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Volume 54, Issue 10 | monday, september 9, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Lack of Native representation persists Students, faculty reflect on inadequate awareness of Native American history, culture in community By GINA TWARDOSZ News Writer
Editor’s Note: This is the first story in a two-part series examining the ways Native language and cultural identit y are being kept alive by the students of Notre Dame. While Fr. Edward Sorin and the Congregation of Holy Cross were given the University’s land by the Bishop of Vincennes, this region of Northern Indiana was not uninhabited. “There’s a history of peace, art and culture on this spot that predates Fr. Sorin,” professor Brian S. Collier said. “When Fr. Sorin arrived, there
Jackson replies to racist tweets Obsever Staff Report
Senior Samuel B. Jackson, one of the Universit y’s three leprechaun mascots and only the second African American to ever ser ve in the role, urged Irish fans to come together Tuesday after receiv ing racist criticism for being chosen to represent Notre Dame this year. Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, a sports and culture blog, posted a photo of Jackson at Monday night’s game along w ith photos of three white leprechauns on his Tw itter account. “You know what is sad? ” Portnoy tweeted Sept 2. “Internet outrage culture has made me afraid to say that I think the ND mascot should always be a midget see JACKSON PAGE 4
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was already a chapel here. The Pokagon Potawatomi was already worshiping here.” If anything, this is what Collier wants students to know about Notre Dame. Collier, a professor and historian with a Ph.D in Native American Studies, spends much of his time trying to ensure Native history does not become a thing of the past. Collier said Catholicism was the commonality that linked Sorin and Leopold Pokagon, the leader of the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi. While it was originally the Pokagon’s ancestral land, Collier said because of this Catholic see AWARENESS PAGE 4
Photo courtesy of Alan Mychal Boyd
NASAND co-president Alan Mychal Boyd (left) stands with representative Deb Haaland, one of two Native American women ever elected to Congress, at the Frank LaMere Native American Presidential Forum.
Art department explores Chicago By MARIROSE OSBORNE News Writer
The Saint Mar y’s Art Department recently sponsored their biannual trip to Chicago for students, facult y and any and all art lovers w illing to pay $25. The trip consisted of a trip to Chicago, a v isit to v isual artist Anne Wilson’s studio in Evanston, Illinois, a tour of an alternative ex hibition space — which this year is see ART TRIP PAGE 4
Photo courtesy of Julie Tourtillotte
Saint Mary’s students Zoe Ricker and Elizabeth Polstra visit the Zolla-Lieberman Gallery in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. Students had the opportunity to meet with artists and gallery owners.
Faculty spearhead local food drive By CATE VON DOHLEN News Writer
Across the country, Hunger Action month spans throughout September, educating the nation about widespread hunger in the United States and fighting to help those in need. Many members of Notre Dame’s community have come together the past nine years to conduct the food drive, Fighting Irish Fighting
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Hunger, each September to raise money and awareness for the same cause, with proceeds going towards two groups: the People Gotta Eat initiative, under United Way of St. Joseph County, and the Food Bank of Northern Indiana. The drive seeking donations will run from September 9 to 29. Anne Kolaczyk, chair of the event, noted one in four kids in northern Indiana go to bed hungry each night. The funds
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raised for the Food Bank of Northern Indiana will go towards a specific “backpack program,” she said “[The backpack program] gives kids in need a backpack of food to take home with them over the weekend, so that they have food to eat over the weekend,” Kolaczyk said. Kolaczyk explained the drive is largely run by Notre Dame staff, rather than students.
“This is not one of the sanctioned charities that Notre Dame collects money for,” Kolaczyk said. “This is basically just kind of a grassroots effort to ease the hunger situation in the community.” She said the drive is a group effort among many departments, coordinated by Kolaczyk, to collect money for the two initiatives. However, there are some individuals
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