Print Edition of The Observer for Monday, December 5, 2016

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Volume 51, Issue 62 | monday, december 5, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Students to receive additional Flex Points Increased second-semester balance will account for effect of North Dining Hall renovations

By KATIE GALIOTO News Editor

As students enter the last couple weeks of the fall semester at Notre Dame, many are starting to spend their last few Flex Points at the Huddle, Starbucks and other oncampus eateries.

Next semester, however, they may not encounter the same problem. Each student living on campus will receive an additional $250 in Flex Points due to large-scale renovations to North Dining Hall (NDH).

Chris Abayasinghe, director of Campus Dining, said since the seating at NDH will be compressed starting in January, he needed to find ways to give students alternative meal options during peak dining hours.

“We wanted to be thoughtful in providing options,” he said.

“Because we understand that North Dining Hall’s your dining

hall.”

After examining dining behavior in previous spring semesters, Abayasinghe said Campus Dining was able to predict the times when the renovation project will impact student life the most — around dinnertime on weekdays, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

“Students will probably dine the way they normally dine for breakfast,” he said. “I think they’ll dine the way they normally dine for lunch because some of it is based on proximity, and the other part of it is based on routine.”

The change will probably affect dinner, Abayasinghe said, because students tend to eat at the dining hall closest to their residence halls in the evenings. So hopefully, he said, the additional Flex Points will allow students to dine at other on-campus locations if NDH is overcrowded.

CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer

see FLEX POINTS PAGE 4

A notice board in North Dining Hall displays renovation plans for the building. Due to the renovations closing off large portions of the building, students will receive $250 of additional Flex Points next semester.

Alumni Hall continues diving tradition

CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer

An Alumni Hall student dives backward off a diving board at the Rockne Memorial during the dorm’s weekly Dive Night.

By RACHEL O’GRADY Associate News Editor

The diving boards at the Rockne Memorial are only open Wednesdays from 9 p.m. until 11 p.m., but the men of Alumni Hall aim to take advantage of that time every week.

“The official name of it is ‘Dive Night in America,’

news PAGE 3

but we usually just call it Dive Night,” junior Matthew Krach, Alumni Hall president, said. “We get a bunch of guys, and then a lot of their friends, and we just go do stupid stuff off of the diving boards at the Rock.”

The tradition started when Krach’s older brother, Patrick, see DIVING PAGE 4

ScenE PAGE 5

Choir releases No. 1 album Observer Staff Report

The Notre Dame Children’s Choir’s (NDCC) recording, “O Emmanuel,” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Traditional Classical Music Chart.

The album was commissioned by Notre Dame Children’s Choir from Sacred Heart Parish music director — and Grammy Awardwinning pianist — J.J. Wright.

It was recorded by Five/Four productions with the aid of the Dynamic Catholic Label, and the Choir collaborated with the J.J. Wright Trio — a jazz piano trio — and Fifth House Ensemble of Chicago.

“O Emmanuel” was No. 1 on the charts for two weeks, from Nov. 26 until Dec. 10.

In addition to reaching No. 1 on the Traditional Classical Music Billboard Chart, “O

Emmanuel” was also as high as No. 3 for all Classical Music Charts, No. 10 for the Christian Album Chart and No. 28 for the Holiday Album Chart.

The NDCC is an ensemble of Christian sacred music vocalists, up to the age of 17.

After starting in 2013 with 45 students, there are now more than 200 singers in eight separate choirs.

Professors research hearing loss, concussions

By KATHRYN MARSHALL News Writer

Students and faculty members heard more about research at Saint Mary’s during Friday Faculty Colloquium Series presentations by Dr. Jennifer Rowsell, assistant professor of biology, and Dr. Sandra Schneider, associate

viewpoint PAGE 7

professor of communicative sciences and disorders.

Rowsell spoke on “Insights into the Restoration of Hearing Loss.” She said there are two types of hearing loss, and she is specifically interested in the sensorineural type, which is when hearing loss results from damage to the cochlea in the inner ear.

This type of hearing loss has multiple causes, including presbycusis, or age. Playing different frequencies of sound demonstrated to attendees how older age decreases the ability to hear high frequency sounds.

“You can speed up this

men’s basketball PAGE 12

women’s basketball PAGE 12

see HEARING PAGE 4

2

TODAY

The observer | monday, december 5, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

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TJ Wilkinson

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senior off campus

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sophomore McGlinn Hall

“It’s not the time.”

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“There’s no time like snow time.”

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Members of the Notre Dame Pom Squad pose in front of the Christmas tree in the lobby of Main Building for the Pom Squad Christmas card. The squad wears special winter uniforms throughout the month of December.

Today’s Staff News

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Rachel O’Grady Courtney Becker

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The next Five days:

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Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

SMC Passport Photo Day Le Mans Hall 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Free passport photos will be taken.

“Extremes of the Planets” Jordan Hall of Science 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Free but ticketed space demonstration.

A Food Truck Christmas Fieldhouse Mall 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Enjoy free food and decorate a tree.

Last Day of Classes campus wide all day Last class day of the Fall semester. Final exams begin Dec. 12.

Study at the Snite Museum Snite Museum of Art 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Coffee and snacks available in the atrium.

Blood Drive Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Bring a photo ID and drink plenty of water.

Men’s Basketball vs.

Fort Wayne Purcell Pavillion 9 p.m.

The Irish take on the Mastodons.

ND Women’s Basketball vs. UConn Purcell Pavillion 7 p.m.

The No. 1 Irish take on the No. 2 Huskies.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception Basilica of the Sacred Heart 5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

President’s Christmas Reception Main Building 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Celebrate the season with Fr. John Jenkins.

News

ndsmcobserver.com | monday, december 5, 2016 | The Observer

3

CRS launches ‘I am Migration’ campaign

By STEPHANIE SNYDER News Writer

In this week’s installment of Justice Friday, Saint Mar y’s first year Annie Maguire and sophomore Kr ystal Harris presented on the Catholic Relief Ser v ices (CRS) campaign called “I am Migration.”

Maguire and Harris are both CRS ambassadors, meaning they work to inspire and mobilize students to achieve the mission of CRS and to create global solidarit y on campus. The CRS mission encompasses faith, action and results.

The goal of the “I am Migration” campaign is to educate students about what migration is and to encourage them to take action by supporting immigrants and refugees both locally and nationally.

Beginning the presentation, Maguire clarified the difference between a migrant and a refugee.

“Many times, we hear the terms ‘migrant’ and ‘refugee’ used interchangeably, but there is a significant difference when it comes to legal proceedings,” she said.

“Refugees are protected under international law. They should not be expelled or returned to situations where their life and freedom are

under threat and are legally allowed to take refuge and asylum in another place.”

According to a v ideo from CRS Universit y (a CRS outreach program to partner w ith universities and students across the countr y) included in the presentation, the refugee crisis is currently the worst in human histor y due to conf lict and persecution. Refugees w ill be displaced for an average of 17 years. There are 65 million refugees and displaced people worldw ide.

“In 2013, the number of international migrants worldw ide reached 232 million up from 175 million in 2000 and 154 million in 1990,” Maguire said. “At the end of 2014, 38 million people around the world had been forced to f lee their homes by conf lict and v iolence.”

Maguire also clarified what it means for someone to be native or indigenous to a certain area.

“Native or indigenous means originating in and characteristic of a particular region or count y,” Maguire said. “We all have stories. As a histor y of people, we always move.”

Harris and Maguire opened the discussion by asking students to share their ow n family migration stories.

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Saint Mar y’s junior Denisse Mendez said her family originated in Aguascalientes, Mex ico.

“I was born in Mex ico and I came here when I was three years old,” Mendez said. “My dad came to the U.S. first thinking it had better economic opportunities.

Eventually my mom said ‘I can’t take it any more, we have to reunite our family,’ so then we came to Warsaw, Indiana.”

Senior Elizabeth Kochniarczyk said although her immediate family doesn’t have a migration stor y, her grandparents and great grandparents immigrated to the U.S. “My family is from all over,” she said. “I’m Polish, Irish, Native A merican and Native Australian.”

Justice Education Club president Caylin McCallick said she enjoyed hearing ever yone’s stories.

“It was nice to see the diversit y even w ithin a room of people,” McCallick said.

Harris said Saint Mar y’s, Notre Dame and Holy Cross are all the results of migration.

“A ll three schools were founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross founded in the 19th centur y by Fr. Basil Moreau,” she said. “He migrated to the United States

from Le Mans, France.”

Sam Centellas, who for the past three years has been an active member of the South Bend youth and Latino communit y center, La Casa de Amistad, also shared his migration stor y.

Centellas is originally from Santa Cruz, Boliv ia.

His mother, who is from Michigan, went to Boliv ia to be a missionar y where she met his father who was a native of Boliv ia. He said their decision to move came from the hy perinf lation Boliv ia was experiencing in 1984.

“My dad was a business man and my mom was a teacher,” he said. “People had to pay him in goods — a dozen eggs or a gallon of milk.”

Centellas said sharing stories is an imperative part of understand and connecting w ith those who are immigrants or refugees.

“It is important that we all share our stories and talk about taking action,” he said. “In this area unless you’re Potawatomi Indian, you’re not from this area.”

According to Centellas, the U.S. needs to change its language concerning immigrants.

“Just because someone isn’t a citizen doesn’t mean they’re undocumented,” Centellas said. “The only difference bet ween me and an undocumented immigrant is that my dad was married to an American. It’s who their parents decided to fall in love w ith.”

“We’re tr y ing to change that conversation piece from people being illegal to people being undocumented,” he said. “Those words matter.”

Centellas said promoting awareness concerning language can make a difference for people who qualif y for Deferred Action for

Childhood A rrivals (DACA).

DACA is the result of an Obama administration executive order, and shields certain undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as minors from deportation.

Additionally, Centellas said 13 to 14 percent of South Bend’s total population is Hispanic — approx imately 18,000 people. Across the U.S. there are 750,000 DACA recipients — 1,200 in South Bend alone.

“I almost guarantee you if you’ve walked around in our communit y, you’ve met someone who is undocumented,” Centellas said.

“Part of why we talk about action is that our communit y doesn’t want your pit y. We need people to do tangible things, to come and help.”

Harris said students can show their solidarit y w ith DACA students by spreading awareness for International Migrants day on Dec. 18, participating in the “Week of ‘Poder,’” contributing to the Lenten CRS Rice Bowls and volunteering at La Casa de Amistad. Students can also wear a safet y pin to show their support and promote safe spaces for ever yone in the communit y.

Maguire said taking action in these ways support the mission of the Sisters of the Holy Cross. According to Maguire, the mission is to “deepen our understanding and appreciation of distinct cultures, realities and persons so we live our Holy Cross charism and identit y more fully.”

“This knowledge of the mission really speaks to who we are as Saint Mar y’s students,” she said. “We encourage you to be an activist, an advocate and an ally.”

Contact Stephanie Snyder at ssnyder01@saintmarys.edu

Follow us on Twitter. @NDSMCObserver

4

NEWS

The observer | monday, december 5, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Hearing Continued from page 1

process by exposure to loud noises,” Rowsell said. “In a younger ear, if you are exposed to loud noises it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are going to cause an immediate hearing degeneration or loss, but it may very well cause this to occur a lot earlier in life.”

Mammals naturally lose hair cells as they age, and this results in hearing deficits, Rowsell said. These hearing losses are permanent because the hair cells can’t regenerate, she said.

“These neurons that are connecting to our hair cells are taking information to the brain,” she said. “So what’s happening here is hair cells recognize the vibrations caused by sound waves. Neurons transmit that information to the brain for interpretation … these are the cells that are important for

Flex Points Continued from page 1

Other campus eateries — like Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Subway, Smashburger, Reckers and Au Bon Pain — have the capacity to handle an influx of students during dinnertime, Abayasinghe said, for they already receive much more traffic during the lunch hours.

“Based on this and based on our evaluation, we really feel that having these points will help shift some of that dinner traffic into the Huddle,” Abayasinghe said.

Campus Dining also plans to introduce a “continuous dining” system in both dining halls, so students can eat at any point in the day — not just during specified meal times.

“We understand that there is the potential for displacement,” Abayasinghe said. “But we anticipate that — especially at dinner, when the compression happens — that we have the capacity to handle it.”

Right now, most on-campus students are registered for the Gold meal plan, which provides them with up to 14 meals in the dining hall each week and $410 Flex Points each semester. All students paying housing fees receive a meal plan through Campus Dining with no additional charges.

Funding for the increase in Flex Points will be included in the multimillion dollar renovation project budget. Abayasinghe said Campus Dining decided not to reallocate the money for some of students’ weekly meal swipes to Flex Points because they didn’t want to limit dining options even more.

Fifth-year Tom Nye, a member of the Executive Advisory Committee for the NDH renovation project, said he appreciates that — because he thinks the Notre Dame community places a value on eating together.

“It’s so much a part of life on and off campus, but especially when it takes place in the dining hall,” he said. “I think that would be another

the function of hearing in the cochlea.”

However, fish and birds can regenerate these hair cells. By studying the developmental pathways of hair cells in animals such as birds and mice, researchers like Rowsell can explore different routes of promoting hair cell regeneration in mammals, she said.

One future possibility being explored in research is using stem cells in stem cell therapy to replace lost hair cells.

“First, you have to know the normal developmental pathway, how they make these decisions, if you want to force an undifferentiated [stem] cell down that pathway,” she said.

Schneider’s area of interest is in neurogenic communication disorders, and that interest was explored in her talk “Using Speech Analysis for Concussion Detection and Other Neurological Disorders.”

The lecture began with a video of a hard hit by a football

driving factor of how seriously Campus Dining considered the potential crunch.”

Students living off campus — even those with meal plans — will not receive extra Flex Points, Abayasinghe said.

“Let’s say, for example, you have a block plan with certain points,” Abayasinghe said. “We’ve provided them as a convenience for students to dine while they’re on campus.

But we acknowledge that students who are living off campus also eat off campus — have kitchen facilities and things like that.”

“From that perspective, in the scope of this and based on the feedback through the committees, we really looked at focusing on the on campus students,” he added.

Nye, a resident assistant in Dunne Hall, said he also thinks offcampus students frequent the dining halls for lunch more often than they do for dinner.

“The crunch at dinner — I would add that that’s the time your residence hall plays the greatest role,” he said. “I live in Dunne, where I’m more likely to go to North at night.

Where at lunch, I’m an archie, I’m more likely to go to south. The data sort of proved the anecdotal evidence that that would be the general trend.”

Nye said providing students with a higher amount of Flex Points will allow them to dine at places they would now frequent if the dining hall is closed or too busy.

“I think now with a smaller capacity at North, you’d more frequently go to these places anyway,” he said “And I think Campus Dining recognizing that is pretty thoughtful. It’s a way to alleviate any sort of impact that would affect the students due to this necessary construction.”

And hopefully, the end result will be well worth the hassle, Abayasinghe said.

“When that new dining hall opens — wow,” he said. “That’s all I can say.”

Contact Katie Galioto at kgalioto@nd.edu

player, who, despite displaying symptoms of having a concussion, played again later in the game.

“It’s an epidemic,” she said.

“There are two different types of concussion … after a hard hit, the brain bounces up and back. The cranium is a very hard system. There is nothing it can do, but the brain gets knocked around … the other concussion that they don’t talk about as much is the face mask or any kind of rotational where they grab and twist the brain on top of the brain stem. Both of those are equally damaging.”

Concussions are a significant health problem in the United States, and are the leading cause of death and disability in young people, Schneider said.

These concussions have long-term consequences, including temporary and permanent effects on personality, relationship skills and early onset dementia, Schneider

said. She said she often tells her class, “Touch the brain, never the same.”

“Sometimes symptoms don’t manifest themselves immediately to the physician or clinician who is looking that them, and yet [the athlete] will have delayed onset of symptoms where the functional ability it just difficult,” Schneider said.

“Unfortunately, 90 percent of concussions go undetected.”

While people are finding ways to cheat current concussion tests, the voice is one thing humans can’t cheat, Schneider said. One example of this is when a student calls home, and their mother knows something is wrong simply by the emotions in the student’s voice.

By collaborating with engineers at Notre Dame, Schneider uses her interest in speech to develop a technology tool to detect concussions, she said. Such collaboration resulted in data collection for

over 2,500 subjects, and collecting numerous baseline and after-event recordings.

“We looked at movement,” she said. “Hesitating with movement, pitch level change, also duration rate of what’s going on. Particularly motor speech execution involves about 100 different muscles containing about 100 different motor units. During normal speech 140,000 neuromuscular events are generated every second to produce one monosyllable.”

Using around 40 different motor speech execution biomarkers, Schneider and her collaborators have developed a tool for detecting concussions that has 94 percent accuracy.

The idea of using motor speech execution biomarkers has potential future applications in areas such as detecting autism, she said.

Contact Kathryn Marshall at kmarsh02@saintmarys.edu

Diving Continued from page 1

discovered the small window of availability for use of the diving boards at the Rock.

“My brother discovered this like, four years ago, and back then, they called it the ‘SplishSplash Crew,’ and he and a bunch of his friends on the track team would get together and go over over to the Rockne pool and just jump off the diving boards,” Krach said. “They would practice their dives and do flips and stuff, so it was a lot of fun.”

Soon, Patrick Krach had a small group of people from Alumni going every week, so he started to make announcements at Sunday dorm Mass about the event.

“There’s no better way to spend a Wednesday evening than with my fellows dawgs, and lady dawgs, jamming out to classic rock and flinging ourselves off the high dive of the Rockne pool,” Patrick Krach said in an email.

Matthew Krach said his brother was responsible for making Dive Night an Alumni Hall tradition.

“So [my brother’s] roommate was actually the guy who [was elected hall president],” Krach said. “[My brother] ended up — just for fun — making some announcements at Mass after his roommate made announcements [about the hall] and it caught on. I think it was because people really thought it was funny, and that’s what made it catch.”

In the beginning, Krach said only a few people would show up, but his brother kept on making the announcements at Mass anyway.

“He would mention it if that week there was a really small crew, but people didn’t want him to stop making these really funny announcements, so people would just show up to

CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer

Sophomore Jack Waltrich prepares to jump off a Rockne Memorial diving board while pretending to study as part of the dorm’s event.

make sure he kept on making the announcements,” he said.

Krach said he kept up the tradition because his brother started letting him make some of the announcements his freshman year.

“So all sophomore year I made an announcement every Mass,” he said. “I think that helped contribute to me becoming president of Alumni.

Because I definitely got to know everyone in the dorm with being outgoing and stuff, but I think that certainly helped just to show people that I was committed to doing something fun in the dorm every week.”

Krach said the first Dive Night this year brought in over 40 Alumni men and their friends.

“More people trickled in as the night went on, and it was just nuts,” Krach said. “The guys were throwing footballs and chucking volleyballs at each other and just doing the stupidest stuff.”

Krach helps to maintain the Dive Night Instagram, which features photos and videos from the weekly event.

“There’s some really good videos on there,” he said. “We try and do some trick-shot type

things, so those are always fun.

We also sometimes will do stupid contests, so like who can swim the longest underwater while holding their breath. But it’s all a lot of fun. ” A major change in the 2016 school year has been the addition of themes to each Dive Night, Krach said.

“We have a different theme every week, but the most popular ones have been ‘Jorts’ and ‘America,’” he said. “We also have done corresponding themes, like one week was ‘Danger’ and another was ‘Safety’ because during the Danger week, the high dive almost broke, a few of the bolts popped out, so we had to do Safety the next week.”

Krach said the best part about Dive Night was the camaraderie and brotherhood it creates amongst the men of Alumni.

“I think people appreciate that it seems super immature and stuff, but I think people just think it’s so funny,” he said. “I mean, you’ve got 40 guys walking over to the Rock in jorts, and it’s just great.”

Contact Rachel O’Grady at rogrady@nd.edu

5

The observer | MONDAY, december 5, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

By CHRISTIAN BUNKER Scene Writer

The Lemon Twigs were first recommended to me as sounding “exactly like the ’60s.” As an avid fan of the Zombies, the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and Crosby, Stills and Nash, this was plenty to convince me to try out the New York-based rock band. However, as I listened to the album, I began to reflect on how distant the ’60s truly are in our era of continuous media consumption and evaluation; I feel guilty waiting until December to review an album that came out in mid-October. Of course, hordes of music enthusiasts with vinyl collections far larger than my own still Thom Yorke’s sentiment when he sings “I wish it was the ’60s … I wish I could be happy.” But for better or worse, the ’60s aren’t getting any closer. My own mother, who in my eyes embodies old music, was born after both the Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel had broken up.

Even Pitchfork hasn’t attempted to bring back the decade; though they have crafted lists of the best albums of the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and ’00s, they have neglected to do so for the almighty ’60s. I believe that this reflects an understanding that while those 10 years of immense musical progress is revered, that reverence may have put us out of touch with it.

This could explain why Lemon Twigs don’t really sound like the ’60s. Of course, they shouldn’t be faulted for this because it is impossible to sound like the ’60s nowadays.

What the Lemon Twigs do sound like is a well-intentioned imitation of that era. Such a description that may sound like a put-down, but should actually be considered a

By AUGIE COLLINS Scene Writer

In celebration of the album’s recent 25th anniversary, R.E.M’s landmark record “Out of Time” has been reissued and expanded in style, boasting a second disc of 19 newly remixed demos. These extra tracks show the songs slowly taking shape; several drafts feature hummed or even silent sections of where lyrics had not yet been finalized. It’s a raw, bare bones set of artifacts featuring the songs stripped of their bells and whistles.

Such recordings invite the listener into the studio with R.E.M. as they forge the album that would consequently thrust them into the international spotlight.

The star of the show at the time of the album’s release, and to this day, is the alt-pop hit “Losing My Religion.”

Originally, the track was a guilty pleasure for the band as they were attempting to deviate from songs employing the group’s standard chord progressions. Peter Buck, the man behind the strumming of the mandolin on the track, noted that “Losing My Religion” was “probably the most typical R.E.M.-sounding song on the record.

We are trying to get away from those kind of songs, but like I said before, those are some good chords.”

Predictably, the song was eaten up by audiences around the world. Accompanied by a music video directed by Tarsem Singh, which was heavily played on MTV, the album quickly topped the charts in the U.S.

compliment. The legacy of the ’60s has granted us great music over the course of the decades that followed. After all, early ditties of the ’70s, like Pink Floyd’s “Summer ‘68” and the Velvet Underground’s “Who Loves the Sun,” referenced the ’60s to great success, and other groups in British pop like Supertramp and Electric Light Orchestra continued doing so in the same fashion. Then came the Stone Roses and “Madchester,” another ’60s revival movement.

The Flaming Lips carried the torch from there, and today we have Tame Impala (although they sold out their neopsychedelic roots in their most recent album).

The Lemon Twigs’ “Do Hollywood” fits perfectly into this spectrum. In fact, it registers as the kind of album that could have preceded Tame Impala’s debut album “Innerspeaker.” It may feature less synths, less ambition, less John Lennon vocals — but “Do Hollywood” is composed of the same core ingredients as the modern psychedelic touchstone. For example, the opening of “Hi+Lo” sounds like the slowed down, drugged-out cousin of “Solitude is Bliss.” The soft guitar lines and softer singing of “A Great Snake” echoes Tame Impala’s “I Don’t Really Mind” as well.

More often, however, the slowness and conscious antiquatedness of the album sound nothing like Tame Impala’s high-end production. These instances, which include “I Wanna Prove to You,” “Those Days is Comin’ Soon,” and “These Words” are a common source of comparison to actual ’60s groups, such as the Beatles and Beach Boys. However, at no point do the Lemon Twigs manage to reach the heights reached by these predecessors. The energetic charm of “Good Vibrations” and “Penny Lane”;

the melodic perfection of “God Only Knows” and “Here Comes the Sun”; and the power of “Hey Jude” and “Come Together” are all largely missing. Instead the Lemon Twigs sound like the less ambitious — or dare I say filler — tracks from each of these two groups. “As Long as We’re Together” channels “I’m Waiting for the Day” quite nicely, while the unusual instrumentation of “Baby, Baby” reflects “Pet Sounds.”

This is all well and good, but unfortunately “Do Hollywood” doesn’t offer anything that improves on these 50-year-old formulas. It’s certainly refreshing to hear music that goes back to a different time, but the Twigs lack the catchiness, and even the loudness, of the more successful members of the ’60s imitation genre. As a result, it simply lacks staying power. In the end, I fear that the Lemon Twigs music will fade away much sooner than the decade that inspired them.

and the U.K. and eventually earned the band three Grammys. All of this was done with minimal touring for the album as well; R.E.M. relied on radio show appearances and the odd public function for promotion.

Twenty-five years later, looking back on R.E.M.’s legacy, we are able to obtain a clearer sense of the impact that “Out of Time” had on R.E.M.’s stint as the most popular band in the world. Before “Out of Time”, R.E.M. was left on the outside looking in. Their previous six albums had cultivated a large and devoted following, yet they could still not grasp that elusive superstar quality that separates those who will be immortalized from those who are more easily forgotten.

Some might say the success of “Out of Time” was due largely in part to R.E.M. sacrificing a part of themselves in order to cater toward radio stations. However, the band defended the music from the outset; in a 1991 interview with Rolling Stone, Peter Buck snapped back, “The people that changed their minds because of ‘Losing My Religion’ can just kiss my ass.” Interestingly, the album remains relatively unique in R.E.M.’s discography and has prompted little imitation. It did not, after all, reign in a new age of mandolin-infused rock.

“Out of Time” is indeed less edgy than previous albums such as “Green” or “Life’s Rich Pageant,” owing in part to Scott Litt’s crisp, clean production, but this is what makes it such a turning point in R.E.M.’s career.

The band’s brooding indie act was coming to a close.

After all, the track “Shiny Happy People” is the antithesis of what every classic grunge fan wants to bob their head to. Some fans resisted the change, but “Out of Time” heralded something even larger that was yet to come. The following year, the masterpiece “Automatic For The People” would be released, leaving no doubt as to whether the band’s name would be noted in the annals of music history.

While R.E.M.’s “Out of Time” is easily glossed over by critics and listeners alike, the album was critical at the time. It warmed up audiences for the groundbreaking work that was on the horizon, while also providing a few gems of its own in tracks such as “Me in Honey” and “Country Feedback.” This reissue is by no means monumental or even necessary, but the additional tracks do provide a nice bit of dressing for an already solid album.

What the reissue does best, though, is shine a light on an album that deserves a little more recognition. The album is timeless and certainly does not sound like it made its debut a quarter of a century ago. “Out of Time” marked the beginning of R.E.M.’s golden era, which would only increase in intensity until the release of the experimental “Monster.” It is easy for one’s eyes to be drawn to the sound of R.E.M. at the height of their career, but we must not forget the cornerstone upon which it was built.

Contact Christian Bunker at cbunker@nd.edu

“Do Hollywood” The Lemon Twigs Label: 4AD Recommended Tracks: “A Great Snake” “As Long as We’re Together” “Baby, Baby” If you like: The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Tame Impala

Contact Augie Collins at jcolli15@nd.edu LAUREN WELDON | The Observer

6

The observer | Monday, december 5, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The most wonderful time?

Brian Boylen Scene Writer

No time of the year seems to produce as many mixed feelings for me as the holiday season does. All of the positive things that come with the holidays often feel like they aren’t quite as good as they seem. I type this as I listen to “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and the first snow slowly falls outside my window. I should be perfectly content and not have a care in the world. But that’s just not true.

How can I sit back and enjoy the Christmas cheer when I have so much going on in my life? Finals loom menacingly on the horizon, and piles of procrastinated work — including writing this article — prevent me from even considering studying yet. Every night last week I returned to my proud home, Carroll Hall, to the sight of my fellow Vermin enthusiastically decorating the dorm for Carroll Christmas. I truly did wish to join in and help, but how could I rationalize ignoring my work when I knew I had an Organic Chemistry test on Thursday? At times the decorating was an actual burden on me. I was trying to do work in Carroll, but my study spot of choice was being repurposed into a Santa’sworkshop-themed room. I never felt upset or angry about any of this, as obviously the dorm needed to be spruced up — I just wish I could have joined in and felt the joys of holiday spirit.

Maybe there is more to this problem than just the stresses of school though. It often feels like there is an idealized version of Christmas in my mind that is never really matched by reality. Is it my fault for having this idea of the perfect holiday season in my head? I don’t believe so. I think that many Americans’ idea of Christmas is at least a bit overly rosy. When you are constantly hearing incredibly cheery music and having your heartstrings tugged at by Hallmark Channel specials, it is hard not to put Christmas on a pedestal. The truth is that Christmas won’t ever live up to these lofty ideals. You will get sick of listening to the same songs over and over again, and you will tire of trudging through the snow to get to class. But maybe that is OK. Christmas doesn’t need to be perfect. It is not a magical time of the year where everyone’s problems disappear and only happiness remains. That doesn’t mean it can’t be special though. I know I can’t wait to get back to my home and family — even if I know I’ll just feel like being alone at times. I want to drink hot chocolate by the tree, I want to pet my Golden Retriever and I want to eat a little bit too much pie. And when I really think about it, what more could I want?

Contact Brian Boylen at bboylen@nd.edu The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Quit crying over populism Since the election of Donald Trump, I’m hearing frequent laments over the rise of populism in the political sphere in this countr y. In “National Review,” Andrew McCarthy likens populism to Bacchanalia, and defines it as “doing what you know is wrong, heedless of harmful consequences — some unintended, others easily foreseeable — because the masses will perceive it as empathy,” proving conclusively he has never looked up the word in a dictionar y. Bill Kristol in ‘The Week ly Standard” wrote that the principles of populism and constitutional liberty are mutually exclusive, and that he would permanently reject the former in order to preser ve the latter.

Do any of those criticizing populism, including the two writers mentioned, actually know what populism is? Kristol said he would be “sympathetic to an enlightened populism,” as though that were an actual possibility. Enlightened populism is impossible, not because populism is some Neanderthalesque residue from the blood-and-soil nature of the European far-right, but because populism isn’t an ideolog y; there is absolutely nothing to enlighten whatsoever. You can have enlightened Socialism, or enlightened Christian Democracy, but hoping to have enlightened Populism is like hoping to have an enlightened winter coat. W hat Kristol gets wrong is that, in order to be a Populist, the ideological position of what you say is totally irrelevant, but the manner in which that position is articulated is of the utmost importance. You cannot say, “Populists believe the following” because Populism has no beliefs at all. Populism is not an ideolog y. Populism is a style.

Let’s take an example of two individuals who align ideologically: A lexander Van der Bellen and Jean-Luc Melenchon, both prominent figures in the European socialist and social-democratic movements, who again, believe and discuss ver y similar things.

Van der Bellen is running to be President of Austria on the Independent-Green ticket.

Have you ever heard him speak? It is one of the single most mind-numbingly dull experiences you can ever have. I have been more entertained watching grey paint dr y while having afternoon tea with my dead pet hamster. The opposite is true of Melenchon, the Populist French leader of the Parti Gauche, who again believes and discusses ver y similar things to Van der Bellen. During my time in the south of France, I happened to

stumble (literally) into one of his rallies in Montpellier, and given I had some time; I thought I’d hear him out.

Maybe it was the fact that the French language naturally lends itself to Leninist rants on hastily constructed wooden stages, maybe it’s the fact that that evening I had been fortunate enough to ingest one glass too many of the fabulous wine of the LanguedocRoussillon region, or maybe it was the magnificent rhetorical f lair of the speaker that made the same dull ideas that Van der Bellen had discussed seem absolutely tantalizing. Let me make this abundantly clear, I’m a proud Capitalist, and I have the same reaction to a good quarter of earnings as a 13-year-old boy does to a Victoria’s Secret commercial, but even I found myself skipping on home humming “The Internationale” to myself that evening.

The difference is Melenchon is a populist; Van der Bellen is not. No matter how similar (and horrendous) their ideas are, they are always going to sound better coming from the firebrand Melenchon then they are from the decrepit Van der Bellen. The same can be said of any ideolog y in any countr y. W hether you’re a an Italian Centrist, a Scottish Nationalist, or an American Republican, Populism is nothing more than a marketing tool, designed to make your ideas seem exciting to your listener, irrespective of what those ideas actually are. A lso, let’s not pretend that this is the first time populism has ever ex isted in the United States: Obama’s “hope and change” mantra was populist, Reagan’s Revolution was populist, Nixon’s silent majority was populist and oh right, before I forget, this countr y literally had a Populist Party.

So quit cr ying over populism. Disagree with Trump’s policies? Criticize the policies, sure, knock yourself out. But don’t sit there and weep at what you see as the looming specter of populism. Populism is a style, adopted by Warren, Sanders, Obama, Cruz, Ron Paul and Donald Trump. It’s the only thing any of them have in common, and has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on the substance of their ideas. The hysteria surrounding Populism is, quite frank ly, totally juvenile.

Dylan Stevenson senior Dec. 1

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The observer | Monday, December 5, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

7

Cuba, Castro and Colin Kaepernick Liam Stewart Conservative Conscience

Colin Kaepernick made headlines again last week, after a column in the Miami Herald criticized him for praising the now deceased Cuban dictator, Fidel Castro.

Kaepernick, as you probably know, has been featured surprisingly frequently in the political spotlight ever since his August decision to kneel during the national anthem before an NFL preseason game. The demonstration was met with anger and disappointment from many of his supporters, but Kaepernick defended his actions as a response to the illusory forces of institutional racism that “[oppress] black people and people of color.”

Shortly after, the NFL issued a statement that said players are encouraged, but not required, to stand for the national anthem. This is the same organization that refused to allow the Dallas Cowboys to wear helmet decals in honor of the five Dallas Police officers that were gunned down at a Black Live Matter protest in July.

Kaepernick is a biracial professional football player, who attended the University of Nevada on a full athletic scholarship and currently earns over $15 million a year as the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers.

As he took to the field at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Nov. 27, the football star was met with a chorus of boos from a crowd of over 65,000 people.

Miami is home to a large community of Cuban exiles and their descendants, many of whom took to streets in celebration of Castro’s death early last week. It is unclear what triggered the negative reaction from the crowd, Kaepernick’s asinine comments to the Miami Herald or his decision to wear a T-shirt featuring a supportive image of Castro earlier this year.

Speaking at a press conference shortly after losing to the Dolphins 31-24, Kaepernick was asked to clarify his opinion of Castro. The media, it seems, has taken a keen interest in Kaepernick’s social and geopolitical insights as of late.

“What I said was I agree with the investment in education,” Kaepernick said. “I also agree with the investment in free universal healthcare. ... I would hope that everybody agrees those things are good things.” He went on to suggest that the media had misinterpreted his earlier comments, and that he did not support Castro’s more oppressive policies as Cuba’s long-term dictator.

Admittedly, there is some truth in Kaepernick’s remarks. As with most communist regimes in history, Cuba did adopt a socialized health care system during Castro’s 47-year reign. Of course, it also adopted Marxist economic policies, political repression, religious persecution and a flagrant disregard for basic human rights.

To be sure, there is excellent health care in Cuba — just not for the Cuban people. Castro’s communist regime created a three-tiered system: one for tourists, one for government and military officials and one for the general population. Cuba’s top-tier hospitals and clinics are exceptional, but they require payment in advance and are usually only accessible to tourists and party elites.

If these facilities are comparable to the U.S., those available to ordinary Cubans are comparable to developing nations. Hospitals and clinics are deteriorating, medications are scarce and conditions are so unsanitary that patients often choose to bring in their own supplies, or just stay at home.

As for education, Castro’s investment was motivated entirely by his Marxist-Leninist ideology. In creating a free public education system, he sought to follow in the footsteps of previous communist regimes and

create a literate population absolutely loyal to the state. Education became universal, but it was severely censored, pro-communist and deeply intolerant of government criticism.

Driven from their homes and deprived of basic human rights, hundreds of thousands of Cubans have fled the island since Castro took power in 1959. Three decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Communist Party remains in control of Cuba, promulgating Marxist fallacies and repressing virtually all forms of dissent.

Kaepernick — who makes over 50,000 times the annual salary of an average Cuban — is not alone in his ignorance. In a statement following Castro’s death, President Obama professed that “history will record and judge the enormous impact of this singular figure on the people and world around him.” Why wait on history? Fidel Castro’s legacy is one of brutal oppression, regressive policies and unthinkable suffering.

This should be history’s unequivocal judgement.

In light of his recent political prominence, perhaps Kaepernick will want to consider pursing a career in politics full-time. After all, the 49ers’ 10th consecutive loss last Sunday marks the team’s worst losing streak in franchise history. That said, with the GOP now in control of the White House, the Senate, the House, most governorships and most state legislatures, the job market for Democrats is not looking too great either.

Liam Stewart is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Letters, majoring in political science. Liam was born and raised in the beautiful Irish city of Dublin, although he has been proud to call Seattle home for the past six years. He enjoys country music, hardback books and binge-watching TV shows. He can be reached at lstewar4@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

In our hands Ray Ramirez The Crooked Path

Earth has the stamp of mankind on it, and has since the earliest people set fires to clear land or built crude dams across wild streams. Over the centuries man’s impact on the planet has grown more widespread and usually not for the better. Some recent events demonstrate that the power to shape our environment is real, and point to two possible outcomes for our stewardship of this planet. The first story is one of unexpected results and a possible acceleration of environmental collapse.

In early October the sun set on the North Pole for the last time before it appears again in the spring. In most years, that is the trigger for sea ice to freeze across the Arctic Ocean. Researchers have discovered a curious phenomenon: Starting in mid-October this year, the growth of sea ice slowed, came to a halt, then started to decrease. Apparently extreme warmth, stored in the atmosphere and ocean water, is melting the Arctic sea ice just as it should be increasing. This anomaly is occurring even earlier than last year, when temperatures spiked in December, months after the usual freeze had set in.

Climate change is creating a new set of records that underscore the steady and undeniable impact of man’s activities on global climate: Maximum sea ice extent has been at its lowest for two years in a row, and each of the three preceding years saw a record for the hottest average global temperature. This year’s Arctic Ocean October Surprise already has had direct and measurable effects, and the sea ice is missing a chunk of ice roughly one-fourth the size of the lower 48 states. Even into November, scientists recorded air temperatures as high as 36 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. In spite of the lack of sunlight, sea ice continued to disappear. Water temperatures on the edge of the sea ice are

above normal in many locations, further hindering the growth of sea ice.

The nature of ice that is in place has also changed over time. Detailed measurements and ice cores kept since the 1980s confirm “old ice” is mostly gone, and most of the ice pack is now “young ice” accumulated in the last few years. This young ice is likely to be more brittle and prone to breakup and melting when confronted with extreme warmth. And where is this warmth coming from? Most directly, convection currents in the atmosphere created large troughs and ridges. In mid-October the eastern edge of one of these troughs settled over northeast Asia, creating a strong surface low that channeled warm air at the surface across the Bering Strait. A similar low developed over the North Atlantic, creating another conduit for warm air to funnel into the Arctic.

The inability of the sea ice to freeze to its previous extent created a feedback loop that is accelerating the warming and melting process. In the summer, the Arctic Ocean’s dark open water absorbed the sun’s energy much more readily than sea ice, which reflects much of the energy back into space. This process not only slowed freezing, it also warmed and moistened the air. The result was excessive water vapor — a greenhouse gas that tends to create more clouds and trap heat near the ocean surface. At one time, the warming trend in the Arctic led to predictions of ice-free summers by the year 2050; some researcher now estimate that ice-free summers may be the norm as soon as the 2030s. Climate researchers, in near unanimity, identify the primary driver of these changes as man-made carbon pollution, which serves to heat the planet through greenhouse gas creation on a global scale.

A second story points to an alternate future where man’s intervention may actually improve the environment. In 1970, Bruce McDuffie, a chemistry professor at the State University of New York at Binghamton, discovered levels of .75 parts per million of mercury

in cans of tuna taken from supermarket shelves. This level of mercury, which can cause blindness, nerve and brain damage and even death, exceeded by 50 percent the limits set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Shortly thereafter McDuffie announced finding even higher concentrations of mercury in swordfish. The FDA confirmed the reports, and the world fishing market went into turmoil, ultimately withdrawing hundreds of thousands of dollars of tuna and swordfish from the market.

In a positive turn, a recent study indicates that levels of mercury in Atlantic Bluefin tuna are rapidly declining, falling 19 percent in the period from 2004 to 2012.

The report links the decline directly to reduced mercury emissions in North America, due mainly to the shift by power plants and industry away from coal, the major source of mercury emissions, as well as pollution control requirements imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This news is tempered by the fact that worldwide mercury emissions continue to rise, particularly in the Pacific, increasing about 3.8 percent per year, based largely on increased reliance on coal-fired power plants in China, India and other Asian countries.

Still, the decrease in Bluefin mercury levels is an encouraging sign that shifting away from highly polluting energy sources and following regulations targeted at improving the environment can lead to positive results in a relatively short amount of time. Most importantly it offers some hope that man’s hands can heal, as well as harm, this planet, our only home and hope for the foreseeable future.

Ray Ramirez is an attorney practicing, yet never perfecting, law in Texas while waiting patiently for a MacArthur Genius Grant. You may contact him at patrayram@sbcglobal.net The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

8

DAILY

The observer | monday, december 5, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | Will Shortz

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Stand up and do your thing. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to make choices that will improve your life personally and professionally. Aim to please, but not at the risk of missing out on reaching your goals. The end result is that what you accomplish will benefit not just yourself, but others. Set your priorities and stick to them. Your numbers are 6, 9, 18, 24, 32, 43, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Share your feelings and concerns with people you can count on for support. A favor will be granted if you offer your services to someone in need. Change will only occur if you are open and honest. Use past experiences as your barometer.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Let someone else contribute for a change. Offer suggestions, hands-on help and supervision, but don’t donate to something that isn’t going to benefit you personally. Love is in the stars, and romantic plans will improve your personal life.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): An interesting partnership will develop if you share your ideas with someone who has the experience and skills to contribute to your plan. Socialize, network and listen to what others have to say. The information you receive will be valuable.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): An important deal can be made, but you have to be smart and negotiate what’s doable for you and what’s not. Don’t allow anyone else to act on your behalf. Diplomacy and being smart about money will lead to success.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Form a partnership and participate in something you’ve always longed to do. Look for new beginnings as you tidy up loose ends. Plan a vacation that will give you the incentive you need to excel. Commit to someone you love.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): An interesting alternative will be made available to you. Before you decide to take part, run the numbers and see if it’s financially possible. Don’t let fast talk persuade you to do something you are uncomfortable with.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Use emotional tactics if someone backs you into a corner. Avoid getting into a physical confrontation at all costs. Use discipline to ensure that every move you make is strategic and measured. Follow your heart.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Listen to complaints and find unique solutions.

Your challenge lies in understanding what you are up against and being willing to compromise in order to keep the peace. Personal improvements and romantic plans are encouraged.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Reconnect with old friends, attend a reunion or revisit an old idea. Channel your energy into the projects and causes that inspire you. A change will lift your spirits and encourage personal improvements.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Say what you must and be prepared to implement your own plan if necessary. A problem with a friend or relative is best dealt with before it accelerates into a major dispute. Don’t divulge personal information.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Use your emotional energy to push your way to victory. Don’t wait for someone else to lead the way when you are fully capable of taking on that responsibility yourself. Show off what you can do in order to get good results.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You’ll be torn between what you believe you need to do and the responsibilities others expect you to fulfill. A strategic approach will satisfy your needs as well as the needs of those who are counting on you.

Birthday Baby: You are experimental, innovative and persistent. You are aggressive and upbeat.

JUst Add Water | Eric Carlson & John Roddy

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

Draw comics.

Email Margaret at mhynds@nd.edu

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ndsmcobserver.com | monday, december 5, 2016 | The Observer

NFL | Steelers 24, Giants 14

Sports Authority

Rethinking conference titles Alex Carson Assistant Managing Editor

The committee got it right.

If Penn State fans should have a complaint, it shouldn’t be that their team was left out — it should be about the opponent their team played in the Big Ten’s championship game Saturday.

Two teams finished with 8-1 records this year in the Big Ten: Ohio State and Penn State. Logic dictates the conference champion should’ve been guaranteed to come from one of those two teams, right?

But, alas, as we all know, that didn’t happen. Instead of playing the other best team in the league, the Nittany Lions played Wisconsin, a team that had the conference’s fourth-best mark at 7-2, in Indianapolis. Instead of getting a chance to prove itself one last time against a team it was competing with for a playoff spot in Ohio State, Penn State got a solid but not game-changing win Saturday night.

Irrespective of the result Saturday in Indianapolis, the results of the ACC and Pac12 title games dictated that the outcome of the Big Ten’s championship game would ultimately prove meaningless in the playoff discussion.

Consider that alternate reality, though, where Ohio State and Penn State played for the Big Ten title instead. The winner of that game — be it the Buckeyes or Nittany Lions — would be in the field. No questions asked. Instead of “rewarding” Penn State with a chance to prove it’s the fifthbest team in the country, you could’ve rewarded it with a chance to prove it deserved a place in the top four.

Look around the country, and you’ll find a similar problem developing: Too often, a conference’s two best teams don’t meet to play for the title.

We saw it two times this year alone — just like Wisconsin wasn’t the Big Ten’s secondbest team, Virginia Tech wasn’t the ACC’s, either — and we’ve seen the Pac-12 get involved in the past, too, in those years where Oregon and Stanford were the class of the league.

If they’re so great and important, conference title games should make the first Saturday in December one of college football’s best days. But year after year, the slate becomes a disappointment. Instead of a Clemson/Louisville rematch — a game that would’ve been

9

incredibly compelling despite the Cardinals’ late slide — we got Clemson/Virginia Tech, a game that continued a building tradition of Clemson or Florida State beating the ACC Coastal winner in a game that fits the, “I guess they could lose, but they won’t,” narrative quite well. The same, of course, could be said about the Big Ten. Now, the issue: You can’t actually set up a system like the one I’m describing. If a conference is to have a championship game, it must either be split into divisions or play a full round-robin. The latter isn’t possible for four of the Power Five conferences, so the former is the necessary evil.

The funny thing about all of this? Earlier this year, the Big Ten fought a proposal from the ACC and Big XII that would deregulate conference title games entirely, allowing for leagues to conduct their championship games in whatever manner they see fit.

Instead of deregulation, we got the full round-robin provision, allowing the Big XII to hold its game.

What makes it funny, of course, is that the Big Ten’s champion was kept from having a playoff chance because of the flawed system the conference fought to keep.

While eliminating divisions — a byproduct of the system I’m proposing — could create chaos with three one-loss teams tying for one title game slot, it doesn’t differ from the current situation — see: 2008 Big XII South. And what it would do, in fact, is end the silly system in many conferences that sees one group of teams — Florida and Virginia Tech were big beneficiaries this year — play a much easier schedule than other ones of a similar pedigree in the opposite division.

In three of college football’s four Power Five conferences with divisions, most of that power is concentrated in one division — it’s Clemson, Florida State and Louisville being together in the ACC Atlantic; Alabama, Auburn and LSU being together in the SEC West; Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State being together in the Big Ten East — and as long as that system persists, we’re going to continue to have the opportunity for more problems like the one presented this year.

Bell, Green lead Steelers over Giants at home Associated Press

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have dished the flash of September for a decidedly more pragmatic approach in December.

Heavy doses of Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown.

A dash of tight end Ladarius Green.

A defense that looks competent and maybe even a bit dangerous.

The Steelers will gladly sacrifice the style points for the substance they showed in a 24-14 win over the New York Giants on Sunday.

The result emphatically ended New York’s six-game winning streak and sent a message that Pittsburgh’s midseason funk appears to be firmly in the rearview mirror.

“I just think we’re finding our rhythm,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after his team allowed just 234 yards and picked off Eli Manning twice.

“I think we’re gaining continuity with the mix of guys who are playing. The young guys are growing up.”

A pivotal development for the Steelers (7-5), who have

won three straight, each one a step up in class.

Two weeks ago it was a simple slump-buster in Cleveland.

On Thanksgiving, it was a decisive victory on the road in Indianapolis, albeit against a backup quarterback.

This time it was one of the league’s hottest teams, though New York (8-4) hardly looked like it at times while spoiling first-year coach Ben McAdoo’s homecoming.

McAdoo grew up an hour east of Heinz Field in Homer City, Pennsylvania. The team he faced on Sunday looked a bit like the one he idolized as a kid.

The Steelers dominated the line of scrimmage at times behind Bell’s 182 yards of total offense and prevented Manning and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. from ever really getting comfortable.

“We are who we are right now,” McAdoo said. “We need to go back to work. You can’t just flip a switch and have things change.”

The Steelers have reinvented themselves on the fly following a four-game slide that took all the shine off their

high-flying 4-1 start.

Rather than try to overwhelm opponents with firepower they have put the ball in Bell’s hands and let him lead the way.

Bell touched the ball 35 times — 29 rushes and six receptions — and went over 100 yards rushing for the third straight game by churning for 118.

He did so against a defense that hadn’t allowed an opponent to reach the century mark since Adrian Peterson in Week 16 of last season.

“I just wanted to make sure that I kept running hard,” Bell said. “Then, in the fourth quarter, holes got a little bigger.”

Ben Roethlisberger passed for 289 yards and two touchdowns for Pittsburgh and Brown caught six passes for 54 yards, including an acrobatic scoring grab in the back of the end zone that put the Steelers up 11-0.

“It’s that time of year that we have to be our best self, offense, defense, special teams,” Roethlisberger said.

“Everybody needs to just do their job, and I thought they did that tonight.”

NBA | Thunder 101, Pelicans 92

Westbrook notches triple double in Thunder win Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook became the first player with five consecutive triple-doubles since Michael Jordan had seven straight in 1989 and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 10192 on Sunday night.

Westbrook finished with 28 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists. The Thunder have won all five games during Westbrook’s triple-double stretch. It was Westbrook’s 10th triple-double of the season and the 47th of his career.

Enes Kanter had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Victor Oladipo added 15 points for the Thunder.

Anthony Davis, the NBA’s leading scorer, had 37 points and 15 rebounds for the

Pelicans. Buddy Hield, who led nearby Oklahoma to the Final Four last season, scored 16 points in his first game back in the state.

Oklahoma City led 49-41 at halftime. Westbrook had 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists at the break, and Davis kept the Pelicans in it with 24 points and 10 rebounds.

Westbrook threw down a vicious right-handed jam on a drive down the middle in the third quarter that gave Oklahoma City a 57-47 lead.

He clinched the triple-double on an assist to Kanter for a dunk with 2:14 left in the third quarter. The Thunder took a 78-66 lead into the fourth quarter.

Hield drained a 3-pointer to cut Oklahoma City’s lead to four with just under two minutes to go, but Westbrook’s

3 with 51.3 seconds to go bumped the Thunder’s lead back to 99-92.

Tip ins Pelicans: Hield got a standing ovation when he checked in late in the first half. ... G Jrue Holiday started for just the third time this season.

He missed the first 12 games while his wife, former U.S. women’s national team soccer player Lauren Holiday, recovered from surgery to remove a benign brain tumor.

Thunder: Made 14 of 15 2-point shots and missed all nine of their 3-pointers in the first quarter. ... C Steven Adams sprained his left ankle in the first quarter and did not return. ... The Thunder missed all 15 3-point attempts in the first half, then made 6 of 13 in the second.

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10

Sports

The observer | monday, december 5, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

W Bball Continued from page 12

from the beginning. “[Senior guard] Lindsay Allen, I thought, was spectacular today and did a great job, as well as [sophomore guard] Arike [Ogunbowale],” McGraw said. “ … But good to see the freshmen getting some minutes, and for [freshman guard] Jackie Young today, the offensive output that I think people were used to seeing in high school and I think she’s more than capable of doing on a daily basis, I think, for us. … It was good.

I think that when the other team plays zone and didn’t press that we can really work some different people at the point, and we were able to give [Allen] a pretty good rest today, which I think she needed.”

Young led the Irish both offensively and defensively against the Crusaders from the moment she stepped on the court midway through the first quarter. Young scored 20 points — only missing one shot, which came from beyond the 3-point line — and tallied six steals and three assists. She refused to bask in the glory of a career-high game, however, and said she is already focused on how she can improve.

“I mean, I shot well, but I have a lot to work on,” Young said. “Just understanding the defense a little bit more and I think I’ll get more comfortable.”

Including Young, six different Irish players ended

the game in double digits: Ogunbowale scored 18, sophomore guard Marina Mabrey had 16, freshman forward Erin Boley added 15, junior forward Brianna Turner scored 13 and junior forward Kathryn Westbeld finished with 10. McGraw was particularly happy with Boley’s performance, as she said the freshman is settling into the Irish offense.

“Getting comfortable, I think, was big for [Boley],” McGraw said. “She’s a great shooter. She shoots it well at practice. I think just getting in the game long enough to feel comfortable [was good for her]. I think, early on, she wasn’t getting in the game for ver y long stretches, so we’re tr ying to give her a little bit longer when she’s on the f loor. Just time to get ready [and] to get comfortable, and I think she’ll respond well.”

The Irish offense slowed in the second half, however.

After leading 72-23 at halftime, Notre Dame scored 27 and 15 points in the third and fourth quarters, respectively. The Crusaders continued to struggle to keep their turnovers down, however, as they amassed 31 by the final buzzer.

After falling by 60 points, Dorow had nothing but praise for the Irish and feels that now that the Crusaders know where the bar has been set on a national level, they can do their best to reach for that bar going forward.

“In the second half, I think we did a better job. I know they were working on some of

their zone things and things like that, but I feel like Coach McGraw is very classy and handled the whole game with a lot of class,” Dorow said.

“They could have run the score up on us, and I don’t think they did. “ … These are young women that are the same level. They’re NCAA Division I basketball players, and [Notre Dame is] setting the bar right now. I mean, obviously, UConn has set the bar for years, and it’s nice to see somebody else, especially Notre Dame — I mean, instate, we like that. It’s nice to see them setting the bar so high and doing the things they need to do to be a better ball club, and now we know that we have to match that kind of speed and physicality and things. And it should help us in preparing for our future opponents as far as getting into practices and being able to play at the next level.”

W hile the 114 points Notre Dame scored marked the fourth-highest point total in school history, McGraw said she was not gunning for the record.

“We just want to get 88 points [to earn burger coupons for fans in attendance],” McGraw joked. “We just want to keep the fans happy. That’s it.”

The Irish will next take the court Wednesday when they host No. 2 Connecticut at Purcell Pavilion. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Contact Elizabeth Greason at egreason@nd.edu

MICHAEL YU | The Observer

Former Irish senior quarterback Malik Zaire looks to throw across his body during Notre Dame’s 45-27 loss to USC on Nov. 26.

Transfers Continued from page 12

job after Everett Golson transferred to Florida State, but he suffered an ank le injur y in the second game of the season and did not play the rest of the year.

Zaire, who lost the starting job to junior quarterback DeShone Kizer this year, is reportedly considering Florida, Michigan State, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin amongst his options.

Holmes announced his intention to transfer via Twitter on Saturday.

Holmes will receive his degree from the University this summer, and like Zaire will be able to play in 2017 if he graduates as expected. In an inter view with the South Bend Tribune, Holmes said Miami (Fla.), Arizona State, North Carolina and UCL A are amongst the schools he is considering.

Montelus, a reser ve offensive lineman this past season, also announced he plans to transfer Tuesday on Instagram. Montelus, who played in t wo games this season, also has not determined where he w ill transfer.

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GRACE TOURVILLE | The Observer

Irish freshman guard Jackie Young defends an opposing ballhandler during Notre Dame’s 114-54 win over Valparaiso on Sunday at Purcell Pavilion. Young led the Irish in points and steals in the victory.

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ndsmcobserver.com | monday, december 5, 2016 | The Observer

KATHLEEN DONAHUE | The Observer

Irish junior guard Matt Farrell dribbles the ball in transition during Notre Dame’s 107-53 win over North Carolina A&T on Sunday at Purcell Pavilion. The Irish recorded 29 assists in the winning effort.

M Bball Continued from page 12

guys who can make a shot, and we may do it a couple times this year.”

Senior forward and captain V.J. Beachem paced the Irish (8-0) with 19 points, with the lion’s share of his points coming after the break; Beachem shot 6-for-7 to put up 16 points in the second half after going just 1-for-7 in the opening stanza.

“I thought he tried to force a few things against their zone [in the first half ] and didn’t get stuff,” Brey said. “At least he stayed in it, and it all comes back around to guys. … I was proud of how he kind

Hockey Continued from page 12

They played extremely hard — made it very frustrating to play against them — so it wasn’t just us. They played pretty well, too.”

The third period turned into a riot of goals, as Notre Dame furiously attempted to mount a comeback. Freshman defenseman Andrew Peeke got the Irish on the scoreboard 68 seconds into the third period with a quick shot off a rebound, and junior forward Anders Bjork put the puck in the back of the net just three minutes later to make it a 3-2 game.

However, the Minutemen responded with a goal of their own on a 5-on-3 power-play opportunity. After the Irish countered with a power-play goal from sophomore defensemen Bobby Nardella to make it 4-3, Pigozzi scored what would prove to be the deciding goal off an offensive-zone faceoff at the 12:46 mark in the third period.

Bjork managed to score his second goal of the game to draw the score to 5-4, but the Irish couldn’t find the tying goal during the final four minutes of play.

“We didn’t do a real good job

of composed himself and then in the second half got off to a good start for us.”

A late f lurry from behind the arc helped sophomore forward Matt Ryan get to 17, while Gibbs (12 points) and sophomore guard Rex Pf lueger (10) also hit double figures off the Irish bench.

But, along with senior forward Austin Torres, Brey praised the bench’s defensive effort Sunday before complimenting the offensive side.

“Some of the individual defensive plays Rex made tonight, I don’t know if other people in the country can do that,” Brey said. “He just stays in front of guys, then he blocks your shot; he’s just a pain to

deal with. And T.J.’s toughness, Torres f lying around — and Ryan’s a different kind of weapon. If he’s got a look — that was the quietest 17.”

Ref lective of the balanced scoring effort, the Irish shared the ball exceptionally well Sunday, recording 29 assists on 37 made field goals while only committing eight turnovers. Irish junior guard Matt Farrell, who finished with 15 points, said it’s a byproduct of the guys in the locker room.

“It’s a lot of fun to play that way; it sure is fun to watch,” Farrell said. “We’ve got guys in here that want to play for each other and it’s special to have. … We’re really unselfish

managing the puck,” Jackson said. “Between our defensemen on the breakout at times and then a little bit in the offensive zone, where we didn’t have enough patience, where we got one play and then it was done. We were chasing and did too much chasing.”

On Saturday, as has been a theme this season, Notre Dame played much better.

Sophomore forward Andrew Oglevie got the Irish off on the right foot by scoring off a rebound in the closing minute of the first period. After falling behind 3-0 the previous night, Jackson said he thought getting off to a good start was the key for the Irish on Saturday.

“The first goal is really important in any hockey game, and something we have had a difficult time doing,” Jackson said. “We tried to put a little more emphasis on it. We’ve been a pretty good secondperiod team and a good third-period team, so it is important to get off to better starts and not put ourselves in a hole.”

Junior forward Jake Evans provided the main offensive production Saturday, however, as his slapshot in the second period found the back of the net to put the Irish up 2-0, and later he sealed the deal

with an empty-net goal in the third period.

Cal Peterson also provided tremendous effort for Notre Dame on Saturday, as the junior goalkeeper stopped all 22 shots he faced en route to his second shutout of the season and seventh of his career.

Peterson helped stop five UMass power plays by coming up with several big stops in the first and second periods, and Jackson thought it was just the performance his goaltender needed in preparation for the team’s upcoming big games.

“The shutout was good for Cal, because he had a tough night [Friday],” Jackson said.

“Last year, he played the whole season and saved his best for the second half of the year, so I have full confidence he’s going to have a great second half [this season]. But we have one more game here in the first semester to focus on [against Boston College] and he’ll have to focus real well for that one.”

Notre Dame will wrap the first-half of the season when it returns home to host No. 3 Boston College at 7:10 p.m.

Saturday at Compton Family Ice Arena.

and it’s a really fun way to play. We’ve got a good vibe about ourselves right now.”

After Sunday’s win, Notre Dame moved to the top of the NCA A leaderboards in two categories: assist-to-turnover ratio (2.25) and free-throw percentage (85.8 percent).

“Watching us this summer, when we would do some free-throw stuff, I thought we could be really good,” Brey said. “We’re better than we thought. And now, there’s amazing confidence right there. If we miss, I bet the crowd’ll just walk out of the building.”

Notre Dame struggled a bit early — the Irish were locked in a 9-9 game with five minutes played — but soon f lashed its firepower at both ends of the court, embarking on a 19-4 run to blow the game open. That run allowed head coach Mike Brey to get 11 players, 10 of which scored, into the first-half rotation.

“That’s what I love about this group: We’re playing a lot of guys; guys are catching and touching the ball in different places, and you’re still really, really good with the ball,” Brey said.

The Irish lead grew to 21 on three occasions in the first half — the latest one being with 1:31 left — but a 5-0 run by the Aggies (1-7) put the halftime margin at 45-29.

If there were any concerns about the way the Irish finished the first half, though, they alleviated them early in the second half, starting

11

the stanza on a 13-4 run to stretch the lead to 58-33 at the under-16 media timeout.

The lead kept climbing as the half continued, with the final margin (54) being Notre Dame’s biggest advantage.

After fouling out in just 11 minutes of action Tuesday night, Irish junior forward Martinas Geben made another early exit from the game Sunday, leaving with five fouls midway through the second half after 14 minutes played.

“He’s frustrated, and I need to get to him. I talked to him a little bit on the bench, and he’s got to give himself up a little bit. He’s our physical guy,” Brey said. “I don’t want him to back off. Some of them, maybe one or two of them, he didn’t have to chop a guy. But we need him to be physical, and I think we’re gonna have to ride with that because he gives us a presence down there.”

A pair of captains — senior guard Steve Vasturia and junior forward Bonzie Colson — rounded out the Irish contingent in double figures.

In addition to his 10 points, Colson grabbed in 11 rebounds for his fifth consecutive double-double.

Notre Dame returns to action Tuesday night, when it hosts Fort Wayne, who defeated then-No. 3 Indiana last month. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. at Purcell Pavilion.

Contact Alex Carson at acarson1@nd.edu

MICHAEL YU | The Observer

Contact Joe Everett at jeveret4@nd.ed

Irish junior goaltender and captain Cal Petersen watches the puck during Notre Dame’s 3-2 overtime loss to Penn State on Oct. 22.

12

The observer | monday, december 5, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Football

men’s Basketball | ND 107, NoRth Carolina A&T 53

Notre Dame sets program records in win over North Carolina A&T

By ALEX CARSON Assistant Managing Editor

Three players to leave

On most nights, when Irish freshman guard T.J. Gibbs hits a 3-pointer in the final two minutes to give his team a 51-point lead, the bucket would be a bit of an afterthought.

But Sunday night, it helped Notre Dame set a program record, as for the first time ever seven Irish players hit double figures in the same game — this one a 107-53 win over North Carolina A&T, Notre Dame’s largest-ever victory at Purcell Pavilion.

“You’ve got skilled shooters with skilled passers — it’s just fun to watch,” Irish head coach Mike Brey said following the win. “I thought they handled their business.

I guess seven guys in double figures is a record, but you think about how we pass it and a number of different

KATHLEEN DONAHUE | The Observer

In the past week, senior quarterback Malik Zaire, junior receiver Corey Holmes and senior offensive lineman John Montelus have announced their plans to transfer from Notre Dame.

On Wednesday, Zaire was granted his release from the Universit y. According to ESPN, Zaire w ill be free to transfer to any school he w ishes, including those on Notre Dame’s 2017 schedule.

Zaire w ill graduate at the end of this semester, so he w ill be eligible to play immediately in the 2017 season. Zaire’s first career start came in the Music Cit y Bowl in 2014 against LSU, where he won the game’s Most Valuable Player award. In 2015, Zaire won the starting

see M BBALL PAGE 11

Irish senior forward and captain V.J. Beachem looks to escape a baseline trap during Notre Dame’s 10753 win over North Carolina A&T on Sunday at Purcell Pavilion. Beachem had 19 points in the win.

see TRANSFERS PAGE 10

Observer Sports Staff

ND Women’s Basketball | ND 114, Valparaiso 54

ND offense shines in blowout win

By ELIZABETH GREASON Sports Writer

Giving up 26 unanswered points to start a game typically proves difficult to bounce back from. Valparaiso learned this the hard way Sunday, as No. 1 Notre Dame continued its undefeated season by putting away the Crusaders, 114-54.

The Irish (8-0) began the day by recognizing associate head coach and former player Niele Ivey, as she was inducted into the Ring of Honor above the court. Irish head coach Muffet McGraw said she and her team were thrilled that Ivey received the distinction, although the induction made it difficult for the Irish to focus during the first few plays of the game.

“I thought it was an emotional start to the day,” McGraw said. “I’m just so, so proud of Niele and what she’s done for us, and I’m so happy that she was inducted into the Ring of Honor today, but it definitely — I think the emotion, you saw that in the first couple of possessions, but I

thought we settled in.”

However, once that settling in McGraw mentioned began to happen, the Irish did not look back. The Crusaders (44) failed to put a single point on the board until the Irish held a 26-0 lead with just over three minutes left in the first quarter. Valparaiso head coach Tracey Dorow attributed her team’s poor start to Notre Dame’s ability to overpower the Crusaders defensively.

“They came out, just, on a mission, and they put us on our heels early and dominated that whole first half, especially in the first quarter,” Dorow said. “I know they scored more in the second quarter, but a lot of that was just us being on our heels, and they put us there. I give them a lot of credit for their defensive pressure and the way they really attacked us and our young kids, and we didn’t respond to it very well.”

McGraw said she was pleased with her team’s ability to put points on the board see W BBALL PAGE 10

Hockey | UMass 5, ND 4; ND 3, UMass 0

Irish, Minutemen split weekend series

By JOE EVERETT Sports Writer

No. 12 Notre Dame returned to action over the weekend on the road in Amherst, Massachusetts, splitting its series against UMass.

The Irish (8-6-2, 4-3-1 Hockey East) bounced back from a 5-4 loss Friday night to post a 3-0 shutout of the Minutemen (4-8-2, 2-6-1) on Saturday.

After a scoreless first period to kick off the weekend series Friday night, Notre Dame lost control of the game in the second period, surrendering goals to Minutemen senior forward Ray Pigozzi, freshman forward Niko Hildenbrand and senior forward Steven Iacobellis to fall behind 3-0 after two periods of play. Irish head coach Jeff Jackson credited the Minutemen’s effort on the ice for his team’s sluggish start.

“For whatever reason, we were not sharp in the early part of the game,” Jackson said. “Give them credit, too. see HOCKEY PAGE 11

MACKENZI MARINOVICH | The Observer

Irish junior forward Anders Bjork settles the puck and surveys the ice during Notre Dame’s 4-1 loss to UMass Lowell on Nov. 17.