PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MAGGIE KLAERS | PHOTOS BY GRACIE LEE
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The observer | Friday, JANUARY 28, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
STAFf PREDICTIONS
Observer Sports Staff Predictions: Notre Dame vs. Minnesota By NATE MOLLER, ANDREW McGUINNESS and TOM ZWILLER Sports Writers
No. 11 Notre Dame w ill play host to the No.10 Minnesota Golden Gophers this weekend in a series that holds large implications for the Big Ten standings and possibly NCA A tournament chances dow n the road. This series has been highly competitive as of late, w ith 16 of the last 24 meetings decided by one goal or ending in a tie. This weekend’s series figures to be a great Big Ten hockey series as well in front of a w ild crowd at Compton Family Ice Arena. Our hockey beat w riters gave their predictions for the series below.
Nate Moller writer
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Sports
This is a pivotal series for the Irish, who currently sit fourth in the Big Ten standings, only three points behind the Golden Gophers. The Golden Gophers are the
only team that has swept the Irish this season. That was way back in October though, and both teams have changed significantly since then. The Golden Gophers’ speed w ill surely be a problem for the Irish again this weekend, but goaltenders Ryan Bischel and Matthew Galajda have been play ing ver y well for the Irish as of late. The Golden Gophers no longer have sensational goaltender Jack LaFontaine either, who has thwarted the Irish many times on prev ious occasions. This could be significant. The Irish have been fantastic on the power play as of late as well, and they w ill look to continue their success against a talented Golden Gopher defense. A ll in all, this should be a fun, competitive Big Ten series to watch, and I anticipate the Irish and Golden Gophers splitting this series.
Game 1: Notre Dame 2, Minnesota 3 Game 2: Notre Dame 4, Minnesota 2
Tom Zwiller writer
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Sports
The importance of this series cannot be understated. Michigan and Ohio State are tied for first in the Big Ten w ith 33 points. Minnesota sits in third w ith 27 points, and Notre Dame in fourth w ith 24 points. Notre Dame only has 10 games left in the regular season, and this is their last series against Minnesota. Should Notre Dame w in, it is reasonable to assume they can finish in third instead of fourth. If that happens, Notre Dame w ill play Penn State instead of Wisconsin (There is something to be said about wanting to play Wisconsin as PSU is ranked 24th by CHNs Pair w ise rankings while the Badgers rank 38th). Earlier in the season, Notre Dame lost to Minnesota in a sweep; however, this time around should be slightly different. Notre Dame ranks 12th in Faceoff w in% (.526), whereas Minnesota ranks 18th (.512). Notre Dame
leads the countr y in penalt y kill % at .925. Minnesota is less efficient at killing penalties, ranking 11th at .836. A similar stor y ex ists w ith power plays: Notre Dame ranks 20th at .205 converted, whereas Minnesota ranks 30th at .192. On top of that, Notre Dame ranks top-10 in both its scoring offense and scoring defense. Minnesota is roughly in the top-20 in both categories.
Game 1: Notre Dame 4, Minnesota 3 Game 2: Notre Dame 3, Minnesota 2 Andrew McGuinness Sports writer
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An obv ious difference bet ween this series and the first one bet ween these teams is that they w ill be play ing in South Bend this time. Notre Dame’s performance at home is night and day compared to last year; the Irish have already doubled last season’s home w in total in three fewer games. “It’s always great when you have your band and students, we
missed that,” head coach Jeff Jackson said. “They make that building come alive. The size of the student section we had on Wednesday night against Boston College was outstanding. It made a huge difference in that game for us.” The Irish have won at least once in ever y home series this season; even a strong Minnesota team w ill be hard-pressed to buck that trend. However, the Golden Gophers haven’t been swept in a road series all season. And w ith the status of key Irish for wards Ma x Ellis and Jesse Lansdell in doubt, this w ill probably be closer to just a good weekend for Notre Dame, rather than a truly great one.
Game 1: Notre Dame 4, Minnesota 2 Game 2: Notre Dame 2, Minnesota 3 (OT) Contact Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu, Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu and Tom Zwiller at tzwiller@hcc-nd.edu
GAME PREVIEW
Irish Hockey set for pivotal Big Ten rematch with Minnesota By ANDREW McGUINNESS Sports Writer
When the Notre Dame hockey team (17-7-0, 9-5-03-0-0 B10) ended October with their first two regulation losses of the season in consecutive road matches against the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers (14-10-0, 9-5-0-1-1-0 B10), the sense of urgency was mild. The Irish were still in the process of finding out who they were as a team and a 4-0-1 start to the year cushioned the disappointment of that late October weekend. It’s safe to say there’s a bit more at stake this time around. The Irish find themselves in the middle of the Big Ten standings, three points behind Minnesota and nine behind Michigan and Ohio State, who are tied for first place. If Notre Dame plans on making a serious run at their second Big Ten regularseason title or at least wants to improve their odds of earning a higher seed, there’s no time like the present. It won’t be easy to make up ground in a clash of top-15 teams this weekend at Compton Family Ice Arena. But nothing worth
attaining comes easily, so the Irish will embrace the challenge that the Golden Gophers present and try to return the favor Minnesota handed them just under three months ago. “It will probably be another hard-fought, tough weekend of games,” Irish head coach Jeff Jackson predicted. “[Minnesota is] very good without the puck. They get underrated for their defensive game. They’re very tight, always got three guys back, they block a lot of shots. They present a double-headed threat. When they play that well defensively, they become a real challenge on transition offensively. You have to pick your spots to generate offense against them.” That’s something the Irish have struggled with in recent memory. Notre Dame managed three goals in their first series against the Golden Gophers, tying a season-low for one series, while also producing about five fewer shots on goal per game than their season average. Even dating back to last year, the offense has been a challenge for the Irish against Minnesota. The Golden
Gophers stopped an Irish offense coming off an eightgoal performance dead in its tracks. Sound familiar? They kept the Irish off the scoreboard entirely with consecutive 3-0 wins in Compton. Jackson specifically complimented the patience and maturity of the experienced Golden Gophers, something he stressed the Irish need to match. That would be tougher if Notre Dame is without leading scorer junior right winger Max Ellis and another important forward in junior Jesse Lansdell; Jackson said both are “day-to-day” as of Wednesday, leaving their status for the weekend in doubt. So will the Irish have to lean on their defense this weekend? Yes, although maybe not in the way you would think. By now, the Irish have long established themselves as an elite defensive team. The Irish are eighth in the NCA A and first in the Big Ten at 2.08 goals against per game. Their penalty kill is second-best in the entire country and has nearly as many goals for (5) than against (7). They are the only team with multiple see PREVIEW PAGE 3
GRACIE LEE | The Observer
Irish freshman defenseman Jake Boltmann takes to the ice during Notre Dame’s 3-2 home win over Michigan State on Dec. 10.
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Volume 56, Issue 41 | FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
Senate calls for remote options Amid COVID-19 surge, senators pass resolution pushing dual-delivery learning By BELLA LAUFENBERG Staff Writer
The Notre Dame student senate met Wednesday to discuss a new order pushing for dual-delivery of classes for students in quarantine due to the University’s COVID-19 procedures. To begin the meeting, student body vice president Matthew Bisner took roll call and the senate approved last meeting’s minutes. The senate then heard an update from the committee on the constitution and from a meeting between vice president for student affairs Fr. Gerard Olinger and student body leaders.
Bisner explained that Allan Njomo, student body president, and Bisner met with Olinger to discuss student concerns about the University’s COVID-19 response this semester. The meeting demonstrated a greater need for communication between University officials and the student body, Bisner said. “We came into this pandemic with perhaps an overcommunication of guidance, policies, principles, strategy and what it meant that we had a good idea of what was going on,” Bisner said. “This semester, especially, that communication and that flow of information have been extremely tiny. I think we impressed upon the need for a
Holy Cross holds Spirit Week
return of communication.” Bisner also reported to the senate that the administration is looking into how students can get free testing kits delivered to their dorms by the United States Postal Service, as there were some issues reported with the addresses of some dorms on campus. Next, the senate moved on to new business and heard a bill brought to the floor by Benjamin Erhardt, Keough Hall senator. The bill, resolution SS 2122-08, was called “a resolution calling for dual-delivery of academic content in alignment with current university covid-19 protocols.” The purpose of the order, Erhardt said, is to allow
students to attend classes via Zoom while they are in quarantine or isolation for COVID-19. “Effectively, this is addressing the issue that many students who go into quarantine — albeit shorter quarantines this year than last year — do not have the option of attending classes live via Zoom,” he said. “It also encourages faculty to continue to record lectures send material to students in quarantine.” Erhardt explained that the current way to attend Zoom class while in quarantine is by receiving permission from the Center for Student Support and Care but that the website to apply for such an accommodation
News Writer
Clevela nd-based poppun k a nd rap a r t ist KennyHoopla, who opened for rapper Machine Gun Kelly on a recent tour, w ill per form a one-hour concer t at Legends t his Saturday. Doors open at 8 :30 p.m. for t he concer t,
Residents of Pulte Hall pose with the Spes Unica after winning the overall competition in Holy Cross College’s second-ever Spirit Week. By ISABELLE KAUSE News Writer
The Holy Cross Residential Life team hosted an awards ceremony Wednesday marking the conclusion of the second annual Spirit Week. Throughout the week students could participate in a variety of activities including baking competitions, trivia, and a talent show. Participation in the events
News PAGE 4
counted toward accumulating points for their respective dorms. The dorm that accumulated the most points would win the second-ever Holy Cross Spes UniCup. “The points are basically to foster a sense of being on a team together so that you identify with your dorm more strongly by having an element of competition. Some of see SPIRIT PAGE 3
Scene PAGE 5
Observer Staff Report
A power outage a nd f i re a la r m were repor ted i n Reg i na Ha l l t h is mor n i ng, t he Col lege a n nou nced i n a n ema i l a ler t. T he a ler t noted t hat t here d id not appea r to be a f i re, but t here wa s water da mage i n t he ba sement. Di rector of t he ca mpus sa fet y depa r t ment Ph i l Ba mbenek sa id i n a later ema i l at 3 :16 p.m. t hat see POWER PAGE 3
KennyHoopla to perform at Legends on Saturday By CLAIRE REID
ISABELLA KAUSE | The Observer
see SENATE PAGE 3
Regina loses power
which was orga ni zed by t he Student Act iv it ies Of f ice (SAO) a nd Student Union Boa rd (SUB), before t he show beg ins at 9 p.m. Admission is f ree for a l l Not re Da me, Sa int Ma r y’s a nd Holy Cross students, t hough t ickets a re required a nd ava i lable to reser ve on line at Student Shop ND. SAO prog ra m coordinator
for student prog ra mming Ca mi l le Ma r t inez was t he prima r y orga ni zer of t he concer t. She sa id she bega n t he process of eva luat ing a nd select ing a n a r t ist for t he event back in Ju ly. “First a nd foremost, I took a step back a nd t hought, ‘W hat k ind of genre is see CONCERT PAGE 4
Professor contextualizes 2022 Olympic boycotts By GABBY BEECHERT News Writer
Notre Dame history professor John Soares gave a lecture Wednesday afternoon explaining the social and political reasons for the boycotting of past Olympic games, the impact of these boycotts and how these issues contextualize President Joe Biden’s diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in
Viewpoint PAGE 6
Beijing — which are set to begin Feb. 4. According to the Olympics’ official website, the goal of the Olympic Movement is to “contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”
Hockey PAGE 12
But the games themselves seem to be more complicated in practice than in theory. The Olympics, and the events that lead up to them, have repeatedly caused a host of social and political issues. In his exploration of the Olympic boycotts of the 20th century, Soares noted three common issues in all boycotts: see OLYMPICS PAGE 3
W Basketball PAGE 12
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The observer | Friday, JANUARY 28, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
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“‘The Silence of the Lambs.’”
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A look inside the ceramics room in the Moreau Center for the Arts. Here, students learn different ways of creating art, including using clay, molds and glazes. Saint Mary’s currently offers three ceramics courses, allowing students of all skill levels to try it out.
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“Much Ado About Nothing” Washington Hall 7:30 p.m. Put on by Actors From The London Stage.
AcaFest Washington Hall 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Come watch campus a capella groups.
Basilica Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 10 a.m. & noon Masks required. All are welcome.
“Seeking God’s Path” Coleman-Morse Center room 301 9 p.m. Discernment for men.
Time-Out for Tech online 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Discover Google Drive changes for shortcuts.
“What’s Your Superpower?” Duncan Student Center room 512 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Career Development Series.
Confession Duncan Student Center room W208 noon - 1:30 p.m. Receive the sacrament of reconciliation.
EAP Workshop: Cover Letter Writing Virtual 11 a.m. - noon Learn how to write strong cover letters.
KennyHoopla in Concert Legends 11 p.m. Tickets available for students at the Student Shop for free.
Basilica Liturgical Minister Training Basilica of the Sacred Heart 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Open to all.
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Olympics Continued from page 1
Dictatorships treated their opportunity to host the games as an endorsement of their politics; the generation of attention drawn to human rights violations in preparation for the Olympics; and the presence of politics in sports. He drew evidence from five Olympic games of the 20th century: the 1936 games in Berlin, the 1968 games in Mexico City, the 1980 games in Moscow, the 1984 games in Los Angeles and the 1988 games in Seoul. Soares explained there were numerous calls to boycott the 1936 Berlin Olympics, otherwise known as the “Nazi Olympics.” But, there was international participation despite Hitler’s antisemitic and racist rhetoric. The boycotts of the 1968 Mexico City Olympics had two components, Soares said. There was controversy regarding the use of resources allotted for the
ndsmcobserver.com | FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022 | The ObserveR
Olympics, as some believed they should have been used for other national issues. Mexican government officials then killed an unknown number of protesters during a boycott before the games in Tlatelolco. Second, during the games, African American track and field stars Tommie Smith and John Carlos held up their fists to represent black power and opposition to the games while on the Olympic podium. In 1980, after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, President Jimmy Carter believed his efforts to promote Soviet cooperation had been ignored, Soares said. Carter had threatened to boycott the 1980 Moscow Olympics if the Soviets did not pull out of Afghanistan. When they did not, the U.S. and a few other countries did not go to Moscow. Soares then continued down the timeline to explain that the relationship between the Americans and Soviets was still rocky during the 1984 Olympics
Senate
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is not currently working. After the reading of the proposed order, the senators had a period of questioning and debate. Abraham Figueroa, Knott Hall senator, brought up whether the order had possible legal implications for the University. “It is my understanding that the reason why they don’t offer dual-delivery is because of the fear of discrimination lawsuits,” Figueroa pointed out. Other co-sponsors of the order, judicial council president David Haungs and Fisher Hall senator Maclane Farrel, responded by explaining that the legal matters can be dealt with and discussed once the order reaches the faculty senate and other administrators that would have more knowledge on the possible implications it may carry. The resolution passed after further debate over legal issues and other possible solutions. The senate discussed another new resolution, SO 2122-16, which contained an order to establish the political council. This resolution was not voted on due to time constraints, and a motion to adjourn was passed.
the points have been participation based, such as wearing your hall t-shirt or showing up to an event, and then others have been competitions,” Julia Wall, a hall director at Holy Cross, said. To end the week on a high note, the Residential Life team created one final event that took place Wednesday prior to the awards ceremony. “It’s like capture the f lag but with a little different f lair. We’ll take the crests that we’ve made for each dorm and then it’s the opposing team’s responsibility to find the other ones and capture it,” hall director Timothy Cleaver said.
Contact Bella Laufenberg at ilaufenb@nd.edu
Power Continued from page 1
power had been restored i n t he bu i ld i ng a nd a l l were f ree to enter. Ba mbenek added t hat t he heat wa s ex pected to ta ke longer to k ick i n. “Plea se be awa re it may ta ke a l it t le t i me for t he bu i ld i ng to f u l ly ret u r n to wa r m temps, but it shou ld be f u l ly back i n a couple of hou rs,” Ba mbenek w rote.
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in Los Angeles. President Ronald Reagan wanted the Soviets to repair his image after he promoted anti-Soviet rhetoric, but the Soviets did not attend. They cited “safety and security reasons” as their reason for not attending, but it was still a boycott, according to Soares. Finally, the Seoul Olympics took place in 1988, soon before the democratization of South Korea. Many believed that the Olympics promoted progress and improvement in the newly democratic country. But, according to Soares, most scholars concluded that democratization of South Korea occurred despite the Olympics, not because of them. The Olympics in Seoul put human rights abuses on display. Now, President Biden is leading the American diplomatic boycott of the 2022 games in Beijing. According to a press conference on Dec. 6, 2021, given by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, the diplomatic boycott
entails the absence of “any diplomatic or official representation to the Beijing Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games given the PRC’s ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights abuses. The athletes on team USA have our full support. We will be behind them 100 percent as we cheer them on from home. We will not be contributing to the fanfare of the games.” Soares said one question remains: After reflecting on these past boycotts, where does that leave America with Biden’s diplomatic boycott? According to Soares, there doesn’t seem to be a single, conclusive answer. Many people, including Soares himself at one point, question the boycott. They believe it is of weak taste for the scale of human rights abuses that the world is dealing with. But, after grappling with Biden’s idea, Soares has found it to be a “reasonably attractive”
way of handling the situation. “He may have found a way to kind of thread the needle for that correct balance that will get Chinese attention without hurting his own people and without playing into narratives on the Beijing leadership that they’re being picked on unfairly,” Soares said. Soares said he understands there is a fairly limited amount of external pressure that can be placed on the Chinese government. But, he said, he hopes this diplomatic boycott will send a strong enough message. “I don’t think it’s going to be dramatic. I don’t think it’s going to be sweeping. I don’t think it’s going to be overnight. I don’t think the Beijing regime will ever publicly acknowledge it,” Soares said. “But maybe something like this will be nudging Chinese leaders in the right direction.”
After the tournament, students gathered to celebrate the winning dorm, men’s dorm Pulte Hall. Regardless of whether or not they won or lost, many students said they still found enjoyment in meeting new people and fostering deeper connections with their friends. “I really enjoyed having the tournament. It was fun, and it gave you stuff to do if you didn’t have anything to do. It puts people in contact with other students that they wouldn’t necessarily meet,” Amanda Muhr, a first-year spirit leader for North Hall, said. Aside from providing students with the opportunity to take time outside of the classroom to enjoy themselves, spirit week was created in order to foster a greater sense of community at Holy Cross,
Wall said. “Now more and more, I think all of the students are identifying with their dorms and feeling some sense of belonging to their dorms,“ she said. “You’ll hear across the street Notre Dame students will identify with their dorms and what they are doing. And, before, I don’t think that happened too much at Holy Cross. You wouldn’t have someone ask what dorm you were in.” Cleaver said some students attributed forming new friendships to the activities they participated in during spirit week. “A great thing that happened last year is after a competition I heard people talking outside of the cafeteria saying, ‘Oh yeah, that was great to meet you during capture the f lag. I had never met
you before, so it was good to see you during that competition’. So there’s an element of that too, just incorporating and increasing Holy Cross spirit and building the community,” Cleaver said. For many students, the most important takeaway during spirit week was cultivating a newfound sense of closeness with the people around them, something that was especially important to first-year students. “Spirit week is about more than just participating in events and winning a trophy, it’s about creating and strengthening connections,“ first-year Abbi Gross said. “It also involves working together as a community and building leadership skills.”
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The observer | FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
Students look back on fall semesters abroad By GENEVIEVE COLEMAN Saint Mary’s News Editor
Last semester, several Saint Mary’s students were among the first to study abroad after the College canceled all programs in the 2020-2021 academic year. The Observer chronicled their experiences studying throughout Europe and learning how to adapt to international living during a pandemic.
Sydney Ellis — Maynooth University, Ireland Ellis, a junior global studies major, found studying law and criminology in Ireland to be an eye-opening experience. “I took a lot of classes in law and criminology, which is really cool,” she said. “[Maynooth University] had a lot of classes that Saint Mary’s wouldn’t really offer.” In regards to the restrictions in the country throughout the semester, Ellis recalled having to show her vaccine card to be allowed into indoor spaces but experiencing otherwise relatively normal protocols. “The restrictions weren’t too bad,” Ellis said. “They kind of like eased up when we were there. The only thing [was] the pubs and stuff were closing a little earlier than they normally would, and when you would like go into restaurants, you had to show your COVID [certification], which was different than here.” Another part of living in Ireland that Ellis found different than being in the United States was learning about Irish culture through the international students she met in her program. “I spent a lot of time with Irish students, and really got to know the culture in that way,” she said. “I think a lot of American students like kind of stuck together and they were like traveling all the time. So I think that I like really got to feel like the culture and learn a lot about it.” These intercultural connections caused Ellis to think about her relationship to the
Concert Continued from page 1
popu la r right now a mong students? ’” Ma r t inez sa id. “I rea li zed t hat t he poppun k genre is rea lly popula r, a nd I wa nted to ma ke sure I brought someone to ca mpus t hat I k new a ll t he students wou ld enjoy.” A f ter consu lt ing w it h student workers in t he SAO off ice, Ma r t inez discovered KennyHoopla a nd reached out to his agent to negot iate
United States, she said. “It made me think about American culture more because a lot of people like would share their opinions like, ‘Oh, you’re American, and then they would kind of go on a tangent about how they feel about the states,” she said. “And so it kind of made me think about it more and when I get back [to America], I just, noticed things were a lot nicer there and more approachable. I think it’s harder to talk to people unless you know them [here].” Ellis noted that she learned a great deal about herself while she was abroad, including in an instance where she had to independently reschedule travel plans after her group missed their f light back to Ireland. “You know, I was like, on my own and I was like, ‘Wow, I really have to like figure out what to do,’” she said. “So I think I like realized that I have like more problem-solving skills than I thought I did. And I was able to get through things on my own without relying on other people to fix it for me.” “It was just a unique experience that I don’t really think you can get just in school here or reading about culture,” Ellis said. “I think that like actually being there — it makes such a difference.”
Annika Smith — Budapest Semesters in Mathematics, Hungary Smith, a junior mathematics major, studied advanced math courses during her time in Budapest. Considering her previous experience traveling, she discussed how she found the perfect combination in Saint Mary’s mathematics study abroad program. “I’ve always really loved math and so I always knew I kind of want to be a math major,” she said. “That gives me purpose and I had actually been to Budapest before just a couple times randomly so I knew I loved the city. I love the math and it was perfect.” Smith remarked that while she could travel within Hungary, the program’s
t he cost a nd desig n of t he per forma nce. “I wa nted to ta ke a stab at a n up-a nd-coming a r t ist as well because I t hin k it’s awesome t hat Not re Da me t radit iona lly t ries to bring a r t ists to ca mpus who a re on t heir way to becoming more fa mous,” Ma r t inez sa id. “This w ill be good for him to showcase [a nd] help ex pa nd his bra nd a nd get students interested in it if t hey didn’t k now who he is.” Sophomore Ma r y La ird, SUB’s concer ts committee
COVID restrictions asked students to stay within the country. “It was pretty much normal, except our program did restrict us to travel only inside Hungary so we weren’t able to travel outside of the country,” she said. The more time Smith spent in Hungary she realized a distinct change in how Hungarians and Americans act in their day to day lives. “In the United States, we’re always rushing or so hurried,” she said. “We’re trying to be the most efficient, do everything the fastest and get every where and get everything done ... I’ve never lived any where else in Europe, but I can speak for Budapest [and] everybody is just more mellow. Everybody is busy. Everybody’s doing things, but it’s not like life or death.” One of Smith’s favorite memories was watching the sun rise with a group of friends. “We took the bus at like 5:36 a.m. and then hiked up Gellért Hill, and watched the sunrise over the skyline,” she said. “Getting up at the crack of dawn is not my favorite thing, but it was always worth it every time to see that sunrise over the skyline.” As the first Saint Mary’s student to be accepted in the Budapest Semester in Mathematics, Smith hopes other students feel invited to join the program in future semesters. “It feels wonderful. I’m so proud and I’m so grateful that I was able to kind of bridge the gap,” she said. “Because truly, [it’s] incredibly challenging, but [also] such a wonderful fulfilling experience.”
Law, an English literature and communications studies major, explored a variety of humanities courses while she studied abroad in Rome. Considering the COVID-19
protocols she faced while in the country, Law noted that many were not unusual. “I think we had a better end of the deal going last semester than this semester, because at the end of my semester, the cases were rising,” Law said. “However, while I was there, the restrictions were what we might consider normal.” Law ref lected on how she was able to travel outside of the city and see natural landscapes, which added value to her trip. “Hiking Mt. Etna was stunning,” she said. “My favorite parts were all the small towns, and the natural phenomenon. And I love the history, but like, that’s where my heart is.” Law also learned about creating a work-life balance so she could travel. “When I’m at school, I’m really focused on the school part of it, and I still hang out with my friends,” Law said. “I like the academia part of it and trying to balance my desire to do that with my desire to travel was really difficult for me. I think I learned a lot about compromise and balance and being in the moment and not overthinking.” Now that she is back in the United States, Law describes how she misses the European classroom environment. “I really miss the truly diverse classroom environment and being around all of that the value of being able to talk about those cultural differences — talk about politics and religion and differences of opinion and all of that — without the heav y taboo and cancel culture that the American culture has,” Law said. Law hopes students learn about navigating intercultural differences and creating mindful dialogues when they decide to study abroad. “I really think that if more people studied abroad and grew from that and developed those interpersonal skills and communication skills and that worldview — a worldwide instead of an Ethnocentric worldview — we could have a lot more
cha ir, sa id volunteers f rom SUB a re draw ing f rom t heir ex perience host ing t he COIN concer t in Legends last semester to help t he prima r y orga ni zers f rom SAO r un t he concer t. “SUB helped SAO pla n t he log ist ics for t he event such as sta f f ing a nd t icket sa les,” La ird ex pla ined. “Members of t he SUB Concer ts Committee w ill be check ing students in a nd ser v ing as crowd cont rol.” La ird sa id she is excited to attend t he concer t a nd
hopes it w i l l prov ide a f un a nd excit ing ex perience for members of t he t ri-ca mpus communit y. “The most excit ing t hing about t his concer t is st i l l being able to bring live music [to ca mpus] despite t he new COV ID protocols,” she sa id. Ma r t inez sa id t he t icket ing a nd check-in processes w i l l have bui lt-in COV ID-19 sa fet y measures. Addit iona l ly, masks w i l l be required at t he concer t, a nd Legends’ cash ba r w i l l
Madeline Law — John Cabot University, Italy Editor’s Note: Law is a Viewpoint Columnist for The Observer.
productive conversations.”
Shania Quintana — L’université catholique de l’Ouest, France When she spoke to The Observer, Quintana — a global studies major — noted COVID-19 did not affect her plans to study abroad during her junior year. “Although COVID-19 has impacted life in so many ways, it never changed my plan,” Quintana said. “Therefore, I like to say that my year abroad was meant to happen.” Quintana noted she is spending a year in courses taught exclusively in French. Because she is still in the country with the rise of the Omicron variant, Quintana is beginning to see a change in protocols in France. “At the moment, the Omicron variant has pushed for change in legislation in France,” she said. “People in France now have to be updated on all their COVID vaccines doses in order to be able to travel, go to restaurants and attend events.” During her first semester, Quintana noted she was able to travel widely in France, including Mont-St. Michel, Mont-St. Malo, Chambord, Chenonceaux, Nantes, Paris and Nice. Quintana has only been outside France to travel to Monaco, she said. Quintana is excited to be abroad for the entire academic year because she can create lasting connections with the people she has met. “A full year abroad is great,” she said. “I am able to build a bond with my host family for a longer period of time, and I am also able to observe changes as my time here goes on.” Quintana urged French students to apply to the program. “Please do not hesitate to apply,” Quintana said. “Everyone is here to learn French, and it is so cool to see how many other students around the world are also passionate about learning French.” Contact Genevieve Coleman at gcoleman01@saintmarys.edu
be closed in ad herence w it h t he Universit y’s current policy prohibit ing t he sa le of food a nd beverages at Universit y-sponsored gat herings. “Ot her t ha n t hat, not too much has cha nged,” Ma r t inez sa id. “So come t r y somet hing out. This is a n a r t ist who’s becoming more popu la r, so you cou ld be one of t hose students t hat sees him on his way up.” Contact Claire Reid at creid6@nd.edu
The observer | FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
By GRACIE SIMONCIC Scene Writer
This week, I forced myself and my friends to suffer through the first season of a complete waste of time. Hype House is a reality TV show that follows some of the highest-paid Tiktok creators as they navigate the internet and personal relationships in a ridiculously huge mansion. I believe the purpose of this show was to humanize the people we’ve put on a digital pedestal. In some ways, it does make them feel more real. Through interviews, we learn more about the members’ backstories and personal struggles. While it’s often hard to watch, “Hype House” is successful in promoting discussion about how internet influencers are expanding their social influence and platform. What makes reality TV so successful is its ridiculousness. The audience has to laugh through the episodes. Unlike the popular reality series “Selling Sunset” or “Too Hot To Handle,” this show isn’t even ironically funny. Maybe it’s because “Hype House” hits too close to home. “Hype House” feels too real. These kids are internet tastemakers and are getting paid an insane amount of money to do so. Maybe this show can’t be funny because “Hype House” is too depressing. The show lacks the escapism that audiences search for in reality TV. We don’t watch “The Bachelor” to feel seen or watch a slice of life. We’re watching a highly reconstructed version of reality that
By NATALIE ALLTON Scene Writer
Actor and rock artist Meat Loaf passed away Jan. 20 from complications due to COVID-19. His death came as a surprise to many; he was reportedly in good health before testing positive for COVID. Meat Loaf was known for his “Bat Out of Hell” album trilogy and role in “Fight Club” — but I know him best for his role as Eddie in the 1975 cult classic film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” I have an admittedly strange history with “Rocky Horror.” It’s a film that works hard to earn its R rating — a parody and homage to sci-fi and horror B movies of the mid-20th century, filled with sex, violence and nihilism. If you think that sounds like an inappropriate film to raise children on, you’d be objectively correct. Yet, my parents did. I knew the words to “Science Fiction/Double Fiction” before I knew how to read. I did the Time Warp before I learned the Cupid Shuffle. “Sweet Transvestite” remains my karaoke go-to. The beginning of “Rocky Horror” is relatively tame. The main characters — Brad and Janet — get engaged and find themselves lost with a flat tire on a rainy night. They take refuge in the nearby castle belonging to Dr. Frank-N-Furter. He’s a mad scientist about to unveil his greatest creation: a tan, blond, muscular hunk, the eponymous Rocky. Meat Loaf then rides in to perform
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takes us away from our own realities. If I had to pick a favorite thing about this show, it would be the revamped school bus the housemates get interviewed in. The set design captures their age and playful dispositions. The bus is a nod to van-life — a free-spirited subculture — that reflects the house’s Los Angeles location. If I was forced to pick a favorite housemate, it would be Thomas and Mia’s golden retriever, Leo. He’s the single housemate who has yet to be canceled. (Go Leo!) One of the most painful moments to watch was Lil Huddy’s house tour. Vinny Hacker accurately describes it as looking like a “Cheesecake Factory” with a row of pinball machines in the foyer. This speaks volumes about how much money these young influencers have and how irresponsibly they spend it. Despite my deep hatred for Lil Huddy’s decor, I do feel like I understand him better. He’s been burned by the internet after his very public relationship with Charlie D’Amelio, which ended d ue to the pair constantly being under the spotlight. Having his whole life on display has to be incredibly scary. He comes off as a more quiet and private person after the experience, seeming introspective whenever Charlie is mentioned. Another painful moment is watching house member Alex Warren gaslight his girlfriend on hidden cameras in their shared kitchen. Alex is frequently compared to Youtuber David Dobrik. His content is the same:
following his friends around with a camera, surprising them with some horrific animal or making them drive cars into each other. Alex is a danger junkie. He spends thousands of dollars on each video, trying to create an even more shocking situation than his last post. He’s a great example of the anxiety that comes with content creation. Warren discusses his stress about decreasing views and followers. This anxiety is not unfounded. If Alex isn’t relevant, his income will likely suffer. While I don’t think I could stomach a second season, there are some redeeming qualities to “Hype House.” I think it would make a great case study on the nuances of human interaction in the internet age. If you’re looking for mindless TV that’s relevant to kids today, this show is perfect. Everyone is college-aged, on the internet, and navigating growing up.
“Hot Patootie, Bless My Soul.” This is when my parents turned the movie off and ushered my sister and me to bed. In high school, I finally discovered the rest of the plot and understood why my parents were so quick to turn “Rocky” off. The rest of the film features seduction, some light cannibalism and a surprisingly touching cabaret show. The second half was a shock, to say the least, but I have come to love “Rocky” as it is. I adore “Rocky,” but I’ll be the first to admit it’s a bad film. The plot is nonsensical, the characters and their motivations are seemingly random and most of the performances are overacted. If you’re looking for good art, keep searching. Yet, Rocky fans make an effort to watch it at least once a year. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is arguably the most influential cult film of all time. Initially unsuccessful and panned by critics, it has gained an incredible following through midnight showings and “shadow casts” acting out the scenes as they’re happening on screen. It’s especially famous as a staple for college theater troupes. (I lament every day that Notre Dame doesn’t have an active annual production.) The question is: why? “Rocky Horror” hinges on the fact that it’s bad. If it was a good movie, no one would have cared. It’s camp. It’s purposefully bad taste as a way to reject and rebel against traditional ideals of aesthetics
and beauty, reveling in irony, excess and theatrics. The film wears gender like a costume and treats bisexuality as the norm. It’s no wonder why the show has had a massive impact on the queer community. The costuming has since reached legendary status. The fishnets, makeup, and colorful hair directly inspired the punk rock fashion trends of the 1980s. The soundtrack is perfect for Halloween parties (or, if you’re like me, for writing papers). Early performances from Barry Bostwick, Susan Sarandon and Tim Curry make the film stand out. It’s bad, but it’s also perfect. It comes as it is. “Rocky Horror” isn’t for everyone. But if you’re willing to delight in the odd, to be part of a large and fervent community, to watch Tim Curry absolutely serve in pearls and fishnets — then it might be for you.
Contact Gracie Simoncic at gsimonci@nd.edu
“Hype House” Starring: Lil Huddy, Nikita Dragun, Alex Warren If you like: “Selling Sunset,” Too Hot to Handle,” “The Bachelor” Where to watch: Netflix
Contact Natalie Allton at nallton@nd.edu
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” Starring: Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Tim Curry Director: Jim Sharman Favorite songs: “Over at the Frankenstein Place,” “Hot Patootie, Bless My Soul,” “Rose Tint My World”
CLAIRE REID | The Observer | Image sources: Wikipedia, Popbuzz, biooverview, MIA HAYward, Newstalk.com
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The observer | Friday, January 28, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
Life’s a box of chocolates: When smart students can’t make decisions Renee Yaseen Didn’t Know That
Imagine it didn’t matter whether you took AP Spanish or AP German — you knew you’d graduate somewhere near the top of your class. It didn’t matter whether you started a paper seven days before the due date, five days, or the night before — you knew you could get an A. It was never a lifeor-death matter whether you chose Notre Dame or Dartmouth, economics or finance. You knew no matter which one you chose, you could get a job after graduation paying at least the average income of an American adult, likely almost twice that amount. You knew that you could stay up past midnight every weeknight doing homework and still function, so there was no reason to decide to go to bed early. You knew you went to a school — or came from a family — with a robust and helpful network, so you didn’t send out hundreds of carefully curated cold emails to build connections outside of it. If this sounds familiar, you may have unconsciously learned that many, even most of your decisions, didn’t matter much to your success, survival or overall happiness. You may have even been explicitly told this, by well-meaning people saying, “No matter what you do, you’ll be successful.” Believing this to some degree, you may not have invested as much time or energy in decision-making as others. This is the reality of many of the smart, relatively privileged kids who attend universities like ours. And in fact, if this column resonates with you, I’m willing to bet at least some decisions you’ve made were “non-decisions.” Perhaps some entity, like a school or a parent, made some of the tough decisions for you. For example, you may have gone to a school that required every student to become proficient in an instrument, or learn another language, or sign up for study prep for the SAT. You may have been told to take a certain course of study or language by authority figures in your life. You may have avoided
decisions that narrowed your set of choices because you wanted to “keep all options on the table.” Instead of doing the cognitive work it takes to parse out which decisions are really best for us, we take shortcuts. There’s not anything wrong with this, prima facie. Decision-making is very timeintensive, and sometimes trusted others have access to better information than we do. But making a lifelong habit of “training-wheel” decision-making, or decision avoidance, can cripple our decision-making abilities when we are faced with unfamiliar situations alone. Smart kids are encouraged to maximize their set of future options, and then choose the best option from among them. A “Study Everything, Do Anything” approach encourages students to keep the choice set of careers, classes, majors, internships and life paths as large as possible at all times. This makes things even worse. Faced with too many possible paths, the human brain experiences “choice paralysis” or “overchoice,” something many young people struggle with in their college years. In situations of overchoice, we often procrastinate making a decision, and experience more dissatisfaction and regret toward our choices once we do make a decision. We may avoid making decisions at all. Take, for example, the famous “Jam Experiment” by psychologists Sheena Iyengar and Mark Lepper in 2000. In the study, some shoppers were given a choice between 24 different jams to sample and purchase, others were randomized into a group that was given a choice between just six different jam varieties. Participants in the 24-variety group were significantly less likely to buy jam than those in the six-variety group. Similar experimental results were replicated with chocolates in a box. Valentine’s Day gifters, beware. Why does the crisis of decision-making among highly educated young people matter? Students from universities like Notre Dame become future leaders in politics, business, nonprofits, the arts and academia. A lack of skill in decision-making processes
by a politician or a CEO has real-life consequences for people other than oneself. People who don’t understand how to make good decisions may make tough decisions flippantly or impulsively. So, what can students do? I’ll explore more actionable steps in a future column, but a hint here, from Notre Dame economics professor Joe Kaboski (quoted with his permission!) who once advised me on decision-making in my first year: “The big temptation of young people today, especially ND undergrads who have so many opportunities, is to be paralyzed by all the options, and — interested in many things — to be afraid of letting any of the things they enjoy slip by… it seems like that makes them the most free, keeps all their career doors and interests open. But it actually, and ironically, prevents them from ever having the truly meaningful experiences that take commitment. Most things worthy of your time take real commitment and dedication.” Professor Kaboski compared finding a meaningful career and finding a life partner, saying that marriage or long-term partnership “requires saying no to all the other people in the world. You may get to know these people well enough and you may have a great variety of experiences with people, but you’ve never had the experience that matters most: giving yourself fully to another person for life and having the other person share his/her life fully with you.” Maybe that’s what it takes: Refusing to be fooled by the prospect of having everything. Studying Something, Doing Something that Matters. Renee Yaseen is a senior economics major with minors in theology and PPE (philosophy, politics and economics). In her free time, she writes poems, hangs out with loved ones and ponders the view from her undisclosed study spot in [redacted] Hall. Please send all comments, diatribes and warm fuzzies to ryaseen@nd.edu over email. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
To PC or not to PC Alexa Schlaerth Soapbox Symposium
When we discuss politically correct, or “PC” language, we inherently examine the culture and/or movements that have created the new and more progressive terminology. How do we approach topics like these while maintaining our values of tolerance, acceptance, equality and free speech? Generally speaking, the terms in this prompt reflect a trend toward non-gendered language: “firefighter,” server” and “homemaker” suggest that these formerly-gendered roles ought not to be assigned to either men or women. The positions have broadened to become more inclusive. Also on the point of gender, the new terminology allows room for people who identify as non-binary (or NB/enby), agender, genderfluid, genderqueer, trans, or otherwise to fit within the descriptions of the terms. Therefore, a “homemaker” could be a woman, a man, or someone who identifies as neither of those things. The other examples in the list in the prompt reflect different changes in societal attitudes toward various minorities. “Banned” in place of “blacklisted” discourages the association between the color black and negativity or being “bad.” This is among the more subtle word associations but nonetheless important. “Differently-abled” allows people to reframe the language around what was formerly called “disability,” creating a more positive and accepting voice around
the minority population. Viewing learning differences like dyslexia and ADHD as just that — differences — allows for an acknowledgement that having these differences is not “bad” or “wrong,” but rather just a different way to experience life. “Happy Holidays” in place of the generic “Merry Christmas” shows an acknowledgement of other belief systems, and it begins to unravel the deeply embedded Christiancentricity of Americana. Finally, “Native Americans,” too is a more accurate descriptor of the group, given that they are indigenous to the Americas and not to India as was erroneously assumed. Furthermore, the group’s former identification as “red” was obviously problematic, so a departure from that identification has been long overdue. In the suggestion and adoption of PC language, it is important to remember that language should be accurate. Critics will argue that terms like “Happy Holidays” are actually imprecise when the speaker is actually trying to say “Merry Christmas.” But really, these terms are more accurate to the attitudes we hold in modern society. Saying “Merry Christmas” to a Jewish person actually, in its own way, is inaccurate. Calling a non-binary person a fireman (or firewoman) is inaccurate. The question at the root of the accuracy issue is one of how we define accuracy. In the past, accuracy in terms of identity have been determined by the beholder, those observing the individual — in most cases, the majority. Neurotypical, able-bodied people created the term “disabled.” Europeans/whites called Native Americans “red
Indians.” Gender-conforming people created gendered language. But is accuracy truly defined by the beholder when it comes to identity? PC language shifts the role of definition onto the self, the unit being identified. It allows the language to reflect what individuals identify with and as, instead of outsiders. In this way, it becomes more accurate to these various identities. Opponents of PC language have described it as censorship. This strong opposition has sparked insight to the link between language and culture with respect to the rights that people feel they have to define another’s existence. This is such a deeply-held and misunderstood idea of what it means to have free speech in the United States, and the sociopolitical climate surrounding the language highlights a deep divide in the political schema in our day. On a college campus, the language we use to engage in dialogues across topics matters, and we must investigate more deeply the underpinnings of our word selection, for they provide the very framework for the discussions to take place. Alexa Schlaerth is a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame pursuing degrees in Chinese and philosophy. As an Angeleno, Alexa enjoys shopping at Erewhon Market, drinking kombucha and complaining about traffic because it’s “like, totally lame.” Alexa can be reached at aschlaer@nd.edu over email. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The observer | Friday, January 28, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
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Meeting non-Catholic students where they are There are 57 chapels on Notre Dame’s campus. Ever y residence hall and most academic buildings boast a space for Catholic worship, w ith Mass being celebrated almost 160 times per week on campus. As a Catholic universit y w ith a student population that is roughly 80% Catholic, this should come as no surprise to anyone. But what about the remaining 20% of students? W hile approx imately 80% of Notre Dame students identif y as Catholic, Notre Dame not only accepts students of other faith traditions, but openly welcomes non-Catholic students, encouraging them to explore their ow n faith on campus. In some ways, Notre Dame has met the challenge of supporting non-Catholic students, prov iding support for events and holiday obser vances upon request. Additionally, the Universit y has built two prayer rooms on campus, offering Jew ish and Muslim students a dedicated space for prayer. These rooms, located in Jenkins Nanov ic Hall and Coleman-Morse Hall, prov ide space for students to pray in a safe, private space. W hile Campus Ministr y does regularly support non-Catholic organizations by sponsoring events and offering resources to club leaders, their communications to the student body rarely involve announcements of these ser v ices. Despite Campus Ministr y’s mission of “cultivating the faith of all Notre Dame students,” their week ly newsletter only promoted the Jew ish Club and its events three times in 2021, and events for the Muslim Student Association (MSA of ND) tw ice. As a result of this lack of public support, many non-Catholic students are unaware of the faithbased resources available to them on campus. Bella Niforatos, a senior and co-president of Notre Dame’s Jew ish Club, said she only recently learned of the interfaith prayer room in Jenkins Nanov ic Halls. “There is support and there are certain resources, but you have to look for them,” Niforatos said. “You won’t just happen upon them.” During the hostage situation that occurred at a Fort Worth sy nagogue Jan. 15, Niforatos said she wanted to go somewhere other than her dorm room to pray for the safet y of the hostages — but she didn’t know where to go. “I didn’t want to go to a Catholic space, but I just ended up sitting by the lake,” Niforatos said. “It’s a good example of the way that people from other faith traditions here might have access to resources, but they don’t know where they are or how to get them.” Abdulrahman Atassi, a first-year member of the MSA of ND, said he was able to access halal food in the dining hall w ith relative ease, but he wouldn’t have know n about it if a former student hadn’t told him about the option. Atassi praised Campus Dining’s efforts to assist him in accessing halal meals, but said he
w ishes the option was offered more publicly, so students don’t have to locate resources on their ow n. “I feel like I’m the only person who knows about it,” he said. “The school is ver y ready to give students whatever they ask for, but it’s not offered directly or openly.” Campus Ministr y’s page for interfaith resources reads, “Regardless of the faith background that you bring to this place, Campus Ministr y seeks to meet you where you are and to assist you as you grow here into the person that God has created you to be.” But putting the burden on non-Catholic students to discover and access the resources available to them — when their Catholic peers receive clear and consistent guidance — does not appear to be “meeting you where you are.” The Universit y must take the initiative to support its non-Catholic students in more proactive ways. These students are just as much a part of the Notre Dame communit y as anyone else, and they deser ve faith-based resources tailored to them. Speaking to this point, junior and Jew ish Club co-president Blake Ziegler described the Universit y’s obligation to non-Catholic students as a “contractual relationship.” (Editor’s Note: Blake Ziegler is a Viewpoint Columnist for The Observer.) “Notre Dame offered me admission know ing that I’m Jew ish, because my application said that I was Jew ish,” he said. “And the moment that they offered me admission, it was them making an agreement that I would be able to participate in that space as who I am, as who I presented myself to be to the admissions committee, which is as a Jew. And so far, in a lot of ways, Notre Dame just hasn’t lived up to their end of the bargain.” This lack of initiative from the Universit y contributes to the exclusionar y perception of an “archet y pal” Notre Dame student — one who is, mainly, Catholic. Countless practices across campus, even outside of faith life — professors opening classes w ith prayer, resident assistants in some dorms being required to attend dorm Mass, large campus events such as Commencement or Welcome Weekend being celebrated w ith Catholic ser v ices, ever y classroom hav ing a crucifix — point to the per vasive belief that Catholicism is the “default” at Notre Dame. We’re not asking Notre Dame to strip itself of its Catholic identit y or uproot its deep Catholic tradition. In fact, Ziegler said he appreciates the Universit y’s commitment to Catholic values, especially in regard to education. “That’s part of the reason I chose Notre Dame, because I think Catholic education is a good education,” he said. “Just because it’s an education rooted in a religion that’s not my ow n doesn’t mean I can’t benefit from it, doesn’t mean I can’t find value in it. I think the liberal arts emphasis of Catholic education is amazing, and I think its emphasis on faith has been hugely beneficial for my ow n faith and spiritual life.” We instead ask the Universit y to move beyond
ser v ing the “default” Notre Dame student in its offerings of faith-based resources. W hen asked what the Universit y can do to support nonCatholic students mov ing for ward, Niforatos and Ziegler both emphasized the importance of forming a stronger Jew ish communit y on campus. One way to build communit y, they both suggested, is to establish a chapter of Hillel International at Notre Dame. Hillel is a communit y-based, educational organization dedicated to uniting Jew ish students across the countr y. Chapters have prev iously been established at other Catholic universities, such as Georgetow n and Boston College. Graduate student and MSA of ND board member Haleemah A hmad also spoke to the importance of creating more prayer rooms on campus so that Muslim students can pray more easily. Even though there are currently t wo, she said she often finds herself running to Jenkins Nanov ic on the far end of campus in bet ween classes to pray — ultimately making her late to class. “We understand that the school cannot make the class timetable in line w ith our prayer times, but at least there should be a prayer room, no matter how small, in ever y building where students have classes,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be a mosque; it can just be a prayer room that anybody of any faith can make use of.” Students placed just as much emphasis on non-physical and non-monetar y support. Even if Notre Dame cannot offer financial support to non-Catholic student organizations, the Universit y and Campus Ministr y can still act as a platform for these students’ causes and issues. According to Niforatos, this t y pe of support can come in many different forms: Campus Ministr y promoting non-Catholic organizations and their events, leaders including antisemitism in their discussions of social issues, professors thinking t w ice before they ask their students to bow their heads in Catholic prayer before class. Atassi also pointed out the importance of bringing awareness to the Muslim communit y on campus, say ing that Muslim students might practice their faith more publicly if others were educated about it. “Theoretically [we] could just step outside and pray, but it’s not always comfortable to pray in public because people aren’t familiar w ith what’s happening,” he said. “W hen I stepped into the grass to pray one day, a stranger asked me if I was OK because I was kneeling on the ground.” W hile Atassi said increasing v isibilit y is partly the responsibilit y of the MSA of ND, he also pointed out that they’re still students, w ith classes and activ ities, and the Universit y should step up to increase awareness of Muslim traditions. As a communit y, we are made stronger by the sharing of faiths and the coming together of different worldv iews, a strength that should be recognized and celebrated by creating accessible safe spaces and equitable resources for all faith traditions. After all, catholic means universal.
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Sports
The observer | FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
Sports Authority
Ranking the best games Europe had to offer By GREG MCKENNA Sports Writer
When I first found out I would be studying abroad in the fall, there was a tinge of sadness. To lose a full football season was, briefly, a tough pill to swallow. Any sort of regret I had quickly dissipated once the opportunity to watch some of Europe’s most iconic clubs playing the greatest sport in the world arose. For my pure self-enjoyment, I’ve ranked my five matchgoing experiences from this past fall. There is no set formula, though I generally prioritized the intensity of the atmosphere, the novelty of the storylines surrounding the match and the entertainment value of the game itself. Unsurprisingly, my two real rooting interests, Liverpool and Crystal Palace, are involved at the top of the list.
5. Barcelona 3 - Levante 0 Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain I am not a Real Madrid fan. I was slightly underwhelmed by the atmosphere for this September clash. Camp Nou felt a bit cavernous, though a lot of that had to do with Catalonia maintaining strict capacity restrictions in late September. A stadium that seats over 99,000 people will always feel a bit eerie when only half-full. Even then, the small crowd lacked the intensity that I expected. Yes, Lionel Messi’s departure and the club’s financial crisis had led to what will likely be the club’s worst season in over two decades and the relegation-threatened opponent could also explain the muted buildup. However, I can’t let the most valuable club in the world, according to Forbes, off the hook. Don’t get me wrong, No. 5 on this list still means I was awestruck: The tickets were relatively cheap and I saw American right back Sergiño
Dest contribute an assist. A group of Barcelona academy products and patchwork signings carved up the hapless visitors with an ease Barça fans were accustomed to seeing not too long ago. A goal off the bench for Ansu Fati in his first appearance in over 322 days electrified the crowd, who had chanted his name since he had begun to warm up. For the heir to Messi’s No. 10, it was an emotional moment. Some young, unruly and friendly guys who moved to our section late in the game added some flavor as well.
4. Atlético de Madrid 0 Athletic Club 0 Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain When I recruited a group of fellow study abroad students to go to our first match in early September, I overheard some gripes about “no scoring” and players rolling around on the floor. Well, if the soccer haters ever wanted vindication, this was the game for them. Chances and attacking flair were few and far between in this goalless draw, but there was still plenty of spectacle. For just 60% capacity, the atmosphere was extremely solid, and the ultra-group, the “Frenti Atleti,” were not messing around. Adding to the intrigue was the historical connection between the two clubs. Atleti was originally founded by students from Bilbao as a youth wing for Athletic Club before gradually developing into a separate entity. The familial sort of rivalry carried over to the pitch on this day. Atleti’s João Félix received a controversial red card in the second half of a feisty affair and Atleti manager Diego Simeone was also up to his usual antics. It was a game without goals, but it had pretty much everything else.
3. Athletic Cádiz 1
Bilbao
0
–
San Mamés, Bilbao, Spain For what it’s worth, my girlfriend thought this was the worst match we attended (actually, No. 5 might have been her favorite). Fortunately, I don’t think she’ll get around to reading this, nor do I believe I’ll ever stop hy ping up the Basque Countr y. The match was admittedly terrible. Relegationthreatened Cádiz scrambled a goal across early and then defended for their lives. Athletic Club, meanwhile, was insipid in attack. However, “La Catedral” is simply a place anyone who appreciates sport’s culture must go. The museum in the San Mamés is an incredible w indow into Basque culture and identit y. It helps outsiders understand why a traditional power in Spanish football w illingly puts itself at a disadvantage by only fielding players who hail from the Basque region. Sitting in a section w ith kids and older men chanting together didn’t hurt my romantic impression of the club, either. I’ll be back someday, hopefully for a better game.
2. Crystal Palace 1 – Aston Villa 2 Selhurst Park, London, UK Plent y of rooting bias here, but I have simply never been any where like Selhurst Park. The route from train station to stadium takes you past rows and rows of packed brick tow nhouses until you suddenly come upon four stands that hold almost 25,500. Fenway Park is the only American comparison I can think of in terms of Selhurst’s tight confines, rustic qualit y and constant buzz, but this still doesn’t do Selhurst justice. There was plent y of intrigue heading into this late
November matchup. In his second game as Aston Villa manager, Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was taking on an old rival from his play ing days: Patrick Viera. However, Palace’s sevenmatch unbeaten run came to end as the Eagles uncharacteristically struggled to create opportunities. As the Palace fans began to file out late on, the Eagles did get a goal back. It was a brief glimpse of hope, but I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunit y to celebrate w ith the home crowd. Like w itnessing the return of Fati in Barcelona, a substitute appearance by mercurial Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze, his first game since suffering an achilles injur y in May, was also a bright spot. The mouthwatering steak and Balti pies numbed the sting of defeat as well. On another day, a 15-minute walk back to the train station in bitter cold surrounded by Villa fans chanting their ow n version of “Jingle Bells” (“Oh what fun it is to ride when Villa w in away, hey!”) would have made the blood boil. Instead, I was just over the moon to be there.
1. Atlético de Madrid 2 – Liverpool 3 Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain There’s nothing like European nights. This Champions League showdow n comes in at No. 1, and it wasn’t even close. Sure, this was t wo of the biggest clubs in Europe going at it. The last time the t wo had faced off was March 11, 2020. Atleti dramatically knocked Liverpool out of the last-16 that night, and COV ID-19 shut dow n European football t wo days later. A year and a half later, a raucous full-capacit y crowd beckoned. I arrived in
Madrid a few hours early to watch Liverpool fans part y in the Pla za Mayor. I was sandw iched bet ween away fans in full voice on the subway as they kept the beat by thumping the ceiling of the car. However, even the might y Liverpool faithful were drow ned out in the rafters of the stadium’s East End when the Atleti fans sung their anthem. If the ultras were good at 60% capacit y, they were thunderous all back together again to welcome one of the most successful teams in the histor y of the competition. The match had ever y thing. Liverpool scored t w ice w ithin 13 minutes, the second goal coming from an absolute worldie volley from Naby Keita. A long w ith the Liverpool fans who had snapped up tickets in my section, I felt comfortable getting prett y loud amongst the throngs of Atleti supporters. Twent y minutes later, I felt a bit smaller after Antoine Griezmann scored a quick brace to bring Atleti level and put the Metropolitano into a frenzy, egged on by a demonstrative Simeone. Liverpool looked to be suffering until Griezmann was went sent off in the second half, and the v isitors won a late penalt y that was dispatched by Mohamad Salah. Simeone rushed dow n the tunnel, refusing to shake the hand of Liverpool manager Jurgen K lopp, who in return gave him a sarcastic wave. It was antics, drama and goals galore. I couldn’t have asked for any thing more. Contact Greg McKenna at gmckenn2@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
TRACK AND FIELD
Irish come off record-breaking weekend, look towards Lenny Lyles Invitational Observer Sports Staff
The Notre Dame track and field team w ill its way to Louisv ille, Kentuck y, this weekend to compete in the Lenny Lyles Inv itational. They w ill be coming off of a slew of stellar performances from the Notre Dame Inv itational last weekend, and w ill seek to improve their stats
even more as the season progresses. Several athletes placed first in their events, giving themselves big shoes to fill mov ing for ward. In field events, freshman Jadin O’Brien placed first in the long jump w ith 5.82m, while freshman Madison Schmidt also came out on top in high jump (1.68 m). The Irish swept the weight throw categor y w ith
sophomore Michael Shoaf’s mark of 19.46 m and graduate student Rachel Tanczos’ 20.74m, while freshman Nolan Blachowski placed first in the men’s pole vault (4.75 m). Shoaf also took home the men’s shot put title at 18.54 m. Junior Oliv ia Markezich
won the women’s mile (4:46.57), while graduate student Erin Sullivan notched a first place finish in the women’s 800 (2: 09.57). However, it was graduate student Yared Nuguse who posted the show-stopping performance of the day
by clocking in at a time of 3:54.46 for the men’s mile. Several athletes also claimed their personal bests last weekend, making it a day of setting new goals that the Oly mpian and his fellow teammates w ill hope to surpass on Saturday.
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DAILY
ndsmcobserver.com | FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022 | The Observer
Crossword | Will Shortz
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Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Your heart is in the right place, and your words can and will make a difference this year. Share your thoughts, and stand up for your rights. It’s important to have a voice during such uncertain times. Your strength and courage are your passage to leadership, equality and building a life that gives you hope for a better future. Your numbers are 7, 12, 21, 26, 32, 39, 43. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Reach for the stars, and refuse to let anyone derail your progress. Dedicate your time to what matters most, and you’ll feel good about who you are and what you accomplish. Be true to yourself, and you’ll overcome any adversity you encounter. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Change because you want to, not because someone is demanding. Consider your happiness, and follow through with your plans. Be original, and put your energy to work for you. You will influence others to join your quest. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Make a decision and stick to it, regardless of what others say. Dedication to your beliefs will impact what happens. Don’t overanalyze a partnership; look at the pros and cons, and stick with it or walk away. CANCER (June 21-July 22): An unusual idea or offer needs careful consideration. Don’t feel rushed or let someone push you in a direction you aren’t ready to pursue. If change is something you desire, start small. A response from the heart will eliminate unwanted interference. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Participate in something meaningful. Take a leadership position, and stand up for your rights. A dedicated approach to your life and achievements won’t please everyone, but you are doing the right thing if it makes a difference to you. Believe in yourself. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Put your emotions on the back burner, and be realistic. Engage in positive events and activities that allow you to spend time with people who share your concerns and goals. A positive change will put a smile on your face. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A face-to-face encounter is necessary if you want the truth. Looking someone in the eye will help you decipher how to handle a situation that is troubling you. Shared expenses and responsibilities will pose a problem if equality is lacking. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Pay attention to what others say. Be part of the conversation, and your words will have an impact. Be bold, take hold and do your part to maintain peace. Let your intuition guide you, and you’ll make the right decision. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Express your feelings, and clear up misunderstandings swiftly. Don’t mince words or believe everything you hear. Power is in the truth and living up to your promises. Be a great leader, and your comments will carry weight. Positive change begins with you. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Reconnecting with old friends will result in habits you left behind. Think twice before you indulge in something that holds you back. Be proud of your accomplishments and set a good example. Stand tall and offer positive reinforcement. Self-improvement is favored. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take a step forward, show passion in your pursuits, and strive for perfection, wisdom and compassion. How you treat others will determine the response you receive and how popular you remain. Build your future on honesty and integrity. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Someone will misconstrue your colorful way of expressing your thoughts if you are too elaborate. Choose your words wisely, and refrain from talking about others if you don’t want your life on display. Offer kindness, consideration and your assistance in order to keep the peace. Birthday Baby: You are concerned, intelligent and pioneering. You are dedicated and expressive.
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
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Sports
The observer | FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
Zwiller
MEN’s BASKETBALL | 73-65
Laszewski leads Irish past Wolfpack for home win By LIAM COOLICAN Sports Writer
Notre Dame won their third consecutive game and stayed undefeated at home Wednesday night with a hard-fought 73-65 victory over North Carolina State. The Irish (13-6, 6-2 ACC) have now won eight of their last nine contests and moved to third in the ACC with the win. Despite the 9 p.m. tip-off on a weeknight, students turned out in force to support the Irish. A day after he was seen tossing shirts to students in the dining halls, head coach Mike Brey could be seen gesturing towards the student section to cheer on the team. “They have been awesome,” Brey said. “There’s no question that got us over the hump. When our building’s alive, it helps us defensively.” However, both sides got off to a slow start on the offensive end. Coming off a road win over Louisville in which they shot more than 60% from the field and 65% from beyond the arc, the Irish offense came crashing back to earth. In the first half against the Wolfpack (10-11, 3-7 ACC), they shot under 38% from the field. The Wolfpack weren’t much better though. And, after a back and forth half, the game was tied at 30 heading into the locker room. North Carolina State scored the first five points of the second half, but after a timeout, the Irish, and senior forward Nate Laszewski, found their groove offensively. Laszewski went on an 8-0 run, hitting back-to-back three-pointers before a two-handed slam, sending the crowd into a frenzy. “After we went down five, in the
huddle we talked about bringing more energy. So, we played with a little bit more pace and had more energy, and I think it turned it around for us,” Laszewski said. Following a North Carolina State timeout, the Irish extended that run to 15-0, pushing their lead to double digits. Laszewski paced the Irish with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the contest. “He’s got a great presence about him,” Brey said. In addition to being one of the most difficult players to guard on the offensive end, Laszewski is also one of Notre Dame’s best defenders. Brey says he seamlessly guards multiple positions. “He is fabulous defensively, helping, talking, switching,” Brey said. “It’s a clinic how unselfish he is.” North Carolina State continued to battle and cut the deficit to three with just over 10 minutes to play, but senior guard Dane Goodwin answered with another three-pointer. Freshman guard Blake Wesley got a steal and a fast-break bucket. And then, senior guard Cormac Ryan hit two free throws to push the lead back to 10. The Irish were able to keep the Wolfpack at arm’s length for the rest of the contest. For the rest of the game, they never led by less than five points. Goodwin finished with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Wesley added 15 points despite a poor shooting night. This extended his Notre Dame true freshman record of consecutive games scored in double figures to 16 games. “He’s a winner,” Brey said of Wesley. “We trust him to have the ball in his hands.” Senior guard Prentiss Hubb added 11 points and 5 assists
while playing all 40 minutes for the Irish. “I thought Prentiss was just fabulous,” Brey said. “I didn’t feel I could take him out of the game.” The Wolfpack were led by 21 points from Dereon Seabron, who is third in the ACC in scoring this year. The Irish continue their home stand Saturday night against Virginia, before a much-anticipated showdown Monday with Duke. The Irish haven’t beaten the Cavaliers (12-8, 6-4 ACC) since the 2017 ACC tournament semifinals. Hubb, Goodwin, and Laszewski, the longest-tenured members of the Irish, are 0-5 against Virginia. However, this senior class hadn’t beaten Louisville or North Carolina State prior to Notre Dame’s wins this week. So, they could be in position to break another such streak Saturday. “Those three seniors who have been through it all together were and have been men for us during this stretch,” Brey said. The Cavaliers, as they always have under head coach Tony Bennett, play at one of the slowest paces in college basketball. They lead the ACC in scoring defense, allowing under 60 points per game. But they also score the second-least points per game, with 62.6. Virginia is also an experienced group– their three leading scorers are all upperclassmen. The game tips off at 6 p.m. Saturday night at Purcell Pavilion and will broadcast on the ACC Network.) Contact Liam Coolican at lcoolica@nd.edu
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Continued from page 12
is currently in possession of the trophy given to the w inner of the rivalr y, the Left y Smith – John “Snooks” Kelley Memorial Trophy. The award is named after the t wo coaches who coached during the first game.
University of Michigan This one is a much older rivalr y for Notre Dame, w ith the first meeting taking place in 1923, in which Notre Dame won at Ann Arbor 3-2 and 5-1 later in the year in South Bend. A fter t wo Michigan v ictories in 1924, the series took a hiatus until 1971, when both teams won two games. The series was then ver y much a Notre Damecontrolled one until 1982, when Michigan won a serieslong 18 games (including t wo 13-2 Michigan v ictories). Since then, I would argue that Michigan has controlled the series as they now have an 83-65-5 series lead over Notre Dame. If I had to “predict” where this rivalr y w ill go, I would argue that it w ill become the biggest rivalr y for Notre Dame, more prominent than Boston College. The fact that the t wo share a conference w ill guarantee that the teams play rather frequently, w ith more on the line than in games against BC. Imagine Michigan and Notre Dame play ing for a conference championship. That would be awesome. Think back to Michigan play ing Notre Dame in the NCAA Semifinals. Hav ing that much on the line w ill add drama to a series in which Notre Dame has fallen somewhat behind.
Michigan State This one feels like a rivalr y, if only because of geography. The series began in 1927 w ith Notre Dame w inning 3-1 in East Lansing. However, the Spartans have largely run the series, which they lead 70-48-15.
Western Michigan This is another geographybased rivalr y, but a much closer one than the MSU rivalr y. According to data from College Hockey News, Notre Dame lost its first t wo games to Western by a combined score of 19-4 way back in 1988. W hen the t wo teams faced off again in 1992, Western won the series by outscoring the Irish 17-9. That was how the series went for a while, honestly, w ith Notre Dame making a bit of a comeback much more recently. Presently, Western leads the series 33-31-10. I honestly found that result to be an interesting one. As a more recent hockey fan, I assumed Notre Dame had a decent series lead, but Western has dominated historically.
Minnesota W hile the Golden Gophers are not yet an official rival, I think that they have the potential to be. Of course, both the Irish and Gophers play in the Big Ten, and I would argue that the t wo teams are both good programs. As w ith Michigan, I can easily see the t wo programs clashing over conference championships. This might be my favorite future rivalr y because it w ill develop as a non-football rivalr y. Michigan, MSU and Western are more geographic rivalries than anything, and Boston College is just a football/school rivalr y. However, to my knowledge, Minnesota does not have a pre-ex isting rivalr y w ith other Notre Dame programs. That would make it a hockey-first rivalr y, which would be exciting. I often feel like hockey bows to the other programs, which is demonstrated by the fact that hockey does not have a unique rival. The series is not the closest; my search through College Hockey News records revealed Minnesota’s control of the series. Notre Dame is 26-37-2 against the Golden Gophers, but there is certainly room for the rivalr y to grow as the t wo face off Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and 6 p.m., respectively. Contact Tom Zwiller at tzwiller@hcc-nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Sports
ndsmcobserver.com | FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022 | The Observer
FENCING
SPORTS AUTHORITY
Irish come home for DeCicco Duals By JOSE SANCHEZ CORDOVA Sports Writer
Notre Dame fencing is back in action this weekend as they host the DeCicco Duals on Saturday and Sunday at the Castellan Family Fencing Center. Last time out, Notre Dame put together two outstanding meets at St. John’s and UPenn where the men’s and women’s teams combined for a 17-1 against multiple top-10 opponents. Last weekend was crucial for the Irish as they measured up against teams they will likely meet again at the NCA A Championships in March. It was an opportunity to issue a statement of intent to all the other elite fencing programs and ensure that they are the defending champions who will not go down without a fight. The DeCicco Duals offer a different kind of opportunity. “This home event is one of the only chances we get to fence at home, so usually it’s a fun competition,” senior épée Miriam Grady said. “With everyone here, we can usually rotate a lot of different people, so you get a chance to see someone who typically doesn’t start be able to fence. So, that’s always pretty special.” At last year’s DeCicco Duals, seven fencers made their season debuts for the Irish as the team swept the meet going 8-0 at home on their way to their 11th national title. This year’s field at the Duals has a strong Midwest feel with visiting schools Northwestern, Wayne State,
11
Lawrence, Detroit Mercy and Cleveland State. The Irish also host Wagner and LIU coming from New York. This is Notre Dame’s second time facing Wayne State following Ohio State’s Elite Invitational in December. This is where the Irish recorded dominant wins over the Warriors with a 22-5 victory for the men and 26-1 trouncing for the women. In November, the women’s team also faced Northwestern, Denison and LIU going 3-0 including a perfect 27-0 win over Denison. The competition also plays host to a number of club teams every year with Florida, Purdue, UChicago, Michigan, Indiana and Case Western Reserve University bringing their rosters to South Bend to face the defending national champions. “W hile [the competition] is not as strong, that gives our full roster a chance to fence which is always really special,” Grady added. “We have so many talented fencers on our team. And because only a limited amount can travel at any given time, it’s always, I think, a good opportunity for some of the younger fencers or some of that talent that usually doesn’t get a chance to fence, especially at home.” Notre Dame will host the DeCicco Duals for two full days starting at on Saturday and Sunday at the Castellan Family Fencing Center. Contact Jose Sanchez Cordova at jsanch24@nd.edu
Please recycle The Observer.
Can back-to-back first picks save the Pistons? By JACK SIRIANNI Sports Writer
Abysmal, atrocious, miserable, and disappointingly subpar. These are all words that would be fitting to describe the 2021-2022 campaign for the Detroit Pistons thus far. Barring a monumental turnaround, this season seems like a wash for the team. And a turnaround seems unlikely considering the hole that the Pistons currently lie in. In the Eastern Conference standings, they’re 13 games behind the eighth seed Boston Celtics. As currently the second-worst team in the NBA, by a pitiful three-game margin, there is not much farther for the team to plunge for the remainder of this year. This is the same franchise that has a rich history in the league, highlighted by three titles. They took home back to back championships in 1989 and 1990, beating Michael Jordan and Magic Johnsonled teams. Then, in 2004, they dominated the Kobe Bryant-led Lakers. The fact of the matter is that in Detroit, the Bad Boys have always reigned supreme with hustle-based basketball that has relied on gritty defenses that dimmed even the brightest stars. But, as of about the last decade and a half, that has not been the case. Franchises with similar histories such as the Lakers, Celtics, and Bulls have faced similar struggles, but never quite to this almost Egyptian plague level of suffering. In professional basketball, there are a few predictive indicators to measure the success of a team’s season and the trajectory of the team in years to come. Some of the most reliable of these factors would be making the playoffs or picking up other end-of-season awards such as the Most Valuable Player or Rookie of the Year. Even for teams who are at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to measures of overall success at the end of the season, there is the possible reward of a high draft pick won in the Draft Lottery. These achievements, even without the securing of a championship, bring a reward that is almost just as precious. That reward would be the way that these accomplishments inspire hope in the people associated with an organization. For many years the city of Detroit, which was hit hard by the national economic downturn of 2008, was also struck by the downward spiral of their beloved basketball team. This is a city and franchise that has been lacking the hope that success brings for many years.
Additionally, with a small market team like Detroit which has not been able to put together even a pair of All-Stars since 2008, it is nearly impossible to attract big-name free agents. In this year’s struggles, the team has been dealing with issues of players unable to play due to COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols. This has resulted in the team pulling up many G-League players who have put in some productive minutes for the squad, but this puts a significant hindrance on what the team can accomplish. These circumstances have resulted in the jumbled and rag-tag lineups that include legitimate rising NBA talent like forward Jerami Grant with players who are just now getting their first professional minutes. While the Detroit Pistons have not netted a positive postseason achievement besides two first-round playoff exits since 2009, last year they managed to cash in on their struggles and land the first overall pick to draft Cade Cunningham. With Cunningham leading a developing core of young talent that will hopefully bring the team to success in the near future, the Pistons are still widely considered the dredges of the NBA. For many fans, however, the burning question stands, “When will it be our time?” or “Who will be the Moses to lead our team out of agony?” The answers to these questions are ones that no one knows, but the success of this basketball organization hangs in the balance of their answers. It is a real possibility that with the current trajectory of the Detroit Piston’s season they could find themselves at the top of the lottery with their current race for last place with the Orlando Magic. As they did last year, the reward of failure with the first pick in the draft could once again fall to the Motor City. However, the question stands, “What would another number one overall pick do for the Detroit Pistons?” Would this blessing from the basketball gods be enough to right the course of Dwayne Casey’s team? Just like the Cleveland Cavaliers with Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins in 2013-14, or the Philadelphia 76er’s with Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz in 2016-17, the reward of back-to-back first overall picks may not be a sure marker for success. While these are complex examples, the Detroit Pistons could possibly be adding Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren or Duke forward Paolo Banchero to a locker room bursting at the seams with young talent. Another first overall pick would rejuvenate the
Detroit Pistons for a short while, but the certainty of the team’s future success is still bouncing around the rim. While the chances of the lottery balls playing exactly to the Piston’s favor is far from a guarantee, there is still a multitude of avenues that the front office could take to bolster the team for future success. One of those options is going all-in on the last two years of drafted talent; meaning the team needs to surround the likes of Cade Cunningham, Killian Hayes, Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart, and Saben Lee with veterans that will facilitate their growth. This plan also may involve moving star Jerami Grant who has been a bright spot for the team when he has been able to be on the court. His market value in either draft assets or a package deal far exceeds his value to the group if the team wants to focus solely on the younger players. The Pistons are moving for a rebuild from the ground up, but if they do this, they have to commit to the aggressive moves that come with a period of failure. Another avenue that the organization could push for is to do whatever it takes to strengthen the Rookie of the Year case for breakout star point guard Cade Cunningham. With him as the centerpiece of this long-term rebuild, this award would legitimize the efforts of the Detroit Pistons to continue their building of the team around him and the other younger players. Cunningham has every chance for this award to land in his young hands to try to mimic the second-year playoff push success of Lamelo Ball with the Charlotte Hornets. While this season has not been far from kind to the Detroit Pistons and their fans, there are absolutely a plethora of positive takeaways for those noble faithful few who want to believe in this franchise. With a group of hungry young players and the right moves made by the front office, this team could become a growing beast in the Eastern Conference. Despite the struggles of the Detroit Pistons, there is just a dangerous slice of hope that the Motor City could have a team to boast about one more. By no means should one buy their ticket to the championship parade just yet, but things may be poised to turn around in Detroit. To answer the question, “When will the Detroit Bad Boys be back?” there is no definitive date, but it may just be closer than most people think. Contact Jack Sirianni at jsirian@nd.edu
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The observer | FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
WoMEN’s BASKETBALL | 83-62
Squad defeats Syracuse 83-62 for fourth win in last five contests Observer Sports Staff
ANYA RUFFINO | The Observer
Irish graduate student forward Maya Dodson goes for a layup during Notre Dame’s 83-62 win over Syracuse on Thursday, Jan. 27.
Notre Dame women’s basketball dispatched Syracuse Thursday night, pulling away late in the fourth quarter to leave Purcell Pavilion with a 83-62 victory. It was a slow start for the Irish, who saw themselves trailing the Orange 21-19 at the end of the first quarter. The upset watch wouldn’t last for long in South Bend however, as Notre Dame slowly but surely chipped away at the Syracuse defense in the second and third quarter. In the fourth quarter the Irish turned on the steam, posting 30 points in just ten minutes, their highest scoring quarter of the game, and pushed their lead to more than 20 points. Sonia Citron was the star of the show in the runaway fourth, with the freshman posting 10 of her 13 points as well as four of her team-high 12 rebounds in the final frame to power Notre Dame’s impressive finish. Olivia Miles also had a big day for the Irish, leading the team with 17 points as well as a
game-high nine assists. Miles was present on the boards as well, taking down 10 rebounds to put her a single assist away from a triple double. Efficiency proved crucial for the Irish as they pulled away from the Orange, as Notre Dame outshot Syracuse from the field by a dramatic margin. The Irish shot 41% from behind the arc in addition to going nearly 50% from the field, whereas the Orange shot only 37% from the field and could only manage 15% from three. The Irish were also dominant down low in the win, steadily out rebounding Syracuse on both the offensive and defensive glass. Notre Dame brought down 58 total boards as well as 20 crucial offensive rebounds to give themselves second chances, whereas the Orange only managed 29 total rebounds, with 13 on the offensive side. Looking ahead, Notre Dame will now prepare for something of a revenge game over the weekend, as Boston College comes to South Bend for the second match of a three game
Irish home stand on Sunday. The Eagles proved tougher than their 5-4 conference record would indicate in the last matchup between the two teams on January 20th, downing the Irish 73-71 in a frustrating outing for Notre Dame in Chestnut Hill. Guard Cameron Swartz was the difference maker for the Eagles in that game with the Irish, posting a game-high 28 points to go with five rebounds as well as four assists. Containing Swartz as well as Makayla Dickens and Taylor Soule, Boston College’s two other high scorers from last week’s matchup (20 and 15 points respectively), will likely be Head Coach Niele Ivey’s top priority as she gets her team ready for the weekend. If the Irish can force the Eagles into an inefficient shooting day from the field like they did Syracuse on Thursday, they should be able to avenge their earlier loss. Notre Dame will take on Boston College this Sunday at Purcell Pavilion at 2 pm. The game will be broadcast on the ACC Network.
Column
Zwiller: Who are Notre Dame’s hockey rivals? Tom Zwiller Sports Writer
Last Wednesday, No. 13 Notre Dame hosted unranked Boston College and added to the case that Notre Dame should be ranked in the top 10. For those who missed the midweek hockey action, the game was a resounding 8-2 Irish v ictor y, despite the Eagles scoring w ithin 17 seconds. The statement w in is just what the Irish needed as they take on No. 11 Minnesota in what is a critical conference matchup. Currently, Minnesota is ahead of the Irish in the Big Ten standings. Minnesota has 27 points to Notre Dame’s 24 points. A w in for the Irish could help them shoot up the standings and give them a home game in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. However, instead of breaking dow n the implications of the upcoming series on the playoffs, I want
to go back to Boston College. As I sat dow n in the dining hall, I began to talk about the game’s result w ith a friend who was excited about the outcome. As the conversation ended, he said, “it always feels great to get a w in over a rival.” That made me pause, because I had not precisely thought of Boston College as a hated rival, which does indeed make an already sweet v ictor y that much better. I immediately turned to Wikipedia (shameful, I know), know ing that there was always a list of rivals in the general information section for football teams. However, Wikipedia had nothing to offer in that department besides mentioning a few rivals back from Notre Dame’s Hockey East days. (The Notre Dame Football section, in case you were wondering, lists Michigan, MSU, Nav y and USC) Disappointed, I googled “Notre Dame hockey
rivals,” and an article listing Michigan and Boston College came up, but honestly, those t wo were the only t wo consistently mentioned teams I found. So, as a way to set the record straight, I w ill tr y and explore the rivalries that are well-know n and offer up some new ones as well.
Boston College So, yeah, the well-know n rivalr y I did not know existed is arguably one of the most storied in the hockey program’s histor y. The t wo first played in 1969; Boston College bested Notre Dame that day 7-3, and the t wo have played 46 times since. The rivalr y even has a name, the “Holy War on Ice,” which references the Notre Dame-Boston College football rivalr y and is reasonably close as far as rivalries go: Boston College leads the series 24-21-2. Thanks to their v ictor y last Wednesday, Notre Dame see ZWILLER PAGE 10
GRACIE LEE | The Observer
Irish freshman forward Justin Janicke skates around a defender during Notre Dame’s 3-2 win over Michigan State on Dec. 10.
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Karashik Feature
Adam Karashik prepared to lead Irish defense against Golden Gophers By NATE MOLLER Sports Writer
A lthough this is graduate student defender Adam Karashik’s first season w ith the Irish, he has made an immediate impact. He spent the last four years play ing for UConn before transferring to Notre Dame. In one season, he has helped the Irish become one of the best defenses in college hockey. In addition to anchoring the defense, Karashik has played ever y game. So far he has recorded eleven assists on the season, which is good for fifth on the team. Despite arriv ing just this summer, Karashik felt immediately welcomed to the team right when he arrived. He stepped up and was named one of the team’s captains for his outstanding leadership. “It was ver y easy for me to connect w ith the guys right away. I feel like I was one of their brothers and part of what they’re tr y ing to accomplish here in w inning a national championship,” Karashik said. “It was just easy for me to be an older guy and have a veteran role w ith this team because they made me feel so comfortable. And they all have the same goals in mind as me: to w in a championship together.” One of the Irish’s strong suits this year has been their penalt y kill, which is one of the best in the countr y. Karashik attributes the team’s penalt y kill success to t wo things. First to good coaching and second, to each player know ing their roles. “Ever yone’s w illing to put their bodies on the line to sacrifice. We have a killer mentalit y of ‘We’re not gonna let them score’ and ‘We want to keep ourselves in the game’,” Karashik said. “It’s been a lot of buy ing into the
Preview Continued from page 2
nominees for the Mike Richter Award, given to college hockey’s top goaltender, in graduate transfer Matthew Galajda and junior Ryan Bischel. However, that doesn’t mean the Irish are just going to sit back on defense and count on their goaltender making 40 saves to win. Notre Dame’s defense will be at the center of their efforts this weekend, but that doesn’t just mean limiting chances in their end; the Irish blue-liners are a key part of their transition,
belief that we’re going to kill this thing off and we’re going to get back to five-on-five and play our best hockey.” The Irish have been clutch in key moments this season and have won multiple games in overtime. Karashik discussed what makes this team so good in the game’s crunch time moments. “We know that we’re never out of the fight. W hether we’re up or we’re dow n, we know that we have a chance to w in the game,” Karashik said. “That goes w ith our work ethic and our talent. W hen we work hard and outwork other teams, our talent takes over and our structure takes over. W hen we have all those things going together, and we’re play ing fast, physically and we are fighting, we are a really dangerous team,” This is Karashik’s first season play ing in the Big Ten, and he has enjoyed the physicalit y, speed, and energ y of the crowd present w ithin the conference, “There are a lot of skilled players w ith fast pace, and it’s also physical. I like to play a hard-nosed game. And I feel like I’ve been able to bring a little bit of a heav ier side to the back end,” Karashik said. “I’ve definitely seen a difference that in the Big Ten. The student sections are definitely rowdy and a lot of fun to play in front of.” Minnesota is the only team that has swept the Irish this season. On Oct. 29 and 30, the Irish fell 4-1 and 3-2 in Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers managed to grab 4 power plays in the series but couldn’t convert on any of them. So despite the loss, Karashik is confident that the Irish are ready to challenge the Golden Gophers again if they stick to their game plan. “I think we need to play our
game, stick to our structure, and stick to what we want to do,” Karashik said. “We were obv iously a different team back then when they swept us. And they were a different team as well. So it’s gonna be a good benchmark to see how much better we’ve gotten. And [it’ll measure] how much better they’ve gotten,” Minnesota is only three points above the Irish in the Big Ten standings. That makes this weekend a v ital series for the Irish in their quest to move up the Big Ten table and possibly compete for a Big Ten regular-season title. The long-term goal w ill always be w inning a championship, but, Karashik stressed the importance of taking each game one at a time this weekend. “You want to go one day
at a time, one practice at a time, one game at a time. So we have our eyes set on taking care of them on Friday night and getting those three points and then follow ing it up w ith another w in on Saturday,” Karashik said. “That’d be good for some momentum here w ith 10 games left in the regular season. We can’t look too far ahead. We have to make sure that’s in the back of our heads and we’re focusing on this weekend.” This weekend w ill be one of the toughest challenges of the season for the Irish defense against a talented and fast Minnesota attack. “We need to just keep them in front of us, play the body, make sure we’re physical w ith them and play once again to our structure,” Karashik said. “Our coaches
put a really good structure in place. If we follow our pre-scout and we follow the details on how to defend and keep them in front of us, we w ill be able to handle them.” Karashik acknowledged that the crowd has been great so far this season. And, he is excited to see a fun, energetic crowd at Compton Family Ice Arena on Friday and Saturday. “The fans have been awesome all season. There have been a number of nights where the student section is packed, and it’s really loud. It makes it hard for the other team to get any momentum, so that’s great,” Karashik said. “We want to get off to a fast start, and get the fans into it prett y early.”.
particularly senior Spencer Stastney -- who Jackson called “underrated,” and most tellingly, “a dominant player who’s not necessarily a pure offensive or defensive defenseman” -- as well as another senior in Nick Leivermann. But Jackson also seemed to indicate there’s another level for that group to reach. “Offensive zone play by the defenseman has gotta be a huge part of your (team) offense,” Jackson said. “There’s times I’d like to see our defenseman shoot more, especially on the power-play.” Jackson was certainly pleased to see Stastney
record his second powerplay goal of the season in last Wednesday’s 8-2 rout of Boston College. It was just the third PPG by an Irish defenseman (Leivermann has the other), which is a bit shocking since both Statsney and Leivermann are top 20 in goals by blue-liners in the entire country. That’s more of an indictment on ND’s power-play as a whole rather than the two senior defenders; the former had been pretty mediocre for most of the season before tallying a season-high three times against Boston College. If that’s the start of a breakout for the Irish
man-advantage, it would be a massive step in turning the Irish into the type of complete team that rises to the forefront of national championship contention. “The unit with (junior forward) Trevor Janicke, (sophomore forward) Grant Silanoff, Lansdell, Statsney, and (graduate student defenseman) Chase Blackmun has been a lot more productive than anybody else we’ve had all season long. They’ve been probably the guys that have had the biggest impact on scoring,” Jackson said. But again, there’s still room for growth. “I think right now one unit’s
productive, we just need to get a second unit that gives us a chance to score every game between the two units.” From the power-play to the role of their best defenseman to the status of some of their most important players, there’s a lot to think about for this critical Big Ten matchup. The Irish and Golden Gophers drop the puck on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m. at Compton Family Ice Arena. Both games w ill be streamed live on Peacock.
SARAH GRISHAM | The Observer
Irish graduate student transfer defenseman Adam Karashik moves down the ice with the puck during Notre Dame’s 3-2 home win over Michigan State on Dec. 12. The Irish went 1-1 on the weekend.
Contact Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu
Contact Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MAGGIE KLAERS | PHOTOS BY GRACIE LEE