University of Notre Dame - Dome Yearbook (Notre Dame, IN)

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Junior Adriame Y me: xHes in a mock elecmci in LaRinune shortly Sefore the naticTial election. This was just iTie iA many on anipus activities that prepared students lor the election. Memlxrs of the Online Re- puHicans work the phone bank for a local campaign. This is just one of many ways students were able to be active in the 2004 elections. Photo courtesy of Tom R jpiiiger 100 YEAFIS OF IRISH BASKETBALL Jj INSDE AN ND BAND HALFTIME SHOW SCHOLaSTIC 05 NOTRE DAMES STUDENT MAGAZINE SQUARING OFF ••••••••• STUDENTS GET ACTIVE FOR T}1E UPCOMING TUESDAY. fvOVEWBEB 2 ••••••••• MOCK ELECTION RESULTS - PLUS: THE BIG ISS Dspts KNOW AS A einipus publicarioas like the Sc ioIosDc prepared students for the election U ' providing information tliat pertained primarily to college student.s. P ioto aruncsy of Sdnlasac Tins group of Gillt je Democrats proudl ' represent their state during ihe 2004 election. Sttidents attaidcd many activities in an attempt to get involved nith the election Photo couneyy of Niojla Bunick Campue Uf ? ga

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Activities on Campus Tlie war in Iraq, terrorism, the economy, homosexual marriage, and abortion are just some of the issues that have caused many Notre Dame students to shed the traditional reputation of apathy for involvement in the 2004 political campaigns of Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic Senator John Kerry. College Democrats and Republicans joined with he Rock the Vote campaign to register voters and increase voter awareness on the Notre Dame campus. For freshmen, studying the campaign began early. The fresbnen were assigned T ie Vanishng Voter as required summer reading. Tlie book deals with the trend of increasing apathy toward voting and politics. On September 2, 2004, author Thomas Patterson, a professor of government at Harvard University, visited Notire Dame for the First Year of Studies Academic Convocation. The convocation consisted of ;in interview followed by a question and answer periexf, wliich allowal students to ask Patterson about his h.x)k iind liis views. The first 250 students at the convocation received Voting Irish t-sliirts. In addition to numerous student debates, Natuynal Review cxlitor Richard Lowry and Tim Natiim editor David Com debatal at Washington Hall. Lowry presented the conservative argument while Gim offered the liberal. Tliey debated on many of the major issues of the campaign, focusing especially on the war. The College Republicans also sponsored a Republican convention watch at LaFortune. In addition, many domis and groups sponsored debate watches where students gathered to see President Bush and Senator Kerry face off on the issues. The director of labor policy for the Kerry Edwards campaign, Marco Trbovich, gave a lecture titled Tlie Power of Libor in Presidential Politics. UxA leaders also traveled to the Noo-e Dame campus. Joe Donnelly, a U.S. Representative for Indiana and the Democratic challenger to Chris Chocola, spoke to the QJlege Democrats at LaFortune. Chocola spoke to students at Saint Mary ' s College about his political experiences and his campaign. The Center for Serial Concerns offered a sbc-week, one-credit course called QinscicTice in the Crossfire. Stijdents, who ranged from freshmen to seniors, attended tliis class for two hours every Monday, participating in discussions and listening to guest speakers. Tlie class ' s purpose was to encourage students to vote using their conscience and take an active part in politics. In addition to diis class, the Center for Stxial Gincems also held numerous Iccaires on topics such as the election, trade, the role of religion in politics, the economy and Iraq. On October 26, a week before the general election, WVH, WSND-FM, NDTV, iind Sdmkmh Magazine held a mock election where students could cast dieir vote throughout the day at LaFortime. Bush won the mtx:k election by receiving 47.5% of die vote; Kerry Ciune in second with 46.8% . Many sftidents participated in the preparation for the 2004 election hv simply watching the live debates from LaFortune or their dorm ' s common areas. Photo by Bizcibeth Heshurgh ftY Amy W Audta aa Section Activities «

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Oj7 Cawipu Freedom During the wliirlwind of Frosh-O, students work hard to make their new rooms feel like home as they become infused with an inteise sense of domi pride and loyalt ' . The twenty-seven vibrant domi communities and the promise of accomnxxlations for four undergraduate years make Notre Dame unique among universities. Although domi life plays an integral role in sparking friendships and defining one ' s Notre Dame experience, it nonetheless can bectmie too stifling a bubble for some students. As Domers experience single-sex domis, parietals, and rectors over the years, conversations about moving off -campus inevitably arise. Some students immediately quash or embrace the idea of leaving their domi, wliile others take time to debate the merits of apartments and houses in the South Bend area. Turtle Creek, Qillege Paik, and Castle Point arc the most popular choices for students seeking apartments. Others choose to live iii houses with enough rtxims to kild their large groups of friends or within walking distance of their favorite bars. Often still surrounded by Notre Dame students, off- campus residents may discover new friends among their neighbors, people they might never have met if they had remained in their domis. Without parietals, friendships and relationships with the opposite sex are no longer limited to specific hours. Students can experience spacious rooms and closets, private bathrooms, and cabinets full oi their favorite ftxxJs. Renting an aparnnent or house also offers students a glimpse into real-world responsibilities such as paying bills, grex;ery shopping, and cleaning bathrwms. While I miss the convenience of living on campus and running to Starbucks at 4 A.M., I love the freedom and extra space of an apartment, says senior Bridget Veibneyer. She does mention another con of living off -campus: Unless you get to sclx»l really early, you end up parking in the last row of thclot. Senior Paul Morrison adds, I like living off -campus lietter overall, but it won ' t Ix fun in the winter fccause I won ' t want to drive all the way to class. For many groups of friends, however, the opportunities and conveniences ot moving ott -campus outweigh those of remainiiig in the domis. Senior Bill Kern chose to stay in O ' Neill Hall for his final year on campus. He says, I have the rest of my life to live in a house or an apartment. For me, one of the l-iest parts of the Notre Dame experience is campus life. I love lnw all the resources that Notre Dame has to offer are still just outside my dtxir. Upon hearing that a senior lives in the domi, many students wonder if they have chosen to be im R.A. A group of on-campus Badin seniors made sliirts to answer tliis question: No, I ' m not an R.A. Let ' s be honest! Although living on campus allows students to take advantage of Notre Dame ' s dynamic domi community, many students are ready for frealom from it. More importLUit th;m where a student chtxises to live, however, is the fact that they are with their friends, because tliis spirit of friendsliip and family is the tnie essence of the Notre Dame experience Y 6uamn 7H cC 0t ;uL. Jollege Park is one of the V most popular of f anipus complexes. Many students enjoyed its atmosphere and the number of students and friends that live close by. Photn cnurtesy of Katlieox Curln Of f -Campus Living