that included a student forum in January, a sit-in outside Eldred's office in February and an unauthorized performance of the "Monologues" the same month — centering on academic freedom. The Campus Alliance for Rape Eliminiation (CARE), the group believed responsible for organizing and participating in the unsanctioned production, was later requested to write letters of apology to the Board of Trustees. The "Monologues" explore issues of rape awareness and female sexuality.
All News Stories for Sunday, August 26, 2001
