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Volume 55, Issue 68 | Friday, May 7, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
University hosts ‘Acafest’ 2021 ‘Acafest’ features performances from Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s By EVAN MCKENNA Managing Editor
“AcaFest,” Notre Dame’s premier a cappella event, has seen much turbulence in its short history. In the past, the event took the form of a “battle” between various student musical groups, asking attendees to vote for the winning group via text. In 2019, after a four-year hiatus, the event returned as a collaborative showcase between campus a cappella groups. In 2020, COVID-19 eliminated any possibility of AcaFest. But on Thursday night, AcaFest returned for its 2021 rendition — this time under the lights of the Notre Dame Stadium. The night’s setlist featured
seven musical groups from Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s: the Undertones, Halftime A Cappella, Unchained Melodies, The Echoes, Harmonia, Encore! and Bellacapella. Students laid blankets on the field to watch the show, which was also live-streamed, and free food was offered to attendants. The event began at 8 p.m. with Halftime, Notre Dame’s premier co-ed a cappella group, who performed arrangements of a variety of contemporary hits, such as “Blow Your Mind“ by Dua Lipa, “Hypotheticals” by Lake Street Dive and “Runnin’” by Naughty Boy. see ACAFEST PAGE 5
RB charged with misdemeanor Observer Staff Report
Court documents filed Thursday w ith the St. Joseph Count y Prosecutor’s Office state that Notre Dame running back C’Bo Flemister has been charged w ith a Class B misdemeanor for leav ing the scene of an accident. The incident was first reported by WNDU’s 16 News Now. Flemister reportedly crashed his 2014 white BMW
on South Bend Avenue near Corby Boulevard in the early morning hours of April 25. According to WNDU, South Bend police arrived to find the vehicle crashed into a concrete median. The vehicle was found vacant w ith its airbags deployed and the keys missing. Damages were estimated w ithin the range of $10,001-$25,000. see CHARGE PAGE 3
Fisher regatta raises over 20K By LAUREN KESIC News Writer
Fisher Hall will host its annual Regatta Saturday at St. Mary’s Lake. In order for the Regatta to take place, there are three major differences in the event this year from previous years: limited boats and timed races, no spectators and
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no food. First, the boats can have no more than eight people. Those people have to be from the same dorm, off-campus household or club. There can only be three boats in the lake at a time and each boat can only cross the lake once. see REGATTA PAGE 3
viewpoint PAGE 7
SMC top students revealed Observer Staff Report
ALYSA GUFFEY | The Observer
Harmonia, an all-girls acapella group, performs under the lights at the Notre Dame Stadium during 2021 Acafest.
Saint Mar y’s announced seniors Kelly Harris, Katie Jackson and Stefanie Winnicki w ill be this year’s valedictorians in an email to the campus communit y Tuesday. Harris, from BloomingtonNormal, Illinois, w ill graduate w ith a bachelor’s degree in business administration w ith see SMC PAGE 4
Senate explores changes to fall COVID procedures By KATIE WERNER News Writer
Thursday evening, the student senate convened in Debartolo Hall for its last meeting of the semester. Members of the student government delivered updates on various meetings and elected two students to the Campus Life Council (CLC). First, director of student centers, activities and events Karen Kennedy announced a thank you notes drive for National Nurses Week (May 6-12). During the meeting, senators were digitally distributed a Google form. Form submissions will be delivered as physical note cards to staff members at either University Health Services (UHS), the Testing Center or Contact Tracing Team. Student body president junior Allan Njomo next delivered a student and faculty Voice Summit update. Njomo said the meeting was successful. “We really got to engage with faculty, different professors, department heads, deans […] to discuss how we can learn from the
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pandemic and this school year,” he said. During the summer, Njomo and other members of student government will compile information from students of different majors and present it to the department head, the dean, the provost and the senate. After Njomo’s update, student body vice president junior Mathew Bisner gave an update on the Student Advisory Group for Campus Reopening. Given the hopeful turnout at the second vaccination clinic, protocols for the upcoming fall will significantly relax. When moving out of dorms this spring, COVID-19 exit testing will not be required, but the university will provide testing if requested. Regarding commencement, four tickets will be given to each graduating senior. During the summer, the University will engage in experimentation to prepare for the fall. This experimentation will occur in labs, ten residence halls and public buildings (student centers and dining halls). Masks will likely be required indoors. In the fall, class times and
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classrooms will function as normal, and dining halls will be nearly back to normal, with 15% of tables having plexiglass for student comfort. The fitness centers are the greatest places of uncertainty. Looking ahead, the student advisory group has meetings planned over the summer to receive updates on these experiments. Next, Bisner provided an update on the faculty senate, which occurred May 4. He and freshman Dane Sherman are representatives who drafted a resolution at the committee meeting prior to the senate meeting. This resolution calls for the senate and the Campus Life Council (CLC) to extend the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day from a half day to a full day. Ultimately, the resolution was postponed, but Bisner said, “I was excited to see the amount of support we did have.” In the future, the faculty senate will discuss concerns regarding first year students overloading their courses from 17 to over 20 see SENATE PAGE 4
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