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Volume 48, Issue 67 | Wednesday, January 14, 2015 | ndsmcobserver.com
SMC launches new graduate programs Doctorate of Nursing Practice, Masters of Science in Data Science, Speech Pathology to begin next fall
Mary’s Editor
Beginning in 2015, Saint Mary’s will offer three in-demand graduate programs that will elevate students’ professional skills and earning potentials while preparing them to make a difference in the world, as the College has since 1844. The graduate programs are a Doctorate of Nursing Practice, a Master of Science in Data Science and a Master of Science in Speech Pathology. College president Carol Ann Mooney said Saint Mary’s consistently works to see a need and meet it, which is why the these
“We had a graduate program, a School of Sacred Theology, in the late 40’s, 50’s and into the early 60’s that gave both Master’s and Ph.D. degrees,” Mooney said. “The School of Sacred Theology was opened because there was no advance study in theology available for women at all. Not for religious sisters, not for laywomen — so we opened it and closed it when we thought it was no longer needed because more schools opened their doors to women.” Saint Mary’s also offered a Master’s degree in special education and elementary education from 1965-1969, director of media relations Gwen O’Brien see DEGREES PAGE 3
EMILY DANAHER | The Observer
Crossroads construction continues By ANN MARIE JAKUBOWSKI Editor-in-Chief
Construction crews for the Campus Crossroads project made progress on initial construction steps and excavations around the stadium after the least snowy December in South Bend’s recorded history. “The construction team took advantage of this great fortune and worked six to seven days a week in anticipation of the onset of more typical winter weather,
which, of course, began last week,” Associate vice president and University architect Doug Marsh said. “Formal construction work has proceeded well in the 50 calendar days since the end of the home football season.” Marsh said the winter work involves several “major earthwork activities.” Crews are relocating many underground utilities such as sewers, water service, electrical feeders, chilled water and drainage, and they are constructing new utilities tunnels along both
the west and east sides, he said. Excavation of the student center basement began, and they installed “an extensive span of permanent earth retention system” on the west and east edges of the existing stadium system to secure the existing foundations, Marsh said. They have also installed temporary earth retention walls that will provide a platform for the mobile cranes which will be built later in the winter to erect the structural steel frames for the student center and academic
buildings on the west and east sides. As the crew works on initial construction of the buildings’ foundation walls and footings, Marsh said the design team is still working out the details for the interior portions of the project. So far, construction is right on schedule and in line with the budget, University spokesman Dennis Brown said. “The ebbs and flows of weather see CROSSROADS PAGE 4
Irish performance impresses fans By LESLEY STEVENSON
Notre Dame sophomore quarterback Malik Zaire receives the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl MVP award after Notre Dame defeated LSU 31-28 on Dec. 30.
NEWS PAGE 3
Viewpoint PAGE 7
scene PAGE 8
By KELLY KONYA Saint Mary’s Editor
Professor of business and economics Jerome “Jerry” L. McElroy, who taught at Saint Mary’s for 32
Notre Dame’s narrow, lastsecond defeat of Louisiana State University (LSU) in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl capped off the 2014 football season in dramatic fashion, much to the delight of local fans and those venturing to Nashville, Tennessee, from nearby midwestern and southeastern states. “It was great to see my school’s football team playing so close to home,” junior and Nashville
years, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014. He was 77 years old. McElroy was deeply invested in the life of the community at Saint Mary’s, vice president for college relations Shari Rodriguez said. When asked what he wanted to tell his colleagues and students, McElroy said, “Tell them I love them.” Rodriguez said students, alumnae and faculty loved McElroy right back, as expressed by College President Carol Ann Mooney. “Jerry was the consummate
see NASHVILLE PAGE 4
see McELROY PAGE 4
News Editor
KEVIN SONG | The Observer
SMC professor dies
Jerome McElroy
Saint Mary’s Editor and Associate Saint
three graduate programs are being introduced. According to associate director of admission for graduate programs Melissa Fruscione, the College decided to introduce graduate level programs because there is a growing need locally, regionally and nationally for individuals trained in these professions. Within the market for services provided by these professionals and employers is a high demand for well-prepared data scientists, nurse practitioners and speech pathologists. The individual programs fit perfectly with the College’s mission, but these are not the first graduate programs that have been offered by Saint Mary’s, Mooney said.
SMC professor of business and economics
By KELLY KONYA and HALEIGH EHMSEN
football pAGE 16
Men’s basketball PAGE 16