Senators discuss terrorist attacks
By ERIN LaRUFFA
Associate News Editor
Like much of the Notre Dame student body, the Student Senate spent part of Wednesday discussing Tuesday's violence in New York City and Wash-ington, D.C.
"I think it was really, really inspiring for everyone to be at the Mass yesterday," said Sorin senator Pat Hallahan.
He encouraged his fellow senators to continue serving as leaders in their respective dorms and around campus in the wake of the tragedy.
University president Father Edward Malloy has asked student government to respond to the tragedy, according to Keogh senator John Cannon.
"[Malloy] called on student government to do something in memory of what happened," said Cannon.
Cannon has already spoken to the Student Activities office, Campus Ministry and the Center for Social Concerns (CSC) about working with student government to plan a prayer vigil and fundraiser.
Although Cannon said no details have been finalized yet, he said the prayer vigil would most likely be held on September 15 or 22. Senators are also currently trying to create an event to raise money to help relief efforts in New York City.
"Hopefully, the fundraiser would give us a way to send some aid. I know if we could, we would all be there digging through the rubble," said Jesse Flores, the senator from Carroll Hall.
Student body president Brooke Norton told the senate that money from the Rector's Fund would be available for any student who lost a loved one on Tuesday and needs help returning home.
"We don't have many confirmed reports of situations, yet," Norton said. "But the school is very good about helping those in need."
However, Morrissey senator Padraic McDermott said that students from New York City would have a difficult time returning home because most roads are closed.
"New York City is like a war zone right now," he said.
Jennie Flannery, the senator from Lewis Hall, said it was important for students to remember that people in New York and Washington would be in need for more than just the immediate future.
"I think we should keep in mind the long term and not just forget about this in a week," Flannery said.
In addition, Student Activities director Brian Coughlin told the Senate that his office would continue with its scheduled activities this week. In relation to residence halls with dances scheduled for this weekend, Coughlin said individual rectors will decide whether to hold the dance.
In other Senate news:
uZahm senator Mark Roland said the senate's University Affairs committee, which he chairs, would research campus counseling services. He said members of his committee were concerned that counseling services were not well-publicized and perhaps were understaffed. He added that the committee would also research Notre Dame's health services department.
"There have been a lot of complaints about misdiagnosis and other problems with health services," Roland said.
uSenators voted to wait until a future senate meeting before deciding whether it will allow The Observer to publish its agndas. Jason McFarley, The Observer's news editor, addressed senators to say his department was willing to publish the senate's agenda on a regular basis.
"I think it would be a great service to the students and would hopefully get them interested in Senate meetings," McFarley said.
uThe senate is working with the MBA school and graduate students to plan a blood drive.
All News Stories for Thursday, September 13, 2001
