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Volume 53, Issue 28 | wednesday, september 26, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com
Faculty panel discusses German politics University professors explore impact of far-right radicalism on attitudes towards refugees, immigrants By TOM NAATZ Associate News Editor
In the late summer of 2015, Germany opened its borders to a large number of Syrian refugees who were fleeing their country for Europe. That policy choice has had many ramifications in the nearly three years since. In recent weeks, the city of Chemnitz in eastern Germany has seen an acute backlash against foreigners after two refugees allegedly stabbed a German man to death. A panelist of six Notre Dame faculty members explored the forces at work in Chemnitz, Germany, and the West in a Tuesday panel discussion entitled “Lessons from Chemnitz:
Right-Wing Radicalism in Europe Today.” Maurizio Albahari, an associate professor of anthropology, noted the trend of illiberalism sweeping Europe. While he said the European far-right, with the help of former White House advisor Steve Bannon, is increasingly effective at campaigning, there are underlying issues that make Europeans susceptible to these arguments. “Concerns about immigration often illuminate issues that predate immigration — regional hierarchies and inequalities, youth emigration, multiple forms of socioeconomic precariousness and see GERMANY PAGE 3
ND alumni invent adhesive tool for skirts By NICOLE MARCINKUS News Writer
Windy days can be the enemy of those walking around a city or campus in a dress — a wayward breeze could cause a serious wardrobe malfunction. Christina Dunn, ’07, and Peter McCullough, ’06, engineered and manufactured a solution to this problem. Dunn and McCullough started DressStrong, Inc., a business that sells DressWeights. DressWeights are a small, adhesive weight that are easily attachable to the internal lining of skirts or dresses to prevent them from flying up. Dunn has been living in New York City for 10 years and McCullough lives in New Jersey. Both have full-time jobs along with their work on DressStrong and both are graduates of Notre Dame. Dunn has degrees in business and Spanish and McCullough studied mechanical
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engineering. Their idea for DressWeights came about simply after an experience that Dunn had while wearing a dress at a barbeque on a city rooftop. “I had a crazy Marilyn Monroe moment, but it wasn’t fun, it was embarrassing,” Dunn said. “I either had to sit or actually hold my dress down, neither of which were conducive to the situation.” She said she then brought the problem to McCullough, who offered a practical solution. He gave her adhesive lead golf weights used to change a player’s swing and suggested she attach them to her hemline to keep her dress down. It worked, but it wasn’t a complete solution. The weights were expensive, lead was dangerous and they were clearly designed for clubs, not clothing material. Dunn and McCullough decided there see BUSINESS PAGE 4
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ANNIE SMIERCIAK | The Observer
Six Nanovic faculty fellows speak on issues involved in right-wing extremism from differing perspectives Tuesday evening. Each panelist examined what led to the rise of the Alternative for Germany Party.
Saint Mary’s RHA hosts week-long spirit event By HANNAH THOMAS News Writer
Saint Mary’s College Residence Hall Association (RHA) is hosting Spirit Week, a week of events aimed to strengthen the Saint Mary’s community, executive board members senior Joanna Collins and junior Grace Kelly said. To kick off the week, students
tie-dyed shirts and made door decorations for their rooms, and as the week progresses there will be tours given through Le Mans Hall and Holy Cross Halls, doughnuts handed out Thursday morning and a preference night to conclude Spirit Week. The week’s events are inspired by events usually associated with sorority rush weeks. “My hope was that we could
still capture the essence of sorority rush week and showcase their fun events, but still cater it towards who we are as a College,” Kelly said in an email. For example, RHA adjusted particular events — such as visiting sorority houses — to students touring two of the residence halls, Kelly said. see SPIRIT PAGE 4
College first-year awarded national scholarship The Law Enforcement Education Program awards $2,000 scholarships to exceptional students every year in hopes of encouraging students to pursue law enforcement and public safety-related careers. There were only eight students who received this scholarship
this year and Sydney Bleich, a first-year at Saint Mary’s College, was among the eight. Bleich is in the dual degree in engineering program, pursuing a degree in computer engineering from the University of Notre Dame and applied mathematics from Saint Mary’s. Bleich said she knew what she was going to major in computer engineering and
applied mathematics the moment she talked to admissions counselors. “I just went to the admissions office and I talked to them and said I want to be in the dual degree engineering program,” Bleich said. “They looked at what I had [done in] high school, and they looked at my
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By DEANNA LOFTON News Writer
see SCHOLARSHIP PAGE 4