Print Edition of The Observer for Wednesday, January 22, 2020

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Volume 54, Issue 66 | wednesday, january 22, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Jenkins outlines debate details Limited tickets will be available for presidential forum at Notre Dame Observer Staff Report

Only some of the seats in the Purcell Pavilion in the Joyce Center will be reserved for community members at September’s presidential debate, University President Fr. John Jenkins announced in an email late Tuesday night.

Scheduled to take place Sept. 29, the debate will be held in the Purcell Pavilion in the Joyce Center, where “only a portion of the seats in the arena will be available.”

“Although I would like to provide access to every member of the Notre Dame

community, this will not be possible,” Jenkins said in the email.

A “small, and as yet undetermined” number of tickets will be allocated to enrolled Notre Dame students through a lottery system.

Notre Dame Stadium will also host a “special debate watch” for community members not invited to attend.

The Commission on Presidential Debates announced in October that Notre Dame would host the first presidential debate of the 2020 general election campaign. The event

will mark the first time the University has hosted a presidential debate, which Jenkins said should be seen as an opportunity.

“As we prepare for the debate, let us also remember that it will shine a spotlight on our campus,” Jenkins said. “ ... Let us do our best to embody our characteristic Notre Dame hospitality, and to show ourselves to be engaged, thoughtful and civil.”

In the email, Jenkins also announced the “presidential debate and election” will be themes of the 2020 installment of the Notre Dame

ND appoints new dean to College of Engineering Observer Staff Report

Patricia “Trish” J. Culligan, currently the chair of the Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics department at Columbia University, has been named the new dean of the College of Engineering by University President Fr. John Jenkins, Notre Dame announced in a press release Monday.

Culligan will enter her new role Aug. 1.

“Trish is a distinguished

scholar, research engineer and respected academic leader,” Jenkins said in the release. “She brings to Notre Dame a creative cross-disciplinary approach, demonstrated success and a commitment to seek ways in which technological innovation will truly serve humanity. She will be a wonderful addition to our senior leadership team and University community.”

Culligan received her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Leeds

in the United Kingdom. She also attended the University of Cambridge, where she earned a master’s degree in philosophy and a doctorate in engineering, according to the release. While at Columbia, she has received over $20 million in research funding, and has authored seven books, seven book chapters and many more articles and publications, the release said.

“During my visits to the

By ALVIN KRAJA News Writer

The Center for Social Concerns (CSC) hosted its annual Social Concerns Fair at the Dahnke Ballroom from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. At the fair, many non-for-profit organizations and studentrun clubs had the chance to present their activities to students and other visitors.

The fair consisted of clubs

NEWS PAGE 3

SCENE PAGE 5

see DEBATE PAGE 4

Observer Staff Report

A robbery was reported in Zahm House, according to Monday’s University crime Log. The alleged incident occurred on Dec. 8, 2019, between 12:40 and 12:45 p.m. It was reported to police less than two minutes later at 12:47 p.m. on Dec. 8.

The robbery was originally posted to the crime log on Dec. 10.

Klau Center strives to collect race narratives

see NEW DEAN PAGE 3

Fair introduces students to local service groups with different social service aims such as tutoring, health care and service and student government, among others. The representatives of these clubs were mainly students and officials who expressed excitement to share the opportunities available for the students.

One such group was the Friends of St. Joseph County Parks. This group is a notfor-profit organization

Forum, an annual occasion meant to promote discussion about issues the University deems important. The forum features an array of keynote events under a given theme.

“Through these keynote events [in 2020], we hope to invite the campus community to explore the history of presidential debates, offer insights into what to look for in the debates and provide food for thought about the key issues before us as citizens in the upcoming election,” Jenkins said.

NDPD reports theft

which helps preservation of parks’ biodiversity and the organization of outdoor activities in its facilities.

There are four main parks preserved by this organization, but the closest park to Notre Dame is St. Patrick Country Park.

According to the group’s representative, students can participate in a range see FAIR PAGE 4

VIEWPOINT PAGE 6

JOHN SALEM | The Observer

Participants shared how race impacted their lives at the launch event for Klau Center’s “With Voices True” platform in Hesburgh Library.

By JOHN SALEM News Writer

On Tuesday, the Klau Center for Civil and Human Rights held an event in Hesburgh Library to launch “With Voices True,” an online platform designed to collect the stories of numerous Notre Dame students, staff and faculty. The Klau Center for Civil and Human Rights is an institution based out of the Keough School of

ND M Basketball PAGE 12

Global Affairs that focuses on promoting civil rights through academics, research and public events.

Kevin Fye, the communications program manager at the Klau Center, said “With Voices True” was created to facilitate conversation. “[We want to] encourage people to listen to one another and to really come into contact with the broadest see RACE PAGE 4

nd track & Field PAGE 12

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TODAY

The observer | wednesday, january 22, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

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HANNAH HUELSKAMP | The Observer

The Center for Social Concerns fair Tuesday offered students opportunities for volunteer work in South Bend. The event featured over 50 local organizations, including governmental and nonprofit agencies as well as local arts groups.

The next Five days:

Want your event included here?

Email news@ndsmcobserver.com

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Lecture: “Reparations and Reconciliation” Carey Auditorium 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Panel discussion.

Lecture: “Thomas Jefferson, Race and Slavery” McCartan Courtroom 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Open to the public.

“How Have Women Shaped the Judiciary?”

McCartan Courtroom 3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Panel discussion.

Fischoff’s Winter Gala Morris Inn 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Featuring the Ariel Quartet.

Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 10 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.

All are welcome to attend.

Lecture: “Faith, Culture and Mental Health” St. Liam Hall 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

All are welcome.

Snite Salon Snite Museum of Art 5:30 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

Guided discussion about a work of art.

Open to the public.

Panel: “Identity and Belonging” Carey Auditorium 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Discussion on uplifting diverse voices.

31st Annual Student Film Festival Browning Cinema 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Films made by Notre Dame undergraduates.

Performance: Damin Spritzer O’Neill Hall of Music 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Featuring organist Damin Spritzer.

News

ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, january 22, 2020 | The Observer

African American sculptor recognized in lecture

By CHELSEY BOYLE News Writer

In honor of Notre Dame’s Walk the Walk Week, Darius A. Spieth, an alumni professor at Louisiana State University, delivered a lecture titled “Frank Hayden: A Mid-Century Sculptor between Catholicism and the Civil Rights Movement” at Notre Dame’s Snite Museum on Tuesday afternoon.

Hayden’s work includes some of the first busts of Martin Luther King Jr. ever to be commissioned.

Modern art or architecture and the Catholic Church had not always gotten along with each other, but Hayden sought to introduce modern design using inexpensive materials to incite new expression in Catholic churches. His work aided reformation and modernism in southern Catholic churches, and his mahogany crucifixes, carved Stations of the Cross and stone statues of Mary and Joseph can be seen in parishes throughout the South.

The artist was shot to death in 1988 in Louisiana. His son was arrested for murdering him.

Spieth, an art historian who specializes in eighteenth and nineteenth century art, was familiar with Frank Hayden’s work. He decided to research

his work and share the sculptor’s story at Notre Dame because, in Spieth’s view, Hayden is under-appreciated. “[He is] an artist that deserved to be rediscovered,” Spieth said.

Hayden received his Master of Fine Arts at Notre Dame from 1957-1959 while studying under-renowned sculptor Ivan Mestrovic. Mestrovic, according to Spieth, praised Hayden as “a talented young man who promises to become a very good artist.” Hayden was one of the premiere artists of his time who was able to use his art to change the Church to fit the needs of the black Catholic community, Spieth said. “[Hayden is] the foremost African American sculptor of the Civil Rights period,” he said.

Hayden’s former friend and fellow academic Percy Pierre also attended the lecture.

Pierre assisted Spieth in his research and provided more personal context on Hayden’s life after the lecture. He maintains that Hayden deserves to receive more recognition at Notre Dame because he had such a strong connection to the University.

Pierre, who attended Notre Dame for graduate school, remembered that while they were both on campus, they were Paid Advertisement

joined only by approximately 15 other African American students.

Pierre and Hayden would hold discussions on campus in the evenings about African American affairs in South Bend’s black community. These discussions would serve as inspiration for what would end up being Hayden’s collection of sketches titled “Black and White.” ”These drawings reflect painful truths during this time: a segregated Catholic Church, lack of voting rights and the marching of Martin Luther King Jr. and other activists,” Spieth said.

Pierre believes that Hayden’s passion and commitment to his work in the M.F.A. department, as well as his work celebrating African American culture and the Catholic Church, should be more recognized at the University today.

This lecture was the first event at an academic institution to honor Hayden’s work and memory. Hayden had always believed in the power of education and the inspiration of his art — making the inaugural lecture incredibly significant, Pierre said.

Contact Chelsey Boyle at cboyle4@nd.edu

3

Sessions help students find vocation

By ERIN BENNETT News Writer

The Saint Mary’s Center for Spirituality is hosting a three-part series for first year students who are interested in gaining a better sense of themselves. ‘Find Your Voice’ invites first year students to a series of three dinners filled with discussion sessions based on the theological concept of vocation.

Arlene Montevecchio, the director of the Center for Spirituality, said vocation comes from a higher power. “[It’s] God’s calling about how to live your life,” she said.

The Center for Spirituality aims to help students across campus discover their vocation. A program for sophomores, juniors and seniors has already been previously established and is called ‘Real Life’.

One’s vocation can be found from utilizing their gifts and talents through their major, and by using their career choice to prominently impact the world, Montevecchio said. She also expressed a hope that, through the realization of vocation, students will continue to use their gifts and talents on campus and in the future.

Both programs were created with the intention of students benefiting from purposeful conversations that take place outside of the classroom through small group interactions with peers, faculty and staff members. These interactions within the program allow students to engage in the Catholic intellectual tradition which is defined by where faith and reason meet,

New Dean Continued from page 1

campus, I sensed the strong enthusiasm and momentum in Notre Dame’s engineering programs,” Culligan said in the release. “The faculty has a distinguished reputation for engineering and scholarly excellence, and I am honored to be offered this opportunity to contribute to their continued success and growing stature.”

Culligan, a civil engineer, is an expert in the fields of environmental engineering and water resources. Her work focuses on building sustainability within urban infrastructure and energy and water management within communities, according to the release.

Currently, Culligan serves as the co-director of a $12 million

Montevecchio said.

During the first year at college, students are eager to discover their talents and passions while establishing bonds with peers. Some might be trying to decide what they think they should major in or what career path to take, while others have already known since a young age.

Montevecchio said she hopes the Center for Spirituality can help guide students as they make these choices.

“First year students will gain a better sense of self — how their own gifts and talents can be used on campus and in the future,” she said.

Isabel France, a first year student, said she is very eager to discover how God is working in her life. Not only will her own voice be revealed to her through attending these sessions, but she will be able to hear the voices of other women attending Saint Mary’s.

“I think this will open our minds to who we all are, and who we believe God is wanting us to become,” she said.

The three sessions will be held on Feb. 4 from 6-7:30 p.m. in Stapleton Lounge, Feb. 18, from 6-7:30 p.m. in Rice Commons and March 3, from 6-7:30 p.m. in Rice Commons.

All participants will receive a book and journal to help aid them along their journey.

First year students who are interested in experiencing these sessions should contact Arlene Montevecchio before Friday, Jan. 24.

Contact Erin Bennett at ebennett02@saintmarys.edu

research project sponsored by the National Science Foundation which concentrates on cultivating new models for city infrastructure to improve health and sustainability for urban communities, the release said.

“Working within and beyond the academy, Trish has built a consistent record of excellence,” Thomas J. Burish, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost at Notre Dame, said. “Her broad technical expertise, deep appreciation of the liberal arts, commitment to helping the underserved and educating the whole person and honed leadership ability make her an ideal candidate for the deanship. In addition, she is committed to further building programs and partnerships across the University and local community as well as with government and industry. We are thrilled that she accepted our offer to serve as dean.”

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The observer | wednesday, january 22, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Fair

is located on Sample Street.

There is a Sout h Bend cit y bus stop on Eddy Street which stops ver y close to t he organization.

This fair is an opportunit y for students who want to engage w it h t he communit y and help ot hers in need.

Michael Hawley, a freshman at Notre Dame, said students should volunteer into t hese organization as it is a great way to help t he loca l communit y.

“There is an abundance of opportunities in Sout h Bend area and t hey a ll look ver y interesting,” Hawley said.

A not her student, freshman Tanner Condon who studies at t he Mendoza College of Business, said t he education he has received at Notre Dame has encouraged him to help ot hers.

“Here t hey teach you to strive for goodness t hrough business, and I wanted to come up here to see how can I ser ve to t he communit y,” Condon said.

Shannon Gibson, a freshman, said she is look ing forward to t his opportunit y to meet w it h loca l communit y

Continued from page 1

of w inter activ ities such as cross-countr y sk iing, snowshoeing and w inter tubing at t he park. At Bendi x Woods Park, which is approx imately 15 miles away from Notre Dame, t he Tapping Day is celebrated on Feb. 15. At t his event, v isitors tap t he Bendi x Woods Sugar Bush and ma ke fresh maple sy rup.

The Boys and Girls Club of St. Joseph Count y is anot her not-for-profit organization which helps young children to reach t heir f ull potentia l and productiv it y, said A ndrea McCollester, who represented t he group at t he fair.

“We tr y to expose children to a lot of different t hings which t hey might be interested in,” she said. “We tr y to lift up k ids by tr y ing to rea lize t heir potentia l and be t he best version of t hemselves.”

According to her, it is ver y easy to go from Notre Dame to t he organization, which

Race Continued from page 1

cross section of thoughts and opinions,” he said.

“Our feeling is that solutions come from a place of understanding.”

In monologues, participants ref lected on how their race affected their lives at Notre Dame in an effort to encourage community members to ref lect on their own personal experience on campus.

“We wanted to give people something to contribute to and let themselves be heard and also give people a place to go to discover thoughts and view points that they haven’t encountered before,” Fye said.

The launch event consisted of a short presentation, followed by a four-person panel consisting of Notre Dame student and faculty speakers. During the panel, the panelists described what steps were taken to create the program and what steps must be taken in order for it to reach a broader audience.

After the conclusion of the panel, audience members were invited to create their own monologues about their experiences with race in one of Hesburgh Librar y’s media rooms.

Rachel Gagnon, a Notre Dame graduate student and

Klau Center student affiliate, is one of many students who recorded a monologue for “With Voices True.”

“I hope the program increases people’s knowledge of race relations, civil rights and equality,” she said.

“With Voices True” is also focused on compiling a w ide variet y of experiences for potential researchers, Fye said.

“The full transcript of these inter v iews are kept in the Notre Dame archives which w ill be built into a robust research resource for people doing research on racial attitudes over time,” Fye said.

The program is not only focused on indiv idual use, but has the potential to be used in the classroom as well.

“As the project progresses and is used in more classrooms, we hope to learn the ways that it gets used and perhaps we can offer prompts to instructors for how to use it,” Fye said.

“There’s a lot of value in presenting different v iew points as a conversation starter.”

The opportunity to record and release your own monologues is available to all members of the Notre Dame community. Information is available at the Klau Center’s webpage.

Contact John Salem at jsalem2@nd.edu

Please recycle The Observer.

News

ALVIN KRAJA | The Observer

Students gather at the Social Concerns Fair held at the Dahkne Ballroom. Different groups such as the Boys and Girls Club of St. Joseph County presented opportunities for service in the nearby community.

groups and learn more about t hem and t heir work. Gibson and her friends were ver y excited about t he CSC fair, which offers t he students a lot of different opportunities to help t hem develop.

Debate Continued from page 1

Disruptions are expected, Jenkins said, as the University is expecting about 3,000 journalists and

They are look ing for ward to f uture events as t hey seek to streng t hen t heir bond to t he communit y.

“I want to get more involved in t he loca l communit y,” Gibson said. “In t hat

way I can of fer my help in improv ing t he communit y, which is ver y important to me.”

Contact Alvin Kraja at akraja@nd.edu

support staff from around the world to descend on campus ahead of the debate.

Jenkins encouraged the Notre Dame community to use the event as an opportunity to engage in “serious, honest but civil discussion.”

“The hosting of this debate and the coming election cycle is an opportunity for the members of this community to model vigorous and honest disagreement that is at the same time respectful and reasoned,” he said.

MARY BERNARD | The Observer

In an email sent late Tuesday, University President Fr. John Jenkins, pictured at an October press conference, announced details concerning the presidential debate to be held on campus September 29.

W r it e Ne w s .

E m a i l Tom Na at z at t n a at z@n d .edu or M a e v e Fi l bi n at m fi l bi n01@sa i ntma r ys.edu

5

The observer | wednesday, january 22, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

By TOM NAATZ Scene Writer

From start to finish, it appears as though “1917,” Sam Mendes’ World War I race-against-the-clock story, was filmed in one continuous shot. The film follows the travails of two young British soldiers, Schofield and Blake, as they seek to deliver a message to a British unit — of which Blake’s brother is a member — about to get caught in a German trap. The film takes place across roughly 24 hours and miles upon miles of open French countryside, but it all looks to have been captured in just one take.

The film’s cinematography imbues its story with a fantastic sense of realism. It never feels like you’re observing the action — rather, it feels like you’re there with the soldiers as they navigate booby traps, snipers, a dog fight and, basically, the weight of the Imperial German Army while seeking to relay their message. This up-close-andpersonal strategy allows you to develop an attachment to the main characters, virtually the only two people who appear consistently throughout the film.

When I saw the movie — without giving anything away — the woman sitting behind me, overcome with emotion, started to bawl as the credits rolled. It made sense. The cinematography, much of which captures the men at eye level, allows for a deep connection between the viewer and the characters in the film.

But beyond this cinematography, “1917” is a bit of an odd

By NICOLE BILYAK Scene Writer

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has been a staple in sports entertainment for nearly 70 years. In fact, most people immediately think of this organization when they hear the word “wrestling.” However, the group has recently been under a lot of scrutiny from fans and personnel alike.

Because of this, many WWE personnel have turned to different wrestling promotions around the world. The one promotion to which many have flocked is All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Ever since then, WWE and AEW have been at war.

One of the reasons why WWE is losing a lot of revenue and personnel involves problems with the creative writing process (or a lack thereof).

WWE has always had very interesting storylines since its founding in 1952. One such storyline is centered around Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, covering his debut as Rocky Miavia, during which he was booed out of the arena. Despite disrespect from the fans, he waited for his opportunity to shock the world. That time came when he joined the Nation of Domination, which took many African American wrestlers and gave them a platform to show off their skills.

Since then, WWE storylines have gone downhill, especially those concerning wrestlers who have been with the

war movie. It lacks a grandly captured combat sequence.

The casting is unconventional. Dean-Martin Chapman and George Mackay portray Blake and Schofield, respectively. While the two are moderately famous, they aren’t instantly recognizable faces except, perhaps, to those with a deep intimate knowledge of British TV and the London theater scene (and Game of Thrones, in Chapman’s case).

The movie features an impressive lineup of male British actors, namely Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch and Richard Madden, for example. Yet for whatever reason, their time on screen is kept deliberately short, as each only appears for a single scene before disappearing. It’s not loud. It’s not flashy. What, then, is it?

I, for one, left the theater wondering what the larger point was supposed to be. The plot — that Schofield and Blake must deliver a message in 24 hours — is simple to a fault. There are no moral quandaries. There is no cause for deep reflection. There are only orders.

Furthermore, for anyone who has seen “Saving Private Ryan,” the storyline will feel borrowed. Plus, there are a couple of glaring holes. For instance, the explanation proffered for why these two random soldiers in particular were picked for the mission is weak. One would hope that the “the telephone lines were cut, you’re pretty good with maps, your brother is in the doomed unit and your friend happened to be napping next to you” rationale, offered to Blake at the beginning of the movie, would not suffice in real life. Also, didn’t the British army have some sort of

signaling corps, or courier unit?

Is the point to showcase the horrors of war? Maybe — but if so, then the film falls short. “1917” demonstrates that daily life in World War I was hard. The many rats and decomposing bodies make that obvious. But on the whole, life in the trenches looks grimy and unpleasant, not positively hellish. If you really want to experience the horror of First World War, “1917” isn’t the place to do it. Instead, watch Peter Jackson’s superb documentary, “They Shall Not Grow Old,” or read Erich Maria Remarque’s novel, “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

It should pick up an Oscar or two, especially for the incredible cinematography. All told, though, “1917” is unsatisfying. The movie drips with untapped potential. It’s good but not great. While "1917" is the type of movie you might enjoy, it will probably not prove to be the kind of classic war story we’ll point to for the rest of time. Mendes left a lot on the field.

WWE for many years.

One wrestler in this category is Jon Moxley, formerly known as Dean Ambrose. After coming back from a torn tricep injury, Moxley began to have issues with WWE due to goofy storylines, especially with one where he got a ton of inoculations in preparation for the 2018 pay-per-view event Tables, Ladders and Chairs.

Because of this, Moxley left the WWE at the end of April 2019 and made his debut at AEW’s pay-per-view debut, Double or Nothing, the following month, attacking former WWE superstar Chris Jericho and former New Japan Pro Wrestling superstar and executive vice president of AEW Kenny Omega. Since his move to Double or Nothing, Moxley’s storylines have improved immensely.

Another problem with WWE is the fact that many wrestlers are being underused, causing them to ”disappear” from TV. Due to WWE’s massive main roster, it is understandable that not all stars will be used a lot. Even so, many big name wrestlers have not even scratched the surface of what might be deemed an appropriate amount of screen time. In addition, the women’s division is poorly booked because of frequent absences.

On the contrary, AEW make a positive effort to book many big name stars like Moxley, Jericho and Omega.

At the same time, they give the women’s division a prominent role in the spotlight, especially with the AEW Women’s World Championship.

The biggest issue that WWE has had (and, conversely,

that AEW has not yet experienced) is the fact that WWE is juggling too many brand extensions and individual wrestling programs. WWE airs Monday Night Raw, Friday Night Smackdown, 205 Live, W WE NXT and W WE NXT UK. W WE gives a prominent booking to the developmental brand NXT and does not pay very much attention to Monday Night Raw or Friday Night Smackdown. That is partly due to the fact that producer Paul Levisque, also known as Triple H, is pushing for more brand supremacy, an issue that became clear in the 2019 PPV Survivor Series when NXT defeated Raw and Smackdown on November 24. Across the five brands, there are a staggering 18 championship titles currently used in the W WE — it can be hard to even keep track of them all!

Thus far, AEW has clearly been avoiding such a program overload. With only three titles recognized, it is much more organized and more enjoyable to watch.

While W WE is a dominant force to be reckoned with, there is no doubt that the organization is in decline. Indeed, its future is looking very bleak. But as W WE's star falls, so to speak, AEW has continued to rise up as the number one wrestling brand to watch.

This story is dedicated to Rocky “Soul Man” Johnson, who passed away on January 15, 2020.

Contact Tom Naatz at tnaatz@nd.edu

“1917” Director: Sam Mendes Starring: Dean-Martin Chapman, George Mackay If you like: “Dunkirk,” “Saving Private Ryan”

Contact Nicole Bilyak at nbilyak01@saintmarys.edu JOSEPH HAN | The Observer

6

The observer | Wednesday, January 22, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

You deserve it!

Diane Park

The dehumanization of Uber

Graphics Editor

Meghan Cappitelli

The first week back from any kind of break is always a fairly unpleasant process. For me, as a junior, this year’s return to academics was particularly tragic, combined with something a friend of mine recently called, “the hell that is recruiting.” I’m trying to find a job.

More accurately, I’m trying to find a summer internship. Regardless, it’s requiring a painful amount of time and dedication. My Instagramming days are of the past; I am now LinkedIn-ing!

But despite how much this search seems to have occupied my life, I noticed that I hadn’t actually applied to as many positions as I had thought. Part of this is likely due to the unfortunate amount of time these individual applications take. And, I care about my applications. I want to tailor them appropriately. As a design major, it’s important that my portfolio ref lects that, so that takes up a considerable chunk of time, too.

Most of all, however, I noticed my own self-doubt. I’d get excited about how great of an opportunity something is, before feeling almost apologetic to apply. “I don’t have enough experience.” “What could I possibly give to this company that hundreds of other people can’t?”

I largely attribute these thoughts to the fact I’m applying for positions different from my major. I’m applying for UI/UX Design roles to create digital experiences and products, but my Industrial Design education focuses on physical products.

For digital product design roles, different skills and projects are required. So I’ve undertaken digital projects independently and educate myself separately.

I’ve added a second major in Sociology and a minor in Digital Marketing to better understand the needs of people and uses of digital platforms. Yet, I see my shortcomings more than my efforts, and I believe that the rest of the world will, too.

The Imposter Syndrome is something that I don’t think I’ve really understood until recently. I definitely never saw myself as having it. I’d only attribute it to people who have acquired amazing accomplishments in their lives, too tremendous to take credit for. Being a normal person, I just thought I was insecure.

But I think that, too, is the essence of the Imposter Syndrome, thinking that I haven’t ever accomplished anything, so there can’t be anything I’d even take credit for. Yet, we’ve all accomplished things, and even the smallest of our goals and efforts are to be applauded and taken credit for — at least by ourselves, if not others. If I don’t even believe in myself, who will?

So for anyone else facing this struggle this spring recruiting season, I want you to hear that I believe in you.

True, I don’t know what you’ve achieved, but I know you’ve accomplished more than you think you have.

Most importantly, I hope you can be your best advocate.

You deserve to strive for as many opportunities you want, and your worth will be recognized by the right people at the right time for you. We can do this!

Contact Diane Park at dpark5@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Sensical Nonsense

The habit is hard to break. The addiction is fueled further ever yday. The routine is frighteningly predictable.

For any college student, it goes something like this: enter the classroom, take off your coat, unlock your phone — if it’s not already unlocked — and do whatever it is that we all spend countless hours doing on our devices.

Silence ensues. Dozens of students, some of the best and brightest, sit like robots, zombies even, enslaved to the small, yet powerful screens.

You’d think those who claim to possess an eagerness to learn and to experience would have somewhat of a desire to talk to their equally-as-intelligent peers sitting only inches away. You’d think they would take hold of an opportunity to chat during the five to 10 minutes before the hour and a half lecture begins. And you’d think they would realize that it is from conversing with others — no matter how short or long a conversation is — that we become more wholly educated.

The truth is, I think most people do acknowledge these things, but the phone seems to be mightier than the mind in far too many instances these days.

W hy engage in small talk when you could read up on impeachments and royal family scandals, comb through your continual inf lux of texts and emails or listen to that new song again even though you’ve had it on repeat for days now? Our choices are made on the basis of ma ximal convenience and productivity. And the safety net, go-to conversation of the ever-present South Bend permacloud isn’t exactly a conversation anyone’s dying to have at 8:20 in the morning.

I get it. I do it, too. W hat I’m really getting at is that this tendency to shy away from the smallest of human interactions, like small talk before a class, is a slipper y slope to head down.

This is why when Uber launched a new ride option allowing customers to request a “quiet ride,” I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

As part of the Uber Comfort option, riders can control car temperatures, enjoy extra legroom, and make requests about the conversations, or lack thereof, during their ride.

Talking to strangers is not, by any means, my forte, but I would like to think I wouldn’t pay a higher fare to have my Uber driver take a vow of temporar y silence while he, a fellow human, transports me to my destination.

We are a population of people so dedicated to ridding our lives of nuisances and anything mildly annoying. We don’t like to take the long way home. We would rather avoid a

trip to the store by having a truck deliver us our fresh produce. Using one of our two feet to step on the gas and brake pedals? Too difficult – let’s develop a car that drives itself. A driver who talks? I mean, I’d rather not…

After some initial back lash this past spring, the company defended their new feature by claiming that it was all a part of their efforts to achieve an overall “elevated” riding experience. W hen you think about it, the option could actually be useful. Some people may feel uncomfortable answering a complete stranger’s questions about themselves, where they’re going, etc. Sometimes customers wish to sleep or catch up on other tasks during longer Uber rides.

Then there are people (like me) who do sometimes just enjoy the peace and quiet of a car ride or the alone time before the start of a class. But there has to be a line between enjoying silence and necessitating it. The ”quiet ride” preference allows an awkward silence to become a mandated silence, but we have to ask ourselves: is this what we want?

Dehumanization — that’s what it is. People are becoming closer friends with their phones than with other humans. A phone knows all your secrets, the people you interact with most, your ever y move, your favorite songs.

Ever y time we stick those little, white, music-channeling buds in our ears in an effort to escape our obligation of speaking to others nearby in an airport, in an Uber or before a class, we are contributing to the epidemic.

Maybe the conversation with your Uber driver that you just forbid could have been one of the more interesting, enlightening conversations you’ve had in a while. Maybe they share in your love of cheeseburgers and recommend a hidden gem of a restaurant or maybe you two bond over a shared favorite T V show. Maybe you simply learn something new about another person, and you’re a little bit better off because of it.

I’m not here to preach. I’m not here to say that we must all fight to break our already established habits. I do think, however, that sometimes — not always — it’s worth leaving the AirPods in your backpack. Sometimes, it’s worth asking your peers sitting next to you how their days are going. And sometimes, it’s worth not requesting a “quiet ride.”

Meghan Cappitelli is a freshman studying Economics and English at the University of Notre Dame. A native of Long Island, New York, she enjoys running, procrastinating and eating ice cream for dinner. She can be reached at mcappite@nd.edu or @meghancapp on Twitter.

The views expressed in this Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Submit a Letter to the Editor: viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com

The observer | Wednesday, january 22, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

77

What if Isaac didn’t want to be saved?

Gabriel Niforatos The Road Less Traveled

Anybody on campus will tell you that I am one of the most unusual theology minors on campus. This is not for lack of interest in debating religion, but rather due to the fact that I do not fit a stereotype because I am Jewish.

The reason I added the theology minor is because I feel that these are some of the classes that have made me think the hardest. Being a Jew at Notre Dame is, admittedly, difficult, and yet I have found that people are willing to discuss what this journey means in my Theology classes.

In the context of the exploration of what it means to be Jewish, in a Catholic setting and in general, I decided to write an article about what would have happened if Isaac said no, in the context of the journey of the life of Jewish people, and how this may have had ramifications concerning the three monotheistic religions of the world.

This column is fairly abstract, but I credit Notre Dame theology for shaping and formulating the way that I see the world.

I hate you.

Words are the tiny photograph scrawlings of whatever thought their author has at that moment; they hold their meaning because people read them, internalize them and give them power. So, I’m writing this because I know you will see it and I know that you will feel it.

I hate you with every fiber of my being, and I wish that your time-worn hands that trembled above me would have plunged the knife directly into me. I curse you for looking to your left and seeing the angel standing with the sacrifice at its side. I can still feel the raw force of the fire that night, the way it singed my face, and I can still see the sparks disappear into the sky like supernovas sighing at the end of their lives.

What if I don’t want to believe in the miracles that I see? I tell people that I see the smoke and mirrors, the creaking pulleys and the rotting wooden levers.

The truth is that I know there are miracles more than anybody I know. The crystal pool of water sits unmoved below me, and the fruit tree would not sink into itself if I reached for it, even though these things are unattainable for Tantalus beside me. But I do not indulge myself. I could open Pandora’s box if I wanted to and describe the patterns of mahogany beneath its lid to you without the specters of a thousand ghosts and demons obscuring my vision, but I tossed the key into a bottomless lake that nobody can find.

I hate that I can feel the feathers of wings on my shoulders. I have scarred myself like Lady Macbeth in my rage to scratch them away. To this day I can feel them above and around me, so I tell myself that their airy weight on my back is that of a gargoyle placed there.

I’m not complaining. It is just that I didn’t ask for any of these favors. When the Red Sea parted, I took a trireme and sailed around the chasm you ripped in the earth. When you knocked down the walls of Jericho and they fell around us, I took a catapult and flung rock at the rubble. I did not ask for the oil to last eight days on Hanukkah. I tried everything I could to douse the flames myself, but the fire did not flicker when I screamed at the space in front of our menorah. I did not ask for your right hand, or for your strength. I did not ask for you to look left.

You do not realize the butterfly effect that happened when you cut me loose on that day. You cannot hear the symphony that was created on that day, you cannot feel the weight on your chest when the symphony has been cut out so many times that I cannot remember the exact number. And yet, the heaviest burden is the knowledge that the symphony will be there when I open my eyes, fresh as the lamb you replaced me with when you looked left.

I hate you and I’ve spent my entire life dreaming of the ways I could cut myself and bleed out the

things you told me. There are those who will tell you I’ve wasted away the best years of my life like Michelangelo did, condemned to craft your face in marble and smash it into dust every time I do. But now, my time-worn hands rest above your heart, and they do not tremble.

Like a whisper, I feel a cool wind upon my neck. I hear the cry of a lamb that I made sure was not here a second ago, and I cannot bear myself to look. For the first time in a long time, tears cloud my vision. I could call lightning down right now if I wanted to like Elijah did and destroy the prophets of Baal. I could erase you at this very moment, erase everything that we have become, what we could have been. My hands tremble and I stop them right before my knife pierces your flesh.

I hate you. I hate you because you released the beauty and the madness inside. The grains of sand remain unchanged, and although the sky has changed because that is the story of time, there have been no new stars created because of us. I look into your eyes, completely peaceful because you and I know that this has never been the complete truth of the promise uttered to you all those millennia ago.

The temple was carried away to Babylon, but maybe it never left us.

And I do what I promised myself I would never do.

There are no smoke and mirrors, no pulleys and no levers. There is a static dryness hovering around me, the kind that pervades the air in the seconds before lightning strikes the earth. I take a deep breath.

I look left.

Gabriel Niforatos is a junior majoring in political science with minors in the Hesburgh Program in Public Service and Theology. He is passionate about giving a voice to the disenfranchised and writing is the muse he is persistently chasing. He can be found at gniforat@nd.edu or @g_niforatos on Twitter.

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

A note about South Bend To the Notre Dame student body: “South Bend has nothing to do” or “what a boring place!” followed by “I can’t wait to get out of here. I mean I love Notre Dame, but…..” are old and tired words.

Has it ever occurred to you that South Bend isn’t boring, but you are just missing out? In case you weren’t aware, South Bend is quite a bit larger than Eddy Street.

Perhaps you’ve visited Woochi, the Crooked Ewe or Fiddler’s Hearth and stopped by the South Bend Chocolate Factory (the actual factory, not the downtown shop) for good measure. But have you ever ventured to an India Garden lunch buffet, eaten at Tacos el Aguila or tasted a freshly patted Girasol pupusa?

Have you ever watched the River Lights? Walked along Island Park? How about the Fragrance Garden for the blind? Have you looked down on the dam from one of the South Bend Art Museum’s outcrops (not to mention actually seeing the art there)? Help yourself to a brunch at the Sunrise Café (if Barack Obama found it good enough to visit, you will too) and then stroll around the Farmer’s Market, which has been around since 1911. If you haven’t spent a lazy afternoon browsing the collection of Erasmus Books for the perfect antique volume or attended a reading at the Poetry Den, can you really say that you’ve lived here?

On campus, only three messages really come through about South Bend. In just my first two weeks I learned: South Bend is boring. South Bend is poor.

South Bend is violent. The only interaction students are encouraged to have with South Bend is either through dorm/class-related service or the annual Back the Bend, a week dedicated to service in the city.

While service is certainly good, the fact that it is the only form of South Bend experience encouraged on campus is problematic. The implication that South Bend is nothing more than a place that needs our help makes it more difficult to also call it home.

In October, Scholastic published a cover page titled “Into the Crossfire: a Special Report on Gun Violence and Prevention Efforts in South Bend.” The title alone makes it seem like stepping into South Bend is the same as stepping into a war zone. The rather dramatic sub-heading “Hearing Shots: Notre Dame Students Bring the Conversation to Campus” follows. However, this section of the article covers a series of stories about gun violence that are in no way connected with South Bend. They are certainly not accounts of students experiencing gun violence in the city first hand and bringing those experiences to campus dialogue, as the subheading would suggest. The section of the article that is about South Bend is only a third of the whole piece and contains no student input. While the title and framing of the article imply that students are

concerned about their experiences of gun violence in South Bend, the reality is that most Notre Dame students have not experienced South Bend in any form and care about South Bend’s gun violence only on principle. For the record, in 2018, South Bend’s homicide rate (per 100,000 people) was 8.79 and 14.73 in 2017. Cities such as Kansas City, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Indianapolis fall anywhere from 18 to 31. While no level of violence is good, South Bend is not an exceptionally violent city.

On another note, for those of you who are excited about Mayor Pete’s candidacy, I have to ask: Why? Do you know what policies he implemented during his mayoral term? Was your life affected positively during that time? Were you familiar with the South Bend political scene before that? Or are you just excited about the name recognition and your proximity to someone who regularly makes national news?

I hope this note will be a challenge to shift your perspective on South Bend. Explore it and be open to loving it. You may be surprised, I know I was. As a first year, I never expected to leave campus, but at the end of this semester, when I graduate, I will be happy to say that I miss South Bend. I hope you will too.

Maria Pope senior Jan. 22

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8

DAILY

The observer | wednesday, january 22, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | Kevan Choset

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Put everything in order, free up time and prepare to concentrate on what you want to achieve this year. Refuse to get wrapped up in other people’s business, leaving you no time to pursue your dreams.

Keep an open mind, but don’t be gullible or let someone manipulate you.

Be the driving force, not the minion. Your numbers are 2, 16, 24, 27, 31, 46, 49.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take demonstrative action, and you will capture the spotlight. Don’t be shy or too proud to ask for help.

Concentrate on the result, and enjoy the process of seeing your plans through from start to finish. Simplicity is encouraged.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Address any financial issues that surface.

Keeping on top of debt and monitoring what you spend will help ease stress and encourage you to live within your means. Don’t let someone take advantage of you. You can’t buy love. Offer kindness, not cash.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Procrastinate, and you will end up missing out on an excellent opportunity. Look to someone you respect for guidance, and partner with whoever can contribute at least as much as you, if not more. Don’t give in to emotional manipulation.

CANCER ( June 21-July 22): Visit someone or a place that motivates and inspires you. Take a different approach to how you use your skills.

Change your mind or your direction if that’s what will help you reach your goal.

LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Take on a challenge. You have the money to outsmart and outdo any competition you face, so don’t hold back when you have so much to gain. Change begins within, so stop waiting for someone to do things for you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Show kindness and compassion, but don’t let anyone take advantage of you or what you have to offer. Size up situations, and set boundaries when dealing with anyone who is pushy, manipulative or excessive. Personal growth will bring the highest return.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Share your ideas, listen to the suggestions made and move forward on your own. Maintaining control of the outcome will be in your best interest. If you join forces with someone, you can expect him or her to take over.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Dig in and get the facts. Knowing what you are up against will make life easier and help you get the results you want.

What you do will have a more significant impact on others than what you say.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A staunch attitude will help you achieve things, and innovation will lead to advancement. Make a move, start a new adventure and redesign how you want to live. Revenge and anger are wastes of time. Embrace new beginnings.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Observe what others do, and you’ll recognize who you want to stand beside. A disciplined attitude will help you ward off temptation and those trying to get you to move in a risky direction. Choose stability over chaos.

AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Stick close to home, and sort through any personal paperwork you left undone. An unexpected move someone makes will leave you in a quandary. Rethink your strategy, and rearrange your plans. Avoid an unnecessary dispute. Focus on personal gain.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Uncertainty is growing. Refuse to let someone persuade you to get involved in something that isn’t beneficial. Look for other options that will encourage good health and much better mental and financial stability. Let go of what is no longer working for you.

Birthday Baby: You are sensitive, playful and passionate. You are intelligent and unpredictable.

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

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SPORTS

ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, january 22, 2020 | The Observer

Track&Field

Sports Authority

Find yourself an independent team David Kramer Sports Writer

Buried in a widely overlooked corner of the St. Paul skyline, the unlikeliest of celebrations resounded throughout the busy downtown streets.

Over 7,000 fans flooded the scene to rest their gazes on the shimmering lights that painted the St. Paul Saints’ beloved home field. A massive disco ball — the largest ever constructed — hovered aimlessly above the right field grass with a celestial gleam, twirling to the beat of countless dancers in the stands. After a brief set of Donna Summers covers, the outfield gates creaked open, spilling the eager mass of wigs, metallics and screams of ”Do The Hustle!” onto the dark field.

The day? June 29, 2019. The occasion? A commemoration of perhaps the most infamous night in baseball history: Disco Demolition Night.

A part-owner of the Saints, Mike Veeck, experienced similar antics in Comiskey Park decades prior. As the White Sox’s promotional director, Veeck orchestrated a catastrophically brilliant campaign for a twinight doubleheader in Chicago, one that resulted in the third (and last) forfeiture in league history.

Amidst various anti-disco protests across America in 1979, Veeck teamed up with his father and team owner, Bill, to build a massive apparatus in Comiskey’s outfield grass.

Charging a meager admission of 98 cents for any fan with a disco record, the promotional team collected the donated vinyl, rigged it with explosives and prepared to ignite the new, atrocious music genre between games. Curious fans, more than 15,000 above stadium capacity, flocked to the outfield bleachers.

At detonation, the explosion enveloped the rig with an uncontrollable blaze, leaving a gaping hole in the outfield grass. The Comiskey commotion reached its brink as a wild influx of fans overwhelmed security personnel guarding the gates. Fans jumped fences, climbed foul poles and utterly dismantled team equipment.

Most of the troublemakers never cared about the doubleheader. These fans were fans of

chaos.

With Comiskey Park in shambles, the American League president forced the much-needed forfeiture. Some outraged Americans condemned the demonstration as a statement of oppression.

Traditional fans lamented the defiled state of America’s pastime.

Perhaps very few spectators will remember the score, slash lines or highlights of the nine innings that came before Disco Demolition Night.

Perhaps the narrative of sports history will neglect the (quite unimpressive) 1979 White Sox season altogether. But the disastrous artistry of the promotion inspired an overhaul of the stadium experience that unforgettably and undeniably revolutionized the game at all levels.

Since its inception, the St. Paul Saints organization has championed this innovative spirit with open arms. As partowner, Mike Veeck instills an infectiously entertaining ethos of sports marketing in the Twin Cities, one that permeates lower levels of professional sports today.

Independent leagues across America offer ingenious and elaborate promotional events as a substantial competitive advantage in an already competitive market. A niche demographic of fans fill small stadiums for a chance to share in the slice of life that erupted in 1979. Unaffiliated teams possess the necessary leverage to amplify the ballpark experience as they see fit. For fans truly hoping to immerse themselves in the game, find yourself a local independent program and bleed their colors.

Nearly 40 years later, Bill Veeck made amends for Disco Demolition Night via informal apology in St. Paul. Despite his hatred for KC and the Sunshine Band, his eyes shone as he dropped the mic near the pitcher’s mound and kickstarted the celebration.

Where else might you uncover the next unforgettable story in American sport?

Continued from page 12

this season. While the group did not compete in last week’s meet, they looked very solid in December and will be competing this Saturday.

Sparks is excited to see how the throwers have improved since December’s Blue and Gold Invitational.

“I’m interested to see where they pick up from where they were in December,” Sparks said. ”They had such a great Blue and Gold Invitational in early December, and I know they have had a real positive experience training over the last five weeks. They just need to translate that into competition.”

An important event for the Irish this Saturday will be the last event of the meet: the 4-x400 meter relay.

Sparks is especially excited to see the men’s 4-x-400 team in action. It will be led by graduate student Edward Cheatham but will have three younger runners on the relay as well. “[Cheatham] has been a great leader for the men’s sprint group because the majority of that group are freshmen,” Sparks said. “It will be interesting to see how those guys handle the pressure of a scored team competition for the first time in their college career.”

Sparks expects the other teams at the meet to put up competitive 4-x-400 teams to compete against.

“Whenever you are a team that is battling for a conference title like Marquette and Illinois State, you have to have

a good [4-x-400] team,” he said.

“I’d like to see how we stack up with those guys, because if you are winning a conference title you have to be good in the event that closes a track meet.

We will see if we can rise to the occasion of a competitive environment.”

Another competitor that Sparks is excited to see is graduate student Rachel DaDamio.

DaDamio is a two time national qualifier in the outdoor 5K. “She did not have cross country eligibility, so she has not competed since she did at last year’s outdoor national meet,” Sparks said. “She has

9

trained really well over the last three months as she has prepared for the indoor and outdoor track seasons.”

About 80% of the men’s distance squad will be returning to action at the meet as well. Top runners junior Yared Nuguse and sophomore Dylan Jacobs will be held out, however, in order to train for the ACC Championships towards the end of the indoor season.

The meet will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and will take place in Loftus Sports Center.

Contact Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu

ANNA MASON | The Observer

Irish sophomore Jacqueline Gaughan runs in the 3,000 meter run during the Meyo Invitational on Feb. 2 at Loftus Sports Center.

Contact David Kramer at dkramer2@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. hannah huelskamp | The Observer

Irish freshman pole vaulter Olivia Fabry makes a vault during the Blue-Gold Invitational on Dec. 6 at Loftus Sports Center. Fabry opened her college career with a fourth-place finish, hitting a 3.45m mark.

Follow us on Twitter. @ObserverSports

The Observer accepts classifieds every business day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Notre Dame office, 024 South Dining Hall. Deadline for next-day classifieds is 3 p.m. All classifieds must be prepaid. The charge is 5 cents per character per day, including all spaces. The Observer reserves the right to edit all classifieds for content without issuing refunds.

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Sports

The observer | wednesday, january 22, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

HCC M Bball Continued from page 12

Tigers from the field in dominating fashion, finishing w ith a team percentage from the field of 59% to the Tigers’ 44% . The same went for shots behind the arc as well, as Holy Cross shot an

Fencing Continued from page 12

the foil duals w ith a 7-2 margin as a team, but fell 4-5 in the sabre duals and 2-7 in epee, narrowly falling 14-13 to the Buckeyes.

The women also fell 4-5 in sabre, but won both the foil and epee competitions by a score of 6-3 to defeat the Buckeyes women’s team 16-11.

The second opponent Notre Dame faced, w ith similar results, was No. 4 Penn State, the defending national runners-up. The men lost the edge in sabre 4-5 and lost the foil 8-1, but dominated the epee competition 8-1 to once more fall by a 1413 margin. The Irish women were competitive w ith the Nittany Lions but could not gain an edge in any competition, this time coming up on the losing end of a 16-11 score.

The follow ing match pitted Notre Dame against No. 3 Har vard, where the men failed to w in a majorit y of any dual t y pe and themselves lost 16-11. The women managed to rebound

even 50% from deep while the Tigers shot just 40% from three-point range.

The Saints had five players finish w ith double-digit points, as Sims and Jimenez paved the way w ith 18 points and five boards apiece.

Moore followed closely behind w ith 16 points and was able to pull dow n nine

rebounds. Junior guards Storm Cook and Jordan Gaines rounded out the shooting display for Holy Cross, both finishing the contest w ith 14 points.

And despite the Tigers holding a 12-5 all-time series lead over the Saints’ head, Holy Cross was able to turn the tide and push the record

however, w inning the sabre, foil and epee rounds to beat the Crimson 18-9.

The teams then took on No. 7 St. John’s, where the men won the sabre and lost the foil matches both by final scores of 5-4, but lost in epee 7-2 to lose once again 16-11.

The women would then record their third w in of the day thanks to the narrowest of edges. In three separate 5-4 decisions, the Irish came out on top in sabre and epee to beat the Red Storm 14-13.

However, both teams were outmatched at the end of competition by reigning national champion No. 1 Columbia. The men mustered a 5-4 w in in epee, but dropped the sabre and foil duals by scores of 6-3 and 9-0, respectively, to lose 198. The women fared slightly better but, much like their match w ith Penn State, could not get the edge in any categor y and fell 16-11.

Despite the tough finishes in New York, Notre Dame collectively performed much better in Philadelphia. The women’s team posted another record of 3-2 on the day, but the men’s team

improved w ith a 4-1 show ing against the competition, including revenge against St. John’s w ith a 14-13 v ictor y for the men.

Kvaratsk helia noted the improvement from the first meet to the second.

“We certainly needed adjustments,” Kvaratsk helia said in an email. “The kids tensed up and tried to be perfect. We just told them to follow the process and use their skills, rather than discuss the results.”

Even so, Kvaratsk helia said the team must do better against tough competition, and the coaches may tinker w ith the lineup in pursuit of better finishes.

“We do have the chance to adjust our lineup for upcoming meets,” he said. “We performed better on Sunday, but the results did not lie. This is where we are nationally at this point of the season.”

The Irish w ill have a chance to improve their record and develop further w ith the annual DeCicco Duals coming up this weekend at home.

kendra osinski | The Observer

Irish sophomore sabre Logan Kanary focuses on his opponent during the 2019 DeCicco Duals on Jan. 27. Kanary has a 24-9 career record.

to 12-6, w ith a final score of 85-68 in a resounding Saints v ictor y.

Over the weekend, the Saints were able to narrowly escape Judson Universit y, 65-62, and are on a good track to make it into the national tournament this year.

The next Coaches Poll for the Top 25 w ill be released on

Feb. 5.

The Saints w ill close out that time frame w ith games against Calumet College of St. Joseph at home Wednesday, a road match at Roosevelt Universit y on Saturday and t wo more home games against Governors State Universit y and Robert Morris Universit y.

KENDRA osinski | The Observer

Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu

Irish junior foil Joseph Marino attempts to dodge a thrust during the DeCicco Duals at the Castellan Family Fencing Center on Jan. 27.

KENDRA OSINSKI | The Observer

Irish sophomore epee Giorgia Giordano parries a strike during the DeCicco Duals on Jan. 27, 2019, at the Castellan Family Fencing Center. Giordano has a 1-2 record on the season but is 22-11 over her career.

Sports

ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, january 22, 2020 | The Observer

nathanial george | The Observer

Irish sophomore guard Dane Goodwin tries for a layup during Notre Dame’s 75-61 win over UCLA at home on Dec. 14. Goodwin has a team-best .427 free-throw percentage.

ND M Bball Continued from page 12

the team’s last game — a 78-74 victory over Georgia Tech on the road.

“It feels like we played last year now,” Brey said. ”Certainly Atlanta was good for us … Certainly finishing the other night — I thought we did a great job, made some big shots and we were solid on defense. We gambled, I thought, against Louisville on some defensive possessions here, ran through a passing lane, tried to maybe make the steal to win it and I thought we were really solid against them.”

Looking back at the Georgia Tech and Louisville games, Brey highlighted the effects of a smaller lineup on the team’s overall efficiency.

“We had that smaller lineup in again for those last eight or nine minutes [against Louisville],” Brey said. ”Not only does that open the f loor for [sophomore guard] Prentiss [Hubb] and [senior guard] T.J. [Gibbs], but it puts [senior forward] Johnny [Mooney] in the post more. It cleans the post up for him. It’s a lineup that we keep coming back to at key times, and if it’s going well, you ride it.”

Further breaking down the small lineup, Brey also discussed the contributions of the big men. “[Graduate student guard] Rex [Pf lueger], the other night in Atlanta, was having to guard a four-man, a power forward, for a while, and we’re just going to live with that,” Brey said. “We feel like we are going to get our dividends on

the offensive end with those matchups and hold our own more often than not on the defensive end … Our bigs were also really good. [Senior forward] Juwan [Durham] and Mooney were very good inside of that zone handling the ball and then offensive rebounding. I don’t want to lose sight of that in this particular one, but that smaller lineup is something that we could go to. It kind of jump-starts us offensively.”

Turning to the team’s mentality during games, Brey had a lot to say about the culture that he is trying to instill.

With such a small roster, mental focus is a major key for this Notre Dame team. “[Last game], we talked a little bit about embracing game situations,” Brey said. ”I said, ‘Fellas, I just think we are going to be in them all of the time. Can we have fun with them? How exciting is it that we get to do this?’ I tried to create that atmosphere when I sat down in the huddle at 3:49. I said, ‘Well, right where we talked about.’ There is no question that a Prentiss Hubb and a T.J. Gibbs are giving you kind of an edge and a confidence that permeates through the group. Those two guys have helped us. They helped us Wednesday, and hopefully we can keep them in that mode.”

With a few impressive wins on their resume, the Irish are looking to continue their momentum with a home victory against the Orange. Two consecutive conference wins would be a big step towards achieving this goal.

“We keep getting to this crossroads, and we haven’t

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nathanial george | The Observer

Irish senior forward John Mooney drives to the paint during Notre Dame’s 75-61 victory against UCLA on Dec. 14 at Purcell Pavilion. Mooney is averaging 13.9 boards a game.

been able to get over the hump,” Brey said. ”It would be really powerful to sweep [Syracuse]. They are playing really well. Of course, the last game we played may have been the best game of the season to watch if you’re just a basketball fan. The ball was just going in. It’s the one where we feel, ‘Can we take that next step and maybe tag a couple together?’ It would be a big night for us, no question.”

The Irish are currently 12th in the ACC. Another win against Syracuse would establish the Irish as real competitors for Sunday’s game in Tallahassee against Florida State.

“You have Louisville, Duke and Florida State, and then the rest of us are in total search for it mode,” Brey said. ”Which is good that there are only three of them up there that have kind of said, ‘Look at us, we are for real. There are not five of them, there are not seven of them. So yeah, you win two in a row and you’re in fifth place.”

Brey emphasized that there is always time to catch up in the conference but that this is the time to do it. In order to advance, the team needs to win games now.

Two players that Brey attributed with maturity and big performances this season are sophomores guard Dane

Goodwin and forward Nate Laszewski.

“Dane packed his game,” Brey said. ”He has been good here at home and I challenged him the whole trip, ‘Did you pack your game? Did you pack it? Is it in your bag?’ And he played really well. Nate is rebounding and defending.

He is going to knock some of those down, I just feel like he is. I feel good about where some of those young guys are growing.”

The stage is set and the players are ready. Tipoff will be Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at Purcell Pavilion.

Contact Inigo Yturralde at iyturral@nd.edu

nathanial george | The Observer

Irish senior forward Juwan Durham jumps to dunk the ball during Notre Dame’s 75-61 victory over UCLA on Dec. 14 at Purcell Pavilion. Durham leads the team with 43 blocks on the year, also tallying 103 boards.

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The observer | wednesday, january 22, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

nd men’s basketbalL

nd track & field

ND to host meet during weekend

By NATE MOLLER Sports Writer

Track and field will be back in competition this Saturday for the Notre Dame Invitational.

The team competed at Grand Valley State last weekend and will look to build off some stellar performances from that meet.

The Notre Dame Invitational will have the Irish facing off against ACC foe Louisville, Big East Conference champion Marquette, Missouri Valley Conference champion Illinois State and Loyola Chicago.

Despite the relatively small field, head coach Matt Sparks is looking forward to a competitive but unique setting.

“It will be good to have a small but competitive meet,” Sparks said. “Now in the college track and field world where we have these big invitationals, people tend to get lost in the shuffle. It will be neat to have some smaller races and some straight head-to-head competition that we lack sometimes in

Irish head home, seek 2nd win of season over Orange

our sport.”

Sparks also acknowledged the importance of having tough competition in early season meets.

“It’s good practice for when we get to conference and we are going for specific places and points, come ACC and NCAA Championship time,” he said.

Sparks hopes that the smaller meet setting will prove beneficial to underclassmen on the team.

“It’s good for underclassmen who have a hard time finding their niche in these big meets,” he said. “It allows them to see where they specifically are in a race. Often we are in meets where there are 15 different heats of a given meet, but at this meet there will be a lot of races where there might be only one section of each race, and they will know exactly where they fall in the competition.”

The throwers are arguably the strongest group for the Irish see TRACK&FIELD PAGE 9

By INIGO YTURRALDE Sports Writer

NATHANIAL GEORGE | The Observer

Irish senior guard T.J. Gibbs guards an opponent during Notre Dame’s 75-61 win over UCLA on Dec. 14 at Purcell Pavilion.

Notre Dame finds mixed results against top teams

By HAYDEN ADAMS

Saints given first Top 25 ranking Observer Sports Staff

Associate Sports Editor

see FENCING PAGE 10

see ND M BBALL PAGE 11

hcc men’s basketball

fencing | st. john’s invitational; philadelphia invitational

The No. 2-ranked Notre Dame fencing teams, missing top athletes training for the 2020 Tok yo Oly mpics and participating in the World Championships in France, took part in two meets over the weekend.

The first event took place in Jamaica, New York, at the St. John’s Inv itational and the second at the Universit y of Pennsylvania’s Philadelphia Inv itational. Both events saw stiff competition for the Irish as they faced six of the top seven teams in the countr y, according to head coach Gia Kvaratsk helia.

The first meet of the weekend saw varied results for the Irish men and women. The men posted a record of 0-5 over the weekend while the women managed to pull out a 3-2 record. In the first contest against No. 5 Ohio State, the men’s team controlled

The Notre Dame men’s basketball team will once again be facing off against the Syracuse Orange, this time on home soil.

The Irish men last played against Syracuse (11-7, 4-3 ACC) at the Carrier Dome in the first game of the year Jan. 4. Leaving New York with an 88-87 victory, the Irish will be looking to replicate both the intensity and the result of that game at home.

The Irish are 11-6 this season, but they have a 2-4 record against ACC opponents.

One of this team’s strong suits is being able to finish strong at home. So far, the Notre Dame team is 9-2 when playing in Purcell Pavilion.

Before Monday’s practice, head coach Mike Brey commented on the state of the team. It has been a week since

kendra osinski | The Observer

Irish junior sabre Colin Campbell competes in the DeCicco Duals on Jan. 27, 2019, at the Castellan Family Fencing Center.

Program histor y was made last week when the Holy Cross men’s basketball team (16-5, 11-2 CCAC) earned a ranking on the NAI A Div ision II national poll for the first time in the program’s histor y, coming in at the No. 25 spot last Wednesday.

The night the poll came out, the Saints had a chance to play host to one of the top contenders on that list at home — the No. 4 Olivet Nazarene Tigers.

The Tigers (19-2, 11-2 CCAC) made their trip to the NAI A Div ision II National Tournament back-to-back years in 2015 and 2016 and returned for their third appearance last season.

A lthough the Tigers managed to earn a 12-16 record in NAI A Div ision II tournament play, advancing to the semifinals in 2000 and the final eight in their next three appearances, their postseason play has slowed dow n since then and they have earned a

0-3 record since 2015.

The Saints, on the other hand, have yet to make a trip to the tournament in the program’s histor y.

Just last season, the Tigers won the 14-team CCAC conference tournament by t wo games over Holy Cross to clinch the tournament berth. The Tigers are led by junior for ward Nic Reed, who was named CCAC Player of the Year last year and who just last Saturday broke Olivet Na zarene’s all-time scoring record w ith a total of 2,776 points.

The Saints are led by senior for wards Parker Sims and Larenzo Moore as well as senior guard Robby Jimenez, all of whom put up big numbers against Olivet Na zarene. The Saints were able to find their 15th w in of the season against the Tigers, who were dealt just their second loss of the season.

The Saints outshot the see HCC M BBALL PAGE 10