Observer the
The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s Volume 44 : Issue 85
Wednesday, FEBRUARY 3, 2010
CIO leaves, interim director installed By AARON STEINER News Writer
Gordon Wishon has vacated his post as Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the University, and an interim CIO has taken his place in leading the Office of Information Te c h n o l o g y (OIT). Wishon’s last official day was Jan. 31, however, multiple sources told The Observer that Wishon left the Wishon University several weeks ago, and an interim CIO was installed prior to W i s h o n ’s l a s t o f f i c i a l d a y a t Notre Dame. U n i v e r s i t y E x e c u t i v e Vi c e President John Affleck-Graves said last week that Wishon
see WISHON/page 6
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Film screening encourages dialogue ‘The Price of Pleasure’ explores pornography; students and faculty discuss implications By NORA KENNEY News Writer
Students and faculty shared their reactions to “The Price of Pleasure,” a film that negatively portrays pornography by emphasizing how it affects those involved, following its screening Tuesday evening. The showing was part of a presentation called “The Price of Pleasure: Dissecting the Pornography Debate,” which was co-sponsored by the Gender Relations Center (GRC), Gender Studies P r o g r a m , F e m i n i s t Vo i c e , Identity Project of Notre Dame, Men Against Violence and Theology Department. P a t r i c k Ti g h e , a s e n i o r who works in the GRC, told the large crowd that filled most of the Carey Auditorium in the Hesburgh Library that the GRC intended to use the film “as a launching pad for dialogue.” He acknowledged the explicit material in the film, and said staff would be available following the presentation to offer counseling for those disturbed by the
University creates new int’l development minor
SUZANNA PRATT/The Observer
Pamela Wojcik, director of the Gender Studies program, spoke after the film screening Tuesday night. film and its images. Heather Rakoczy Russell, director of the GRC, said the goal of the presentation “was to encourage a thoughtful dialogue about what is pornography, how it effects us in mainstream culture, and how it effects
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our values coming from our Catholic identity.” To foster this dialogue, the showing of the film was followed by discussions led by John Cavadini, chair of the Theology department, and Pamela Wojcik, director of the Gender Studies
Program. Both Wojcik and Cavadini said they were displeased with the film, “The Price of Pleasure.” Cavadini said the film showed images of pornography that served to “fuel the film” rather than provide a comprehensive examination of the issue of pornography, and Wojcik nodded in agreement. Wojcik talked about examining the values depicted throughout current films of all genres, which she said the film failed to do, rather then simply looking at pornography as an isolated genre. “I’m not saying I’m not concerned about pornography. I’m just saying that I’m equally concerned about the average ‘bromance’ movie,” Wojcik said. “I’m not saying that I would censor a ‘bromance’ movie, but with those movies, we just laugh it off.” Cavadini specifically addressed the men in the audience. “ Yo u r s o u l b e c o m e s a s
see PRICE/page 6
REPRESENTATIVES
Members discuss du Lac COR considers revisions about sexual assault, off-campus citations By MOLLY MADDEN News Writer
SOFIA ITURBE I Observer Graphic
By ANN-MARIE WOODS News Writer
In response to students’ increasing interest and involvement in issues surrounding international development, the Ford Family Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity announced the introduction of a minor in International Development
INSIDE TODAY’S PAPER
Studies (IDS). “We need to look at more than just the technology solutions to development, but also the way in which we have to change some of the structures that prevent development from happening,” Tony Pohlen, assistant director for the Ford Program, said. “Notre Dame has a unique opportunity being a religious,
see MINOR/page 6
The Council of Representatives (COR) continued discussing the upcoming revisions of du Lac as well as issues student government wants to bring to the attention of the University’s Board of Trustees. Tuesday’s meeting opened with student body president Grant Schmidt discussing questions that members of COR had brought forward after meeting and speaking with their individual councils last week. Questions were brought forth relating to the handling of sexual assault, off-campus violations, disciplinary actions and the actual formatting of du Lac. “Sexual assault will be the most important issue to be revised in du Lac,” Schmidt said. “The terminology will be a huge part of the revisions especially when dealing with
EILEEN VEIHMEYER/The Observer
Student body president Grant Schmidt leads the discussion about revisions to du Lac during Tuesday’s COR meeting. who is a ‘witness’ and who is a ‘victim.’” Student body vice president C y n t h i a We b e r s a i d t h e process surrounding the determination of sexual assault would also be raised as a concern when student government submits its questions to the committee that is revising du Lac. “Right now there’s discus-
sion about creating a whole new procedure for dealing with victims and people guilty of committing sexual assault,” she said. “It is also going to be made clear what resources are available for victims.” COR also discussed the issues that arise when a
see COR/page 6
Writing Center selects director page 3 ◆ ‘When In Rome’ review page 13 ◆ National Signing Day preview page 24 ◆ Viewpoint page 10