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Volume 54, Issue 74 | monday, february 3, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Group discusses lawsuit involving ND insurance policy I4RH continues lawsuit regarding University birth control coverage restrictions By CLAIRE RAFFORD Associate News Editor
On Jan. 17, Irish 4 Reproductive Health (I4RH) — the independent reproductive rights group at Notre Dame — announced their group had been cleared to proceed in their lawsuit against Notre Dame after the University announced they would restrict access to certain forms of birth control for those people receiving insurance coverage through the University. The lawsuit was filed in June of 2018 and says the University and the Trump administration reached an “unlawful” agreement which would allow the University to refuse to cover
certain forms of birth control under the insurance plan. “The lawsuit was filed ... in response to the Notre Dame administration announcing that it would be restricting access to insurance coverage for birth control,” sophomore and coleader of I4RH Sophia Kics said in an email. “This [announcement] came after the Trump administration’s back-door deal with Notre Dame and 73 other institutions that allowed for them to deny birth control coverage on the basis of religious beliefs. Prior to this, the university had been waging a legal battle against the Affordable Care Act’s mandate that many women’s health services (including
Students honor SMC heritage By Hannah Thomas News Writer
Beginning today, there will be daily events celebrating the rich history of Saint Mary’s College through Alumnae Relations Committee’s Heritage Week. “[Heritage Week] is basically just a week in homage to our heritage,” said Saint Mary’s senior Marianna Sanchez, chair of the Alumnae Relations Committee. Different events are planned throughout the week to explore and celebrate Saint Mary’s roots. A Mass on Feb. 2 kicked off the week. “Monday we’re starting a new sort of tradition,” said junior Giavanna Paradiso, vicechair of the Alumnae Relations Committee. “After the Avenue Alumnae Spotlight, every month there is going to be an email from an alumnae to sort of explain her career path and how Saint Mary’s helped her.” Along with this, Paradiso said, there will be various ways to thank the Sisters of the Holy
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Cross and spend time with them. “Tuesday, there’s Heritage Tours and special prizes,” Paradiso said. “Then on Wednesday, we’re kind of having a ’Why you love St. Mary’s’ ... type of thing. Thursday is going to be ice cream with the Sisters and Friday is thank you letters to the sisters and donuts.” The Heritage Tours, as well as the socials with the Sisters, will provide an opportunity to explore the convent and historical spots within the building. “[For] the Heritage Tour … they have a museum and so a sister comes and takes you on tour of that museum,” Sanchez said. “... It’s incredible — it has so many artifacts from our history and information on people who started Saint Mary’s … the stories that go along with it are incredible over there, so that’s just super cool.” Paradiso said that extra care had been put into planning this year’s Heritage Week, as it did not take place last year.
contraception) be provided without cost sharing, and they had been unsuccessful until this point.” Graduate student and founding member of I4RH Kate Bermingham said at the time of the University’s announcement, Notre Dame was not “incurring any direct costs for birth control” for those who were receiving access to contraception under the University insurance plan. “What they decided to do when they got a green light from the Trump administration was to actually use their economic position as an employer to prevent people who had insurance through the university from
Virus impedes travel
accessing the supplemental plan that they were not paying for whatsoever at the time,” Bermingham said. I4RH advocates for access to contraception on campus, especially for those insured under University health plans. The lawsuit, filed in the spring of 2018, is being co-sponsored by several nonprofit organizations — the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AUSCS) and the Center for Reproductive Rights — as well as the law firms Fried Frank and Macey Swanson. “Our rights are being
In light of the rising concern around the country and the world regarding the respiratory illness caused by a strain of coronavirus, Notre Dame officials said in an email they have no reason to believe members of the Notre Dame community are at risk of acquiring the virus. The officials that penned the email included the vice president for student affairs Erin Hoffman Harding, vice president for human resources Robert McQuade, vice
see LAWSUIT PAGE 4
see VIRUS PAGE 4
Observer Staff Report
Ryan live-in priest reflects on time at University By ALYSA GUFFEY News Writer
Currently in his 11th year of living as a priest-in-residence in Ryan Hall and his 35th year living with students on campus, Fr. Joe Carey has been a part of the Notre Dame community for as long as he can remember. Carey, a graduate of the class of 1962, was born into a legacy family — both his dad and uncle attended Notre Dame. He cites his family as a large reason why he ultimately chose Notre Dame. Carey began college as an accounting major, but in his junior year, he felt a change of heart and a pull toward the priesthood. ”I started to feel a desire and see the appeal of working with young adults,” Carey said. After his ordination in 1969, Carey taught at a Chicago high school for six years. Then, in 1977, he received an offer to
see HERITAGE PAGE 4
see RYAN PAGE 3
SCENE PAGE 5
Viewpont PAGE 6
Courtesy of Fr. John Carey
Father Joe Carey of Ryan Hall poses with students at a Fr. Joe’s event. At FJs, members of Ryan Hall bake treats and chat together.
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ND M BAsketball PAGE 12