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Volume 47, Issue 32 | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013 | ndsmcobserver.com
‘A sign of strength’ Students seek assistance for mental illness with counseling center and campus groups By MEGHAN THOMASSEN Managing Editor
Editor’s note: This is the final installment in a three-part series discussing mental health at Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s in recognition of national Mental Illness Awareness Week. Last spring, senior Liam Jackson said he felt stressed like never before as he studied for the MCAT, managed a full course load and prepared to move from Keough Hall to Stanford Hall to be a resident assistant (RA) this school year. Worried he was burdening his friends by constantly talking about his exams and his stress, Jackson sought professional help
for the first time at the University Counseling Center (UCC). Jackson said he visited the UCC every week for a one-hour meeting in which he “tried to pinpoint all his different stressors.” “Even just talking alone was extremely helpful,” he said. “[My counselor] was a really good listener and good resource.” Although he said he felt nervous to tell his friends about his visits to the UCC, Jackson said they encouraged him to continue his sessions because they considered his decision a sign of maturity. After two months, Jackson said he “felt better and accomplished for seeking help” and stopped meeting with his counselor. Jackson said Notre Dame
students might hesitate before seeking help for stress relief and other mental health issues because they are “extremely accomplished people” and worry it might incorrectly be seen as “a sign of weakness.” He said his case demonstrates that underclassmen shouldn’t assume upperclassmen “have it all together” and that going to the UCC is a sign of inadequacy or immaturity. “This happened to me last semester, not when I was a freshman,” Jackson said. “I was already chosen to be an RA, and this was what I was going through.” Jackson said the counseling see MIND PAGE 4
Courtesy of University Archives
The self-deemed ‘social worker for Student Affairs,’ Ann Whitall, connects students with mental health services on campus.
Justice conveys Court’s modern role By NICOLE MICHELS Assistant Managing Editor
Though the federal government has shut down, Notre Dame students studying in Washington, D.C. listened to Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy speak about the Court’s role in contemporary U.S. politics at a University of California, D.C. (UCDC) event Monday. Before the event, students submitted questions for
Kennedy via a Google Doc for pre-approval by the planning committee. Students were told they would be able to ask unscripted questions later in the program if the committee did not select their submissions. Junior Nicole Sganga said time constraints prevented the Notre Dame students from asking a question, though she wanted to ask him about civic discourse in the United States. “I was aching to ask Justice Kennedy his position on the
current state of civic discourse,” she said. “Luckily, the moderator sneaked in a question regarding the current state of American politics toward the end of the Q & A. Justice Kennedy responded with an eloquent plea for a higher discourse founded on fact and reason [addressed to] his counterparts in the executive and legislative branches.” Junior Szymon Barnas said he hoped to ask Kennedy to elaborate on his description of the Supreme Court’s place in
contemporary U.S. politics. “Justice Kennedy has been on the speaking circuit the past couple of weeks and has commented many times on the Supreme Court becoming an arena to settle the hot-button political issues of the day because of our dysfunctional democracy,” Barnas said. “As I read about the cases on the docket for this upcoming Supreme Court term regarding issues like
News Writer
SARAH SHOEMAKE | The Observer
NEWS PAGE 3
VIEWPOINT PAGE 9
Notre Dame’s endowment returned 11.8 percent during the previous fiscal year and hit the $8.3 billion mark at the end of June, vice president and Chief Investment Officer Scott Malpass said. Malpass, a 1984 Notre Dame alumnus, said the fund’s performance compares favorably to the U.S. stock market. “I’ve been here 25 years ... [and] our endowment pool is about $8.4 billion now,” he said.
SCENE PAGE 10
By CHARLIE DUCEY News Writer
“Had we just earned the [same as the] U.S. stock market over those 25 years, we’d would be at about $4.6 billion. “We’re about $3.6 or $3.7 billion more in endowment than we would have been had we just invested in the U.S. market and had just had an index spot. So we substantially outperformed the S&P over that period of time.” The investment office is more concerned with long-term performance than annual returns,
Student government leaders have big plans this week for the first ever “Irish State of Mind” week promoting mental health awareness at Notre Dame. The town hall meeting at Washington Hall on Monday evening marked the start of the “Irish State of Mind” week. Student body president Alex Coccia said “Irish State of Mind” is about caring for fellow members of the Notre Dame community. “The ‘Irish State of Mind’ is the recognition that we take care of our brothers and sisters,” Coccia said. “We work together to create a culture where we aren’t afraid to ask for help when we need it. Because we all have moments in our lives when we need someone to talk to.” The meeting offered a multitude of views on mental health at Notre Dame from professors, students, Rec Sports, Student
see ENDOWMENT PAGE 3
see TOWN HALL PAGE 7
see JUSTICE PAGE 4
University investments pay off By ALEX CAO
‘Mind’ week begins
MEN’S SOCCER PAGE 20
FOOTBALL PAGE 20