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Volume 56, Issue 37 | Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
Notre Dame observes Walk the Walk Week Students reflect on belonging and identity during “Building the Beloved Community” discussion panel By CAROLINE COLLINS News Writer
This year is the seventh annual campus-w ide Walk the Walk Week, a series of events centered around Martin Luther King Jr. Day designed to form a more welcoming communit y at Notre Dame. Monday was the first full obser vance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Notre Dame’s histor y. One of the key note Walk the Walk Week events was a student-focused panel discussion held Tuesday night in Washington Hall. Universit y President Fr. John Jenkins began the
programming by introducing the focus of the panel and the responsibilit y of each member of the Universit y communit y. “Our purpose this evening is to hear what people have to say about how we can build a beloved communit y at Notre Dame,” he said. “The Notre Dame we seek to be is not the work of some of us, but all of us.” The discussion was moderated by Professor Dianne Pinderhughes. She began the panel by reading from one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches to set the tone and intention for the panel.
Junior Parents Weekend returns By ISABELLA VOLMERT
Assisstant Managing Editor
Notre Dame’s unique Junior Parents Weekend (JPW ) is a decades-long tradition that consists of bringing the families of juniors to campus to recognize the students’ accomplishments during their college careers. After last year’s entirely v irtual event, the 2022 weekend is currently on schedule to be held in-person for the class of 2023 — who were first-years when the pandemic began and in-person classes were suspended. However, JPW 2022 has gone through changes in the past several weeks to adjust to the new danger presented by the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The current inperson schedule features reduced events and a vaccination requirement for guests. “We are thankful that parents are still able to join us this year on campus even given some of the restrictions,” co-chair of the JPW committee MyKayla Gear y said. “We want ever yone to
NEWS PAGE 3
have a safe and enjoyable JPW experience.” The current schedule for JPW spans Friday, Feb. 18 through Sunday, Feb. 20. The signature events scheduled to occur are academic workshops — times where parents meet w ith professors and leaders of the Universit y’s various colleges — on Saturday, the president’s reception from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday and a 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday. In years past, the Friday of JPW featured a gala, a president’s dinner on Saturday and a class brunch on Sunday. JPW co-chair Brent DiBiase said that right before finals week in the fall of 2021, the Universit y made the decision to reduce large gatherings during JPW due to the evolv ing threat of COVID. As a result, the gala and brunch were removed from the schedule. Additionally, the president’s dinner has become a light reception. “As of now there’s nothing on Friday night because of see PARENTS PAGE 5
VIEWPOINT PAGE 6
“We must conquer the hate of the old age and the love of the new age and go into the new age w ith a love that is understanding for all men,” Pinderhughes said, quoting King. After Pinderhughes introduced the panel she posed questions for the panelists to respond to and discuss. The panelists included junior Yvette Pino, senior À lvaro Carrillo, law student Stephanie Wong, senior Ifey inwa Nwebube, junior Connor Patrick and junior Gabe McKenna. The students presented see KEYNOTE PAGE 5
CAROLINE COLLINS | The Observer
The keynote event for this year’s Walk the Walk Week took place Tuesday evening and featured a student-focused discussion on inclusivity.
Crypto excites tri-campus Associate News Editor
surrounding valuation.
Editor’s Note: This is the first of a three-part series exploring the world of cryptocurrencies and crypto assets on the tri-campus. The next part of this series will cover Blockchain, the technology powering the crypto asset space, and questions
Inside one Duncan Hall dorm room, a Notre Dame sophomore builds a do-ityourself cr y ptocurrency mining rig. W hile he’s at class or sleeping in his lofted bed, the machiner y is humming away to solve difficult computations and
By MAGGIE EASTLAND
crypto
asset
earn cr y ptocurrency rewards on the Ethereum net work. Mitchell Brow n, along w ith many other Universit y students, has taken his interest in cr y pto assets to the next level by putting his ow n money on the line. Like many of his peers, Brow n see CRYPTO PAGE 4
Saint Mary’s College cancels Parents’ Weekend Observer Staff Report
In an email sent by Saint Mary’s class council representatives Tuesday evening, student leaders announced Parents’ Weekend, which was scheduled for February, will be canceled. The message described the difficult decision to cancel the weekend, a meaningful time for senior and junior students and their families. “In light of recent events regarding COVID-19, we have made the hard decision to prioritize the health and safety of the Saint Mary’s community,”
SCENE PAGE 10
the email said. “This decision, made by the students, did not come easy. As much as we would love to resume the traditional Parents Weekend events, we do not want to take any risks that could put our community’s health or in-person education at stake.” Because Parents’ Weekend served as one of the main fundraisers for Senior Week, not hosting the event since 2019 has led to a lack of funds. The student leaders closed the email by asking seniors and their families to make donations to the fund, also praising the class
M BASKETBALL PAGE 16
of 2022 for their strength during the pandemic. “We ask that you please consider making a donation to ensure your daughter and the class of 2022 gets the senior week they deserve,” the email stated. “From being sent home from study abroad, to shifting to online classes, sports season cancellations, social restrictions, and more, the class of 2022 has endured more than we would have expected from move-in back in 2018. Despite these tough times, we have persevered through, and shown our strength as a SMC community.”
SPORTS PAGE 16
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The observer | Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
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“‘Despicable Me.’”
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“‘Napoleon Dyamite.’”
“‘Moana.’”
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“‘Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.’”
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Dick Corbett head football coach Marcus Freeman waves to fans as he leaves the Notre Dame women’s basketball game at Purcell Pavilion on Saturday against No. 20 University of North Carolina. The game was a victory for the Irish against the Tar Heels, 70-65.
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Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
“The Shared Building Traditions of the World” online 6 - 7:15 p.m. Virtual lecture.
Social Concerns Fair Dahnke Ballroom 5 - 7 p.m. Connect with community-engaged organizations.
Catholic Allyship: Fr. Daniel P. Horan online 12:30 - 130 p.m. Join conversation on racial justice.
LepreCON Dahnke Ballroom 6 - 10 p.m. Join gaming and culture clubs to play games and win prizes.
Tridentine Latin Mass Alumni Hall chapel 9 a.m. Celebrate mass in Latin.
“Show Some Skin” Screening Andrews Auditorium 6:30 p.m. Screening of 2012’s race monologues.
Take the Next Step 210 LaFortune Student Center 8 p.m. Learn more about DEI initiatives at ND.
Notre Dame Student Film Festival Browning Cinema 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Screenings through Sunday.
Ice Skating Howard Park 10 p.m. Join McWell for ice skating or hanging out by the fire pits.
Basilica Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 10 a.m. & noon Masks required. All are welcome.
News
ndsmcobserver.com | Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | The Observer
3
Choir cancels trip amid COVID-19 concerns By EMMA DUFFY News Writer
University college groups and clubs often spend spring break traveling and experiencing new things, but the ongoing pandemic has endangered this tradition for Notre Dame singing and choir groups. Each year, the Notre Dame Liturgical Choir goes on a tour, alternating between traveling during winter and spring break. Last week, the Liturgical Choir canceled their spring break plans due to COV ID-19, the group’s third consecutive trip that has been canceled due to health concerns. Club leaders started planning this year’s trip since last year, when their 2021 trip was canceled. Senior Liturgical Choir president Maggie Laurence said plans to travel from Atlanta to midFlorida were complete, with many participants excited to join. Laurence said these tours are not small ventures and hard to confidently plan for a large group of people in the
face of a pandemic. “I think there are just a lot of things that are completely uncertain, especially with traveling with a large group, we probably would have anywhere from 40 to 50 members going with us at this time,” Laurence said. “It’s just not feasible to travel with such a wide group and ask that many people to come to see our shows as well.” The call to cancel the trip came from Andrew McShane, director of the Liturgical Choir. “It was an internal decision by the choir … it wasn’t like it was the University higher-ups. It wasn’t from that,” Liturgical Choir tour director Tristan Dooley said. Club leaders said decisions about travel are left up to the clubs and organizations themselves, and there is no current push from University administration to cancel University-sponsored spring break plans. In addition to missing out on a social experience, Liturgical Choir leaders say finances could also be tight
after canceling tours the last three years. “Tour is usually one of the biggest modes of income for the choir,” Laurence said. “We get to perform concerts at all of these lovely parishes and cathedrals, and usually this is where a lot of donations are made.” Although the Liturgical Choir is also spending less during COV ID-19, losing these consistent donations makes finances uncertain. The club also mourns the loss of a bonding experience. Many members hold this time as one where they were able to grow in their friendships and club involvement, Laurence said. “It really is an opportunity to bond with the other choir members and it always is a time that you grow closer to your friends and in the choir,” she said. “So I think although it may not be explicitly mentioned, that is definitely something that lies at the heart of Lit Choir tour.” The tour cancelation was a tough decision, but Dooley said the director made it with
Courtesy of Maggie Laurence
After a standard fall semester, the Notre Dame Liturgical Choir is now wearing masks during their rehearsals and Sunday morning Masses.
“the choir’s best interests in mind, like our personal safety, as well as just the organization as a whole.” Club leaders say that they are thankful for opportunities to grow as a club despite experiences lost to the pandemic. “I am always just really grateful that even though our choir has not been able to do a lot of the things that we
usually do and all the things that we say bond us together as a choir. I am grateful for how the choir still is a beautiful community of friendship and faith,” Laurence said. “We’ve shown that we don’t need to have these things in order to still serve and to still be a coherent group.” Contact Emma Duffy at eduffy5@nd.edu
ND students voice support for MLK Jr. Day By GRACIE EPPLER News Writer
For the first time in its history, Notre Dame observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a University holiday, which also marked the beginning of the University’s annual Walk the Walk Week. The Observer asked the first-year class about their understanding of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and their thoughts on the University’s unprecedented observance. “Having this day without classes is not merely an extra day to sleep in or get more work done,” first-year Kathryn Sherman said. “It’s a day to honor and ref lect. It’s a day to create a plan for what we are going to do to bring about positive and necessary change. With men like George Floyd, Daunte Wright and too many other Black people brutally killed as a result of police violence and racial tensions still plaguing our homes and schools, Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream has yet to be fully accomplished. We use this day to understand our place in his dream, and to ref lect on how our words and actions are working to make his dream a reality.” Yuna Lee agreed with Sherman, asserting the importance of Monday’s holiday. “Having that day off pushes me to think about Dr. King and what he did for our
society,” Lee said. “If I didn’t have that day off, I wouldn’t take the time to ref lect upon his legacy.” Another first-year, Anita Feng, said the University’s decision to cancel class for the holiday will not go unnoticed. “I’m proud to see that the University is giving us this time off, because it represents a declaration of honor for not only Dr. King, but all who have advocated for civil rights and racial equality,” Feng said. “I hope that everyone takes this time to learn more about Martin Luther King Jr. … I hope we can consider how we can live out the message of King’s campaigns against racial injustice on campus.” Events held near campus included the Martin Luther King Jr. Day march around South Bend. On campus, there was a Martin Luther King Jr. Day candlelight prayer service held Tuesday night in the Main Building. The University is also taking steps to improve inclusivity, such as their creation of a board of trustees task force on diversity formed last August in response to recent tragic deaths and hate crimes against Black Americans and people of color. First-year Andy Donovan said he firmly believes that Catholics have a special calling toward combatting
racism and that Notre Dame, a premier Catholic university, must fight racism head on. “A Notre Dame campus that doesn’t take the time for introspection and critical viewing of the systems it perpetuates goes against everything Notre Dame is meant to stand for,” Donovan said. At a university where the photo of Fr. Hesburgh hand in hand with King appears often, Donovan supports celebrating the similarities between Catholic beliefs and those of racial justice advocates like King. Nick Jones, another firstyear student, said celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day is important for acknowledging the need for continued racial progress in the U.S. “It’s important that Dr. King’s sacrifices and contributions are acknowledged publicly and proudly, because it’s one of the only instances where this country has come close to admitting that it was wrong,” Jones said. “There’s a moral correctness that supersedes our concept of loyalty to the country. Love for America can exist as harsh and critical criticism for the purpose of improvement.” First-year Jaylen Choi agrees that MLK day cannot just be seen as a day of appreciating how far our country has come. He said MLK day
should be a time for reevaluation — not only within himself or on campus, but across the world. “This day gives me time to ref lect upon how far society has come since MLK’s social justice work, while also allowing me to identif y what needs to be changed in our country,” Choi said. Fr. Jenkins addressed the Notre Dame community on the holiday to encourage students to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. despite pandemic
limitations. “We hope you will spend the day honoring Dr. King’s legacy in the ways that are most meaningful to you, while also recognizing that some activities we might normally participate in on this day — being part of a service project, attending events in the local community, or worshiping in our faith communities — may not be possible given the pandemic.” Contact Gracie Eppler at geppler@nd.edu
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Crypto Continued from page 1
sees potential profit and future potential in the space. “In what other markets can a $ 5 investment turn to $ 500,000 in less than a year? ” Brow n said. “The thrill of magnificent gains, and even steeper losses, is part of the fun in cr y ptocurrency trading.” W hen Bitcoin came to market in 2009, investors were skeptical. Some began to change their minds as this cr y pto coin jumped in price from less than $1 per coin to more than $ 60,000 per coin over the last two volatile decades. Tri-campus students, members of a generation accustomed to near-constant digital modernizations, var y in their understanding of cr y ptocurrencies, but most students have heard of the big name coins, or the socalled blue chips. W hile students don’t claim to have a perfect understanding of cr y ptocurrencies, many say these have potential to become the next big financial innovation. “I feel like it’s going to be the new currency. I really do,” senior Sk yler Hamilton said. “I feel like a lot of people are buy ing stocks and shares in Bitcoin, especially
my friends. Now it’s even on apps like Cash App.” Hamilton said he does not invest in cr y pto assets. But many of his peers do, including first-year Robert Batistich, who said he bought Bitcoin and Ethereum shares during his senior year of high school, largely because of what he calls “FOMO” — the “fear of missing out” on potential gains. W hen he saw the price of Bitcoin drop last year, he jumped at the chance. “I missed out on the first big jump to $ 60,000. I was like, ‘OK, now it dropped,’” Batistich said. “It was under $40,000, and I was like, ‘A lright, I’m going to buy it now because I know it’s going to keep going up’.” Brow n, who mines Ethereum, started an unofficial group venture w ith four high school friends last year. The group mines mainly Ethereum and trades both well-established coins and lesser know n “crap coins,” as Brow n calls them. Brow n said he knows these coins are extremely volatile and hold little real value. He v iews the small-coin trades as a form of gambling, but that doesn’t stop him from hav ing a little fun. Somewhat more cautious about the space, Universit y finance professors and
Courtesy of Mitchell Brown
Mitchell Brown, a sophomore in the Mendoza College of Business and a resident of Duncan Hall, said he is confident that his room’s mining rig is “the best place to mine ether on the Notre Dame campus.”
students planning to work in cr y pto assets acknowledge the possibilities and uncertainties in the space. “This has a lot of upward potential, whether that w ill pan out or not, I don’t know,”
said Notre Dame finance professor Bill McDonald. Those more immersed in cr y pto than the ever yday student identif y the technolog y behind cr y pto assets and its applications as the
main upside, moderated by risks related to regulation and a lack of reliable valuation techniques. Contact Maggie Eastland at meastlan@nd.edu
HCC updates guidelines to require booster Observer Staff Report Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online January 16.
In an email sent to students on Jan. 4, Holy Cross College’s dean and v ice president of student life Andrew Polaniecki outlined the College’s COV ID-19 protocols for the spring semester. Polaniecki first stressed the College’s focus on prov iding in-person classes. “Holy Cross is committed to in-person learning
while at the same time is also committed to keeping ever yone in the campus and local communities as safe as possible,” he w rote in the email. Polaniecki explained students must submit verification of receiv ing a vaccination booster by Jan. 21, an earlier date than the College’s prev iously announced deadline of “the middle of the spring semester.” Students are asked to send their verification to Tom DeHorn or Marie Oliva. However, Polaniecki noted
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that students who contracted COV ID-19 over w inter break have an extended deadline to upload a booster verification. For isolation and quarantine protocols, Holy Cross w ill follow updated guidance from the CDC, requiring all students, regardless of vaccination status, to isolate for five days — rather than 10 — follow ing a positive COV ID-19 test. After five days, fully vaccinated indiv iduals are free to return to normal activ ities while masking, and those not fully vaccinated can do
so after a negative test on their fifth day of isolation, Polaniecki w rote. W hile fully vaccinated indiv iduals deemed close contacts are only required to mask for five days, Polaniecki explained that unvaccinated close contacts “w ill be required to quarantine for five days and w ill need a negative test before returning to normal activ ities.” W hile space w ill be designated for students liv ing on campus who test positive for COV ID-19, those who live w ithin 150 miles of campus w ill be encouraged to isolate
at home. “If you live in the region please take time now to consider if you would be able to isolate at home or w ith a family member should it be necessar y,” Polaniecki w rote. Holy Cross w ill continue to require guests to mask when indoors, and those who have already received an exemption from the vaccination requirement are also exempted from the booster requirement. Consistent w ith last semester’s policy, those not fully vaccinated w ill be required to receive a COV ID test each week. Polaniecki concluded the email by thanking the students for their continued efforts in the face of the pandemic, noting there have been ver y low numbers of positive COV ID-19 tests and zero instances of seriously ill or hospitalized indiv iduals from Holy Cross. “Thank you for your continued resilience and your efforts to be Scholars, Citizens, Leaders, and Disciples,” Polaniecki said. “Know of my prayers for you and your loved ones as you make final preparations to return to campus.”
News
ndsmcobserver.com | Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | The Observer
5
Parents Continued from page 1
COV ID being an issue w ith people being in close proximit y and drinking and eating at the gala,” DiBiase said. However, he added the committee is working w ith the Universit y, and it is possible a new event w ill be planned for Friday. In addition to the adjustment of events, JPW is requiring all v isitors to prov ide documentation of their COV ID vaccination at the time of registration. Students must have received the booster shot to participate in the in-person festiv ities. Gear y said students w ith a Universit y-approved vaccination exemption are also exempt from the JPW booster requirement. However, guests of JPW w ill not be granted exemptions. “[The administration] is going by the latest Universit y COV ID guidelines which is how this came about,” Gear y said. The co-chairs said the committee has experienced some resentment from some parents regarding this vaccination requirement; however, DiBiase noted that many are simply grateful that JPW events remain on the schedule. “I think ever yone is just happy in some form that it’s still happening,” DiBiase said. Additionally, in accordance w ith the Universit y’s v isitor guidelines, all
The Observer File Photo
Parents and students gathered in the Dahnke Ballroom in Duncan Student Center for Junior Parents Weekend in 2020, which was the last JPW before the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was held virtually in 2021 because of restrictions on large gatherings and travel to the University.
guests must wear masks while indoors, and v isitors to campus are not permitted into the residence halls. “We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us to keep our communit y safe,” the committee says on its website, where information can be found regarding how to register. “Please note that Universit y officials are closely watching the public health env ironment, in collaboration w ith local public health officials and we w ill adjust events (including the possibilit y of cancellation) if necessar y to respond to the needs of our
campus.” “We’ve had to be ver y f lex ible in planning an event w ith the new rise in COV ID cases because of the Omicron variant,” Gear y said. Junior Piper Shine from Littleton, Colorado, said while she is “glad it is happening,” she doesn’t think JPW w ill be a big event, as it has been for other classes who were able to experience it before the pandemic. “With it [being] so limited, the things people look for ward to the most aren’t there,” she said, adding the recent cancellations have been confusing to follow. As a junior who has
experienced numerous changes to the Notre Dame college experience due to the pandemic, Shine said, “it is what it is — I don’t know any thing else.” Shine said she is glad the Universit y is requiring guests to be vaccinated and said the administration should stand by their decision. “It’s a priv ilege to have the weekend,” she said in regards to pushback against the requirement. Several events, including the Mass, w ill be livestreamed, and several v irtual concerts are also planned for the weekend for parents, guardians and family members who cannot
attend in person. “Last year did teach us it’s possible to welcome people and for families to enjoy JPW even if they aren’t able to come to campus,” Gear y said. The current deadline to buy tickets is Jan. 31. “We are excited to bring it back this year just because the junior class has faced a lot of adversit y,” Gear y said. “To be able to celebrate the accomplishments and perseverance w ith our families either in person or v irtually is something that’s really special.”
Keynote
“To love something is to see its f laws,” McKenna said. “The truth and realit y of where we stand is uncomfortable, but there’s a lot of good that w ill come out of addressing it.” Nwebube agreed w ith McKenna’s encouragement to address uncomfortable realities. “There are always ways you can improve upon yourself. You need to acknowledge that you did something w rong, educate yourself and then move for ward in a positive way,” she said. The panel concluded w ith a speech by student body president A llan Njomo. “We all have a critical role to play in maintaining and creating a beloved communit y,” he said. “I inv ite each of you to think about your next step on this journey.” After the panel concluded, Fr. Pete McCormick and Fr. Jenkins led a Candlelight Prayer Ser v ice in the Main Building Rotunda.
Continued from page 1
their ideas and thoughts on how Notre Dame can work towards being a more inclusive communit y and discussed initiatives the Universit y is undertaking to promote diversit y. Carrillo discussed the f lags that can be seen around campus show ing different states and countries. “This is the first step to exposing people and giving them knowledge about different cultures we have on campus,” he said. Patrick said that the mission of Green Dot Notre Dame relates to the idea of building a “beloved communit y.” “No one has to do ever ything, but ever yone has to do something,” Patrick said, quoting the Green Dot slogan. McKenna said that although Notre Dame is making efforts to change, there is still progress to be made.
Contact Isabella Volmert at ivolmert@nd.edu
Contact Caroline Collins at ccolli23@nd.edu
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The observer | Wednesday, january 19, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
Inside Column
Don’t read this column Maggie Eastland Associate News Editor
Welcome, my fel low cont ra ria n. I hope I’ve upset you by my use of t he word “fellow.” I dislike it as well, but I’m a f ra id it was unavoidable in t his case. I cou ld say “Welcome, independent mind one un like ever y ot her reading t his sa me tex t,” but t hat wou ldn’t have quite t he sa me ring. Let me g uess : Were you t hat k id who a lways ra ised t heir ha nd to disag ree w it h t he teacher in four t h g rade ? The one who loved to a rg ue a nd probably g rew t ired of hea ring adu lts say “You’d ma ke a good law yer” ? Maybe you even read Tom Saw yer a nd st rongly ident if ied w it h his rebellious cha racter? Or perhaps your f riends ma ke f un of you for dislik ing somet hing completely ma inst rea m — say mov ies or Snapchat? If even one of t hese quest ions sounds like you, you’re probably not a cont ra ria n. However, if you found yourself deny ing each quest ion a nd jumping t hrough menta l hoops to prove your independence, you’ve come to t he right place. If you’re not a cont ra ria n, t here’s a good cha nce you’ve interacted w it h one. Here’s how t he conversat ion might look. Person 1: Do you like Not re Da me ? Cont ra ria n: No. Person 1: W hat do you dislike about it? Cont ra ria n: I never sa id I disliked Not re Da me. Person 1: … Cont ra ria n: Do you not believe t hat one ca n simu lta neously ex press t hat t hey do not li ke Not re Da me w it hout being f u lly w it hin t he ca mp of disli k ing it? Fr ust rat ing? Cont ra ria ns sure hope so. If you’ve made it t his fa r, I f ig ure I might as well sha re some of my ow n r uminat ions on t he roots a nd va lue of cont ra ria nism. This is not to cha nge t he way you t hin k or a lter your independent ideas. It ex ists on ly to ser ve your potent ia l interest for more informat ion on t he subject. If you have no interest, I wou ld suggest you stop reading, but I wou ld never tel l you what to do. A f ter a ll, t hat’s somet hing on ly you ca n k now. You’re rea l ly st i l l here ? I g uess I ca n sha re some subpa r philosophica l r uminat ions. Let’s sta r t f rom t he beg inning. In ma ny cases, act ing or t hin k ing cont ra r y to what ot hers believe stems f rom skept icism. Much like skept ics, cont ra ria ns doubt popu la r opinion, voice a lternate v iew points a nd quest ion aut horit y. Ironica lly, t his ver y skept icism of ten orig inates f rom a n immense respect for t he t r ut h. At least t hat’s t he case if you ask Socrates, but I don’t k now I wou ldn’t ta ke his word for it. I happen to t hin k t his world benef its f rom skept icism a nd cont ra ria n opinion. Feel f ree to disag ree. Skept icism is of ten hea lt hy because it tests common k nowledge. It assumes not hing to be t r ue a nd dema nds t he highest proof to accept somet hing as t r ue. In a world where each person is assau lted w it h of ten-conf lict ing informat ion, a cont ra ria n mindset a l lows t he user to st rip ideas dow n to t heir ba re bones a nd see which is actua l ly most li kely t r ue. A nd whi le I k now a cont ra ria n w ill never admit it, t his approach actua l ly a l lows one to ag ree more st rongly w it h t hose ideas t hat have been tested. It shou ldn’t come as a sur prise t hat ot her people (say polit icia ns or lobby ists or sa lespeople) have a n incent ive to deceive you or ma ke you ag ree w it h t hem. A cont ra ria n perspect ive has t he potent ia l to g ua rd aga inst t hese t raps because it forces each person to eva luate ever y idea independent ly of what ot hers t hin k or believe. St ra ngely enough, consensus itself requires independent conclusions a nd ca nnot be reached by g roup obligat ion. Each person must ag ree on t he topic independent ly. For insta nce, scient if ic consensus t hat a cer ta in vaccine prevents disease orig inates f rom severa l independent studies. However ironic, collaborat ion doesn’t actua lly work un less each person brings somet hing dif ferent to t he table. Conformit y st ra ngles creat iv it y a nd col laborat ion. Each person ca n f ind t heir g reatest st reng t h in t he way t hey t hin k dif ferent ly f rom ot hers. No one person has t he sa me f inger print, t he sa me memories or t he sa me goa ls. I happen to t hin k t hat’s bot h usef u l a nd beaut if u l. So w it h t his in mind, keep brea k ing t he r u les a nd t hin k ing for yourself. But not because I told you to. You can contact Maggie at meastlan@nd.edu. The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Why we weren’t at the Bowl game The Not re Da me Ba nd was ready for t he Fiesta Bowl: We’d been rehea rsing a nd prepa ring for t he bowl ga me for mont hs. We were excited to represent our school a nd play t he g reatest of a l l universit y f ight songs for t he Not re Da me fa mily. So, we were ta ken by sur prise when, less t ha n a day before most of us were supposed to leave, t hey sudden ly ca nceled our f lights, our appea ra nces a nd a ll our events. Of f icia l ly, t he ca ncellat ion was a hea lt h precaut ion for t he sa fet y of t he school. But as we watched fa ns, students, a lumni a nd Universit y leadership — some of whom have been less diligent t ha n us about fol low ing pa ndemic precaut ions — converge on Phoeni x while we sat at home, we cou ldn’t help but wonder why. We haven’t had a single COV IDrelated pause in t wo yea rs of t he pa ndemic a nd were able to successf u lly complete t wo reg u la r seasons. We were proud a nd luck y to get t hrough last yea r; w it h ha rd work a nd ca ref u l attent ion to protocol, our season was incredibly successf u l compa red to a lot of ot her ba nds in t he count r y. Our successf u l record ma kes us even more sur prised by t his sudden decision to ca ncel w it hout wa rning or ex pla nat ion when ot her ba nds a re play ing at t heir bowl ga mes in f ront of f u ll stadiums. Not re Da me is notably t he on ly school in a New Yea r’s Si x bowl to decide t hat t he ba nd was too much of a risk. Ot her schools tested a nd isolated posit ive cases a nd contacts, coordinated t ra nspor tat ion toget her, a nd did what t hey needed to do to ma ke sure t heir ba nds cou ld be t here. We wou ld have been happy to test, to isolate — whatever was needed to per form. We g ive our a l l to t his orga ni zat ion, a nd if t hat mea ns sitt ing a lone in a room for f ive days, t hat’s what we’l l do, proud ly a nd happily. We don’t do what we do for recog nit ion, or even for t rips li ke t his. We do it because we love t his school a nd because we genuinely believe t hat Not re Da me’s music is a necessa r y a nd appreciated pa r t of t he cu lture here. We hold ourselves to high sta nda rds of commit ment a nd professiona lism because of t hat belief. So, when a ll our pla ns were ca nceled 12 hours beforeha nd w it h a single ema il a nd no follow-up informat ion, we didn’t just lose a t rip. We lost mont hs of ef for t a nd sacrif ice, a nd we lost t hem w it hout a ny ex pla nat ion or wa rning t hat t he decision to ca ncel was even under considerat ion. We understa nd t hat t he administ rat ion is working to minimi ze COV ID risk. But we a lso hope t hat t hey understa nd
what play ing t he Victor y Ma rch mea ns for us, t he footba l l tea m a nd Irish fa ns ever y where, a nd we hope t hey recog ni ze why we feel ta ken for g ra nted when a l l our ef for ts ca n be deemed too much of a risk w it h a single, last-minute ema il. In a n ef for t to understa nd t his decision, we ask t hat t he school g ive us more t ra nspa rency about t he t imeline involved. Some of us were a lready on pla nes to Phoeni x when t he news was sent out — was t he decision to ca ncel rea l ly so last-minute t hat t hese people cou ldn’t have been g iven a heads-up before t hey boa rded? We a lso ask t hat t he school prov ide a more in-dept h ex pla nat ion of t heir reasoning for ca nceling. We k now t his decision was not made light ly, a nd we k now it was made w it h t he consu ltat ion of t r usted hea lt h of f icia ls. We wou ld li ke to hea r t he input of t hese of f icia ls in a n attempt to better appreciate to what ex tent t his ca ncel lat ion cont ributes to ca mpus hea lt h a nd sa fet y. As stated above, we’re happy to do whatever we ca n for t his school — because of COV ID, somet imes t hat mea ns accept ing ca nceled events, a nd we understa nd t hat. But t hese ca ncel lat ions natura l ly involve a major loss of t ime, ef for t a nd commitment on our pa r t, a nd in our disappoint ment, we wou ld rea l ly li ke to simply be assured t hat t hey a re wor t h t hat loss. Members of t he Not re Da me Ba nd, Mary Polking senior Calvin Oppenheim fifth-year Austin Booth senior Maggie Milligan senior Mary Lusebrink senior Christian Boekhout senior Dante Komater junior Jennifer Tennant junior Lincoln Bargender senior Alberto Sbrolla senior Elijah Grammer senior Kenan Lumantas senior Connor Wozniak senior Erik Meier senior Tommy Nowak senior Jan. 11
The observer | WEDNESDAY, january 19, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
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Inside Column
On a winter afternoon Abby Patrick Viewpoint Editor
I honestly don’t know what to write this column about. Typically I only have to write one of these per semester, and I usually pick a later date, storing up ideas until then, to make sure that when my turn comes, I have something halfway decent to say, something interesting and inspiring enough (to me) to warrant 500-800 words. I wasn’t expecting to write one this week and, without my store of topics or a singular genius idea, I’m a little at a loss for what to write (see, already it’s getting a little redundant). Did I mention I don’t know what to write yet? So let’s turn this into a fun little free-writing experiment and see where my thoughts lead me. As I’m writing, I’m in my friends’ condo, sitting incorrectly on a surprisingly comfy swivel armchair, listening to “26” by Caamp. It’s dimming slowly in the room, in the way that light slides slowly from afternoon to evening on a snow y afternoon, hitting every possible shade and nuance of grey as it does, the dimming only subtly noticeable because the light of your laptop gets incrementally brighter and the room feels somehow blue-er. The world just gets a little more sleepy, and everything moves a little slowly, despite how fast the light is fading. Thinking about fading light, have you noticed how
much better winter sunsets are than summer sunsets? It’s like the sky is trying to make up for how early the sun is actually setting, distracting you with the most brilliant oranges and pinks you’ve ever seen. If you haven’t noticed, look. To follow along with the vibe shifts in the slowly darkening room, my friends and I are now listening to “exile” by Taylor Swift with Bon Iver (which I always first spell with an h for some reason, because I think, subconsciously, it needs to sound or at least look more like exhale). I am wholeheartedly a summer girl, despite what my opinion on winter sunsets might suggest, but there is something so lovely about staying inside, with little to do on a cold, snow y (or, more realistically, sleety) winter afternoon and just letting the world quietly get dark around you. There’s a peace and stillness to it that allows you to be still too, in a way we aren’t often still. There’s usually ambient noise in my house, even in silence, of my roommates going about their lives in different rooms, or the heat kicking on or off, the water in the pipes, or the street outside, the neighbors closing cabinet doors in their apartments, or even the wind in the tree outside my window. (Hear “Beige” by Yoke Lore.) Just the small noises of life as it happens with, in and around you. Every once in a while, however, there is a silence so profound, so palpable, so presently quiet, it feels like if you moved, if you reached out to touch it, something tenable
would fracture. It’s such an amazing moment of stillness in a world that almost never feels still, and certainly rarely allows you to be still. And so instead of moving, or continuing with your homework, or whatever other task, you just breathe and listen to the quiet, afraid that if you acknowledge it too straightforwardly, it will spook and retreat as swiftly and unassumingly as it came. Now, it’s “A Troubled Mind” by Noah Kahan, go figure. It’s funny to think about those little moments of pause, and what brings them on, that it’s the stillnesses in life or the moments between “moments” where I feel like I can actually ref lect on existing or the fact that I’m in a moment to begin with. It’s those spaces between that allow us to breathe. At this point my friends and I have cycled through a little more of our playlist, and are listening to “By and By” (also by Caamp, funnily enough), and that feels like a good, sort of full-circle place to end this very random, probably a little less-than-coherent, and perhaps self-indulgent column. It has no point, gets at nothing, other than maybe that I, a self-proclaimed summer girl, can enjoy the stillness of a quiet winter afternoon. For now that’s enough. You can contact Abby at apatrick@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
A case for political discussion Rachel Stockford BridgeND
You won’t get very far scrolling through the Twitter accounts of politicians on either side of the political aisle before seeing trigger phrases like “Republicans don’t want …” or “Democrats are trying to ...” It is clear that politics, especially on social media, has become a game of trying to incite heav y emotions and play into party narratives. There is an emphasis on the performance of politics, where the most important thing is stirring your supporters’ opinions instead of focusing on the needs of all people. But what happens when we look further than what is portrayed on Twitter or Fox News? What if we were able to turn the idea of political discussion back into debates about policy areas and legislation? What if we were able to rationally discuss (and disagree) about the best course of action for ending the pandemic, or maintaining American presence at an international level? I think “political discussions” have become conf lated with the hyperpartisan conversations that take place online. Arguments are guided with misinformation and biased sources instead of meaningful debate about the most pressing issues in America. There is a norm of “gotcha” culture — it constantly seems like talks about political topics are initiated with the purpose of walking away from a conversation as a winner instead of aiming
to genuinely learn something. Each of us learns something new every day from our professors, family and friends; this can, and should, include our willingness to adopt a mindset of learning in conversations about politics, just like how we’d learn something from a lecture in class or through grabbing coffee with a friend. With 81 million people voting for Joe Biden and 74 million people voting for Donald Trump in the 2020 election, it is evident that not everyone included in the millions of people that voted in the last presidential election can be strictly divided into “one side or the other,” and we should all keep this in mind when having tough conversations. What I want to highlight is that we have to learn how to be able to talk to each other about politics. I want to be clear that I am not advocating for tolerating bigotry, homophobia, racism or any kind of hateful or degrading speech. Instead, I believe that when it comes to policy areas and hot, controversial issues, it is far too easy to generalize and assume what “the other side” thinks without ever having an actual conversation about where they’re coming from. If more people were able to talk to each other with the intention of learning something instead of shaming or trying to win, there would not be such a negative connotation around talking about politics. It is also important to note that there are wider consequences for the current state of hyperpartisanship and misinformation in America. As U.S. ambassador Francis Rooney and professor
Matthew Hall highlight in a recent opinion piece in The Hill, “Democracy in the U.S. is on life support, and its recovery will require that serious measures be taken in the next three years. … The answer is to focus on shoring up popular support for our democratic system.” Most, if not all of us can agree that one of the most pressing issues in politics currently is the preservation of American democracy; this issue is just one example of an area that, no matter your political alignment, you should be able to talk about with someone who may have different views. At some point, we will all have to work with people with whom we disagree. What better time to start than now? If you also have frustrations about the state of political discourse both in the country and on campus, join BridgeND weekly at 7 p.m. to work towards changing the culture surrounding dialogue, one genuine political discussion at a time. Rachel Stockford is the President of BridgeND, a nonpartisan political education and discussion group that seeks to bridge the political divide and raise the standard for political discourse at Notre Dame. BridgeND welcomes students of all backgrounds, viewpoints and experiences who want to strengthen their knowledge of current issues or educate others on an issue that is important to them. The club meets weekly on Mondays at 7 p.m. in the McNeill Room of LaFortune. Want to learn more? Contact bridgend@nd.edu or @bridge_ND on Twitter and Instagram.
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The observer | WEDNESDAY, January 19, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
New COVID-19 policy recommendations For the last two years, we have all struggled (and surely failed at times) to balance mental health and physical health during a time when it has been impossible to protect both. Civil authorities, school officials and (when we’re at home) our parents have tried to tell us what to do based on limited and quickly evolving data. Inevitably, there have been and will continue to be hiccups, and policies will, for one reason or another, sometimes not make sense. Some of the COV ID-19 policies currently in place at Notre Dame are not consistent. For example, we have to wear a mask when entering the dining hall, but while we’re sitting at a table we are maskless for perhaps an hour. At the same time, official gatherings are not allowed to have food, even when these gatherings are not open to the public, despite this being little different from the dining halls during typical meal time. Instructors are forbidden from offering hybrid instruction, even to those in quarantine or isolation, further hindering these unfortunate individuals from being able to learn as effectively. However, given the rapidly evolving COV ID
situation, it is understandable that decisions may have been made in haste, and as such, may not have been thought out as much as they could have been. I therefore have some recommendations to make. First, give professors more discretion. This includes (above allowing those in quarantine or isolation to attend class over Zoom if they feel well enough to do so) letting professors allow other students (e.g., those who were contact traced but have not received a test result yet) to attend class remotely if this is mutually preferred. Further, for small, discussion-based classes, allow professors to drop the masking requirement in their classroom if they feel comfortable doing so and feel that this would facilitate discussion. Second, drop the masking requirement in the dining hall. As it stands, it applies for a small fraction of the time spent in the dining hall, so there is little point in the rule being in place at all. On a similar note, official gatherings which are not open to the public should be allowed to have food and beverages. The situation presents an equivalent risk level to that of eating in the
dining hall, and one which has already been accepted. Finally, students should be able to efficiently give feedback on COV ID policies as they evolve. One way to do this is through hall government, by periodically inviting hall presidents to communicate their dorm’s feelings about any policies. This way, students have a person they are familiar with to relay their concerns to, while administration is not over whelmed by hundreds of students saying the same thing. It would also be easier than writing a Letter to the Editor. The other policies — requiring the booster for those without valid exemptions, updated quarantine/isolation procedures in accordance with evolving Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, etc. — do make sense. I hope we will reach the 90% booster threshold and enable the rela xing of some restrictions, and even in that case, my first and third recommendations would still be relevant. J.J. Dyke senior Jan. 17
Motherhood, sacrifice and making space Ellie Konfrst Butterfly Effects
Since I was in midd le school, one of t he on ly t hings t hat has gotten me t hrough t he long, cold w inter mont hs was t he awa rds season for f ilm a nd telev ision. I follow a na lysts on line, listen to podcasts ever y week a nd t r y to watch as ma ny “Osca r mov ies” as possible to be f u lly prepa red for t he discourse. For me, it’s a lways been a f un way to have somet hing to look for wa rd to when your wet ha ir f reezes when you step outside a nd ever y day feels t he sa me. So, natura l ly, I spent w inter brea k catching up on a lot of t hose Osca r mov ies. Night a f ter night I k nocked t hem of f my list: “Spencer,” “Twhe Green K night,” “Licorice Pi zza,” “The Ca rd Counter,” “Tick, Tick… Boom ! ” I liked a l l of t hem, loved some of t hem, but on ly one has been on my mind ever since I watched it: Magg ie Gyl len haa l’s directoria l debut sta rring Oliv ia Colma n, “The Lost Daughter.” I k new absolutely not hing about “The Lost Daughter” going into it, a nd I t hin k it’s better t hat way, so I’l l sum it up as best I ca n based on ly on t he t ra i ler. Technica lly, it’s a f ilm about a woma n (Oliv ia Colma n) on vacat ion at a beach resor t, who spends her t ime obser v ing a nd interact ing w it h a mot her of a young child (Da kota Johnson). It’s a psycholog ica l dra ma of sor ts, a nd a complex look at mot herhood. The a nchoring line in t he t ra i ler, delivered by Colma n’s cha racter to Johnson’s cha racter is “Children a re a cr ushing responsibi lit y.” Ult imately, “The Lost Daughter” is about women who st r uggle w it h t hat cr ushing responsibi lit y, a nd how mot herhood shapes who t hey become. It is purely about t hose women — t he chi ldren in t his f i lm get ver y litt le screen t ime, as t he focus is prima rily t heir persona l journeys t hrough mot herhood. At t imes, bot h women a re undeniably bad mot hers, doing t hings t hat have t he potent ia l to rea l ly emot iona lly sca r t heir children. The f i lm’s choice to center t he mot hers does not mea n it endorses t heir behav ior, however.
Instead, it attempts to capture t he complex it ies of mot herhood, a nd t he ways in which t hese women st r uggle to ma inta in t heir ident it ies bot h as indiv idua ls a nd as mot hers. I’m not exact ly sure why t he f ilm stuck w it h me, but it did. I have a g reat relat ionship w it h my mot her, a nd never felt like I was in hibit ing her self-actua li zat ion. I’ve a lways pla nned on becoming a mot her one day, pa r t ia lly because of t he rea l joy I have seen it bring my ow n mom, but I a m not a mot her myself. For some reason, t hough, it st ill felt persona l. Perhaps it stuck w it h me for t he sa me reasons t hat Cla iro’s 2021 a lbum “Sling” stuck w it h me. A sta ndout f rom t he a lbum is “Reaper,” which includes t he line “I’m born to be somebody t hen somebody comes f rom me.” Much of t he a lbum dea ls w it h t he 23-yea r-old singer contemplating pa rent hood a nd g row ing up a nd rea li zing you a re quick ly approaching a n age in which you a re ex pected to become a mot her. It is a n int imate, honest por t raya l of t he fea rs of mot herhood t hat a re of ten unex plored a nd of f-limits, like losing yourself or passing your menta l illness a nd pa in onto your child. I t hin k what rea lly st r uck me about t hese t wo pieces of a r t, a long w it h a host of ot her f ilms, books a nd a lbums t hat have come out in t he last few yea rs, is t hat t hey a llow space for a mot her to be a whole person. It’s indisputable t he fact t hat fat hers have a lways been g iven more space to ma inta in t heir ident it y in pa rent hood t ha n mot hers have. Thin k, for insta nce, of t he a rchet y pa l white housew ife in t he 1950s, whose husba nd worked outside t he home while she took ca re of t he children a nd cooked a nd clea ned. Fat hers were not on ly a llowed but ex pected to form a n ident it y outside fat herhood — t he way to be a good fat her was by work ing ha rd a nd f ina ncia lly suppor t ing his fa mily. Mot hers, on t he ot her ha nd, were ex pected to forego a ny independent drea ms a nd endeavors to be a mot her, leav ing ma ny women to wonder, in t he words of Bett y Frieda n, “is t his a ll? ” Even as women in t he United States ga ined more f ina ncia l a nd polit ica l independence, t hey were st ill ex pected to ma inta in t he home a nd
ta ke on t he prima r y responsibi lit y of ra ising t heir chi ldren. To t his day, on average women in t he U.S. st i l l do 15 more hours of domest ic labor per week t ha n men. Pa rent hood undoubted ly cha nges a l l pa rents, but societ y ex pects more out of mot hers, a nd as a resu lt mot hers tend to st r uggle more w it h t he risk of losing t heir ident it y to mot herhood. Despite t hat, however, it is t r ue t hat mot herhood is of ten a choice, a nd t hat t hose who choose to have chi ldren understa nd a nd shou lder t he responsibi lit y of mot herhood, for t he sa ke of t heir chi ldren. It is not good when mot hers aba ndon t heir chi ldren so t hey ca n f ind t hemselves, or when t hey hur t t hem, neglect t hem or resent t hem for being a burden t hat t hey f ind unbea rable. They a re of ten adu lts, responsible for t he welfa re of a chi ld, a nd ma inta ining t hat chi ld’s wel l-being must a lways be t he top priorit y, rega rd less of t he mot her’s interna l conf lict. Yet, what most of our media about mot herhood tends to forget is t hat mot hers a re a lso people, who were once chi ldren t hemselves, who have ideas, drea ms a nd pla ns beyond t heir ow n chi ldren. Even t hose who love mot herhood a nd excel in it li kely have moments where t hey miss hav ing no chi ldren to ca re for. A r t t hat g ives space for women to be complicated a nd dif f icu lt a nd a ng r y, especia l ly in mot herhood, is unequivoca l ly impor ta nt, a nd I hope to see more li ke “The Lost Daughter” in t he coming yea rs. Ult imately, I hope t his k ind of a r t opens t he door for a societa l shif t away f rom t he isolat ing idea t hat mot herhood is a choice to leave behind your former self. Ellie Konfrst is a senior studying political science with a minor in the Hesburgh Program for Public Service. Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, she’s excited people will once again be forced to listen to her extremely good takes. You can find her off campus trying to decide whether or not she’ll go to law school or bragging that Taylor Swift follows her on Tumblr. She can be reached at egloverk@nd.edu or @elliekonfrst13 on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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The observer | Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
By JOHN CLARK Scene Writer
Understanding the inner machinations of the minds of Zoe and Elmo requires outlining some obvious details. “Sesame Street” is the most universally-beloved institution of the United States educational system. As an educational program, it’s extremely practical, every episode features counting, saying the alphabet and a number and letter of the day. The most practical part of “Sesame Street” is that characters like Elmo and Zoe are learning along with the audience. Like Ash Ketchum, Zoe and Elmo have been cursed with eternal youth. Unlike Ash, who has been 12 years old since 1996, Zoe and Elmo are only three. Assuming that the psychosocial development of muppets is roughly similar to that of humans, Elmo and Zoe are caught in limbo between spoken language acquisition and learning to read and count, making them perfect companions in learning for the audience. Episodes featuring Zoe’s pet rock Rocco often demonstrate the important life skills of conflict resolution and putting up with your friends’ bullcrap. From the perspective of French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan, every person has their own Rocco, or even several. The need for Rocco, according to Lacan, comes with the acquisition of language. If you’ve ever seen an infant, you know that they explore everything. To an infant, everything they can perceive is something novel and alien and they will examine all of them, primarily with their mouth and fingers. Lacan believed that, in the first six months of life, infants have a fragmentary experience of the world, and see everything from their high chair to their own toes as equally disconnected objects. Lacan also theorized that between six and 18 months, infants experience the mirror stage. During the mirror stage, the infant first recognizes their likeness in the mirror, and their fragmentary experience of the world is replaced by a holistic one. This is
By ROSE ANDROWICH Scene Writer
Remakes are a fascinating subject largely because of the outwardly expressed controversy associated with them. A remake is an easy step toward being labelled as profit-seeking and quote-unquote not as good as the original. While this may be true in a decent amount of cases such as “Home Sweet Home Alone,” this, from my perspective, does not hold true for the remake of “West Side Story.” The original is beloved for a very clear reason with Natalie Wood as Maria and Richard Beymer as Tony. Their amazing performance in the original West Side Story is part of what made the movie such a beloved classic. However, the new cast for the remake was exceptional. Ansel Elgort, remembered for his appearance in the film “The Fault in Our Stars,” showed himself to be a good choice for the iconic role. Rachel Zegler as Maria was a great breakout role and, although I loved Natalie Wood’s performance in the original, Zegler surely deserves credit. One of my personal favorite cast members was Rita Moreno, who played Valentina. She also played Anita in the original “West Side Story.” Having a cast member from the original movie invokes a feeling of nostalgia especially considering how well they incorporated Valentina
their induction into the imaginary order, in which experience is mediated through images and, according to Julia Kristeva, communication is mediated by intonation and body language. However, according to Lacan, the infant’s recognition of their likeness in the mirror is in fact a misrecognition, for the infant identifies their likeness in the whole unified image. And in what context does an infant most frequently see their likeness in a mirror? According to Lacan, it is when they are being held by their mother. The definitive experience of the mirror stage is then the illusion of unity with the mother. Lacan called this the “desire of the mother,” because it is a preverbal emotional experience that not only is your mother all that you need, but you are all that your mother needs. This illusion comes crashing down with language acquisition, as, according to Lacan, there is no need for language without separation. For Lacan, experience and communication are mediated by language in what he called the symbolic order. The world of the symbolic order is a world of rules and restrictions that originate from the father. The first rule of the symbolic order is the oedipal prohibition: Mother belongs to father alone. Therefore the acquisition of language, which Lacan framed as induction into the symbolic order, is the loss of unity with the mother, the first and most devastating loss of the child’s life. For Lacan, life in the symbolic order is spent pursuing the unity of the mother, which is forever lost. Throughout life, individuals acquire objects or experiences or relationships that they use as substitutes for that lost unity. That is what Rocco is for Zoe and, in the context of young children like Zoe, items like Rocco are called “transitional objects.” Zoe’s relationship with Rocco is entirely exclusive: Zoe speaks for Rocco, she explains everything Rocco is doing and she alone can understand Rocco. Zoe is re-enacting the desire of the mother with Rocco, with herself in the role of the mother. A critical component here
is that this relationship is a world in which Zoe retains control, because entry into the symbolic order is also the loss of control to “the name of the father,” patriarchal ideology. This is where the tension with Elmo originates, because Zoe’s friendship with Elmo is also a substitute for unity with the mother — except Elmo is an other, his own person outside Zoe’s control. This relationship works both ways and Zoe’s relationship with Rocco causes anxiety for Elmo because losing Zoe’s attention reactivates that loss of unity with the mother. Zoe’s nonlinguistic modes of communicating in this scene, the imaginary order, doesn’t disappear, it remains accessible in the unconscious modes of communication. Thus, according to Kristeva, multimodal discourse is mediated both through the symbolic order, in the form of language, and through the imaginary order, through the often unconscious use of intonation and body language which the muppets excel at portraying. Transitional objects are prominently featured in “Sesame Street.” In one episode, Elmo and Zoe have a fight after Elmo showed Zoe his blanket and they ripped it when Elmo was trying to take it back. One Rocco episode features Zoe asking Elmo to watch Rocco, a task Elmo neglects because, “Rocco’s just a rock,” opting instead to continue playing with his own transitional object, Baby David. When Rocco goes missing, Elmo hands Zoe a new pet rock, which enrages her. For Lacan, objet petit a, which denotes the lost unity with the mother and all its substitutes, is inherently irreplaceable. Chris, a human resident of Sesame Street, explains to a confused Elmo that Zoe is upset because she loves Rocco, and asks Elmo to consider how he would feel if he lost Baby David. The conflict then is used to teach the basics of empathy, aiding children in the audience in their development of an understanding that other people have their own internal worlds.
within the movie. Valentina serves as a motherly figure in Tony’s life and understands Tony because of her life. She is a Puerto Rican woman who married a white man. Valentina helps Tony learn a Spanish phrase to say to Maria. In addition to this she also scolds the Jets for their mistreatment of Anita when she comes into Doc’s. Valentina was just one aspect of “West Side Story” that director, Spielberg, aced. Other aspects of the movie that make it a must-see is the exceptional soundtrack. I loved the performance of “Tonight,” a beautiful song that is still stuck in my head. Other highlights were the songs “Gee, Officer Krupke” and “I Feel Pretty." The performance of “I Feel Pretty” was exceptional as Maria and her co-workers cleaned the department store. “Gee, Officer Krupke” was especially comedic as it occurred in Officer Krupke’s office with him walking in toward the end of the song. The song “Tonight” is a classic, and listening to it after hearing it for so many years was amazing. The music is amazing but, that is just one aspect of the movie that I loved. The new scenes added depth to the characters as well as slight changes in the dialogue. A new scene that was one of my personal favorites was when Tony brought Maria to a place he saw while in prison. The exploration of who Tony used to be as opposed to the idea of who he
wants to be added immense value to the movie. It probed the question of "Is it possible for people to change?" The movie explored intense issues and this is part of what makes “West Side Story” an important movie to watch. As the viewer we get to see the problems of the cycle of violence, the discrimination against Puerto Ricans and the reality of broken families. The intense exploration of such deep topics is what led to the legacy of this movie. In a world where movies too often portray the world as a fairytale, “West Side Story” is based in the harsh realities and the deep flaws of human beings. But it is the truth in “West Side Story” that makes me love the movie, as many others do. For this reason I will (again) be awarding five shamrocks.
Contact John Clark at jclark20@nd.edu
Conact Rose at randrowich01@saintmarys.edu
“West Side Story (2021)” Director: Steven Spielberg Starring: Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler If you liked: “Romeo and Juliet”
EMMA KIRNER | The Observer
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The observer | Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
By EVAN McKENNA Managing Editor
I didn’t watch “Lost” growing up — mainly because I was four years old when it first aired — and I still haven’t watched it to this day. But I do remember one thing about the show: all of the adults in my life wouldn’t shut up about it. The island, the drama, the unraveling mystery — these components helped the show become a cultural touchstone and nationwide conversation-starter of the 2000s, as millions of viewers collectively tried to uncover its secrets. I think “Yellowjackets” has the potential to become the same. Not only similar to “Lost” in its premise (both being disaster dramas with ensemble casts), the series also boasts an extraordinary amount of mystery and seems poised to deliver even more throughout its projected five-season arc. We’re only one season in so far, and the internet is already abuzz with theories and guesswork — and my mom can’t stop texting me about what she thinks might happen next. But what makes “Yellowjackets” such great fodder for heated conversations and Twitter conspiracies? Why can’t I stop arguing with my friends and family about why their theories are trash and mine are objectively correct? The answer lies in the show’s premise. The premiere sees our protagonists — the members and coaching staff of a girls high school soccer team — on their way to nationals in Seattle, when their plane crashes in the midst of the Canadian wilderness. Those who survive the initial crash must also endure a host of other dangers: predators, starvation, the impending winter and whatever else is hiding among the trees, to name a few. But even more mystery comes with the introduction of a second timeline, set in 2021, 25 years after the events of the
By AIDAN THOMAS Associate Sports Editor
A newsroom is an interesting place, and ours is no different. The Observer is made up of four different primary departments — Sports, News, Scene and Viewpoint — that work together to produce the content you all read. Despite their penchant for collaboration, though, writers for these various departments vary greatly in their interests and personalities. What better way to look at and celebrate this wild combination of personalities that write, edit and pull office all-nighters than through an analysis of their favorite music? After all, music is a common tie among our generation, but, much like the members of The Observer themselves, personal tastes can vary widely.So what happens when you break down the musical preferences of each department, analyzing Spotify Wrapped data from five members of each department? You get electro, pop, rap, rock, country and a whole wide variety of tunes up and down the spectrum of musical interests. Feel free to check out each department’s 25-song playlist to get a peek at the veritable mosh pit of personalities and talents that converges on the basement of South Dining hall to produce each paper. It’s dually chaotic and entertaining — something that just felt right for this project.
News Top Five Artists: Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Olivia Rodrigo, Anderson .Paak, The War on Drugs The News Department came in with very bipolar results. The dominating preference leaned towards pop music with a clear preference for Taylor Swift. Out of five writers surveyed,
plane crash, as the story follows the adult versions of the girls who made it out of the woods alive. With both timelines running concurrently, there’s twice the room for intrigue; the adult storyline often incites questions about the high school storyline, and vice versa. The idea of an adult timeline taking place outside of the typical “Lost”-esque plot might sound boring, but “Yellowjackets” manages to make both halves of the show equally thrilling. Apparently, some totally unspeakable things happened in those woods, and the suspense surrounding whether those secrets will be revealed in the adult timeline is just as intense as the suspense of survival in the high school timeline. And despite the show’s myriad mysteries, its hidden secrets never feel cheap. While “Lost” might be called a “mystery-box show” — wherein secrets seem fabricated for the sole purpose of maintaining audiences’ attention, and answers only lead to more questions — the plotlines of “Yellowjackets” rarely seem contrived. In fact, many of the show’s mysteries are only unknown to the audience. The adult characters know exactly how they escaped the woods — it’s just a question of how long the show will make audiences wait to find out. The show’s crown jewel is its memorable cast of characters. The show is not only expertly acted — with standout performances from Melanie Lynskey, Juliette Lewis and Jasmin Savoy Brown — but also expertly cast, with adult actors that look and act eerily similar to their high school counterparts. Even when nothing particularly exciting is happening on screen, the lifelike characters keep you engaged. The show’s earlier timeline is also tinged with ’90s nostalgia, packed with moments and songs that’ll make your mom shout “I remember that!” at the TV. Especially praiseworthy is the main title theme, “No Return,” which expertly replicates the era’s punk-rock perfection.
“Yellowjackets” is about a lot of things, but at its core, I think it’s about trauma. The show does a fantastic job of portraying the challenges and complexities of the characters’ painful pasts: the anguish, the repression, the inevitability of one’s previous life finding its way back to them, whether they realize it or not. For all of the disaster dramas we’ve seen over the last few decades of television, “Yellowjackets” is notable in its ability to navigate its traumatic plot with nuance — for once acknowledging that the effects of trauma aren’t “healed” once the characters leave the island or escape the wilderness. What results is a series that can be enjoyed in a variety of different ways. “Yellowjackets” can act as a springboard for crucial conversations about trauma, the human condition, girlhood and womanhood, or it can be the impetus for your latest foray into labyrinthian conspiracy theories on internet forums. Even still, it can be just another show you enjoy on the surface level — another show to discuss with your mom during your weekly calls. Whichever way you watch “Yellowjackets,” I can assure you one thing: It’ll be a wild ride.
three had Swift as their top artist. Eight of her songs cracked the department’s 25-song playlist. Harry Styles and Olivia Rodrigo also proved to be popular among this group, with Styles also appearing on three topartist lists. Rodrigo only appeared on one person’s list, but as became a theme, her wildly popular 2021 album “Sour” produced a couple of massive hits that kept her among the most prevalent artists of the year. After the top trio, the vibe switched a little bit. Anderson .Paak, boosted by his 2016 song “Celebrate,” surged into the top five, giving News a little bit of rap to diversify their results. Meanwhile, War on Drugs provided a rock presence and rounded out the top five artists for News. On the department’s playlist, you’ll see 16 different artists covering a diverse set of musical tastes. That being said, be ready to hear some more Taylor. There’s a lot more of that coming.
Much like News, there was also a definite shift towards the bottom of the list. Here, Florida Georgia line brought us our first true country representation for The Observer, while The Brian Jonestown Massacre added some rock to Sports’ playlist. Overall, the playlist’s 25 songs feature 19 different artists.
Sports Top Five Artists: One Republic, Taylor Swift, Machine Gun Kelly, Florida Georgia Line, The Brian Jonestown Massacre The Sports department provided some very interesting results. Interests ranged greatly, including pop, electronic, country, rock and — pauses for dramatic effect — Taylor Swift. The top spot was a duel between Swift and One Republic, but the dominance of the band’s 2021 hit “Run” was enough to push the latter into the lead. Swift took second, and Machine Gun Kelly rode a handful of very popular songs from his recent albums into the top three. Despite being the artist most prominently featured on the sports playlist, MGK did not claim top artist as he only appeared in one response.
Contact Evan McKenna at emckenn2@nd.edu
“Yellowjackets” Starring: Melanie Lynskey, Jasmin Savoy Brown Favorite episodes:” “Bear Down,” “Doomcoming” If you liked: “Lost,” “The Wilds” Where to watch: Showtime, Hulu
Scene Top Five Artists: Phoebe Bridgers, Sufjan Stevens, Jeremy Soule, Joe Hisaishi, Olivia Rodrigo Scene’s results brought us some more variety and a dip into indie music. Notably, they were the only department to not feature Taylor Swift in their top five. For certain writers (read: me) who occasionally suffer from Taylor Swift burnout, this was a nice change in pace. The results from Scene were highly interesting. Only Phoebe Bridgers made a repeat appearance, as many of the individual writers turned in Wrapped data that was widely varied but also very tilted towards just one or two artists. For example, Sufjan Stevens only appeared on one person’s Wrapped, but three of his songs populated that person’s top five. Symphonist Jeremy Soule and Japanese classical composer Joe Hisaishi added a couple of new genres not seen to this point, while Olivia Rodrigo rounded out the list. Despite these varied results, you’ll see just 17 different artists on this playlist, so be sure to dive into what I’d argue is the most unique playlist of the four departments. A full version of this article is available on our website. Contact Aidan Thomas at athoma28@nd.edu MAKAYLA HERNANDEZ | The Observer
Classifieds
ndsmcobserver.com | Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | The Observer
Crossword | Will Shortz
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Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Take your time, think things through and make decisions based on your needs. Put your health and well-being first, and strive to look and feel your best. How you handle situations will determine the opportunities and support you receive along the way. A domestic change will encourage you to let go of the past and strive for a better future. Your numbers are 4, 16, 21, 26, 30, 38, 42. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Use your intelligence wisely. Get involved in events that offer information that discloses all angles of a situation. Being prepared will help you make better decisions when the time is right. A change of heart will point you in a new direction. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’ll find it challenging to stick to one thing. Promising more than you can deliver will not bode well with superiors. Put your physical strength and energy where they will bring the highest return. Actions speak louder than words. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Spend more time with your peers, and you will gain perspective regarding the best way to move forward. Eliminate individuals from your circle who are indulgent or exaggerate. Intelligence and determination will lead to success and happiness. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Save for something worthwhile. Think about the changes you can make to improve your community, relationships, qualifications and ability to get ahead. Broaden your interests, information and skills. A partnership will encourage new trends. Romance is featured. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Emotions will surface if someone tries to interfere with your plans. Don’t make changes because someone else does; do what’s best for you. An intelligent and healthy approach to life, love and your relationships with others will help you gain respect. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You’ll gravitate toward unique people and pastimes. The more you indulge in something foreign to you, the easier it will be to recognize what’s possible. Execute your plans with detail and precision, and positive change will follow. Romance is in the stars. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Be smart; provide valid reasons for the changes you make or the plans you pursue. A proactive approach, an open mind, and expressing compassion and understanding will help keep the peace and encourage the help you require to reach your goal. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t labor over something you cannot change. Take physical action, and do what you can to make your life better. Expand your interests, friendships and physical activities. Make home improvements that will benefit your health and well-being. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Money and emotions will lead to confusion and costly mistakes. Rethink your financial plan, and choose to put spending limits in place. Refuse to let anyone talk you into an expense that will tax your standard of living. Say no to indulgent behavior. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take the time to make your surroundings conducive to what you need and want to be successful. A personal change will lift your spirits and fetch compliments. An affectionate signal will spark your interest. Share something special with someone you love. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take notice of what’s going on around you. Be open to suggestions, but don’t go out of your way to please someone who doesn’t reciprocate. Be fair, not gullible. Don’t be prone to letting others take advantage of you. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Leave nothing to chance or unfinished. A spontaneous motion will result in an emotional setback. Work alongside people who are striving for the same results as you. Build a solid base, strong relationships and good work ethic, and you’ll excel.
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
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The observer | Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
Sports Authority
Sports Authority
Divisional round predictions John Kalemkerian Sports Writer
Continuing the trend of a great NFL season, Super Wild Card weekend gave us some great results and matchups to look for ward to, although three blowouts marginally dulled the hy pe. From many fans’ perspectives (including this Giants fan), the Saturday and Sunday outcomes were about as good as could be hoped for, w ith the hated Cowboys, Eagles and Patriots all going home w ithout playoff w ins. With most of the favorites still alive in the playoff picture, we should be getting close games from here on out, hopefully w ith less referee controversy. The div isional round w ill leave many fans heartbroken and several teams needing answers to difficult questions as they abruptly begin their offseason; here are my picks for what should be another great weekend of football. San Francisco 49ers 31, Green Bay Packers 27 This game w ill hinge on the play of one quarterback, but not the one you may expect. We all know Aaron Rodgers w ill play exceptionally well. It’s Jimmy Garoppolo who is the most important w ildcard in this game and maybe in the entire playoff picture. The Niners have a well-established run game and defense. They’re actually prett y similarly constructed to the team that made the Super Bowl just two years ago. It w ill obv iously be difficult to go into Lambeau and take dow n what many consider the best team in the NFL, but remember that the Packers won by just two points in their meeting earlier in the season w ith the Niners leading rusher, Eli Mitchell, not play ing. At the ver y least, this game w ill be much closer than many expect. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Los Angeles Rams/Arizona Cardinals As of w riting, the Rams versus Cardinals game has yet to be decided. Nevertheless, I see the Bucs
beating either of these t wo NFC West teams. Tampa Bay’s vaunted run defense was on display against the Eagles, giv ing up just 56 rushing yards to running backs. Despite missing several key pieces on offense, I have extreme confidence that Tom Brady w ill find a way to pull out a playoff w in, something he’s not exactly a stranger w ith. Tennessee Titans 24, Cincinnati Bengals 23 The most intriguing game on the slate, in my opinion, neither of these teams thought they’d be in this spot when the season began. The Titans, coming off the invaluable firstround bye, w ill be getting Derrick Henr y back. Henr y could change the entire playoff picture if he can prove he’s back to full strength. The Bengals defense has been prett y susceptible to the run, especially over the back half of the season. In all likelihood, Joe Burrow w ill out duel Ryan Tannehill, but I see Henr y’s return being enough to turn the tide in Tennessee’s favor. Buffalo Bills 45, Kansas City Chiefs 35 The best w ill be saved for last in the div isional round: This game is slated to start at 6:30 p.m. Sunday and w ill decide the final team to make the Championship Round. Josh A llen versus |Patrick Mahomes should be a great AFC playoff rivalr y for years to come, but A llen w ill need to take action soon to prevent it from becoming one-sided. Mahomes sufficiently outplayed A llen last year as the Chiefs cruised to the Super Bowl, posting 21 straight points in the second quarter after the Bills jumped out to an early nine-point lead. A ll signs point to this game being a high-scoring barnburner, but the Bills’ incredible offensive success as of late coupled w ith their defensive edge in this matchup gives them the advantage.
Kramer: Scouts are here to stay David Kramer Sports Writer
At the core of the human condition lies inescapable bias. Our secluded and invisible perspective on the world carries w ith it a ver y overt and visible indication of pre-judgment, conception and preference. Much of our life is defined not by the ex istence or non-ex istence of our biases but, rather, the shape they take. In highly datarich environments, institutions turn to analy tics in an attempt to remove the commonly misconstrued “imperfections” that ride on the coat tails of biased thinking. A strictly human approach to the problems around us could lead to more questions than we find answers, so surely rigid objectivity ought to work around that disappointment, right? No. Even the largest and most highly robust data sets, and the insights that we can extract from them, hold implicit bias in their structure and content. No golden data set ex ists, not even in private sectors. Take baseball’s modern era, for instance. The introduction of the live-ball era in 1920, where after a series of rule changes there was a massive inf lux in offense across Major League Baseball. This is due to the fact that previously the ball would almost never be replaced, and in addition, pitchers were able to deface and cut into the ball. Upon realizing the unprecedented advantages that power, contact and plate
discipline would hold for the foreseeable future, the “five-tool” scouting archety pe for valuable players was born. A predominance of competitive advantage would stem from extracting offensive value from players; an offensive focus would come on both the scouting and player development side. But in spite of the new initiative to find and develop talented players that would be fit for the live-ball era, the bias of the project would be painfully unavoidable for data-focused front offices. With the aspects of a successful and “valuable” player changing so quick ly, offices could not have responded to that shift w ithout scouts to drive the value approach. W hy? Past season data grew vastly outdated, unable to showcase the quantitative signs of value in the new era. Granted, sports front offices did not hold the computational power to build the complex algorithms and models that are commonplace today. Even if they did, the historic inputs would inevitably produce a poorly biased output. A ll things considered, it is plain to see why by the 1960s, the depth and involvement of scouting in professional baseball soared to new heights. Of course, the shift from dead-ball to live-ball baseball is an extreme case of contextual bias. The complications w ith extracting the right value inf lated in concert w ith the speed of the game’s revolution. We simply haven’t
seen something as momentous since. But at its core, the principle of contextual bias is knit into the ver y fabric of z sports management; w ith a distinctly human game comes intangibles that technolog y is still far removed from measuring. The fragile relationship between analy tics and aesthetics, between the objective and the subjective, remains in constant f lux. No matter how it changes as baseball matures, scouts w ill always play a pivotal role in the dynamic. Using subjective scouts to dilute bias in objective sports statistics may feel backwards. But humans have the agency to actively seek the intangibles, to ensure that the analy tical insights match the appearances. Computers don’t meet parents, speak w ith coaches and detect deep-seated f laws that could be easily exposed and not easily fixed at the next level. Scouts do. To quote Ken Rosenthal, “Analy tics are an equalizer.” Balancing a human approach to talent searching w ith analy tical methods should not compete w ith each other, nor are the two front office tools mutually exclusive. In sports, matching the insights of a black box w ith the reinforced obser vations of a scout invites an open line of communication that equalizes the present biases against the past ones. So onward to equalize. Contact David Kramer at dkramer2@nd.edu
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Hockey Continued from page 16
delayed penalt y w ith senior for ward Jake Wise finding the back of the net. The Irish were then able to kill off the ensuing Buckeye power play to force an overtime period. The Irish ended the game quick ly in overtime w ith senior for ward Jake Pivonka finding Landon Slaggert in the neutral zone. Slaggert then found senior defenseman Spencer Stastney in front of a t wo-on-one, and Stastney snuck the puck past Dobes to give the Irish a 3-2 overtime v ictor y. On Saturday night, the Irish fell 4-1 to the Buckeyes despite outshooting them by a 39-22 margin. The Buckeyes struck first yet again on Saturday during a power play w ith senior for ward Quinn Preston scoring off of a rebound at the 3:18 mark of the first period. A lthough the Buckeyes got another power play only minutes later, senior for ward Cam Burke intercepted Dobes’ clearing attempt and slipped the puck into the back of the net to tie the game at one apiece at the 6:44 mark of the first period. The Irish would generate t wo power plays over the remainder of the first period, but they failed to take advantage and the game remained tied after twent y minutes of play. After killing off a Buckeyes power play to open up the second period, the Irish earned a 5-on-3 chance due to a pair of minor penalties on the Buckeyes. The Irish had some great looks, but Dobes made eight saves over the power play to keep the game tied. Junior for ward Trevor Janicke had a great look at the end of the third period, but he was denied by Dobes, and the Buckeyes brought the puck dow n the ice quick ly to score and take a 2-1 lead w ith 40 seconds remaining in the second period. The Irish then turned the puck over at the 4:11 mark of the third period, and the Buckeyes would capitalize off the mistake to take a 3-1 lead. The Buckeyes would score again at the 16:21 mark of the third period to secure a 4-1 v ictor y. With the loss on Saturday, the Irish dropped to fourth in the Big Ten standings, and the Buckeyes moved up to second. The Irish w ill return to
ndsmcobserver.com | Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | The Observer
action this Wednesday at the Compton Family Ice Arena where they w ill have a non-conference game against Boston College (10-8-3, 5-6-2-1-01 HE A). This game was rescheduled from November when the game was postponed due to COV ID-19 protocols w ithin the Boston College program. Senior for ward Jake Pivonka has been a key player for the Irish as of late since his recent return from a six month injur y, especially during faceoffs. Head coach Jeff Jackson discussed the importance of Pivonka’s faceoff w inning capabilities. “Hav ing Jake back gives us that threat of w inning a draw, especially in certain situations. There are key points in games over the last couple of weeks when he has been back, whether it’s on the penalt y kill, whether it’s 5-on-3, whether it’s 3-on-3,” Jackson said. “Faceoffs might not always lead directly to goals and scoring chances, but they lead to possession and you can’t have goals and scoring chances w ithout it.” Jackson also talked about the development of sophomore for ward Ryder Rolston so far this season. “Ryder has a great shot and we are just tr y ing to teach him when to shoot and when not to shoot,” Jackson said. “We want him to show a little more poise and recognize when that shot is available, so he can use that big shot. I think he is learning patience and poise and I think that is crucial to his game.” Boston College and Notre Dame are longtime rivals and have played each other ever y season since 19951996 w ith the exception of the 1999-2000, 200506, 2017-18 and 2020-21 seasons. The Irish were supposed to play Boston College in last year’s NCA A Tournament before being unable to play due to COV ID-19 protocols. The Eagles currently lead the series 23-20-3 and won their last game against the Irish in 2019 by a score of 6-1. The puck w ill drop at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, and the game can be v iewed on Peacock or Fighting Irish T V.
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Swimming & Diving
Irish prepare to host Tim Welsh Classic mid-November at the Ohio State Fall Inv itational where Sports Writer both the Men’s and Women’s teams placed fourth out of Notre Dame Sw im and ten teams. As a whole, the Dive returns to competi- team had a strong show ing. “We had a number of tion this weekend for the first time in t wo months athletes put up a lifetime follow ing a slew of COV ID- best and a season-best,” related meet cancellations, Brinkman said. “We had most recently, the Irish’s a number of athletes put meet against Princeton and themselves — at the midseaNav y. Notre Dame w ill host son break — in contention the Tim Welsh Classic at for qualification for NC A As. Rolfs Aquatic center kick- It was a really productive ing off this Friday, Januar y meet for our team and it put 21 at 10 a.m. in honor of the us in a really good spot. It late Tim Welsh, former 29- gave us an understanding year Notre Dame Sw im and of what this team is capable Dive head sw im coach who of at the end of the year.” Standout sw immers for passed away in June 2021. Teams attending include the weekend included senior Ohio State Universit y, captain Josh Bottelberghe senior Luciana Universit y of A kron and Women’s team and Thomas. Bottelberghe set Missouri State Universit y t wo school records in the Women’s team. Assistant 100 and 200 breaststrokes, coach Joe Brinkman has finishing second in the a positive outlook on 100 breaststroke final and the weekend, feeling ea- claiming the v ictor y in the ger for his sw immers to 200. Thomas attained three get back in on the action. NCA A B cut times in the 200 “We’ve had to put f ly, 500 free and 400 IM. For the health of the team the divers, graduate stufirst, which is the prior- dent Kelly Straub and freshit y, but unfortunately it man Callie Brady put up left us w ithout a competi- some points for the women tion up until this point,” in the 1-meter, 3-meter and Brinkman said. “We’re re- platform events, and seally excited to get back in nior Dav id Petrison was the the water and get at it.” highest finisher for the men. The Tim Welsh Classic The most recent competition for the Irish was back in w ill act as what Brinkman Madeline Ladd
called a “dr y run” for the championship meets such as ACCs coming up in midFebruar y, and for some — NCA As in March. This meet w ill also include a senior recognition portion, allowing Notre Dame Sw im and Dive to honor their seniors for their time on the team. Know n in the past as the Shamrock Inv itational, the meet’s name was changed to the Tim Welsh Classic follow ing Coach Welsh’s death last summer. Brinkman hopes that this name change w ill honor Welsh’s Notre Dame legacy. “Tim was such an integral part of this team and the histor y of this team at the universit y,” Brinkman said. “He was just a ver y special coach and person that meant a lot to so many. He touched a lot of lives here in this program, so it really means a lot that we are able to name this meet after him and run it and compete for Notre Dame in his legacy.” The t wo-day competition begins at Rolfs on Friday, Januar y 21 at 10 a.m., followed by div ing at 5 p.m. and another session at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday. Contact Madeline Ladd at mladd2@nd.edu
ARIANNA DENNING | The Observer
Contact Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu
Irish sophomore Sarah Bender competes in Notre Dame’s home meet against Pitt and Cleveland State on Oct. 15, 2021. Bender’s 200 yard free relay placed fourth of ten teams with a time of 1:37:30.
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Sports
The observer | Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
AOTW Continued from page 16
top-ranked offense in the ACC. After a shak y first quarter put the Irish in a 22-15 hole, they rallied on the strength of a dominant third quarter. Excellent defense kept the Tar Heels to 43 points over the final three quarters. Freshman Sonia Citron and graduate student Maya Dodson each notched a double-double. An undefeated week w ith their best victor y of the season moved Notre Dame up to third in the ACC and the No. 19 ranking in the AP Poll. It also earns them the inaugural team of the week award from the Obser ver Sports Staff. Women’s Athlete of the Week: Dara Mabrey, Notre Dame Women’s Basketball This selection w rote itself. Senior guard Dara Mabrey was on another level this past week, averaging 23 points per game in the Irish’s two games. Defensively, Mabrey notched her fifth and sixth multisteal performances. Against Wake Forest, Mabrey played 36 minutes and racked up 22 points. A 7-8 performance from the charity stripe powered the performance, as well as a 3-3 effort from inside the three-point arc. On Sunday, it was all about the deep shot. Mabrey poured in 24 points, jacking up 13 three-point attempts and drilling six of them. Mabrey notched two assists and three steals, and she was on the court for 37 of 40 minutes in the game. For her dominant twogame effort on both ends of the court, Mabrey garnered well over 50% of the vote among the final four finalists to claim the first Obser ver Sports Women’s Athlete of the Week. Honorable Mention: Rachel Tanczos, Notre Dame Track & Field Graduate student Rachel Tanczos put up an admirable effort at the SimmonsHar vey Invitational. Tanczos helped power the Irish to a second-place team finish by
placing second in the shot put and w inning the weight throw. Men’s Athlete of the Week: Michael Shoaf, Notre Dame Track & Field In a close vote, sophomore Michael Shoaf was the Irish’s most successful performer on the men’s side. Competing in field events, Shoaf picked up a pair of victories in the shot put and weight toss at the Simmons-Har vey Invitational. The weight throw was a tightly-contested affair. Shoaf sat in third after his first throw, and he still lingered in second place entering his final effort. Having peaked at 18.49 meters, Shoaf needed a throw of 18.68 to tie for first. He exceeded that w ith ease, launching a 19.1-meter effort to claim first place. Shoaf’s shot put victor y came w ith much greater ease. He fired his first shot 17.53 meters, a mark which nobody came w ithin a meter of throughout the event. He boosted his ow n effort up to 18.36 meters, claiming victor y by a whopping 2.1 meters (just under 7 feet). His clutch comeback effort in the weight toss, dominance in shot put and elite two-victor y performance earned Shoaf the Men’s Athlete of the Week. Honorable Mention: Spencer Stastney, Notre Dame Hockey Senior defenseman Spencer Stastney came through in the clutch on Friday evening for the Irish hockey team. Facing a tough road trip to No. 14 Ohio State, the Irish were in danger of dropping the opener to the Buckeyes. The game went into overtime, but Stastney ensured Notre Dame emerged on top, tick ling the tw ine for the overtime w inner. It was a big w in, as Notre Dame split the series and stayed at No. 13 in the polls. They face a quick turnaround against Boston College on Wednesday night. Contact Aidan Thomas at athoma28@nd.edu
Bball Continued from page 16
the game. “I thought the Virginia Tech crowd kept their team believing the whole time.” Graduate student forward Paul Atkinson Jr. led the Irish w ith 19 points and 9 rebounds, but he fouled out w ith just over a minute to play and the game tied at 73. The Hokies would go on to score the final six points of the contest to w in 79-73. The Irish struggled all night to contain Virginia Tech for wards Justyn Mutts and Keve A luma. The two combined for 41 points and 15 rebounds. “The two big guys are relentless,” Brey said of the pair. “They’re really good and physical and athletic, and they’re just hard to guard one on one.” Brey said after wards that the game plan had been to leave Atkinson and senior for ward Nate Laszewski to defend inside w ithout much help in order to limit the Hokies’ three-point shooting. Things did not go as planned and Virginia Tech made 10 of 20 shots from behind the arc. “I don’t know if we did a ver y good job of either [defending
inside or limiting three-pointers] today,” he said Notre Dame led by 8 at halftime and took a 10 point lead, their biggest of the contest, w ith just under 15 minutes after an Atkinson lay up. Virginia Tech then began to chip away. The Hokies took their first lead since the opening two minutes w ith just under six to play, and the Irish wasted numerous opportunities to w in in the final minutes; they missed three free throws in the final 90 seconds, including two from senior guard Cormac Ryan w ith 47 seconds to go that would have tied the game. The Irish then traveled to Washington, D.C. to face Howard University, one of the nation’s most famous historically Black universities, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The game was supposed to be played a year ago, but was canceled due to the pandemic. Brey and Howard head coach Kenny Blakeney have a long histor y. Brey recruited Blakeney as a player while Brey was an assistant coach at Duke, and Blakeney
later ser ved on his staff at Delaware. Leading up to the scheduled game last year, the two teams worked together and attended workshops in order to get more people registered to vote. “It’s an honor to be on an HBCU campus, a prestigious university in Howard, and to be in that setting,” Brey said Friday prior to the road trip. “I think it’s a great educational opportunity for our players; I think it’s an unbelievable message for our University.” The Irish were favored by double digits heading into the contest but Howard (6-8, 0-1 MEAC) proved to be a formidable opponent. Brey said it was a challenge to play another game less than 48 hours after the loss to Virginia Tech. “I was ver y worried about today, physically and mentally, for us, because we invested a lot in Blacksburg in a really physical game,” he said after the contest. Contact Liam Coolican at lcoolica@nd.edu
ANYA RUFFINO | The Observer
Irish senior guard Dane Goodwin evades defenders at the net during Notre Dame’s match against the Clemson Tigers on Jan. 12. Goodwin led the team to a 72-56 home victory at the Purcell Pavilion.
sports
ndsmcobserver.com | Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | The Observer
ND Women’s Basketball
Fencing
Irish push past Tar Heels, prepare for Eagles By LIAM COOLICAN Sports Writer
Notre Dame (13-3, 4-1 ACC) came away w ith a hard-fought 70-65 victor y over 21st-ranked North Carolina (14-2, 4-2 ACC). Senior guard Dara Mabrey scored a seasonhigh 24 points, including six three-pointers, and graduate student for ward Maya Dodson added a double-double for the Irish. Dodson scored 10 points to go along w ith 11 rebounds and 4 blocks. “I’m just so proud of this group,” head coach Niele Ivey said after the game. “I’m so proud of this w in, but I’m also proud of the resiliency of this team.” The Irish trailed by as many as nine points midway through the second quarter. They then battled back and cut the deficit to just one heading into the locker room. Freshman point guard Olivia Miles picked up her third foul w ith just under four minutes to play in the half. This limited her impact, but she still finished w ith 7 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists. “That’s the strength of this unit is that we have such versatility,” Ivey said. “I have two starters coming off the bench. Sonia [Citron] is a starter, and so is Sam [Brunelle].” Citron, the ACC freshman of the week four times in six weeks, added a double-double for Notre Dame w ith 10 points and 12 rebounds. “I thought it was an incredibly balanced attack against a really great North Carolina team,” Ivey said of the team’s offense. The Irish also forced 18 turnovers against a Tar Heels offense that had been the highest scoring in the conference. Notre Dame came out energized to start the third quarter, going on an early 17-2 run which put them up 50-39 and fired up the crowd at Purcell Pavilion. “I credit our staff for the halftime adjustments,” Mabrey said. “They have great halftime adjustments and it was really evident, especially in that fourminute stretch to start the third.” North Carolina continued
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to fight, but it seemed when they got w ithin striking distance, Notre Dame would make another shot. A three-pointer from Mabrey to close the quarter put the Irish up, 54-48. “W hen [Mabrey] misses, I’m shocked,” Ivey said. “She’s the heart and soul of our group. She’s always the one bringing the energ y.” It was the first time the Irish had played at home since their Dec. 19 w in over Pittsburgh. The team attributed part of the success at home this year to the fans. “We credit our fans for that energ y,” Mabrey said. “They give us energ y, and we give that energ y back, and this is the best place to be.” Notre Dame hasn’t lost at home in seven games this year. The Tar Heels cut the lead to just one w ith eight minutes to play. Another Mabrey three extended the lead for Notre Dame, and the Irish pulled away for good. “Defensively, we played a lot harder. I felt like we competed more. We were more aware of the shooters, and we got stops, we got rebounds,” Ivey said of the fourth quarter. “It always comes dow n to who’s going to lock in defensively and who’s going to be able to execute. I felt like we did that better today.”
The Irish came off a road w in over Wake Forest on Thursday night. During it, they led by 24 points heading into the fourth quarter. But the Demon Deacons outscored the Irish to 30-16 in the final frame to climb back into the contest. The Irish held on for a 74-64 w in, led by Mabrey’s 22 points. Brunelle added 16 and Miles had 15 points and 12 assists. “It’s just going to continue building momentum for our group,” Ivey said. “Ever y time you w in a game in the ACC is big. I want them to understand you have to celebrate ever y victor y.” Notre Dame heads east this week for a Thursday night matchup w ith Boston College. The Eagles (12-5, 3-3 ACC) had won four games in a row prior to losing to Louisville Sunday afternoon. For ward Taylor Soule and guard Cameron Swartz, who average 15.5 and 13.5 points per game, respectively, lead the Eagles. Notre Dame, meanwhile, moved up to third in the ACC. The Irish w ill look to solidif y that position by w inning their third consecutive contest, and their eighth in the last nine games. Contact Liam Coolican at lcoolica@nd.edu
Fencing kicks off 2022 slate By JOSE SANCHEZ CORDOVA Sports Writer
Following an undefeated start to the season, the Notre Dame fencing team is back in action this weekend for the first time in 2022 with two meets on the east coast. Since the defending national champions last competed on Dec. 5, the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) released their Early Season poll, with the 16-0 women’s team and 12-0 men’s team both topping their respective polls.Competing backto-back days this weekend, the Irish begin with a meet in Queens, New York at the St. John’s Invitational. Here they will face Ohio State, Penn State, Harvard, Columbia and the host St. John’s. It’s a short drive down I-95 to Philadelphia for the team’s second meet at the Philadelphia Invitational on Sunday. Here they will face Division III standouts Drew and top-ranked NYU, Ivy League opponents Columbia, Yale and Princeton and the meet’s hosts Penn. This weekend marks Notre Dame’s first bouts against Ivy League opposition since February 2020 following the conference’s cancellation of all sports during the 2020-2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The matchup against Columbia is especially intriguing because they were ranked No. 2 behind Notre Dame in both the men’s and women’s USFCA polls. The Lions also have an undefeated
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season with the women’s team at 11-0 and the men at 10-0. Columbia was the reigning national champion before the Irish triumph last March. Princeton and Harvard’s teams represent even more highly ranked opposition for the Irish this weekend in what is a clear step up in competition for the defending champions. Saturday will also be Notre Dame’s first meeting with the national runners-up Nittany Lions since the Irish claimed their 11th national title in University Park last March. However, Penn State’s powerhouse fencing program has had a turbulent start to the season. The team was without their longtime head coach Wes Glon following a suspension due to allegations of suppressing sexual misconduct complaints. Following the conclusion of the investigation in November, Glon returned to the team on probation. Nevertheless, the Nittany Lions have two top-10 ranks (7th in the men’s and 5th in the women’s) in the USFCA’s polls, making them a notable opponent for the Irish. With two meets in 48 hours against toplevel opposition, this weekend marks a turning point for the Irish fencing team. Without a doubt, a successful weekend will give them momentum heading into their home meet in the final weekend of January. Contact Jose Sanchez Cordova at jsanch24@nd.edu
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The observer | Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
Hockey
ND MEN’s Basketball
Irish split series against Buckeyes By NATE MOLLER Sports Writer
The 13th-ranked Irish (16-7-0, 9-5-0-4-1-0 B1G) returned to action this past weekend to face off against the 15th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (16-7-1, 8-5-1-0-1-1 B1G) in Columbus. A lthough the Irish managed to w in the first game 3-2 in overtime, they dropped the second game by a score of 4-1. In game one, it was the Buckeyes who scored first w ith junior for ward Kamil Sadlocha slipping a back hander past junior goaltender Ryan Bischel. There was a long rev iew on the play for offsides, but the goal stood for the Buckeyes. The Irish would generate some good looks over the remainder of the first period, but they were unable to find the back of the net and the Buckeyes took the lead into the locker room at the first intermission. At the beginning of the
Irish fall to Hokies, beat Howard in MLK Classic By LIAM COOLICAN
second period, the Irish quick ly tied it up w ith senior for ward Graham Slaggert beating Ohio State freshman goaltender Jakub Dobes five-hole for his sixth goal of the season at the 3:20 mark. Slaggert was assisted on the play by his sophomore brother Landon. The Irish continued to keep pressure on the Buckeyes during the rest of the second period, but Dobes fought off a couple Irish shots to keep the score level at one apiece. With just over five minutes remaining in the period, the Irish were finally able to break through and score, taking a 2-1 lead. This time it was Landon Slaggert who followed up a shot from sophomore forward Ryder Rolston. The Buckeyes then quickly tied it up just a couple of minutes later on a
Sports Writer
ANYA RUFFINO | The Observer
see HOCKEY PAGE 13
Irish freshman Blake Wesley took the court by storm during Notre Dame’s Jan. 12 match against Clemson at the Purcell Pavilion.
Notre Dame squandered a double-digit second-half lead Saturday night at Virginia Tech, and nearly let another game slip through their fingers Monday a fternoon, but instead held on for a narrow victor y over Howard in the MLK Classic. The Irish (11-6, 4-2 ACC) had won six straight games prior to their matchup w ith Virginia Tech (9-7, 1-4 ACC) and in the second half, led by as many as 10 points but couldn’t hold on for v ictor y. Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey credited the Hokies’ raucous fans for supporting their team throughout the contest. “W hat a great atmosphere,” he said after see BBALL PAGE 14
AThlete of the week
Dara Mabrey and Michael Shoaf earn inaugural Observer Athletes of the Week By AIDAN THOMAS Associate Sports Editor
In an effort to recognize the top performers from around the tri-campus community, the Obser ver Sports Staff is debuting a week ly set of awards given to the Men’s and Women’s Athlete of the Week, as well as a Team of the Week. The top performances were whittled dow n to a list of four finalists for each award and then voted upon by the Obser ver Sports Staff. Without further ado, here are the first w inners of these weekly awards. Team of the Week: Notre Dame Women’s Basketball The inaugural team
of the week selection was a clear choice. The Notre Dame women’s basketball team put up a 2-0 week in ACC play, punctuating it w ith a 70-65 victor y over No. 21 UNC. It was the Irish’s first home victor y over a top 25 team since Feb. 10, 2019. Notre Dame started their excellent week w ith a road victor y over Wake Forest. The Irish established a dominant 24-point advantage after three quarters and ultimately handled the Demon Deacons, 74-64. Freshman Olivia Miles had a double-double in the w in. Then, Notre Dame returned home to face the Tar Heels, who were 4-1 in conference play w ith the see AOTW PAGE 14
ANYA RUFFINO | The Observer
Irish senior Dara Mabrey runs down the court during Notre Dame’s home match against North Carolina on Jan. 15 at the Purcell Pavilion. Mabrey was voted the Observer Sports’ Women’s Athlete of the Week.