The independent
To uncover
newspaper serving
the truth
Notre Dame and
and report
Saint Mary’s
it accurately
Volume 46, Issue 101 | Friday, march 1, 2013 | ndsmcobserver.com
Her Loyal daughters
‘The place needed us’ Women establish their place on campus
Saint Mary’s president speaks on coeducation
By MEGAN DOYLE
By JILLIAN BARWICK and KAITLYN RABACH
Managing Editor
Saint Mary’s Editor and
Editor’s note: This is the last of a five-day series discussing the role of women at Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s, in honor of the 40th anniversary of coeducation at the University this year.
News Writer
Editor’s note: This is the last of a five-day series discussing the role of women at Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s, in honor of the 40th anniversary of coeducation at the University this year.
In 1972, there were 325. In 2013, there are more than 4,000. When the University first included women in its undergraduate student body in 1972, female students were an extreme minority, a small contingent among more than 5,000 male peers. As Notre Dame marks the 40th anniversary of coeducation this academic year, women represent 48 percent of the student body. In 1972, women’s dorms still had urinals from converted men’s dorms, and female students didn’t feel comfortable eating in the dining hall alone. But as the population of women has grown and bucked early stereotypes, the conversations surrounding gender relations here not ended. If anything, they have become more relevant to the campus climate at Notre Dame.
It’s the first weekend on campus, and freshmen jump into school traditions and dorm
Photos courtesy of University Archives
As an educated woman with a degree in English Literature from Saint Mary’s College and a law degree from the University of Notre Dame, Carol Ann Mooney is a woman who has seen both sides of the street — the street known as State Route 933. Mooney, the current Saint Mary’s president, graduated from the College in the spring of 1972 in the midst of the Vietnam War and during the time Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s considered and rejected a merger of the two schools. “The non-merger was not a big deal to me. I did not come to Saint Mary’s under the assumption I would be receiving a Notre Dame degree,” Mooney said. “We finished in the spring of ‘72 and none of my classmates were affected by the merger and none of my friends transferred over. To be honest, I was more
see COEDUCATION PAGE 4
On the 40th anniversary of coeducation at Notre Dame, female students comprise 48 percent of the student body. Originally, they represented only an extreme minority of the student population.
see MOONEY PAGE 5
Sisterhood and brotherhood
Conference discusses justice By MEL FLANAGAN News Writer
This weekend’s 30th anniversary of the Africa Faith and Justice Network conference will highlight the plight of people in Africa, Rev. Bob Dowd, director of the Ford
Donation PAGE 3
Family Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity, said. “It’s a great way to learn about important issues that affect the quality of life of people in Africa,” he said. “It’s see AFRICA PAGE 6
viewpoint PAGE 8
SUB presents jazz festival By CATHERINE OWERS News Writer
The 55th Annual Collegiate Jazz Festival kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. and continues tomorrow evening in Washington Hall. The event, presented by Student Union Board, is designed to connect musicians nationwide. Event programmer Tim
scene PAGE 10
Moots said the event consistently draws talented collegiate groups from across the nation, as well as an impressive set of judges. This year, jazz professors from Michigan State University will serve as judges and will also perform both nights at the end of the program in the ‘Judges Jam.’ “The judges this year are
women’s basketball PAGE 20
coming from a long list of renowned judges that include Cannonball Adderly and Wynton Marsalis,” Moots said. The festival also emphasizes jazz education, Moots said, and the judges will lead a clinic on Saturday afternoon for all the performers. see JAZZ PAGE 6
Men’s basketball PAGE 20