The independent
To uncover
newspaper serving
the truth
Notre Dame and
and report
Saint Mary’s
it accurately
Volume 52, Issue 89 | monday, february 26, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com
University remembers finance professor Associate professor, former teaching fellow Michael Hemler served Notre Dame community since 1992
“I think he’s probably — no, not probably — the single most impactful person that I’ve met at Notre Dame.” Professor Michael Hemler went above and beyond for his students, senior Trent McKinnon said, constantly ensuring he could offer his time to anyone who needed it during his 26 years as a finance professor in the Mendoza College of Business. Professor Hemler died unexpectedly Feb. 14 at the age of
The commitment Professor Hemler showed to his students during his time at the University
Michael Hemler
News Editor
64 due to natural causes. For students like McKinnon, Professor Hemler’s commitment to those he taught was profoundly impactful. In fact, McKinnon says his time as Professor Hemler’s teaching assistant (TA) has altered his career path. “He kind of changed the course of my life,” McKinnon said. “Now I’m going to go to graduate school to do a Ph.D. in finance because, you know, basically because of him. … I’m appreciative for everything that he gave me and everyone else.”
Associate Finance Professor
By COURTNEY BECKER
was unmatched by others, Rick Mendenhall, the William and Cassie Daley professor of finance and chair of the finance
department, said. “There’s a little common area on the third floor of Mendoza that’s just outside the faculty-staff lounge, and Mike could often be seen out there at a table talking to one or more of his students — just working through problems with them, talking to them about the course material,” Mendenhall said. “And on his syllabus — probably all of them, but the ones I remember, he says, ‘Please feel free to stop by anytime.’ And most of us don’t do that; most of us would rather have appointments, and so
that was just the kind of teacher that Mike was. He was always available for his students.” One of the students Professor Hemler would stop to help was junior Brenna Moxley, who said Professor Hemler often extended his office hours to accommodate her, despite his heavy workload. “Whenever I would work on my finance homework he was almost always there because he had so many classes and he also taught graduate students,” Moxley said. “ see HEMLER PAGE 4
Student body presidential elections wrap up Tumultuous Notre Dame student election concludes
Saint Mary’s elects new student leadership
By BEN PADANILAM
By JORDAN COCKRUM
Editor-in-Chief
News Writer
The 2018 campaign for student body president and vice president ended Sunday afternoon, as Judicial Council announced juniors Gates McGavick and Corey Gayheart as the winner’s of this year’s election. McGavick and Gayheart were up against two other tickets at the start of the campaign: juniors Alex Kruszewski and Julia Dunbar and Zahm freshmen Andrew Gannon and Mark Moran. However, after
Saint Mary’s Student Government Association (SGA) announced the incoming student body president and vice president, juniors Madeleine Corcoran and Kathy Ogden, on Friday afternoon. Corcoran said her election is especially significant to her because she was chosen by the students to be their representative. “It’s such a special role and such an honor and humbling role just to be chosen by the Saint
see ND ELECTION PAGE 3
JOSEPH HAN | The Observer
see SMC VOTES PAGE 3
Notre Dame announces yearly tuition increase Notre Dame’s tuition is set to increase for the 2018-2019 academic year as part of a budget approved by the University’s Board of Trustees, data from the Office of Financial Aid’s website as well as a letter sent to parents and guardians of students indicates. According to the Office of Financial Aid’s Website, both tuition as well as room and board
are expected to go up. Data for 2017/2018 indicates a tuition cost of $51,505 per academic year with a room and meal cost of $14,890, for a total cost of $66,390. Those same numbers for the 2018/2019 academic year are $53,391, $15,410 and $68,801, respectively. In a letter mailed to parents and guardians of students, University President Fr. John Jenkins said that the 3.6 percent increase in tuition is the lowest in “more than
50 years.” He also reflected on the recent 175th anniversary of the university’s founding. “Nowhere are the fruits of Fr. Sorin’s dream more evident than in our students and graduates,” Jenkins said. “Thanks to our extraordinary faculty and dedicated staff, we are able to provide your student with an education that is among the best in the world.” In the letter, Jenkins noted three statistics about the Notre Dame
student body. The first was that Notre Dame boasts a first-to-second-year retention rate of 98 percent, the second was the school’s 90 percent four-year graduation rate and third that 98 percent of Notre Dame alumni had plans for their year after graduation (including employment, graduate school, military service and several others). However, Jenkins said the “truest” value of a Notre Dame
education can be observed in graduates. “In my travels across this great nation and in other parts of the world, it is a source of joy to encounter Notre Dame alumni making a difference in every imaginable field of endeavor,” Jenkins said. “…I know that one day your student will become part of this extraordinary network and by this example will inspire future Notre Dame students.”
scene PAGE 5
viewpoint PAGE 6
viewpoint PAGE 7
Nd w basketball PAGE 12
Men’s basketball PAGE 12
Observer Staff Report