Observer the
The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s Volume 44 : Issue 41
Tuesday, october 27, 2009
ndsmcobserver.com
Pickens discusses energy Fr. Jenkins chosen for second five-year term
By SAM STRYKER News Writer
By MADELINE BUCKLEY
The issue of how and where America acquires its sources of energy took center stage over other political issues as T. Boone Pickens, founder and chairman of BP Capital Management, hosted a lecture on his goals for American energy followed by a town hall session in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center Monday. Pickens focused on his “Pickens Plan,” which lays out his energy policy ideas, aiming at reducing American dependence on foreign oil while shifting to other energy sources. The plan’s Web site has had over 20 million hits and over 1.6 million citizens sign up in support since its inception in July of 2008. Pickens said his plan was inspired by a lack of political
see PICKENS/page 6
News Editor
SUZANNA PRATT/The Observer
T. Boone Pickens, founder and chairman of BP Capital Management, lectured on his goals for American energy Monday.
The Board of Trustees has elected University President Fr. John Jenkins to a second five-year t e r m , B o a r d Chairman Richard Notebaert announced Oct. 16. “I am humbled that the Jenkins Board has expressed its confidence by electing me to a second term,” Jenkins said in a press release. “With the support of our Trustees, I will continue pursuing the goals I cited at my inaugura-
tion four years ago — offering an unsurpassed undergraduate education, becoming even more pre-eminent as a research university and ensuring that our Catholic character informs all that we do.” Jenkins was inaugurated as the University’s 17th president in September of 2005 after taking office in July of the same year. He had previously served as vice president and associate provost. University President Emeritus Fr. Edward “Monk” Malloy held the position from 1987-2005. “The vision and leadership that Father Jenkins has demonstrated in his first four years in office have been inspiring and innovative,” Notebaert said in the release. “Building upon the foundation
see JENKINS/page 6
Students get in car accident on service trip By MADELINE BUCKLEY News Editor
Senior Alan Geygan returned to Notre Dame feeling lucky to be alive after spending Fall Break on an Appalachia service trip. On the second day participating in Notre Dame’s Appalachia seminar in Tennessee, Geygan and three other students drove up a mountain to go hiking. But during the drive, their van veered off the road and fell several feet down the mountain before flipping over. “We were driving up a mountain road, and a car was com-
ing down the mountain in other direction so we pulled over to the side to get out of the way,” Geygan said. “But the van tipped and slid down the side of the mountain, flipped over and slammed into a tree.” Geygan said the students as well as the four other passengers in the car sustained only minor injuries, but the University-rented car was totaled. Junior Gabby Tate, the driver of the van, said the experience was “absolutely terrifying.” “The car was tipping so slowly, it seemed like,” she said. “And then all of a sudden it flipped over. A tree luckily
stopped the car from rolling all the way down the hill.” Geygan and Tate said the accident was a result of the poor conditions of the mountain road. “It was a gravely, muddy road and it didn’t hold the car’s weight,” Geygan said. “And the road wasn’t big enough for two cars to begin with.” Junior Nathan Hall, also a passenger in the van, said the mountain road had no guardrails. “I was surprised at how loose the edges of the road were. Even under my own weight,
Photo courtesy of Gabby Tate
see ACCIDENT/page 8
Junior Nathan Hall and trip documenter Adam Bryant examine the accident scene after the van went off the road in Appalachia.
Fourteen arrested during BC game Students hope the win will set the tone for the remainder of the season By HONORA KENNEY AND JOSEPH McMAHON News Writers
By AARON STEINER News Writer
Students said they recognized how critical Notre Dame’s football game against Boston College on Saturday was, making the win all the more satisfying. “For me, this game was crucial because we started last year’s season with a 4-2 record as we have this year, but then ended 6-6. Another win was necessary to
see ARRESTS/page 8
INSIDE
Trustees talk about off-campus safety
TODAY’S PAPER
ANDREA ARCHER|Observer Graphic
Student government leaders told members of the University Board of Trustees that off-campus crime continues to be a concern among students and highlighted their efforts to address off campus safety concerns in a meeting before fall break. In a presentation to the Student Affairs Committee of the Board of
Trustees on Oct. 15, student body president Grant Schmidt, vice president Cynthia Weber and chief of staff Ryan Brellenthin said they are collaborating with University administrators and community leaders on a variety of projects related to safety off campus. Schmidt emphasized that while local authorities say crime rates off campus have not increased
see TRANSPO/page 8
SGA discuss sponsorship guidelines page 3 ◆ Flight of the Conchords review page 12 ◆ Hockey falls to BC page 24 ◆ Viewpoint page 10