Below are a few articles I chose from Johns files of his early writings that were printed in his college newspaper "The Marquette Tribune"


12/10/76

Free ND Ticket awarded to best essay

by John D'Angelo
Staff Writer

In a Marquette community filled with greed, lust and money grabbers, one student has decided to give away free something most people keep until marriage - a Notre Dame ticket.

John Costello, a liberal arts sophomore, is giving away the ticket because he, like many other students will be on vacation January 16.

"A lot of my friends asked me for the ticket, and I couldn't decide who to give it to. I really wanted to make money on it but I felt bad about scalping my friends," he said.

The ticket holder said the idea for the contest came to him in a dream. "I dreamed I was standing in front of the Arena when a group of lonely men in shirt sleeves started asking me for my ticket. I told them to write an essay, and they screamed; 'But we have no pencils.' Immediately I sprang into action and scalped enough pencils to cover my loss from giving the ticket away"
The contest is being judged by a four member panel. The winning essay will be selected according to humor, originality and persuasiveness. The final entry date was last Wednesday and the winner will be notified during finals week. The judges are: Jim McCormick, liberal arts sophmore; Larry Veseley, liberal arts senior; Norman LaFond, liberal arts sophomore; and an anonymous journalism sohomore.
Costello, who is very enthusiastic about the contest, said "If this is a success, I plan to give away my roommate's stereo, my roommates television and my roommate in the future."
The following excerpts have been taken from the leading entries:
Ed Gaus: journalism sophomore: "I need this ticket because I want to open a taco stand in the Midwest. Also, as a child I was robbed of the better things in life, like good schools and air hoses."
A.J. Cummings, law enforcement sophomore: "I have to sell the ticket after I get it. I need the money. I could probably get $10 for it downtown, and that might be able to get me fuzzy dice for my car."
Cheryl Herberg, business administration junior: I need the ticket to get my brothers and sisters out of jail."