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Volume 54, Issue 76 | wednesday, february 5, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Campus Dining unveils new meal plan Starting fall 2020, Flex Points will roll over to second semester, students will be granted more swipes By MARY BERNARD Assistant Managing Editor
The standard Notre Dame meal plan is getting a facelift. After more than 20 years of using a week-based meal plan, Campus Dining is unveiling a semester-based block meal plan to begin in the fall of 2020. The number of swipes will be allocated at the beginning of the semester for its entirety. Extra meals will not roll over from the first semester to the next, but beginning next fall, Flex Points will roll over to the next semester. The new default plan will consist of 250 swipes per semester and $500 in Flex Points. This year’s default “Gold Plan” amounted to 238 swipes over the
course of the semester. For upperclassmen, more meal plans will be available. Students can opt to have fewer swipes or varying amounts of Flex Points each semester. Upgrade plans cost more, while plans with fewer swipes will award students a credit back towards tuition. The two plans with the fewest number of meal swipes, and the largest tuition credits, are reserved for seniors. The Block 180 plan offers 180 swipes and $1,000 in Flex Points for a $228 credit each semester. The Block 150 plan, for 150 swipes and no Flex Points, comes with a $1,540 credit per semester. The new plans are only available for on-campus students. The see MEAL PLAN PAGE 3
Experts discuss gender-diverse youth in panel
Courtesy of Chris Abayasinghe
Saint Mary’s EICs share their Observer journeys By GENEVIEVE COLEMAN News Writer
The Observer Editorial Board elected Maria Leontaras as Editor-in-Chief for the 20202021 school year. When she begins her term on March 1, she will be only the second Saint Mary’s student to occupy the role. Marti Hogan was the first Belle to hold the position,
TOM NAATZ | The Observer
Stephanie Sanders of Indiana University speaks at a Tuesday panel about assisting struggling gender-diverse children and adolescents. By TOM NAATZ Notre Dame News Editor
The Gender Studies Program and Triota Honors Society hosted a panel of four experts on transgender health from Indiana University (IU) in a Tuesday night discussion. The panel explored the best clinical ways to assist children and adolescents struggling with their gender identity. It was organized in response to an
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event held by Students for Child Oriented Policy last fall. At the time, Pamela Butler, associate director and director of undergraduate studies in the Gender Studies Program said the work presented at the SCOP event was “discredited and debunked widely by every legitimate medical organization that’s ever responded to their claims.” In an email, SCOP co-president see PANEL PAGE 4
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serving during the 1977-1978 term. She said she began her career as assistant night editor her freshman year. “At the fall open house my freshman year, most students who attended wanted to write, but I was interested in all aspects of production,” Hogan said in an email. “The position was open, and I accepted it that night.” Hogan was one a small
group of Saint Mary’s writers, rising through the ranks to become Saint Mary’s News Editor. In addition, she invited more Belles to join The Observer. Hogan admits she was surprised to be elected Editor-in-Chief. “We had a very dedicated and talented staff, and I was shocked and honored to be see EDITORS PAGE 3
Siegfried to raise money, awareness on Day of Man By CIARA HOPKINSON News Writer
Despite the forecasted high temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit this Wednesday, the men of Siegfried Hall will be wearing t-shirts, shorts and flip flops as part of their 14th annual Day of Man fundraiser for South Bend Center for the Homeless. In fact, the colder the better, sophomore Sean
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Butler said. “Last year it was in the 40’s and we were disappointed with that ... we like the challenge,” Butler, one of the students involved in coordinating the fundraiser, said. Day of Man marks the start of a fundraising effort that continues online through the Notre Dame Student Shop until the end of February. In the past 13 years, Siegfried has
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raised over $145,000 for the Center for the Homeless. After raising over $15,000 last year, the hall hopes to increase that number to $20,000 this year. Senior Jess Hatfield, who has led the event since his sophomore year, said the personal nature of the fundraiser is part of its appeal. “The success of the event see DAY OF MAN PAGE 4
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