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Volume 52, Issue 53 | tuesday, april 17, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com
Owner reflects on Club Fever’s legacy “Michiana’s hottest nightclub” closed its doors for the final time Thursday, marking the end of an era By KATIE GALIOTO Senior News Writer
In the narrow alley off South Michigan Street in downtown South Bend, Dee Davis watched as hundreds of students jostled their ways to the front of the line, funneling into the fortified wooden fence he put up himself. He made the fence out of farm gates. They were built to hold back 3,000-pound bulls, Davis said, but they occasionally failed to contain a mob of college students. It was a scene he’d witnessed countless times before. Girls in wedges and skirts huddled together for warmth. Guys held their cash in one hand and IDs in the other, ready to present them to the bouncer when the moment finally arrived. Cabs and Ubers dumped loads and loads of passengers, and the crowd grew larger and larger.
But this Thursday was different than all the other ones. Davis had announced the pending sale of his building on social media. Club Fever was closing down. For Davis, the night — the “final Feve” — was bittersweet. “We’ve been through a lot,” he said. “It’s kind of the end of an era. We just all said we’re going to try really hard not to cry.” Davis put the building up for sale in December 2014, with an asking price of $1.79 million, according to the South Bend Tribune — partially because his other business, which makes products for the RV industry, is requiring more of his time. And also partly because the club has never been very profitable, Davis said. Especially in the last year or two.
KATIE GALIOTO | The Observer
see FEVER PAGE 4
Club Fever, the beloved Thursday night destination among students, closed down in response to dwindling numbers. Owner Dee Davis built the dance box, above, out of farm equipment he welded himself.
Musical explores coming of age, communication
Students, staff examine university medical clinic By MARY BERNARD News Writer
Two weeks before finals in the spring of his junior year, senior Brian Pulawski fell off his skateboard and injured his thumb. He continued on to class, assuming the injury was no more than a sprain. However, by the time his 75-minute Biochemistry
SOPHIA COSTANZA | The Observer
Sophomore Savanna Morgan (left) and senior Grace Weissend rehearse for the coming of age rock musical “Spring Awakening.”
Arts Center (DPAC). Set in late 19th-century News Writer Germany, “Spring Awakening” To complete the semester, the tells the story of teenagers atNotre Dame Film, Television tempting to navigate their jourand Theatre (FTT) department ney into adulthood. Senior Grace Weissend plays will perform renowned rock musical “Spring Awakening.” the character Ilse in the proThe musical will be directed duction and said the play emby FTT head of musical the- phasizes the importance of atre Matt Hawkins and will run communication in the comingfrom April 18 to April 22 in the of-age process. Patricia George Decio Theatre in the DeBartolo Performing see MUSICAL PAGE 3 By SERENA ZACHARIAS
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class had ended, his hurt thumb had swollen to twice the size of the other, and he decided to visit University Health Services. “There were like two or three people in front of me that were sick with colds,” Pulawski said. “I thought it was absurd that, here I have this more serious injury … and they couldn’t see me sooner. Even a couple people in the
waiting room were like, ‘You can go ahead of me,’ but it didn’t happen that way.” After waiting an hour, a physician looked at Pulawski’s hand and said he did not believe it was broken. In order to verify, the physician would need to see an x-ray. “Their x-ray tech was out, so the see HEALTH PAGE 4
Saint Mary’s juniors host mothers on campus By COLLEEN ZEWE News Writer
Saint Mary’s juniors gave their moms a glimpse into their college lives during this past weekend with the college’s annual Junior Moms Weekend. The weekend began Friday with a reception, where juniors and their moms received a t-shirt with the slogan “I got it from my momma.”
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Later that night, moms and daughters participated in karaoke night at O’Rourke’s Public House on Eddy Street, junior Meredith Mackowicz said. “Karaoke is always fun, and this weekend was no exception, even though it was packed everyone had a great time,” Mackowicz said. For junior Brianna Foley, her favorite part of the weekend was
karaoke. “It was a fun and relaxed time with our moms. Moms and daughters were able to mingle with each other and sing to some good songs,” Foley said. The next day, juniors and their moms could shop and browse clothing at a trunk show, which included brands such as Beyond
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