You should care about the Student Life Council

Last week, the s tudent Life c ouncil ( s L c ) reconvened after a 50-year hiatus.

In its current form, each s L c meeting has a predetermined theme that is timely. For the first time in five decades, any student could raise their hand and ask the vice president for student affairs Fr. Gerard o linger, vice president and associate provost for undergraduate education Fr. Dan Groody and student body president Patrick Lee — alongside that week’s guest speaker — anything.

Although the majority of the event is reserved for discussion on the topic assigned for the meeting, 10 minutes are allotted for any questions about the University or student life. Those are 10 minutes n otre Dame students didn’t have before.

As the tri-campus independent student newspaper, The o bserver acknowledges the s L c as a step toward transparency, but it will only live up to its ideals if both students and administrators invest in the meeting. In order for the s L c to be productive and effective, both parties have to hold up their end of the deal.

s tudents: Let’s not waste this opportunity to voice our questions or concerns.

Administrators: m ake this effort worth our while by answering our questions in a substantial way.

Last week, that theme was faith and formation, and most of the questions asked that evening reflected a conservative, c atholic perspective. Although many students at the University hold this perspective — and given the topic, this representation imbalance was expected — the absence of questions from even one student of a different faith or with different perspectives on c atholicism was notable. This is something the student body and administrators should reflect on. While this was only the first meeting, it serves as a reminder that the s L c will be most effective when students with a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives show up to voice their thoughts.

The next time n otre Dame student government announces an s L c meeting, seize the opportunity to speak directly to the three permanent members: Fr. Groody, Fr. o linger and Patrick Lee. Don’t let one side dominate the conversation.

Though the transparency and open communication once realized by Hesburgh-era s L c meetings might seem far off, s aint m ary’s has already shown how these meetings can still be effective.

This past fall, c ollege President Katie c onboy and student body president Angela m artinez c amacho hosted an open forum for students to discuss issues of sexual violence after several tri-campus students shared social media posts alleging cases of sexual assault. Any student was invited to ask questions or share concerns about s aint m ary’s plans for assault prevention and survivor support.

“This is a place where you should feel that when something isn’t working for you, you can bring it forward to your administration and we will be responsive to that,” c onboy said at the forum. This instance of responsiveness to student needs by the c ollege is commendable and can serve as a model for open, on-campus dialogue between students and administrators. n otre Dame campus leaders should take a page from c onboy’s playbook in responding to student concerns. n otably, the University has not widely advertised or announced the s L c o nly student government messages and social media have been used to promote the meetings. We hope clear communication and transparency are one of n otre Dame’s own goals, and we encourage the University to be more willing to advertise the s L c . We ask them to answer questions more decisively instead of deferring to the “we can talk after the meeting” response heard frequently at the first s L c held in this capacity. b oth students and administrators must make an effort to ensure the s L c does its job. It’s easy to write off the s L c as just another performative piece of student government programming, but that’s what it will become if we don’t show up. s tudent body president Patrick Lee himself acknowledged this risk in an interview with the Irish r over. The next few s L c meetings will be pivotal in determining whether it sticks around and actually acts as the “instrument of hope” The o bserver once called it.

A brief listen to dining hall discussions and dorm room conversations reveal that students have plenty of questions for administrators. What does it say if we don’t follow through when the University opens up that opportunity?

By AMANDA DEMPSON scene Writer

“outer banks” (obX) season three has taken netflix by storm, garnering over 100 million viewers within its first couple days of release. As a fan myself, I anticipated watching the Pogues and Kooks take the screen again with the ambiance of summer that so many of us are excitedly awaiting. While I wasn’t let down by the action and adventure, there’s something about this season that separates it from the rest, and I can’t decide if I want more or less of it. The show follows a group of friends, the Pogues, who embark on a journey to find the treasure of el dorado, diving deep into its rich and dangerous history all whilst clinging to their rebellious and zestful teenage spirit. This season John b., J.J., Pope, Kiara, sarah and the most recent addition to the group, cleo, find themselves breaking and entering while in barbados, dodging bullets during dangerous shootouts, stealing from moving trains and perhaps the scariest of it all, dealing with complicated feelings of love. It’s difficult to summarize the many moving parts, and although it’s refreshing to watch the plot expand from the small Kildare Island we know and love, it’s hard not to feel that it’s moving further from what fans were initially drawn to.

When “outer banks” first came out, I burned through the episodes. With its sun-kissed color grading, witty characters and beachy setting, it possessed all the qualities of a riveting teenage drama. I’m a sucker for the found-family trope and the bond that we witness with the Pogues, and their rivalry with the Kooks — who live on the richer side of the island — sets up the perfect landscape for heartbreak, betrayal and romance. The characters, for me, are what made it so good. however, the Pogues aren’t in obX for part of season three, and even when they return, much of their attention is focused on the treasure. While the treasure has always been a part of the plot, there were a lot of new characters such as carlos singh, this season’s main villain, who felt unnecessary when there are plenty of compelling antagonists already. While he is a large reason why the Pogues are sent on these crazy rescue missions and high-speed chases, it would’ve felt more impactful if characters from the previous seasons were fleshed out more as opposed to being replaced. Although big John, John b’s father, was alluded to in the previous seasons, he played a major role in the plot. I, along with a lot of fans, found him difficult to like. his importance to the story is there, but his character fell flat. All these additions seemed to take up space that I think most of us would’ve rather seen used on evolving the characters that make the show what it is.

This season wasn’t without its faults, but I did enjoy it. The writers handed us the relationships we pleaded for, gave us a relatively satisfying end and above all else, brought another season back to our screens and recently got renewed for another. In episode seven, Kiara says “we’re all a little messed up.” I think she sums up much of the craze surrounding the continuation of the Pogues’ story. Whether we like it or not, a successful show must expand its horizons, and “outer banks” has done exactly that. The characters are growing, the plot is thickening and priorities are different than they were. Who wouldn’t expect things to change after a little gold is involved?

Contact Amanda Dempson at adempson@nd.edu

“Outer Banks”

Starring: Madelyn Cline, Chase Stokes, Rudy Pankow, Madison Bailey, Jonathan Daviss, Carlacia Grant

Favorite episode: “Welcome to Kitty Hawk”

If you like: Treasure hunts and love triangle

By AYDEN KOWALSKI scene Writer

Pokemon day is advertised as a celebration of the world’s highest-grossing media franchise, a universe that is, at its heart, the illustration of a simple childhood dream. The appeal of befriending magical, and in some cases, divine animals and competing against the animals of others is rather fundamental. There’s a magic to the series that still endures, but if one watches the Pokemon Presents showcase of upcoming releases that debuted for Pokemon day, there won’t be much magic to see. The presentation rarely excites, devoting far too much time to uninteresting side projects in the franchise. but its promises for the mainline games are genuinely exciting.

most of the presentation is devoted to dull detours from the main games, such as mobile games, a Wcontroversial mobA and, somehow, the logo for an upcoming Pokemon tournament. (regrettably, that final element is not a joke.) At the center of the show is “Pokemon sleep,” a sleep-tracking app that, depending on how the user sleeps, connects the user with virtual Pokemon. And that is it. Given that this is a presentation intended for all fans of the franchise, putting an ultimately banal product at its core, is a bad choice for the show. The other mobile games are more interesting by default, but nonetheless, these are probably not the products for which thousands of people who willingly seek this show out on YouTube care. (The voice work promoting the battling game “Pokemon masters eX” deserves mention for being entirely ineffective, completely clashing with the cartoon characters from the game.)

The most interesting element of the presentation is the announcement that Pokemon and netflix are partnering for animated series based on “fan-favorite [Pokemon] stories and manga.” Unfortunately, the first project seems to be a fluff piece: entitled “Pokemon concierge,” it is about, well, a concierge at a hotel that Pokemon visit. This partnership is an obvious opportunity to finally develop a more thematically mature Pokemon product for older fans, especially given the popularity of franchise dramas streaming now. This is not to advocate for a needlessly grim thriller or even a pure drama, but the world of Pokemon, with its cast of moody gods and misanthropic supervillains, easily lends itself to a more emotionally intense story. even the all-ages stories of the “Pokemon mystery dungeon” side games would work as a starting point for a show. (A new Pokemon mystery dungeon game would be an interesting side project and was rumored to debut in this presentation.)

There is the inevitable announcement of “Pokemon scarlet” and “violet” downloadable content, and it looks pretty good. The dLc for “Pokemon sword” and “shield” vastly improved upon the original games with two new side quests in large new areas, featuring genuinely inspired writing. The “scarlet” and “violet” expansion has a similar premise, with two new adventure areas far away from the main area of the game. Given that the base game is markedly better this time, this expansion could easily be the best mainline Pokemon experience on the nintendo switch. Additionally, the presentation announces a limited-time event for new Pokemon in the base games available right after the show, and this is an amazing concept. The possibilities for patching new Pokemon into games at a moment’s notice are endless, especially if more nuanced adventures for rare Pokemon are developed in the future. “scarlet” and “violet” were upswings for the franchise, and they continue to provide a basis for successful “Pokemon” games.

“Pokemon” has practically unlimited potential to inspire wonder, and the few highlights of the presentation elicit that wonder. but risk is a requirement for truly wondrous works, and this is a franchise fundamentally afraid of innovation. After all, if one can print money without innovating, why change? The universe in this series can give adults a spark of childhood and expand the dreams of younger players, but that is only if its human authors are willing to give the work and take the chance necessary to make something special. This author did not expect a masterpiece to be unveiled at this presentation, but Pokemon day was a stark reminder of how far off that mythical adventure that can so easily exist still lies.

Contact happy Birthday: keep your life simple, your words truthful and your pursuits doable, and you will discover the path to victory. life is about doing what’s right and best for you. your happiness is attached to your actions and words, not what others do or say. Trust in yourself, your ideals and your dreams. Don’t stop until you achieve the happiness you deserve. your numbers are 6, 13, 24, 29, 36, 38, 44. gEMINI (May 21-June 20): Ignore what others are doing, or you will lose sight of what you want to achieve. helping others is admirable, but before you proceed, ensure your efforts are appreciated and appropriately handled. Someone will disrupt your plans if you are too trusting. lEO (July 23-Aug. 22): you are not alone. Join programs, groups or pursuits with like-minded people, and jump-start something you find fulfilling. Someone you encounter along the way will help you recognize what you have to offer and how to hone your skills. vIrgO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Choose to make a positive change if you are astute and participate in what’s happening around you. Don’t let what others do disrupt your plans. Implement what you want to happen and let others fend for themselves. Put your needs first. lIBrA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Take advantage of whatever comes your way. Be ready to swivel when necessary and change course midstream. hesitation is the enemy, and trusting your instincts, skills and experience will take you to the winner’s circle. Procrastination leads nowhere.

ArIES (March 21-April 19): Stop talking and start doing. you’ll have to act fast if you want to make up for taking on too much. Preparation will require innovation and originality that match the challenges you encounter. Travel and romance will lead to new beginnings.

TAuruS (April 20-May 20): Don’t fall short of your goal because you haven’t prepared properly. look over your options, call in trusted allies and choose to make your home a place everyone feels comfortable sharing and comparing notes. A group effort will pave the way to victory.

CANCEr (June 21-July 22): Stop overdoing; incorporate balance into your life. Too much of anything will cost you one way or another. Think about what you want and act accordingly, and you will reach your goal. face interference head-on and don’t back down.

SCOrPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Be a good listener and a resourceful contributor. Taking a unique approach won’t please everyone, but if it serves you well, it’s the best route. Avoid joint ventures, shared expenses and lofty investments. Choose travel or creative pursuits that promote change.

SAgITTArIuS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sit tight and see where the dust settles. A friend or peer will lead you astray if given a chance. focus on home and family and what you can do to make your life easier. A romantic gesture will encourage a lifestyle change.

CAPrICOrN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Avoid situations that are compromising. Taking on more than you can handle or letting someone take advantage of you will cost you emotionally. look at your domestic budget and make plans to enact changes that encourage your success and emotional well-being.

AQuArIuS (Jan. 20-feb. 18): Think outside the box, and you’ll find a way to outmaneuver someone trying to manipulate you. Don’t make a move or change for the wrong reason. Choose your path based on your goal, not someone else’s. Don’t overspend to make an impression.

PISCES (feb. 19-March 20): Be original in your approach to life, love and happiness. you can reach your goals if you aren’t afraid to take the road less traveled. Trust your instincts, change what you don’t like and head in a direction that puts a smile on your face.

Birthday Baby: you are gifted, trendy and ambitious. you are persuasive and mysterious.