CAMPUS

April 28th, 2009

Mary Ann Glendon Turns Down ND

Father Jenkins, C.S.C. was given a rude surprise yesterday when Mary Ann Glendon turned down the prestigous Laetare Medal, which was to be given during the commencement exercises. The Laetare Medal, which commemorates outstanding service to the Roman Catholic Church and society is widely considered the oldest and most prestigous award for a Catholic layperson to receive. In doing so, Glendon has significantly upped the pressure on Jenkins and Notre Dame.

Posted in Blog
By Michael Reer

April 2nd, 2009

Why Obama Could Cost Jenkins His Job

As resistance to President Obama’s commencement address at Notre Dame becomes more defined, it seems clear that the resolve of the university’s administration has stiffened. University President Father Jenkins, C.S.C. has reiterated his invitation to the President, claiming that under no circumstances will the invite be revoked. Some Catholic bishops have condemned the invitation because of Obama’s pro-life policies. It is significant to note that the claim of the bishops and alumni is not without standing as the university failed to invite President Clinton because of similar concerns. The alumni and student body have formed a petition to convince Jenkins of the widespread dissatisfaction resulting from a pro-life politician speaking at the most critical moment of the academic year. This petition has receiving stunning support, and implicates a dark future for Jenkins’ job security.

Posted in Blog
By Michael Reer

January 21st, 2009

Two Schools of Thought

I had a very interesting discussion with a former member of the Heritage Foundation this past Sunday about the unique nature of American universities. Now a student at St. John’s Seminary in Boston, Dan Moloney patiently explained to me over lunch that most students never realize that American universities are a curious hybrid of English and German cousins of high education. The English model emphasizes the importance of personal religious development and relationships with the divine, as seen through their historical function in preparing young men for the ministry. The German model, meanwhile, derives from a sense of the university we are more familiar with, namely that of the research university.

Posted in Blog
By Michael Reer

January 18th, 2009

From Animal House to the Academy

The moment I opened the front cover of From Animal House to the Academy, I knew I was about to fall in love. Jeffrey Langan’s new book opens with a quote from Pascal’s Pensees, one of my all-time favorite philosophical works and the best argument I have ever seen for an existence that extends beyond what we can see, touch, or hear. Professor Langan’s book is brilliant in that it argues that colleges should not just be concerned with educating students for successful life in the workforce while giving them the cliched “college experience” that so many use to “find themselves.” Instead, Jeff argues that colleges need to also concern themselves with the souls of their students, enabling them to see a more complete truth than they ever could have imagined.

Posted in Blog
By Michael Reer