Print Edition for Friday, January 17, 2020 by The Observer

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Volume 54, Issue 63 | friday, january 17, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Project tests South Bend well water SMC department of chemistry and physics leads effort to detect exposure to dangerous metals By MARIROSE OSBORNE News Writer

Although water is one of the most abundant resources in the world, it exists on a wide spectrum of drinkability. Bottled water tends to be the safest option, while river and lake water should be considered non-potable. However, well water falls into a gray area. At times it can be consumed safely, but it can also potentially contain dangerous heavy metals. City water is tested regularly, but testing for well water is completed much less frequently, as it must be done at the homeowner’s expense, according to a flyer distributed by the Saint Mary’s department of

chemistry and physics. This means heavy metals, such as arsenic, can build up in the water, and according to the flyer, “long term exposure can pose a significant health risk.” The water-testing project began about two years ago as a community research study aimed towards educating the public on how to test their well water. “Community research is a little challenging, because the pathway to getting a project is less obvious than with more traditional science research,” Kimberly Cossey, chemistry professor and head of the project, said in an email. Cossey said she began at the local level of community

Walk the Walk Week celebrates MLK Day By RENEE PIERSON News Writer

Notre Dame’s annual Walk the Walk Week, an event week honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day and aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion on campus, will commence Monday. Civil rights leader Diane Nash will deliver the keynote address of Walk the Walk Week’s flagship event, the MLK Celebration Luncheon. The week will also include lectures, discussions and religious services, among other events. Ann Firth, vice president and chief of staff, held a leading role programming the events. “The week commences with a late-night candlelight prayer service in the Main Building Rotunda on the eve of MLK Day, which has become a cherished tradition on our campus,” Firth said in an email. Student body president Elizabeth Boyle emphasized the inaugural event’s intention to unify the campus. “The candlelight prayer service will take place at 11 p.m.,

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beginning in the Main Building where the Notre Dame community will come together, led by campus leaders and Voices of Faith, to join in song and prayer to commemorate the life of Dr. King,” she said in an email. Students can find more information about the prayer service on its Facebook event page. “There are a wide array of events planned for rest of Walk the Walk Week, designed to offer each of us the opportunity to consider how we — both individually and collectively — might take a more active role in making Notre Dame even more welcoming and inclusive,” Firth said in the email. Students and faculty are invited to attend all of the events taking place. “Let’s Talk About Race,” an open conversation about identity, will take place Monday in 7 p.m. Geddes Hall. The Social Concerns Fair, which begins 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Dahnke Ballroom, will allow students to explore a variety of local volunteer see WALK PAGE 3

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engagement. “The first step of any community research is meeting people and networking, so that you know what is needed,” Cossey said in the email. Then, the group had to map out the exact procedure the department would use to test the well water. “The next step was to determine the methods that we would use for the science part of the project,” she said in the email. “I decided to use ICP-OES (an instrument used to test water samples), which [test] not only arsenic but also other heavy metals, even in low concentrations. Thus, we could test for multiple potential contaminants

at once, and give residents the results.” Cossey and a student collaborator, senior chemistry major Katelyn Long, have begun a pilot study where students will be able to test and send in the results from their water. This process is fairly simple, Cossey said. “We give residents a kit that has water bottles, and instructions on how to collect their water,” she said in the email. “They run the tap for a few minutes, and then collect the water into the water bottle. Residents can test multiple locations in their home, as water is not the same from every tap (due to things like water softeners, RO

[reverse-osmosis] filters, etc.)” Next, Cossey will test the water with Long. “They bring the samples back to Saint Mary’s, and we treat the samples with chemicals,” she said in the email. “This is necessary for testing, and also makes sure that the samples stay ‘useable’ until we can test them.” The next steps for the project involve collecting, calibrating and distributing data from the project. “The primary goal is to decrease health risks in the community by letting people know what’s in their drinking water,” Cossey said in the email. “We don’t want anyone to be see WELL PAGE 4

Professor explains iconic Hesburgh-King photo

University President Emeritus Fr. Theodore Hesburgh links arms with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as they sing “We Shall Overcome” during the 1964 Illinois Rally for Civil Rights at Soldier Field in Chicago. By TOM NAATZ Notre Dame News Editor

In June 1964, University President Emeritus Fr. Theodore Hesburgh was sitting at his desk when he received a phone call. The civil rights movement was in full swing, and the Catholic priest’s services were needed at a rally in Chicago. According to a report from Notre Dame Magazine, then-Chicago mayor Richard Daley and a series of officials from the Catholic Church had all declined to attend. “Hesburgh received a call at his

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office in the Main Building that he was needed to speak at the civil rights rally in Chicago,” Robert Schmuhl, an American Studies professor who has written a book about Hesburgh, said in an email. “Without hesitating, he decided to go, and his only question was to ask what time he had to arrive to participate.” On June 21, 1964, Hesburgh took the stage at the Illinois Rally for Civil Rights at Chicago’s Soldier Field, according to a Notre Dame Archives webpage on Hesburgh’s life. Per the webpage, anywhere between 57,000

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and 75,000 people attended the event. The rally took place at a tense moment in the civil rights movement: the same day the rally took place, three young activists were murdered in Mississippi while participating in “Freedom Summer,” an effort to register African American voters, according to the archives. While at the rally, Hesburgh joined hands with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was also present at the rally. The result was the now-instantly recognizable see MLK PAGE 4

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Corrections Thursday’s senate article incorrectly identified Quentin Colo as the Club Coordination Council’s Special Interest Division chair. Colo is the Off Campus Council senator, not the Special Interest Division chair. The Observer regrets this error.

HANNAH HUELSKAMP | The Observer

Members of the University of Notre Dame Bagpipe Band practice their music set for an upcoming performance. Founded in 1988, the band is celebrating its 32-year anniversary. Pipers in the band include students from Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross.

The next Five days:

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Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Lecture: “Basics of Privacy” Andrews Auditorium 10:40 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. First in seven-lecture series.

Cardio Strength Interval Smith Center Activity Studio 2 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Free to all students.

Basilica Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 10 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. All are welcome to attend.

MLK Luncheon Joyce Center 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Featuring keynote speaker Diane Nash. Free ticketed event.

Workshop: “Crafting a Strong Grant Proposal” 104 Bond Hall 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. All students welcome.

Exhibition: “New Faces” The AAHD Gallery all day Featuring work by first year MFA students.

Fitness Class: “Zumba” Smith Center Activity Studio 3 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. All students welcome.

Candlelight Prayer Service Main Building 11 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. Commemorates life of Martin Luther King Jr.

Lecture: “Let’s Talk About Race” Geddes Hall 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

Social Concerns Fair Dahnke Ballroom 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Meet local social service organizations in South Bend.

News

ndsmcobserver.com | friday, january 17, 2020 | The Observer

Athletes wear green in support of Green Dot By HANNAH THOMAS News Writer

The Belles Against Violence Office (BAVO) will offer an opportunity for students to learn about Green Dot at the Saint Mary’s basketball game against Hope College on Jan.18 at 3 p.m. in the Angela Athletic and Wellness Complex. BAVO offers a variety of resources for Saint Mary’s students, including violence prevention training and counseling services. This upcoming event will focus on the Green Dot program, which

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opportunities. A panel discussion Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Carey Auditorium will invite speakers from Notre Dame and South Bend to discuss reparation and reconciliation. A comprehensive list of events can be found on Walk the Walk Week’s website. The MLK Celebration Luncheon will take place Monday at 11:30 a.m. in the Joyce Center. Nash, a renowned civil rights leader, will

educates students about bystander intervention. The program’s message of violence prevention is what sports information director Sarah Miesle said inspired her to become a certified Green Dot instructor in 2017. “The message of Green Dot is just trying to make our community and our surroundings a safer, better place to be in — to be good members of those communities.” Miesle said. “It’s a bystander intervention training. … It teaches you that you always have some kind of opportunity to help people.” The Green Dot program will

be advertised throughout the upcoming basketball game as players on both teams will have green incorporated in their uniforms. An information table with a raffle will also be set up in gymnasium. Any of the supporters attending the game can visit the Green Dot table for more information about the program. “We’ll share just a little blurb about what Green Dot is as a bystander intervention program, and give them attainable ways to intervene in potentially violent situations,” BAVO coordinator Liz Coulston said. “Along with that,

we do have a drawing at our table for this really cute Saint Mary’s bag.” This is an opportunity for students, parents, faculty and community members to engage with Green Dot Coulston said. “The goal is to just have conversations with people [so] that they understand what [Green Dot] is,” Coulston said. “… We really believe in teaching our student athletes and students as a whole about the resources they have and things that they can learn.” Students can also learn more about ways to get involved with

BAVO and how to spread their message through email updates and BAVO’s Instagram page, Miesle said. Game attendees are encouraged to wear green in support of Green Dot. “We know how great of a campus community we have,” Miesle said. “And it’s [because of] the strength of the students, it’s the strength of the faculty and staff showing up and being supportive [of] one another.”

be the event’s keynote speaker. “This year’s luncheon conversation will be very special, as Nash is a historic figure who took great risks and worked tirelessly to advance the cause of justice and equality in our nation,” Firth said in the email. Nash has long been a leading figure in the civil rights movement, Firth said. “[Nash] became active in the civil rights movement while she was a student at Fisk University in Nashville,” Firth said. “By the time she was 22, she was part of the Freedom Riders and had co-founded

the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Nash worked closely with Dr. King and played a pivotal role in the Selma Voting Rights Movement.” Campus leaders anticipate attendance at these events will help foster a spirit of inclusivity in each individual, Boyle said. “If we are to truly consider ourselves an inclusive, diverse and Catholic community then it is imperative that we show up for the events during Walk the Walk week — and especially beyond this week,” Boyle

said in the email. “I hope that each community member engages with at least two of the events during the week, whether that be the prayer service, luncheon, ‘Let’s Talk About Race’ series, a Mass or a lecture or even in a more informal way by having a deep conversation about inclusivity and what it means to be a member of the Notre Dame community with a friend, professor or roommate.” Firth said Notre Dame’s commitment to building a more diverse campus community is at the root of Walk the

Walk Week. “Fr. Jenkins has articulated core principles for the University with regard to diversity and inclusion: respecting the dignity of every person, building a Notre Dame community where all flourish and living in solidarity with all — particularly the most vulnerable, both here on campus and beyond,” Firth said. “Attending events during Walk the Walk Week is, of course, just one way to do this.”

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MLK Continued from page 1

photo of Notre Dame’s president singing while standing arm-inarm with King. According to Notre Dame Magazine, the figures were singing “We Shall Overcome” when the photographer snapped the picture. Hesburgh was no stranger to the civil rights movement — he was a longtime member of the federal government’s Civil Rights Commission, ultimately serving on the commission under four different presidential administrations. “Hesburgh was one of the original members of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission that was

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drinking water with arsenic or lead on a regular basis without realizing it.” The project also seeks to discover local problem areas that may have issues, she said. “We are also looking for patterns in location and time,” Cossey said. “After testing one location found to have arsenic for several months, we have found that the amount of arsenic varies. … By mapping the places where high levels are found, we can identify neighborhoods that may need more immediate testing.

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established by President Dwight Eisenhower,” Schmuhl said. “He also served on the commission during the Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon administrations.” While the photo is well-known today, it did not become famous until well after it was taken. Schmuhl said, to his knowledge, it is unknown who took the photo. Hesburgh himself was unaware the image even existed until years after the fact. “[Hesburgh] was presented with the photo after a lecture he delivered at Emory University in Atlanta,” Schmuhl said. “Previous to that, he was unaware of the picture.” Contact Tom Naatz at tnaatz@nd.edu

This way those residents can know if they should be concerned.” Contact Marirose Osborne at mosborne01@saintmarys.edu Paid Advertisement

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By ELIZABETH GREGORY Scene Writer

Karen Russell is an outstanding force in the modern literary scene. After spending undergraduate years at Northwestern, Russell received her MFA at Columbia University. Swamplandia!, her 2011 debut novel, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. In the years after this impressive debut, she received both a MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellowship. In May of 2019, Russell released a collection of short stories titled “Orange World and Other Stories.” The eight stories inside its neon orange book covers brim with wit, with outlandish delight, with fury and with intention. The high-brow nature of these accomplishments may induce images of a distant, elitist and exclusive version of literature for the world of academia. Russell’s work deviates from this expectation with its smashingly vivid images, its inventive narratives and poignant emotions. The works dive into the sea of magical realism, with an oxygen tank of comedy. They tell accessible stories unlike any that came before. In a world saturated with media, this ability to create something truly unique and outlandish seems rare and close to enchantment. To describe the stories in summary is to do them injustice. In any form, they unfold like a stroll through a fever dream landscape. When I try to explain the collection to

By MATTHEW KELLENBERG Scene Writer

Music critics tend to disagree. However, when they do so, they tend to agree on why: Music taste is subjective. That is, when it comes to judging music, we are individual subjects making independent judgments. I disagree. To a certain extent, our judgments of music are determined by the cultures in which we live and our social identities within those cultures. I, for example, am a white man living in the United States. And though I do not listen to the same music as every white American male (thank goodness), certain songs do appeal to me on the basis of that social identity. If an artist were to write a song for an intended audience of white American males, and if I could not help but like that song because of my social identity, that song would be objectively good. There would be no subjective division within the intended audience, who would all enjoy the song by virtue of being white American males. Furthermore, those outside the intended audience would be invalid subjects, and their criticisms would bear no weight. For an example of a song comprising objectively good elements, one can turn to Bruce Springsteen’s hit 1975 song “Born to Run.” The song’s lyrics and production have an immediate and inescapable appeal for Springsteen’s

friends or passing strangers, their faces contort in confusion or a tentative chuckle possesses them. Remembering the book is to see flashing visions of a woman inhabited by the spirit of a Joshua Tree after an unfortunate prick in “The Bad Graft,” two young girls wandering unexpectedly into a haunted ski lodge while trying to find riches out West in “The Prospectors” and a young girl, compared to the birds of Chernobyl, living in a post apocalyptic, sunken “New Florida” using echolocation to navigate a new existence in “The Gondoliers.” These wild stories capture attention with their promise of newness, but maintain it by offering insight that feels, at times, unexpectedly raw. In “The Gondoliers,” the echolocation-using sisters in the apocalyptic world rely on each other to live. They are intrinsically entangled and fatefully dependent. The story centers around a journey to a forbidden section of the ruins. In this landscape, the primary character is able to silence the ever-present noise and find true solitude, where neither she nor her sisters exist. Each journey to this “Dead Zone” is followed by crushing guilt for endangering the family and herself and for the inherent selfishness. On the night of the story, she ends up finding one of her sisters, journeying toward what she believed to be her secret pleasure, the “Dead Zone”. This embodiment of the consumptive, universal desire to simultaneously become and lose oneself sinks in immediately. Much of the captivation of this collection

lies in its ability to tell about many overwhelming feelings or sensations through an equally powerful, disarming story. In “Orange World,” the titular story, a new mother compulsively breastfeeds a capybara-like devil after making an odd deal. The story analyzes motherhood and ends the collection with a moment of warmth. From its strange start, a woman meeting a tiny devil creature at a sewer drain, a beautiful end arises, brimming with love and unassailable goodness. This twisting style fails to be contained, fails to disappoint and fails to accept the deconstruction of artistic innovation. Russell’s words are still prickling in my head like Joshua tree spindles. Sharing this possession seems like the best way to terminate the deal I made when I tumbled into that neon orange world.

intended audience: Americans. As an American, one cannot help but appreciate the elements at play in “Born to Run”; as someone from a foreign country, on the other hand, that appeal might be tenuous. “’Cause tramps like us,” Springsteen belts out in the song’s chorus, “baby we were born to run.” His lyrics evoke the American mythology of the open road: automobile advertisements, cowboys riding west into the sunset, Walt Whitman’s “Song of the Open Road.” The belief that prosperity lies at the end of the open road spurs American Dream. Springsteen seeks to uplift in “Born to Run”; appealing to this beloved pillar of American identity, he does just that. Yet, to listeners outside Springsteen’s audience, the lyrics on “Born to Run” would not have the same effect. The implicit appeal to the American Dream would not be clear, and the uplifting impact of this appeal would not be immediately felt. Appreciation of Springsteen’s lyrics is determined by culture. Building upon Springsteen’s romantic lyrics about the open road, the reverberant production on “Born to Run” makes the song a moving spiritual experience. Reverberant indoor spaces are a classic setting for religious music in the United States; by association, reverberation has come to evoke a spiritual aura for American listeners. In the production on “Born to Run,” Springsteen’s guitar chords blend together like organ notes bouncing against stone church walls, giving spiritual weight to quasi-religious

lyrics such as “we’ll walk in the sun” and “I wanna die with you… in an everlasting kiss.” Yet, to listeners outside Springsteen’s intended audience, the production on “Born to Run” fails to evoke spirituality. As with Springsteen’s lyrics, the production on “Born to Run” inherently appeals to the song’s intended audience, but its impact may be lost on outside listeners. Here, the skeptical reader might bring up an example of an American who does not like “Born to Run,” and it is true that not every American likes “Born to Run.” Yet, this does not undermine the argument that a song can be objectively good. First, “Americans” is merely an approximation of Bruce Springsteen’s intended audience. “Born to Run” is neither limited to Americans nor includes all Americans. Second, even if “Born to Run” is not objectively good in its entirety, the song nevertheless does have objectively good elements (e.g., the lyrics of the chorus). In having objectively good elements, “Born to Run” therefore points to the possibility of an objectively good song. The conclusion that an objectively good song could exist (even if one does not actually exist) undermines the theory that music taste is entirely subjective. One’s judgments of music are not entirely self-determined; these judgments can be determined by the culture in which one lives and one’s social identity within that culture.

Contact Elizabeth at egregor4@nd.edu

“Orange World and Other Stories” Author: Karen Russell Genre: Magical Realism If you like: Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Kelly Link

Contact Matthew Kellenberg at mkellenb@nd.edu DIANE PARK | The Observer

The observer | friday, January 17, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

Icebreakers, do better Maria Leontaras Assistant Managing Editor

‘Tis the seasons of trials, tribulations and icebreakers. Not much can be done to improve your trials or tribulations, but if there’s one thing we can do, it’s improve the first day of class by improv ing the qualit y of classroom introductions. I have some suggestions. (I know what you’re thinking: “Maria, why are you w riting this? Students have no control over what icebreakers they’re forced to participate in!” Don’t worr y, dear reader. I know. This column is for professors. If your classes have already begun, I’m sorr y this wasn’t out sooner. Please take notes for upcoming semesters. There may be a quiz on this sometime soon … who’s to say?) Don’t get me w rong. It’s great to hear someone’s name, major and fun fact, but we can do better. After all, we live in a societ y. Read on for my upgrade suggestions — yes, they’re free. Ever yone takes the same Buzzfeed quiz and shares their results. The best way to get to know someone is to discover what emoji mashup they are, obv iously. This w ill definitely set you apart as a professor, and ever yone w ill care way more about your class. Discuss some boy bands. Ever yone has a favorite. Don’t lie. Plus, you’ll find out which of your students had a One Direction phase. This is an indicator of who w ill be the best and the most deser ving of an A. Guess your neighbor’s name. Don’t think too deeply about this one. Ever yone’s name is either Michael or Grace. Your mental seating chart w ill be set. Next. Share a favorite pop culture moment. An example? Fergie singing and doing cartwheels. You know what I’m talking about. It’s important. This is also a great way to figure out who should be partners for future group work. W hat year was the best for those New Year’s glasses? I must admit, 2020 really brought it in this categor y (ha ha ha, 2020 v ision joke). But really, 2013 had some amazing pairs. The fashion world was forever changed. I don’t think this w ill help any thing in the classroom besides give you the opportunit y to make a bad pun. W hich Cards Against Humanit y white card w ill you always pick? No matter the context, “altar boys” w ill always be the w inning card when I’m the judge. Sorr y, in this case, I do make the rules. This w ill set the stage for some fun classroom discourse and give you a great segue into an interesting-in-theor y class project. W hat’s your favorite Obser ver memor y? There’s nothing better than reminiscing about the everpresent hot takes in the View point section. This option comes w ith a tw ist! W hoever mentions the leggings letter gets to share three fun facts about themselves ! This also comes w ith a teaching moment centering around media literacy. Have fun! W hat would your presidential pet be? I’m sure most people would say dogs, but this would be a nice break for students who have had to think of fun facts their whole lives. W ho knows? You may find someone who steps outside of the box and says a cat or something. So many avenues here. Finally, what’s your favorite tweet from @mleontaras? This section ser ves no purpose other than promoting my Tw itter. Make of that what you w ill. I hope this column prov ided some inspiration to spice up your first week of classes or club meetings or any thing you may need an icebreaker for. We’re always thinking of ways to better the collegiate experience here at The Obser ver. Until next time. Contact Maria at mleontaras01@saintmarys.edu The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Celebrating 100 years of women’s suffrage at Notre Dame Our school is named after Our Lady, but it is still incredibly male-dominated. The year 2020 marks 100 years of women’s suffrage in the United States, which is an important milestone. But we have a long way to go to achieve equality, even at Notre Dame. Tr y counting the statues of women on campus. Now subtract the ones of the Virgin Mar y. As a law student, I’ve seen this male focus in the numerous all-male panels, in the ratio of male to female professors, in the fact that the Law School didn’t tenure its first black female professor until 2019. As one of my classmates astutely pointed out, Notre Dame is an all-boys school that girls are allowed to attend, even in 2020. And we can’t place the blame solely at the feet of our school. Just look at the Church that guides us, a Church that still refuses to allow women into the diaconate even in the face of mounting evidence that there were female deacons and possibly even priests and bishops in ancient times. In an article in Notre Dame Magazine in 2018 titled “Unheard Of,” Professor Mar y Katherine Tillman eloquently explained this culture of exclusion could be remedied without “major doctrinal or ecclesiastical issues.” Yet women are still excluded. The Catholic Church is a men’s institution where women can worship, even in 2020. And we can’t even place all the blame on them. Look at our countr y as a whole. There are more Fortune 500 CEOs named James than Fortune 500 CEOs that are female. Women still only made 79 cents on the dollar for what men made in 2019. We still haven’t elected a female president or even vice president. We live in a male-dominated society where women are allowed to ex ist, even in 2020. As early as the 1770s, Abigail Adams was urging her husband to “remember the ladies.” Take one look at the Constitution, and it’s pretty easy to see he did not. A centur y later, in 1872, Victoria Woodhull ran for president of the United States. Did you know that? Probably not, because our culture still struggles to remember the ladies.

Even in 1920, the 19th Amendment was not a foregone conclusion. The amendment needed to be ratified by 36 states. It made it through 35, but when it got to Tennessee, what would be the final state, it was unclear whether it would get enough votes. It breezed through the Senate, but then stalled in the House. Pro and anti-suffrage advocates descended on the state. Those for suffrage wore yellow roses, those against wore red. On the day of the vote, Harr y Burn, the man who cast the final vote for ratification, did so while still wearing a red-rose that signaled anti-suffrage sentiments, but also while clutching a note from his mother. Her note read, in part, “Hurrah, and vote for suffrage ! ... Be a good boy and help Mrs. Catt put the ‘rat’ in ratification.” Harr y Burn remembered the ladies. We can’t forget 1920 was not that long ago. Notre Dame had already been around for 78 years. But the University wouldn’t even admit its first female class until 1972. That class was a lot like those first female voters. They paved the way for generations of women to walk through the doors of Notre Dame and then leave at graduation to make the world a better place. Like those first female voters who exercised their rights at the ballot box, the first class of Domer women was comprised of pioneers and change-makers. To celebrate 100 years of women’s suffrage, discuss how far we’ve come and how far we’ve yet to go, the American Constitution Society at the Law School has brought in a museum ex hibit from the American Bar Association and the Librar y of Congress. These banners are on display in the Notre Dame Law Librar y South Reading Room through Jan. 27. ACS is also hosting a week of change-makers events open to the Notre Dame community this week. You can find more information on our Facebook page. Allison Lantero second-year law student president, American Constitution Society of Notre Dame Jan. 16

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The observer | friday, January 17, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Flags shouldn’t fly forever: Vacate the Houston Astros’ World Series title Patrick McKelvey With the Current

In 2016, the Chicago Cubs traded top prospect Gleyber Torres for a half-season rental of New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman. It was a difficult decision for some — Torres was poised to be one of the greatest infielders in the game, and he was just 19 years old. W hile Chapman was indeed baseball’s best closer, he was unlikely to re-sign with the Cubs. Most would say it was worth it. The Cubs won the 2016 World Series, their first in 108 years. They lost Torres to the Yankees, yes, but it is unlikely they would have won the championship without Chapman’s stellar late-game performances. And no matter how good of a career Torres has, the Cubs will always have that title. No one can take 2016 away from them. “Flags f ly forever,” says one of the oldest baseball a x ioms. But maybe they shouldn’t. Since November, Major League Baseball has been embroiled in a massive scandal involving the 2017 World Series champion Houston Astros. Former pitcher Mike Fiers confessed that the team had used illegal sign-stealing methods throughout the season and postseason (signs being the signals pitchers and catchers use to communicate to one another). On Monday, the MLB’s Department of Investigation released its findings: the Astros had “a video room technician install a monitor displaying the center field camera feed immediately outside of the Astros’ dugout … One or more players watched the live feed of the center field camera on the monitor, and after decoding the sign, a player would bang a nearby trash can with a bat to communicate the upcoming pitch ty pe to the batter.” It seems the scheme worked well: Not

only did the team win the World Series (their first in franchise histor y), but they won over 100 regular-season games. They had the highest-scoring offense in the Major League, as well as the highest batting average and on-base percentage. The same day the report came out, Commissioner Rob Manfred announced his punishment: The Astros’ manager, AJ Hinch, and their General Manager, Jeff Luhnow, were suspended from Major League Baseball for the 2020 season. Houston fired Hinch and Luhnow soon after the release of the report. The team was fined $5 million and must forfeit their first and second-round 2020 draft picks. Some think the punishment is fair. I certainly don’t. For one thing, not a single player was punished, though the report admits that “most of the position players on the 2017 team either received sign information from the banging scheme or participated in the scheme by helping to decode signs or bang on the trash can” and that “many of the players who were inter viewed admitted that they knew the scheme was wrong because it crossed the line from what the player believed was fair competition and/or violated MLB rules.” The team knew — star players deliberately violated the rules of Major League Baseball to gain a competitive advantage. They ignored the integrity of the game. To allow them to get off totally free states that this behavior is acceptable to the MLB. Pete Rose, baseball’s all-time hit leader, received a permanent ban for gambling on baseball, even though he never bet against his own team. It seems the crimes of these Astros players are far worse — and should then merit a punishment equal to Rose’s. But the issue is far more important than punishment for players. In the weeks leading up to Commissioner Manfred’s report, baseball fans

debated what the franchise’s punishment would be. Some, including myself, thought the only logical punishment was to vacate Houston’s World Series title. Of course, that did not happen. The Houston Astros effectively paid a GM, a field manager, three draft picks and $5 million dollars to win a World Series — I think it would be hard to find a team that would say that isn’t worth it. And it seems some of them did. The Boston Red Sox and their 2018 World Series Championship are under investigation by the MLB for use of similar tactics. Their manager A lex Cora ser ved as Houston’s bench coach for the 2017 season before moving to Boston. The Red Sox fired Cora on Jan. 14. If Houston’s (and, potentially, Boston’s) title is not vacated, there is little harm in cheating. A World Series title can be stolen for nothing more than a slap on the wrist. You’ll lose your manager and find one who can do the job just as well, and your star players will still be able to play in all 162 games. If Houston’s title is not vacated, the integrity of the game is compromised to a degree not seen since the 1919 “Black Sox” scandal. If Manfred and Major League Baseball are serious about preventing cheating and protecting baseball, they would not allow Houston to maintain their status as champions. Flags are supposed to f ly forever. But the 2017 f lag shouldn’t f ly at all. Patrick McKelvey splits his time between being a college senior and pretending to be a screenwriter. He majors in American Studies and classics, and will be working in market research in New York after graduating. If you can’t find him at the movies, he can be reached for comment at pmckelve@nd.edu or @PatKelves17 on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Letter to the editor

Students, demand divestment from fossil fuels Here at the University of Vermont, students again are calling on the Board of Trustees to divest from fossil fuels. It will not be the first time, but it will be the first time since the earth had warmed more than two degrees Fahrenheit. There is hope that the board’s eyes are now open. Notre Dame is on a similar cycle of considering divestment. In addition to the two-degree warming, the rising of seas, the fires, the extreme weather and the food insecurity that

accompanies these changes, Notre Dame’s mission means it must also consider the outsized impact of climate change on the world’s poor and the call of Pope Francis to address climate change. Divestment will hasten climate action. Because fossil fuel stocks are losing relative value, there is little financial risk. Although, some risk undeniably still exists. Is Notre Dame willing to take a very small financial hit to take the correct moral action? Is Notre Dame willing to be an

ethical leader on the right side of history? It is not some alumna’s Letter to the Editor or call to the board or to anyone else that will lead to action. It is the strategic, concerted effort of students whose demands will be heard. Act fast, students, and peace be with you.

Julianna White class of 1991 Dec. 11

DAILY

The observer | friday, january 17, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | JOE KROZEL

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Use your imagination, and it will make it easier to expand your ideas and make a go of your plans. Be the one to take the lead; line up the people you feel have the most to offer, and turn your life into the masterpiece you envision. Make this year about development, self-awareness and discovering what brings you greater joy. Your numbers are 5, 17, 23, 27, 32, 35, 49. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Pay attention to detail. Work alone to avoid interference. High energy and concentration will help you complete what you start. Stick to your game plan, even if someone tries to convince you to expand. Play safe and by the rules. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take precautions when dealing with unfamiliar people. Refuse to let anyone talk you into something you don’t want to do. Attending a seminar or trade show will be informative. Use your brain to get what you want. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Maintain control. Discuss your ideas with someone influential. A financial investment you make will not be a safe bet. Listen and learn, but don’t make a promise you’ll regret. Spend more time on self-improvement and less trying to change someone. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Look for an opportunity to work or travel with someone you like to be around. Refuse to let an emotional matter ruin your day. Don’t let what someone does upset you. If you aren’t happy with a deal, back away. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Do something entertaining. Your upbeat attitude will attract attention, giving you the platform you need to persuade others to get involved in something you plan to do. Speak up, listen to the feedback offered and set your plans in motion. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Use the information you retrieve in conversations to your benefit. A good friend will offer a new perspective regarding your lifestyle and how best to improve your current situation. Romance is on the rise and will enhance your personal life. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Emotional instability will surface if you try to make changes that someone opposes. If your family isn’t agreeable, take off and enjoy the company of a friend or neighbor. Don’t risk physical injury or ill health. Take better care of yourself. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t let a minor mishap or delay get the better of you. Work overtime if you have to, but don’t give up. A unique idea will help you fix whatever problem you face. Romance is on the rise. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Choose a path that leads to greater happiness. A change to the way you look or how you live will boost your ego. Involvement with an international organization, government agency or institution will lead to a change of plans. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Do what works best for you. Look at what you can do without, and minimalize your plans to fit your budget. Remaining within your emotional, financial and legal comfort zone will ease stress. No muss, no fuss. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Look before you leap. Be cautious when participating in physical challenges. Protect against injury and arguments. Concentrate on budgeting your finances and organizing essential papers. A meaningful partnership will improve if you make suggestions and are willing to compromise. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):You’ll gain leverage if you take care of unfinished business. The better prepared you are, the easier it will be to convince others to see things your way. Don’t let someone’s bad mood ruin your day. Personal improvements look promising. Birthday Baby: You are responsive, focused and relentless. You are brave and strategic.

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

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SPORTS

ndsmcobserver.com | friday, january 17, 2020 | The Observer

Hockey

Sports Authority

Interhall athletes need to chill out Hayden Adams Associate Sports Editor

Humans are competitive by nature. It’s a natural instinct. We’ve evolved to compete for resources, for mates and in sports. The problem: sometimes that primal urge to compete w ith ever y ounce of our beings f loods the sporting arena and can lead to unnecessar y conf lict. As Vision (played by Paul Bettany) said in “Captain America: Civ il War”: “Our ver y strength inv ites challenge; challenge incites conf lict; and conf lict … breeds catastrophe.” To be fair, while Siegfried is somehow stacked in ever y interhall sport, they aren’t putting the Avengers out there. Even so, the point still stands that excessive challenge can lead to bad things, and that’s what I have w itnessed in Notre Dame RecSports. Vision goes on to say, “Oversight. Oversight is not an idea that can be dismissed out of hand.” That’s where I come in as a referee. I am employed by RecSports as an official, and I have seen some things. These aren’t the kinds of things that give one PTSD, but they do still f lood my memor y and make me think about how stupidly serious people take interhall and co-rec basketball. That said, here’s my lecture on why ever yone needs to take a chill pill. First of all, I’ll add a (slight) caveat. If you’re play ing in the interhall A league, I’ll give you somewhat of a pass. The A league is defined by what it is made up of, which is a bunch of good-to-great basketball players. Because of that, the competition is of higher qualit y, so they all get somewhat of a pass on how seriously they take the competition. But again, when it comes to interhall sports, you can only give it so much weight. But I digress … The body of my argument is about B league interhall basketball and co-rec basketball, because that’s where I’ve w itnessed the worst of this. My sweet Lord ! (Shout out George Harrison.) W hat is w rong w ith you people? To be fair, I have taken games way to seriously before, both at the junior varsit y level in high school and in B league as a freshman. I’m not ashamed to admit that I cursed at an opposing

player because I got way too heated during a game. But I’ve learned a valuable lesson: It doesn’t matter! It’s the same reason my dad and I can’t stand these damn replay rev iews in college basketball. I’m not the same stick ler about it as he is, but I agree w ith his sentiment: there are things way more important than a basketball game. So going to the monitor to be anal about an errant elbow that’s just an incidental part of battling for post position, or looking for whether or not the ball barely scraped off the microscopic tip of a finger before going out of bounds, is just unnecessar y. But I digress again … I know this sounds like a lecture (and it basically is), but interhall basketball is not the end of the world. It’s just not. So when I’m officiating a game, and you get riled up at me for calling an intentional foul as you commit a clear path foul by w rapping up the guy by throw ing your arm toward his neck area (though it was admittedly quick w ith no ill intent); or you get pissed when you’re up by 23 w ith four minutes left and I don’t see the opponent tip the ball out of bounds and give it to them; or when you’re on the bench and say “Shut the f— up” after I ask you to step off the court, just think about what’s far more important. Think of the children star v ing in Africa. Think about the millions of people homeless worldw ide. “There are more things in heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy,” Hamlet’s ghost says in Shakespeare’s classic. It’s fun to get a little cock y and fire up your home fans or to taunt the opposing student section on the road. But that doesn’t really apply in the North Dome of the JACC, does it now? I understand complaining to the referee about a bad call, and believe me, I have made plent y of bad calls. But before you let your emotions get the better of you, take a deep breath, look around and make sure I’m not the referee you’re about to f lip out at, ’cause I’ll throw your butt out in a heartbeat. Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Continued from page 12

State Spartans in East Lansing. This loss would be the start of a six-game losing streak. Notre Dame got back on track w ith a w in against then-No. 7 Penn State and were able to record a w in on the road against No. 17-ranked Western Michigan, but this was only after the Broncos forced a tie in Compton Family Ice Arena t wo days earlier. Jackson spoke on his team’s mid-season slump in a post practice press conference Wednesday. “We had a stretch there [where] we were doing really well,” Jackson said. “More recently, we’ve been a little bit def lated, I think, and that is just an emotional thing and a confidence thing. W hen the opposing team gets the lead in the third period, it’s about hav ing that abilit y to come back. We were doing it really well in the first half of the year, but our confidence has taken a hit. So it is easier for them to when they score late in the game, or even in the second period sometimes — I feel like our team has a big ex hale of gas coming out of us.” The Irish schedule w ill not get much easier in the second half of the season, as they w ill face off against Wisconsin for a second time after their contest against the Buckeyes, then they w ill head to Universit y Park the next weekend for a

Track&Field Continued from page 12

at least, came back healthy,” Sparks said. “There’s always a concern of who slipped on the ice or didn’t get a chance to train. Thankfully the winter wasn’t too rough, so they were still able to get out and do what they wanted to do for the most part, wherever they were throughout the United States.” Although a lot of top athletes will be competing for the Irish, Sparks said the distance squads and many of the elite throwers, including junior Rachel Tanczos who broke a school record at a meet in December, will be training through the meet. Despite not being able to watch some of his top athletes compete, Sparks said he is excited to see the young talent of the team. “It’s another chance for the young, developing athletes to get a competition in before we

series against No. 6-ranked Penn State. Then they w ill play host to Minnesota, closing out their regular season against t wo opponents based to the north of South Bend: Michigan and Michigan State. Coach Jackson said the key for his team the remainder of the season is to maintain their course. “We just have to stay the course just keep emphasizing the things that we have done really since the start of the second half [of the season],” Jackson said. “Some of those things — the positive things — are show ing up on film, but it’s just not consistently enough. … We

have to tr y to generate more off of the rush. We have to get people to the net off the rush. I think our cycle and our offensive zone play has been okay, and our faceoffs in the end zone have been okay. It is just a matter of us capitalizing when we get those two-on-ones or those three-on-t wo rush situations.” The puck w ill drop for the first game of the series Friday at Value Cit y Arena in Columbus, Ohio at 6 p.m. The series w ill conclude Saturday w ith a schedule for a 5 p.m. drop. Contact Jimmy Ward at wward@hcc-nd.edu

Allison Thornton | The Observer

Irish junior forward Pierce Crawford chases a puck during Notre Dame’s 3-2 overtime victory over Ohio State on Nov. 8 at home.

get to the more competitive meets later in the year,” Sparks said. One of the young athletes Sparks is excited to watch is sophomore pole vaulter Colton Crum, who was all-conference in the indoor season last year but decided to redshirt during the outdoor season. “He had a good winter of training, and I know he’s looking forward to get out and compete against someone else, as he has been practicing and competing with his teammates for the last nine months since he competed in indoor track last season,” Sparks said. “He’s one we expect to make a big impression on the conference moving forward.” Sparks also said he is excited to see the women hurdlers compete. The hurdlers are led by senior Summer Thorpe, who qualified for the indoor national meet last year. There will mostly be Division II and III schools at the meet, making the Irish the presumptive favorites. Sparks

said the facilities at Grand Valley State and the logistics of the trip are the reasons why the Irish decided to compete in Friday’s meet. “It’s one of the better facilities in the Midwest, and it is what drew us to Grand Valley State. They have a 300-meter track, seating for a couple thousand people and it’s a short day trip. It’s not something we have to miss a lot of classes for either,” Sparks said. Looking ahead, the Irish will meet just about every weekend for the next month and a half. The competition at these meets will slowly get more competitive. Next Saturday, the Irish will host the Notre Dame Invitational featuring conference rival Louisville, Loyola Chicago, Marquette and Illinois State. Sparks said the men’s distance squad will be back in action next week along with half of the women’s distance team. Contact Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu

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JANUARY 19—25

martin luther king jr. day

COMMEMORATION Sunday, January 19

Candlelight Prayer Service 11:00 p.m. | Main Building Monday, January 20

MLK Celebration Luncheon A Conversation with Civil Rights Leader Diane Nash Diane Nash was a Freedom Rider, co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and played a pivotal role in the Selma Voting Rights Movement that ultimately led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

11:30 a.m. | North Dome, Joyce Center Doors open at 10:45 a.m.

• Free but ticketed • Classes are canceled from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Community-Building Lunches 11:30 a.m. | North and South Dining Halls Notre Dame ID required for entry.

Members of the Notre Dame community are invited to gather with friends and colleagues for a complimentary meal between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to continue the day’s conversations.

Visit diversity.nd.edu/mlk for additional Walk the Walk Week events.

#NDwalkthewalk

Sports

W Bball Continued from page 12

for the Irish with only six points on 2-13 shooting from the field and 0-7 from three. Aside from those three, the four other Irish players that saw action against the Blue Devils combined to score seven points on 3-20 shooting. For the Blue Devils, their offensive effort was more balanced. Graduate student guard Haley Gorecki and senior forward Leaonna Odom led the home team in scoring with 13 points apiece, while redshirt freshman guard Mikayla Boykin contributed 10 points in the effort. The Blue Devils outshot the Irish, posting a 36% shooting mark on the night while shooting almost exactly the same percentage from three. Notre Dame entered the matchup on a three-game losing streak and had dropped seven of their last eight contests, including a 34 point defeat at home against No. 9-ranked North Carolina State on Sunday. A three-pointer from Brunelle opened the scoring for the Irish, as they jumped out to an early

ndsmcobserver.com | friday, january 17, 2020 | The Observer

9-2 lead with the help of six early points from Vaughn. Another Brunelle three extended the lead to 14-4, forcing Duke to take an early timeout with five and a half minutes left in the first quarter. After the hot start, the Irish cooled off and neither team scored for the rest of the first quarter thanks to turnovers and sloppy play. The teams traded baskets to start the second quarter, but sophomore forward Danielle Cosgrove made a three pointer and gave the Irish a 21-8 lead. Duke battled back, and closed the deficit thanks to a quick 5-0 run, but Brunelle and Vaughn continued to score and the Irish led 29-20 at haltime. Brunelle drilled another three pointer on Notre Dame’s first possession of the third. The teams went back and forth for most of the period, and two free throws from Walker gave Notre Dame a 12-point edge, but a 9-0 Duke run cut the deficit to just three points. Layups by Vaughn and Walker and a jumper from Brunelle closed out the quarter for the Irish as they led 40-33 going into the final stanza. A Walker reverse layup started the fourth, but Duke answered with back-to back threes and a fast break layup to cut the Irish

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lead to just one point, forcing a visibly upset head coach Muffet McGraw to take a timeout. Brunelle responded with her fourth triple of the game, but Duke drained a pull up jumper for the only basket in a nearly five-minute stretch. Vaughn split a pair of free throws with just under two minutes remaining to put the Irish up three. Following a Duke timeout, Sniezak came up with a steal, but the Irish lost the ball on the other end and the Blue Devils made a fast break layup. On the next possession, Brunelle was stripped and Duke layed it in to take the lead with just over thirty seconds to play. Sophomore guard Katlyn Gilbert then turned the ball over yet again, forcing Notre Dame to foul. Despite their very poor performance from the line — as they finished just 6-17 from the charity stripe — Duke made free throws when they counted most. They split the first pair of free throws, and the Irish had a chance to tie the game, but they lost the ball yet again and Duke made both free throws to close out the game. The Irish will return home to take on the Miami Hurricanes on Sunday. The game will tip off at 1 p.m. at Purcell Pavilion.

Fencing Continued from page 12

Brazil. Kvaratskhelia shared what it means to the Notre Dame program to have athletes still representing them on the national stage. “Lee already punched [her] ticket, but … we are thinking that we can have the most ever Notre Dame athletes qualify. We qualified five for Rio and we had five in London; we think the numbers will be higher than that,” he said. “But Lee truly is the trailblazer for all the American fencers, especially our Notre Dame fencers who are hoping to qualify. But we are hopeful that this will be the Olympics that will have the most representatives as a college, and the most representatives for the history of Notre Dame fencers at the Olympics.” In terms of the current competition for the Irish, it’s made even more difficult by the fact that even more of their top athletes will also be absent in anticipation of the Fencing World Cup. “The problem with this competition is we will also be missing a few of our top athletes from this year’s team going to the World Cup competitions in France,” Kvaratskhelia said. “So we’ll miss a few of our foil fencers who won’t be there. So again, it just puts another obstacle in our way, because they’re competing for the national team spots and will not be able to make it to New York or Philadelphia.” Not only will the Irish be depleted, but their competition this weekend includes no slouches. “They really have to develop the mental game to be tougher and stronger to all the adversity of the competition, because we’ll be facing all the best teams in the country going [this] week,” he said. “The top six out of

seven ranked teams will be on our calendar.” Even so, Kvaratskhelia sees the potential these obstacles hold in allowing the Irish to experiment and gain experience through adversity. “It’s going to be a character test, most importantly — the character builder for the team,” Kvaratskhelia said. “We’ll have our Olympians back next year, and this should give us that springboard to attack the bigger and better goals along the way the next couple of years. So obviously, it will be a great way to enhance the technical and tactical repertoire, but it especially will be important to develop the character of the team while we’re shorthanded and while we’re missing our Olympians and some of the kids will be travelling to the World Cups.” As for the significance these matches play for the Irish over the next couple of months, Kvaratskhelia said he believes it will be a nice gauge to allow them to experiment and adapt to their limitations. “Definitely, [it] will be a great kind of temperature testing where we add in the certain weapons and certain athletes, and what changes do we need to make either way for the entire team — or in terms of weapons concerned, how to alternate the roster to have a better shot to win the ACC championships and the qualifiers and the NCAAs,” he said. “So this will be a great test to see where we are at this point in the season.” No matter the losses, Kvaratskhelia said has faith in his team and is willing to throw anybody out against the competition. “Whatever we have in ammunition, we’re just going to use it all,” he said. Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu

Allison Thornton | The Observer

Irish junior foilist Joseph Marino duals an opponent during Notre Dame’s 7-0 victory at the Decicco Duals on Jan. 27, 2019 at home.

The observer | friday, january 17, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

nd women’s basketball | Duke 50, Notre DAme 47

fencing

Teams to compete Irish lose narrow matchup against Duke on road in pair of meets By HAYDEN ADAMS Associate Sports Editor

The Notre Dame fencing team is set to compete in their second and third meets of the season this weekend. After the Elite Invitational in Philadelphia on Nov. 16, which saw the women’s team post a record of 4-1 and the men post a record of 3-2, the Irish will travel to Jamaica, New York, on Saturday for the St. John’s Invitational and return to Philadelphia on Sunday to compete in the Philadelphia Invitational at the University of Pennsylvania. The story for the Irish this season is the absence of four top athletes — foilists Nick Itkin and Amita Berthier and epeeists Ariel Simmons and Stephen Ewart — who are taking a year off to train to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Head coach Gia Kvaratskhelia talked about the loss of his top competitors, but said it provides an opportunity for others to step up. “We have four athletes [missing]. The maximum we can qualify for the NCAA [championship]s is 12,

and we are missing the four top athletes for the Olympics, so obviously it’s going to put a little bit of a spin on this situation,” Kvaratskhelia said. “But we’re hoping it gives the others an opportunity to rise to the occasion and perform well. And also we’ve done well the last two recruiting classes that came in here. They’re strong enough now, maybe not to replace those Olympians, but [to] give us a boost to be able to be in the mix to compete for the serious, serious results this year.” Aside from the four current Irish athletes competing, one former one has already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. Notre Dame class of 2017 foilist Lee Kiefer, the No. 3-ranked foilist in America whose younger brother Axel was the NCAA runner-up last year for the Irish in men’s foil in his senior season, has qualified for Olympic competition. Lee Kiefer was a fourtime national champion at Notre Dame and has already competed in the 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, see FENCING PAGE 11

Observer Sports Staff

junya kanemitsu | The Observer

Irish sophomore forward Danielle Cosgrove takes a shot during Notre Dame’s 84-60 win over Loyola Maryland on Nov. 8 at home.

see W BBALL PAGE 11

hockey

nd track & Field | GVSU BIll clinger invitational

Notre Dame to travel for first tourney of semester

No. 18 ND to take on No. 9 OSU

By NATE MOLLER

By JIMMY WARD

Sports Writer

Track and field will have their first meet of the new semester Friday at the Bill Clinger Invitational at Grand Valley State University. Head coach Matt Sparks said he is excited to see how his team will perform following a long break from practices. “A big piece that we are looking for here is if the kids can come back and compete at a similar level to before break. And then we can start to make some decisions from there,” Sparks said. “We’ve been practicing for a week now — we didn’t start practicing until they got back from class. And it will be a good barometer of how well winter break training went.” Sparks said the first week of practice has gone well, and he believes the majority of the team was able to train hard over break. “Everyone, for the most part

The No. 18-ranked Notre Dame hockey team will have a chance to bounce back after two home losses to Michigan last weekend as they go on the road Friday to take on conference rival No. 9 Ohio State (14-6-2, 7-4-1 Big Ten) for the second time this season. The Irish (10-9-3, 5-5-2 Big Ten) got the best of the Buckeyes in their last meeting back in November in South Bend. The first game of the series saw an exciting matchup as the Irish overcame a 2-1 deficit when freshman forward Trevor Janicke found the net with just 1:57 remaining, push the game into overtime. The game-winner came off the stick of junior forward Pierce Crawford with just over a minute left in the bonus period, and the game would end with an Irish victory by a score of 3-2. The next day the Irish would come back yet again after the Buckeyes jumped out to an

see TRACK & FIELD PAGE 9

The Notre Dame women’s basketball team (612, 1-5 ACC) travelled to Durham, North Carolina to take on Duke (9-8, 3-3 ACC) Thursday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Despite leading for almost the entiret y of the game, the Irish couldn’t overcome a poor shooting performance and fell to Duke 50-47. The game was sloppy throughout, as each team committed at least 25 turnovers, and Notre Dame shot just 28% from the field. The Irish were led by junior for ward Mikayla Vaughn who scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and freshman for ward Sam Brunelle who scored 16 points but turned the ball over eight times. Graduate student guard Destinee Walker came in third in scoring

ANNA MASON | The Observer

Irish junior Brendan Fraser competes in the 3,000 meter run during the Meyo Invitational on Feb. 2 at Loftus Sports Center.

early lead, and would end up sweeping the weekend, defeating Ohio State 2-1 in the second contest. However, Notre Dame is coming off of a two-game losing streak to fellow Big Ten rival Michigan (9-11-2, 4-7-1 Big Ten) in South Bend nonetheless, on days students were just starting to get back to campus. The Irish see success at the beginning of their season, but have seen some tough loses in the second half of the season. Irish head coach Jeff Jackson said the catalyst to this downhill spiral was their first loss of the season to Wisconsin at Madison in mid-November. The Irish were able to jump back from this loss in the next game of the series with a 5-4 overtime victory, but this winning streak was extinguished quickly as Notre Dame stayed on the road the following weekend and recorded a tie and a loss to the Michigan see HOCKEY PAGE 9