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Volume 52, Issue 70 | monday, january 29, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com
Student films address social issues Annual Student Film Festival explores individual stories, questions relevant to college and American life By MORGAN JOHNSON News Writer
Notre Dame student filmmakers were in the spotlight this weekend with the Film, Television and Theater (FTT) department’s 29th annual showcase of the Student Film Festival. The showings took place Friday through Sunday in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center (DPAC). The festival was a representation of work from the fall semester from students enrolled in documentary, film fiction and production classes. The FTT department then selected certain movies to be featured in the festival. Student filmmaker senior Grace Weissend recognizes the importance of the festival as an outlet for students to express creativity in the form of media. However, the
students experienced multiple restraints during the process of shooting and editing the films. “There are certain limitations that come from making a student film and it’s impressive to see what students can do with these limitations in terms of budget, equipment, actors and time,” Weissend said. “It takes so much time to even make a short film.” The film festival also provided students with the opportunity to share their voices about controversial topics on campus and internationally. “It’s great to hear student perspectives on issues and hear student voices and stories,” Weissend said. “I think that’s something really empowering about the Student see FESTIVAL PAGE 4
ROSEI LoVOI | The Observer
Notre Dame associate professional specialist Ted Mandell awards senior Audrey Grewe with the Audience Choice Award on Sunday night at the 29th annual Student Film Festival.
Judicial Council sanctions campaign for misconduct Observer Staff Report
The Election Committee of the Judicial Council announced Friday in a press release that it is issuing sanctions in response to campaign misconduct by the McGavick-Gayheart ticket. According to the press release, the council
determined that juniors Gates McGavick and Corey Gayheart had solicited signatures for their campaign petition to become an official ticket in the race for student body president and vice president during prohibited times. “The ticket was found to have petitioned in
classrooms directly after class periods which is a violation of election regulations,” the press release said. Section 17.1(d) of the Student Union Constitution — the section the ticket violated, according to the press release — states that “no see ELECTION PAGE 4
Observer elects top editor
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2018-2019 Editor-in-Chief
The Obser ver General Board elected current News Editor Courtney Becker as Editor-in-Chief for the 2018-2019 term Saturday. Becker, a junior liv ing in Pasquerilla West Hall, is currently pursuing a major in film, telev ision and theatre (FTT) w ith a minor in journalism, ethics and democracy (JED).
“Courtney has been one of the most talented re-
Courtney Becker
Observer Staff Report
porters at The Obser ver over the last three years, and she has show n herself
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to be an excellent leader as News Editor this year,” outgoing Editor-in-Chief Ben Padanilam said. “Her commitment to and passion for The Obser ver is unparalleled, and I am excited to see what she w ill accomplish next year.” A New York Cit y native, Becker has led the News department since March see EDITOR PAGE 4
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Professors share findings on disease detection By MARTHA REILLY Saint Mary’s Editor
Broad issues relating to the detection of metastatic ovarian cancer and mitochondrial disease were placed under a magnifying glass at the College’s most recent installment of its faculty colloquium series, which took place in Madaleva Hall on Friday. Professor of biology Calli Versagli said metastatic ovarian cancer affects thousands of women in the U.S each year, though it often goes unnoticed until it spreads or intensifies. “What’s kind of the killer of ovarian cancer is that we don’t catch it early enough,” Versagli said. “Really only about 20 percent of those who present the illness are caught in that early stage or what we call stage one. … At stage one, the cancer is still confined to one or both of the ovaries. At stage
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two, typically the cancer has already spread throughout the pelvic region, and eventually, stage three is more where it’s completely gone to other parts of the abdomen, and finally, at stage four, it’s gone beyond the abdomen to other particular body parts.” Versagli said 17 percent of those who earn an official diagnosis at stage four of the illness survive, highlighting the need for adjustments to both the detection process and the treatment effectiveness. “I tried to understand some of the biological mechanisms behind these cells that are at this late stage, and how we could potentially target them,” she said. “One of the interesting things about this is that these cells, more or less, travel in … what we call the peritoneal fluid to these other areas see RESEARCH PAGE 3
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