PDF for Thursday, October 15, 2009

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Observer the

The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s Volume 44 : Issue 39

ThUrSDAY, October 15, 2009

ndsmcobserver.com

Student enrollment balanced across Colleges Arts and Letters numbers drop in 2009-10; Science, Engineering, Business see increases, changes reflect 2003 strategic plan By SARAH MERVOSH News Writer

ANDREA ARCHER | Observer Graphic

The College of Arts and Letters noticed a drop in e n r o l l m e n t t h i s y e a r, b u t this decrease actually marks a success for the University as it creates more balanced numbers among the various colleges — a priority outlined in the University’s 2003 strategic plan. Less students enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters because more chose the College of Engineering and the College of Science, two programs that the University sought to

expand. “There are more undergraduate students enrolled in the Mendoza College of Business than the College itself thinks desirable, while the College of Engineering suffers to a degree from under-enrollment that is part of a national pattern,” the plan said. S i x y e a r s l a t e r, t h e College of Engineering increased its enrollment by about 15 percent. It noticed an 18 percent increase this year alone, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs in Engineering Catherine Pieronek said. Pieronek attributed

Campus anticipates clash with Trojans By IRENA ZAJICKOVA News Writer

Observer File Photo

Students celebrate a touchdown at the 2005 football game vs. USC. Notre Dame lost 34-31 with seven seconds remaining.

STUDENT SENATE

FLEX program’s goals discussed By SARAH MERVOSH News Writer

Student body vice president Cynthia Weber informed senators of the goals of this year’s Freshmen Leadership Experience (FLEX) program at the Student Senate meeting Wednesday. “It’s kind of like your student government-student union crash course,” Weber said. FLEX will have three main aspects, Weber said. “One of them is a mentoring

INSIDE

TODAY’S PAPER

aspect,” she said. “Each person in FLEX will be assigned and grouped with another older member in student government who will show them things like how to be with administrators, meeting etiquette.” The other aspects will be hearing experiences of members of student government and working on a project, Weber said. There will be four committees and each will be assigned a project, she said.

see SENATE/page 8

The level of football fervor on campus has been unprecedented in anticipation of the toughest test yet for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish against the USC Trojans on Saturday. “You can feel the excitement, from people talking about it in the dining halls to the chalk messages all over the sidewalks,” senior Caitlin Harrington said. “Campus is buzzing.” Part of the reason students

see USC/page 6

Engineering’s smaller size to the rigidity of schedules and because it is regarded on campus as one of the most difficult areas of study. “ I d o n ’t t h i n k i t ’s a n y secret that Engineering is very challenging and is in some ways a rather rigid curriculum, where other majors are less challenging, have a more flexible curriculum and still provide a Notre Dame degree,” she said. Although there was a national trend away from engineering, Pieronek said Notre Dame faired better

see COLLEGES/page 10

ANDREA ARCHER | Observer Graphic

Student govt. hosts Farmers’ Market By AMANDA GRAY News Writer

S t u d e n t g o v e r n m e n t ’s Social Concerns Committee will be hosting a farmers’ market on campus on Thursday at the Field House Mall from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Committee chair Rachel Roseberry said. “We are bringing vendors from the South Bend Farmers’ Market to campus. These vendors will be selling a variety of mer-

chandise from pumpkins, apples and other fresh produce to breads, homemade salsa, caramel corn and jewelry, all from local businesses and farmers,” Roseberry said. Committee members said the market is being held to inform students of the local South Bend Farmers’ Market, a place few students visit. “South Bend is home to one of the largest indoor

see MARKET/page 8

So. Cal. pep rally set for Irish Green By MOLLY MADDEN News Writer

If Troy fell to a horse, USC stands no chance against the Irish mob that awaits them. Notre Dame students, alumni and visitors will be out in full force at the football pep rally tomorrow night. The rally, which lasts from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., will be taking place on Irish Green, the area just south of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. “Everybody on campus is extremely excited and pumped,” student body president Grant Schmidt said. “We really hope to build on this excitement and carry it into the game on Saturday.”

Observer File Photo

see RALLY/page 6

Students chant during the pep rally held prior to the football game vs. Nevada on Sept. 4.

Free Chipotle burritos page 3 ◆ Mythical Matchups round 3 page 16 ◆ Men’s soccer falls to Indiana page 32 ◆ Viewpoint page 14


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