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Volume 52, Issue 45 | wednesday, november 8, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
Jenkins delivers annual faculty address University president discusses contraceptive coverage, housing requirements, sexual assault policies By TOM NAATZ News Writer
University President Fr. John Jenkins discussed Notre Dame’s contraception policy, the new housing requirements, the University’s sexual assault policies and other campus issues in his annual address to the faculty senate Tuesday. Jenkins addressed a recently settled lawsuit involving the University and the Department of Health and Human Services regarding insurance coverage for contraceptives that came about as a result of the Affordable Care Act. The act required organizations to provide contraception as part of insurance plans, and while certain
religious institutions were exempted, universities were not. “This policy, which departed from a long tradition of federal law, was the result not of legislative process but administrative decree,” Jenkins said. “We found it gravely concerning, for if the government can decide unilaterally which religious organizations — to what extent and on what issues — can claim exception on the basis of their religious teaching, then they have lost any meaningful religious freedom in the face of the imposition of governmental power.” It was to defend this principle of religious freedom that Notre Dame joined other institutions in a lawsuit, Jenkins said. After a legal back and forth,
a settlement was reached with the Department of Justice, a result Jenkins said the University “welcomed.” “As I have said from the start, the University’s interest has never been in preventing access to those who make conscientious decisions to use contraceptives,” Jenkins said. “Our interest, rather, has been to avoid being compelled by the federal government to be the agent in their provision.” Employees will receive “contraceptive services” directly from insurance providers Meritain and Optum without the University’s involvement, Jenkins said. During the address, Jenkins also gave an overview of the new undergraduate housing policy. He
Tri-military celebration honors Veterans Day By SERENA ZACHARIAS News Writer
Army, Navy and Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) units gathered at the Clarke Memorial Fountain on Tuesday to participate in a Veterans Day celebration in honor of all of those who have served in the United States military. From 4:30 p.m. Monday until
the ceremony Tuesday, midshipmen and cadets stood vigil at the Clarke Memorial Fountain to pay respects to service members. The ceremony began with an introduction of the official party, followed by a benediction by Fr. Peter Rocca and the playing of the national anthem. Lieutenant colonel Christopher Pratt, commanding officer of the Notre Dame Army ROTC
and professor of military science, recognized the cadets and midshipmen. “Although most have yet to serve, [the cadets and midshipmen] represent the absolute best and brightest of this country and have chosen a path of service to this great nation that less than one-half of 1 percent of Americans
News Writer
Participants at Saint Mary’s Hunger Banquet on Tuesday quickly discovered they were not eating a typical dinner. The event separated students, faculty and staff into one of three different groups representing social classes: upper, middle and lower. The lower economic classes had the largest number of participants, while the upper class was small. Participants sat and
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ate with their assigned class, and their class determined how much and what they ate. The upper class participants received a full, three-course meal served to them by staff while sitting at elaborately decorated tables. Meanwhile, middle class participants ate rice and lentils, and lower class participants only ate rice. This dinner simulated the differences between how and what different classes eat. Senior Olivia Burnett said the experience was eye-opening.
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sophomores.” The problem with this trend is fourfold, Jenkins said. First, it means that upperclassmen do not have leadership opportunities in their dorms. Second, living off campus gives students fewer safety nets. Third, moving off campus segregates students. Fourth, students who leave campus are less likely to be intellectually or socially engaged with the community. There are two main components of the new residency policy, Jenkins added. Students will have to live on campus for their first six semesters and the school will present incentives for seniors to stay in the dorms. see ADDRESS PAGE 3
FTT to perform ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’
see VETERANS PAGE 4
Banquet depicts economic diversity, food security By COLLEEN ZEWE
showcased the results of a survey given to graduating seniors about their Notre Dame experience. The school received high marks for its sense of community, and the “most highly rated” factor behind this sense of community was residence hall life. Though overcrowding has become an issue in recent years, the construction of Dunne and Flaherty helped relieve that problem, he said. “Having taken these steps, we turned our attention to a concerning trend for upper class women and men, and particularly seniors, to move off campus,” Jenkins said. “Due to the moves off campus and study abroad, on average, 64 percent of the students living in our traditional halls are first-years and
“Most people eat to survive, whereas in our culture, we eat for pleasure,” she said. The Student Diversity Board (SDB) hosted the dinner with help from the Office of Civic and Social Engagement. SDB’s goal was to show how diverse America is in terms of economic status and that not everyone has the same resources students are accustomed to, senior and SDB President Victoria see BANQUET PAGE 3
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Photo courtesy of Stacey Stewart
Roisin Goebelbecker, left, acts as Lady Bracknell in FTT’s performance of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ while Eric Ways plays Jack. By SOFIA MADDEN News Writer
The Notre Dame Film, Television and Theater program will present Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest,” this weekend, a self-proclaimed “trivial comedy for serious people,” senior and cast member Eric Ways said. Freshman cast member Gabe Krut said in many ways, the play relates to Notre Dame students’ lifestyles and experiences,
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adding elements of irony that may be unexpected for many audience members. “Many of the characters make statements about views on education, material values and the silliness of social circles,” he said. While the play was not originally chosen to comment on many of Notre Dame’s customs, the play inherently prods at values which often go unchallenged, including see EARNEST PAGE 4
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