Author Archive
Law library community bids farewell to Mary Cowsert
The Notre Dame community loses one of its cherished members on Friday with the retirement of Mary Cowsert, who has served the Notre Dame Law School community for the past 19 years. As supervisor of the Kresge Law Library’s circulation desk, Mary is a familiar, ever-smiling face and a friend to many students, professors, and staff. Mary’s immediate family and much of her extended family [...]
Political science department criticize for pro-choice links
TFP Student Action, a group dedicated to promoting traditional moral values on college campuses, recently criticized the Notre Dame Political Science Department for linking to pro-choice groups on its website. On March 19, the group organized an online petition addressed to University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, CSC, to have the links removed from the university website. The pro-choice [...]
“Unacceptable” letter draws limited ND support
HHS mandate continues to provoke response Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of the diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and archbishop of New York, added their signatures to a letter protesting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services mandate that requires employers to cover abortion-inducing drugs, contraceptives, and [...]
“Mary’s university should not surrender to the culture”
National Review editor speaks on modern media, faith, and public life Opinion journalist Kathryn Jean Lopez is former editor and current editor-at-large of the popular conservative webzine NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE. Her work has been featured widely in national and international media like the WALL STREET JOURNAL, the NEW YORK TIMES, and CNN as well as in FIRST THINGS and a number of Catholic [...]
Professor leaves Georgetown for Notre Dame
Georgetown University Government Professor Patrick Deneen recently announced his decision to resign from his position at Georgetown to join Notre Dame’s political science department this fall. On January 23, Deneen announced his decision on the online journal FrontPorchRepublic.com, citing his dissatisfaction with his experience at Georgetown and a personal desire to leave the Washington, [...]
Ethics center welcomes new director
O. Carter Snead, Notre Dame professor of law, has been designated the new director of the university’s Center for Ethics and Culture, the university announced on Tuesday. Appointed by Dean John McGreevy of the College of Arts and Letters, Snead succeeds founding director and philosophy professor W. David Solomon. Snead specializes in public bioethics, including issues such as abortion, [...]
Dialogue between Notre Dame and President Obama on religious freedom?
Should Notre Dame be forced to offer contraception to its students and employees? A September 28 letter by University President Fr. John I. Jenkins, CSC, criticized a new federal mandate that requires this and other violations of Church teaching. An admirable defense of religious liberty, the letter also raises important questions about the Obama administration’s receptivity to his [...]
Trustee’s silent departure points to need for pro-life leadership
Though recent attention has been paid to the departure of Roxanne Martino from the Notre Dame Board of Trustees, only one group has called attention to an arguably much more important departure from the board, that of Dr. Marye Anne Fox, chancellor of the University of California at San Diego and a staunch proponent of embryonic stem cell research. Martino, a successful business executive and [...]
Handling of controversial trustee appointment raises questions about the university’s mission
In the wake of President Obama’s 2009 honorary degree and commencement speech, a flurry of university press releases asserted Notre Dame’s commitment to the pro-life cause. Upon the release of an institutional statement in defense of human life, University President Fr. John I. Jenkins, CSC, said, “The statement articulates what always has been the case: that Notre Dame fully embraces [...]
Gender studies draws criticism: Cardinal Newman Society claims ties to Planned Parenthood
A report released by the Cardinal Newman Society criticizes the Notre Dame Gender Studies Program for advertising an event sponsored by Planned Parenthood of Indiana and other groups that promote abortion and contraception use. Released on April 11, the report claims to expose connections between Planned Parenthood and over 150 Catholic colleges and universities. Two editions of the [...]
ND trustee fired
Notre Dame trustee Cathie Black was forced to resign from her position as New York City’s schools chancellor last Thursday. It was the 95th day of her tenure in a position that is ordinarily held for three years. According to the New York Times and other sources, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg demanded that Black resign in a private meeting earlier that day, and Black agreed almost [...]
Amendments to the Academic Articles draw fire
Some say will lessen university's commitment to undergrad education The Faculty Affairs Committee of the Notre Dame Academic Council recently proposed a hotly debated amendment to the Academic Articles which would convert Special Professional Faculty (SPF) positions from faculty to staff. The proposed change has been rejected by the Faculty Senate and has prompted criticism from numerous [...]
Notre Dame trustee suggests “birth control” as solution to school crowding
Notre Dame Trustee and newly appointed New York Schools Chancellor Cathie Black has drawn fire from parents and school officials by suggesting that "birth control" is the solution to school overcrowding. During a meeting of parents and officials in New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's office, one father raised concerns about a shortage of classroom spaces in lower Manhattan schools. [...]
Vocation, identity, and the pursuit of happiness
What is a vocation? In many Catholic circles, the term "vocation" generally refers to a calling to the priesthood or consecrated life. As a chair of this year's upcoming Edith Stein Project, a student-organized conference that will explore the concept of vocation, I would argue that the notion of personal vocation is a richer, more compelling idea than this narrow usage - and ultimately more [...]
Fired ND Press director plans to sue university
The former director of the University of Notre Dame Press, Barbara Hanrahan, plans to sue the university for her June 2010 dismissal. Hanrahan became director of the press in 1999. Before coming to Notre Dame, she also worked at the University of Chicago Press and as director of the Ohio State University Press. Citing the upcoming lawsuit, Hanrahan declined to comment on any aspect of [...]