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Volume 54, Issue 58 | tHURSDAY, december 5, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Dorm posters promote visibility, acceptance Le Mans Hall decorations aim to make all feel welcome in Saint Mary’s community By MAEVE FILBIN Saint Mary’s News Editor
A piece of white computer paper stands out amidst a sea of bright decorations taped to Saint Mary’s residence assistant (RA) Ivol Frasier’s door in Le Mans Hall, reading, “My room is hate free,” and “Please help me keep Le Mans Hall safe for everyone.” Stickers of the LGBTQ pride f lag and transgender pride f lag, as well as the accessibility and feminist movement symbols, surround the message. Similarly decorated posters are tacked to other
doors in the hallway. These posters were the result of a project led by Frasier, a junior RA, and other members of residence life. “It’s like, my room is hate free,” she said. “And so it’s just kind of like enforcing that this is a safe space for me and for everyone else.” RAs are asked to construct four programs exploring the core values of the College — learning, faith and spirituality, community and justice — over the course of the semester. Frasier said she and see POSTERS PAGE 3
Students observe Las Posadas
MAEVE FILBIN | The Observer
Saint Mary’s junior RA Ivol Frasier’s door in Le Mans Hall features an array of posters fostering inclusivity and tolerance. Frasier said she wanted to create safe spaces for students at the College.
South Bend park undergoes renovation By MARIA LUISA PAUL News Writer
NATALIE WEBER | The Observer
Students re-enact Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter in Bethlehem with a three-day Las Posadas celebration and walk on campus. By NATALIE WEBER Assistant Managing Editor
Senior Carolina Robledo always looked forward to Las Posadas — a modern day reenactment of the Christmas story — as a young child. It was a fun way to pray, and the kids always got bags of candy at the end. Now, as an Anchor intern with Campus Ministry, Robledo helped organize Notre Dame’s celebration of Las Posadas this year. “Las Posadas is a commemoration of the walk of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem to find a place for Jesus to stay,” she said. “This is done in the
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Latino tradition, and in my case, I’m very familiar with the Mexican tradition of doing it through song.” First brought to campus by former Farley Hall rector Elaine DeBassige, Las Posadas is traditionally held over the course of nine days, but is shortened to three at Notre Dame. Members of the community gathered at Duncan Hall on Wednesday evening for the second night of the celebration. The event began with prayer and readings from the Bible and a theological work. Then, participants, who see POSADAS PAGE 4
VIEWPOINT PAGE 6
Happy laughter mixed with cheerful screaming as children ran, jumped and glided down the bright green slides on the playground at South Bend’s Howard Park. Around them, couples and individuals alike made the most of the frosty afternoon by looping around the park’s new ice skating trail. A few took some tumbles but laughed it off, their smiles
adding to the joyful cacophony that filled the air of the newly renovated and reopened park. Howard Park, located near downtown in 219 S St. Louis Blvd, is the city of South Bend’s oldest park. During the past 14 months, the 120-year-old park was essentially a construction site, but on Nov. 29 it opened its doors to showcase its newly transformed state. The renovation comprised an $18 million investment,
which was funded through tax increment financing (TIF) bonds, park bonds and private donations. “It’s been exciting to have this public-private partnership opportunity to build something really cool for our community,” the city of South Bend’s director of recreation, Jonathan Jones said. The park now boasts an ice trail and pond, a playground, a support building, a see PARK PAGE 3
Professors discuss impeachment history By ALYSA GUFFEY News Writer
The final Pizza, Pop and Politics event of the semester took place Wednesday evening with a lecture titled: “High Crimes and Misdemeanors? The History of Impeachment.” Cosponsored by the Center for Social Concerns, ND Votes,
VIEWPOINT PAGE 7
Constitutional Studies and the Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy, the lecture featured law school professor Jimmy Gurulé and political science professor emeritus Peri Arnold to discuss the implications of impeachments, past and present, with students. Gurulé opened the lecture
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by addressing the importance of dialogue and engagement surrounding the impeachment process and its outcomes in the context of current political events. “We are living through a historical time, and often you hear that, but today it is factually true,” Gurulé sa id. see POLITICS PAGE 4
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TODAY
The observer | Thursday, december 5, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com
Have a question you want answered? Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com
Where is the coolest place you have been?
P.O. Box 779, Notre Dame, IN 46556 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556 Editor-in-Chief Kelli Smith Managing Editor Charlotte Edmonds
Asst. Managing Editor: Maria Leontaras Asst. Managing Editor: Mary Steurer Asst. Managing Editor: Natalie Weber
Notre Dame News Editor: Tom Naatz Saint Mary’s News Editor: Maeve Filbin Viewpoint Editor: Evelyn Stein Sports Editor: Connor Mulvena Scene Editor: Mike Donovan Photo Editor: Allison Thornton Graphics Editor: Diane Park Social Media Editor: Mary Bernard Advertising Manager: Landry Kempf Ad Design Manager: Ruby Le Systems Administrator: Stephen Hannon
Gracie Molnar
Mary Mansfield
freshman Flaherty Hall
sophomore Le Mans Hall
“France.”
“Mendocino, CA.”
Alexia Flores
Nadia Hartman
sophomore Holy Cross Hall
sophomore Le Mans Hall
“Amsterdam.”
“The small town in northern Italy where my family lives.”
Hannah O’Bryan
Niamh Brophy
sophomore Le Mans Hall
sophomore Le Mans Hall
“Glacier National Park.”
“Ireland.”
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webmaster@ndsmcobserver.com Policies The Observer is the independent, daily newspaper published in print and online by the students of the University of Notre Dame du Lac, Saint Mary’s College and Holy Cross College. Editorial content, including advertisements, is not governed by policies of the administration of either institution. The Observer reserves the right to refuse advertisements based on content. The news is reported as accurately and objectively as possible. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the majority of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Assistant Managing Editors and department editors. Commentaries, letters and columns present the views of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer. Viewpoint space is available to all readers. The free expression of all opinions through letters is encouraged. Letters to the Editor must be signed and must include contact information. Questions regarding Observer policies should be directed to Editor-in-Chief Kelli Smith. Post Office Information The Observer (USPS 599 2-4000) is published Monday through Friday except during exam and vacation periods. A subscription to The Observer is $130 for one academic year; $75 for one semester. The Observer is published at: 024 South Dining Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-0779 Periodical postage paid at Notre Dame and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER Send address corrections to: The Observer P.O. Box 779 024 South Dining hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-077
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ALLISON THORNTON | The Observer
Students work at the Ten Thousand Villiages Fair Trade Sell in Saint Mary’s Student Center. As a recognized Fair Trade College, the Office of Civil and Social Engagement is hosting the event featuring products such as jewelry, accessories and other holiday gifts.
The next Five days:
Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Opening Reception for Exhibition: “New Faces” AAHD Gallery 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Open to the public.
Naughton Fellowship Information Session 253 Nieuwland Hall 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. All interested students welcome.
Handel’s “Messiah” Leighton Concert Hall 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Featuring Notre Dame Choral. Tickets available online.
Red Cross Course Rockne Memorial Rooms 109 & 110 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. CPR/AED and first aid certification course.
Immaculate Conception Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 11:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. Open to the public.
Snite @ Nite: Snow Day Snite Museum of Art 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Enjoy all things related to snow days.
Code Cafe: A Coding Community 246 Hesburgh Library 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Coders of all skill levels welcome to practice.
Exhibit: “Looking at the Stars” Snite Museum of Art all day Featuring a wide selection of Irish art.
Advent Lessons and Carols Basilica of the Sacred Heart 7:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Open to the public.
Exhibit: “New Faces” The AAHD Gallery, 214 Riley Hall all day Work from first year MFA students.
News
Posters Continued from page 1
senior R A Dorothy Le decided to collaborate in a project highlighting diversit y and justice in residence life. “We were thinking like, ‘W hat are some ways that we can promote diversit y and justice that hasn’t really been done before? ’” Frasier said. “Because like, there have been projects w ith cupcakes and diversit y and you just like, decorate your cupcakes and that doesn’t really work.” W hile scrolling through Pinterest boards, Frasier and Le found templates for dorm posters that read, “My room is hate free. Please help keep _ _ _ _ Hall safe,” and were inspired to adapt them for their ow n project. They inv ited their residents to decorate the posters w ith stickers representing sy mbols of their ow n identit y. “And so we just thought it’d be a great way to get like the overall feel of Le Mans to feel a little more welcoming and inclusive because I know that for me, as a member of the LGBT communit y, I know that coming here, I was ver y scared and ver y afraid and didn’t know if I’d be able to find my people,” Frasier said. “So I think it’s really important to have that v isibilit y of the people who are safe and that Saint Mar y’s is safe. And so we’re like, ‘OK, door decs, that’s a great idea.’” The sticker sheets offered different designs w ith sy mbols for feminism, coex ist and disabilit y accessibilit y, Frasier said. “One of my favorites is like this world that’s held up by hands of different colors,” she said. “And so we tried to just include as many different areas of diversit y as we could in these sticker sheets. And [the residents] could just pick and choose which ones they wanted to use. And almost ever yone who came
Park Continued from page 1
concession stand, an interactive series of water fountains, an event lawn for concerts and a community building as part of its amenities. A restaurant facility, described as both “family-friendly” and “older-crowd pleasing” by Jones, is still under construction and will be completed in spring next year. The ice trail is the project’s hallmark. Jones called it a “world-class ice skating experience,” as the attraction includes varying terrain where participants are able to skate uphill, downhill and through
ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, december 5, 2019 | The Observer
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picked one of ever y thing, and I’m like, ‘Look at you guys, like spread the love.’ I love it.” Frasier said she’s not exactly sure what a safe Le Mans Hall looks like, but hopes it would feel inclusive and accepting, while promoting the v isibilit y of diverse populations on campus. “So making it know n that there are people of color who live here, or LGBT students who live here and just like — not necessarily going out of your way — but like making it v isible and know n that you’re safe to be who you are here,” she said. At Saint Mar y’s, a Catholic college w ith a predominantly white undergraduate enrollment, this inclusion has to be intentional, Frasier said. “At least for me coming in as someone who’s a little different, it’s like, ‘Oh, I don’t know if I’m going to be OK here’ to just kind of having that v isibilit y and that awareness that other people are here,” she said. “They’re welcome here and they belong here.” As a psycholog y major, Frasier said she has studied the dy namics bet ween an “in” group and an “out” group. “And so when you feel like you’re singled out or you feel like you’re different and ever yone else sees you as different, you’re more likely to underperform,” Frasier said. “So it’s really important to celebrate and accept diverse populations, but then also let them know that like that doesn’t define them. Like, it’s really important to make sure that even though you are a little different than the stereot y pical Belle, you still can be successful here and we see you and we support you.” The posters began as an inv itation to heightened awareness, and have now started conversations about safe spaces on campus, Frasier said. “If you don’t know where a safe space is, you don’t know
that it ex ists,” she said. “So even if it’s just another student or just a resident or just a friend, at least you know, you have that one place where you can go and celebrate yourself and be safe. And so even if you feel unsafe in the classroom, you know that you have one person you can go to and then I know hav ing on my door I hope that it w ill bring people to me who feel unsafe or that they need help, so that I can direct them to resources and help them have a better college experience.” Junior KatieBeth Hollman, sitting beneath the bisexual pride f lag hanging over her desk, said the posters encourage acceptance in Le Mans Hall. “I’m a member of the LGBT
communit y … so personally, I like seeing all of the ‘Keep Le Mans Hall safe’ things because they’re really welcoming,” Hollman said. “And like I know a bunch of them have pride stickers on them, and so it kind of makes me feel welcome and makes me like not feel prejudiced against.” Hollman and her roommate Mar y Blake tacked their versions of the sign to their door to project that same sense of welcome, Hollman said. “I put it on my door because I want other people to feel the same way,” she said. “So like if there’s someone else — and not even necessarily gay or bi or whatever — but even just like different beliefs or like different mental illnesses or
different disabilities, like I want them to know that I’m supporting them, and that they aren’t being prejudiced against.” Frasier said she thinks Saint Mar y’s has made a lot of pushes towards inclusion, and highlighted clubs such as the Black Student Association and Sexualit y and Gender A lliance. However, the College could do more to promote these groups on campus and make sure they are receiv ing the proper resources, Frasier added. “But of course, there’s always room for improvement,” she said. “There’s always room for more.”
several undulations; a combined 55,982 feet of underground plumbing to maintain the trail’s cool surface; and a ground-breaking stretch of skating over a bridge. “As far as we are aware we are the only location in the nation at the current time that has an ice skating attraction were people are actually skating over a bridge,” Jones said. Jones said Howard Park’s renovation is an attempt to unite the South Bend community. To achieve this goal, accessibility to the park was the cornerstone of the project. As such, equipment to accommodate people with disabilities was integrated
into the park. “The entire playground is Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible in a variety of different ways. For instance, the playground has especially-made equipment,” Jones said. “The ice trail also has special equipment so we can assist wheelchair-bound individuals who want to skate on the trail as well.” Another way the park strives to bring people together is through providing the space to host different events. For this reason, the community center features a 150 people banquet-style setting and air walls to accommodate three smaller rooms, accounting for an environment that “is
perfect for bridal showers, wedding receptions, gatherings, and any special celebration,” Jones said. Howard Park’s revamping is part of the overarching My South Bend Parks and Trails Initiative, a $50 million investment into the city’s park system, which, according to Jones, is the “single largest investment into parks in the history of South Bend.” As part of this campaign, the city has renovated other facilities, upgraded park structures and created more pedestrian-friendly areas throughout the park system. Moreover, these projects have strived to meet the city’s sustainability efforts, Jones
said. As such, Howard Park is LEED certified and is outfitted with energy-efficient technology. Such efforts and investments were made in order to “bring people together, make greater use of the park property, and really make a major impact on quality of life for individuals in South Bend,” Jones said, noting that Notre Dame is also part of the city’s community. “It’s a great opportunity for students to venture into South Bend and have a great experience outside of campus,” Jones said.
MAEVE FILBIN | The Observer
Saint Mary’s RAs recently began distributing signs promoting inclusivity to residents in Le Mans Hall. The various signs carry messages of acceptance for minority groups in the campus community.
Contact Maeve Filbin at mfilbin01@saintmarys.edu
Contact Maria Luisa Paul at mpaulran@nd.edu
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NEWS
The observer | thursday, december 5, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Politics Continued from page 1
“Today, the House Judiciar y Committee held its impeachment hearing on [President] Trump, in what could be the fourth president to be the target of impeachment.” Gurulé laid out the constitutional texts regarding presidential impeachment. “Congress has the authorit y to impeach the president upon a determination that such officers have engaged in treason, briber y, or other high crimes and misdemeanors,” he said. Gurulé focused on the question of what qualifies as a high crime or misdemeanor committed by a president of the United States, as the definition of the phrase is not laid out in the Constitution itself. Citing “Federalist 65,” Gurulé described a high crime or misdemeanor as “an abusive power that results in an injur y to [America].” “It’s not like a robber y where one v ictim is the victim of the robber y. … This is an injur y to our society, to our democracy.” Gurulé said. “That is the justification for impeachment: when a president abuses his power for personal gain.” In regards to the current impeachment hearings against President Trump, Gurulé believes
Posadas Continued from page 1
stood outside the building, sang a back-and-forth hy mn w ith a group of Duncan Hall residents, who stood inside the dorm. The hy mn reenacted the exchange between Joseph, Mar y and innkeepers who turned them away from lodging in Bethlehem. After being turned away from Duncan, more than 30 Notre Dame communit y members walked to McGlinn Hall, where they listened to readings, sang the hy mn to seek shelter and were turned away once again. They then journeyed over to Keough Hall, where the celebration concluded, and the pilgrims were finally accepted into the dorm. Beck y Ruvalcaba, who
Trump w ill be impeached but not removed from office due to the fact that the Democrats control the House of Representatives — which originates the process — and Republicans control the Senate, which makes the decision about whether to remove a president. He views political partialit y as an obstacle to the purpose of impeachment in American democracy. “The Democrats have one point-of-view on this, the Republicans have the opposite point-of-v iew and the actual demonstrations of innocence or guilt are secondar y considerations,” he said. Arnold followed Gurulé’s outline of the impeachment process w ith an analysis of the four presidents in American histor y to be the target of impeachment: Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. Johnson faced impeachment because of his v iolation of the Tenure of Office Act and sur vived possible removal of office in the Senate trial by one vote. Clinton was impeached and later acquitted on account of perjur y due to an affair w ith W hite House intern Monica Lew insk y. Nixon, while never officially impeached by the House, found himself as a target of impeachment after the Watergate scandal
ser ves as Campus Ministr y’s assistant director of multicultural ministr y, said the Spanish title, Las Posadas, translates to “shelter” in English. “I think it’s another way for us to really celebrate this Advent season, really having a v isual representation of that journey that we all take, that we all should be taking during this season — and really seeking to be able to have Jesus have shelter in our hearts,” she said. Senior and Anchor intern Cecily Castillo said Las Posadas can also remind people to ref lect on the modern day social concerns involv ing shelter and refuge, such as immigration and homelessness. “I think listening to each of the ref lections and the readings, … it really sets our
ALYSA GUFFEY | The Observer
Students listen as law school professor Jimmy Gurulé and political science professor emeritus Peri Arnold discuss impeachment history and what merits impeachment at Wednesday’s Pizza, Pop and Politics.
broke. Nixon resigned from his presidency shortly after. Currently, Trump is facing charges of impeachment for abuse of power and conducting briber y from foreign governments to aid him in the 2020 presidential election, Arnold said. Follow ing his analysis, Arnold argued that presidents in tension w ith their political context are especially v ulnerable to impeachment, but the div ision of political parties leads to the failure of the impeachment process. “[These presidents] are
what we call disjunctive presidents. That is, they come out of time and they stick out like sore thumbs in their context,” Arnold said. “They are specifically presidents in conf lict w ith political values and majorit y tendencies of the time. … But what w ill happen? Nothing. This is where our Constitution fails.” Follow ing the lecture, Gurulé and Arnold opened up the f loor for questions. In response to a question regarding if they see a change in the impeachment process in the near future, Gurulé
discussed his concerns for the grow ing political div ide alongside his hopes for the resiliency of American democracy. “Right now what I env ision is that the political div ide w ill only become more heated, v icious and div ided,” Gurulé said. “This current process may require something like a national crisis to shake our system and cause us to reawaken our senses and place the countr y above politics.”
minds and our hearts on to bigger picture concerns that come up at this t y pe of year,” she said. “So we really remember that, because in our faith, there should always be something that we can use to not only point ourselves towards God, but point ourselves into the concerns of others.” Senior Andres Walliser, who portrayed Joseph on Wednesday night, also ref lected on the connections bet ween the tradition and modern day concerns. “Going through the readings for each station is really relevant now,” he said. “It’s cool to tie our faith and the Church and how the Church has a role in immigration issues right now.” Sophomore Cristian Araujo, who portrayed Mar y,
said even though she’s not Catholic, Las Posadas allowed her to connect w ith other members of the Latino communit y at Notre Dame, and learn more about the Catholic faith. “It’s not necessarily just a Latino thing,” she said. “It’s just a cultural thing, just one of the many celebrations we have.” Walliser also encouraged students to come to the celebration. “For any cultural event, any Latino event we put on, I’m always happy to see people from outside the communit y, outside the culture,” he said. “I never people as outsiders. I always see ‘That’s really cool that someone’s interested in our thing.’” John Draves, a junior in the Old College seminar y,
came to Las Posadas for the first time Wednesday night because he knows Anchor interns Robledo and Castillo, and knew other people from his dorm who would be attending. He said during a busy time in the school year, Las Posadas can help students celebrate the season of Advent and prepare for Christmas. “[Las Posadas] doesn’t take too much time,” he said. “It’s nothing too hard to do. It’s something that anyone can just join in. It helps us commemorate this season in a more small, but yet intentional, way.” The final night of Las Posadas w ill begin Thursday at 8 p.m. in Fisher Hall.
Contact Alysa Guffey at aguffey@nd.edu
Contact Natalie Weber at nweber@nd.edu
W r it e Ne w s . E m a i l No t r e D a m e Ne w s E d i t o r T o m N a a t z a t t n a a t z @ n d . e d u o r S a i n t M a r y ’ s Ne w s E d i t o r M a e v e F i l b i n a t m f i l b i n 0 1 @ s a i n t m a r y s . e d u
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The observer | thursday, december 5, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
By JAKE WINNINGHAM Scene Writer
“I heard you paint houses.” As far as introductions go, the way audiences meet Frank Sheeran in “The Irishman” doesn’t have the same ring as the opening line of “Goodfellas”: “As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.” Martin Scorsese’s 1990 masterpiece stands as the peak of the gangster genre because of the totality of its vision: it is the story of how the Mafia life can control the identity of not only one man, but his entire family. Scorsese’s latest film, the three-hour-plus “The Irishman,” skillfully repudiates the myth propagated by “Goodfellas.” Where the latter movie remains thrilling even as police helicopters buzz overhead, “The Irishman” adopts a funereal tone that seems to suggest the end of an era not only for Scorcese and his venerated stars, but for the gangster film as a whole. Using CGI de-aging effects that are the only blemish on the film’s impact, “The Irishman” follows Robert De Niro’s Sheeran through a half-century of life as a realworld Mafia hitman involved with the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. Like Henry Hill in “Goodfellas,” Sheeran’s rise to some sort of Mafia prominence is presented in vintage Scorsese style, all rollicking mid-century music and a constantly moving camera introducing a revolving door of colorful characters. By the time Bobby Canavale is shown in a slaughterhouse while “I Hear You Knocking” blares in the background, the audience feels as though
By AIDAN O’MALLEY Scene Writer
Despite having aired its final episode nearly 20 years ago, there’s something about “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and its titular, real-life protagonist that seems particularly relevant today. Just last year, Oscarwinning documentarian Morgan Neville explored Fred Rogers’ life and legacy in “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” a poignant film that implored its audience to try a little kindness because the world needs our kindness now more than ever. It was a very special film that could melt the heart of anyone who watched it. I can’t recommend it highly enough. In the wake of all that praise, it might seem like there’s nowhere left to go with the story of Mister Rogers; the quintessential movie has already been made. And to some extent, that’s true. But “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is a film full of surprises, and while it’s by no means a movie I needed, it’s one I will happily take. First of all, Tom Hanks — what did we do to deserve him? They say 50% of great acting is great casting, and Hanks is so perfect for this role I feel like I needn’t waste time saying why. All you need to hear is “Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers” and it practically writes itself! While the obviousness of Hanks as Rogers might undermine his
Scorsese has returned to his comfort zone. However, this sense of narrative security is short-lived; as soon as Al Pacino enters the film as a larger-than-life Hoffa, “The Irishman” shifts into a lower, more thoughtful gear. Pacino’s presence in the movie is nothing short of baffling at first, as his tic-addled, constantly yelling Hoffa stands in sharp contrast to the reserved performances of the rest of the cast. As the movie progresses, though, Pacino’s surprisingly funny turn reveals itself as the film’s greatest strength: the audience learns to trust and care for Hoffa at the same time Sheeran does, which makes his eventual demise all the more impactful. He and De Niro form a classic odd-couple pairing, with Hoffa’s almost child-like bluster offsetting Sheeran’s seething competence. At other points, De Niro is paired with a freshly unretired Joe Pesci, who is absolutely fantastic as an aged Mafia boss, and a severely underutilized Anna Paquin, who makes the most of her limited screen time as Sheeran’s shame-filled daughter Peggy. It is in her scenes that Scorsese’s ultimate goal is most apparent. When she silently judges Sheeran for his life of violence, she also interrogates the director’s own complicity in the gangster genre’s glorification of that same bloodshed. In some respects, “The Irishman’s” closest antecedent in Scorsese’s filmography isn’t a gangster film like “Goodfellas” or “Casino,” but rather one of his religion pictures — “The Last Temptation of Christ” in particular. Scorsese’s latest film, then, serves as a perfect
synthesis of the director’s two career-long obsessions: crime and Catholicism. This is not to say that “The Irishman” is all serious business. It is shockingly well-paced for such a long film, buoyed by great performances across the board and typically shrewd soundtrack work by longtime Scorsese music supervisor Robbie Robertson, who finds melancholy new life in the Five Satins’ doo-wop classic “In The Still of the Night.” Scorsese is still an absurdly gifted shot compositor, to a point where a single set of frames within the film perfectly encapsulates his aim. When a murder weapon sinks to a riverbed chock-full of similarly discarded guns, it is but the most useful example of the film’s — and Scorsese’s — understanding of the futile, cyclical nature of the world of crime.
inevitable Oscar campaign, it only enhances the film in front of us. I mean, he’s got it all: the look, the voice, the grandfatherly mannerisms. Most of all, he has the soul; just like the real Mr. Rogers, Hanks can give you goosebumps with so much as a stare. But something you should know about “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is that it isn’t really about Mr. Rogers at all. On the contrary, it’s about Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys), a cynical journalist tasked with profiling the legendary children’s television host. At first glance, Lloyd seems like a fully-functioning member of society: he’s got a wife (Susan Kelechi Watson), a newborn and a fulfilling career which he excels at. But peel back his layers and you’ll find a scared little boy, still grappling with daddy issues (shoutout Chris Cooper) and the weight of adulthood. Enter Mr. Rogers. In classic biopic fashion, Lloyd heads to Pittsburgh to learn about Fred, but by the time he leaves, he’ll have learned much more about himself. I can practically hear the groans. I get it, I get it, it’s a story you’ve seen before. But what makes “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” so charming is its presentation. As it so happens, Mr. Rogers has plenty of tricks up his cardigan. That’s because the film is presented as if it were an actual episode of the show: it begins with Tom Hanks singing
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” closes with “It’s Such a Good Feeling” and is punctuated throughout by classic “Mister Rogers” staples like Mr. McFeely and the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. It even uses elaborate miniatures in lieu of establishing shots, just like the show’s iconic red trolley. In lesser hands, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” might easily have settled for schmaltzy Oscar fluff. But director Marielle Heller (“The Diary of a Teenage Girl,” “Can You Ever Forgive Me”) is far too clever. She has fashioned a film both original in its execution and bursting with heart. Just in time for Christmas, she’s made cinematic comfort food.
Contact Jake Winningham at jwinning@nd.edu
“The Irishman” Director: Martin Scorsese Starring: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci If you like: “The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Once Upon A Time In America”
Contact Aidan O’Malley at aomalle2@nd.edu
“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” Director: Marielle Heller Starring: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Chris Cooper If you like: “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” “Can You Ever Forgive Me”
DIANE PARK | The Observer
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The observer | thursday, December 5, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
When pork flies
Inside Column
Playing Santa
Julianna Conley In My Own Words
Nia Sylva Scene Writer
I believed in Santa until the fifth grade. Well, “believe” may be a bit too strong of a word. I knew the implausibility of it all. How could one sleigh hold every child’s presents or fly quickly enough to get all the gifts delivered in time? And what did Santa do when he got to a house that had no chimney? Did the unlucky kids inside chimneyless houses get nothing? While I grappled internally with these “disturbing” questions, I did my best to banish them from my mind. If Santa IS real, I figured, doubting him would surely land me on his naughty list. But there was another reason that I struggled so valiantly to hold on to my belief. On some level, I think, I worried that, when the myth of Santa slipped through my fingers, the magic of gift-giving would disappear with it. My mom always said that “you have to believe to receive,” and I definitely didn’t want that gravy train to end. But I wasn’t so much concerned with the gifts themselves as I was with the excitement and the mystery that accompanied them. I liked imagining a team of elves wrapping my family’s gifts, listening for the pitter-patter of reindeer hooves on the roof as I drifted off to sleep and racing downstairs to see if the cookies we left on the kitchen table had been eaten. What would replace those joyful images once they were gone? I was wrong to worry. After a particularly persistent classmate finally forced me to abandon my “babyish” belief, I discovered another side of the gift-giving process. My eyes were first opened when my mom brought me with her to buy presents for a family in need. I was initially skeptical (buying gifts for other kids is hardly an immature 10-year-old’s dream), but I soon started to picture these kids waking up to gifts under their tree — all because of us. And as we pushed the cart from aisle to aisle, I began to feel a little bit like Santa. Before I knew it, I was “playing” Santa at home, too. I started collecting intel for my mom, letting her know what my younger siblings wanted and helping her pick out gifts. Next, I trained myself to be a master giftwrapper: I sat in the laundry room for hours learning the intricacies of envelope-folding and proper tape technique. By the time my first Christmas as a non-believer arrived, I had forgotten to mourn my newfound jadedness. Instead, I was enthralled by the joy on everyone’s faces when they opened the gifts I had chosen and wrapped for them. I got to feel partially responsible for that joy; I got to lean back on the couch, plate of cookies in hand and “be Santa.” I think that’s the real magic of the myth. It certainly isn’t in receiving gifts that came from “Santa’s workshop,” or even in believing that he exists. Only when we take on his jolly persona ourselves — when we “become” Santa for someone else — do we truly apply the selfless spirit of Christmas to what’s otherwise just a story about a man in a red suit with a beard. You can contact Nia at asylva@nd.edu The views expressed in this inside column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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Recently, I had the honor of meeting the premiere celebrity on campus. No, not Fr. John Jenkins. Not Muffet McGraw. Not the seemingly everywhere Brandon Hardy. I’m talking about Notre Dame’s resident hot dog thrower: Connor Nielsen. Starstruck since I saw him flinging franks at a men’s basketball game last year, I’ve been intrigued by the unsung hero for nearly a year. I’m a big fan of everyday philanthropy, of the small moments that reinvigorate, the simple acts that add color to everyday life, rather than grand gestures. This hot dog hurling operation checks all those boxes. It’s creative and relatively easy to carry out, but it creates a big impact on the joy of those around him. Still, I had questions: What made him feel the need to send his sausage skyward? How much does he spend on hot dogs per season? Who is the man behind the hot dog? For those unfamiliar with the pork propelling sensation, at every Notre Dame home football game and most basketball ones, Connor Nielsen, selfdubbed “The Hot Dog Guy,” has become something of a gameday staple at Notre Dame sporting events, known for riling up the student section by throwing hot dogs at fans. Shaking hands with Connor, my first thought was that he seemed like the kind of guy who would throw hot dogs. Not that I have a strict model for sausage slingers to base my analysis off of, but if I were going to construct one, Connor would be it. With a warm demeanor and an attentive nod, Connor is the type of person who always seems to be on the verge of laughing. And he was — in our interview, at least. He laughed while suggesting a fish taco place in my hometown for me to try. He laughed while discussing his former college football career. He laughed when I brought up the hot dogs. A second-year graduate student, Connor is working towards his MBA with a focus on marketing. He hopes to become a brand manager some day, commenting he’d love to work on campaigns that bring people together. But he’s already built quite a brand for himself during his time at Notre Dame. Connor throws hot dogs at half time, sending the snacks soaring into the student section. Wearing a personalized Notre Dame jersey that reads “LFG” on the back and pants that make it appear as if a leprechaun is giving him a piggyback ride, Connor would be a distinctive fan even without his hot dog habits. Originally from Chicago, Connor always grew up a Notre Dame fan, but explains, “When you’re slow and not named Rudy, they tell you to wait until grad school to come to Notre Dame.” From 2009-2013, Connor attended the University of Jamestown in North Dakota, earning his bachelor’s degree in marketing and playing on Jamestown’s varsity football team as a wide receiver. Still, Notre Dame was always a part of Connor’s plan. Frankfurter fame was not, however. Late September last year, at the Stanford-Notre Dame football game, Connor’s friend went to buy snacks and came back with six extra sandwiches. Connor asked his friend what the plan was for the sandwiches. When the friend shrugged, Connor decided to do the only logical thing available: throw them to the student section surrounding him. In his own words, “One thing led to another, and, before you knew it, it kind of became an expectation and people were like ‘Oh, LFG!’” LFG. A major facet of the pork pitcher’s notoriety, Connor’s “LFG” jersey carries much more personal meaning than one would expect from a slogan originating in the beer pong community (at least, according to Urban Dictionary). The jersey is #20, for his graduating year, and the initials? A nod to his MBA family. Before throwing his hot dogs, Connor pumps up
the crowd, leading them in a chant of the letters. Connor explains, “LFG is the adopted motto of the MBA program: ‘Let’s freaking go.’ Basically what it means is there’s a time when you gotta study, and let’s freaking go and get the studies done. Get it done and once the studies are done, let’s get back to being a family and come back out and be social and break bread and have a meal together.” Purposely leaving his hot dogs structurally insecure so that the bun and dog will separate to provide more lucky winners, Connor is certainly oriented towards bringing as many people together as possible. Staying true to his roots, Connor first sends his meat missiles into the graduate section, but works his way through the student section, offering a hot dog to any and all Notre Dame students — except those who put ketchup on hot dogs (an unforgivable offense by any Chicago native’s standards). During our interview, Connor repeatedly shrugged off any queries as to a deeper meaning to sending snacks up the student section. He just repeated that it’s about having fun. It’s about embracing the lifestyle of the LFG. Still, whether or not Connor thinks he’s just lobbing lunch, the rest of the school certainly seems to consider the tradition more than just hot dogs. Pasquerilla East assistant rector Elizabeth Clarke has repeatedly voiced that the hot dogs are “the best part of the game.” MBA student and basketball player Rex Pflueger notes, “He reinvigorates the crowd through free food and chants of LFG. Not only does he spread hot dogs, but he also spreads enthusiasm and joy to those around him. I truly believe he brings joy and energy into every stadium or arena that is privileged to host his hot dog throwing.” Sophomore Megan Bollinger praises, “The first time I saw [the hot dog throwing] I was very confused, but as he threw the hot dogs into the stands I noticed the joy that came across people. It was truly inspiring.” Even a cased sausage skeptic, sophomore Josie McQuillan, admits, “I don’t even like hot dogs but I want to catch one so bad.” Admittedly, some fans are not entirely sure what to make of the ordeal. Junior Bridget Murphy remarks, “I’m just confused. Because he spends a lot of money on those hot dogs and doesn’t even eat them. Just to feel like a god for a moment.” Sophomore Kat Machado comments, “I don’t really understand why he does it, but it seems to make people happy.” But that’s it. That’s precisely the point. Connor Nielsen catapults case sausage, spending upwards of $200 a football season just because it makes people happy. Connor may not consider himself a hero, but few confronted with the issue of an abundance of food would conclude the only solution is to turn the grub airborne and share it with their student body. Few would shell out roughly $25 a game (a conservative estimate of Connor’s frankfurter finances). And all in the name of fun. At the time of our interview, Connor didn’t plan to name a successor after graduation, but he leaves his legacy by providing the following wisdom: “My one piece of advice for college students would be to enjoy it. To have fun. I have some undergraduate friends and they’ll say to me ‘I didn’t realize MBAs have so much fun.’ We [grad students] know how serious the real world is so we’re going to make the most of these next two years when it comes to being here. Have fun. Don’t care what people think.” Then, as an afterthought, and a joke: “Let your dreams fly.” So goes the advice from The Hot Dog Man. Let your dreams fly. And maybe a dog or two, while you’re at it. Julianna Conley loves cereal, her home state of California and the em dash. A sophomore in Pasquerilla East, if Julianna can’t be found picnicking on North Quad, she can be reached for comment at jconley4@nd.edu. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The observer | thursday, december 5, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
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A new kind of moderate Andrew Graham BridgeND
Needless to say, politics as of recent has taken a turn from how they have traditionally been discussed. This has led to the unfortunate labeling of opposing sides, which has cut down on the amount of discussion between people of opposing viewpoints. For many, the only time they are exposed to perspectives that drastically differ from their own is when watching debates, either on social media or television, in which each side is passionately fighting against the other. The unfortunate side effect of this echo chamber/ flame-war dichotomy is that people tend to view those who disagree with them as “out to get them”, which more often than not perpetuates this vicious cycle. Part of the college experience is being challenged to understand new things, and most people have an easy enough time applying that to academics. However, this bleeds into politics as well. Being open to a new, fairly represented perspective can do up to three things through challenging currently held beliefs: it can cause people to reject an old belief and take up a new one, it can strengthen beliefs and it can broaden one’s perspective. When people change their minds due to good arguments, they are better able to see their new belief in a critical light, and therefore able to change along with changing times and new information. When people strengthen their beliefs, they are better able to represent those beliefs to an audience that may disagree with them, and also better able to defend them. Broadening one’s perspective means being more able to appreciate when other people give differing opinions because one understands how those people have different lived experiences and backgrounds. Because even though the opinions might be different, it does not mean either is wrong, just that they are different perspectives of the same truth. While it can be easy to disagree with other people, it is important to work toward having fruitful discussions. These discussions involve sitting down, and having polite, fair, one-on-one conversations with people who hold different beliefs, so that even if
neither side’s mind is changed, at the very least each person has a better understanding and appreciation for people who differ from themselves. All too often, it is very easy to think in extremes: this is good or bad, black or white. It is common for people to say, the solution to this is to look for the “grey” where most see black and white. This is a better approach, but even this does not capture the complexity of different individuals. Very few things are entirely one way or another, black or white, and it is good to see the grey in life, but not everything is a moderation of two extremes. There is an entire color spectrum of traits that things and people have, which is neither black nor white nor even grey, but entirely different colors, like green and pink and yellow and orange. As in real life, there is overlap with these traits, as blue and yellow make green, but there is no reason to limit how people are viewed across only a single spectrum of greyscale, when there is a wide variety of mixtures that can be made using several spectrums to better encapsulate how different individuals are. It is this looking at people as shades of grey that has led to how those with extreme perspectives often come to dislike moderates, especially those who do not tend toward either extreme. In my own experience, it is often the case that my beliefs and opinions are dismissed because I do not strongly favor either side on a particular issue. The problem there is that my so called “moderate” belief is not a mix between the two extreme stances on the issue, but a third, potentially unconsidered stance which, although not perfect, still has the potential to provide a completely new perspective to both sides. As a comparison, though a wide variety of experiences including my friend groups, my dorm community, BridgeND and many other groups, I have had some very good conversations with people who do not fit into a single spectrum representation. These people have very different perspectives, but none of them are necessarily wrong, even if there are areas where those perspectives conflict with mine or each other’s. This appreciation for very different perspectives is part of Notre Dame’s focus. While not perfect, and not always obvious, Notre Dame works to inspire discussion between different people in the hopes of creating well-rounded individuals who are able to work
with others regardless of differing perspectives. In using multiple spectrums to better understand others, Notre Dame hopes to create a “new moderate” group which is not apathetic or uncertain, but rather able to appreciate many different perspectives. Part of being a Catholic institution is being catholic in the sense that there is a global perspective, which appreciates the unique contributions of a wide range of individuals. It is important to be exposed to people who are different, and that exposure can be even more meaningful when one is open to a multi-faceted understanding of those people. This strengthens the people within the Notre Dame community, and as a result, the community as a whole, as new perspectives provide insight as well as a broader draw to different minds and hearts. Andrew Graham is a first-year, majoring in chemical engineering, and can be reached at agraham3@nd.edu BridgeND is a multi-partisan political club committed to bridging the partisan divide through respectful and productive discourse. It meets on Mondays at 5 p.m. in the McNeill Room of LaFortune Student Center to learn about and discuss current political issues, and can be reached at bridgend@nd.edu or on Twitter @bridge_ND The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Kerry Schneeman | The Observer
Letter to the editor
Strike with us Dear fellow members of the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross community, Our generation knows we are facing a climate crisis. We see our air, our water and our home threatened everyday by the frightening reality that our stable climate is crumbling within our lifetimes. Our generation knows our leaders aren’t responding with urgency. We see our future held hostage by the greed of a handful of wealthy oil and gas executives who will stop at nothing to squeeze the last bit of money out of the earth. Our generation knows how to raise our voice. We see our youth not as an obstacle but as an opportunity — an opportunity to turn our fear into the political power which we must wield to fight back against this climate crisis. Our generation knows now is the time for action. We see there can be no delay in making our leaders hear our voices as we demand protection for the health and wellbeing of all people. As members of the tri-campus community, we know our faith calls us to be stewards of God’s creation. Therefore, in the footsteps of Greta Thunberg we will join members of the South Bend community and youth around the country to strike from our daily routines on this upcoming Friday, Dec. 6, and meet at Howard Park at 10 a.m. Can you join us? Together, we will call upon our leaders to take
bold action to address the climate crisis, secure a livable future for our generation and create millions of good jobs in the process. If you plan to join us, please feel free to RSVP at bit.ly/ StrikeSouthBend. If you have any questions or need a ride, please reach out to either Duncan Donahue (ddonahu2@ nd.edu) or Ian Baker (ibaker2@nd.edu). Our future is at stake; we hope you join us. Duncan Donahue sophomore Ian Baker freshman Greg Campion senior Zoë Penko graduate student, class of 2024 Farah Khashman freshman Adam Griffin freshman Sam Bosio sophomore
Love Lee freshman Tianle Zhang freshman Anna Lee freshman Max O’Connor sophomore Chase Cummings sophomore Chaenny Sim senior Patricia Alquiza senior Nick Crookston freshman Christian Bunker senior Ian Horvath freshman Dec. 2
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Classifieds
The observer | thursday, december 5, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Crossword | Gary CEe
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: You’ll have to filter through the information you are given this year and do your due diligence before taking someone’s word as truth. Go directly to the source, ask blunt questions and leave nothing to chance. Your future depends on how you go about delineating information you come across and using it to your advantage. Truth and integrity matter. Your numbers are 8, 12, 21, 24, 33, 41, 45. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Stay in control. If you overreact, you’ll have regrets. Look for a unique way to convince someone to see things your way. A money matter can be resolved if you look for an investment that will encourage you to head in a new direction. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Put yourself out there. Offer ideas, hands-on help and your expertise. Joining forces with someone who has as much to offer as you will help you bring about positive changes that improve your life. Romance will enhance a meaningful relationship. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Be secretive about your personal business, how you feel or what you intend to do next. The less you share with others, the easier it will be to get things done. A partnership will need an adjustment if you want it to continue. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Explore possibilities. Don’t fear making changes, meeting new people or trying something you’ve never done. Be open and receptive to suggestions and willing to discuss your plans. A professional opportunity looks promising. Romance will improve your personal life. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t get angry; get moving. If you waste time disagreeing with someone who will never see things your way, you will miss out on something new and exciting. Follow through with your plans, and let others do as they please. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Get out and about. The less time spent at home or around someone who is a bad influence, the better. Surround yourself with people who are ambitious and eager to make a difference. A positive change is heading your way. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t jump for joy until you are sure you’ve taken care of every detail necessary to avoid complaints or criticism. If someone overreacts, puts pressure on you or tries to interfere in your life, be prepared to walk away. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Make changes to the way you live that will be conducive to getting ahead. Information you gather will help you make an adjustment to the way you earn your living. Keep up with technology and what’s trending. Romance is featured. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Emotional manipulation should not be tolerated. Your generosity will end up costing. Don’t pay for someone’s mistake. Offer suggestions, not cash or your services for free. A personal change you make will motivate you to do better. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A shift in the way you earn your living or handle your cash will make your life easier. Expect to receive a surprise from someone you least expect. A change at home will encourage you to make a physical improvement as well. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Concentrate on what others are doing and how it will affect you. Get ready to protect your interests and your future by maintaining a stable personal financial footing. Less spending and more observing will help. Avoid joint ventures. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):Keep your plans simple. If you are too elaborate or paint a brighter vision than what you can produce, you’ll have to answer to someone who doesn’t agree with your tactics. Moderation and practicality will help you excel. Birthday Baby: You are sensitive, caring and energetic. You are unique and imaginative.
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
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ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, december 5, 2019 | The Observer
Volleyball
Sports Authority
A section football miracle prevails on Ricci Fields By HAYDEN ADAMS Associate Sports Editor
On a brisk December night in South Bend at 11 p.m., the Zahm House section football championship game bet ween the first f loor section 2B took place at Ricci Fields. The match was a thrilling push-and-pull, neck-andneck contest bet ween the top seeds in the playoffs. The first f loor (disclaimer, my team) jumped out to the early 1-0 lead, but the second f loor team would respond w ith a touchdow n of their ow n to even the score at one apiece. Even so, the first f loor remained undaunted. Despite some special team lapses, including a dropped punt return by yours truly pinning us at our ow n one-yard line, the first f loor still managed to establish a 3-1 advantage thanks to the play of junior w ide receivers Matthew ‘Duff y’ Duff y and Joe Nowak. 2B would not go quietly, though, as key interceptions and a quarterback change allowed them to knot the score at 3-3. But then, the first f loor would again take the lead at 4-3 and be w ithin only one point of v ictor y. However, on the ensuing kickoff, 2B pulled a brilliant trick play as the receiver fielded the ball in the end zone and feigned a fair catch, sprinting by the unsuspecting opponent for an easy special teams score to bring the game to 4-4. The momentum seemed to be going 2B’s way at that point, but sophomore quarterback and cornerback Riley Kennedy led the first f loor on another scoring drive to go up 5-4, w ith the section rules dictating that a team must w in by two points, unless extenuating circumstances come into play (spoiler alert, they would). 2B came right back w ith a touchdow n of their ow n for the fourth tie of the contest. The first f loor then struggled to move and were forced to punt and turn the ball over on dow ns, but the defense held firm. Led by freshman defensive lineman Charlie ‘Chip’ Martin,
the defensive line recorded several sacks on Dow ney as they steamrolled 2B’s offensive line. One sack resulted in a safet y which, according to the rules, required 2B to punt the ball away. “It was all about the hard work,” Martin said. “And we played our game, they played their game. In the end, we came out stronger.” As the game wore on for over an hour, both teams were due for a climactic finish. The first f loor took a 6-5 lead and the defense held the opposition scoreless for two straight possessions, w ith freshman safet y and receiver Parker Niehaus recording several pass breakups. With the Ricci Field lights scheduled to shut off no later than 12:30 a.m., the first f loor attempted to put the nail in the coffin and earn a decisive v ictor y w ith one more score. Despite suffering from a leg cramp, Nowak courageously sacrificed his body to stay on the field and help move the chains w ith a big reception. Then, he would w rite his name in the histor y books. As the first f loor faced fourth-and-goal just past the effective midway point of the field, Kennedy took a shot to the back corner of the end zone w ith Niehaus and Nowak facing three 2B defenders. W hat occurred next was nothing short of the most gut-w renching, heart-breaking, tear-inducing and legend-making play of the entire season. Kennedy lofted the ball up w ith his signature throw ing st yle and it came dow n into the fray. Nowak tipped the ball into the air and managed to grasp it on the edge of the end zone falling out of bounds. As the first f loor jumped into a frenzy over the catch, an impassioned debate ensued over whether or not Nowak was inbounds when he gained possession of the ball. Luckily for the first f loor, freshman special teams contributor and amateur documentarian Daniel Romito was filming the final play and both squads huddled round the camera, watching the replay
in slow motion and looking at the still shot to see where Nowak’s toes were at the moment of gaining possession. W hile I initially thought it was an incompletion, if I do say so myself, the ev idence seems compelling that he was just inbounds and it was a touchdow n, and Romito agreed. “We have the tape,” Romito said. “Roll the tape !” As the lights shut off, the first f loor celebrated the v ictor y as extenuating circumstances dictated the game be called based on the already lengthy duration of the match. Deliberation over the final touchdow n rages on to this day, but sophomore special teams contributor and team documentarian Glenn ‘Queens’ Fiocca put it in ver y simple terms. “The debate is if we won by one or t wo [and] I think that that’s not much of a debate,” Queens said. With the game in the books though, sophomore w ide receiver and cornerback Dylan ‘Tate’ Anderson said the focus should shift to a different topic. “The new debate is whether first f loor can beat the Bengals,” Anderson said. Senior first-f loor resident assistant, captain and defensive/offensive lineman Michael ‘Mikey’ Nguyen expressed his sincere gratitude to the team for getting him his first championship. “After four years of liv ing in Zahm, and getting prett y close, it’s unbelievable to finally w in the section ball championship,” Nguyen said. “... 2B is a great team full of talented guys that absolutely deser ved to be in the championship, but tonight our guys really played their hearts out.” The feeling of the team was probably summed up in no better terms than by Martin. “Better team. We won.” ’Nuff said.
Continued from page 12
advancing to the second round of the tournament, they will likely face off against a strong No. 4-opponent in Wisconsin. The Badgers are 22-6 on the season and 18-2 in the Big Ten. The only unranked opponent they have fallen to this year was Ohio State, who defeated the Badgers in four sets. Other than that loss, the Badgers have only fallen on five other occasions to top-ranked teams. The Badgers will be coming into the tournament with a hot hand after a sweeping win over Rutgers to clench their sixth Big Ten Tournament Championship in program history, their first since 2014. W hen the Badgers
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get to the postseason they tend to play their best volleyball, having qualified for the tournament on 22 other occasions including the last seven years. They are 46-22 in the tournament and have advanced to at least the Sweet 16 the past six years in a row. The Irish will be faced with a tough challenge in the tournament, but should be able to put together a good run behind the leadership of Niego and Nunez along with other standout players sophomore right side hitter Sydney Bent and freshman outside hitter Caroline Meuth. The first-round matchup against UCL A will take place on Friday at the UW Field House in Madison, Wisconsin and is set to start at 5:30 p.m.
emma farnan | The Observer
Irish sophomore outside hitter Charley Niego jumps to spike the ball during Notre Dame’s 3-1 home loss to Syracuse on Nov. 17.
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.
Write Sports.
Email Connor Mulvena at cmulvena@nd.edu
emma farnan | The Observer
Irish freshman outside hitter Caroline Meuth passes the ball during Notre Dame’s 3-1 home loss to Syracuse on Nov. 17.
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The observer | thursday, december 5, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
M Bball Continued from page 12
on their first two possessions, but Maryland began the scoring with a layup in transition. On the following possession, senior forward John Mooney answered by knocking down two free throws from the line. Notre Dame grabbed a twopoint lead after Mooney assisted fellow senior forward Juwan Durham underneath for an easy dunk. On the following possession, Mooney knocked down a 3-point jumper to give the Irish a 7-2 lead. Following a made basket from Maryland, Durham made a contested shot in the paint to give the Irish a 9-4 lead at the under-16 timeout. The Irish offense was unable to find the bottom of the net for the next four minutes, but the Terps struggled as well and were only able to cut the lead to 9-8 at the second media timeout. Sophomore guard Robby Carmody finally ended the drought for the Irish by making a contested reverse layup. Maryland tied the game up at 11 before Carmody would answer again
by making another contested layup to give the Irish a 13-11 lead at the under-eight timeout. The Maryland offense would fire on all cylinders from that point on and not give the Irish the lead for the rest of the game. Maryland grabbed the lead back with just less than six minutes to go in the half at 14-13 following more lackluster possessions from the Irish offense. With four to go in the half, Maryland had extended their lead to 18-13 — their largest lead of the game thus far. Following a missed shot by Mooney, Maryland knocked down a 3-pointer to extend their lead to eight and complete a 10-0 run on the Irish. The Irish finally made a basket to cut the lead to six, but Maryland responded on the following two possessions to grab a 25-15 lead. Sophomore guard Prentiss Hubb made an easy basket on the next possession, but Maryland hit yet another 3-pointer to take an 11-point lead. Maryland continued to keep their momentum by making a contested dunk in transition to grab a large
30-17 lead. The Irish responded, cutting the lead to 3020, but the Terrapins ended the half in a big way. Aaron Wiggins missed a 3-pointer but took advantage of a poor box out from the Irish to gather his own rebound and make an emphatic dunk to give Maryland a comfortable 32-20 lead heading into the lockerroom. At the half the Irish were shooting a disappointing 28.6% from the f loor and a mere 1-of-11 from beyond the arc. They also recorded an uncharacteristic seven turnovers. Coming out of the half, the Irish made an early basket, but Maryland answered on the ensuing possession to regain their 13-point lead. Following a missed layup from Carmody, Wiggins knocked down another 3-pointer for Maryland to extend the lead to 16. It only would get worse for the Irish from that point on as Maryland made an easy layup in transition to take a commanding 40-22 lead. Out of a Notre Dame timeout, Mooney finally knocked down just the second three
of the night for the Irish with 17 minutes to go in the first half. Following a stop, Dane Goodwin made a and layup and was fouled in the process, hitting his shot at the line to give the Irish some life, cutting the Maryland lead to 12. After a made layup for the Terps, Goodwin knocked down the teams third 3-pointer of the game to bring the lead back down to 11, but from that point on it was all Maryland. Maryland kept the pressure on the Irish and opened the lead back up to 16 in a matter of a minutes. At the under-12 timeout the Terps lead was a comfortable 17 points. Mooney continued to fight for the Irish out of the timeout by knocking down two free throws and making a 3-pointer. The Terps continued to answer as well, though, and Maryland opened up a 21-point lead at 59-38 with just over eight minutes to play. The game was clearly over from that point on, and defeat was inevitable for the Irish. When all was said and done, Maryland won the game by 21 points to the tune of 72-51.
Mooney led the way for the Irish by posting a doubledouble with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Hubb also was in the double digits for the Irish with 13 points. The Irish shot 29% from the f loor on the night and were seven-for-25 from beyond the arc. Senior guard T.J. Gibbs, who is typically one of the main contributors for the Irish, finished the night with zero points, going 0-of-11 from the field. The Irish also finished with 10 turnovers. In addition to the loss, the Irish season took another hit as Carmody was helped off the f loor with just over a minute remaining in the game with what appeared to be a knee injury. Carmody has had a long history of injuries, so rightly so the Irish staff and team was concerned about his health. Carmody has came off the bench this year and been a key contributor to the team, and he will be needed as the Irish schedule gets tougher. Next up for the Irish is the ACC home opener against Boston College on Saturday. The game will tip from Purcell Pavilion at 2 p.m. and can be aired on ESPNU.
ALLISON THORTON | The Observer
Irish senior guard T.J. Gibbs dribbles the ball around an opponent during Notre Dame’s home victory over Toledo on Nov. 21. Irish begin ACC play Saturday with a home opener against Boston College.
NOLA WALLACE | The Observer
Irish sophomore Nate Laszewski looks to pass the ball during Notre Dame’s 64-62 victory over Toledo at Purcell Pavilion on Nov. 21. The Irish are 6-2 on the season and return to play Saturday afternoon.
ALLISON THORTON | The Observer
Irish senior guard T.J. Gibbs follows through on his shot during Notre Dame’s 64-62 win over Toledo on Nov. 21 at Purcell Pavilion.
Sports
ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, december 5, 2019 | The Observer
W Bball Continued from page 12
allison thorton| The Observer
Irish graduate student guard Marta Sniezek calls for the ball during Notre Dame’s 69-72 loss to Michigan State at Purcell Pavilion on Nov. 14.The Irish are 5-5 on the season overall and return to play Sunday.
isabel patacsil | The Observer
Irish sophomore forward Danielle Cosgrove looks to shoot the ball during Notre Dame’s 69-72 loss to Michigan State on Nov. 14 at Purcell Pavilion. The Irish return to action Sunday against the Huskies. Paid Advertisement
opening 10 minutes. The second quarter saw more of the same defensive dominance from the Golden Gophers. The visitors continued to use their length to block shots and passing lanes, making it extremely difficult for Notre Dame to run its offense. The Irish had a 7:01 scoring drought between the end of the first and the start of the second quarter. Minnesota consistently forced the Irish to take difficult, highly contested shots with the shot clock winding down. The first half ended with Minnesota leading 33-21. McGraw wasn’t pleased with her team’s offensive struggles and credited the Golden Gophers defense. “I mean we couldn’t make a shot. We missed layups, we missed open jumpers and I thought their defense was really good,” McGraw said. “They played really physical with us and we just caved. We didn’t stay strong, we let them push us around and we just wouldn’t attack. We were trying to shoot over shot blockers instead of trying to take her off the dribble and getting to the free throw line.” In the second half however, the Irish slowly began to find their offensive rhythm. Sophomore guard Katlyn Gilbert, who notched 15 points and seven rebounds in the contest, drilled Notre Dame’s first three of the game two minutes into the third quarter, and freshman forward Sam Brunelle who finished with 19 points and six rebounds, made a number of tough jump shots and layups to cut into the deficit. Graduate student guard Destinee Walker recorded eight of her 12 points of the night in the third quarter. With the Irish trailing by nine at the start of the fourth quarter, Brunelle made a layup with a foul to bring the Purcell Pavilion crowd back into the game. The freshman gave the Irish their first lead of the night with
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another layup with 5:33 left in the game. Minnesota head coach Lindsay Whalen then called a timeout to stop Notre Dame’s momentum. Out of the timeout, Minnesota’s senior forward Taiye Bello answered to give the Gophers the lead again, followed by a lay up by freshman guard Anaya People to put the Irish back in front 59-58. However, the Irish failed to score for the next 2:47, as the Golden Gophers closed out the game with a 17-8 run. Brunelle expressed frustration postgame after another difficult loss for the Irish. “It’s been the same thing every game. We were right there tonight, up one, the timeout was called and we came out f lat and were down 10 just like that,” Brunelle said. “It’s just about us beating ourselves. It’s been a continuous thing coming out f lat like that, but that’s no excuse for us. We’ve been in every single game and have had the opportunity to win those games.” McGraw was also frustrated with her team’s defensive execution late in the game, as the Gophers scored on nine straight possessions after Peoples’ clutch bucket. “They came up and found people to make shots, but I don’t have an answer for it,” McGraw said. “I don’t know why we just completely stopped playing defense after we took the lead.” The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for the Irish, as they will face No. 4 UConn (6-0) on the road Sunday in a rematch of this past April’s national semi-final. Brunelle brief ly looked ahead to the game. “We know they’re going to be prepared for us,” Brunelle said. “It’s up to us whether or not we want to be in that game, and I sure as hell hope we come out and win and play like we should be able to play.” The Irish will take on the Huskies on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. in Storrs, Connecticut on ESPN. Contact Colin Capece at ccapece@nd.edu
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The observer | thursday, december 5, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
women’s basketball| minnesota 75, notre dame 67
Irish can’t finish late, lose to Gophers at home By COLIN CAPECE Sports Writer
Despite a fourth quarter surge to overcome an 18-point second half deficit, Notre Dame (5-5) fell short at home again Wednesday, losing 75-67 to Minnesota (7-1). Lackluster perimeter defense and a poor first quarter on offense put the Irish behind early and ultimately sent them to a third defeat out of their last four contests. “We need to be smarter on defense. We just cannot remember who we’re supposed to guard,” head coach Muffet McGraw said in her postgame press conference. “We just don’t have any pride in our defense right now. Really disappointed in just the overall lack of awareness of where the shooters were. We just couldn’t seem to find number 34 [redshirt junior guard Gadiva Hubbard] in the zone.” Leaving Hubbard with too much space to shoot was certainly an issue for the Irish throughout the game. The guard led the Golden Gophers in scoring with 20 points
and torched the Irish from the three-point line, making six shots from beyond the arc. As a team, the Golden Gophers knocked down 12 threes. McGraw made it clear that the poor defensive showing resulted from a combination of mistakes and miscommunications. “There’s a myriad of reasons,” McGraw said. “There were times when we were defending two players and our guard didn’t come over to help. They’re all responsible. That’s stuff that we work on in practice every day and we haven’t mastered yet.” The game developed in three stages, with the Golden Gophers starting the first quarter on a 13-6 run. Minnesota’s defense used its size and length advantage to stifle the Irish, not allowing Notre Dame to score during the final 2:30 of the first quarter. The Irish struggled to get to the rim and couldn’t find open looks, taking only 11 shots in the quarter. Notre Dame also turned the ball over 11 times in the see W BBALL PAGE 11
isabel patacsil | The Observer
Irish sophomore guard Katlyn Gilbert dribbles the ball during Notre Dame’s 72-69 loss to Michigan State on Nov. 14 at Purcell Pavilion. The Irish return to play Sunday at the University of Connecticut.
volleyball
Men’s basketball | maryland 72, notre dame 51
Notre Dame falls to third-ranked Maryland
Irish prepare for championship
Observer Sports Staff
Observer Sports Staff
A six-game win streak came to an abrupt halt last night in College Park as the men’s basketball team fell to the unbeaten No. 3 Maryland Terrapins 51-72. The Irish (6-2, 0-1 ACC) consistently struggled on the offensive side of the ball, and while they were able to hold the Maryland offense at first, the Terps (9-0) found their groove in the second half to bury the Irish in dominant fashion. The Irish started 4-of-14 from the floor, but the defense kept them in the game by holding Maryland to 4-of19 from the floor and 0-for-10 from the 3-point line over the first 10-and-a-half minutes of the game. The first half saw the Irish struggle mightily on offense, as they had a difficult time finding an open look and often had to take contested shots well too late into the shot clock. Both teams failed to score
The No. 32 Notre Dame volleyball squad has qualified for the 2019 Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship for the 20th time in program’s history. The Irish (19-9, 12-6 ACC) will be traveling to Madison, Wisconsin on Friday to square off against No. 27 UCLA in the first round of the tournament. Many Irish players have contributed to the team’s noteworthy season. Sophomore outside hitter Charley Niego and sophomore setter Zoe Nunez earned first team All-ACC accolades. But the Bruins (18-11, 13-7 Pac12) also have a star-studded roster with junior outside hitter Mac May, who was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year — the fifth Bruin ever to be named conference Player of the Year, the last of which came 25 years ago in 1994 when Annett Buckner won the award. May is ranked ninth in the country in points-per-set with 5.42 and 14th in kills-per-set with 4.77. Notre Dame and UCLA have faced off against each other
see M BBALL PAGE 10
nola wallace | The Observer
Irish senior forward John Mooney boxes out an opponent during Notre Dame’s 64-62 win over Toledo on Nov. 21 at Purcell Pavilion.
just three times and UCLA was victorious each of those times, two of which took place at neutral sites. The last matchup came back in 2012 when the top-ranked Bruins defeated the Irish in four sets at the U.S. Bank/Arby’s Tournament in Lincoln, Nebraska. Dwelling on the early ’90s, the Irish recorded their best finish of all time in the tournament with a trip to the quarterfinals in 1993, the year before Buckner would take the Pac-12 by storm. However, it has not necessarily been smooth sailing for the Irish since their run to the quarterfinals in 1993. The last time the Irish made a run in the tournament was in 2005 when they defeated Dayton and Northwestern to advance to the Round of 16. Their last game in the tournament was in 2017 when Western Kentucky took them out in three sets in the first round. The Irish have a record of 11-8 in the first round of the tournament. If the Irish do end up see VOLLEYBALL PAGE 9