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Volume 49, Issue 26 | monday, september 28, 2015 | ndsmcobserver.com
Students march for sexual assault survivors Game day silent protest raises awareness for sexual assault on local college campuses By CATHERINE OWERS Associate News Editor
On Saturday afternoon, approx imately 50 students participated in a silent march to raise awareness for sur v ivors of sexual assault on college campuses, follow ing the path of the Notre Dame Marching Band as it marched across campus toward Notre Dame Stadium before the football game against Massachusetts. Organizer Madeline Lay, a junior at Saint Mar y’s, said the march was also meant
to show solidarit y w ith all those who have been impacted by sexual assault. “It wasn’t meant to be antagonistic,” she said. “We just wanted to take this in a positive direction, because we feel like a lot of times protests or marches or whatever — they’re ver y angr y and v icious and they’re directed toward the perpetrators. In this case, we wanted it to be about the people tr y ing to change things. We wanted this to be supportive and see MARCH PAGE 5
Photo courtesy of Gaju Gatera
Fifty students participated in a silent march Saturday before the football game against Massachusetts to display solidarity for those affected by sexual assault.
SMC announces first-year election results By KATHRYN MARSHALL Associate Saint Mary’s Editor
Last week, Saint Mar y’s Student Government Association (SGA) announced the results of the first-year student government elections. Sofia Scott and Sophia Johnson won the positions of president and v ice president of the class of 2019, and Jordan Myers and Annie Gregor y
were elected class senators. Scott said she has been part of various student governments for six years and enjoys being a leader among her classmates. She chose to run for the position of president because she wants to have a voice to make a difference in her class, she said. “I wanted our class to not just be another class who graduates from Saint
Mar y’s, but one who is remembered for what we have done,” Scott said. “I am most excited about being able to lead and represent our class at such a special place.” Scott’s goals for the year include bringing a color run to campus, implementing green initiatives and raising money for the see ELECTIONS PAGE 7
NDSP reports theft near lake Observer Staff Report
A male student was robbed on the path around St. Joseph’s lake in the early hours of Sept. 27, Notre Dame Security Police (NDSP) announced in a crime alert email sent to students Sunday morning. The student was on the path near the power plant at around 1:50 a.m. when he was approached by “a person or
persons,” who then took his cell phone out of his hands and pushed him down, the email said. No injuries were reported in the email, and no description of the suspect or suspects was provided. “Community members are encouraged to travel in groups or contact O’SNAP for a safety escort at (574)-6315555 or via the ND Mobile app Transit icon,” the email said.
EPA representative lectures on climate change Just days after Pope Francis’s arrival in the U.S. and address to the nation’s leaders, Env ironmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Gina McCarthy spoke on campus Friday afternoon to both students and the press, discussing climate change and Notre Dame’s recently announced efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and integrate a variet y of sustainable energ y sources. In the next five years, the
Universit y w ill cease burning coal in its campus power plant, and by 2030 it plans to halve its carbon emissions, Universit y president Fr. John Jenkins said last week. At Friday’s press conference, McCarthy quoted Francis’s words earlier in the week and stressed the importance of the nation getting behind efforts to prevent further climate change. “On Wednesday, during remarks at the W hite House, the Holy Father Pope Francis said, ‘W hen it comes to the care of our common home, we are liv ing
at a critical moment in histor y,’” she said. “Indeed the Pope, President Obama and countless other world leaders have made it clear that the time to action climate change is now, and that all of us — whether in the public, private, academic or faithbased communities — have a role to play in addressing this global challenge for the sake of our kids and especially for those most v ulnerable. That’s why we must act today. “And I have to say, the
news PAGE 3
viewpoint PAGE 8
Scene PAGE 10
By MARGARET HYNDS News Editor
see CLIMATE PAGE 6
MARGARET HYNDS | The Observer
Gina McCarthy talks about climate change and Notre Dame’s future efforts to increase sustainable energy efforts.
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