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Volume 53, Issue 38 | tuesday, october 23, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com
University releases survey on diversity Notre Dame’s Inclusive Campus Student Survey results show student attitudes on campus life By KELLI SMITH Associate News Editor
The University’s Inclusive Campus Student Survey results were released Monday. The survey revealed student attitudes on the overall climate and experience at Notre Dame, in terms of diversity and inclusion. The survey was administered by the Office of Strategic Planning and Institutional Research Feb. 6-21 to measure the campus community on a number of categories, including sense of belonging, experiences with adverse treatment and changes in climate over time. With an overall response rate of 52 percent of the student body enrolled for the 2017-2018 school year — 6,274 students — offered its perspective.
Erin Hoffmann Harding, vice president for student affairs who helped oversee the survey, said the survey is the first of its kind and is intended to act as a baseline for future campus community conversations regarding diversity and inclusion at Notre Dame. “Part of the reason we’re sharing this information so transparently is actually to engage our students in further conversation about what experiences or barriers might exist,” she said. “But most importantly, how the University can be a better and a more inclusive place.” The first category measures a number of student impressions regarding the overall sense of belonging at Notre Dame. About 80
IVAN SKVARIL | The Observer
see DIVERSITY PAGE 4
The University’s survey, revealing attitudes held by students on campus, was adminstered in February to measure the campus community on a number of categories, including sense of belonging among students.
Group educates about ill-effects of pornography By MORGAN JOHNSON News Writer
The third annual White Ribbon Against Pornography (WRAP) week started Monday in an effort to promote conversation and awareness of the dangers of pornography, as well as the severity of the issue on Notre Dame’s campus and in the United States at large. The organization that initiated the event, Students for Child Oriented Policy (SCOP), promotes WRAP Week as an invitation to students to learn about the nature of pornography and explore helpful resources. SCOP is a non-sectarian and non-partisan group on campus that advocates for public policy that aligns with the best interests of children in nurturing their development and success. Since the club’s founding in 2013, it has been focused on five pillars: marriage, adoption, education, drug abuse and pornography. “We want to show some of the stats that are hidden by
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the industry about how prevalent porn use is,” senior Jim Martinson, SCOP’s president, said. “People who are struggling and hear witness testimonies can know they’re not alone. Something you get out of this week is you become more knowledgeable about the harms of porn and how it’s one of the more mainstream issues facing society.” WRAP week is a national campaign started by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE), which has the goal of “exposing the links between all forms of sexual exploitation such as child sexual abuse, prostitution, sex trafficking and the public health crisis of pornography,” according to its website. Each day of Notre Dame’s WRAP week features a different event or talk to create a strong Notre Dame support system. Yesterday, SCOP members passed out bagels and white ribbons see WRAP PAGE 3
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Office of Sustainabilty announces new policies By NATALIE WEBER News Editor
Bowling balls. Christmas lights. Headphones. These are just a few examples of items that occasionally pass through local recycling, even though they are not recyclable, members of the Office of Sustainability said. And with new recycling requirements rolling out, the Office
of Sustainability is aiming to educate students about what can and cannot be recycled. Whereas previous rules allowed for 10 percent contamination of recycled materials, the University’s recycling procedures now require that recycling be no more than 0.5 percent contaminated. This means all food and liquid must be removed from items, and greasy or dirty items cannot be recycled.
Sustainability senior program director Allison Mihalich said the University used to encourage students to recycle in cases where they weren’t sure whether an item could be recycled. Now, she said, the Office of Sustainability is emphasizing the motto “When in doubt, throw it out.” “Our tagline is really ‘Recycle clean. Recycle right,’” she see RECYCLING PAGE 4
Club aims to assist pediatric cancer patients On October 22, campus crews and hospitals across the country celebrated National Love Your Melon (LYM) Day. LYM is an apparel brand that aims is to put a hat on the head of every child battling cancer in America. LYM donates 50 percent of profit from all LYM products to support
pediatric oncology research and fund charitable programming initiatives. The Saint Mary’s crew celebrated National Love Your Melon Day with an informational table, set up in an attempt to raise awareness for LYM and their mission. Additionally, the group had the opportunity to visit local hospitals and celebrate with patients there. The SMC crew arrived in
full superhero garb to do crafts, handout beanies and share smiles. The mission of LYM has always been meaningful to Bridget Julian, a junior at Saint Mary’s and the president of the College’s crew. “It is just a really awesome national celebration of LYM and
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By MIA MARROQUIN News Writer
see MELON PAGE 3