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Volume 52, Issue 26 | tuesday, september 26, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
NDVotes launches registration campaign Organization emphasizes importance of civic engagement with dorm competition, faculty lectures By TOM NAATZ News Writer
ZACHARY YIM | The Observer
NDVotes representatives help students sign up for TurboVote, an online platform that facilitates the voter registration and absentee voting processes. NDVotes, a non-partisan group, seeks to foster educated voting.
NDVotes hosted “Popcorn, Pie and Politics” on Monday to kick off a 24-hour campaign registering students to vote on National Voter Registration Day on Wednesday. The event, held in Geddes Hall Coffee House, featured remarks by professors Geoffrey Layman and David Campbell. “We started NDVotes in the three semesters ahead of the 2016 election, focusing on registration, education and mobilization,” Rosie McDowell, director of justice education at the Center for Social Concerns, said. “There was such enthusiasm that we decided to continue the
education aspect. We continued our ‘Pizza, Pop, and Politics’ series,” McDowell said, referencing the periodic events where professors speak about politics. McDowell explained that NDVotes’ campaign for National Voter Registration Day is a competition to see which dorm can sign up the most residents for TurboVote, a program the helps people register to vote and keep them apprised of elections in their home region. The dorm that wins will receive a cash prize to spend on an event. NDVotes is a non-partisan organization. The first hour of the event offered attendees the chance to check their voter registration and see NDVOTES PAGE 4
Saint Mary’s club Physicist discusses dark matter research, new book aims to promote inclusion
By LUCY LYNCH News Writer
Acclaimed scientist and author Lisa Randall discussed particle physics and her recent book, “Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe” with Notre Dame physicist Ani Aprahamian on Tuesday night. Aprahamian began the conversation by asking Randall why
she enjoys the difficult work of particle physics. Randall, a member of the physics faculty at Harvard University, noted how difficult physics is to understand and how she hopes to change that notion with her works. “It’s great that it’s reported on, but it’s hard to get to the meat of it. It’s important to remind people that women are doing this too,” said Randall. Much of Randall’s work focuses on elementary particles, extra
dimensions and black matter. “This is the continuous story of science,” said Randall. “We think that we know everything and we forget that there is something more behind it.” Considering Randall’s rigorous research of the topics of dark matter and alternate dimensions, Aprahamian said he was interested to hear Randall’s opinion of the hit 2014 film
see PHYSICS PAGE 4
Club raises funds to support women’s charity By EMMA FREUND News Writer
This week, the College Democrats Club of Saint Mary’s College proved that baked goods can be delicious as well as socially advantageous. The club, alongside various others such as Feminists United and Belles for Life, orchestrated a bake sale to raise funds for the
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charity Support the Girls, an organization which donates pads, tampons, bras and other sanitary objects to homeless women and girls. Stephanie Stapleton, a senior at Saint Mary’s, heard about the sale and took action. “The president of College Democrats, Hallie Nolan, found the organization Support the Girls and planned the event. I
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thought it was a timely and appropriate charity for the women of Saint Mary’s to assist,” she said over email, “Especially with the increase in the numbers of women and girls in homeless shelters due to the recent hurricanes. Support the Girls addresses a problem often forgotten in times of great need, see FUNDS PAGE 4
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By JORDAN COCKRUM News Writer
As the academic year starts to get into full swing, Saint Mary’s Student Diversity Board (SDB) prepares for a year’s worth of events promoting inclusion and diversity. SDB’s core value this year is justice, senior and vice president Megan Uekert said. This means to go beyond the typical definition of diversity and shine a light on all forms of injustice, she said. (Editor’s Note: Megan Uekert is a former News writer for The Observer.) “The goal is we really want to be more inclusive this year,” Uekert said. “That means like disabilities, and not just race and religion, but we are trying to expand past that diverse definition that a lot of people think of.” One way SDB plans to promote their mission of inclusivity and justice is by hosting not only their usual events, but introducing some new events, Uekert said. “It’s been my experience that we kind of stage the same events
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every year,” Uekert said. “This year we definitely want to add more.” Among these events that are in the works is an event in the weeks preceding Thanksgiving, featuring the perspectives of the Potawatomi, and a world religions panel, Uekert said. “We did [a world religions panel] last year for the conference,” Uekert said. “We want to make it a singular event, because you know I don’t really know much about other religions and I feel like since this is a Catholic institution a lot of other people don’t as well.” Uekert said that this event will help with dispelling stereotypes about some world religions such as Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, as well as give a look into Catholicism and other forms of Christianity. “I was raised Christian and even mass is so confusing to me, and Catholicism is so confusing, so it’s good to learn about other religions,” Uekert said. In addition, Uekert plans see DIVERSITY PAGE 4
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