Print Edition for The Observer for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

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Volume 56, Issue 53 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

Cohort receives housing ND invites Gateway 9.0 to campus following uncertainty Observer Staff Report

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story was published on Monday, Feb. 28.

Notre Dame will be able to provide on-campus housing to the current Gateway 9.0 cohort upon their transfer to Notre Dame in the fall semester, the Office of Residential Life announced in an email to Gateway students Monday morning.

“We are delighted to share with you that, due to the tremendous efforts of many around the University, we are now able to provide on-campus housing to Gateway 9.0 students who would

like to live in a residence hall community next fall,” the email said.

The announcement comes after last fall’s news that on-campus housing would not be a guarantee for Gateway students or any transfer students.

The email described intense efforts by the University to solve an on-campus housing shortage.

Especially important in these efforts, the email mentioned, was “investing heavily in resources to create additional opportunities for Notre Dame students to study abroad in the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters.”

After announcing the update, the email addressed several

Prayer service held for Ukraine

expected questions and concerns, the first being “Why did you communicate a different message to us in October?”

In response, the email explained the prospects for fully available on-campus Gateway housing in the fall of 2021 were “highly unlikely,” which led the University to send the October email encouraging students to seek off-campus housing.

With University efforts to create availability in on-campus housing, however, the projection soon began to change.

“It was only due to a substantial see GATEWAY PAGE 5

Notre Dame News Editor

Carrier Global Corporation and Notre Dame Turbomachiner y Laborator y (NDTL) celebrated the completion of the new Willis Carrier Centrifugal Compressor Technolog y Laborator y on Friday. Carrier, an industr y leader in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, collaborated w ith the NDTL to ERIN DRUMM | The Observer

By ERIN DRUMM News Writer

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story was published on Tuesday, March 1.

Students and community members gathered at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at 8 p.m. Monday night for a prayer service dedicated to the peace and safety of the Ukrainian people amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

University President Fr. John Jenkins invited the community to gather in prayer for Ukraine and shared a message of peace.

NEWS PAGE 3

“We at Notre Dame continue to pray for the people of Ukraine and join with peace-loving people around the globe in demanding an end to this assault on a sovereign nation.”

The prayer service was led by Fr. Andrij Hlabse, S.J., a theology PhD candidate and Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic priest.

Fr. Hlabse spoke in Ukrainian, English and Russian during his homily, praying for all involved in this tragedy and addressing Ukrainian students in their see PRAYER PAGE 5

VIEWPOINT PAGE 8

By BELLA LAUFENBERG News Writer

“There’s no more days of the week. It’s just days of the war,” junior and president of the Notre Dame Ukrainian Society Maryna Chuma said.

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine six days ago, several Notre Dame students with Ukrainian ties are struggling to deal with the attack on the country.

First-year Marko Gural said his parents fled Ukraine in the 1990s at the beginning of the tension

between Russia and Ukraine.

Gural explained that the conflict goes back to the founding of Ukraine after the fall of the USSR. “Putin, in 2006, said that the greatest geopolitical disaster of the 20th century was the breakup of the USSR. So, many people have speculated that his aim is to recreate the Soviet Union,” he said. “[Putin has] talked a lot about how Ukrainians and Russians are essentially the same people. He’s denied the existence of [the] Ukrainian state.” see UKRAINE PAGE 5

Turbomachinery Lab unveils new test facility

By RYAN PETERS

Members of the University community gathered in the Basilica on Monday for a prayer service in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

Students detail ties to invasion

establish the company’s largest compressor test facilit y.

The NDTL facilit y located in Ignition Park in South Bend tests high power rotating equipment, or turbomachiner y, to conduct research and testing on aerody namics and power generation. The new Carrier test cell at the NDTL w ill allow students and researchers in the lab to conduct research on compression in the refrigeration

cycle, NDTL director Joshua Cameron said.

Cameron explained that central air conditioning units that sit outside of homes require a small compressor inside the units.

The refrigeration cycle for larger tasks, such as cooling high rises or chilling water for a large campus, require much larger compressors.

In order for Carrier to conduct research and product see LAB PAGE 4

Panel discusses discrimination, reparations

By KATHRYN MUCHNICK News Writer

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story was published on Tuesday, March 1.

In honor of Black Histor y Month, the Accomplice project, sponsored by the Kroc Institute’s Mediation Program, and the Black Lives Matter South Bend chapter hosted a panel

SCENE PAGE 9

Monday to discuss racial discrimination and make a case for reparations in the South Bend.

The panel featured Oletha Jones, who ser ves as a trustee on the South Bend School Board; Jorden Giger, cofounder of the South Bend Black Lives Matter chapter; and Regina WilliamsPreston, former South Bend Common Councilwoman

and member of South Bend Black Lives Matter. DaraMarie Raggay, co-manager of the Accomplice project, moderated the discussion.

The three panelists focused on the intersecting themes of env ironmental justice, racism w ithin South Bend schools and discriminatory housing policy.

M BASKETBALL PAGE 16

BENGAL BOUTS PAGE 16

see PANEL PAGE 4

2

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Editor-in-Chief Alysa Guffey Managing Editor Evan McKenna Asst. Managing Editor: Isabella Volmert Asst. Managing Editor: Colin Capece Asst. Managing Editor: Nelisha Silva Notre Dame News Editor: Saint Mary’s News Editor: Viewpoint Editor: Sports Editor: Scene Editor: Photo Editor: Graphics Editor: Social Media Editor: Advertising Manager: Ad Design Manager: Systems Administrator: Talent & Inclusion Manager:

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RYAN VIGILANTE | The Observer

Midterm exams and papers can be stressful. During this time, students can stock up on candy and other snacks to treat themselves so they can continue studying and finish the week. Saturday will be the start of mid-term break across the tri-campus community.

The next Five days:

Want your event included here?

Email news@ndsmcobserver.com

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Recital: Laura Strickling and Daniel Schlosberg O’Neill Hall of Music 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

All are welcome.

Talk with Science Writer John Farrell Scholar’s Lounge, Hesburgh Library 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Breakfast provided.

“Sign of the Times: Critical Race Theory” Geddes Hall Coffee House noon - 1 p.m.

All are welcome.

“A Climate for all of Us” McKenna Auditorium 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Registration required.

Event is open to all.

Sunday Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 10 a.m. & noon All are welcome to celebrate Mass.

Ash Wednesday Student Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 9 p.m.

Come receive ashes.

VOCES8 Concert DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Contemporary and classical songs.

English Conversation Table 202 LaFortune 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Practice English and make new friends.

Start of Spring Break campus-wide all day Students can enjoy time away from classes and relax.

Daily Rosary Grotto 6:45 p.m.

Everyone is welcome to gather and pray the Rosary.

News

ndsmcobserver.com | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022 | The Observer

3

DIANE PARK | The Observer

Women’s history across the tri-campus

By UYEN LE, ERIN DRUMM and JIM MOSTER From the Archives Researchers

2022 marks 50 years since women were admitted to Notre Dame. Throughout this half-centur y, women have made vast strides towards increased v isibilit y and respect w ith their perseverance and accomplishments.

In this week’s edition of From the Archives, we w ill examine women’s histor y at Notre Dame through the decades. In the ‘70s, Notre Dame experienced the arrival of women’s varsit y sports teams, which culminated in a women’s fencing national championship v ictor y in the 1980s. Then, w ith 1990 being declared the “Year of the Woman” at Notre Dame, we w ill explore the increasing number of women in STEM and the challenges they faced in those fields.

Finally, the powerful yet controversial “The Vagina Monologues” came to the tri-campus communit y in the 2000s, bringing women’s issues front and center.

‘The dames have truly arrived’: The beginning of women’s sports at Notre Dame Aug. 28, 1976 | March 24, 1987 | Terry Lynch | Researched by Erin Drumm In 1972, w ith the arrival of female students on Notre Dame’s campus, women began participating in intramural and interhall sports.

In 1976, the first women’s varsit y sports teams were created at Notre Dame: fencing and tennis.

Tennis seemed to be the most popular sport among Notre Dame women in its first years on campus. This interest gave way to the development of a varsit y tennis team. W hen the women’s practice greens were installed, associate athletic director Colonel Stevens was one of the first to comment: “The dames have truly arrived.”

There were no scholarships for women in their first year of varsit y sports as the focus was placed on creating a well-rounded women’s sports program w ith the limited funds they were given.

The Women’s Athletic Association, however, allowed women to get involved

w ith sports on campus by becoming “hostesses for our v isiting teams, officiating corps, equipment managers, athletic trainer aids, publicit y corps, statisticians and even public address announcers for our emerging women’s athletic program.”

Both women’s tennis and women’s fencing worked in conjunction w ith their male counterparts under the same coaches. Women’s fencing emphasized that women would “have equal status, equipment, travel allowance and coaching.”

Notre Dame had a wellestablished and respected sports program, so it was “not Notre Dame’s intention to have a separate women’s athletic department, as the women [could] benefit immensely from Notre Dame’s nationally renow ned coaching staff.”

In March 1987, the women’s fencing team became Notre Dame’s first women’s varsit y team to w in a national championship.

The national championship title marked the culmination of the women’s fencing team’s road to glor y and established them as a force to be reckoned w ith.

Yves Auriol, who ser ved as the head women’s fencing coach from 1985-1995, said that executive v ice president Fr. Edmund P. Joyce asked him to start building a women’s varsit y fencing team in 1974.

“He did something that ver y few people give him credit for — he elevated women to varsit y status on this campus long before Title IX ever came into vogue,” former men’s fencing head coach Mike DeCicco said.

“Title IX forced a lot of schools to add women to varsit y sports. He did it because we had enrolled women, and he saw their role carr y ing over to the athletic field as well.”

The women’s varsit y fencing team proved themselves to be great athletes deser ving of their varsit y status and national championship title.

Today, Notre Dame’s female athletes continue to contribute to campus athletics, w ith 13 women’s varsit y sports play ing at the Div ision I level. Through their successes in and out of their respective sports arenas, these athletes honor

Notre Dame’s tradition of excellence and camaraderie.

Women in STEM persist at Notre Dame March 6, 1991 | Chris Cooney | Researched by Uyen Le As the 1990s unfolded — almost 20 years after women were admitted for the first time at Notre Dame — Fr. Edward Malloy declared 1990-1991 the “Year of the Woman at Notre Dame.”

Chris Cooney (‘91) w rote a feature as part of a series celebrating the Year of the Woman on the increasing number of women in STEM at Notre Dame and the challenges they faced.

In the class of 1992, only seven of the 78 mechanical engineers were women.

Nancy Greene, one of the seven, experienced isolation, claiming that “any minorit y is going to feel alone at times.”

Greene’s sentiments echoed what is know n as “Fishbowl Sy ndrome.” Dr. Kathie New man, a physics professor and member of the Year of the Woman steering committee, explained that women in math and science fields often “feel isolated, w ith ever ybody watching them as if they are in a fishbowl.”

Additionally, “the actions of anyone inside the fishbowl are magnified for those outside the bowl, causing them to come under closer scrutiny.” This added pressure leads to women secondguessing themselves in their work.

New man pointed out that women in technical careers faced a variet y of “microinequities,” problems that seem acute at first, but that can lead to loss of interest over all. These microinequities include “speaking to women on a less intellectual level, calling on male students more often, asking men the more difficult questions and subtly imply ing that the women must prove themselves.”

W hen Pam Flusche (‘90) graduated and went on to work at Commonwealth Edison Power Company in Chicago, she was only one of three women at the workplace.

Flusche quick ly noticed she was treated differently than her fellow male newcomers. Her colleagues were

“reluctant to teach her some of the more physical tasks” because of assumptions about her gender. However, Flusche gained respect by taking initiative and going out on jobs by herself.

Despite the inequities, New man claimed that in comparison to other universities, Notre Dame did better to help women succeed in science and math subjects.

The physics department, where New man worked, was dedicated to “discussing the problems female scientists face.”

The Year of the Woman also helped to raise awareness on the problems women face in these fields. Various departments inv ited acclaimed female scientists to speak at Notre Dame, prov iding female students w ith role models who have made accomplishments in their fields.

Dr. Kimberly Gray, hired in 1989 by the College of Engineering, described how Notre Dame wanted to fill her spot w ith a woman to make the College more appealing to female students.

However, Gray expressed some concern over this quota-driven hiring system.

“No one wants to be hired for a position just because of chromosomal makeup,” Gray said, “but because they’re the best for the job.”

However, Linda-Margaret Hunt, assistant chair of the biological sciences department, recognized the necessit y of quotas.

“If there’s an equally qualified male and female, they’re going to take the female because of the emphasis on Affirmative Action hiring,” Hunt said.

Though men continue to dominate STEM fields today, at Notre Dame there are many more female students in the College of Science and the College of Engineering than there were 30 years ago. Female professors, like New man and Hunt, and female students, like Greene and Flusche, paved the way for women in STEM to pursue the subjects they love.

‘The Vagina Monologues’ canceled at Saint Mary’s, backlash ensues Jan. 23, 2001 | Molly McVoy | Jan. 25, 2001 | Coleen McCarthy | Researched by Jim Moster In 2000, Saint Mary’s

College hosted a public performance of “The Vagina Monologues,” an off-Broadway play on women’s sexuality. The play, written in 1994, aimed to open dialogue on the issues of sex, rape and celebration of the female body.

A year after the controversial performance at Saint Mary’s, College president Marilou Eldred abruptly and unilaterally banned the play from making a reappearance in 2001.

Eldred cited the alleged anti-Catholic themes of the show, including open discussion of premarital heterosexual and lesbian sex. Some students agreed, like Mary Dugan (‘03), who decried the show’s “vulgar” tone and disagreed that the vagina needed to be a central focus of rape discussions.

Others were comfortable with the play’s themes but thought the “shock value” would overshadow any practical discussion and turn away conservative women.

The previous Saint Mary’s performance, sponsored by the Campus Alliance for Rape Elimination (CARE), had offered counseling services for women following the show and raised money for the Sex Offense Services and Campus Rape Alliance.

Eldred’s decision caused immediate backlash amongst students, faculty and alumnae. CARE wrote a letter on the play’s importance to the Alumnae Board, Parents Council and the Board of Trustees, which Eldred blocked, leading to accusations of censorship.

Eventually, the College decided to hold a student forum in place of the play to discuss the issue. Eldred did not attend the forum due to “prior commitments.”

Forum attendees debated the merits and drawbacks of holding “The Vagina Monologues” on campus.

While the play never made another official appearance at Saint Mary’s, students organized an underground reading in 2004, unsponsored by the College. There were 80 students in attendance, ref lecting the play’s powerful legacy which continues to this day.

Contact Uyen Le at hle2@nd.edu, Erin Drumm at edrumm@nd.edu and Jim Moster at jmoster@nd.edu

4

NEWS

The observer | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

Lab Continued from page 1

development on such large compressors, Cameron said, they needed to expand their testing capabilit y.

“They didn’t have that scale available at any of the labs that they have at their engineering centers,” Cameron said.

The NDTL had a prior relationship w ith a senior v ice president of engineering at Carrier who facilitated the establishment of the new test cell. Carrier engineers asked for more testing capabilities and they were eventually directed to the NDTL — leading to the establishment of the new Carrier test cell.

The new compressor lab at the Ignition Park NDTL facilit y is a unique hands-on educational opportunit y for students, Cameron said.

“They w ill get to operate a world-class facilit y,” he said.

“It’s the biggest centrifugal compressor test cell that Carrier has globally, so they get literally hands on. They get to touch it. They get to change it.”

The ma x imum power capabilit y at the Ignition Park facilit y is 10 megawatts, v ice president for research at Notre Dame Robert Bernhard said. Meanwhile,

Panel Continued from page 1

The discussion revolved around specific policies — past and present — in the South Bend community.

“Local politics rules your life,” Williams-Preston said. “I want you to understand that this is personal.”

Williams-Preston next moved to a call for action.

“South Bend is a small town, and we can really do something here if we have the will.”

Jones began the presentation by discussing education and policing in South Bend schools, an area where she has experience. She traced the roots of modern day discriminatory policies in South Bend schools beginning with the Supreme Court’s mandate to desegregate following the Brown v. Board of Education decision.

Despite ongoing efforts to rectify educational inequality in South Bend, she said problems persist to this day.

Jones cited a letter that the School Board received in August of 2021 from the Department of Justice that called on them to put a stop to discriminatory policies.

“Our review of this data exposed both long-standing issues and new inconsistencies that severely compromise the corporation’s ability to uniformly implement its calling,” the letter said.

Recently, Jones said she

the ma x imum capabilit y at the Universit y’s original turbomachiner y facilit y on campus at the W hite Field Research Laborator y is 500 kilowatts — a large capabilit y for a universit y, Bernhard said — yet just one-t wentieth the capabilit y of the Ignition Park facilit y.

In addition to hav ing access to a world-class facilit y, Cameron said the opportunit y to work alongside both Notre Dame and Carrier engineers and scientists is beneficial for students.

“They get to work sideby-side w ith our engineers, our scientists, Carrier’s engineers and scientists, and so they w ill be participating in the technolog y development programs, the research programs that Carrier is conducting throughout the year,” Cameron said.

Carrier also established the Carrier Center of Excellence along w ith the new test cell. The designation of the center of excellence signals the close collaboration between the Universit y and Carrier and sets up an internship pipeline, Cameron said.

The pipeline w ill allow students to intern w ith the NDTL earlier on in their academic careers

witnessed the “school-to-prison pipeline” after officers were placed in schools.

“When armed uniformed police officers were placed in schools on a regular basis, we went from a threat of citations being given, to intimidation, to now possible abuse,” Jones said.

Jorden Giger followed Jones, speaking about environmental racism in South Bend.

Specifically, Giger discussed the lead poisoning crisis that was exposed in a 2016 article published by the South Bend Tribune.

From 2005 to 2015, 25% of children under the age of five tested had elevated levels of lead in their blood in census Tract 6, a neighborhood on the northwest side of South Bend.

About 44% of tested children from neighboring census Tract 19 and about 10% from census Tract 4 also had elevated bloodlead levels.

“These are census tracts with high concentrations of Black residents,” Giger said.

Citing Notre Dame professor Heidi Burnett, Giger said it is “unequivocally clear that lead poisoning is a racial justice issue in South Bend.”

Elevated levels of lead in the blood have been linked to increased violent behavior, hyperactivity in youth, damage to the brain and nervous system, slow growth and development, behavioral challenges and underperformance in schools.

Courtesy of Matt Cashore / University of Notre Dame

From left to right: Joshua Cameron, Chris Kmetz and Bob Bernhard cut the ribbon on the Willis Carrier Centrifugal Compressor Technology Laboratory at the Notre Dame Turbomachinery Lab in South Bend.

before eventually interning at Carrier.

The Universit y and Carrier recently started a three-year collaboration. In addition to the internship pipeline, Carrier and Notre Dame w ill work closely on daily testing and research in the new test cell.

“W hat Carrier is going to do is identif y certain studies they want Notre Dame to do for the research part side of it, so they might give a new configuration, or they might want to test for the efficiency of a new

model that they’re developing or something like that,” Bernhard said. “And so the graduate students and the staff w ill be taking those measurements and giv ing that information back to Carrier.”

W hile Notre Dame protects the intellectual propert y of Carrier, students and researchers w ill be able to publish more fundamental research results that come from work in the test cell, Cameron said.

Cameron said the collaboration bet ween Carrier and

the Universit y w ill prov ide students w ith a unique prev iew of the jobs they w ill have after graduation.

“I know firsthand that when students get to come and work on real scale, real world problems and interact w ith my engineers and Carrier’s engineers that they’re getting just an education that’s unmatched,” Cameron said. “You just can’t learn that stuff in a textbook.”

Contact Ryan Peters at rpeters5@nd.edu

KATHRYN MUCHNICK | The Observer

Oletha Jones, Jorden Giger, Regina Williams-Preston and Dara-Marie Raggay spoke at the Kroc Institute event “Reparations for South Bend: A Conversation Connecting Past, Present, and Future” on Monday.

“If you’ve worked with Black parents who have Black students in South Bend schools, this sounds a lot like how Black children and youth are described when being pushed out of classrooms and thrusted into the school to prison pipeline,” Giger said. “We should ask ourselves if our city is criminalizing folks for being poor, Black and exposed to lead and other harmful contaminants.”

Finally, Williams-Preston discussed discriminatory housing policies in South Bend, including the demolition of thousands of units of affordable housing for the city’s “revitalization” efforts.

“Since the great migration of Black families from the

south, current residents of South Bend have amassed story after story of families struggling to acquire and hold on to the American dream of homeownership,” Williams-Preston said.

Specifically, she said the neighborhood around Notre Dame was 99% Black residents at one time before the community undertook efforts to revitalize.

“And guess what? Today, it’s 99% white,” she said. “They’ll tell you that everyone who was displaced moved to a beautiful home in other parts of the city. But what we have done is separated neighbors and dispersed a rich community of people to the far corners of the city.”

Williams-Preston emphasized the urgency and nearness of the described oppression and racism.

“Racism and institutional oppression is alive and well in our city government and our education system,” WilliamsPreston said. “Real lives are being impacted by these injustices — not 400 years ago, but right now, today.”

Williams-Preston called on Notre Dame students and faculty to vote in their local elections to enact change.

“You have to vote for people who are going to make the decisions that align with our values,” she said.

Contact Kathryn Muchnick at kmuchnic @nd.edu

News

ndsmcobserver.com | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022 | The Observer

5

BUSINESS

Investment Club pitches Vail Resorts

By SAM ANDERSON News Writer

Notre Dame Investment Club members pitched mountain resort company Vail Resorts during the club’s meeting Feb. 22. Sophomore finance majors Michael Gates, Casey Ott and Ryan Spezzacatena made the pitch for the owner and operator of mountain resorts, luxury hotels and condominiums.

Vail Resorts is dedicated to delivering world-class experiences to its guests across its three segments of mountain, lodging and real estate.

“The crux of our pitch is within the ‘Epic Pass’ that Vail has unveiled that allows for customizable season passes that

Prayer Continued from page 1

native tongue.

Fr. Hlabse said Notre Dame’s iconic golden dome holds a special place in his heart.

“One of my favorite sites at Notre Dame during my undergraduate years here was to look up at the golden dome with Our Lady on top gleaming against the blue sky,” Hlabse said. “Very often I would accompany that glance with a short prayer.”

The dome represents many things for the University, he added.

Gateway Continued from page 1

investment and movement on the part of many University offices and resources that we have been able to create the space needed to provide housing to Gateway 9.0 students,” the email read.

According to the email, the update’s timing was linked to study abroad numbers for next year.

“We would not know whether our attempts to intervene would be successful until we had a better sense of student study abroad acceptances for next fall and spring, as well as a variety of other factors,” the email read.

Addressing Gateway students who already signed a lease for off-campus housing next year, the email said students will “continue to have the option to live offcampus next year, with the two semesters counting toward their on-campus residency requirement, and the understanding that they will receive an on-campus assignment in 2023-2024

access more than 80 resorts in four continents,” Gates said.

It has not been a consistently epic run for Vail’s common stock over the past four years.

After a 48% drop during travel restrictions due to COVID-19, Vail managed to surpass previous 2018 highs on a run that peaked in late 2021. Now resting about 30% below its all-time high, Vail presents a key opportunity for new investors to give the ski resort operator a chance.

“The Epic Pass provides unlimited access to Vail, [Breckenridge], Park City and other resorts with a personalized touch and flexible offering for all experience levels,” Ott said.

This unlimited access may

come at a cost to the consumer experience that draws its target market to its epic pass and partner resorts. Staffing issues and long lines were the original catalyst for Vail’s precipitous drop from its all-time high this year. Vail, however, is taking measures to combat the current lackluster consumer experience, Spezzacatena said.

“Vail is combating its staffing shortages with the largest single year investment ever of $320 million that is designed to reduce wait times and increase skiable terrain,” Spezzacatena said.

Revenue from Epic Pass sales rose 21% in the past year. The company-wide goal is set at striving for a 75% share of lift

revenue resulting from Epic Pass sales. Vail’s value proposition continues to revolve around its large “moat,” or ability to fend off competition and maintain its competitive advantage. This wide moat comes broadly from a limited number of skiable mountains in areas tourists wish to travel, limiting Vail’s potential competitors to other firms that have already acquired wide swaths of land and are recognizable in the skiing industry.

Gates put the lack of growth in perspective when he described the recent history of the ski resort industry.

“There have been virtually no new destination ski resorts for over 40 years,” Gates said.

This consolidation allows Vail to continue to acquire smaller operators and then invest heavily into new locations to turn them profitable.

Additionally, with 50% of customers under 35, Vail does not appear to be held back by an aging broader population, as millennials and their families continue to spend their winters at its resorts.

The Investment Club ultimately decided on a buy of Vail Resorts due largely in part to their accretive acquisitions, price-insensitive customers and potential for European ski market growth.

“There is a way in which that iconic site represents so much of the best of Notre Dame — the illuming gleam of faith and fortune tied to a freedom to search our God’s truth,” he said. “Looking at the golden dome in that way still fills me with hope.”

He compared Notre Dame’s golden dome to the many golden domes in Ukraine.

“In Ukraine, too, there are numerous golden domes that stretch up to the sky,” he said. “They are monuments of faith, beacons of hope. In fact, in Kyiv itself, one of the most well-known churches is called St. Michael’s GoldenDomed Monastery.”

Fr. Hlabse said that in this moment the Ukrainian people gazing at their golden domes are not greeted with hopeful blue skies as “the sky is filled with the roar of the aggressors.”

He called on the Notre Dame community to be grateful for safety and clear skies when gazing at their local golden dome, but also to be reminded of the people of Ukraine.

“Think also of the domes in Ukraine. Pray for her people. Ref lect on the questions she has so urgently and tragically posed,” he said. ”Demonstrate your solidarity ... speak the

truth about this unprovoked war.”

Fr. Hlbase encouraged Notre Dame students to reach out to their Ukrainian counterparts, sympathize with them and learn from them.

“Get in touch with your peers in Ukraine at the Ukrainian Catholic University that has a special partnership with Notre Dame already or at other universities. Contact them directly through social media ... learn from them.”

Fr. Jenkins gave a closing prayer for Ukraine and called the congregation to action.

“We at Notre Dame must be present to the suffering of our brothers and sisters in

Ukraine,” he said. “As we enter into the Lenten season, let us keep the nation and the people of Ukraine at the heart of our thoughts and prayers.”

Fr. Jenkins called on the Notre Dame community to show care and concern for the people of Ukraine.

“Let us pray for justice, an end to the fighting, the bombing, the forced migration.

Let us join in the suffering of the Ukrainian people. Let us give alms,” he said. “Let us speak out for the people who are victims of unjust aggression.”

to fulfill the final two semesters of the residency requirement.”

Finally, the email detailed the housing application process for the fall.

“Upon fulfillment of the necessary requirements to gain acceptance into Notre Dame’s sophomore class, Gateway students will apply for housing using the Waitlist housing application in the Home Under the Dome housing portal,” the email read.

The email clarified, however, that “although [Gateway 9.0 students] will complete a ‘waitlist’ application, all Gateway 9.0 students who complete the application by July 5 will receive a housing assignment.”

The email concluded with an apology to the students for the stress of the housing situation.

“We are sorry for the stresses of the last several months, but we believed it was important to communicate clearly about the housing situation, especially when early attempts to address the housing capacity issues did not look promising,” the email read.

Ukraine Continued from page 1

Also due to a personal connection, Chuma’s thoughts have rested solely in her fellow Ukrainians since the beginning of the invasion. She said she follows the news constantly and randomly bursts into tears.

“My study break is the news,” she said.

Maryna and her brother, Max Chuma, were born and raised in a Ukrainian community within the United States. She said they spoke Ukrainian at home as their first language, participated in the Plast National Scout Organization of Ukraine and regularly attended Ukrainian Saturday school, which teaches children about the heritage and traditions of the country.

Maryna Chuma said her pride in her Ukrainian identity is not isolated.

“It’s intrinsic to being Ukrainian to care about your nationality. The first line of our national anthem translates to ‘Ukraine has not died yet,’” she said.

“We’ve been fighting for our sovereignty and successfully achieving it for centuries upon centuries.”

Max Chuma, a senior in the Mendoza College of Business and the vice president of the Notre Dame Ukrainian Society, said he attended Ukrainian summer camp every year during his childhood. It was there

that he met other Ukrainians from around the world — some of whom are still currently in Ukraine during the invasion.

Maryna and Max Chuma have family in Ukraine. Their cousin, Roman Lozynskyi, is currently sheltering in the capital city of Kyiv. They said Lozynskyi works for the Ukrainian government and is hidden in Kyiv’s capital building with a machine gun issued to him in order to defend himself, should the need arise.

“One cousin, who I follow very closely on social media right now, is a deputy in the Ukrainian parliament,” Max Chuma said. “He’s in the capital right now with his state-issued gun prepared to defend his life.”

Also affected by the invasion is sophomore Anastasia Matuszak, who was born in Ukraine and lived there until she moved to the United States at the age of seven.

Matuszak said she heard news of the invasion first via Instagram posts from her Ukrainian friends.

“Even before all the news came out ... I was getting stuff on Instagram from my friends in Ukraine,” she said.

“I kept refreshing to try to find official news about what was happening because everything was going on so fast.”

She said she immediately texted her two uncles and grandmother in Ukraine asking how they were doing.

Even though they are currently safe,

Contact Sam Anderson at sander25@nd.edu

Contact Erin Drumm at edrumm@nd.edu

Matuszak explained that the war is a constant worry for them.

Since the invasion first began, Matuszak said she has tried to be active on social media and spread the word to her followers about the current state of events and what people can do to help Ukraine.

To help the situation, Gural and another member of the Ukrainian Society started a fundraiser to raise money for Ukrainian refugees. Gural said they have raised close to $3,000, with the donations going straight to Catholic Relief Services’ relief efforts in Ukraine. He stressed the importance of ensuring donations go to a reputable organization that uses the money correctly.

Maryna Chuma said she is overwhelmed by the amount of support the Notre Dame student body and University administration has shown for Ukraine. The most important ways to continue to lend aid to Ukrainians, she said, are staying educated about the situation, donating, praying and advocating for peaceful outcomes.

She said she is confident in the resiliency of the Ukrainian people within the country and beyond.

“Ukraine is going to survive this,” she said. “We’ve done it multiple times in the past. It’s in our blood to survive this.”

Contact Bella Laufenberg at ilaufenb @nd.edu

6

The observer | Wednesday, March 2, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

My year of cringe

Why does Instagram make us all feel terrible?

Aidan O’Malley Incoming Managing Editor

Ellie Konfrst Butterfly Effects

“Your YEAR of cringe? What about the other 20??”

Silence. It’s my Inside Column and I get to tell the jokes.

Recently, I’ve realized my most fundamental character trait — my greatest blessing, but my worst curse — is self-awareness.

Actually, I’ve thought this for a while. I’m not sure why, where or from what it came to pass, but now I’m stuck with it.

At the risk of sounding like my dad, I do think part of it is “the phones.” Social media in particular has forced us all to view our lives — and not just our own, but everyone else’s — from a perpetual, comparative, third-person omniscient perspective. It’s not just Instagram, where I’m trying to look like I’m having fun. It’s also Twitter, where I try to look funny; LinkedIn, where I try to look intelligent; or (*cringe*) Letterboxd, where I try to look funny AND intelligent!

This observation helps explain why Gen Z, in my experience, is more self-aware than older generations. At the very least, we’re better at presenting ourselves online, although to do so still requires some conception of how you’re perceived (for example, most people on Facebook are loudly lacking said conception).

But there’s also something personal — something uniquely and entirely neurotic — about my special brand of self-awareness. I wouldn’t be writing this column about it if not for the fact that I’ve continually (and recently) been told I possess it. Part of it is in the phones, but most of it is in my bones.

Yet for a very long time, I was proud of self-awareness. Socially, it has been a godsend! Showing others that you know how you come off — especially if, maybe, you’re not coming off well — is a foolproof icebreaker. Self-deprecation (in moderation) is relatable! And in high school and college, self-awareness has allowed me to reconcile a social life with my perennially dorky interests (I am, after all, writing this column in the student newspaper). I think it’s made me a better writer, and it’s given me a good sense of humor.

But as of late, I’ve been a lot more pessimistic. I think it started (as all internal crises these days do) with COVID, specifically lockdown. I got really into TikTok, and to be honest with you, I’m still really into TikTok. Cringe, I know! But for all of the reasons you should rightly hate that app, allow me to introduce another: the rabbit hole of irony.

If you’ve happened to fall down it, you know exactly what I mean.

The rabbit hole of irony is a kind of positive feedback loop, whereby increasing sarcasm, “satire” and ~memery~ compounds themselves. On the internet, this can take the form of making a joke about someone or something, only for the joke to then morph into a derisive, faux-embracing of the object of ridicule, only for THAT object to be combined and mocked with another, only for BOTH to be embraced sardonically, etc. If that makes no sense, don’t worry.

It’s purely unintelligible — it’s self-awareness brain rot.

What’s worse, this brain rot has leaked off my phone screen and started infecting my life. I fear I’m losing the ability to engage sincerely with others, as well as with myself. I fear I’m holding back and forbidding myself from doing the things I enjoy and love, all because of their so-called cringey-ness. And when I do these things in spite of that fear, my chronic self-awareness and oppressive internet irony add so many asterisks to the activity in question that I might as well never have done it.

In other words, I think the Facebook moms are onto something.

Last July, when I first began to actually articulate these feelings, I tweeted: “today, i CAST OFF the shackles of self-awareness!! 2021 is the Year of Cringe, the summer of shamelessness!!!!”

Now in 2022, I think I’m ready to realize that vision. I will proudly proclaim myself a film major, and I’ll be honest with the fact that I have no clue where I’m going with it. I will not apologize for the amount I talk about The Observer, and I will plainly assert that student journalism is cool. I will spam my Instagram account with study abroad posts, and I will gladly tell people that “study abroad changed me” because in just one month, it already has. I will link a cringey meme that references video games AND anime in the literal second paragraph of this Inside Column because frankly, I am done giving a f*ck.

After all, everybody was cringey in middle school. Were you not also happier?

You can contact Aidan at aomalle2@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

As part of my internship-less and vaccinated summer, in August I visited Glacier National Park with my boyfriend. We braved 1000 miles of Interstate 90 to have a chance to visit one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, and I loved every minute of it (well, not every minute).

On our second day there, we hiked uphill for three miles to see a glacial lake nestled in the mountains. After realizing just how badly I needed to hit the Duncan gym as soon as I got back to South Bend, I was not disappointed — the lake was awe-inspiring, and we stopped to take some pictures.

The lake was crowded, and I soon realized we weren’t the only ones trying to snap an Instagram shot. In fact, a family that arrived just a few minutes after us started taking pictures, and from my vantage point (leaning up against a fallen tree, giving my out-of-shape legs a rest) I noticed a father trying very hard to get an approved picture of his daughter, who was maybe 11 or 12. It’s not a surprising scene to see at such a picturesque location, but it struck me as profoundly sad. Maybe it’s because I spent part of the summer working with 10 to 13-year-old girls and saw how preoccupied they were with how people perceived them, or maybe it’s because I saw myself, in my most self-conscious moments, in her struggle to get a picture that made her look like she felt she should.

I vividly remember downloading Instagram.

I was 13 in my childhood bedroom with my middle school best friend. I was wearing a “Les Miserables”-themed graphic tee, a black skater skirt, and a green infinity scarf with green rubber bands on my braces. I chose to add a 13 to my handle not because @elliekonfrst was already taken (Konfrst isn’t particularly common), but because it was Taylor Swift’s favorite number. My friend and I took a selfie and I posted it without much thought.

As I grew up, however, posting on Instagram became a much more intense endeavor. In the past 10 years, posting on Instagram became a profession for some, but even those who weren’t getting paid took it seriously. You wanted to filter your photos so you looked good, but not so it looked overdone; you wanted the caption to be clever or profound but didn’t want it to look like you tried too hard. My friends and I would spend hours after parties or vacations poring over the pictures we took and workshopping captions that made us seem cool or funny or smart. I’ve done some professional social media work in college, and looking back it’s easy to see what we’ve been doing all along: building our brand.

I’m 21 now, and I must be honest: I’m exhausted by Instagram. It’s not my most toxic social media platform (that title is reserved for Twitter.com), but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t had a negative impact on me. I find myself preoccupied with how I look and what my eventual caption will be even when I’m standing in front of a breathtaking valley, or savoring one of my last Friday nights with my college friends. It’s

not just me, either — I took a few other trips with friends last summer, and each one was filled with at least one night of picture-taking, picture-analyzing and frustration when the pictures didn’t turn out quite right.

Now, I know what you might be thinking at this point — this is a me problem, or perhaps a me-and-my-friends problem. Tons of people can handle Instagram, posting pictures of their dogs or their breakfasts or a pretty sky. I would counter with this — at this point, Instagram (and many other social media platforms) exist so companies can build their brands. Anyone notice when Instagram’s notifications tab was replaced with a shopping page? No matter how much you may believe it is made simply for sharing pictures with your friends, it is built for you to curate your personal brand, and that business model is woven into every profile and subconsciously pushed onto every user.

So I return to the girl by the lake. She looked exhausted, too. Maybe it was the uphill hike. Or maybe it was the weight of deciding how you will present your identity to the world and working hard to do so before you finish eighth grade.

I, along with many of my friends, can attest to the damage it does when you feel like you have to put on a performance for your peers at such a young age. My self-esteem and sense of identity have been seriously affected by Instagram, and I didn’t feel that pressure to really brand myself until I was in high school, at least. This girl has likely felt that pressure since the first time she laid eyes on an iPhone. Instagram (and most other social media platforms) have a minimum age of 13, but studies show that by the age of 12, over half of children have some kind of social media.

Bo Burnham has a lot of great observations about social media and performance and how it affects the psyche, many of which he shared in his TikTok-famous “Inside” this past year. It’s an earlier quote from Burnham’s 2016 special “Make Happy,” however, that has always struck me: “If you can live your life without an audience, you should do it.”

Everyone who has grown up on social media is still young. To a large extent, we’re still trying to figure out how it affects children’s development and mental health. Yet many of us know, anecdotally, that it can’t be good. It’s draining. It’s terrible for our self-esteem. But it’s designed so we’re unable to stop scrolling.

I haven’t figured out how to live my life without an audience yet. I hope, for the sake of the young girl at the lake, she’s better at putting her phone down than I am.

Ellie Konfrst is a senior studying political science with a minor in the Hesburgh Program for Public Service. Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, she’s excited people will once again be forced to listen to her extremely good takes. You can find her off campus trying to decide whether or not she’ll go to law school or bragging that Taylor Swift follows her on Tumblr. She can be reached at egloverk@nd.edu or @elliekonfrst13 on Twitter.

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

Follow us on Twitter: @ObserverViewpnt

The observer | Wednesday, March 2, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

7

In defense of sovereignty Isabel Olesinski BridgeND

A month ago, I wrote a column on whether the United States should get involved in the Russia-Ukraine crisis; I wrote that “it’s undeniable that both countries are trying to one-up one another through a game of chicken, seeing who will back down first and if the U.S. can succumb to any of Russia’s demands.” To the surprise of the entire world, Russian President Vladimir Putin was not bluffing as he entered troops in Ukraine just last week.

As a result, an incredible amount of countries and major technology companies imposed various sanctions, plummeting the value of the Russian economy.

What Putin promised, military exercises on the Ukraine border (though, honestly, why would an army be doing “military exercises” with hundreds of thousands of troops?), turned into a full-on invasion before the month was over. So the world watched as buildings turned to rubble, missiles exploded in the streets and tanks ran over whatever got in their way. However, Putin undoubtedly did not predict the strength of Ukraine’s response as well as the rest of the world since, by the end of the first week of the war, Ukrainian casualties totaled up to just over 700 while Russian deaths reached an estimated almost 6,000, according to Ukrainian army headquarters.

Demonstrations erupted across the globe, including protests in Russia that led to thousands of people being arrested for going against the government. A “live updates” site regarding the Russia-Ukraine war has become a permanent tab on many of our laptops, myself included, with alerts coming in at least three times every hour. I watched as the spotlight shined on my family’s home country of Poland as they accepted thousands of refugees fleeing from Ukraine. Men would drop off their wives and children near the Polish-Ukrainian border

before driving back to the main cities; all men from ages eighteen to sixty were barred from leaving the country due to the draft being enacted. Even though only men in the aforementioned age range are required to fight against Russia, anyone can join the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Territorial Defense Forces to fight for Ukraine, including foreigners.

As pictured in a New York Times article, women, both young and old, have also joined the fight. The caption in the article reads, “Julia, a teacher and Ukrainian volunteer, wept as she waited to be deployed to fight Russian troops around Kyiv on Saturday.”

Hundreds of thousands of weapons have been shipped from varying countries around the world, including the U.S., as President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has “urged citizens to defend the country from Russian forces and said weapons would be issued to everyone who comes forward.” For those who cannot or do not want to go into hand-to-hand combat, especially those younger than sixteen who cannot fight in the military, many are making Molotov cocktails, donating blood and removing road signs to confuse incoming Russian tanks, etc.

Morale remains high and unwavering as more join the fight. Seventy-year-old Orest Gaworsky said, “I’m too old to run with a gun, but I can sit and shoot.” “We will shoot, we will make Molotov cocktails, we will do everything,” he added, “We’ll fight them with pitchforks!” When asked about Ukrainian citizens’ response to Putin’s “special military mission.” Democracy activist Boris Redin stated that “Everything that Russia always threatened us with is now happening,” He said, “Now we’re simply forced to fight back and defend ourselves.

But we’ll do it with fun and pleasure.” There seems to be a common denominator in the citizens of Ukraine: All are willing to fight for their country until their last breath. And as the war unfolds, it seems more evident that Putin did not expect such resistance.

This is the first major war our generation has experienced, and the way it’s being documented through social media is even more incredible. Ukrainians have taken to Twitter and TikTok to show the state of their country, create how-to survival guides and set up foundations for people to donate money in support of Ukraine.

Many accounts have only popped up since the start of the crisis in order to bring awareness and give a firsthand account of a war-torn country. My favorite TikTok profiles that have essentially created a video diary are ian.1193.backup and valerisssh, both of which I highly recommend. As the world becomes more involved with the current situation, not excluding the United States, there is without a doubt going to be a third installment of this mini-series through BridgeND on the RussiaUkraine crisis. Hopefully, there will be better news to come as countries put aside their differences and work together to persevere in freedom and individuality against authoritarianism and greed-spurred barbarity.

Isabel Olesinski is a sophomore living in Johnson Family Hall double majoring in political science and English with a minor in constitutional studies and a creative writing concentration. She serves as the director of operations for BridgeND. BridgeND is a student-led discussion club that is committed to bridging polarization in politics and educating on how to engage in respectful and productive discourse. BridgeND welcomes students of all backgrounds, viewpoints and experiences who want to strengthen their knowledge of current issues or educate others on an issue that is important to them. The club meets weekly on Mondays at 7 p.m. in DeBartolo Hall 217. Want to learn more? Contact @bridge_ND on Twitter and Instagram or bridgend@nd.edu over email.

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

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The comedian’s battlecry It was the warble of a lone robin that did it. Not like the brash chortle exalted by the North American species of the same name, a member of the thrush family, it was more of a melodic aria.

Staring at my Remembrance Day television screen I caught a sight of the little maestro wearing its impeccably preened, and adorable, red waistcoat. Set against an intimidating November sky, lowering and dark, it was an impossibly ecstatic embodiment of beauty.

As I watched a seemingly immortal Queen lay a crimson wreath upon the base of the cold, geometric, Cenotaph — Britain’s war memorial — its valedictory, ‘The Glorious Dead’, collided with the robin in my consciousness.

I realised, for the first time, that there was a direct connection between the songbird’s unbridled tranquility and the harsh granite that it serenaded. Sitting in a cosy boarding school common room it poignantly hit home that those sacrifices, that had for so long been elusively abstract, had afforded me the aforementioned appreciation of my world. In my chest I felt an overwhelming, if not slightly guilty, surge of gratitude — one that was far overdue.

Less than a week ago the people of Ukraine were faced with a similar choice to those encountered by successive generations of young men and women, memorialised in the centre of London, during the twentieth century. They had to choose whether to cede to the megalomania of a botox-indulgent tyrant or fight for the freedom that so threatened him. To his surprise, and indeed the surprise of many so-called allies in the West, they chose to fight.

Even as I compose these thoughts, on a redeye flight through Europe, their courage is stubbornly repelling Putin’s failed blitzkrieg, miles away and below. They are safeguarding the liberty, and subsequent diversity, that was birthed during the Euromaidan of 2013-14. This hard earned reality has, since its conception, aggressively

confronted the authoritarianism that grips the neighbouring Russia.

Whilst the powerful, and luxuriously free, West resigns itself to snip at Putin’s pursestrings, tales of extraordinary grit are coming from it’s eastern frontier. Despite the presence of multiple death squads hunting not just him, but his wife and young children, the nation’s president — Volodymyr Zelensky —- has emerged as an unwavering torch of bravery and resolve.

Just over a week ago a New York Times Op-Ed sneered that this man, not all that old, was ‘over his head.’ Boy were they wrong. The comedian-turned-freedom-fighter might just be the only western leader worth his salt.

Since escaping Putin’s USSR 2.0, Ukraine has slowly but surely developed a tolerant, prosperous and peaceful society. Whilst the country is far from perfect, the progress made has proved irresistible to the extraordinarily brave legions of Ukrainians who remain unbowed by their occupiers. As Zelensky’s fearlessness demonstrates, the dream of forty-four million free Ukrainians living in their own sovereign state is certainly worth fighting for.

Despite this ongoing drama, one that will undoubtedly go down in history as one of European democracy’s greatest, the West has done pathetically little. Recent sanctions, which were surely anticipated by the Russian state during its decision to invade, will do little to prevent the plight of Ukrainians in the short term. They may take weeks, months, perhaps longer to swing into effect.

In dolling out what is ostensibly two dollars of punishment for a multi-million dollar crime, liberal democracies are setting a terrifying precedent; invade those that threaten you, and get away with it. China is undoubtedly salivating over Taiwan with extra fervour after recent events.

So what is the alternative? Well, I’m not a foreign policy expert myself and I eschew the jingoism that reliably accompanies more hawkish lines of argument. A direct

conflict with Russia would obviously be catastrophic for all states involved. Equally, I believe the path we find ourselves on to be comparably perilous. Perhaps, then, what is needed is a not so “happy” medium.

Troop deployments that fall short of the Russian advance would afford Putin the opportunity to claim a success in his laughable ‘peacekeeping mission’ whilst preventing the full annexation of Ukraine. It would cede the land already lost to Russia’s aggression but it would prevent a deterioration to a wider conflict. It is a morally iffy option, but one that could potentially ensure the survival of a diminished, yet nevertheless sovereign, Ukraine.

A deal in which no party is happy is, after all, a good deal.

What is clear as I scroll through twitter, and view countless Russian atrocities as well as many more acts of Ukrainian humanity, is that we are not doing enough.

We cannot just sit idly by, resting on the past triumphs of those who sacrificed for the way of life we enjoy today. If we do, our own freedom will soon be under threat.

Watching President Zelensky standing rock solid behind an emblazoned podium, with increasingly saggy but determined eyes, I feel in my own heart the same admiration that John F. Kennedy must have felt visiting Berlin in 1963. The Berliners, like Ukrainians today, stood up to an ugly autocratic system. Thank God they did. Where would the world be without a free, capitalist Germany?

All free people are citizens of Ukraine. An attack on their liberty is ubiquitous. More then, is needed than cutesie Instagram stories and whispers of outrage around kitchen tables. Our leaders should feel forced to be bolder, be braver — to look to the streets of Kyiv and Kharkiv as examples of an appropriate defense of our ideals.

The comedian has set his stage, it is time for us to act.

Henry Jackson junior March 3

8

The observer | Wednesday, March 2, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

Promote accessibility Caitlin Brannigan Pop Culture Apologist

Many colleges struggle with providing proper amenities for disabled students. While Notre Dame has succeeded in creating an accessible campus in some ways, there are several aspects that can be improved. In failing to meet certain standards for accessibility, the daily lives of disabled students are made more difficult. How can we claim to be an inclusive environment when we let this happen?

One thing that Notre Dame has done well is providing resources for disabled students. Sara Bea Accessibility Services offers various methods of support, including testing and housing accommodations as well as academic adjustments like deadline extensions. Student-led organizations, such as Access-ABLE, advocate for disabled students and contribute to a strong community of disabled students and allies. Both the administrative and student-led efforts to promote accessibility are helpful.

However, despite these efforts, there are still many obstacles that prevent our campus from being completely accessible. Regarding these issues, Joshua King, president of Access-ABLE, said, “The biggest problem if we’re talking about accessibility is certainly mobility-related … There are several dorms and buildings on this campus that are just logistically, literally not accessible to those in wheelchairs — Lyons Hall, Bond Hall — a lot of these older buildings.”

These buildings are not up to the modern standards established under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA,) which is only about 30 years old. These standards ensure buildings are safe and manageable for those with visual, hearing and physical impairments to navigate. Failure to meet these standards manifests in a number of ways, most

prominently through a lack of elevators and ramps.

New and recently renovated buildings that comply with these regulations are a sign of progress. Take Duncan Student Center, for example — wide walkways and several elevators stationed throughout the building are just some of the ways in which it meets modern standards. However, there are still some problems with newer designs, especially with regards to renovated buildings, that have yet to be addressed.

“Even in some buildings that have been renovated, accessible entrances are in inconvenient locations, pushed off to the side, so, there are a lot of areas we can pinpoint for mobility that can be improved, but it is nice to see that new buildings have these features,” King said.

No one should feel isolated because of administrative failures to make every campus building completely accessible, but it’s even worse that this shortcoming is present in the dorms, given how critical dorm life is to the undergraduate experience. We’re all very attached to our dorms — so much so that my first impression of living here was that I was finally going to experience a cult. Spending time in each others’ dorms is a favorite activity of my friends and me because each dorm feels completely different, and people are always incredibly excited to show off their living spaces. It’s unacceptable that not everyone can easily have this experience when dorm culture is so heavily emphasized.

To remedy this, there are several changes we could be making.

“The renovations to the dorms are obviously a positive sign, but it can even just be something like installing ramps,” King said. “I understand these buildings are old, maybe the technology just wasn’t there when they were built, and you start having to balance tradition, history, things like that. But I certainly do think there are several points around campus that can be improved.”

While some dorms, especially those that do not have elevators, would require more work to be completely accessible, adding ramps would be a significant improvement to the current state of several dorms.

There are also some simple improvements that could be made concerning campus dining, especially when ordering through Grubhub. For people with visual impairments, it can be difficult to discern which order is theirs when it is placed among several similar items. For example, at Starbucks, there’s typically an insane amount of similar drinks laid out on the table. It’s easy to accidentally take the wrong drink.

“A very simple fix is just having the worker, if possible, say the name, call it out and hand it to you. That’s what Chickfil-A is doing … [These are] very simple and subtle changes,” King said.

Notre Dame is not the only institution that struggles with this issue. Other universities, especially older ones, face similar problems with updating inaccessible buildings. Beyond college campuses, there are large companies that are failing to meet standards for accessibility. Disney, for example, has faced multiple ADA lawsuits concerning their Disney Parks Disability Access Service, which according to the plaintiffs does not properly account for autistic guests. These struggles in the world beyond Notre Dame may be difficult for us to assist with. However, if we work together as a community, we can at the very least make a positive impact by creating a more accessible campus.

Caitlin Brannigan is a first-year from New Jersey studying psychology and pre-health studies. She can be reached for comment at cbrannig@nd.edu or @CaitlinBrannig on Twitter.

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

Democracy on life support Pablo Lacayo My Two Cordobas Worth

A couple of weeks ago, a good friend of mine called me out in the middle of class for not paying attention to the lecture, and beckoned me to stop goofing around my computer. She asked me what I was doing, unable to figure out the purpose of the website I was playing around in to pass the time. My reply was simple: “Irene, I’m gerrymandering.” To her, it was a completely foreign concept. To me, it’s been the focus of one of my latest pastimes this academic year.

Every ten years, after the census is finished, the United States undergoes an often under-looked process that is crucial to the adequate functioning of American democracy. Lawmakers gather together and hit the drawing boards, tasked with crafting new maps for their states to use to elect representatives to the House of Representatives and state legislatures. Lawmakers are supposed to rely on fresh census data to create districts that accurately reflect any movements within the state’s population, in what is meant to produce congressional delegations that take into account a state’s true demographic composition. The districts ought to be compact, contiguous, and have equal populations. In addition, some states are required by law to create majority-minority districts to foster a higher degree of diversity within elected government. On paper, the decennial redistricting process sounds like an opportunity for the United States to further solidify over two hundred years of democratic tradition and incorporate the changes that have come about in the ever shifting American demographic landscape. In reality, the vast majority of Americans live in maps that were drawn to purposefully exploit partisan advantages and entrench the interests of the nation’s political establishment through flagrant gerrymandering.

Although it is not an exclusively American problem, gerrymandering has hindered the Founding Fathers’ dreams of a truly representative democracy since the early nineteenth century, when the United States was still a nascent

nation. Through this practice, those in charge of mapmaking can carefully split and regroup voters and their communities to create electoral districts advantageous to their interests and detrimental to their rivals’. They can pack like-minded voters to waste their votes, crack neighborhoods to dilute their electoral influence, and splash wiggly lines across states to manufacture districts that create the oddest of shapes, all with the purpose of securing their own agenda. In a country that prides itself in the freedom its citizens get to enjoy, the overwhelming majority of Americans now reside in electoral districts where the outcome of their congressional elections has already been decided, thanks to the successful scheming of backdoor dealings that pose a direct attack on the nation’s electoral integrity.

Throughout the 2021-22 redistricting cycle, I’ve religiously followed each state’s developments, going through state’s proposals to witness firsthand how the process comes to be delegitimized through partisan interference.

In states like Maryland, fair proposals from both sides of the aisle gave way to what can kindly be referred to as a monstrosity. In an effort to dilute more conservative rural voters in the northwestern part of the state, the Maryland state legislature cut the region up into pieces, blending each part with a segment of the Washington metropolitan area, taking a whole region’s voice away to shore up the state’s Democratic congressional delegation. On the other hand, Republicans in Tennessee cracked liberal leaning Nashville and its suburbs into three different districts, grouping them with rural areas and eliminating a whole city’s fundamental right to elect a representative of their own.

Examples like this repeat themselves throughout the country, with perpetrators coming from Democrats and Republicans alike. In New Jersey, New York, and Illinois, Democratic mapmakers ravaged through any geographic considerations to guarantee their own chances in future elections, while Republicans in Texas drew their own districts in such a way you could barely discern the state’s new competitive nature from the sheer number of safe

Republican districts created. Overall, this decade is poised to have the smallest number of competitive districts in recent memory, minimizing opportunities for large shifts in the balance of power that enable whoever is in power to deliver on their promises without having to whittle them down through paralyzing compromise and never ending negotiations.

The lack of tossup competitions in races from Maine to California encourages politicians to refrain from bipartisanship, as their likelihood of losing elections decreases considerably by representing districts composed of mostly their partisans. Without serious general election contests, they would face no accountability beyond their party’s base, bringing down the bridges democracy desperately needs at the moment. This gives more relevance to primary elections, where intra-party battles between radicals and even-more-radicals will only help push elected representatives to further extremes as they compete to win the nomination in a race dominated by a highly polarized partisan electorate. If the country’s dysfunctionality seems to be at a breaking point right now, the future seems even more grim.

Some states, like Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Virginia, managed to come out of the redistricting process with fair maps that accurately reflect the political views of their state. Fair maps for the United States are possible, and the methods to guarantee them have been in place in many states for many cycles. The opportunity to fix these issues for the coming decade has sadly come and gone, but the challenge for activists throughout this decade is to rally behind this cause, and uphold Americans’ inalienable right to choose who represents them, rather than the other way around.

Pablo Lacayo is a junior majoring in finance with a minor in Chinese. Originally from Nicaragua, he is now a happy resident of Stanford Hall. Reach him at placayo@nd.edu over email.

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

The observer | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

By VERONICA NAVARRO Social Media Editor

I have a confession to make. This will probably be the most biased song review you’ve ever read. I’m owning it. I’m not ashamed to say that I love Jack Harlow and pretty much view every song he releases as the greatest of all time. That didn’t change when he released his latest single “Nail Tech” on Feb. 18. Well, maybe it did, but only a little.

After the rapper took a yearlong break from releasing any music of his own, I was excited to see that Harlow would finally be releasing something new. I was a huge fan of his most recent album, “Thats What They All Say,” and also enjoyed his 2021 single, “SUVs (Black on Black),” but I was still excited to listen to a song of his that wouldn’t have any features.

I discovered that the song was going to drop via Harlow’s Instagram story shortly before it was released. When it was finally released at midnight, I put my Airpods in and listened to it five times back-to-back. I liked it at first, but soon noticed that it sounded a bit familiar to a certain song I had heard before.

In July, Harlow was featured on “Industry Baby” by Lil Nas X, which helped him grow in popularity even more. Both Lil Nas X and Harlow received praise after the song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for numerous

By ROSE ANDROWICH Scene Writer

Saint Mary’s College departments of communication studies, dance and theatre’s annual Margaret Hill Guest Artist series recently hosted The Second City, a celebrated improv comedy group. Alumni of the Chicago branch include Tina Fey, Stephan Colbert, Keegan-Michael Key, Bill Murray and Steve Carrell. In addition to holding the two-act comedy show, The Second City also offered classes for Saint Mary’s students to attend.

The comedy show put on by The Second City was exceptional and highly humorous. There were two types of performances done throughout the night: one of them was skit comedy, and the other was improv.

During the improv performance, audience members were able to choose where each scene should take place, what event should be happening and the nature of the relationship between the two characters. Additionally, the actors had to begin their dialogue with the last line of the previous scene's dialogue, which made for some hilarious explanations for the wacky lines.

One of the concluding acts within the show was also improv — this time, with added elements. The audience had the chance to pick the location once again, but they

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awards. I couldn’t help but notice all of the similarities between “Industry Baby” and “Nail Tech” even during my first listen.

The two songs have similar beats, and the lyrics in Harlow’s verse on Lil Nas X’s song are similar to those in his newest single. “Industry Baby” was a great song, and I listened to it a ton when it was first released, but Harlow’s verse wasn’t indicative of his best rapping. In that case, I found the lower quality to be understandable, since Harlow was only being featured on another artist’s song. I even thought his verse on “Industry Baby” came off as a bit arrogant, though it may have been warranted since he had recently become more popular. “Nail Tech,” however, has a similar flow, and also presents Harlow as a tiny bit arrogant. I actually kind of like it anyway.

Throughout “Nail Tech,” Harlow is critical of those who bad-mouth him. He says, “Most of y’all ain’t wealthy (nope) / Most of y’all just dress like it / I caught the vibe that y’all givin' off / And I’m tryna make myself less like it,” bragging about his wealth before rapping about his chains, cars and clothes later in the song. While these lyrics would probably annoy me if they came from any other artist, I’m inclined to give Harlow a free pass — just this once — since I love his voice so much.

The song is catchy, and even though it has some similarities to “Industry Baby,” it does offer listeners something that the Lil Nas X song doesn’t: an opportunity to listen to Jack Harlow for an uninterrupted three minutes and 28 seconds. For that reason, I'll continue listening.

Honestly, I would still continue to support Jack Harlow even if he keeps releasing music similar to “Nail Tech,” but I won’t lie; I’m hoping he’ll release more songs similar to my favorites from “Thats W hat They All Say” like “Rendezvous,” “Funny Seeing You Here” or even “Tyler Herro” if he drops more music anytime soon.

also choose a secret that one of the characters would be keeping; the characters were left to react to the surprising piece of information. Ultimately, the audience chose a man living in the sewer who was unaware that he was dating his long-lost sister. The audience interaction was just one aspect of the show that made it highly enjoyable.

In addition to the amazing improv, though, there were several funny skits.

My personal favorite skit was one that poked fun at the embarrassment of using a self-checkout machine.

During the skit, a man had to weigh an embarrassing product, only for the machine to loudly repeat the name of the item. The machine also questioned why he wasn’t using any bags, insulting his height in the process. This skit shows how The Second City makes their comedy relatable.

I would argue that being relatable is an important facet of good comedy. Having examined the work of Tina Fey, I think that what makes films like “Mean Girls” so popular is that they are relatable. The characters are ones that resemble real people without becoming clichés.

The authenticity of this kind of writing is something that often feels absent from more recent movies. As of late, authenticity has become a lesser priority for

producers and writers than simply putting out content for viewers. I have observed a wider use of clichés as well as lower production quality, these defects making television and films from the 2000s seem better by comparison.

Still, there are still a fair amount of places to find good content. The Second City is one such place. Their comedy promotes a sense of escapism from everyday life, and bringing programs like these to college campuses is very important.

Students can learn valuable lessons, and viewers can experience genuinely funny comedy. But there was more than just good comedic timing on display at the Saint Mary's show: We saw comedians able to think of ideas and run with them in a spur of a moment, as well as musical performances.

The Second City was a great choice for the Margaret Hill Guest Artist series, as the group did an exceptional job. The incorporation of the audience into the humor added an aspect of personal connection. That personal connection reflects positively on The Second City but also showcases why having these kinds of experiences is so important for college students.

Contact Veronica at vnavarr3@nd.edu

“Nail Tech” Artist: Jack Harlow Label: Atlantic Records If you like: “Industry Baby” by Lil Nas X

Contact Rose at randrowich01@saintmarys.edu

MAKAYLA HERNANDEZ | The Observer | moviesfriends, vrbo, santa barbara independent

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The observer | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

By CHRISTINE HILARIO Scene Writer

In 2018, a New York Magazine article dropped, revealing the sordid story of how one Anna Sorokin conned New York City’s elite out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. How? By changing her name to Anna Delvey and claiming to be a German heiress set to inherit millions from her trust fund.

Netflix paid Sorokin $320,000 for the rights to adapt her life story into the Shonda Rhimes-produced “Inventing Anna.”

This nine-episode miniseries manages to turn a life of intrigue into an overwrought slog that has nothing interesting to say about its complicated central figure.

“Inventing Anna” follows journalist Vivian Kent (Anna Chlumsky) as she assembles information for an article detailing the cons that led Anna Sorokin (Julia Garner) to be arrested. Meanwhile, Anna is held in Rikers Island jail complex, awaiting a trial that could land her in prison for 15 years.

With each new person Vivian interviews, we get flashbacks that showcase exactly how Anna managed to deceive New York’s wealthy elite. The show is at its best when the spotlight is on Anna’s deception. Garner plays a pitch-perfect Anna, managing to perfectly portray a compulsive manipulator even while doing a ridiculous European accent. Seeing Anna con her way into designer clothes and international vacations from the gullible rich is thoroughly entertaining.

However, the show drags when the focus is on Vivian’s thoroughly uncompelling storyline, wherein she attempts to write a career-saving article during her pregnancy.

By CECELIA SWARTZ Scene Writer

Notre Dame hosted its 64th Annual Collegiate Jazz Festival last weekend. The festival featured a live preview Thursday night at the Hagerty Family Cafe Stage where Notre Dame’s New Orleans Band, Jazz Band 1 and Jazz Band 2 gave a free performance. The following Saturday, Jazz Fest streamed virtually from 12 to 4 p.m. and featured performances from five university jazz bands: University of Notre Dame Jazz Band 1, Ashland University Big Band, Michigan State University Jazz II, Columbia College Chicago Fusion Ensemble and Roosevelt University Large Jazz Ensemble. Each band was critiqued by five professional clinicians: Rickey Woodard, Patrick Bartley, Justin Kauflin, John Clayton and David Alvarez III. The weekend ended with a concert by the Clayton Quintet at DeBartolo Performing Arts Center Saturday night.

I had the pleasure of seeing the student bands perform at the Thursday preview concert and on the live stream Saturday.

The Thursday night concert brought live music and fun to Duncan Student Center. A social dance floor was set up in front of the stage; it was packed the entire night. For those who did not wish to dance, the concert provided an evening to enjoy a wide swath of jazzy fun with each set attracting a new crowd.

They played everything from fast-paced swing music to slower melodic blues. There was even a mambo thrown in there for variety, and the concert enraptured the crowd.

The public venue was well-chosen, as many people passing

Vivian’s storyline is further dragged down by Chulmsky’s perplexing acting choices. Every time she’s onscreen, Chlumsky pulls exaggerated facial expressions to the point of absurdity, making it difficult to take her character seriously as a journalist. While the Anna-focused parts of the show are definitely the high points, they feel stretched thin over the nine episodes and aren’t enough to sustain interest.

Although reveling in Anna’s callous and manipulative actions is undoubtedly the most fun this series has to offer, the series manages to undercut its greatest strength by attempting to justify Anna’s actions. The series tries to frame Anna as an underdog who worked her way up, but it doesn’t work when she constantly takes advantage of and degrades everyone around her. When Anna unsuccessfully attempts to scam multiple banks into giving her multimillion-dollar loans, Anna just makes platitudes about how difficult it is to be a woman in business. The worst part is that this isn’t satire. The show makes it seem like the main reason why getting a loan is so difficult is because she's a young woman with a silly accent, not because she can’t prove the existence of her trust fund (because it doesn’t exist).

The show tries to turn a grifter into some sort of a girlboss, and it strips nuance from Anna’s character. The last episode is especially egregious in trying to make Anna a hero for her manipulations. Despite being rude and condescending, everyone is inexplicably pro-Anna by the end of the show. Vivian laments that Anna won’t be a “millennial queen” after spending 12 years in jail. She asserts that Anna doesn’t deserve her sentence, as if being a

girlboss is somehow an excuse for committing fraud. The show bends over backwards to make Anna sympathetic, but it only succeeds in making Anna (and the show) annoying.

On top of the mess of a story, the technical choices in the show make it all the more unbearable to watch. The series is edited like an ’80s music video with nauseating split screens and transitions between scenes. The pop music needle drops that this series can’t seem to get enough of are also nauseating in their obviousness. The first song played in this series is “Rich” by Megan Thee Stallion, but the soundtrack only gets worse.

Overall, if you want to watch a show about evil rich people, watch “Succession” on HBO Max and don’t bother sitting through the nine hours of overblown nothing that is “Inventing Anna.”

through Duncan Student Center stopped to watch the performance. Even the rock climbers in the Smith Center for Recreational Sports turned around to watch through the second-floor windows overlooking the stage. Between the three different bands, the concert became a celebration of music in a purely social, low-pressure environment. The performers flourished, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats and the dancers on the tips of their toes.

The following Saturday, Jazz Fest brought together five jazz bands from across the Midwest for a non-competitive afternoon of performances. Each band made its mark with its own unique sound — showcasing the sheer variety of songs that can be found in jazz music. For the uninitiated (i.e. me), it felt like a jazz crash course that showcased the breadth of a very rich and uniquely American music tradition. Within the variety of sounds presented by each band, a constant that carried through all of them was their talent. The skill of all the bands blew me away.

Because it was virtual this year, the audience was smaller than the Thursday performance. However, you can still watch the performance on the University of Notre Dame Band’s YouTube channel.

Each of the bands’ performances was critiqued by a panel of five musical clinicians, which afforded the musicians an opportunity to receive feedback from professionals in a noncompetitive setting. The clinicians’ comments had the added benefit of providing a knowledgeable perspective for the audience. The panel highlighted what the bands excelled in and

what the audience should listen for.

Many of the comments were centered more on performance than technical correction, (again, a testament to the skill of the musicians) highlighting an important aspect of jazz: history.

They reminded the performers to remember and learn about the history of the songs that they were performing to better connect with and embody the soul of the music. They also spoke about returning to the jazz musicians from the past, the writers and inventors of the style, for guidance. As the bands made their own performance choices based on the choices of their predecessors, they demonstrated that jazz is the living embodiment of musical history.

As the nation’s oldest collegiate jazz festival, Jazz Fest plays an important part in continuing that story.

Contact Christine at chilario@nd.edu

“Inventing Anna” Starring: Anna Chlumsky, Julia Garner, Arian Moayed Favorite Episodes: “Two Birds, One Throne,” “A Wolf in Chic Training” If you like: “Emily in Paris” Where to watch: Netflix

Contact Cecelia at cswartz@nd.edu

2020 Collegiate Jazz Festival Jazz Band Participants: University of Notre Dame, Ashland University, Michigan State University, Columbia College Chicago, Roosevelt University Panelists: Rickey Woodard, Patrick Bartley, Justin Kauflin, John Clayton, David Alvarez III

EMMMA KIRNER | The Observer | Image sources: netflix, uDiscoverMusic

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ndsmcobserver.com | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022 | The Observer

Crossword | Will Shortz

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Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Sit on all information you receive until you verify what’s coming down the pipeline. Speaking too quickly will lead to conflicts and errors. Listen carefully, follow the dots, and focus on performance, presentation and building a strong base. Refuse to let anyone pressure you into anything; time is on your side, so use it to your benefit. Your numbers are 4, 10, 18, 25, 33, 44, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Have patience; if you act quickly, mistakes will happen. Keep your plans a secret until you can confidently present what you have to offer. Don’t expect to win over someone who prefers to run the show.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A clear head is required when dealing with others. Be a good listener, and you’ll come across information that can help you make positive suggestions and a difference. An act of kindness will give others a bird’s-eye view regarding what you can do.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Concentrate on what’s important to you, and refuse to let anyone lure you off course. An adamant approach to the way you use your skills and knowledge will deter interference and encourage you to do the best job possible.

CANCER ( June 21-July 22): Stick to what you know and do best. Look on the bright side and use your skills uniquely, and you’ll come out on top. A partnership will be a learning experience that leads to growth and longterm happiness. Romance is favored.

LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t let an outsider mess with your plans. Stick close to those who have your back, and you will outmaneuver anyone who gets in your way. Be aware of others’ changes, but don’t feel obligated to follow suit.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You have plenty to look forward to, so don’t waste time worrying about something you cannot change. Plant your feet firmly on the ground, and be the one to make a difference. Follow your heart, and something good will unfold.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Mental stimulation will help you stay out of trouble. Avoid arguments. Embrace reading, learning and finding out the truth. Once you have evidence to substantiate your beliefs, you can move forward. Trust in facts, not hearsay. Focus on self-improvement.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Talk little and pursue action that encourages positive results. How you go about putting changes in play will make a difference to the outcome. Don’t guess when your success depends on accuracy, know-how and skill. Romance is in the stars.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Live and learn. Listen carefully, and refuse to let your emotions get in the way of a good decision. Don’t believe everything you hear. An exaggerated statement will lead to assumptions and a costly outcome. Know when to say no.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Reorganize how you handle money matters and how you approach work, titles and living conditions. A positive change will make a massive difference in how you feel and how you incorporate new beginnings. Romance is on the rise.

AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t feel you have to make a statement or change because of what someone decides to do; focus on what’s important to you and move along. Trust your instincts, not what others try to lead you to believe.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): It’s OK to change your mind. When in doubt, don’t worry about taking a step back and assessing the situation. Draw on your resources and the people you trust, and you’ll find the path best suited to your needs.

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

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The observer | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

ND Men’s Tennis

Sports Authority

Cleveland, keep Baker!

Thomas Zwiller Sports Writer

You’ve seen the commercials.

There’s Baker in a bathrobe grabbing a coffee, Baker bringing a boot to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Baker watering some plants outside First Energy Stadium.

At Home with Baker Mayfield may genuinely be one of my favorite ad campaigns in recent years. Mayfield is honestly a talented actor, and I enjoy watching those ads. If I saw them on YouTube, I would not skip them; a rare thing.

However, Mayfield is not in the headlines for his acting acumen.

Instead, he is in the headlines for his football failures. Perhaps not failures, but shortcomings.

But the controversy is real. Baker now enters his fifth season in the NFL, with the Browns exercising his rookie contract’s fifth-year option.

The cap hit of 18.9 million-roughly 8.7% of the Browns’ projected cap number- is no small commitment.

Yet, at the same time, it feels like it is. As Bakers’ fellow draft mates of the 2018 draft begin to age out, those who have panned out as good picks are beginning to sign their contracts.

Josh Allen is currently under contract until 2028, with the contract looking more and more like a win for the Bills. Lamar Jackson is currently negotiating his contract with the Ravens (without an agent, if you can believe it). Sam Darnold is also in his own fifth-year option, though I have a feeling the Panthers will bring him back.

The fates of Baker’s draft mates have been decided: yet Baker remains very much in flux. It certainly is not a majority, but I have seen a lot of people suggesting the Browns should try and draft a QB or acquire a veteran through trades.

However, I honestly find that ridiculous.

I know Baker had a horrible year this year; by ZLO’s pure passing stat he ranks 43rd at 54.1. (For reference, Tom Brady ranks 1st with a value of 269.4.) Baker also ranks 327th as a rusher, which honestly is not horrible for a QB, but still puts him at an overall value of 47.8. That’s not great, considering that the average starting QB is somewhere around 150.

However, just the year prior, Baker was valued at 147 points as a pure passer, which is a great total for a third-year QB. Now, granted, he lost 11.3 as a rusher (few QBs are not negative as fumbles are counted as rusher stats) for a total of 135.7.

A way I like to assess the value of a player beyond a simple ZLO stat is $ per ZLO, which is simply taking a player’s cap hit divided by their ZLO value (I talked about this more back in December when I gave my MVP opinion).

Baker certainly does not have a cheap ZLO value this year, he currently sits at $195,376 per ZLO point, a mark that is atrocious. Of the 32

starting QBs in the NFL, Baker’s dollar-ZLO ($/Z) ratio is one of the top 5 worst among starting QBs. The worst in the league was Zach Wilson (-17 ZLO, $6.4 million salaries) next was Russell Wilson (233,421 $/Z), Matt Ryan (219,680 $/Z), Ben Roethlisberger (204,001 $/Z) and Baker. (Sixth was Jimmy G and seventh Wentz) But again, last year Baker was incredibly valuable, at $66,352 per ZLO point. It would take him from an overpaid contract to just below average, which I think is fair.

So why do I keep harping on the fact that last season Baker was both good and valuable? Well, that’s because Baker was injured in Week two when he tore his labrum. On top of that, in Week six he fractured his humerus bone and injured his lower body repeatedly.

With that level of injury, trying to make any sort of value on a player is nearly impossible. Imagine trying to figure out if you want a car and it only has three wheels. It could be a nice car, but you would never know: it is incomplete.

So, if I were the Browns, I would continue to build the team around Baker. As much as I love thedraftnetwork.com, the fact that they have QB as a primary need for the Browns is ridiculous. Just one season ago the Browns almost beat the Chiefs in Arrowhead in the playoffs. Baker suffered a tough injury last season.

Injured players seldom play to their max potential.

And even if the Browns were to be in a drafting mindset, is this really the draft to do it? Draft experts have called this one of the worst QB draft classes in recent memory.

To add to that, my favorite CBS mock drafts have the first QB going at sixth. There is not a generational one among the bunch; the deepest positions are likely the edge rushers and offensive linemen.

And so, while that may provide the potential for the Browns (currently picking at 13th) to get a QB, why waste the asset? The odds that the Browns select a QB who will be better than Baker are slim at best.

By addressing other needs, the Browns are helping Baker to succeed. If Baker ends up panning out like I think he will, then you succeeded and can focus on the future.

If Baker flops and plays poorly, odds are good the Browns will possess a good draft pick. They can let Baker go and can try and get a better QB in a better draft.

To me, it just seems that it would be a major waste for the Browns to draft a QB, knowing that Baker has shown himself to be good. Baker suffered an injury and played poorly. Instead of wasting assets, just take a piece to help the defense or offense and hope he plays well.

Contact Thomas Zwiller at tzwiller@hcc-nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Irish drop matches to Michigan, OSU, beat UIC

By AIDAN THOMAS Associate Sports Editor

This past weekend, Notre Dame men’s tennis played t wo of their toughest three matches to date in a fourday period. Facing No. 14 Michigan and No. 3 Ohio State, the Irish dropped both matches. Notre Dame was able to rebound, knocking off UIC in their second match on Sunday.

Irish fall to Wolverines This one got off to an ugly start for the Irish, as they had little success in the doubles portion of the match.

Michigan struck quick ly, w inning Court 3 and Court 2 by margins of 6-2 and 6-3, respectively. That gave them a 1-0 advantage in points mov ing into singles.

Things were over relatively quick ly on the lower courts, as Michigan’s impressive depth over whelmed the blue and gold. Graduate student Peter Conk lin fell 3-6, 3-6 at Court 4, junior Connor Fu dropped a 2-6, 1-6 decision at Court 5, and sophomore Jean-Marc Malkowski faltered, 4-6, 1-6.

That was enough to clinch the v ictor y for Michigan, but the remainder of the matches ran their course. Notre Dame’s lone v ictor y came at Court 2. Graduate student Adit ya Vashistha blasted his Michigan counterpart, losing just four games in a straight-set v ictor y.

No. 3 Ohio State overwhelms Notre Dame A lthough the final score read 4-0 in this one, the Irish felt more competitive throughout. The match started w ith a doubles point that had more momentum sw ings than the final score indicated. On each court, the Irish held a break lead over the Buckeyes. OSU entered w ith the top t wo doubles teams in the countr y, although they split the four members across Courts 1 and 3. Ohio State boasted three doubles teams ranked in the top 11. No Irish pairing entered the matchup ranked.

However, senior A xel Nef ve and junior Matthew Che pushed the Buckeyes at Court 1, getting a break to go up 4-2 at one point. But Ohio State responded w ith consecutive ser v ice breaks and four straight game v ictories to w in 6-4. At Court 2, junior Matthew Halpin and Conk lin battled and notched a break, but their match remained unfinished at 5-5, as the Buckeyes claimed a 7-5 v ictor y on Court 3. That gave Ohio State the doubles point. It was a key advantage, given the Buckeyes’ singles lineup included three top-11 players in the ITA rankings.

One of those players, 11th-ranked JJ Tracy, cruised through Court 5 w ith a 6-2, 6-3 v ictor y. The Buckeyes also won quick ly at Court 3, as Che failed to notch a break in that contest. However, despite a 3-0 deficit, the Irish remained alive. Nef ve won his first set at Court 1, toppling 10th-ranked Cannon Kingsley 6-1.

Vashistha went to tiebreakers against fifth-ranked Matej Vocel and was up a break in the second set.

Malkowski was in a third set at Court 6 and Fu, facing a host of match points, broke his opponent t w ice w ith the match on the line.

“Connor had a really good day today. Thursday night at Michigan was not one of his better performances,” Irish head coach Ryan Sachire said.

“He ow ned that and wanted to come back today and respond. That’s the mark of a champion.”

Ultimately, however, it was Court 1 that decided this one. After a dominant first set, Nef ve couldn’t maintain the momentum. He fell 2-6 in the second set. That forced a competitive third set, which remained on ser ve for seven games. Then, trailing 3-4, Nef ve allowed Kingsley to break and gain a ser v ice game for the match. Kingsley didn’t waver, dispatching Nef ve to

claim the match. The other three competitive matches remained unfinished.

“W hen you play No. 1 at Notre Dame, you play an elite guy v irtually ever y match. Regardless of w in or lose, you have to come back ready to play,” Sachire said. “And he w ill.

He’s a stud; he’s a pro.”

Notre Dame rebounds vs.

UIC The Irish had a quick turnaround to face UIC on Sunday evening, but they utilized the chance for a quick bounceback v ictor y. The Irish thrashed the Flames 5-0. Halpin and Conk lin needed 20 minutes to sweep their doubles set 6-0 at Court 1.

“We continue to play them together, and they’ve done a really good job,” Sachire said of the Halpin-Conk lin duo.

Malkowski and Fu secured the doubles point 6-3 at Court 2.

In singles, it was the lower courts getting it done for the Irish. Malkowski dropped just one game in a straight-set v ictor y at Court 4. Freshmen Brian Bilsey and Jameson Corsillo cruised at the bottom t wo courts. At Court 2, Che bounced back w ith a smooth 6-3, 6-0 v ictor y.

The other t wo matches were left unfinished as Notre Dame swept the Flames.

“W hen we’re play ing upwards of 25-30 matches in the spring. It’s a marathon, not a sprint,“ Sachire noted.

“Mentally, you don’t get too high, too low. You realize you get another chance right around the corner. Georgia Tech next Friday is a huge match for us, and we want to be ready to rock and roll.”

The Irish open up their ACC slate w ith home matches against Georgia Tech and Clemson on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

Friday’s match against the Yellow Jackets starts at 4 p.m. at Eck Tennis Pav ilion.

Contact Aidan Thomas at athoma28@nd.edu

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

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ndsmcobserver.com | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022 | The Observer

Softball

Basketball

Continued from page 16

Continued from page 16

double. Another Osprey mistake led sophomore Cassidy Grimm to score, putting the Irish up by one to seal the v ictor y.

Another pitchers’ duel followed against Iowa.

Neither team managed to score in the first three innings. Tidd pitched a complete game, holding the Hawkeyes to two hits, and also broke the deadlock at the plate.

Her two-run home run in the fourth brought sophomore Karina Gaskins home as well.

During their doubleheader the follow ing day, the Irish started out strong w ith an 8-1 w in against Princeton after the Tigers scored first in the opening frame.

Freshman Shannon Becker pitched her first complete game, recording a career-high nine strikeouts. A single from graduate student Abby Sweet loaded the bases in the bottom of the first before senior Emma Clark drove in t wo w ith a double. Hanks would then score Sweet w ith a sacrifice f ly.

After the Irish scored five more runs in the latter innings, Princeton loaded the bases before Becker struck them out and ended the Tigers’ chances at a comeback.

Against Florida Gulf Coast, Notre Dame did not score until the top of the fifth.

A home run from junior Joley Mitchell put them ahead by one run in the sixth, which ultimately was the difference in 2-1 v ictor y for the Irish.

The Irish recorded another w in over the Eagles Sunday. Hanks and Sweet each scored tw ice on the day, while Clark and Genz also had multi-hit performances. The Irish were up by t wo in the first inning, w ith a score each from Sweet and Tidd starting off the day. This was followed by four additional runs in the second punctuated by a double from Sweet, a stolen base from Hanks and an eightpitch at-bat by junior Brooke Marquez. The Irish would hold on to w in 6-4 after the Eagles scored three at the bottom of the second and another in the sixth.

Notre Dame travels next to Ly nchburg, Virginia, for another five-game weekend. First pitch Friday against George Washington is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., followed by a 2 p.m. showdow n w ith Rutgers.

jump-started his confidence on offense and said Laszewski is fine playing starters’ minutes off the bench.

“For now, we’ll do it that way,” Brey said. “W ho knows if we ever go back the other way.”

Senior guard Dane Goodw in led the Irish w ith 17 points against the Yellow Jackets, all of which came before halftime on 6-of-7 firsthalf shooting.

Senior guard Prentiss Hubb led the Irish w ith six assists.

The senior, whose turnaround jump shot w ith five seconds left at Pitt snatched a 68-67 Irish v ictor y in December, said he does not have to hunt for his shot as much as last season.

“We all stepped up to the plate and are able to make plays,” he said. “And it just opens up the f loor for ever ybody when ever ybody is play ing as well as we are.”

Guard Blake Wesley had 15 points and four rebounds Saturday, becoming the only true freshman in the countr y to record 400 points, 100 rebounds, 50 3-pointers, 70 assists and 30 steals so far this season. The only true freshman to accomplish that last year was Ok lahoma State’s Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Georgia Tech head coach Josh Pastner said Wesley, who received pleas from the student section to stay “one more year” while shooting free throws in the second half, is a first-round draft pick.

“Wesley changes their whole team,” he said.

“I mean, he’s a pro.”

Florida State is 2-4 in its last six games, but the Seminoles are coming off a dramatic 64-63 w in over Virginia on Saturday. Matthew Cleveland won ACC Freshman of the Week honors for a second time this season after dow ning the Cavaliers w ith a game-w inning three at the buzzer and leading State w ith 20 points.

Regardless of what happens Wednesday, the Irish are a relative lock to make their first NCA A Tournament since 2017.

Notre Dame is still unranked, but Brey said his team’s resume speaks for itself. Since Jan. 1, the Irish have gone 14-3. The only other major conference teams w ith as many w ins are No. 2 Arizona and No. 4 Duke.

“I think we are in an amazingly strong position,” he said. “And man, we’ve missed it. I’ve missed it.”

Tip-off Wednesday is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game w ill air on ESPN2.

Contact Emily DeFazio at edefazio@nd.edu

Contact Greg McKenna at gmckenn2@nd.edu

13

ND Men’s Lacrosse

Irish fall to Georgetown in battle of top-five teams

By MATTHEW CROW Sports Writer

In an early-season clash between two of the nation’s top teams, No. 4 Notre Dame was defeated 16-11 by No. 3 Georgetown in South Bend on Saturday afternoon.

Georgetown (3-0) came out of the gate strong, jumping out to an 11-2 lead. Notre Dame (1-1) rallied in the second half to pull within one, but the Irish were never able to completely erase the deficit.

Georgetown struck first on Saturday, with senior midfielder Declan McDermott scoring the first of his four goals just minutes into the game.

McDermott’s goal kicked off a prolific half for Georgetown offensively, as they led 6-1 after the first quarter and 11-4 at halftime.

The Hoyas got a major boost from faceoff specialist James Reilly, who won 20 out of 29 faceoffs during the game. Notre Dame found it difficult to gain momentum as Georgetown played “make it, take it” in the second quarter, the Hoyas scored four goals in just 1:41 of game time.

When the Irish were able to gain possession, they were stifled by Georgetown goalie Owen McElroy. McElroy was tabbed as a Preseason First Team All-American, and he lived up to that billing with a 24-save performance, several of which were on shots from point-blank range. Notre Dame head coach Kevin Corrigan said that the Irish’s limited first-half offense was not due to a lack of quality shots, but rather to a combination of McElroy’s strong play and Notre Dame’s poor execution when shooting.

“Shots look a lot better when they go in the goal,” Corrigan said after the game. “We had

plenty of good shots in the first half. Their goalie played extremely well and we shot poorly.

We just weren’t putting balls in the goal.”

Georgetown entered the game battle-tested, having already earned wins against No. 16 Johns Hopkins and No. 10 Penn. Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s only prior game was a dominant 24-2 win against an overmatched Detroit Mercy squad. Corrigan was quick to praise Georgetown’s preparation while noting this discrepancy in experience against top competition likely played a role in his team’s comparatively slow start. “[Georgetown] came in well-prepared,” Corrigan said.

“They’ve played two top-20 teams before us and we haven’t played anybody of that caliber. It took us a little time to adjust to the challenge of their athleticism.”

Eventually, though, the Irish were able to settle in and play up to their expectations, as they mounted a furious comeback during the third quarter.

“I think in the second half we were adjusted,” Corrigan said.

“We put balls in good spots on the goal.”

Notre Dame began an 8-0 run late in the second quarter with a highlight-reel behindthe-back goal from junior All-American attackman Pat Kavanagh. Kavanagh’s goal seemed to spark the Irish bench as well as the crowd, and the energy in the stadium shifted Notre Dame’s way for the first time all game.

In the second half, the Irish were able to maintain that energy, led by graduate student Morrison Mirer. Mirer scored four goals after halftime, including three consecutively during the third quarter. On the defensive end, Notre Dame goalie Liam Entenmann recovered from a difficult first

half to make several impressive saves, and he played a critical role in the Irish shutting out Georgetown in the quarter.

Notre Dame opened the fourth with a Mirer goal to cut the Hoyas’ lead to just one at 11-10, but a miraculous comeback was ultimately not in the cards as Georgetown scored five of the next six goals to seal the win. The Irish put multiple shots on goal with about five minutes left in an effort to trim the lead back down to one, but McElroy once again stepped up to make several crucial saves.

In a notable twist, it was Connor Morin, a graduate transfer originally from Notre Dame, who effectively put the game away, scoring back-toback goals in the final minutes to give Georgetown an insurmountable 15-11 lead. Those goals came as part of a hat trick for Morin in his return to South Bend.

While Corrigan was pleased with how his team responded in the second half, he emphasized the importance of maintaining that level of play on a consistent basis. This is especially important given that Notre Dame’s next opponent is No. 1 Maryland, with that game coming as part of a gauntlet in which the Irish face ten teams currently ranked in the top 20 during their remaining 11 games.

“We play the best schedule in the country, so every game is big and every game is meaningful,” Corrigan said. “We found out today that, at our best, we can be very good, but that we need to get better. We need to play [like in the second half] for 60 minutes to beat the teams on our schedule.”

The Irish will host the Terrapins at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Arlotta Stadium.

Contact Matthew Crow at mcrow@nd.edu

RYAN VIGILANTE | The Observer

Junior attack Pat Kavanagh runs downfield in Notre Dame’s home match against Marquette University on March 18, 2021 at Alumni Stadium. The Irish emerged victorious with a score of 10-3.

14

Sports

The observer | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

Ring A Continued from page 16

an excited crowd that was decked out in “El Catracho” merch.

Colin “Can’t Touch This” Capece vs. Justin “Warrior” Gonzalez Capece struck first w ith a few combinations followed by an answer from Gonzalez.

Both using their speed, the pair kept catching each other in a clinch for an even round. In the second round, Capece made contact first, knocking Gonzalez to the ground and forcing a count.

Capece cornered Gonzalez toward the end of the round. In the third, Capece had Gonzalez on and off the ropes, knocking him back again and forcing another count. Capece’s increasing domination of each round led to his w in by unanimous decision.

Jack “Topgun” Lannon vs.

Glenn “Queens” Fiocca In front of competing raucous crowds, these two fighters got off to an intense match.

The pair landed punches left and right, each grabbing a dominant moment in the first round.

In the second, Lannon dominated the start, getting Fiocca on the ropes and then again backing him into his corner of fans. Fiocca opened the third w ith a burst of energ y but Lannon answered quick ly, follow ing Fiocca around the ring and eventually forcing the ref to pause the fight.

After confusion w ith the timing, the fighters went for an extra 30 seconds, both landing a few extra hits.

By unanimous decision, and to the thrill of the crowd from Knott Hall, Lannon won the bout.

Joey “The Milk Man” Brenner vs. Ryan “For the Love of the Game” Tressler Both quick on their feet, it took a bit before either boxer landed a solid hit. The second round opened faster as both boxers connected far more frequently. Tressler got Brenner backpedaling early in the round but the bout plateaued again before Brenner landed a few solid punches knocking Tressler to the ground to close the round. Tressler needed another count to start the third follow ing several headshots from Brenner who ended another round on the offensive.

Brenner was w inner by decision.

named the unanimous

Ross “Roos” Mcilvaine vs. Alex “Baller” Flor The first round passed prett y evenly. Mcilvaine sw ung first in the second followed by a few combinations from Flor. Flor connected a few more times before the round ended, knocking Mcilvaine into the ropes. Mcilvaine pushed it to start the third but Flor found control again, backing Mcilvaine up.

Ultimately, his lateround dominance led Flor to a split-decision w in.

Reed “Nonstop” Popp vs. Jack “The Hammer” Murphy Murphy got Popp on his back foot early, landing a few separate combinations.

The second round started fairly evenly but just before the bell, Murphy found an advantage again, getting Popp on the ropes. Murphy repeatedly landed combinations that knocked Popp’s head gear out of place and sent the senior back ward, forcing a count just before the end of the round.

Murphy won by unanimous decision.

Nicholas “Nick” Buhay vs. David “The Baker” Couri Couri connected first w ith a headshot on Buhay but after wards, the pair evened out. With 10 seconds in the first, Couri connected on a f lurry of punches, while dodging the same from Buhay. To start the second, Buhay stepped on the offensive, landing a barrage of headshots.

Despite a few answers, he kept Couri backpedaling and ultimately sent him to the ground off a combination at the close of the second round.

Buhay opened the third on the offensive again, knocking Couri into the ropes and forcing a count. A tired Couri landed a few more hits but Buhay sent him into the ropes again. With second and third round dominance, Buhay won by unanimous decision.

Nolan “Lightning” Lyon vs. Patrick “Conk You in the Head” Conklin Both quick on their feet, Lyon and Conk lin exchanged combinations in the first w ith slight control on the match from Lyon.

Conk lin stayed out of Lyon’s reach

until he could find a w indow to connect at the start of the second.

But when Lyon could keep him still, he was able to take an advantage.

The third round passed much like the first t wo.

Each saw moments of dominance but it was Lyon’s abilit y to keep Conk lin still that brought him to connect more often.

To the thrill of a loud Carroll squad, Lyon won by unanimous decision.

Greg “Falcon” DeFalco vs. Griffin “Premium” Haw thorne Haw thorne kept DeFalco backpedaling to start the round, knocking him against the ropes a few times, but couldn’t keep him there.

DeFalco stepped up first in the second but Haw thorne quick ly answered, ultimately cornering DeFalco t w ice.

Haw thorne cornered DeFalco again to start the third round.

DeFalco found one last burst of momentum but the pair were both tired at the close.

After an emphatic embrace from the pair, the announcer named Haw thorne the w inner by unanimous decision.

Mitchell “Mr. Snowman” MacDonald vs. Thomas “Clipz” Hintz MacDonald dominated the first round, knocking Hintz dow n and even landing a f lurr y of punches while inches from the ropes.

Hintz got a combination response in, but not before MacDonald went back on the offensive just before the round closed. In the second, the pair exchanged combinations until Hintz found a dominance late in the round. Hintz backed MacDonald into the corner t w ice early in the third and ultimately kept him on the ropes.

Hintz’s late dominance earned him the unanimous-decision w in.

Hector “Bueno” Juarez vs. Rob “The Voodoo Ranger” Rucki Rucki and Juarez exchanged combinations from the get-go in round one. Both strong on the defensive end, the second round started similarly even but as Juarez started to tire, Rucki saw a bit more success to end the round.

Juarez came out strong to start the third but Rucki fought him off and saw an advantage of his ow n. Rucki found another advantage w ith 10 seconds left and ultimately won the

bout by decision.

unanimous

Josh “Barstool Athlete” Williams vs.

Jan “Janimal” Jhaveri In a bout rooted in speed, Williams and Jhaveri kept pace w ith each other throughout the first round.

Williams made contact first in the second, landing several headshots before Jhaveri got him on the ropes brief ly.

Williams landed a f lurr y of punches w ith Jhaveri on the ropes in the last significant advantage of the round.

Despite loud chants of “Janimal,” Williams pulled away in the third, pushing Jhaveri along the ropes and into the corner for a count. Then Williams knocked him to the ground and won by a stopped contest from the referee.

Ma x “Putin’s Ukranian Nightmare” Chuma vs.

Jackson “The Stallion” Graham Chuma landed a few hits early but was quick ly answered by Graham in the first round.

Chuma kept them coming, though. To start the second, Graham sent Chuma into the ropes w ith a bloody nose.

After a pause, Chuma found some footing but Graham answered quick ly, forcing another pause before he found a third advantage w ithin the round just before it ended. Chuma took an early advantage to start the third and maintained it most of the way through w ith a few bursts from Graham. Ultimately, the last push led Chuma to v ictor y by split decision.

Kevin “Armando” Prata vs. Andrew “Red Scare” Cassidy To a chorus of chants from a large Keenan crowd, Cassidy forced a count early for Prata and another one shortly after, both of which he came out of sw inging. The second round held prett y even, w ith both boxers landing a few hits.

Cassidy cornered Prata a few times and found an extra burst of energ y as his fans got louder. At the close, Prata landed a few right hooks but not w ithout answer from Cassidy. Cassidy ultimately won by split decision.

Will “V lad” Covington vs.

Jared “Scarface” Walsh The matchup changed hands repeatedly in the first before Cov ington found an advantage and sent Walsh to the deck. Walsh found a brief advantage to start the second

before a right hook sent him dow n again. He dropped one more time after that in the round. At the start of the third, Walsh received a count again but then found momentum to close the round. The w inner by unanimous decision was Cov ington.

JT “Termite” Termini vs. Luke “Big Chunk y” Sheridan-Rabideau Sheridan-Rabideau stepped to a quick advantage to the thrill of the Keenan crowd, knocking Termini dow n early in the first and forcing a second count before the round ended.

Termini landed first in the second, followed by a f lurr y of headshots from SheridanRabideau until Termini cornered him. SheridanRabideau took control of the third, stay ing out of Termini’s reach and forcing a count on Termini w ith a definitive right hook. By unanimous decision and to the thrill of the Keenan posse, Sheridan-Rabideau won the bout.

Rogba “The Bug” Ayoola vs. Connor “The Hound” Hinkes Two competing crowds set the tone for this bout as the boxers came out sw inging. Ayoola took an early advantage and maintained it through the first round as he got Hinkes on the ropes t w ice, under a f lurr y of headshots.

Ayoola took another advantage to start the second round, and yet another after Hinkes asked for a pause due to a lost eye contact.

Despite a few hits from Hinkes, Ayoola took control again, cornering Hinkes to close the round, and ultimately won by unanimous decision.

Noah “The Westport Widowmaker” Gagnon vs.

Grayson “Dozer” Zinn Zinn found an early advantage in the heav y weight event but Gagnon answered and the t wo went back and forth.

Zinn cornered Gagnon, landing enough headshots to close the round w ith a count. Zinn struck first again in the second and ultimately got Gagnon on the ropes, forcing another count.

Zinn set the tone again in the third, landing several headshots to force another count. Ultimately, Zinn won by unanimous decision. The Rockets would respond Contact Mannion McGinley at mmcginl3@nd.edu

sports

Ring B Continued from page 16

and with their punches. The fastest of the matches so far, Fernandez and Lennon would take turns with jabs until the end of the first round.

The second round would yet again start off hot, with Fernandez having the first hit and Lennon quickly returning the favor.

This back and forth followed until the end of the round. While Fernandez had the first swing of the second round, Lennon quickly answered. Both boxers were dancing around the ring, and it became clear how Lennon earned his title of “twinkle toes.” When the third round opened up, both competitors gave it their all. Swings were fast and hard, and for a brief moment, Fernandez had Lennon pinned. However, in the end, Lennon would win by split decision.

Creed “Apollo” Leathers vs. Evan “Milk” Molka Both boxers pushed the pace in a frenetic first round that didn’t see either gain an advantage early.

However, the junior Molka delivered a knockdown right at the end of the first round.

The second round began in similar fashion, but this time “Milk” let “Apollo” set the pace, content to punish the freshman on counters. Towards the end of the second round, “Milk” gained a decisive advantage with a host of headgear blows. Leathers needed a big third round to sway the decision back in his favor. Despite a strong effort, Leathers couldn’t find a way through the stout defenses of Molka.

“Milk” claimed victory by unanimous decision.

Matthew “Double Jeopardy” Downing vs.

Damien “Devito” Sylva A volatile first round saw a lot of action both ways.

The Keough senior, Downing, came out strong but faltered under a strong counter from the Fisher sophomore Sylva.

In the second round, Sylva’s probing left jab exposed some gaps between Downing’s gloves.

“Devito” landed enough headgear blows to force a pause. However, “Double Jeopardy” rebounded, utilizing a series of powerful right hooks to deliver some damage. The bout remained a contested one into the final period.

Downing barreled through a final round at a wild pace, taking some tough jabs but landing plenty of his own knocks. “Double Jeopardy” ended the bout with a bloody nose but emerged victorious by split decision.

ndsmcobserver.com | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022 | The Observer

Mattheos “Mattheos” Mattheos vs. Andres “The Roadrunner” Mejia Mattheos, a Siegfried firstyear, entered at a height disadvantage and thus took much of the fight into close quarters, mitigating Mejia’s longer reach. Mattheos controlled the pace and the action in the second round.

While “Roadrunner” utilized his long reach to land a couple blows, it was Mattheos’s dominance that was the storyline. The firstyear forced his opponent into a count at the end of the second round, and then he virtually sealed the result with a couple of damaging combinations to start the final round. “The Roadrunner” forced Mattheos into an eight-count towards the end of the round to push the fight closer to even, but that was not quite enough. Mattheos left the ring a split decision winner.

Aidan “Ace” Becklund v.

Michael “Florida Man” Perenich A relatively calm first round saw both boxers feature some fantastic defense and evasion. While Perenich landed a couple of headgear shots, it was Becklund who carried the slightly slower pace with a higher quantity of strong body blows. “Ace” kept his strategy consistent in the second round, shooting for under Perenich’s gloves.

However, “Florida Man” found more success on the counter in the middle round to push Becklund around the ring. The third round was highly competitive, but neither fighter tired to do too much, as they looked to avoid giving up a decisive shot. In Ring B’s tightest bout to that point in the evening, “Ace” kept his Bengal Bouts run alive by split decision.

Ryan “Mr. Sir” Collins vs.

Marcello “No Nickname” Nanni Backed by an incredibly vocal Morrissey contingent, Nanni controlled the bout early. He landed some combinations and forced an early timeout call from the referee. Collins could barely make contact with the elusive sophomore and took another big headgear blow that kept Nanni in control at the end of the first round. The frenetic pace continued in the second round.

Nanni claimed the victory after another damaging combination that spurred the referee to stop the contest. “No Nickname” advanced to the semifinals by RSC.

Jaimie “Greek Freak” Marines vs.

Luke “Mantequilla” Slahor Both boxers worked at a strong pace in the first round, with neither garnering

a decisive advantage.

“Mantequilla” kept his gloves high to land the early blows, but “Greek Freak” responded well. A series of wrap-ups and tentative, defensive boxing headlined the second round.

Again, neither boxer claimed a significant advantage.

Slahor came out with more energy in the final round.

While keeping his gloves high and defensive, the Duncan Hall junior found some gaps in Marines’ defense.

That was enough for the victory, as Slahor took the bout by unanimous decision.

Sean “Milk” Mullen vs.

Sirak “Em Sock ‘Em” Negash This one was all Mullen early as he backed Negash around the ring and into the ropes on multiple occasions in the first round. “Milk” continued the domination in the second round, driving Negash back. The Morrissey sophomore kept his defense stout as well, holding his opponent at bay and minimizing any potential counters. Negash entered the third round at a steep disadvantage. He pushed the pace more than in other rounds but couldn’t land many decisive knocks.

Ultimately, Mullen was able to take advantage and keep Negash at bay and on the ropes. “Milk” earned the victory by unanimous decision.

Andrew “Hammerfist” Lyons vs. Patrick “The Hash-Slinging Slash” Roche “Hammerfist” entered the ring with a large and vocal crowd of supporters.

However, it was Roche, the Dillon senior, who pushed the pace early. He forced Lyons into an early count and controlled the first round.

However, Lyons responded well in the second round to keep the decision in doubt.

His combinations came at the taller Roche from down low.

The Stanford senior drilled Roche a few times, whose swinging right hooks brought less damage in the second round. Lyons had more stamina in the third round, but it was a battle. Roche conserved energy and kept his gloves high. Ultimately, avoiding a lack of major blows, “The Hash-Slinging Slash” carried his early lead to a split-decision victory.

Dean “Sug(ar)” Maloney vs.

Nolan “Schweffo” Schwefler In a very even first round, Maloney landed the strongest blow. His low right hook to Schwef ler’s ribs made a thudding impact in an otherwise defensive round. The second round was much of the same. Both fighters wrapped up frequently. They settled for glancing blows

and tentative jabs. However, again it was Maloney with the biggest impact. He drew blood from Schwef ler’s nose and delivered another powerful shot to the ribs before the bell. “Schweffo” came out, spurred by his coaches in the corner urging him to “go” and “push the pace.”

He forced Maloney back on his heels but couldn’t land a strong enough blow to sway the judges. “Sug(ar)” claimed the victory via unanimous decision.

Charles “Chip” Martin vs.

Ricardo “BDR” Amisano In the 184-pound division, Amisano entered with arguably the biggest height advantage of the night, standing a head taller than Martin.

Thus, divergent strategies emerged. “Chip” stayed low and aggressive under Amisano’s gloves.

“BDR” attempted to deliver damage with a leading left jab and right hook from distance. Martin had early success in his efforts, controlling the first two rounds. He continued to pound away under the gloves and eventually landed headgear shots as Amisano’s gloves dropped. Late in the second round, Martin landed five consecutive hooks on Amisano’s headgear. An early third-round surge from “BDR” was too little, too late.

In a vicious bout that ended with both fighters bleeding profusely, “Chip” landed enough counters to hold onto his advantage, winning by unanimous decision.

Andrew “Cowboy” Foote vs. Cesar “Southside” Sanchez Foote got off to the early advantage in this 196-pound quarterfinal bout. “Cowboy” was the primary aggressor, and a late-round headshot provided the bout’s first major blow. An even second round kept Foote in what felt like a somewhat comfortable position, but Sanchez remained a strong shot away from swinging the bout in a different direction.

The third round was a suitably exciting period. With the decision up in the air, both fighters pushed the pace and landed strong blows. Sanchez looked to be the slightly stronger boxer in this round, but a powerful blow in the final ten seconds by Foote did some damage. In a competitive bout that never felt out of anyone’s reach, “Cowboy” took the win by split decision.

Dante “The Inferno” Gardini vs. Niko “Hi I’m Niko” Tarasenko Tarsenko came out dually elusive and aggressive and gradually built an advantage throughout the first round. “Hi I’m Niko”

15

continued to look just slightly more comfortable in the ring in the second round. The Alumni Hall sophomore kept Gardini on the ropes and generally away from any strong body or headshots.

It was more of the same in the third round. Tarasenko delivered a high volume of shots and stayed elusive when caught on the ropes. A couple of thundering right hooks sealed this bout midway through the third round.

“Hi I’m Niko” brought home the victory in a unanimous decision.

Justin “Slim” Darwin vs. “The Real Big” Mike Guyette In a battle of sophomores, both Darwin and Guyette looked composed yet aggressive in the first round.

Both defended well and slipped an occasional hard shot past their opponent’s gloves. The first bell came with little separating the two fighters. However, Guyette began to assert himself in the second round. Despite bleeding after a tough shot, “The Real Big” controlled the pace and continuously backed Darwin into the ropes. Darwin came out aggressive in the final round, but he struggled to switch the momentum. Guyette continued to find space around and between Darwin’s gloves.

Ultimately, “The Real Big” left the ring with a face covered in blood but a victory by unanimous decision.

Nick “Jolly Mean Giant” Crnkovich vs. Diego “El Boricua” Silva Cruz Concluding the action in Ring B was an allStanford battle between seniors in the heav yweight decision.

Silva Cruz attacked with thundering hooks that made the crowd gasp when they made contact. Crnkovich responded with short, quick jabs between the gloves.

The “Jolly Mean Giant” avoided most of his opponent’s heav y shots in the second round, wrapping him up on occasion. That allowed him to control the pace, dancing around the rings and delivering his quick jabs. A competitive second round ended with the bout very much undecided.

The third round saw both boxers repeatedly go for the headgear, as both followed their game plan. Silva Cruz’s shots landed heavier, but Crnkovich delivered his hits with higher frequency.

The margin felt razor-thin the whole way, and “Jolly Mean Giant” squeaked out the split-decision victory.

Contact Aidan Thomas at athoma28@nd.edu and Olivia Schatz at oschatz@nd.edu

16

The observer | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

ND Men’s Basketball

Softball

Irish seek to make history against FSU

By GREG McKENNA Sports Writer

No Notre Dame team has won 15 conference games in a single season.

Not Mike Brey’s 201415 squad, which won the ACC Tournament and came within a bucket of the Final Four. Not the group that returned to the Elite Eight a year later. Not his 2007-08 or 2010-11 teams from the Big East days, who, like the Irish in 2014-15, also amassed 14 league wins.

Brey’s Irish will have a chance to do one better Wednesday night as Notre Dame (21-8, 14-4 ACC) travels to take on Florida State (15-13, 8-10 ACC) at the Tucker Civic Center, where the Irish have never beaten the Seminoles.

“I felt we could be really good,” Brey said of his attitude heading into the season.

“We’re better than I thought we’d be.”

If the Irish can’t set a new program mark in Tallahassee,

Notre Dame pulls off fivegame perfect weekend

they will get another shot at home vs. Pitt (11-18, 6-12 ACC) Saturday afternoon.

The Irish clinched a double bye in the ACC Tournament with a 90-56 demolition of Georgia Tech on Saturday, Notre Dame’s biggest league win since joining the ACC in 2013.

Four Irish put up double figures in an offensive masterclass. Notre Dame shot over 56% from three and recorded 21 assists.

“Everyone seemed like they were in a groove, and that’s always a good feeling,” said senior guard Cormac Ryan, who led the Irish with 10 rebounds to go along with eight points.

Ryan has started the last five games after replacing Nate Laszewski when the senior forward missed the Louisville game due to injury. Ryan has averaged 12.0 ppg and shot over 47% from three in those games.

Brey said starting Ryan has

ALLISON THORNTON | The Observer

Notre Dame softball emerged w ith a perfect weekend, toppling each of their opponents in a five-game stretch Friday through Sunday.

They are now 12-3 overall and on a seven-game w in streak.

The weekend started off w ith a doubleheader against North Florida and Iowa, in which graduate student A lex is Holloway and senior Pay ton Tidd dominated in the circle.

Holloway had the ball for the first match against the Ospreys.

She held North Florida to three hits, w ith the Ospreys’ one run coming early in the third. The Irish offense responded in kind, w ith junior Leea Hanks capitalizing on a misplayed ground ball to tie the game up follow ing her ow n

see BASKETBALL PAGE 13

Irish graduate student Abby Sweet hits a home run during the April 2, 2019 home match against IUPUI at Melissa Cook Stadium.

see SOFTBALL PAGE 13

By EMILY DeFAZIO Associate Sports Editor

Bengal Bouts Ring A

Bengal Bouts Ring b

Ring A brings stiff competition, large crowds

By MANNION McGINLEY

Quarterfinals Ring B results

By AIDAN THOMAS and OLIVIA SCHATZ

Sports Editor

Associate Sports Editor, Sports Writer

The Bengal Bouts quarterfinals kicked off at 7 p.m.

Tuesday night, beginning w ith Ring A.

The Bengal Bouts Quarterfinals action continued in Ring B.

Buyi “B” Chen vs. Carlos “El Catracho” Espinoza Banegas

Justin “Rise and Shine” Reisert vs. Nirajan “One Punch” Koirala

Chen threw the first punches countered by a couple body hits from Espinoza Banegas. Chen was quick but Espinoza Banegas got him on the defensive, cornering him t w ice. Chen got the start again but Espinoza Banegas answered, dominating the round. Chen had quite a few opportunities but Espinoza Banegas was more efficient as Chen needed two counts in the third. Ultimately, efficiency paid off as Espinoza Banegas won by unanimous decision, in front of

Koira la ca me out of t he gates on t he of fensive. W hi le Reiser t was able to stay on his feet on defense, Koira la wou ld cont inue to pound on his opponent. This momentum wou ld cont inue a nd Reiser t wou ld need a count before Koira la cornered him for t he rest of t he round. The second round wou ld beg in yet aga in w it h dominat ion f rom Koira la, a nd whi le Reiser t was on t he of fense more in t his round t ha n t he last, it was clea r he was ex hausted a nd wou ld need a not her count before t he end of t he round.

Aga in, Koira la wou ld lay it

ARIANNA DENNING | The Observer

see RING A PAGE 14

Senior Jack Murphy throws a punch against his opponent in the Bengal Bouts preliminary round in Dahnke Ballroom on Feb. 24.

into his opponent, a nd by t he end of t he t hird round Koira la was na med w inner una nimously.

Ar yan “We Paid” Gupta vs. Jackson “The Hook” Ballow It was clear at the start of the round that Ballow was dominating offensively.

Throughout the entiret y of the first t wo rounds, Ballow was able to lay in punches and corner his opponent.

Gupta was able to land one solid punch after Ballow stumbled. But, in the third round, Gupta needed a count and Ballow lived up to his name. Ultimately, Ballow won by unanimous decision.

Emilio “Lefty” Fernandez vs.

Jack “Twinkle Toes” Lennon The pair of competitors were quick both on their feet

see RING B PAGE 15