The cultural jewel of Catholicism, the pristine Grotto, and Touchdown Jesus — there are a plethora of things that the University of Notre Dame is celebrated and cherished for (Weis, you may not make the cut anytime soon). But there’s something not so celebrated these days among the Fighting Irish at Our Lady’s University. What’s changing, you ask? Mr. Change himself, Barack Obama, is coming to town to deliver the 164th commencement speech. Throwing students and alumni alike into a tizzy, the decision has slightly tarnished this golden community in many eyes. Unfortunately these people have thrown themselves into the swirling sea of politics instead of sailing around such hot topic issues as abortion and seeing what such an inspirational and accomplished individual could offer to the Class of 2009.
If the United States was composed of only those attending the University of Notre Dame, who do you think would be perched in the White House right now piecing together the remnants of our financial system and everything else that seems to be falling apart? I’ll give you a hint: the Vice President would not be an Alaskan hockey mom. Surprisingly, in a mock-student election held in October of 2008, Obama-Biden won with 52.6% of the vote edging out McCain-Palin with 41.1%. The student government went a step further and asked what issues were of most concern for the past election, including the economy, abortion, foreign policy, environment, and one category that read “Election? What election.” The economy reigned as the far most important with 41.5% of the vote while abortion was reported at a whopping 7.7%. However, this issue grew to be far more popular when students and alumni found he was elected to commencement speaker and not just the White House.
Over two hundred and thirty thousand signatures have been collected on the Cardinal Newman Society’s online petition to Fr. John Jenkins, the President of the university. The irate alumni make up the loudest of the bunch threatening to pull donations and funding, even calling the invitation an “outrage and a scandal,” with Notre Dame choosing “prestige over principles, popularity over morality.” As popular as the President may be nationally, his views locally are not met with the same enthusiasm. Attacked as the most anti-life of presidents, Obama has stirred up a lot of commotion surrounding his reversal of the ban on embryonic research and increase in federal funding for abortions. As I should know, abortion is quite the black and white issue with Catholics; it is never permitted. Human life must wholly be respected and protected from the moment of conception with the embryo is viewed as a human life. So that means Notre Dame is no longer pro-life? Of course not, but some are acting like it.
The world is not coming to an end. In fact, for the two thousand or so graduating the world is about to smack them in the face and who better to advise them during these troubled times than the man who is holding the reigns? At a university where the commencement speaker selection has run sour among the student body, we at the University can empathize with the Golden Domers. While we question our speaker’s historic divisiveness, they question a few inner beliefs. Obama did not divide our nation with any key court case decisions; he united us by winning the popular vote outright and becoming the first black president. Especially as a devout Christian himself, Obama’s beliefs contain far more parallels than contradictions with Notre Dame. He will not be there to preach the importance of freedoms of choice or to fight tooth and nail with the Notre Dame community. He will come waving his white flag and offering pertinent advice to those graduating, some without jobs.
Commencement speakers are traditionally selected because of their past accomplishments, exemplified leadership, commitment to character, the list goes on. Father Jenkins acknowledged that Obama exudes all of these and is “an inspiring leader who has taken leadership of the country facing many challenges . . . and he has addressed those with intelligence, courage and honesty.” Allowing for such an influential, however controversial, figure onto campus reflects the University’s mission in insisting on academic freedom where open discussion and inquiries are made possible. Notre Dame dons the responsibility of cultivating a Catholic-based community, not to cut off all who may not belong in it. Telling Obama to “stay away” is not a solution; it is part of the problem.
For the sake of the graduates, do not turn this into some political boxing circus. Notre Dame is not ignoring such a precious issue; they are accepting the differences that lie among us in this nation and opening a discussion with a man who holds a pen more powerful than a loud sign weeping for aborted souls. How can you change the world if you shun those who are doing the changing? So take down your signs. Put the atrocious images of bloody wombs and dying babies away. Listen and he will listen too.
Bobby Laverty is a Cavalier Daily Associate Editor. He can be reached at b.laverty@cavalierdaily.com.
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