Observer the
The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s friday, february 2010 Wednesday, August19, 26, 2009
Volume 44 : Issue 97
ndsmcobserver.com
ND grad joins pro boxing ranks Leaders Former Bengal Bouts champion Lee signs with Top Rank, strives to be a ‘world champion’
request medical amnesty By LIZ O’DONNELL News Writer
Lee, Arum and Shields all said they were excited about the team they have assembled. “In order to be successful in this sport, you have to have a good team,” Shields said. “Top Rank is the best promoter in the world … I told Mike, they’re going to take care of you. They know how to match you, they know how to build you. All you have to do is get in the
Student Senate passed a resolution recommending that the University adopt a policy that would grant medical amnesty to any student caught breaking school rules while assisting another student in need of help. Student body president Grant Schmidt said the topic has been debated in student government for a long time but was finally passed at Wednesday’s two-hour long session. If the policy is formally adopted by administrators, a student who is actively seeking medical treatment for a friend while breaking a school rule would not be penalized by Residence Life and Housing for his or her actions. The resolution leaves open the opportunity for Residence Life and Housing to educate the student, for example by placing him or her in alcohol classes. The student would n o t , h o w e v e r, g a r n e r a n y form of disciplinary record for the occurrence. Schmidt said this is an attempt to eliminate the deterrent of being sanctioned by Residence Life and
see BOXING/page 8
see AMNESTY/page 6
VANESSA GEMPIS/The Observer
From left to right, former Irish football player and professional boxer Tom Zbikowski, boxing promoter Bob Arum, and Notre Dame graduate and professional boxer Mike Lee stand together at a press conference in the Joyce Center Wednesday. By MATT GAMBER News Writer
I t w a s n ’t l o n g a g o t h a t gaining admission to Notre D a m e w a s M i k e L e e ’s t o p goal. Less than four years later, with a degree in finance and three Bengal Bouts titles to his name, the recent Notre Dame graduate returned to campus to announce his intention to become a professio n a l bo x e r a t a p r e s s
conference in the Joyce Center Wednesday. And Lee made it clear that he once again has one goal in mind. “Now my goal is to become world champion, and as crazy as that may sound, getting into Notre Dame sounded crazy to me,” Lee said. “It’s going to be a long p r o c e s s , b u t I d o n ’t w a n t anything else. Four years ago, all I wanted was to get into Notre Dame. I succeeded, and I fully plan on succeeding with this goal.”
Lee has signed a professional contract with Bob Arum’s Top Rank, the boxing promotional giant that represents current world champion Manny Pacquaio and previously promoted legends like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Sugar Ray Leonard and Oscar De La Hoya. Lee is also teamed up with respected veteran trainer Ronnie Shields, who trained former world champions M i k e Ty s o n a n d E v a n d e r Holyfield.
Parents to visit juniors this weekend Observer announces new department heads By SARA FELSENSTEIN News Writer
Observer Staff Report
J u n i o r P a r e n t s We e k e n d may be dubbed “that quiet weekend” by freshmen and sophomores, but for juniors and their parents it is a weekend packed with distinguished speakers, workshops, dinners, socializing with friends and family, and this year, a speech by Irish football coach Brian Kelly. Junior Zach Reuvers, Chair of the JPW Committee, said about 1,200 juniors are expected to participate in the activities this weekend.
Photo courtesy of Zach Reuvers
see JPW/page 6
JPW chairman Zach Reuvers, center, meets with Mendoza Workshop chair Chris Schiraldi, left, and President’s Dinner chair Riley Orloff.
INSIDE
TODAY’S PAPER
Eight additional editors w i l l j o i n T h e O b s e r v e r ’s Editorial Board for the 2 0 1 0 - 1 1 y e a r, i n c o m i n g Editor-in-Chief Matt Gamber announced Thursday. Juniors Jordan Gamble and Blair Chemidlin and sophomores Sarah Mervosh and Douglas Farmer will join the Editorial Board in their new positions after Spring Break. Dan Jacobs and Laura McCrystal, both juniors, will take their new positions in the fall when they return
from studying abroad. Juniors Michelle Maitz and Ashley Charnley will retain their current positions of Viewpoint editor and Saint Mary’s editor, respectively. A resident of Le Mans Hall from Angola, Ind., Charnley h a s c o v e r e d S a i n t M a r y ’s news since her freshman year and held the position of Saint Mary’s editor for the 2009-10 year. Maitz has held the position of Viewpoint editor since fall of 2009 and will retain that position. She is a resident of
see STAFF/page 6
Notre Dame hosts health fair page 3 ◆ Covers of famous songs page 12 ◆ Women’s basketball preview page 24 ◆ Viewpoint page 10