The independent
To uncover
newspaper serving
the truth
Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s
and report
and holy cross
it accurately
Volume 55, Issue 12 | wednesday, september 16, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
College starts voting initiative Saint Mary’s ‘100@100’ promotes student participation in 2020 election By GENEVIEVE COLEMAN Associate News Editor
To celebrate t he hundredt h anniversar y of t he 19t h A mendment — giving women t he right to vote — Saint Mar y’s facult y and staff are creating t he “100 @100” campaign to encourage eligible students to vote in t his year’s genera l election. Thomas Bonnell, professor and a 100 @100 organizer, explained his t hought process behind proposing t he idea to t he College. “In t his hundred anniversar y year, I t hought it would be a wort hwhile goa l for a women’s college like Saint Mar y’s to set a rea lly high aim of at least going for 100% participation in
t he voting process for t hose who are eligible to vote,” he said. “We have some internationa l students and t here are some students who aren’t old enough. So, t here are some who cannot vote, but [we are] tr y ing to get ever ybody who is eligible to vote involved in t he process.” Rebeka h Go, director of t he Of f ice for Civ ic and Socia l Engagement (OCSE) and a 100 @100 organizer, ref lected on t he importance of voting af ter historica lly oppressed groups struggled to receive suf frage. “[I]n t he case of some people such as women and people of color, hav ing t he opportunit y to participate in t he process came at a cost,” Go said. “We
South Bend adapts to COVID
honor t hose who fought for t he right for us to vote by t houghtf ully participating in t he process at ever y opportunit y.” Bonnell hopes to energize t he student population to participate in t he voting process, especia lly because of nationw ide politica l apat hy. “[It] w ill ta ke a bit of ingenuit y on our part to come up w it h ways of ma k ing it f un and exciting for students to actua lly sign onto because, frank ly, in our societ y, t here’s signif icant amount of apat hy, a signif icant amount of cy nicism,” Bonnell said. “A nd we have to, to t he best of our abilit y, tr y to overcome t hose disincentives for participating in t he process.”
Go stated t hat 100 @100 has many events planned for students to engage in before Election Day. “Over 30 campus-w ide events are planned for fa ll 2020,” Go said. “This includes tabling for voter registration and absentee ba llot assistance, voter education events such as lectures and ta lks, and civ il discourse initiatives to increase politica l discourse on campus in a way t hat promotes hea lt hy dialog ue across ideologica l differences.” Bonnell over v iewed t he plans for t he words of t he 19t h A mendment to displayed around campus to encourage students to
Sa int Ma r y’s w i l l beg in screen ing test ing Sept. 22, t he Col lege a n nou nced a n update posted to t he L ive.Lea r n.Work. website. “Screen ing test ing a l lows a n orga n i zat ion to d iscover posit ive cases, in pa r t icula r a mong asy mptomat ic ind iv idua ls,” t he website sa id. T he cu r rent pla n w i l l test 60 st udents a week, approx imately 5% of t he st udent popu lat ion, t h roug h ea rly November.
see VOTING PAGE 5
see TESTING PAGE 5
News Writer
One volunteer works with kids at La Casa de Amistad, a local organization that serves the Hispanic and Latino community of South Bend. By ALYSA GUFFEY Associate News Editor
As col lege students in t he t ri-ca mpus communit y made t heir return to ca mpus in late Ju ly a nd ea rly Aug ust, St. Joseph Count y was a lready seeing a n upt ick in t he number of da ily coronav ir us counts compa red to t he mont h of June. “At t he end of June, [St. Joseph Count y] was
news PAGE 3
averag ing 15 new cases a day,” Dr. Ma rk Fox, St. Joseph Count y deput y hea lt h of f icer, sa id. “We were actua lly feeling prett y good about [t his]. Then, t here were Four t h of Ju ly a nd g raduat ion pa r t ies a nd dif ferent t hings like t hat, a nd t he number went up.” On Ju ly 18, t he count y saw 59 new cases. see PANDEMIC PAGE 4
VIEWPOINT PAGE 6
Observer Staff Report
‘Educated’ author to deliver annual lecture By JULIANNA MCKENNA
Courtesy of Nancy Diaz
SMC updates testing
Saint Mar y’s w ill host the annual Christian Culture Lecture series w ith speaker Tara Westover on Wednesday. The Christian Culture series is an annual event at the College that brings inf luential figures in to speak to students. “We’re always looking for a big name in the humanities who could speak in some way to the inf luence of Christianit y on culture,” Laura Williamson Ambrose, chair of the humanistic studies department, said. Ambrose said she initially got the idea to inv ite Tara Westover after learning about her memoir “Educated” through a local book club discussion. “At that book club discussion, one of the people in attendance excitedly talked about this memoir that had just been published, ‘Educated,’” she said. “I took
SCENE PAGE 10
a mental note and w ithin a couple of months, I went and read it and immediately recognized its power. We recognized it had really great potential to speak to our students, the communit y at large and we really lucked out in being able to secure Tara Westover to come to campus.” The lecture w ill look different this year due to coronav irus, Ambrose said, but the College still wants to give the communit y a chance to share in this experience. “We decided to do a prerecorded conversation that we could bundle into a nice v ideo to give ever yone an entertaining experience as well as an enlightening one,” Ambrose said. The College has received an over whelming amount of support from the communit y, she said, as thousands of people have registered to receive the link to v iew the event Wednesday. “The event that is most
nd w soccer PAGE 16
pertinent to the public at large has essentially gone v iral,” she said. “We have over 30,000 people from six continents registered to watch the v ideo when we release the link at 5 p.m. EST on Wednesday. The v ideo w ill be available for at least 24 hours, but we hope to keep it up longer in order to accommodate different time zones.” Ambrose said the College also wants to find a way to engage its students since many attend the lecture for their various classes, so the idea of a watch part y was born. “We are going to bring in a truck w ith a giant screen on librar y green at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night so that 250 students can watch the event,” she said. “There is a special bonus feature for students Wednesday night, and the first 100 students to check-in get a free Saint Mar y’s blanket.” see LECTURE PAGE 5
nd football PAGE 16
2
TODAY
The observer | wednesday, september 16, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com
Have a question you want answered? Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com
What color was your aura today?
P.O. Box 779, Notre Dame, IN 46556 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
Caitlin Dunnett
Ellen Baker
2L off campus
2L off campus
“Purple.”
“Light blue.”
Katherine Cienkus
Shannon Mukerji
2L off campus
2L off campus
“Orange.”
“Green.”
(574) 631-6900 ads@ndsmcobserver.com
Jack Bryan
Shannon Lyden
Editor-in-Chief
junior O’Neill Hall
freshman Breen-Phillips Hall
“Green.”
“Blue.”
Editor-in-Chief Maria Leontaras Managing Editor Mariah Rush
Asst. Managing Editor: Maeve Filbin Asst. Managing Editor: Claire Rafford Asst. Managing Editor: Sara Schlecht
Notre Dame News Editor: Serena Zacharias Saint Mary’s News Editor: Mia Marroquin Viewpoint Editor: Nelisha Silva Sports Editor: Hayden Adams Scene Editor: Ryan Israel Photo Editor: Allison Thornton Graphics Editor: Diane Park Social Media Editor: Ellie Dombrowski Advertising Manager: Landry Kempf Ad Design Manager: Gabby Hong Systems Administrator: Stephen Hannon Talent & Inclusion Manager: Nola Wallace Office Manager & General Info
Ph: (574) 631-7471 Fax: (574) 631-6927 Advertising
(574) 631-4542 mleontaras01@saintmarys.edu Managing Editor
(574) 631-4542 mrush@nd.edu Assistant Managing Editors
(574) 631-4541 mfilbin01@saintmarys.edu, crafford@nd.edu, sschlecht01@saintmarys.edu Business Office
(574) 631-5313 Notre Dame News Desk
(574) 631-5323 news@ndsmcobserver.com Saint Mary’s News Desk
(574) 631-5323 smc@ndsmcobserver.com Viewpoint Desk
(574) 631-5303 viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.om Sports Desk
(574) 631-4543 sports@ndsmcobserver.com Scene Desk
(574) 631-4540 scene@ndsmcobserver.com Photo Desk
(574) 631-8767 photo@ndsmcobserver.com Systems & Web Administrators
webmaster@ndsmcobserver.com Policies The Observer is the independent, daily newspaper published in print and online by the students of the University of Notre Dame du Lac, Saint Mary’s College and Holy Cross College. Editorial content, including advertisements, is not governed by policies of the administration of either institution. The Observer reserves the right to refuse advertisements based on content. The news is reported as accurately and objectively as possible. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the majority of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Assistant Managing Editors and department editors. Commentaries, letters and columns present the views of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer. Viewpoint space is available to all readers. The free expression of all opinions through letters is encouraged. Letters to the Editor must be signed and must include contact information. Questions regarding Observer policies should be directed to Editor-in-Chief Maria Leontaras. Post Office Information The Observer (USPS 599 2-4000) is published Monday through Friday except during exam and vacation periods. A subscription to The Observer is $130 for one academic year; $75 for one semester. The Observer is published at: 024 South Dining Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-0779 Periodical postage paid at Notre Dame and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER Send address corrections to: The Observer P.O. Box 779 024 South Dining hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-077
Today’s Staff News
Sports
Alysa Guffey Maria Luisa Paul
Jimmy Ward Nate Moller
Graphics
Scene
Ellis Riojas
Willoughby Thom
Photo
Viewpoint
Anthony Reo
Abby Patrick
Corrections The Observer regards itself as a professional publication and strives for the highest standards of journalism at all times. We do, however, recognize that we will make mistakes. If we have made a mistake, please contact us at (574) 631-4541 so we can correct our error.
MARIA LEONTARAS | The Observer
Students wear party hats on the quad between Duncan Student Center and DeBartolo Hall as part of a socially-distant birthday celebration Tuesday evening. Socializing outdoors has been promoted as restrictions on indoor gatherings have been in place.
The next Five days:
Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Webinar: “Primary Source Research in the Time of COVID-19” virtual noon - 1:30 p.m.
Seminar: “Beyond Shaming” virtual 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Join for a seminar on human rights.
Slow Look virtual 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m. Join for a slow look at Mary Swanzy’s “Young Claudius.”
Football Notre Dame Stadium 2:30 p.m. The Irish take on the Bulls in the second game of the season.
Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 10 a.m., noon Attendance will be limited.
Information Session: Summer Service Learning Program virtual 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. Learn about SSLPs.
Need To Talk? virtual 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Sign up to talk with a lay Campus Minister or priest.
Lecture: “Racial Wealth Gap” virtual 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Featuring speaker Mehrsa Baradaran.
Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 5 p.m. Attendance will be limited.
Grief and Loss Support Group Holy Cross, room 11 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Informational sharing about coping with loss.
News
ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, september 16, 2020 | The ObserveR
3
Fall course covers 2020 presidential election By RYAN PETERS News Writer
Politica l science professors Dav id Campbell and Geoffrey Lay man drive t he same k ind of car, live on t he same street, co-aut hored a book and share a love of teasing each ot her. So when t hey teamed up for t he second time to teach a course covering t he current presidentia l election, t hey made sure to use t heir “comedic” relationship to enhance t he unique atmosphere of t heir course. “Because we’re friends and have k now n each ot her for a long time, I t hink t hat ma kes t he dy namic more f un for t he students. It certainly ma kes it more comfortable for us,” Lay man said. Their course, Election 2020, examines t he 2020 presidentia l election as it unfolds. Campbell and Lay man teach t he course by framing t he election in a historica l context and teaching t he students how to understand t he electora l process t hrough t he lens of a politica l scientist instead of t hat of a partisan. A nd because t he course covers content in rea l time, t he professors a lso incorporate current events into t he
curriculum. “[We] go deep into t he campaign as it happens. W hich is, for us as professors, rea lly teaching on a w ire w it hout a net. A n event happens, we don’t necessarily k now what t hat’s going to mean for t he campaign, but we want to bring it to t he students and ta lk about it,” Campbell said. Campbell and Lay man f irst taught t he course during t he 2016 election. They were pleased w it h how t he course went and received constructive feedback; however, t he COV ID-19 pandemic has presented new cha llenges for t he course’s second go-around. Due to t he large class size of a lmost 150 students, it now ta kes place in t he 840-seat Leighton Concert Ha ll in order to prov ide enough seating w it h adequate spacing. “[Leighton Concert Ha ll] doesn’t lend itself ver y well to hav ing a discussion about t he events of t he campaign, so… we’ve added a number of voluntar y discussion sessions t hrough Zoom,” Lay man said. Instead of hav ing essays w ritten by indiv idua ls, t he students team up to w rite group essays. A head of t he most recent group essay about t he Electora l College,
Lay man and Campbell debated each ot her in front of t he class. “We just had a group essay about t he Electora l College and so professor Lay man and professor Campbell did a debate in class where each of t hem took a side. That was actua lly rea lly interesting to watch just because t here’s a lot of debate about if t he Electora l College should stay or go,” Izz y Grassel, a sophomore politica l science major, said. The class t y pica lly consists of each professor lecturing once a week. Occasiona lly, one of t he professors w ill lecture t w ice in a row if he is more of a specia list in t he subject matter, but t he course is structured so Lay man and Campbell have t he same number of lectures t hroughout t he semester. A lso included in t he course are severa l days dedicated to discussing current events surrounding t he election. “I would say t here are maybe four or f ive days over t he course of t he semester t hat are actua lly on t he syllabus as just days when we’ll ta lk about what’s going on,” Lay man said. One of t hese days addresses t he upcoming presidentia l debate and a llows students to express t heir
t houghts. “We’ll have a whole class just debrief ing about t he f irst debate and a llow ing students to chime in about what t hey t hought and if it w ill matter. We’ll set t hat up by t he class before t he f irst debate being a ll about presidentia l debates, how t hey’ve gone in t he past, how t hey worked and what politica l scientists k now about whet her t hey matter,” Lay man said. Grassel took t he course to f urt her her interest in politics and become more informed a head of t he f irst election in which she w ill be eligible to vote. “The 2016 election rea lly got me into politics in genera l just because it was an extremely dif ferent election. It was one of t he f irst elections I actua lly paid attention to and it was an interesting situation, especia lly w it h t he w inner of t he Electora l College losing t he popular vote,” she said. “A lso, t his is t he f irst election I’ll be voting in and so I just found t he whole situation to be super interesting.” Election 2020 has given Grassel a much more complete understanding of components of t he electora l process ranging from Joe Biden’s nomination for his v ice president to
comparing t he t wo nationa l conventions. “I def initely get a better v iew of bot h sides of t he spectrum,” she said. For Campbell, his goa l for t he class is to draw students from a ll areas of study to explore t heir interest in politica l science and help t hem get a better understanding of current events from t he perspective of t wo politica l scientists. “We’re hoping t hat t his is a class t hat lots of students can ta ke, and maybe not even politica l science majors, but students who maybe have an interest in politics but wouldn’t necessarily major in politica l science,” he said. Campbell hopes t hat t he class w ill become a staple in t he politica l science department come t he fa ll of ever y presidentia l election. “We would like to t hink of t his class as a signature class for t he politica l science department. It’ll be of fered ever y four years, a lways in t he fa ll of t he presidentia l election year, and we intend to keep it big,” Campbell said. “We want as many students as possible to ta ke t his class.” Contact Ryan Peters at rpeters5@nd.edu
Notre Dame third-year architecture students learn about Rome from a distance By TRINITY REILLY News Writer
Third-year architecture students learned they would not be spending the fall semester in Rome in mid-June, due to difficulties caused by COVID19. Junior Ava Longoria said many students were upset upon hearing the news, but largely unsurprised. “I was definitely disappointed, but with everything happening, I didn’t really expect to go,” Longoria said. “I knew that my Rome experience wasn’t going to trump the global health crisis.” During a normal year, thirdyear architecture students are taught by professors who live in Rome. Some of their professors are still in Rome, conducting classes remotely via Zoom. Others, however, temporarily moved from Rome to South Bend to teach for the semester. “It’s been really nice to get that in-person connection with our professors even though they had to leave their whole lives in Rome to be with us – that was really nice,” junior Tim Tighe said. Regardless of where the professors are located, students are still
studying the same materials they would have examined in Rome, junior Caroline Zorc said. “They haven’t changed the curriculum at all,” Zorc said. “Basically, when they say, ‘Let’s look at the site we’re working on,’ we go on Google Maps and look at it rather than walk to it.” Even if students cannot walk the streets of Rome, they do get to have studio class in person, which they are grateful for, Zorc said. It was especially hard last year to have studio online, she said, because students often have to collaborate or use large drafting boards when working projects. “Everyone is grateful to be together again because it is such a collaborative process,” Longoria said. “Studio needs a lot of space [and] I think being in person is really conducive to the design process. Overall, everyone’s bummed, but there is the silver lining that we get to have a studio at all.” Zoom classes, though, are working well enough, Tighe said. The professors who are still in Rome are getting creative, he said. One professor even put on a GoPro and walked around the city for hours, recording streets
SARA SCHLECHT | The Observer
Architecture majors typically spend their third year in the program studying abroad in Rome. Due to the pandemic, students were not able to travel and are examining the city from Notre Dame instead.
and buildings that students would have seen in person. “It’s really nice that everyone is still trying really hard to make it experiential even though we’re not there,” Longoria said. “Obviously it’s not the same, but I know all the professors are working so hard to make it as real as it can be.”
Many students see the Rome program as a key part of Notre Dame’s architecture curriculum, Zorc said. However, Zorc, Longoria and Tighe all said they did not seriously consider taking a gap year in order to spend their full third year in Rome next year. “The thought crossed my mind
at the beginning of the whole process,” Tighe said. “But I think eventually wanting to ride it out with the program be able to still be on track with everyone that I’ve started this whole experience with really won out.” Even though this semester see ROME PAGE 5
4
NEWS
The observer | wednesday, september 16, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Pandemic Continued from page 1
Then, t he t ri-ca mpus communit y returned to in-person classes t he week of Aug. 10. Students were required to have a pre-mat ricu lat ion test w it h a negat ive resu lt before returning to ca mpus. Not re Da me repor ted on ly 33 posit ive cases while Sa int Ma r y’s repor ted 4. By Aug. 18 — eight days into t he semester — Not re Da me had repor ted a tota l of 147 cases a nd a nnounced a t wo-week shutdow n to ha lt t he a la rming rise in cases. Fox, a n adv isor to t he Universit y on COV ID-19 matters, sa id t he count y was averag ing a round 108 cases per day when Not re Da me ex perienced its upt ick in cases. He sa id he a nd his col leag ues t hought t his was “worrisome.” The t rend for t he number of new cases per day t hen decreased for Not re Da me a nd St. Joseph Count y as a whole. As of Monday, t he count y had a seven-day mov ing average of 43 cases, a nd Not re Da me repor ted a mov ing average of 6 per day. “Cer ta in ly my impression is t hat t he count y as a whole is improv ing as well, so I’m caut iously opt imist ic t hat we’re headed in t he right direct ion,” Fox sa id. W hi le Not re Da me has la rgely been using rapid a nt igen test ing, Fox sa id t he majorit y of coronav ir us tests in t he rest of t he count y a re PCR tests, w it h resu lts coming back t wo days or later. Fox sa id he t hin ks t he count y is supplying “reasonable access” to a test. “The rest of t he count y has prett y poor access to rapid test ing, but in genera l, I t hin k people who people who need a test, a nd even people who just wa nt to test, a re able to get t hat done,” Fox sa id.
Local K-12 schools face difficult decisions on returning to school The rise in coronav ir us cases has a lso sta lled t he return to in-person inst r uct ion for loca l schools. Fox sa id t he count y needed to reach a lower t hreshold before returning to school, leading to a n x iet y a mong t hose in t he K-12
communit y. The rise in cases at Not re Da me did ma ke t he decision to return or not easier. “Obv iously, no one ex pected t he volume of cases of Not re Da me ex perienced,” Fox sa id. On Sept. 3, t he state of India na released a repor t on its recommendat ions to school a nd loca l of f icia ls on pla ns rega rding on line a nd in-person inst r uct ion. The recommendat ions were based on t wo met rics: t he number of new cases in t he past week per 100,000 residents a nd t he percent posit iv it y rate. The repor t g rouped count ies in t he state by color based on t he t wo met rics. St. Joseph Count y was placed into t he ora nge g rouping, indicat ing moderate to high communit y spread. The repor t recommended schools in ora nge count ies to implement hybrid lea rning for midd le a nd high schools while cont inuing in-person inst r uct ion for g rade school students. Yet, some schools in t he count y have chosen to wa it to return to t he physica l classroom for a ll students. The Sout h Bend Communit y School Cor porat ion (SBCSC) boa rd of t r ustees a nnounced Aug. 4 t hat t he school cor porat ion wou ld sta r t t he academic yea r w it h at least eight weeks of online lea rning. “The soonest students wou ld return in person to classrooms is October 5,” Superintendent Todd Cummings sa id in t he release. “However, a ny decisions we ma ke at t hat t ime w ill be based on hea lt h depa r t ment data.” The release sa id conversat ions wou ld occur in midSeptember to gauge t he possibi lit y of returning to in-person lea rning. Michelle Conway, a second-g rade teacher at Kennedy Academy, an SBCSC school for k inderga rten t hrough f if t h g rade, sa id her students have bot h sy nchronous a nd asy nchronous lea rning to complete during t he school day. “I might teach a lesson a nd t hen send t hem of f to do somet hing independently, a nd t hen t hey come back later for a not her subject. So we do t hat a couple t imes a day,” Conway sa id.
Support student journalism. Donate to The Observer. Visit our site.
Conway sa id it is “st ra nge” on ly seeing her k ids t hrough a screen ever y day. Conway sa id she wou ld feel comfor table returning to in-person inst r uct ion later in t he fa ll but wou ld have worries in t he back of her mind. “I t hin k t hey have t hings in place t hat wou ld ma ke it sa fe, but you never k now unt il you t r y,” Conway sa id. Fox sa id ev idence t hat t he v ir us has not spread heavily in t he classroom at Not re Da me is a good sig n for loca l schools. “It g ives hope t hat t he K t hrough 12 schools ca n conduct class a nd not sig nif ica nt ly increase t he risk of t ra nsmission of t he v ir us,” Fox sa id. The limits on schools a nd ex t racurricu la r act iv it ies have a lso limited t he exposure of Not re Da me students to k ids in t he Sout h Bend communit y. Sophomore Eli zabet h Hef ferna n, co-v ice president of College Mentors for K ids, sa id t he club t y pica lly inv ites students in g rades one t hrough si x to ca mpus to pa r t icipate in act iv it ies surrounding high educat ion a nd communit y out reach. This yea r, Hef ferna n sa id t he club has tentat ive pla ns to host 30-60 minute sessions w it h t heir “litt le buddies” over Zoom a nd is current ly wa it ing to receive t he g reen light f rom SAO. However, she sa id she
worries about t he engagement bet ween mentors a nd buddies in t his v ir tua l sett ing. “Our act iv it ies obv iously ca nnot be as ha nds-on as usua l, so keeping t he 1st6t h g rade buddies engaged w ill be a cha l lenge, especia lly when t hey a re in t heir home env ironment w it h dist ract ions a nd a f ter a long school day t hat might be v ir tua l, too,” Hef ferna n sa id in a tex t message. If t he club is able to host act iv it ies, Hef ferna n sa id she is excited for new relat ionships to be bui lt a nd ot her relat ionships to be ex pa nded upon w it hin t he club. “The relat ionships ca n be a rea l ly posit ive impact in t he litt le buddies’ lives a nd rea lly mea ning f u l for t he mentors, too,” Hef ferna n sa id.
South Bend Latino communit y feels the impacts of pandemic COV ID-19 has not on ly impacted t he whole count y but has a lso more heav i ly impacted minorit ies. Na ncy Dia z works as a yout h prog ra ms assista nt at La Casa de A mistad, a not-for-prof it cha ritable orga ni zat ion ser v ing t he Hispa nic/Lat ino communit y in Sout h Bend where students in t he t ri-ca mpus communit y volunteer. She sa id t he pa ndemic has a ffected t he Sout h Bend
Lat ino communit y in severa l ways. “I’ve seen it disr upt chi ldren’s educat ion sig nif ica nt ly, a nd ea rly in t he pa ndemic, it high lighted workplace inequa lit ies in factories a nd ot her sett ings where Lat ino people ma ke up t he majorit y of t he workforce, because t hese have been sites of outbrea ks due to lack of employer-supplied protect ive equipment a nd policies,” Dia z sa id in a n ema il. Dia z sa id t he orga ni zat ion has not been able to return to norma l prog ra mming but has been able to st i l l have limited numbers of volunteers. “Since we’ve had to sca le back t he number of people we ser ve, we’ve a lso sca led back t he number of volunteers we have,” Dia z sa id. Dia z sa id despite t he ba rriers to helping physica lly w it hin t he communit y, people ca n st i l l donate a nd educate t hemselves on t he inequit ies in t he communit y which have been highlighted by t he pa ndemic. “W hi le t he news may display high levels of COV ID cases w it hin Black a nd Lat ino popu lat ions, do not be quick to bla me t he people a f fected, rat her, invest igate t he systems a round t hem t hat a l low t his to happen,” Dia z sa id. ContactAlysa Guffey at aguffey@nd.edu
News
ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, september 16, 2020 | The Observer
5
SMC to honor ‘Laudato Si’ with new program By OLIVIA TRAXLER News Writer
A version of this story was published online Sept. 15. In light of Pope Francis’s announcement of the special anniversary celebration of the ‘Laudato Si,’ the Center for Spirituality of Saint Mary’s College is sponsoring a new study-faith-in-action program. The program consists of one to two environmentallyrelated service projects or immersion experiences, one lecture related to ‘Laudato Si’ and one to two prayer experiences related to care for God’s creation. Students will also attend face-to-face discussion groups about how to take care of the common
Rome Continued from page 3
is not what any architecture student envisioned for their third-year experience, students and professors alike are trying to make the best of it, Zorc said. They even remain hopeful about being in Rome for the spring semester or finding
Voting Continued from page 1
reg ister to vote. “The text of the 19th amendment will be put up phrase by phrase ... and then we’ll move those banners around campus from place to place and have them there as a reminder for students to register and ultimately to vote,” he said. In addition, Bonnell noted that there will be other references to important events in voter history on display. “Alongside that text will be some other banners contextualizing the sort of the ongoing efforts,” he said. “So, one might perhaps read the
Lecture Continued from page 1
A mbrose a lso sa id t hat because of the online format and the effects of coronavirus, the College has decided to make this event free to attend. “Historically we did charge for the lecture, but when we went online we had a conversation and ultimately, I felt really strongly that there was too much chaos with the pandemic and too much of a sense of loss for us to think about monetizing this event,” she said. As an institution, the College decided that the goal was to promote the idea of education and
good and common home, as defined by Francis in the encyclical, throughout the academic year. “‘Laudato Si:’ On Care for Our Common Home” is the second encyclical of Pope Francis. Originally published in 2015, it urged people all over the globe to care for the planet and the poor. Francis declared a special year of observance from May 20202021 regarding the goals of the encyclical for its fifth anniversary. “I invite all people of goodwill to take part, to care for our common home and our most vulnerable brothers and sisters,” Francis said in May when he made the announcement. The program is open for “students [who] may be
other opportunities to study or work abroad in the future, she said. “I kind of came to the conclusion that we’re all in this together,” she said. “It’s a very unique college experience and you have to embrace it or else you’re going to get really upset about it.” Contact Trinity Reilly at treilly5@nd.edu
looking to deepen their knowledge on environmental and social issues or to deepen their personal spirituality and commitment to action,” Arlene Montevecchio, the director of the Center for Spirituality, said in an email. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and other hardships facing the world today, participants will also be invited to ref lect on their experiences in a formal presentation at the conclusion of the program, she said. The ‘Laudato si’ program will be run by Montevecchio. She plans on inviting faculty guest speakers to discuss topics including ecosystems, food waste and recovery, eco-friendly lifestyle choices such as vegan eating and the sacraments and spirituality
Testing Continued from page 1
According to the website, all undergraduate and graduate students who attend in-person classes are eligible for testing, and faculty and staff will not be tested at this time. Students that will be removed from the
of ‘Laudato Si.’ The program will extend into the spring second semester. Depending on the state of the country at that time in regards to the pandemic, Montevecchio said students may also have the opportunity to participate in environmental service projects. The ‘Laudato si’ program is designed for students who wish to “learn more about their own faith, the spiritual and social vision of Pope Francis, and how to make a difference for environmental and social justice,” Montevecchio said. This program is only open to eight to ten Saint Mary’s students, and students who wish to apply should email Montevecchio. Participants will also receive a $300
random selection pool include “anyone who tested positive within 12 weeks of the current week, students who are currently in quarantine/ isolation and students who withdraw effective immediately, during the semester.” The testing will take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 4-5:30 p.m. in the Health and Counseling Center.
stipend and certificate along with a copy of ‘Laudato Si’ and a journal. Applications are due by Sept. 16. The College is hosting a lecture series on the same encyclical anniversary this October entitled the 2020 Fall Endowed Lectures Series: A Year of ‘Laudato Si.’ The series is sponsored by the Saint Mary’s College Annual Endowed Lecture Series Fund. The first panel discussion set for Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. is “The Reception of Laudato Si.’” The second panel is entitled “The Signs of the Times and Laudato Si,’” and will be held Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. Both panels will be held virtually. Contact Olivia Traxler at otraxler01@saintmarys.edu
Students will be informed of their selection on Friday by email and text message. They will then be required to make an appointment via SignUpGenius. Students who do not attend their appointments will be subject to a disciplinary process. These rapid antigen tests will be free of charge to students.
Voting Rights Act of 1965 ...[O] ther milestones are reminders that we’re actually still working to secure voting rights for all US citizens.” The campaign will also be hosting a voter registration drive on voter registration day. However, Bonnell reminds students that they can register any time before their state’s designated deadline. “Next Tuesday is Voter Registration Day, so there will be tables up for that,” he said. “But, you know, that’s one day and, as I say, we just need to keep people signing up to vote, whether it’s here in Indiana or at home through absentee
ballots. Because, you know, I won’t say time is running out, but time is short.” Go emphasized that everyone is impacted by the choices of lawmakers, so voting is a critical part of having a say in what elected officials decide. “Any individual who has complained about a pothole or is frustrated by snow removal in January has a stake in the election because allocation of resources are decided by elected bodies,” she said. “This is true in a city or town as much as it is true on the federal level. Participating in the electoral process via voting is one of the most consequential ways an individual can influence those decisions.”
Go also stated that voters should learn about important issues on all levels of government. “Once individuals familiarize themselves with the mechanics of voting, it’s important that they educate themselves on the issues — on a local, state, and national level,” Go said. “Some people can become myopic — only focusing on the federal election — but there are many important races being run at all levels. Knowing how to vote is the first step, but deciding who to vote for is where the rubber meets the road.” Bonnell acknowledged the importance of young people voting, as they make up the largest demographic in this year’s election. “If 18 to 24-year-olds
show up to vote, you will elect the president, the senators, members of Congress, members of the State House, governors,” Bonnell said. “You can outvote any and all other demographics at this point, including Baby Boomers.” Because of this, Bonnell stresses that college students get out to vote so they can influence politics for their generation. “Get as many people of your age to vote as possible,” he said. “Because you guys need to shape the world that you’re going to grow up in.”
get as many people in the community involved as possible. “We thought, ‘What is the essence of this event?’ We want to communicate the message of the importance of education, particularly for women,” Ambrose said. “That’s what we stand for as an institution.” Instead, the College has asked that if anyone wishes to make a donation, they make it to the COVID-19 emergency fund for students. “Tara Westover’s story about overcoming adversity felt like the perfect opportunity to encourage people who attend for free to consider offering a financial gift to the student emergency fund at Saint Mary’s,”
Ambrose said. Many students have expressed excitement about the event. “I had to read ‘Educated’ for a class and I absolutely loved it. It is an incredible memoir and I’m very excited to see the interview with Westover,” senior Brynne Volpe said. “It’s kind of crazy to hear how many people are viewing this lecture. I remember the biggest Christian Culture lecture was probably Margaret Atwood, but this is on a whole new level.” Junior Abigail Pinnow said she is excited to attend the student viewing party after reading Westover’s book with
her family. “I read the book with my whole family and we really enjoyed it,” she said. “I think it’s super cool how many people can attend the lecture this year. My high school teacher went to Saint Mary’s and she’s able to participate even though she lives twelve hours away. It lets people from all over enjoy Saint Mary’s and all the wonderful things we have to offer here.” Ambrose said she hopes that students will attend the watch party or view the event because it will be an opportunity that they will never forget. “When I think about my
time as an undergraduate, I don’t always remember my classes, but I do remember waiting in line to attend events when speakers came to campus,” she said. “They are world-class speakers and to be able to do that for free and with your fellow students on a beautiful evening and watch your institution celebrated is frankly, just a really positive collective experience that we need right now.” The link will be available online starting 5 p.m. EST Wednesday.
Contact Genevieve Coleman at gcoleman01@saintmarys.edu
Contact Julianna McKenna at jmckenna01@saintmarys.edu
6
The observer | Wednesday, september 16, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Looking beyond
Inside Column
Stay distanced at football games Mannion McGinley Sports Writer
To the group of 12 that sat in the row directly in front of me at the game and to others who made a similar decision: That was selfish. You and I both know you don’t live together, and we know you shouldn’t be taking your masks off to talk to each other, but sure, I get it, this whole pandemic thing is different, and it can take some getting used to. I mean, you can’t sit together at the games right now which sucks, touchdown pushups are seemingly impossible unless you do actual pushups and it feels wrong not to occupy the feet of empty space in front of your given seat in order to get closer to the action. However, get used to it. Most friend groups are larger than 10, which is more than we should be gathering with anyways. Real pushups are good for you, or just cheering to the fight song works; the band’s usually playing while we do the pushups anyway. And you know that those six or more feet are there for a reason, so you shouldn’t be breaking that rule inside or outside of the stadium except with your household. And even then, setting an example within a group is always a good option. We have been HERE for over a month now. This is not new. It may have been when you got here. I came from New York, so these regulations were nothing new to me. In states that felt they didn’t need this much precaution though, it wasn’t present, so you’re not used to it. We’ve had a month, though. It’s time to be used to it. Do you want to put the ushers and all the other event staff in danger? Is that the goal? The older men who have worked at this stadium since before we started going here and even those ushers who are new. The people who have spent their Saturday afternoons straightening us out, cleaning up after us and making sure we are safe and where we are supposed to be. How about the cameraman who tries, to the best of his ability, to make sure you get up on the big screen? Who holds the camera up while you lean towards him and cheer, who makes sure you’re heard? Did you think of your peers? The women’s double behind you, one of whom has asthma and the other with potential underlying genetic conditions. The men’s quad that you’re right behind, two of whom don’t even know their medical history. The people you walk by on your way to get water who could have no known conditions and could just react badly to this specific disease. Did they ever cross your mind? Or did you just not think of them? Were you so focused on your game day that you forgot to care about the game day that others wanted? You didn’t think about the thousands of other students that want to watch the game as safely as they can, without stressing the whole time that you will get them sick. If you didn’t think of them, start to try to. I know it is an active thought process, and the normal game day routine is quite narrowly oriented, but try. If you think you did and you just don’t care, start caring. And if that doesn’t work for you, look at it in the most selfish way possible. What if someone had done this to you? Had encroached on your space and made you feel unsafe? If we are not as safe in the stadium as we have been on campus, you lose your precious football season — our precious football season. You have to watch it in your room on TV, that is, if it continues. You can’t even wave to your friends across the stadium from your room. I don’t write this from a position of perfection. I have needed my own reminders and internal checks, but we all have to be better and hold each other accountable. So please, be considerate, stay safe and go Irish. You can contact Mannion at mmcginl3@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Ellie Konfrst Butterfly Effects
Other than a Girl Scout sleepaway camp, before I turned 18, I had never been camping before. Nevertheless, my freshman year of college was bookended by two camping trips that changed the way I saw myself and the way I saw the world. Two days before I moved into my freshman year dorm room (miss you, Ryan 135), I was on a bus headed toward the airport in Duluth, Minn., away from the Voyageur Outward Bound School in Ely, Minn. My participation in a week-long experience in the Boundary Waters was required as part of my scholarship, so I had taken a $400 trip to REI as I tried to emotionally prepare for a week completely out of my comfort zone. Anyone who has participated in Outward Bound can attest — that week was one of the most physically and emotionally draining of my life. Our days began at the crack of dawn. We spent each day either paddling or carrying a 75-pound canoe, and when we would finally reach our campsite, it took until sundown to set up camp and make dinner. Not to mention, we were living alongside people we had not met until getting on that bus with no connection to home or the outside world. While barreling down the highway toward the Duluth airport, I only remember feeling relief — I swore to myself that I’d never do anything like that again, if for no other reason than I couldn’t stand another week without a shower. So, when a few months later, my boyfriend suggested we spend a few weeks that summer camping in the national parks, my knee-jerk reaction was “absolutely not.” Eventually, he convinced me that we’d be roughing it way less than I did in the Boundary Waters — driving between campsites instead of paddling and cooking meals over a stove, not a fire. Nervously, I agreed, and we set off three days after I finished my last final of freshman year. We covered huge swaths of the country, driving from Iowa to Seattle, then down the Pacific Coast and back to the midwest through the Grand Canyon. We saw seven national parks, drove through 10 states and spent an insane amount on gas, but it was one of the most incredible trips I’d ever been on. Before then, I had never been further west than Colorado and seeing some of the most beautiful parts of the country felt like opening the door into a completely different world. I still had to go a few days without showering but was happy to have access to grocery stores this time. In hindsight, having these trips cap off either end of one of the most formative years of my life had a huge impact on my personal development and my outlook on the world. The purpose of Outward Bound is selfref lection, so it’s unsurprising that I learned a lot about myself. I had to put some space between myself and those canoes, but once I did, I realized how much I had surprised myself. Not only did I honestly think I was
incapable of the physical demands of such a trip, but I kind of just thought the wilderness wasn’t for me. I had always been someone who appreciated nature, but from afar — I liked camping in cabins, not under the stars. But during that trip, I didn’t feel like I was observing nature, I felt like I was a part of it. The last night we camped, there was a major meteor shower, so most of us slept outside our tent to watch it. I woke up covered in dew, looking up at the sun starting to shine through the trees. I look back on that moment and remember just how at peace I felt. Outward Bound taught me the value of not just going beyond your comfort zone, but pushing yourself beyond what you think you are. My entire life, I’ve limited myself based on who I think I am — I’ve put myself in a very specific box and felt like anything outside of it wasn’t for me. I’m still trying to unlearn that, but Outward Bound made me believe that I might be more than I had always understood myself to be. My trip out West after freshman year taught me less about myself and more about the world around me. As someone involved in politics, it’s really easy to get disillusioned about the world we live in. My time in the national parks did a lot to remind me of just how glorious nature can be, making me feel small, but in a comforting way. It’s impossible to look down into the Grand Canyon or watch the waterfalls at Yosemite and not feel a sense of awe for the world we’re a part of, even if it’s just a small part. It’s something really powerful to feel like you’re a part of nature, and it’s equally powerful to realize there’s something greater about it that you’ll never understand. It is equally deeply personal and unattainably grand, but either way, it’s a real shame to ignore it. I’ve thought about this as we look toward a future without masks and Daily Health Checks. This is not a column to implore you to believe in yourself or get outside more or even to travel. I just encourage you to try to expand your understanding of yourself and your world, in whatever way that may be. Nature helped me do that, but if you just really hate bugs and need to wash your hair daily, that might not be for you. The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the foundations of our society as we understand it, which is terrifying and tragic, but can also be an opportunity to start anew. Take it as a chance to grow your sense of self and the world around you — it will probably be uncomfortable for a while, but I promise you it’ll be worth it. Ellie Konfrst is a junior majoring in political science, with minors in the Hesburgh Program for Public Service and civil & human rights. Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, she’s excited that people will finally be forced to listen to all of her extremely good takes. She can be reached at egloverk@nd.edu or @elliekonfrst13 on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Submit a Letter to the Editor: viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com
The observer | Wednesday, september 16, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
7
Put your mental health on the front burner Sydni Brooks Everything is Fine
Earning my acceptance into Notre Dame prompted my belief that I was closing an old chapter in my life indefinitely and beginning a new one free of my previous insecurities regarding my mental health. I came to college thinking my mental health issues would magically get better or even disappear altogether. I was attending the school of my dreams, ready to begin the journey towards my career of a lifetime; nothing, not even my intrusive thoughts and selfdeprecating actions, was going to get in the way of my collegiate success. I understood I might not always be my best self every day, but I knew I must focus on taking advantage of this incredible opportunity; my anxiety and depression would fix itself along the way. And then I came to college. I subconsciously locked my concerns regarding my mental health in the back of my mind because there was an overabundance of tasks that needed my focus in order for me to succeed as a college student. School no longer came easily to me, and preparing for my career as a gynecologist was not the straight path I had planned for; instead, it is full of potholes and detours. I expected to meet the people I would spend my lifetime with, but making friends can be difficult and keeping good ones around is even harder. People my age were beginning to get engaged and start families, and I worried that if I didn’t pay attention, I’d miss out on my Notre Dame husband, and I wouldn’t have a family of my own. While these issues warranted my attention while we were on campus, The outbreak of COVID-19 only added to this stressful list. The national lockdown forced me to think about all of the work that I should have done but was struggling to accomplish, and I onerously watched the pandemic affect those
around me who were concerned about providing for their families with their sources of income made uncertain. I was terrified of getting one of my immunocompromised family members sick, and as the disease was hitting closer to home, so were my own apprehensions. Just as the pandemic added more reasons to restrain any focus to my mental health, so too did the media’s uproar of systemic racism and police brutality. The summer of 2020 was the first time I recognized that my successes, opportunities and earthly life are easily disposable because of my Blackness. Furthermore, my Black parents, sister, family members and friends are subject to this same fate for the same reason. This looming fate is an arduous weight to carry every day, especially in environments with those who refuse to try to understand the plight of the Black individual. These obstacles gained my utmost attention while my mental health sat rotting in my subconscious. And then it couldn’t sit anymore. While I thought I was dealing with all of the important issues in my life, I refused to grace my thoughts with the most important detail: myself. I didn’t notice how poorly my mental health had suffered until my physical self begged me to pay attention. I wasn’t eating, I was sleeping 12-14 hours a day to avoid all of the responsibilities I claimed I wasn’t capable of doing and my panic attacks became an every other day routine. The responsibilities and adversities of my college life did not replace the complications of my mental health, but instead added to the reasons for its deterioration. I thought I locked all my personal issues in a box and threw away the key, but my self-loathing thoughts and habits seeped through the cracks and fermented into problems I hadn’t prepared myself to deal with. News flash: You can’t just stop having mental health issues. You can choose how you deal with your mental
health, and some of us, including me, chose to do nothing at all. However, all of the success you have earned, goals you have set and happiness you have sought are unattainable if you aren’t present to utilize it. You are the most important part of your life, and you can’t attempt to tackle your secondary responsibilities without ensuring the health and safety of your primary responsibility, which is yourself. Your mental health doesn’t define you, but it is part of you, and it deserves just as much attention as any other aspect of your life. With September as National Suicide Prevention Month, I want to stress the importance of checking in with yourself and making your mental health a priority. As college students, we dump all of our pressing concerns and issues to the front of our checklist and forget to make note of our mental health. Sometimes our mental health check-ins are so far overdue that they may feel too strenuous to unpack, and though it isn’t the easiest place to be, it is more than enough to be present struggling than to not be present at all. It is okay to be unsure of how you feel, and it is okay to not feel like yourself. It is okay to find difficulty in the life you lead, and it is encouraged that you ask for help when you need it. It is okay to recognize that you aren’t okay, but you owe it to yourself to find and use the tools to be okay again. You deserve to be present in your own life — don’t lock your mental health away. Sydni Brooks is a junior at Notre Dame majoring in English with a supplemental major in Pre-health and a minor in Africana Studies. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, she has made Flaherty Hall her campus home. She aspires to be a gynecologist to serve women from all backgrounds in the medical field. Sydni can be reached at sbrooks2@nd.edu or @sydnimaree22 on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Appreciating classic, influential rap albums Justice Mory In the Interest of Justice
Over the last two decades, countless hip-hop/rap albums have been released for public consumption. Among these are albums that were received as being “decent” or “good.” This is not a bad thing, but some of these albums need to be seen as what they are: classics. These include, but are not limited to, Kanye West’s “808s and Heartbreak,” Kid Cudi’s “Man on the Moon: The End of Day,” and Joey Bad*$$’s “AllAmerikkkan Bad*$$.” They are classics to me, in the sense that they are unique, trendsetting and influential albums in some way or another, while also being musically great albums to listen to and enjoy. In late 2008, Kanye dropped his fourth studio album “808s and Heartbreak.” Many in the hip-hop community felt this project was a failure, as Kanye ambitiously stepped away from the sound that made him famous for something new. The album, heavy in emotions for anything in mainstream hip-hop, coupled these emotions with 808 drum patterns and autotune to create a sound that is prevalent now, but in 2008 was still years ahead of its time. Further, the dark, melody-driven songs that blurred the lines between singing and rapping were something not everyone was ready to embrace. However, despite critical reactions from the hip-hop industry, it is an important album not just in a commercial sense (it was successful numbers-wise) but in the fact that the sound permeated the future of the industry. This sound has directly influenced popular artists such as Drake, The Weeknd, Juice WRLD, Lil Uzi Vert, Tyler the Creator and Travis Scott, to name a few who now dominate mainstream hip-hop. “In the night, I hear ‘em talk / The coldest story
ever told / Somewhere far along this road / He lost his soul to a woman so heartless.” “808s and Heartbreak” contributor Kid Cudi’s debut studio album “Man on the Moon: The End of Day” was created in 2009, and its legacy has reached classic status over time. This album was a form relatable self-expression delivered by Cudi to his listeners in which he established his own sound, with the soundscape inspired by groups such as Electric Light Orchestra and Pink Floyd. His goal is to share his personal feelings and struggles in his music in ways that can resonate with his audience and their own lives, and on this album, he achieves that. This album was successful and not critically attacked, but over time, it has become clear that this is a classic album. It is incredibly unique in the way it draws inspiration outside of hip-hop to create a new sound, as well as the emotional honesty the album features as a whole. The intro and outro commentary of the album makes it clear what the album is about, and the story the album hopes to create. Kid Cudi has gone on to inspire many fans and other artists through his music as authentically as I have seen, and I think this album specifically will be remembered for decades to come, and deservedly so. “I try and think about myself as a sacrifice / Just to show the kids they ain’t the only ones who up at night / The moon will illuminate my room and soon I’m consumed by my doom.” Joey Bad*$$ released his album “All-Amerikkkan Bad*$$” in 2017. This album was a bold and commercially risky approach to a full studio album, as it was a strong and passionate political commentary on the systemic issues that affect African Americans in the U.S. Three years later, the issues discussed are as relevant as ever, and while confronting these
issues in an entire album was not the most popular choice at the time, this album is really powerful in the messages it gets across. It adds to the increasing public and mainstream awareness of racial injustice in the country, and is one of the more impressive displays of purpose-driven music as well as rap ability I have listened to. The lyrics are deep, but conveyed in a way that comes off as passionate, urgent and personal, highlighting issues in a way that listeners can grasp and think about. “The first step into change is to take notice / Realize the real games that they tried to show us / 300 plus years of them cold shoulders / Yet 300 million of us still got no focus / Sorry America, but I will not be your soldier / Obama just wasn’t enough, I need some more closure / And Donald Trump is not equipped to take this country over / Let’s face facts ‘cause we know what’s the real motives.” If anyone out there has not listened to these three albums, I would highly recommend doing so whenever you’re listening to music next. Not all music is for everyone, but I believe these albums to be extremely important to hip-hop and pop culture, as well as really solid projects to just listen to. They have become even better with age, and in time, will be revered universally by the hip-hop/rap community as classic albums. Justice Mory is majoring in Business Analytics and is part of the John W. Gallivan Program in Journalism, Ethics, and Democracy. He is from Southern California and now lives in Duncan Hall. His main goal is to keep learning and to continue to become more informed. He can be reached at jmory@nd.edu or @JmoryND on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
8
The observer | wednesday, september 16, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Don’t impose your religion on me Blake Ziegler News with Zig
Last week, fellow columnist Andrew Sveda provided a thorough rebuttal to my claim that religious belief should not influence lawmaking. I am thankful for his engagement but have a few responses that I hope will continue this lively discussion in an amicable manner. Sveda ends his column asking, “Are we christian Conservatives or conservative Christians?” Well, I am a Jewish conservative, so I suppose neither. Sveda’s inclusion of Christianity, while excluding other faiths (or lack thereof), demonstrates the core issue of allowing a single religion to direct our government. A theocratic nation imposes its faith onto others, oppressing its population. In this column, I aim to demonstrate that religion and lawmaking should not mix, deriving my reasoning on rational and theological grounds that such intermingling is counterproductive to both subjects. Before moving forward, I would like to clarify my original position. I wholeheartedly endorse the using of one’s religion in forming political beliefs. In fact, many of my personal beliefs are informed by my faith and experiences as a Jew. The issue, however, arises when one is able to impose those beliefs onto others. The power of an individual voter is vastly different from that of an elected official. An elected official can utilize his religion as the basis of policymaking and imposing those beliefs onto others that may not endorse such beliefs. That is the issue at hand: whether individuals who hold government positions should separate their religion from their duty to the public. With that said, let us move to the relationship between religious beliefs and lawmaking. Now, Sveda points out a possible contradiction in my position. He claims that the statement “We shouldn’t impose our morality on others” is itself the imposition of morality onto others. However, this is not my position. My argument is that we should not impose our religion onto others. That is not a contradiction because it is not imposing a religious belief onto others. Nevertheless, the center of this objection is the idea that religion and morality are interchangeable. It is difficult sometimes to separate religion from morality, but there are certainly situations where the distinction is clear. Making murder illegal because it violates the social contract
versus because G-d commands it is a good example. Both have the same result, but different modes of reasoning. We should prefer the method of the former, as rationality is accessible by all, whereas a particular religion is not. I can explain the intricacies of the rights one is entitled to and the nature of the social contract in a way that is accessible to everyone. But if I were to explain the wonders of G-d and His words, that is only accessible to individuals who already believe in G-d. Our government should be one that is accessible to all. I understand that a religion, especially Catholicism, will claim itself as the universal truth, but only those already in the faith will believe it is a universal truth! People have such strong faith that the only way to persuade others to subscribe to the beliefs of another religion is through conversion, which is often forced upon individuals. That is not the situation anyone desires, and we should have a government that focuses on reason, not faith, in the realm of policymaking. Morality is universal, religion is not. Though they can make similar arguments, I would rather be persuaded by reasoning and common values between my peers than coerced to support another’s god. Opponents might claim I am denying their god from them, but I respond that I will not let them impose their god on me. I stand by my G-d. Another fundamental issue of implementing religion in lawmaking is that it inherently claims that one knows G-d when it is impossible to fully comprehend His will. One might say that my position is irreverent to G-d, but I argue that it is respectful to His mighty nature and that no human can truly understand it. We can read religious texts, discuss interpretations, spend long hours in thought, but we will never comprehend the greatness that is the eternal G-d. How dare we then attempt to not only proclaim we know G-d’s will, but that it involves passing it into law and imposing it on others? History is wrought with examples of individuals misinterpreting G-d’s word and bringing about disaster. America should not continue that trend. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks once said, “Difference is where politics live; but it is where religion transcends.” To bring religion into politics, subjecting it to the mud-slinging and chaos that defines our political system, quite possibly is an affront to the purity and higher-ordered nature of faith. I fully believe in G-d and respect His will, but also
recognize I will never comprehend such complexity. The best one can do is work on achieving G-d’s will through his personal life, utilizing everyday opportunities to act faithfully instead of seeking to impose religion onto others. This is an especially intriguing subject that requires more thought, but I will leave it here for now. For those who might oppose my position, I leave some questions to ponder. If you are Christian and support using your faith in lawmaking, would your position change if America were majority Jewish or Muslim? Would that then justify passing laws because the Torah or Quran demand it? Another aspect we should consider is that if religion can influence politics, can politics influence religion? If we allow our local congressman to use his faith in his lawmaking, can we object to a priest inserting his political views into that week’s homily? Religion and politics must be separate for their own sake. Their mixing will only lead to the distortion and downfall of one another. This position is not a matter of putting country before G-d. Rather, it is a recognition that these two spheres of our lives are different issues. Practice your faith through your actions and interactions with others, not in the corruptible sphere of American politics.
KERRY SCHNEEMAN | The Observer
Blake Ziegler is a sophomore at Notre Dame from New Orleans, Louisiana, with double majors in political science and philosophy. He loves anything politics, especially things he doesn’t agree with. For inquiries, he can be reached at bziegler@nd.edu or @NewsWithZig on Twitter if you want to see more of his opinions. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Abolish private prisons To Whom It May Concern: We write in support of Notre Dame student and faculty advocacy to end Notre Dame’s investment in private for-profit prisons and to respond to the letter from Brian Evans (’90) of The GEO Group that was published in The Observer on Sept. 9. It is time to end what corrections law expert Ira Robbins calls our approximately 40-year “lamentable experiment with private prisons.” They constitute the latest government-sanctioned incarnation of slavery, introduce perverse profit incentives into our justice system and strip dignity from prisoners by treating them as revenue-generating assets — all the while failing to deliver their promised cost savings. At Abolish Private Prisons, we believe that incarceration is the responsibility of government alone, and that generating profit from mass incarceration for corporate owners violates the U.S. Constitution. On June 15, we filed our first lawsuit on behalf of individuals in private prisons and the Arizona State Conference of the NAACP to challenge the constitutionality of prison privatization. We add our voices to the chorus of students and faculty at Notre Dame and across the country who are calling for divestment and an end to the practice of locking people up for profit. Private prisons only exist because government officials authorize them. Like other institutional business models such as hospitals and hotels, private prisons thrive when cells are full and more private prisons are built. Prison corporations support harsh sentencing laws, oppose criminal justice reforms (including legislation that would make prison corporations subject to public records law) and
spend millions of dollars on lobbyists and political candidates to support their industry. Prison corporations calculate profits for every “manday” each prisoner spends in a private prison cell. The longer each prisoner remains in a private prison, the more the government pays, so the corporation that exists to make profits has no incentive to see prisoners released. When private prison corporations increase the number of people they incarcerate, they also increase their stock values and executive compensation, converting incarcerated people into valuable inventory. SEC filings by prison corporations describe criminal justice reforms as threats to profitability. The status of the jailer matters. Prison corporations increase their profits by cutting operational costs that dramatically affect prison conditions which, in turn, affect individual liberties, including safety. There is also an effect on violence, incidents that impact length of time served, early release credits, discipline and eligibility for parole and clemency and the likelihood of successful reentry by prisoners to their communities. The bulk of studies (except those paid for by the industry itself) conclude that private prisons are less safe, cost as much or more than public prisons, increase the amount of time prisoners spend incarcerated and do not reduce recidivism. Likewise, government supervision and accountability is greatly diminished. For example, in 2016 U.S. Department of Justice report found that “in a majority of the categories we examined, contract prisons incurred more safety and security incidents per capita than comparable [Bureau of Prisons] institutions,” improperly housed new inmates in solitary confinement and were not being
sufficiently overseen by federal monitors. Several state agencies or auditors have concluded that cost savings are either non-existent or marginal at best, including Arizona, Hawaii (whose auditor general found it impossible to determine rates accurately) and Georgia. For these reasons and more, a number of faith-based and civic groups are calling for abolition of private prisons on moral and ethical grounds. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops question whether entities with a profit motive can effectively run prisons, and 43 Catholic Bishops of the South called for an end to for-profit prisons because they are not consistent with treating each and every person with dignity. Fundamentally we do not believe private prisons should exist at all. Recently we had the opportunity to participate in a podcast with Notre Dame’s’ Center For Social Concerns where we discussed the problems of tangling profit and justice in depth. We urge the Notre Dame community and the University itself to do all it can to oppose prison privatization, including by divesting from prison corporations. A passive or neutral position supports the industry. John R. Dacey class of 1973 Robert E. Craig Thomas A. Zlaket class of 1962 Sept. 13
The observer | wednesday, september 16, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
9
ELLIS RIOJAS | The Observer
10
The observer | wednesday, september 16, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
ELLIS RIOJAS | The Observer
Classifieds
ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, september 16, 2020 | The Observer
Crossword | Will Shortz
11
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Finish what you start. Put everything in its place before you market what you want to do. It’s time to build a solid foundation that will lead you into the future with substance. How you perceive your journey will have a lot to do with the success you achieve. Don’t be afraid to do things differently. Aim to stand out, not blend in. Your numbers are 3, 10, 14, 23, 30, 34, 46. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take a day to play. Do something that will boost your morale or help you bring about positive physical change. Start a new fitness routine or nutritional diet that will help you build strength and ward off illness. Avoid risks and practice moderation. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Aim to please, but not at your own expense. Offer kindness and compassion, not your cash. If the advice you offer comes from the heart, it will be well-received. Put greater emphasis on your achievements. Hard work will pay off. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Inconsistency is apparent. Ask questions, and be precise to avoid a misunderstanding. Emotions will flare if someone doesn’t give you an accurate description of a situation that involves you. Proceed with caution, and stick to the truth. CANCER (June 21-July 22): You’ll stumble across valuable information through conversations with friends, relatives or colleagues. Verify what you discover before you pass the information along or put it into practice. Be open to suggestions, not spending money. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Assess the situation and take action. You have to get things right the first time if you don’t want to face criticism or complaints. A change someone makes will leave you in an awkward position. Be prepared to proceed on your own. Romance is featured. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): As information unfolds, you will flip back and forth. When in doubt, you are best not to make a move. Listen, assess and regain your faith in what you feel is best for you before you change direction or commit to something uncertain. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Listen to your inner voice, and make your move. Let your emotions take over, and act out how you feel. Truth matters, and saying what’s on your mind will help you discover the best path to take. Don’t fold under pressure. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Protect your reputation, and make the necessary adjustments. Gauge what’s best for you and the ones you love. Think outside the box, and make adjustments that will protect your safety, well-being and the relationships that are important to you. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Keep moving forward. Refuse to let anyone come between you and your goal. Stay on top of new technology and any economic changes that might jeopardize your financial standing. Avoid impulsive moves. Romance is encouraged. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It’s time to make a move. Look over your finances, and you’ll find a way to improve your current situation. Let your gut feeling lead you in a direction that promises security and long-term success. Don’t get angry; get moving. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Sit tight, be an observer and strategize how best to move forward when the time is right. You can make personal improvements if you pool your resources with someone you love. Be willing to do the legwork, and success will follow. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Speak the truth, and clear the air. Focus on building strong unions with the people who are most likely to have your back. Someone from your past will offer emotional insight into a situation that’s confusing you. Birthday Baby: You are proactive, intense and emotional. You are opportunistic and resourceful.
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
Write Sports.
Email Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu
Work Area
Make checks payable to and mail to: The Observer P.O. Box 779 Notre Dame, IN 46556 Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday, The Observer is a vital source of
Enclosed is $130 for one academic year Enclosed is $75 for one semester
information on people and events in the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross Community. Join the more than 13,000 readers who have found The Observer an indispensable link to the two campuses. Please complete the accompanying form and mail it today to receive The Observer in your home.
Name Address City State Zip
12
Sports
The observer | wednesday, september 16, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
OBSERVER roundtable
Fantasy Football 2020: Start them or sit them Gavin Aitken, Justice Mory, Elizabeth Gasiorowski, Jamison Cook, Andrew McGuiness, Sam Ouhaj Sports Writers
The first week of the NFL has concluded and with that, the first week of Fantasy Football. We saw great performances in players such as Ezekiel Elliott and Cam Newton, and not-sogreat performances in players like Saquon Barkley and Michael Thomas. Granted, this is the first week of football and there are still fifteen games to go, so Owners, do not start trying to trade off your team because someone like Malcom Brown had a career game. We are in for a great set of matchups for Week 2 and we here at The Observer could not be more excited to tell you who to play and who not to play this week, as well as include a few sleepers that may still be available in your fantasy league!
Sam Ouhaj Must Play: Ezekiel Elliott The Cowboys Star running back was the only player on the team to find the endzone with both a rushing and receiving touchdown. Elliott looked sharp and poised right out of the gate and as both a fan and owner, I could not be more excited. Elliott posted 27.7 fantasy points against a decent Rams’ defense which brings me to his next matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The Atlanta Falcons going into Week 2 have the 29th ranked run defense despite Chris Carson, Seattle’s running back, being held to 21 yards rushing. Carson looked like a star on the receiving side of the ball with 2 receiving touchdowns and 45 yards. The last time Elliott faced up against the Falcons in 2018, Elliott rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown and had 79 receiving yards. Elliott is a better receiver and rusher then Carson so that can only lead to great things this Sunday against the Falcons. Must Sit: Zach Ertz Ertz was shut down by The Washington Football Team on Sunday posting three receptions for 18 yards and a touchdown. This equated to 10.8 points in Fantasy and many owners were left disappointed after he was projected to reach at least 15 plus points. The Eagles TE2, Dallas Goedert, was Wentz’s top choice with 8 receptions 101 yards, a touchdown, and 24.1 points. The Washington Football Team was all over Wentz on Sunday which is part of the reason for Ertz’s poor performance. However, it does not get any easier this Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams defense led by Aaron Donald found ease with getting pressure on Dak Prescott and blowing up plays due to the
offensive line having three new pieces. The Eagles are also in the same position after losing Lane Johnson, Brandon Brooks and Andre Dillard. The lack of these three starters led to Carson Wentz being sacked eight times, and I have a gut feeling we may see the same results against the Rams. Ertz is a player I would avoid until further notice, and someone I would target is Dallas Goedert. Goedert is owned in 27.1% of Fantasy leagues currently and if Ertz is on other duties such as blocking, Goedert becomes the clear number one target for Wentz. Players to pick up: Benny Snell Jr., RB, Steelers(Owned in 14.6% of leagues); Adrian Peterson, RB, Lions(Owned in 21.3% of leagues); Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles(Owned in 27.1% of leagues)
Andrew McGuinness Must Play: RB Ronald Jones II, RB, Buccaneers In a Bucs offense headlined by Brady, Gronk and Mike Evans, it’s easy to lose Jones II in the shuffle. There was some concern that new acquisition Leonard Fournette could take up a significant chunk of Jones’ work, but he factored into Tampa’s offense nicely last Sunday. Jones put up a solid 66 yards on the ground while also factoring into the passing game with two receptions for 16 yards. Yahoo gives his matchup against Carolina a perfect 5-star rating after they allowed three touchdowns to Oakland’s Josh Jacobs last week. Hopefully Jones puts up a 5-star performance if he’s starting for you on Sunday. Must Sit: Mark Ingram, RB, Ravens It’s not just because he had a disappointing Week 1 performance in Baltimore’s 38-point outburst against Cleveland — Ingram’s usage should be plenty cause for concern. Yes, he led the Ravens’ backs with 10 carries, but rookie back JK Dobbins took over around the goal-line, which is the money zone for running backs. Baltimore’s offensive coordinator Greg Roman previously said that he would be rotating backs on a weekly basis, and he seems to be following through on his plan. It’s probably best to bench Ingram until there’s more clarity and optimism on his role in the offense. Players to pick up: Sammy Watkins, WR, Chiefs (Owned in 50% of leagues)
Jamison Cook Must Play: Calvin Ridley, WR, Falcons Ridley had a monster game in Week 1, catching nine passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns. He matched fellow wideout Julio Jones with nine catches, but was the recipient of both of Matt Ryan’s two touchdown passes. Jones has historically lacked in
touchdown production, and while he draws the double teams throughout the majority of the season, Ridley will enjoy continued fantasy success. This week the Falcons face another high powered offense in the Dallas Cowboys and there is shootout potential this coming Sunday. The presence of Jones will continue to give Ridley favorable matchups, so make sure that Ridley is in your starting lineup this week and in the weeks to come because he has cemented himself as a top-tier fantasy receiver. Must Sit: Nick Chubb, RB, Browns Chubb posted an abysmal 5.6 fantasy points in PPR leagues for Week 1 in the Browns blowout loss to the Ravens. And while one might argue that Cleveland was playing from behind almost the entire game, there is not much optimism to be seen here. Chubb only got 10 carries and was even less involved in the receiving game, catching only one pass for six yards. His fumble in the late third quarter added insult to injury, and did little to distance him from Kareem Hunt as the undisputed starter in the Browns backfield. Speaking of Hunt, he had three more carries than Chubb and rushed for 72 yards on the day. Hunt also outpaced Chubb in the receiving game, catching four passes for nine yards. Heading into Week 1 Chubb was the undisputed starter, but it did not take long for Hunt to make this a close competition, so wait to start Chubb until he is the clear workhorse for Cleveland’s lackluster offense.
Elizabeth Gasiorowski Must Play: J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ravens. Listed as the 4th running back on the Ravens’ depth chart ahead of Week 1 and only projected to earn 3.82 points, rookie J.K. Dobbins out of Ohio St. had an unexpectedly large impact in the Ravens hefty win over the Browns. Rushing for 22 yards including two TDs for a total of 14.2 fantasy points, Dobbins was the only Ravens RB to find the end zone and was more successful in the red zone than veteran RB1 Mark Ingram, who only earned a measly 2.9 fantasy points. Dobbins has immense potential to put up high fantasy scores in the coming weeks if he continues to shine in the red zone for the dominant Ravens offense, so look to the Ravens and Dobbins to put on a show against the Texans defense this week. Must Sit: DeVante Parker, WR, Dolphins. In the Week 1 matchup
against New England, Dolphins WR DeVante Parker aggravated a hamstring early in the second half and has since sat out of Monday and Tuesday practices. Prior to his exit, Parker had a team-high 4 catches for 47 yards and only 8.7 fantasy points — relatively small numbers which won’t be helped by this recent injury. Currently listed as questionable for Week 2, it’s a safe bet to leave him out of fantasy rosters this week. Even if Parker can return this week for Miami, I wouldn’t expect him to gain too many fantasy points against the top-ranked Bills defense. With QB Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing for 3 interceptions against the Patriots, a team the Dolphins have had relative success against in recent years, the Dolphins offense just hasn’t clicked. Now, with Parker injured, the Dolphins will likely look to other WR targets such as Preston Williams or Isaiah Ford for at least this week, but don’t expect any big points from them this week. Player to pick up: Scott Miller, WR, Buccaneers (owned in 5% of leagues)
Gavin Aitken Must Play: Marquis Brown, WR, Baltimore Ravens Brown had a decent Week 1, picking up 101 yards on five receptions with no touchdowns. However, I think you can expect him to do even better come Week 2. The Texans are a fantasy owner’s dream to see on a player’s schedule, as they have the perfect combination of ridiculously terrible defense and offense respectable enough to keep them in any game. You could see it last week, where rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire torched the Texans to the tune of the tenth most RB fantasy points that week, and this week I think Brown will be the primary beneficiary. I predicted before the year started that Brown would breakout into the fantasy elite this year, and if there’s ever going to be a team to prove it against, it’s this one. Must Sit: Melvin Gordon III, RB, Denver Broncos Gordon III had a solid start against the Titans, rushing for 78 yards and picking up a touchdown along the way. That’s about the sort of performance you’d expect from a high end RB2, finishing 14th in points for week 1 RBs. However, that was against a mediocre Titans defense, and the Steelers are by no means mediocre on that side of the football. The Steelers held Saquon Barkley to six yards rushing in Week 1, and if you’re doing that
to the consensus number 1 running back in fantasy football, I’m not going to expect much from Gordon III. Pittsburgh will more than likely be happy to stack the box and let Drew Lock beat them through the air, and Gordon III has never been an elite pass catcher from the backfield. Start him if you’re really desperate, but I wouldn’t expect much from the former Charger this weekend. Player to Pick Up: Steven Sims, WR, Washington Football Team (owned in 2.5% of leagues)
Justice Mory Must Play: Michael Gallup, WR, Cowboys Gallup had a decent Week 1 performance, even without a big catch at the end of the game negated by an offensive passinterference call. He will benefit this week from a much better matchup against a weak Falcons secondary, rather than many of his routes being guarded by All-Pro Jalen Ramsey. While Cooper and Lamb are a threat to take targets away, there should be plenty of points to go around versus the Falcons. The Falcons gave up over 90 yards to two different wide receivers last week so the production is there if Gallup can get the targets. Must Sit: Leonard Fournette, RB, Buccaneers The Buccaneers roster simply has too many options for a 2nd string running back to get a meaningful amount of snaps or touches. Fournette at this point in the season has not carved out a meaningful role in his new team’s offense, and cannot be trusted in your week 2 starting lineups. He only got 5 carries last week and could only turn that into 5 yards while Ronald Jones had 17 carries for 66 yards. Eventually Fournette may contribute, but that likely is not in Week 2. Players to pick up: James Robinson, RB, Jaguars (owned in 28.1% of leagues), Nyheim Hines, RB, Colts (owned in 2.5% of leagues), Marquez ValdesScantling, WR, Packers (owned in 0.7% of leagues), Robby Anderson, WR, Panthers (owned in 12.4% of leagues), and Joshua Kelley, RB, Chargers (owned in 1.3% of leagues) Contact Gavin Aitken at gaitken@nd.edu, Justice Mory at jmory@nd.edu, Elizabeth Gasioroski at egasioro@nd.edu, Jamison Cook at jcook22@ nd.edu, Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu and Sam Ouhaj at souhaj@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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.
sports
ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, september 16, 2020 | The Observer
Sports Authority
Sports Authority
Good, Bad, Ugly John Kalemkerian Sports Writer
This weekend was a football fan’s dream. After a solid Fighting Irish victor y on Saturday, it seemed a near miracle that all 32 NFL teams were cleared to play in Week 1. The ChiefsTexans Thursday night game (Andy Reid fogg y face shield and all) was a good prelude to the full slate of games on Sunday, which made for one of the best sports days in recent memor y. Obviously it was just one week, but overreacting to the good, the bad and the ugly is one of the best parts of being a football fan.
The Good #LetRussCook: Trending on Twitter early last week, many Seahawks fans used this hashtag to express their support for Russell Wilson and their frustrations with coach Pete Carroll’s lack of willingness to, well, let Russ cook. Four touchdowns and 322 yards later, it’s evident that Seattle is willing to allow Wilson to take over games with his arm rather than stick to a methodical run-first approach on offense. In a tough NFC West, MV P-level quarterback play may be just what Seattle needs to win their first division title since 2016. The Washington Football Team: After triple-checking the standings I can confirm that the Washington Football Team is indeed in sole possession of first place in the NFC East. After much offthe-field press, none of it good, over the offseason, Washington recorded a stunning victor y over the heavily favored Eagles. W hat really stood out was their defense, which took advantage of a weak Philadelphia offensive line to rack up eight sacks and two interceptions. The design team in Washington also deser ves a mention; the new uniforms, especially the helmets, are among the sharpest in the league despite having no name or mascot.
The Bad Drue Tranquill’s Injur y. Barely five minutes had elapsed in the Chargers opening game before 2018 Notre Dame graduate and two-year Fighting Irish captain had to leave the field on a medical cart. He was
13
later diagnosed with a broken fibula, an aw ful blow to a tremendous player who had exploded onto the NFL scene last year as a rookie, collecting the second most tackles of any player on Los Angeles’s defense in 15 games, including three starts. Head coach Anthony Lynn later reported that Tranquill wasn’t yet ruled out for the season, and all Fighting Irish faithful are hoping that he has a speedy recover y.
The Ugly Brady’s Bucs Debut: The greatest quarterback ever will need to wait at least another week to get his first win in a Buccaneers uniform. Looking uncharacteristically sloppy at times, Brady stumbled through a disheartening loss to the Saints while throwing two interceptions, one of them a pick-six. Ever y year it seems that Brady is able to prove the doubters wrong, but Father Time will finally catch up to him this season. Expect more ugly performances from Brady and the Bucs offense. Mediocrity in the Meadowlands: It pains me to say this as a Giants fan but the Meadowlands haven’t hosted consistently winning football for the better part of a decade now. The Jets opened the season with a bad loss at their division rivals in Buffalo while the Giants lost on Monday night against the Steelers. To the dismay of Jets fans, quarterback Sam Darnold (who threw for 215 yards and one touchdown) had another bad interception after throwing the ball across his body into heavy traffic. Those types of plays have plagued him throughout his short career so far and the Jets desperately need him to show signs of progress this season. Meanwhile, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger actually out rushed star Giants running back Saquon Barkley (nine yards to six). Though the Giants’ passing offense had flashes of good play, they only put up 16 points and secondyear quarterback Daniel Jones had a couple of interceptions. All in all, it seems that both Meadowlands teams are destined for another year drafting in the top ten rather than playing deep into January. Contact John Kalemkerian at jkalemke @nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Packers control their fate Matt Smith Sports Writer
So much for turmoil within the Green Bay Packers’ organization. After an offseason filled with questions surrounding the front office’s decisionmaking and the chemistry between star quarterback Aaron Rodgers and head coach Matt LaFleur, the team came f lying out of the gates with a blistering 43-34 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. The Packers were ridiculed by executives and fans during the offseason for not selecting a wide receiver in a loaded draft class at the position, yet the offense’s skill position players thrived on Sunday afternoon. Davante Adams exploded with 14 receptions for 156 yards and two touchdowns, further cementing his status as one of the five best receivers in the NFL. Marquez ValdesScantling and Allen Lazard each hauled in touchdown receptions of their own, proving that the wide receiver corps the team has in place is plenty capable of supporting Rodgers and moving the ball downfield. Speaking of Rodgers, the Packers seemed like they were ready to move on from him during the offseason after they traded up into the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft to select quarterback Jordan Love out of Utah State. Rodgers appeared unhappy with the decision, hoping that the team would have used its selection on a wide receiver or tight end instead to go all-in on a Super Bowl run this season after losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game last year. Despite this disconnect with the front office, Rodgers showed that he isn’t ready to pass the torch onto Love just yet, putting on a vintage performance by going 32-of-44 for 364 yards and four touchdowns. Rodgers’ arm looked as strong as ever even at 36 years old, zipping the ball into tight windows and finding his receivers deep downfield with ease. His most impressive play of the afternoon had to be his touchdown pass to Adams late in the first half, using his legs to scramble away from the Vikings pass rush before throwing a bullet to the sideline for an incredible toe-tap grab. If Rodgers can continue to
be as accurate and as mobile against the rest of the league as he was against a top-15 Minnesota secondary, then defensive coordinators need to get ready for a lot of sleepless nights this year. Although much of the media’s focus has been on the Packers’ passing game, the backfield demonstrated that it is ready to shine and contribute to the offense’s success as well. Aaron Jones tied for the league lead with 19 total touchdowns last season, and he picked up right where he left off with 16 carries for 66 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. The team as a whole had 158 rushing yards, and it has room to improve even further given that rookie second-rounder AJ Dillon only had two carries for the game. With the Packers’ win against the Vikings, it looks as though they should have no trouble claiming backto-back NFC North division titles. The Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions duked it out in another divisional matchup on Sunday as the Bears came away with a comeback victory, but neither team appears to be a real threat given Chicago’s dysfunction on offense and the Lions’ inability to hold onto leads in the fourth quarter. However, even with a likely playoff appearance, the Packers will have a tough time getting back to the NFC Championship Game once again in a loaded conference. The Seattle Seahawks looked extremely dangerous over the weekend with a 38-25 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Quarterback Russell Wilson played exactly like a potential MVP candidate should with 322 yards and four touchdowns, and their trade for safety Jamal Adams already paid dividends as he led the defense in tackles to go along with a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints held their own against the new-look Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as the defense intercepted Tom Brady twice and recently-extended running back Alvin Kamara scored one rushing and one receiving touchdown. The Arizona Cardinals also could be dark horse contenders this year following their 24-20 victory over the reigning NFC champion 49ers. Newly acquired wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins had a career-high
14 catches for 151 yards, and his chemistry with quarterback Kyler Murray will only get better as the season progresses. And though the Dallas Cowboys lost on Sunday night, their roster is filled with stars at almost every position, and they will almost certainly be a factor in the playoff picture. With all of these teams having the potential to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, it will be difficult for Green Bay to separate itself from the rest of the pack. More explosive plays from the ageless Rodgers and the rest of the offense are necessary, but the Packers’ defense will also play a critical role in the team’s success. It looked up to the challenge on Sunday, as cornerback Jaire Alexander stepped up with a big safety of Cousins in the second quarter and outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith continued his Pro Bowllevel play with a sack. If the Packers can maintain their top-10 scoring defense from last season, then they will certainly be in the hunt for home-field advantage in the NFC. When Aaron Rodgers was drafted in the first round back in 2005, rumors swirled of potential discord within the locker room. Packers legend Brett Favre was ingrained as the starter, and he seemed quite surprised with the organization’s decision to select Rodgers. Reports of animosity between Favre and Rodgers were constant, and it appeared that the team had put itself in a troubling situation. Despite the reported conflict, Favre remained the starter in Green Bay for three more seasons before Rodgers proceeded to take over and develop into one of the best quarterbacks in the league. None of this means that Jordan Love will be as successful as Rodgers. Love still has a lot to prove after a turnover-filled final season at Utah State. Yet it does mean that sometimes supposed unrest within a team isn’t always as bad as it may seem. And after Sunday’s performance, Rodgers and the Packers showed that they are out to prove that they are the ones that will be controlling their narrative this season, not the media. Contact Matt Smith at msmith88@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
14
Sports
The observer | wednesday, september 16, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Kelly Continued from page 16
finally get to a game, I was really, really happy for our football team and our staff to come up with a victory.” He also briefly mentioned the team’s upcoming matchup with South Florida. “So now we get ready for South Florida,” Kelly said. “And obviously [head coach] Jeff Scott has got a great resume from his time, and the success that he’s had as a coach. And now he gets to run his program, and so he’s certainly going to have a group of young men that are excited about this opportunity to play us at Notre Dame. Some familiar faces I think, [offensive coordinator] Charlie Weis Jr. coming back to Notre Dame. He’s a young, bright star in this profession who’s done great things in a very short period of time as a coordinator.” Afterwards Kelly moved on to lingering questions about Saturday’s win, most of which pertained to the offense. He addressed the extension he received with the University to coach the team through 2024, news which was made known to the media during the season opener. “I’ve been very fortunate, you know, blessed that the University has given that trust in me to continue to lead
XC Continued from page 16
have 30 people in your race. That’s going to be the biggest difference that the athletes notice — smaller field sizes in competition,” Sparks said. Another big difference this year is that there w ill not be fans at meets. Sparks is confident, however, that his runners w ill respond to this change well. “I think the kids are selfdriven enough that the lack of people cheering for them might not be as big of a factor as it might be perceived,” Sparks said. “I know that they are just excited to race for the first time in eight months or so.” The women’s team heads into the year ranked third in the preseason ACC rankings. A lthough they lost their top runner from last year in Anna Rohrer, the Irish return a solid core of runners who w ill look to push the Irish towards an ACC title. That being said, the Irish w ill need to rely on their depth rather than a top runner. “The look of our team w ill be a lot different,” Sparks said. “The last few years, we have had a really low finisher at ever y meet from A nna Rohrer to Molly Seidel. This year w ill be the first year since I’ve been here that we’re gonna have a much more cohesive team approach to our success. We
this program,” he said. “I feel blessed to have that opportunity knowing the great history and tradition of Notre Dame football. To be entrusted with that, I take that quite seriously. And when we discussed this, I needed to have the energy, the enthusiasm and the want to continue to lead this program, and really feel like there was more to accomplish, which I do … the ultimate goal and our mission is to win a national championship.” Kelly then discussed sophomore running back Kyren Williams and the role he is stepping into within the running back room. “He has shown himself to have the ability, in terms of the numbers that he produced, that he adds a dimension to our offense that makes us a better offense,” Kelly said. “So we’re going to see him continue to play a large role … what he can do to our offense, I think, has separated himself a little bit, but all those guys are going to be integral and important to our success moving forward.” Williams had more than 200 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns against Duke after recording only 26 total yards on four rushes last season. Kelly did say though that other backs would get more of a chance to take the field going forward. “You also saw [senior] Jafar Armstrong, who can catch
it and play physical; [junior] Jahmir [Smith as well],” he said. “I know everybody saw the explosiveness of [freshman] Chris Tyree, and we didn’t see [junior] C’Bo Flemister, who arguably had as good a preseason as any of our backs, who is coming back from a collarbone injury. … So I still think it’s important that those other guys get touches, because they can help our offense. But what he can do to our offense, I think, has separated himself a little bit, but all those guys are going to be integral and important to our success moving forward.” Speaking of injuries, Kelly also addressed those suffered by sophomore safety Kyle Hamilton and graduate student and junior receivers Bennett Skowronek and Braden Lenzy. “He had a scan that came back clean, but we’ll keep him in a walking boot til Wednesday,” Kelly said of Hamilton. “And our team docs, orthopedic guys feel like he’s day-to-day. This is a matter of, now, pain management … You know Kyle, he wants to play on Saturday, so we’re not going to rule him out. We’re going to let him kind of dictate where we go and we’ll keep him in the rotation ... and see where we go from there. “I think Ben had probably the most consistent offseason, and now Ben’s going to be out probably this week with a hamstring, so it’s been kind of
an in-and-out situation and we just got to fight through that … Braden wasn’t healthy, he had a hamstring injury, and he should be almost to 100% on Tuesday. And if he is then then he can help us. You can’t take a guy like Braden Lenzy, who’s a speed guy, and have him not 100% healthy.” Because of the injuries to the receiver position, including a broken foot suffered before the season by junior wide receiver Kevin Austin, Kelly said the team will look to their youth. “We got to get a young guy ready,” he said. “Somebody’s got to step up now and accelerate their growth, and whether that [freshmen] Xavier [Watts] or Jordan [Johnson], somebody’s got to continue to grow.” Before that comment, Kelly addressed why Johnson, a fivestar recruit out of St. Louis, did not appear against Duke despite the aforementioned injuries. “Physically I think he’s coming along quite well,” he said. “He’s still finding himself as a student athlete here. There’s a lot on his plate. I think he’s getting better … This isn’t just about football; he’s got football talent. We gotta continue to work on his attention to detail and his focus, and we’re getting better there. I think as those traits continue to develop there’s good prospects down the road for Jordan.”
Another area where youth could produce production is at tight end with freshman Michael Mayer making a splash in his first game with three catches for 38 yards against Duke. “I think he’s got great potential,” Kelly said. “… Look, he’s still a freshman, there’s a learning curve there. But I think his athletic ability is pretty evident, and he showed that in the way he catches the ball — soft hands, puts the ball away, can run after the catch, can shake a tackle or two. It’s gonna be fun to watch his growth and development.” At the end of the press conference, Kelly was asked about how Tommy Rees, who was promoted to offensive coordinator after the conclusion of the 2019 season, performed in his first game as the official OC. “I thought it was good. He was poised,” Kelly said. “My comments to him were to be patient, hang in there with the run game, stick with it. Let’s not abandon [the] run game; we’re in a new running game relative to our scheme. Stick with it, give these guys an opportunity to really work through it and they did, and we looked so much better in the second half. He’s 1-0, baby. 1-0. can’t beat that.”
aren’t going to rely on our number one runner.” W hile the top runner on the team this year appears to be junior Maddy Denner, who was named to the 2020 Women’s A ll-ACC Academic Team last year, how the rest of the runners fall in place is yet to be determined. “The depth of our team is where we are going to find our success,” Sparks said. “I feel like we have eight athletes that could be any where from our second to fifth runner. We’ve got a lot of kids that are really taking the initiative to recognize that they are going to have to step up if we are going to be where we were prev iously.” Sparks is excited to see what his full team w ill look like this Saturday. “We’ve had the opportunit y for small groups to work together throughout the semester, but this w ill be the first time this semester that ever yone has started a race at the same time,” Sparks said. “It w ill be neat to see how the groups that we have separated together in separate pods mesh together as an indiv idual team.” Sparks stressed how important it is to him that his runners focus on controlling what what is w ithin their power to control on Saturday. Due to the pandemic, it is unclear who the Cardinals w ill have on the line. “More than ever, we need
to focus on what we can control and what we can do in the race. We want to get out aggressive,” Sparks said. “That is always one common theme that we have had in the program. We want to get out fast, but settle in during the middle. Find your teammates during that first 2-2.5 miles and then turn it on a little bit at the end.” On the men’s side, there are big expectations w ith the Irish returning their core group of runners from last year. The men are the preseason number one in the ACC and are arguably one of the top teams in the nation. Last year, the Irish placed second at the A CC Championships and eighth at the national meet. Head men’s coach Sean Carlson shared that the end goal for the men’s team is to w in the ACC Championship w ith the national meet up in the air. The NCAA is currently considering hav ing a cross countr y championship in the Winter or Spring but nothing is confirmed. Carlson emphasized the importance of grow ing in confidence throughout the year. “W hen you are really good, you should have the confidence to train w ithin yourself and prove yourself during ever y race and workout. We struggled a little bit w ith that last year,” Carlson said. “We want to show we are taking that
leap from a confidence and maturit y standpoint as a team.” Carlson also hopes that his team can progress this year despite not hav ing a national meet. The Irish are expected to return their entire roster for the 2021 season and by that point, Carlson hopes his team can compete for a national championship. As far as this weekend goes, Carlson fully expects his team to control the race against the Cardinals and to get back into the racing mentalit y. “We should go out there and control the race,” Carlson said. “The big
thing we are tr y ing to do more importantly than win, is not just racing to hurt, but to hurt for each other. There is a big difference bet ween racing for yourself and starting to race for your teammates again. I think you get a much better product when you start racing for other people.” Saturday’s meet w ill start at 9 a.m. at Burke Golf Course. No fans w ill be permitted to watch, however, per the Universit y of Notre Dame’s COVID-19 guidelines.
Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu
Contact Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu
GRACE AUBRY | The Observer
Irish senior MaryClare Leonard runs out during Notre Dame’s eighthplace finish at the Joe Piane Invitational at home on Oct. 4 2019.
Paid Advertisement
15
Institute for Latino Studies Fall 2020
Hispanic Heritage Month Online Due to Covid-19, all events are online and may require registration to obtain a zoom link. Visit latinostudies.nd.edu to register.
Latinx Voters and the 2020 Election
Latinx Presence and Power: The 2020 Census and Overcoming the Politics of Erasure
September 16, 2020 • 4:00 PM
September 21, 2020 • 4:00 PM
The ILS Hispanic Heritage Month series kicks-off with a conversation with ILS Director Luis R. Fraga and Associate Professor of Political Science Ricardo Ramirez. There’s no question the Latino vote will be crucial in this year’s presidential election. But to understand the impact of Latinos in 2020, it’s helpful to step back four years, to the victory of a president who has made anti-Latino and anti-immigrant sentiment a staple of his presidency.
Michael N. Okinczyc-Cruz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Spiritual & Public Leadership (CSPL), and Kassandra Perez, ND senior in Mathematics with a supplementary major in Latino Studies, will discuss the 2020 U.S. Census. This talk will explore why the census is so vital, what barriers Latinx communities have had to overcome and what can be done during the last week to encourage an accurate count prior to the September 30th deadline.
Book Launch by Suzi F. Garcia
The El Paso Massacre: One Year Later
September 22, 2020 • 8:00 PM Letras Latinas and Podquester Mini present the chapbook launch of A Homegrown Fairytale by ND-MFA alumna Suzi F. Garcia with readings by fellow poets.
Latinx Murals of Pilsen: Digital Tools for Research, Teaching, and Discovery October 5, 2020 • 4:00 PM Associate Professor of American Studies Jason Ruiz discusses his collaboration to create a digital toolkit about the murals that adorn the walls of Chicago’s Pilsen Neighborhood.
Art and Social Change: Race, Gender, and Migration on Puerto Rico's DIVEDCO September 23, 2020 • 4:00 PM
September 28, 2020 • 4:00 PM
Latino Studies Supplementary Major/Minor Fall Networking Event September 30, 2020 • 7:00 PM
Professors of Romance Languages and Literatures Marisel Moreno and Thomas F. Anderson will discuss the online bilingual exhibit that they co-curated.
Marisa Y. Limón Garza, ND '99, Deputy Director of the Hope Border Institute in El Paso will discuss the deadliest antiLatino mass shooting in recent U.S. history.
Join Director of Undergraduate Studies, Karen Richman, and ILS students to discuss the programs' requirements and opportunities.
Dreamers on the Borderline: The Art of Sandra Fernandez
Broken Mirrors: Latinx, La Migra, and the Conflict of Being Both
Reading from Subduction by Kristen Millares Young
October 7, 2020 • 4:00 PM
October 12, 2020 • 4:00 PM
October 14, 2020 • 7:00 PM
Assistant Professor of Art History Tatiana Reinoza examines the prints of EcuadorianAmerican artist Sandra Fernández. How her work appeals for immigrant rights, critiques current immigration policy and the racial knowledge it produces on undocumented subjects.
Assistant Professor of Political Science David Cortez will address how Latinx immigration agents internalize and deal with tensions engendered by their overlapping identities; how they negotiate the space between "who they are" and "what they do."
Letras Latinas, along with the Creative Writing program and AdelanteND, welcome author Kristen Millares Young to read from her debut novel Subduction.
16
The observer | wednesday, september 16, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Football
Cross Country
Kelly talks contract Cross country set for opening meet extension, position groups By Nate Moller Sports Writer
The Notre Dame men’s and women’s cross countr y teams are scheduled to start their 2020 season Saturday in the Irish Classic against the Louisv ille Cardinals. A lthough the season w ill look ver y different than other years, both teams w ill still have a chance to prove themselves at the end of the year at the ACC Championships. Women’s head coach Matt Sparks discussed what training and practice has looked like during the COV ID-19 pandemic. The team has created “pods” of runners based on fitness level that train together on a regular basis. “It’s been surprisingly regular. Training has been ver y similar,” Sparks said. “We found the new normal of working out in that we run in groups of three to four people at a time where we can socially distance and take
our masks off.” Sparks also said the team has been training on the Burke Golf Course on a more consistent basis in order to separate from the rest of the campus communit y around the lakes. Despite the strangeness of hav ing a cross countr y season in the middle of the pandemic, Sparks said nothing seems too out of the ordinar y for the runners. “If you talk to them, they feel ver y normal,” Sparks said. “The sport doesn’t feel a whole lot different.” One main difference this year w ill be the size of the meets. W hereas the Irish would usually be participating in a 40-team race this weekend, they w ill only have one opponent and maybe some unattached runners this Saturday. “Instead of 200 people in your race, you are going to see XC PAGE 14
By Hayden Adams Spor ts Editor
HAYDEN ADAMS | The Observer
Irish freshman tight end Michael Mayer hauls in a catch during Notre Dame’s 27-13 victory over Duke on Saturday at home.
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly held a press conference Monday to further address his squad’s seasonopening win over the Duke on Saturday. He opened by praising Duke and their game plan. “[Head] coach [David] Cutcliffe had his team ready to play and it was apparent that they spent a great deal of time giving us a number of different looks,” Kelly said. “And it was very effective. I thought we did some really good things in the second half controlling the line of scrimmage offensively and defensively, and got our control of the game late in the third and into the fourth quarter. So great to get a win. Obviously, everything that has gone on in this past year, finishing 2019 on a strong note and then not knowing what 2020 had in store for us, but to see KELLY PAGE 14
WoMEN’s Soccer
Irish scheduled to kick off year in Tallahassee
OBSERVER FILE PHOTO
Irish junior defender Jade Gosar dribbles the ball during Notre Dame’s 0-0 tie to the Mexican U-20 National Team on April 11, 2019. By GAVIN AITKEN Sports Writer
After a return to form in 2019 saw the Notre Dame women’s soccer team reach its 26th NCAA tournament, head coach Nate Norman felt like
the program was ready to take the next step towards seriously competing for trophies once again. Even though he could have never predicted where both his team and the sports world at large would be almost ten months later, the goal still
remains the same. “We want to be a team that’s right there at the end, trying to win an ACC tournament,” Norman said. COVID-19 affected the Irish’s offseason in an unprecedented way. Rather than being able to spend the offseason drilling the new and old players together into a well-oiled machine, Norman had to rely on alternate ways of training that satisfied the social distancing aspect of their return. Even more difficult were the months the team could not be together in any form, which led to Norman sending his players training videos and information specific to each player. Even with that, certain players were unable to train outside in any fashion due to the massive outbreak of COVID-19 in their area. Despite all these troubles, Norman was encouraged by how prepared his team was coming back to campus. And now as the Irish travel to Tallahassee for their first game of the 2020 season against Florida State, Riley remains confident. “Collectively, I’ve been happy with where we’re at,”
Norman said. “Even though people have come back in different places, I was pleasantly surprised that they were as fit as they were from an overall standpoint.” It wasn’t only the team’s onfield efforts that were affected by the new social distancing regulations. Activities that helped improve the team’s chemistry off the field, including things like eating dinner together at the dining hall, have been taken away as options. Therefore, Norman has relied more heavily on the leaders of the team to help foster a unity among the squad, especially for the freshmen who have not been in the program for an extended period of time. “I think the ability for your seniors or captains to keep the kids focused while trying to create unity … they have to motivate the younger players to improve their game, improve their individual aspects,” said Norman. Notre Dame has brought back several of the key players in last year’s squad, including the top four goal scorers in seniors Sammi Fisher and Eva Hurm, junior Luisa Delgado
and sophomore Kiki Van Zanten. Furthermore, Norman signaled out junior Olivia Wingate, sophomore Waniya Hudson, as well as Fisher and Hurm as players who came back much improved from the previous season. With the increased focus on social justice issues stemming from the death of George Floyd in May, Norman has broadened his team’s view of the world through educational opportunities such as webinars. He also brought in two POC alumni of the women’s soccer program so they could share their experiences and perspective with the team as a whole. “They’re very interested in things that we can do as the women’s soccer team at Notre Dame, as individuals to help out in our community and in our program,” Norman said. “Our conversation is built around those kinds of things.” The Irish will kick off their season in Tallahassee at the Seminole Soccer Complex at 8 p.m. Thursday. The game will be broadcast live on the ACC Network. Contact Gavin Aitken at gaitken@nd.edu