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Volume 52, Issue 71 | tuesday, january 30, 2018 ndsmcobserver.com
Guest speaker defines military history Lecture examines war dynamics from multiple perspectives, role of war in European history By NICOLE SIMON News Writer
Jesse Kauffman, associate professor of histor y at Eastern Michigan University, presented a lecture on the nature of militar y histor y and the role of war in European histor y in DeBartolo Hall on Monday. Kauffman said his definition of militar y histor y aids him immensely in his approaches to teaching and conducting research. “It can be ver y difficult to define with any kind of precision or clarity exactly what militar y histor y is,” Kauffman said. “I think it can help clarif y things by dividing militar y histor y into
three distinct, but overlapping subfields.” At one end of the spectrum is operational histor y, Kauffman said. Once the sole branch of militar y histor y, operational histor y has come to encompass just one aspect of militar y histor y as it is known today, he said, and it refers to the classic, detailed narrative of battles and large militar y formations on battlefields. “It has an important role to play within the role of militar y histor y and within histor y more generally,” Kauffman said. “Operational histor y enriches our understanding of the dynamics of see MILITARY PAGE 4
BAVO director prepares to take on new role By COLLEEN ZEWE News Writer
After eight years directing the Belles Against Violence Office (BAVO), aiming to raise awareness about and prevent acts of violence and sexual assault, Connie Adams is leaving Saint Mary’s. Adams accepted a position with Green Dot, a bystander intervention training program BAVO itself implements, according to an email vice president for student affairs Karen Johnson sent to the College community Jan. 24. BAVO’s student volunteers reacted to the news with both pride in Adams’s new position and sadness about her departure, senior and member of BAVO Jessica Ladd said. Ladd said Adams has served as a role model for her. “She has been a visual
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representation of the kind of social worker I want to become,” Ladd said. “I admire her uplifting personality, her love for [Saint Mary’s] and the students and her dedication to the work she does.” Ladd said Adams’ work in BAVO has involved counseling, conducting bystander intervention training, establishing awareness programming and the helping to organize the annual Take Back the Night event, in which members of the community march together in protest of sexual assault. Ladd said though the office will be different without Adams’s assistance, she and other student volunteers will have the opportunity to take on more leadership roles. Senior and member of BAVO Katie Long said Adams is working hard to ensure a smooth transition when see BAVO PAGE 3
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CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer
Jesse Kauffman lectures about his definition of military history by presenting three perspectives in which one could classify military history. He also discussed the impact of war on Monday in DeBartolo Hall.
Senior Class Council hosts guacamole competition By LUCY LYNCH News Writer
Senior Class Council will host a “Guac Off” event at Legends of Notre Dame on Wednesday night at 7 p.m., where teams of seniors will compete to create the best guacamole. The event is open to taste testing from all grades, and the senior class
judges will be determined via raffle at the event. Senior class vice president Janet Stengle, who helped organize the event with Campus Dining and Legends, said she has received positive feedback about the competition. “Campus Dining was really enthusiastic about the idea,” Stengle said. “Legends has
been great. They are providing fresh ingredients and all the materials needed.” The 10 teams are comprised of up to three people, and each will receive its own station with the basic ingredients Legends provides, including avocados, tomatoes and cilantro. Stengle said see GUACAMOLE PAGE 4
College’s Dance Marathon sets fundraising goal By MARIA LEONTARAS News Writer
Dance Marathon — the culmination of Saint Mary’s year-long fundraising effort for Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis — consists of more than 12 hours of standing, but even the planning phases keep the organization’s members
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on their feet. This year’s Marathon will take place on April 7, and with the date rapidly approaching, the club is still working to reach its goals, club president and senior Meg Brownley said in an email. “This year’s goal is to surpass last year’s total, which was around $133,000,”
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Brownley said. “We are doing well, but we are always looking for more people to get involved and fundraise for this incredible cause.” Dance Marathon will continue to raise money through different campus events and fundraising push days leading up to the event see MARATHON PAGE 4
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