PDF for Friday, April 8, 2011

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Observer the

The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s Volume 44 : Issue 118

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2011

ndsmcobserver.com

Basilica Mass held in remembrance of Valero Students fill church to commemorate life of Keenan sophomore; Fr. Tom Doyle delivers homily to congregation By MEGAN DOYLE and SAM STRYKER News Editors

Rain fell and the Basilica’s bells chimed as hundreds filed out of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart Thursday evening after a Mass of Remembrance in honor of Sean Valero. During the Mass, Fr. Tom Doyle recounted the sophomore’s funeral, held only 12 hours earlier. At the request of the Valero family, four of his friends from Keenan walked in the funeral procession alongside his parents and sister as the casket was carried down the aisle of St. Helen’s Church in Niskayuna, N.Y. The image of Valero’s friends and family illustrated the Doyle’s message in the homily: Our brokenness can bring us together. “It was both the wounds and the strength, fully exposed, that

brought them together and delivered them to the Lord,” Doyle said. “That’s what it means to be a family. That’s what it means to be Notre Dame.” Students filled the Basilica pews during the memorial Mass for Valero less than one week after campus learned of his death. Fr. Joseph Carey, interim director of Campus Ministry, presided over the Mass, and Doyle, vice president of Student Affairs, delivered the homily to the standing room only congregation. The men of Keenan Hall filled the first six rows, dressed in blazers, and Keenan rector Fr. Dan Nolan was among the celebrants on the altar. Luke’s gospel about the healing of a paralytic highlighted the need to be humble in difficult times, Doyle said. In the gospel, four of the paralytic’s

TOM LA/The Observer

see MASS/page 4

Students enter the Basilica of the Sacred Heart to attend a memorial mass for sophomore Sean Valero Thursday night. Valero died last week.

Keenan to host memorial basketball tournament University confers with IOSHA Observer Staff Report

Keenan Hall will host a twoon-two basketball tournament for members of the dorm Saturday in honor of sophomore Sean Valero, who died last week. Sophomores Ryan Dunbar, Gabe de Vela, Stephen Schwaner and Preston Scott founded the Keenan Shootout as a charity tournament this year. “After losing Sean, who was close to all of Keenan but especially my roommates and myself, we wanted to do something in memory of him,”

Dunbar said. “This year the tournament will be dedicated to Sean, and the money raised will go toward a memorial for him.” Originally, the Shootout was planned to benefit a charity, selected by all of the fundraiser’s participants. After Valero’s death, Dunbar and the other organizers added a memorial to their friend as an option for the donations. Residents of Keenan voted to decide where the money would be donated, Dunbar said. They chose between four charities and a memorial for Valero. “After holding registration, almost all voted for the money

to go toward a memorial for Sean,” Dunbar said. “To hear the guys say over and over that they wanted the tournament to donate to the memorial spoke volumes about the types of guys here at Notre Dame and the sense of community really present in the dorm life at Keenan. As close friends of Sean, it means a lot to us.” Dunbar said while this is the inaugural Shootout, the organizers hope it will expand in the years to come. “We are hoping to make [the Shootout] an annual tradition in Keenan Hall,” he said. “This is the first year, and we wanted to

limit the entries to Keenan men only as we use this year to test the waters and see where we can make improvements in the upcoming years.” Commemorating Sean’s life through the tournament this year is important to Valero’s friends in Keenan, Dunbar said. “He truly was an amazing guy and the nicest person I’ve ever met,” Dunbar said. “I know those of us putting on the tournament are very pleased to be able to incorporate the tournament this year to help remember a great person.” Games will be held all day Saturday behind Keenan Hall.

News Writer

KIRBY McKENNA/The Observer

Anti-theist Sam Harris, left, moderator Michael Rea, center, and Christian apologist William Lane Craig engage in a debate Thursday.

INSIDE

TODAY’S PAPER

Christian apologist William Lane Craig and anti-theist Sam Harris only agree on one thing — the existence of moral values and duties. Beyond that, the two have nothing in common, except that they debated their views in front of a sold-out audience Thursday evening in the Leighton Concert Hall of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. Craig argues that religion and

Professors discuss unrest in Afghanistan page 3

News Editor

belief in God’s existence is the foundation for all moral values. Harris, who is known as one of the “four horsemen of atheism,” believes that science, not religion, should provide the basis for morality. Craig said theism provides a sound foundation for objective moral values. “If God exists, objective moral values exist,” he said. “God’s moral nature is expressed to us in the form of commandments, which constitute our moral obli-

The University will continue talks with the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) before addressing $77,500 in fines related to the state investigation of junior Declan S u l l i v a n ’s O c t o b e r d e a t h , IOSHA representative Stephanie McFarland said Thursday. Sullivan died Oct. 27 after the scissor-lift from which he was filming football practice fell. He was a student videographer for the football team. “At this point, Notre Dame is taking steps to ensure safety for its employees,” McFarland said. “The Notice of Consent is a state-required formality to continue their conversations with IOSHA.” IOSHA published the results of its investigation March 15 and required the University to respond before April 7. Notre Dame filed a Notice of Contest to continue its conversations with IOSHA after the deadline

see DEBATE/page 6

see IOSHA/page 5

Craig, Harris debate nature of morality By EMILY SCHRANK

By MEGAN DOYLE

SUB concert preview page 8 ◆ Viewpoint page 10 ◆ Hockey falls to UMD page 20


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