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Volume 52, Issue 52 | friday, november 17, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
Friendship fuels historic series Notre Dame and Navy remember partnership dating back to World War II By NATALIE WEBER Associate News Editor
As many young men enlisted or were drafted into the military during World War II, Notre Dame’s enrollment sank and the University was on the verge of closing. Thanks to an agreement between the Navy and Notre Dame, however, the University was able to keep its doors open. Notre Dame’s connection with the Navy began in 1941, Capt. Mark Prokopius, the commanding officer of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) at Notre Dame, said. “The students would go through a four-year continuum of classes and then get a reserve commission in the
Navy,” he said. “But, with the advent of World War II, the Navy realized the need to basically make more officers.” Thus, in 1942, the Navy began a V-7 program at Notre Dame to train midshipmen over the course of four months. In September of that year, Prokopius said, the Navy began a V-12 program at the University. “The V-12 program basically really was designed to put more officers into the Navy,” he said. “Roughly 125,000 people went through the entire program in the entire country. Notre Dame did almost 12,000 of those. In the end, having those midshipmen, those Navy personnel
Observer File Photo
see NAVY PAGE 4
Members of the Notre Dame ROTC program perform an end of year Presidential Pass Review on South Quad.
Work on dorm begins Observer Staff Report
Notre Dame is commencing construction of a 78,000-squarefoot men’s residence hall to the west of Ryan Hall, University spokesman Dennis Brown confirmed. Plans for the new hall were announced in September, along with the new six-semester housing requirement. Vice president of student affairs Erin Hoffmann Harding said in a September interview with The Observer the new hall is intended to house around 250 students. Brown said other details, such as the hall’s name and benefactor, will be announced at a later date.
Student government Folk Choir to host launches political podcast annual Concert for the Missions
By MARIE FAZIO News Writer
Student government is revamping the Political Brew initiative with a modern take: a regular podcast that will cover a wide range of issues to educate students and incite political engagement. The new initiative will begin Sunday with a live event at 2:30 p.m. in Andrews
Auditorium in Geddes Hall that will be recorded for the pilot episode podcast and will be released in the near future. The event is open to all students to attend. Previously, the Political Brew initiative was a monthly event where students gathered to watch the political talk show “Meet the Press” and discuss current events, senior and student
government director of community engagement and outreach Adam Moeller said. The Vidal-Devine administration started the program in 2015 to foster conversation between students with differing views. Moeller and the community engagement and 0utreach team have partnered with BridgeND — a
see PODCAST PAGE 5
By SOFIA MADDEN News Writer
The Notre Dame Folk Choir will perform their annual Concert for the Missions in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Friday at 8 p.m. The concert benefits Yancana Huasy — an organization that assists
families who have children with disabilities — through Holy Cross Missions, senior and Folk Choir social commissioner Greg Demet said. “The Concert for the Missions is our annual event to raise proceeds for the Holy see CONCERT PAGE 5
Saint Mary’s celebrates cultural diversity Saint Mary’s hosted its annual International Cultural Festival on Thursday evening, celebrating diversity and inclusion of all the cultures and traditions that are represented at the College. Students and professors alike shared music, dance, poetry and artifacts from their home countries. Around the World Club
president and junior Gaju Gatera said the main purpose of this event — as well as all the intercultural events taking place this week — is to promote and celebrate the diversity within the Saint Mary’s community. “We dedicate this particular week to put the spotlight on those that have grown up in a different culture or have been touched by a different culture in any shape or form,” she
said. “In brief, it’s a chance to support one another and learn more about each other with a bit of food and music in the mix.” Sandra Tarnowski, a sophomore from Poland, said the event allowed her the opportunity to share and speak out about where she comes from and learn about the cultures and practices of her peers. “Not everyone gets to travel all the time, so this is one way
of traveling — by listening to other people’s stories and getting a glimpse into someone else’s country and culture,” she said. “Often people are not able to recognize international students at first glance, so having an event like this one allows for awareness of these students on campus, as well as a way for these students to share some of their identity with the Saint Mary’s community.”
Adriana Petty, assistant director of international student/scholar services, said this festival is the biggest event for International Education Week. The week is aimed at informing students about various traditions from around the world and maintaining a welcoming environment that embraces other cultures, she said.
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INTERHALL INSIDER INSIDE
IRISH INSIDER INSIDE
By IMAN OMAR News Writer
see DIVERSITY PAGE 5