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Volume 55, Issue 52 | Friday, april 9, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Mass honors Majd “Jude Ash” al-Shoufi University President Fr. John Jenkins presides over memorial Mass for doctoral student By EVAN McKENNA Managing Editor
On Wednesday evening, members of the tri-campus communit y gathered in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart to honor the life of Notre Dame doctoral student Majd “Jude Ash” al-Shoufi through a Mass of remembrance. al-Shoufi’s death was reported to students Friday in an email from Universit y leadership. Born in Sy ria, al-Shoufi grew up in the United Arab Emirates before arriv ing to the United States in 2015 when he began his time at the Universit y’s Kroc Institute in the Keough School of
Claims found false Observer Staff Report
An independent investigation into sexual assault claims made by Notre Dame alumna Laura Grimes ‘04 against Richard Gaillardetz ‘91, current Boston College theology department chair, concluded Grimes’ allegations “are not only not credible but are also false,” The Heights reported Monday. The investigation was done by DeMoura Smith LLP, who was hired by Boston College. Gaillardetz said in an email to the Observer that Grimes’ allegations have caused “a deeply unjust b urden of suffering” to him and his family. “I recognize that a person who has been grievously wronged has a right to tell their own story and to be heard with empathy and care. At the same time, a person who is accused of serious wrongdoing also has a basic right to fairness,” Gaillardetz said. Grimes, who came forward in January with the allegations, did not immediately respond to the Observer’s request for comment. Gaillardetz will return to his position as theology department chair April 28.
NEWS PAGE 4
Global A ffairs. A peace and human rights activ ist and a refugee of the Sy rian civ il war, al-Shoufi was pursuing a doctoral degree in peace studies and clinical psycholog y, w ith a research focus on trauma inter vention among populations of refugees. Family members and friends of al-Shoufi traveled to Notre Dame and attended the Mass of remembrance while others attended through a livestream of the ser v ice. Universit y President Fr. John Jenkins, who presided over the Mass, began the ser v ice by extending see MASS PAGE 5
EVAN MCKENNA | The Observer
Friends, family and colleagues of Majd “Jude Ash” al-Shoufi gathered in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Wednesday night for a Mass of remembrance. al-Shoufi’s death was announced to the community Friday.
Jewish Club hosts antisemitism week By MARIA LUISA PAUL News Writer
When former student body vice president senior Sarah Galbenski announced Notre Dame’s student senate had unanimously voted to pass Resolution SS 2021-37, sophomore Blake Ziegler’s first thought was “Thank you, God.” (Editor’s Note: Blake Ziegler is a Viewpoint columnist for The Observer.)
The resolution not only pushed for the acknowledgement and condemnation of antisemitism, but also called upon the University to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism — one that has been embraced by 29 nations (including the United States), the United Nations and dozens of universities across the world. As secretary of the Jewish Club
at Notre Dame, Ziegler spent months researching ways to address the ever-present issue of antisemitism. In light of the recent rise of hate incidents towards Jews, the Jewish Club organized Antisemitism Awareness Week — which included different virtual panels and a Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Prayer Service — hoping to both engage and unite the community into
News Editor
Notre Dame Law School (NDLS) closed its deposit form Tuesday evening, nine days before the deposit deadline to confirm enrollment, after the spots in the incoming class went from 67% to 100% full in six hours. In their acceptance letters, admitted students were
SCENEPAGE 9
told they had until April 15 to submit a non-refundable $600 deposit to confirm enrollment at NDLS for the fall of 2021 or until the maximum number of deposits were received. In an email to The Observer Wednesday, an NDLS spokesperson said the school implemented the new policy after an “unexpectedly high” yield rate for the class that enrolled
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Observer Staff Report
in 2019. This is the second admissions cycle with the policy in place, NDLS said. In emails obtained by The Observer, NDLS director of admissions Jacob Baska informed admitted students Tuesday morning at 10:57 a.m. that the maximum number of deposits was being reached quicker than expected.
University President Fr. John Jenkins announced in a Wednesday email that Notre Dame will require all undergraduate, graduate and professional students to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus in order to enroll for the 2021-2022 academic year. “Our goal for the fall semester will be to have as many members of the campus community vaccinated as possible, thereby reducing the risk of infection on campus and in the local community,” Jenkins said. The University will respect documented medical and religious exemptions to the vaccine, according to the email. In a separate email to The Observer, University spokesperson Dennis Brown said the University encourages faculty and staff to receive the vaccine, but at this time they will not be required to do so. Jenkins said the University believes they have enough
see ADMISSIONS PAGE 5
see VACCINES PAGE 5
see WEEK PAGE 3
ND Law School closes deposits before deadline By ALYSA GUFFEY
COVID vaccine required
SPORTS PAGE 16
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