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Volume 54, Issue 62 | wednesday, december 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
SMC partners with Shandong University College signs Memorandum of Understanding with Chinese institution, looks to pursue collaboration By MAEVE FILBIN Saint Mary’s News Editor
Guo Cuifen, president of Shandong Women’s University, joined by a delegation of visiting deans and faculty members from the university, joined Saint Mary’s College Interim President Nancy Nekvasil Monday in signing a Memorandum of Understanding to pursue research collaborations and exchange programs. “The cooperation between our two universities will provide a broader vision of our world and women’s development, and enhance women’s welfare,” Cuifen said.
Basilica to close Observer Staff Report
Notre Dame’s Basilica of the Sacred Heart will undergo maintenance from Dec. 26 to Jan. 10, according to a University press release published Tuesday. There will be “no services” in the space while the Basilica is closed, owing to “potentially unsafe conditions.” From Jan. 2 to Jan. 10 all “Weekday Confessions and Mass” will be held in the Sacred Heart Parish, located in the Basilica’s crypt, the release said. The Basilica will be reopened ahead of Vigil Mass on the afternoon of Jan. 11.
The Shandong Women’s University, located in Jinan, Shandong Province in China, is one of the three women’s universities in China offering undergraduate education for women. With more than 15,000 students currently enrolled, it is the largest women’s university in China. Founded in 1952 as a women’s leadership training school, the university now maintains 20 schools and offers 30 majors, including education, law, management, economics, art, literature, culture and communications, tourism, accounting and information see SHANDONG PAGE 4
Photo courtesy of Alice Yang
College Interim President Nancy Nekvasil, right, and President of Shandong Women’s University Guo Cuifen sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday. The colleges hope to enhance women’s welfare.
College recognizes those living mission through new initiative By COLLEEN FISCHER News Writer
Saint Mary’s vice president for mission Judith Fean emailed the College community to announce a new initiative Nov. 22. “The mission council would like to celebrate those who live out the mission of the College in everyday and extraordinary ways,” Fean said in the email. “Mission Moment Appreciation is designed to celebrate the daily instances of living out the mission.” The Mission Moment Appreciation is a new
program based around recognizing small and regular instances of the College’s mission within the Saint Mary’s community. Recognition will occur based on nominations. According to the email, the criteria for nominations are that the student ref lect either the Saint Mary’s mission statement or the core values of “learning,” “community,” “faith/spirituality” and “justice.” The full mission statement can be found on the College website. Through the statement, the College expresses its
hopes to focus on themes of intellectual vigor for women and fostering an “inclusive, academic community where students discover and develop their talents as they prepare to make a difference in the world,” according to the website. Saint Mary’s is dedicated to e mbodying the mission and practicing it contemporary life, the website says. “We wanted an opportunity where each member of the community could recognize and appreciate their peers, those they work with and those who mentor them
as we continue to build a learning community where faith and justice leads to building a more inclusive and equitable community,” Fean said in an email to The Observer. “Mission Moment Appreciation is one way [of ] personally showing your appreciation and gratitude.” There has already been some interest and buzz in the community around the initiative, and several nominations from the community, Fean said. “After the announcement was made, many members see MISSION PAGE 4
Students work with community, teach literacy Last year, sophomores Matthew Nguyen and Lucy Suo saw a need in the South Bend community to provide assistance with adult education. They responded
by offering their time to tutor literacy students in the program one-on-one. Now, Nguyen said, the pair is working to establish a sanctioned club by next semester for students in the tri-campus community to volunteer within the adult
education sphere. “We recognized that there was so much help needed, and the teachers just didn’t have enough hands,” Nguyen said. “There’s like, one teacher for every 20 students. And if you can imagine in a classroom of
adults, they’re all at different levels. It was literally a mess, but it was a good mess.” Nguyen and Suo volunteer through the Adult Education department within the South Bend Community School Corporation. Suo said the department’s lack
of student tutors ultimately drove her and Nguyen to recruit more volunteers. “We realized this would be a good opportunity for not just Notre Dame students to help out, but also to build a
NEWS PAGE 3
SCENE PAGE 5
VIEWPOINT PAGE 7
ND M BASKETBALL PAGE 12
TRACK & FIELD PAGE 12
By ALYSA GUFFEY News Writer
see ALLIANCE PAGE 3