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Volume 51, Issue 23 | Thursday, September 22, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com
ND Right to Life hosts discussion Panelists explore quality of life issues, resources relating to pro-life movement By KATIE GALIOTO News Writer
When it comes to living a life oriented toward pro-life values, it’s important to take a step back and examine your actions, David Richter, assistant professor of civil engineering, environmental engineering and earth sciences, said. “You have to look for inconsistencies,” he said. “If you’re worried about the environment or you’re worried about crisis pregnancy — or whatever that topic might be — use these things as a stepping stone to getting into conversation where you can ask serious questions and blunt questions.” Richter was one of three panelists at the first installment of see LIFE PAGE 3
By KATIE GALIOTO News Editor
KATIE GALIOTO | The Observer
Associate professor of theology Tom Whitmore speaks at Right to Life’s panel, “A Pro-Life vision of the World,” Wednesday evening in Geddes Hall.
SMC, Bethel professors explore Constitution By STEPHANIE SNYDER News Writer
Saint Mary’s and Bethel College history faculty discussed the Constitution, populism and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a panel for Constitution Week, proclaimed by President Barack Obama in recognition of the anniversary of the United States Constitution. During the discussion, led by Saint Mary’s history professor Bill Svelmoe, Saint Mary’s political science department chair Marc Belanger said there are more demands on the Constitution as the world grows more complex. “I’m not saying it’s outdated, but the inefficiencies stand out much more now,” he said. Svelmoe said the inefficiency can lead to populist discontent, which can be seen throughout history as well as in this year’s presidential candidates. “The first populist movement has regular folk rising up with some degree of discontent, and the second populist movements tends to have big solutions or big questions,” he said. “They don’t want to have incremental change; they want huge change.”
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NDSP thanks students
Saint Mary’s political science professor Pat Pierce said the writers of the Constitution did not want that polarized mindset in the government. “What they really had in mind was a mixed constitution — it wasn’t straight democracy,” he said. “A pure democracy would inevitably fall apart.” Pierce said the U.S. system is unusual in the power ordinary people have. “Instead of relying on folks in the group of elites to make nominations, it is ordinary citizens,” he said. “Donald Trump would have never been nominated by the Republican party.” John Haas, an associate professor of history at Bethel College, pointed out the implications of having an inexperienced politician like Trump in office. “James Madison talked about how there’s a multiplying of factions,” he said. “When you inject an ego like Trump’s into the U.S. government, it’s a huge game changer. He’s going to rearrange everything.” Pierce said the Constitution was based on fear of tyranny. “They were intensely concerned with tyranny,” Pierce said. “It was
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why we had a mixed constitution. The way Trump is claiming he can build a wall, it’s as if tyranny doesn’t exist.” Pierce said drastic political statements like Trump’s corrupt citizens. “There’s a certain corruption of the public when the government works in a particular way,” he said. “Those kinds of statements corrupt [the] public, so we stop understanding the way the political system operates.” Carol Halperin, an adjunct professor of history at Saint Mary’s, said if a president overshoots boundaries, the government can act. “The Constitution provides the ability to impeach a president,” she said. “If he takes advantage, he can be removed.” Pierce said the “corruption of the public” is partially due to the media. “The kind of emotional manipulation through an outlet like Fox News, many of the conditions they believe exist, don’t,” Pierce said. “Their perception of reality is just so out of whack from what’s really going on.” see PANEL PAGE 3
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Sophomore Gavin Ennis and junior Katie Sisk were walking down Corby Drive on Sept. 1 when they saw a student who was injured after falling off his skateboard. The pair called Notre Dame Security Police (NDSP), who brought the hurt student in for a medical examination in Saint Liam Hall. Ennis had run back to his dorm to grab paper towels. Sisk convinced the student to get a medical examination, even when he see NDSP PAGE 3
Gameday crime report released By KATIE GALIOTO News Editor
Notre Dame Security Police (NDSP) arrested three individuals Saturday before and during Notre Dame’s home football game against Michigan State, police chief Keri Kei Shibata said. “One was inside the stadium; two were outside the stadium,” Shibata said. “There were no citations written. Those three arrests were the only major police action that was taken that day.” Two of the arrests were for charges of trespassing and one was for public intoxication and disorderly conduct, Shibata said. Mike Seamon, vice president for campus safety and event management, said Saturday’s game was one of the biggest in recent history in terms of campus activity. “Night games are usually against big opponents — and it was in September and in driving distance, and the weather cooperated,” he said. “It ended up being a perfect night for football.” It was estimated that more than 140,000 people were on campus during the day Saturday, Seamon said. “That’s really high for us,” he
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said. The Michigan State game and the home game against Michigan in 2014 were the two biggest night games in recent history, Seamon added. University parking lots were filled to 100 percent capacity. “Every one was full, from the south side of the stadium to the golf course,” he said. “People seemed to have a very good time.” Notre Dame gave more than 3,500 golf cart rides to guests Friday and Saturday, and students from various clubs and organizations gave 281 pedal cab rides across campus, Seamon said. Shibata said from a campus safety standpoint, the game was a success as well. “With the night game, there’s more time for things to happen,” she said. “And we never know what’s going to happen. But there were actually less calls than the night game last year.” Officers from state and local police agencies on campus wear the uniform of their own department but technically work for NDSP when dealing with campus crime, Shibata said, though when officers conduct traffic around the see CRIME PAGE 3
Men’s Golf PAGE 12