The independent
To uncover
newspaper serving
the truth
Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s
and report
and holy cross
it accurately
Volume 54, Issue 36 | thursday, october 17, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Graduate killed in hit-and-run near ND South Bend police searching for driver who struck 2014 alumna early Sunday morning off campus By MARY STEURER News Writer
A 2014 Notre Dame graduate was killed in a hit-andrun on South Bend Avenue just outside of the Linebacker Lounge early Sunday, according to the South Bend Police Department. Police said Hannah Turgeon, 27, was crossing the street around 2 a.m. when she was struck by an unknown vehicle. The St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office held a press conference Wednesday to discuss progress with the
investigation and to ask for the public’s help in locating the driver. Investigators believe Turgeon initially crossed the street for an Uber or Lyft, county prosecutor Ken Cotter said at the press conference. After the crash, the vehicle turned left onto W hite Oak Drive and drove off. Police were able to recover more information with the help of nine area cameras, Cotter said. Both witness testimony and video indicate the see TURGEON PAGE 4
Town halls brief staff on issues, financial aid
CATE VAN DOHLEN | The Observer
Executive Vice President Shannon Cullinan presents new members of the Notre Dame leadership at a staff town hall held on Wednesday. Observer Staff Report
In a series of four town halls Oct. 15-16, University President Fr. John Jenkins, Provost Tom Burish and Executive Vice President Shannon Cullinan aimed to present information to staff across all divisions and take questions. Observer reporters covered three of the town halls, but were not present for the town hall that took place Tuesday at 1 p.m. Throughout the town
NEWS PAGE 3
halls there was an emphasis on the importance of the University’s staff — staff makes “every facet” of the University work, Burish said. During his portion of each town hall, Jenkins said the University is allocating more funds for financial aid, and emphasized the need for students from all income levels. After some staff members took advantage of a voluntary see TOWN HALL PAGE 3
SCENE PAGE 5
CRISTINA INTERIANO | The Observer
Provost Search Committee hosts session By NATALIE WEBER Assistant Managing Editor
During a Provost Search Committee listening session Wednesday, students said administrators should seek to hire a provost who is committed to Notre Dame’s Catholic identity, promotes inclusive policies, supports a wide range of academic opportunities and communicates well with the student body. The second student listening session drew 12 participants, an increase from the two students who took part
in the first session. Participants offered feedback for hiring Notre Dame’s second highest ranking administrator during the hour-long meeting in DeBartolo Hall 101. The committee asked students to consider what challenges and opportunities the new provost would face, what characteristics this person should embody and what University accomplishments should be highlighted to recruit the new administrator. Students voiced several ways the provost could
promote a wide range of academic options for students. They stressed the need for interdisciplinary studies, discussed how to make the humanities more accessible to low-income students and emphasized the importance of demonstrating a wide variety of career paths for students of different majors. “I’m excited about the majors and minors that are coming out and that are being created,” junior Connor W hittle said. “But I certainly think that see PROVOST PAGE 3
PrismND discusses goals By GENEVIEVE REDSTEN News Writer
October is LGBT History Month, celebrating the history and resilience of the LGBTQ community. But PrismND, Notre Dame’s only official LGBTQ+ student organization, is committed to promoting pride and allyship year-round. As they plan for the year
VIEWPOINT PAGE 6
ahead, PrismND’s officers said they want to facilitate love and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community on Notre Dame’s campus. Senior Kendrick Peterson, president of PrismND, said Notre Dame’s Catholic identity makes Prism’s LGBTQ+ advocacy work “a unique challenge.” Although the Catholic Church opposes same-sex marriage and
ND WOMEN’S TENNIS PAGE 12
transgender identities on doctrinal grounds, it also stresses the dignity of the human person. That emphasis on human dignity, PrismND officers said, aligns with Prism’s mission. “There’s a huge element of Catholic Social Teaching — those elements that Notre Dame really does tr y to see PRISM PAGE 4
nd volleyball PAGE 12