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Volume 51, Issue 79 | friday, february 3, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
Panel seeks to clarify platforms Candidates outline plans for diversity during first public forum By RACHEL O’GRADY News Editor
Notre Dame student body election season kicked off Thursday night in the basement of Cavanaugh Hall w ith a panel comprised of the presidential and v ice presidential candidates, joined by their campaign managers. The panel was hosted by We Stand For — a group that aims at “sharing resources and support for Notre Dame students in light of the election” — and was focused on clarif y ing how each ticket plans to address diversit y on campus. “Diversit y at Notre Dame comes in many different forms,” junior presidential candidate Rohit Fonseca see ELECTION PAGE 3
Observer Staff Report
RACHEL O’GRADY | The Observer
On Thursday evening in Cavanaugh Hall, candidates for student body president and vice president, along with their campaign managers, discussed issues relating to the upcoming election.
ND considers new parking options Observer Staff Report
Universit y Executive Vice President John Aff leckGraves convened a parking committee in Februar y 2016 made up of facult y, staff, and undergraduate and graduate students. They analyzed four specific aspects of parking on campus: the on-campus shuttle ser v ice, surface lot parking, the possibilit y of a parking garage and the reser ved parking pilot program. Final recommendations were submitted at the end of November and shared w ith students in an email Wednesday from Aff leckGraves. At first priorit y was the shuttle. The committee suggested changes such as combining the current routes into one route that accesses the majorit y of campus, investing in shuttle technolog y advancements, improv ing shuttle system v isibilit y and continuing to
Scene PAGE 5
Sexual assault reported to NDSP
use an outside vendor for shuttle ser v ices, instead of a Universit y-ow ned shuttle ser v ice. The construction of a parking garage came in as the second priorit y and the committee suggested the Universit y build a 1,000- to 1,200-car parking garage in the v icinit y of Legends. This garage would be open to facult y, staff and students that would have to pay a daily or hourly rate. Overnight parking would not be permitted. As for surface lots, a proposal was made for a new paved surface lot in 2018 follow ing the demolition of the O’Hara-Grace apartments. They also suggested a new paved surface lot on the green space east of Innovation Park. Increased technolog y and short-term parking were among topics discussed in regards to these surface lots. see PARKING PAGE 3
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A sexual assault was reported to the University’s deputy Title IX coordinator, according to an email sent to students Thursday night from Notre Dame Security Police (NDSP). The alleged assault occurred in a West Quad men’s dorm early Sunday morning. Information about sexual assault prevention and resources for survivors of sexual assault are available online from NDSP and from the Committee for Sexual Assault Prevention (CSAP).
SMC student reflects on experience as delegate By COLLEEN ZEWE News Writer
Saint Mar y’s junior A nna McCambridge proves college students can make a difference in politics. In August, the business major ran for and won the role of precinct delegate
during the Michigan state primaries. Later, at a count y convention, she was elected state delegate. McCambridge represents the Republican Part y for Kent Count y, which encompasses her hometow n of Grand Rapids, Michigan. After spontaneously
attending a state convention as a guest along w ith a few friends, McCambridge said she felt inspired to run. She said she’s always been interested in politics, especially after coming to college; seeing other college see DELEGATE PAGE 3
Counselor sides with NDSP in records case By MARGARET HYNDS Editor-in-Chief
Indiana Public Access Counselor Luke Britt sided w ith Notre Dame Securit y Police (NDSP) on Monday in responding to a complaint filed w ith his office last month by The Obser ver. The complaint concerned the police force and Notre
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Dame’s denial of records requests in November, despite a change in state law last year that might have required them to grant access. The relevant law hinges on the legal distinction bet ween private and public agencies. Under Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act
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(APRA), “public agencies” — like local police departments — are required to release certain records by law. However, private universit y police departments like NDSP have long been considered private agencies under state law, and therefore not subject to APRA. see RECORDS PAGE 3
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