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Volume 46, Issue 26 | tuesday, September 25, 2012 | ndsmcobserver.com
University invites candidates to campus Jenkins, Rocheleau extend speaking invitations to presidential nominees, running mates By SAM STRYKER Assistant Managing Editor
If Notre Dame has its way, the road to the W hite House may take a pass through South Bend. Notre Dame announced Monday that University president Fr. John Jenkins and student body president Brett Rocheleau have extended invitations to President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney to speak on campus during the fall election campaign, according to a University press release. Continuing a 60-year University tradition, Jenkins and Rocheleau addressed
letters to each candidate offering the University as a “forum for serious political discussion,” the press release stated. The invitations are also open to both of the candidates’ running mates, Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), according to the press release. The invitations are intended “to provide the campus community a firsthand impression of the contenders and their messages,” the release stated. Universit y spokesman Dennis Brow n said any appearances on campus would KIRBY MCKENNA | The Observer
see CANDIDATES PAGE 3
Fencers Week fosters positive honored body image, eating habits at White House By NICOLE MICHELS News Writer
By TORI ROECK News Writer
After representing the United States in this summer’s London Oly mpics, two Notre Dame students and one alumna were recently given another once-in-alifetime experience — this time, stateside. Senior fencers Gerek Meinhardt and Courtney Hurley and Hurley’s sister, 2010 alumna and fencer Kelley Hurley, were inv ited to the W hite House to be honored alongside other returning Oly mpians on Sept. 14. Meinhardt, a member of the fourth-place-finishing men’s team foil, said he was impressed by the welcome the U.S. Oly mpians and Paraly mpians received from see FENCERS PAGE 3
At a Universit y full of talented students, athletes and leaders, a group of psycholog y students are taking the initiative to remind their peers of the importance of positive body images. These students are bringing what they’ve learned in the classroom to the student body in hope of educating students about the causes and dangers of eating disorders as part of Eating Disorder Awareness Week. Senior Caroly n Bates, a psycholog y major currently study ing eating disorders in an upper-level psycholog y class, said Notre Dame’s competitive env ironment can leave students susceptible to developing unhealthy body images. “We’re hoping to raise awareness of the fact that as students on this campus we’re always tr y ing to be the best in ever y area of
Walk to fight mental illness By JILLIAN BARWICK Saint Mary’s Editor
dorms, some girls w ill be at the dining halls w ith a pledge about ending negative body talk, and [senior] Suzy [Fanuele] and I w rote a View point article for [Monday’s] Obser ver,” Bates said. “Some girls are planning on doing some art w ith sidewalk chalk to get positive body messages out there … It seemed like a lot of our class wanted to focus on helping positive body affirmations reach a
For Saint Mary’s junior Alex del Pilar, the statistics on suicide are a painful reminder of a personal tragedy. As a sophomore in high school, del Pilar lost a brother to suicide, which compelled her to get involved in its prevention. “It was only [once] I learned the seriousness of mental illnesses that I knew I wanted to make a difference in other peoples lives by spreading awareness,” she said. “Since his death, I believe he has given me the power and courage to reach out to those in need. Everyone has a story, and I believe everyone should be heard.” Del Pilar got involved with Project Hope: Get Grounded, a suicide prevention walk, in the hope of using her experience to
see AWARENESS PAGE 5
see WALK PAGE 5
LAURA LAWS | The Observer
our lives, and have overly critical cultural opinions on body images,” Bates said. “We want to be sure that while tr y ing to be the best that we still keep ever y thing in perspective.” Bates said she and her co-organizers are bringing the message of positive body images to the student body from a number of directions. “A ll of us are doing things to raise awareness on campus: Some girls are doing things in the
Sharing the Magic Nanotechnology PAGE 3
Viewpoint PAGE 8
Scene PAGE 10
Interhall PAGE 20
digger phelps PAGE 20