Print Edition of The Observer for Monday, August 17, 2020

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Volume 55, Issue 4 | Monday, august 17, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

University expands health check Outbreak of COVID-19 linked to Aug. 9 off-campus party Observer Staff Report

Sunday morning provost Marie Ly nn Miranda, executive v ice president Shannon Cullinan and v ice president for student affairs Erin Hoffmann Harding w rote to the campus communit y to prov ide updates on sur veillance testing, contact tracing and daily health checks.

According to the email, the turnaround time for the Universit y’s PCR coronav irus tests have been one to t wo days, and this time frame is expected to continue. The email said the Universit y has a deep inventor y of both PCR tests and antigen tests.

“We have never run out of tests, and decisions around

who and when to test are driven by our medical team.

The Universit y has not and would not deny a medically recommended test because of cost,” the email said.

The email said if a student or facult y member tests positive elsewhere, they should report the positive test to Universit y health ser v ices.

In regard to contact tracing, the email said those who have tested positive have been cooperative and forthcoming w ith information, citing rumors of students’ behav ior as false.

“Reports that students are dodging our calls are inconsistent w ith the data we have collected on the contract see HEALTH PAGE 5

Alum shares experience of priest abuse

DIANE PARK | The Observer

SMC leaders urge adherence to protocols Observer Staff Report

Gloria Roldán Jenkins, interim vice president for student affairs, addressed students’ personal conduct in an email sent to the student body Friday.

Jenkins said she is overall

pleased with students following the safety mandates on campus but acknowledged this cannot be said for the entire of the student body.

“Those who walk through the halls and pull up their masks only when a faculty

member is seen; extended visiting without masks after dining. Students who inadvertently or willfully disregard the safety plans we have enacted pose a threat to the health of our community and see SAINT MARY’S PAGE 5

Students reflect on first week of in-person classes

By FANGRUI CHEN Photo courtesy of Mark Fuller

Current photo of Mark Fuller, class of 1977. During Fuller’s time in St. Edward’s hall, he was sexually abused by his hall rector.

By NATALIE WEBER and MARY STEURER Senior News Writers

experience of priest abuse in 2002. Notre Dame offered little more than an apolog y.

Editor’s note: This story

Mark Fuller, class of 1977, came for ward w ith his

see ALUM PAGE 4

NEWS PAGE 4

VIEWPOINT PAGE 8

News Writer

Notre Dame resumed inperson classes on Aug. 10, becoming one of the first universities to reopen after the academic shutdow ns due to COVID-19 across the nation. As the school year kicks off, students ref lected

SCENE PAGE 9

on their first week in this unusual semester.

Francine Shaft, a junior majoring in theolog y, appreciates the opportunit y to be physically present on the campus.

“We are not only pay ing our tuition for our classes, we are also pay ing for our communit y, friendship and

extracurricular activ ities,” Shaft said.

W hen it comes to learning, Shaft said she believes in-person classes are preferable to online classes, and holding in-person classes w ill keep students engaged.

nd football PAGE 16

JOHN MOONEY PAGE 16

see FIRST WEEK PAGE 5

2

TODAY

The observer | monday, august 17, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

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If you could time travel, what era would you travel to?

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Bella Dugas

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junior Le Mans Hall

junior Le Mans Hall

“Anywhere where I can go to a Queen concert.”

“Pre-One Direction break-up.”

Catherine Kane

Kaley Greshman

junior Le Mans Hall

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“90s - early 2000s.”

“1600s.”

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Grace Gulowski

Megan King

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junior Le Mans Hall

junior Le Mans Hall

“1970s - 80s”

“Little Women era.”

Editor-in-Chief Maria Leontaras Managing Editor Mariah Rush Asst. Managing Editor: Maeve Filbin Asst. Managing Editor: Claire Rafford Asst. Managing Editor: Sara Schlecht Notre Dame News Editor: Serena Zacharias Saint Mary’s News Editor: Mia Marroquin Viewpoint Editor: Nelisha Silva Sports Editor: Hayden Adams Scene Editor: Ryan Israel Photo Editor: Allison Thornton Graphics Editor: Diane Park Social Media Editor: Ellie Dombrowski Advertising Manager: Landry Kempf Ad Design Manager: Abby Meyer Systems Administrator: Stephen Hannon Talent & Inclusion Manager: Nola Wallace Office Manager & General Info

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ALLISON THORNTON | The Observer

Students study in Duncan Student Center after the conclusion of the first week of classes. Tables in the Midfield Commons area have been rearranged so students can appropriately social distance while eating or doing homework.

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Slow Look at “Touchstones of the 20th Century” Snite Museum of Art 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m.

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Lecture given by Estela Rivero.

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ndsmcobserver.com | Monday, august 17, 2020 | The Observer

3

First-year retreats aim to foster community

By KAYLE LIAO News Writer

The Black Student Ministry First Year “Plunge” Retreat and Asian/Asian American First Year Retreat took place all day Saturday in an effort to connect first-year students and celebrate their backgrounds.

Sophomore Dylan Leupi, an Asian/Asian American First Year Retreat leader, said the goal of the retreat was to introduce first years to a community on campus and make them aware that other students are here for them to help them embark on their journeys. wouldn’t get immediately taken down,” Hembree said.

Despite the challenges, Hembree said the entire experience has been both informative and rewarding.

In light of the pandemic, the first-year retreats took place on campus in the Dahnke Ballroom for the Asian/Asian American First Year Retreat and the Stepan Center for the Black Student Ministry First Year Retreat.

More than 50 first-year students, along with 28 leaders participated in The Plunge and around 120 first-year students along with 26 leaders participated in the Asian/ Asian American retreat.

The planning behind the retreats began in the summer and required team efforts to adjust to the COV ID-19 protocols regarding spacing, catering and activities.

“Throughout the planning process, we focused on what we called the three C’s,” said senior Daryl Naquin Jr., an anchor intern at Campus

Ministry. “The three C’s were to cover, to build community and to commission.

[The first-years] were coming with a lot of stuff on their hearts. Their senior year was vacated, and they were dealing with racial trauma throughout the past couple of months. But despite everything going on, God still has a purpose for them. That was what we were trying to convey through talks with them.”

In spite of COV ID-19 protocols, many participants said they still enjoyed their retreat experience.

“My favorite part was in the end when everyone was put into a circle, and we had popsicle sticks, and people stood up in terms of birthdays and tapped people they thought were their friends,” said first year student Iverson Sun, who attended the Asian/ Asian American First Year Retreat. “It was a really sweet and wholesome thing.”

Though the circumstances differed from usual retreats, sophomore Jerome Gan, Asian/Asian American First Year Retreat leader said he thinks the group managed to include everything that is traditionally a part of the Asian American Association.

“That was a big success,” he said.

“It showed because this morning, waking up to notes, texts, emails from table leaders, from all these first years who I met, and hearing all these positive experiences from them and all these kind words of affirmations really just make my day, my month and my year.”

The retreat leaders,

Courtesy of Daryl Naquin

First-year students at the Black Student Ministry First Year “Plunge” retreat participate in an exercise while socially distancing in the Stepan Center. The theme for the retreat this year was Be a Fire.

including Naquin, hope the first year students can carry friendships with them as they are about to embark on their college journeys.

“The goal of The Plunge is to provide first years an opportunity to build community and also gain the wisdom that they need to help them on their journeys,” Naquin said.

Gan said the same in reference to the Asian/Asian American First Year Retreat.

“I really wanted to remind them that there’s a community when they need it, there

Courtesy of Dylan Leupi

At the Asian/Asian American First Year Retreat, first-year students and upperclassmen leaders build community through a series of activities all day, aimed to celebrate Asiam/Asian American culture.

is someone to be connected with and will be there for them, be the first years or be it upperclassmen within the Asian community. That’s why I wanted to lead it because I feel a sense of responsibility to these kids and to the community,” Gan said.

W hile COV ID-19 changes have made the first-year experience different, Gan said first-year students will make some of the most extraordinary memories in their life at the retreat.

“COV ID isn’t going to stop your year. This year is going

to be as special as you make it out to be just as any other year would be,” Gan said.

“Sure there are setbacks. It is tougher to meet people right now, but the resilience and the experiences that come out of this will be ones that you will cherish for a lifetime. I know that these kids are going to make the best out of it, and they’re going to go into this year and into next year prepared, strong, resilient, responsible.”

Contact Kayle Liao at xliao@nd.edu

4

NEWS

The observer | monday, august 17, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Alum Continued from page 1

includes descriptions of sexual abuse and violence. A list of sexual assault reporting options and on-campus resources can be found on the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross websites. A version of this story was printed on July 3.

The first two times Mark Fuller visited Fr. William Presley, then rector of St. Edward’s Hall, they just talked.

It was 1974, and Fuller vividly remembers sitting in an orange lounge chair in the front of Presley’s rectory while the priest asked him questions about his classes, his family and his personal life. Fuller remembers Presley offering him a soda.

Then, in their third or fourth meeting, Fuller said, things changed. Presley told Fuller to wait while he went into the bedroom. When Presley called him in, he was in bed under the covers. He told Fuller to disrobe.

Fuller said this was the first time Presley raped him.

“He would go get a washcloth — ‘This is what you do.

This is what you do with your partner,’” recalled Fuller, 65.

“He was telling me how sex worked.”

Presley raped him two more times during his sophomore year, Fuller said.

Investigators say Presley victimized many people over the course of his career.

According to a 2018 report by a grand jury that investigated sex abuse allegations against the clergy in Pennsylvania, where Presley also worked, at least five have credibly accused him of abuse. The report, which cited records from the Diocese of Erie, said Presley was known to have abused people through “‘choking, slapping, punching, rape, sodomy, fellatio, anal intercourse’ and other acts.”

“It’s some kind of a soul murder, you know,” said Fuller, who graduated from the University in 1977. “It really is. It damages something so important that you can’t see.”

Since the grand jury report was made public in August 2018, Notre Dame has developed several initiatives addressing the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse crisis. The University commissioned two task forces, one to facilitate dialogue on campus, another to assess research opportunities. It pledged up to $1 million to fund research on clergy abuse. The University even hosted its 2019 Notre Dame Forum on the subject.

However, there has been little public discussion of Notre Dame’s own history with abusive clergy in recent years, and its own record with priest abuse remains murky. A 2003 report from the South Bend Tribune said at the time Notre Dame was aware of allegations against four priests. It is unclear if Presley, who was later defrocked and died in 2012, was one of them. Survivors like Fuller question whether the University has offered a full accounting of the cases involving clergy at Notre Dame.

And, with little more than an apology decades after the alleged abuse, some, like Fuller, are left with a sense of unfinished business — which they say ref lects a larger failure by the University to address the harm students suffered at the hands of its priests.

The Observer asked Notre Dame how its strategies for abuse response and prevention have changed since the ’70s, particularly in light of the abuse crisis. The University did not respond and did not answer a question about how many priests working at Notre Dame had been accused of abusing a community member during their tenure.

In the Presley case, Fuller reported the abuse to Notre Dame in 2002. In a statement to The Observer, vice president for public affairs and

Courtesy of Mark Fuller

Mark Fuller’s high school senior portrait, taken months before he began his freshman year at Notre Dame in 1974.

communications Paul Browne linked to an Associated Press article from 2003, where the University offered an apology to Fuller.

“While we had no contemporaneous reports on file from that period, Notre Dame in 2002 reported the allegations against Presley to the Erie, Pennsylvania, diocese,” Browne said in a statement to The Observer. “The University publicly apologized to the student in 2003.”

The University’s apology did little to assuage the pain Fuller has felt for nearly half a century, he said. For almost 30 years, he had refused to report Presley’s behavior to Notre Dame — largely, he said, because of a mix of fear and shame.

In a series of interviews with The Observer over the past five months, Fuller shared his account of how the abuse he endured shaped his life, his faith and his perception of the university he once called home. He did so, he said, in the hopes that other survivors of clergy abuse — both at Notre Dame and elsewhere — might find the courage to share their stories. And he said he also hopes that his story might compel the University to reckon more fully with the sins of the priests from its past.

Grooming and abuse In the fall of his sophomore year, Fuller and his roommate were invited to a football game watch party with Presley in St. Edward’s Hall.

Presley was friendly, Fuller recalled of their first meeting.

There were about a dozen students crammed into the rectory watching the game.

Returning for his second or third game watch, Fuller said he decided to stay behind to talk to Presley. Fuller disclosed that he was gay, and he wanted to try conversion therapy to see if he could turn himself straight.

“My church, my family, everything, everybody said that I was bad,” Fuller said.

Presley was quick to offer help. He told Mark he would be his counselor.

Fuller left the rectory that day feeling relieved. He had been praying to find someone to help him.

“I thought God had presented this guy,” he said.

Presley came to Notre Dame from the Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania, in August of 1970, according to the grand jury report, which lists him as a “graduate and student counselor” at the time. According to The Observer archives, he was named rector of St. Edward’s Hall in September 1971. University records also indicate he was a member of hall staff in Keenan Hall.

The grand jury report found that Presley’s track record of abuse began as early as 1963. The report concluded the Diocese of Erie knew of

Mary Steurer | The Observer

Fr. William Presley was rector of St. Edward’s Hall, featured above.

Fuller says Presley abused him in the men’s residence hall.

allegations against Presley by at least 1987.

“Not speaking specifically about this case, every allegation that we had on file has been reported to civil authorities, whether it is beyond the statute of limitations or not,” Diocese of Erie director of communications Anne-Marie Welsh said in a statement to The Observer. “We will continue to report new allegations as they are made known to us.”

Presley was defrocked in 2006. He died in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 2012.

‘The color all went out of my life’ Fuller and Presley stayed in contact for the remainder of Presley’s time at Notre Dame.

Over the course of Fuller’s sophomore and junior years, Presley took him on trips around the country.

In New York, Presley took Fuller to his first pornographic film, as well as to the Rainbow Room, a famous lounge in Manhattan.

“I can’t even walk by that building without feeling sick to my stomach,” Fuller said.

Fuller said during these trips, Presley often tried to initiate unwanted sexual contact with him.

“He would touch me or touch my back, touch my arm, touch a leg,” he said.

Presley also took Fuller to a ranch on the west coast. While there, Fuller said, Presley hired women sex workers for them.

“I was so terrified and so disgusted … and just frozen.

I couldn’t wait to get out of there,” Fuller said.

He bought Fuller a stereo, speakers and a turntable.

Disgusted by the gifts, Fuller gave them to his cousin as soon as he left college.

“I think he was buying my silence,” Fuller said.

Grooming victims and convincing them the abuse is a form of counseling or education is one way offenders can hold their victims psychologically hostage, convincing them to stay in an abusive situation, said Carlos Cuevas, a clinical psychologist and professor at Northeastern University. He declined to

speak to the specifics of Fuller’s case but discussed the general dynamics and effects of sexual abuse.

“Those are things that may not be physically keeping the individual from leaving, but certainly psychologically are making sure the offender can continue to have access to them,” Cuevas said.

Sophomore year, when the abuse started, Fuller’s grades plummeted.

Fuller’s friendships from freshman year also faded, and he withdrew from his extracurriculars. He wanted to drop out of school, but his father asked him to stay.

“The color all went out of my life, you know, out of that campus,” he said. “It was no longer so beautiful to me.”

Presley left Notre Dame in 1976, Fuller’s junior year.

Fuller rediscovered his lawyer’s correspondence with Notre Dame general counsel Marianne Corr from 2019 during an interview with The Observer. In the correspondence, Corr said she would be open to continue working with Fuller. He reached out to Corr in May, and the two have been in conversation.

At the beginning of Lent, a volunteer came to Fuller’s work offering to place ashes on people’s foreheads.

Though his relationship with the church has been damaged, he decided to take ashes that day.

“I didn’t lose all my faith,” Fuller said. “Still pray.”

It takes time to process trauma, Fuller said, and he’d like to see more survivors have access to professional therapy.

“There’s a progression; you can’t push yourself,” Fuller said. “You can’t rush too much, you can just get hurt again in a way, in weird ways.”

And, he added, if he could talk to a young survivor, he’d like to offer them hope.

“I would want that person to know — to be encouraged — that it sometimes gets dark or hard,” Fuller said.

He paused.

“And then it gets lighter.”

Contact Natalie Weber at nweber1231@gmail.com or Mary Steurer at msteure1@nd.edu

News

ndsmcobserver.com | monday, August 17, 2020 | The Observer

5

Saint Mary’s students participate in ‘Explore the Bend,’ hike in county park

By MADISON HANSEN News Writer

Saint Mary’s students will now be able to attend a new program called “Explore the Bend” that involves getting off campus and visiting the city of South Bend. The club met for the first time at St. Patrick’s County Park on Sunday for the group’s first acitivity — a hike.

Assistant director of the Office for Civic and Social Engagement Kris Choinacky lived in South Bend all of her life and has always wanted to share her love for this town with students.

“The goal of the Office of

Health Continued from page 1

tracing efforts,” the email said. “Contact tracing is critical to containing the spread of COVID-19, so please help us continue to reinforce the importance of cooperating fully and promptly with this process.”

Those identified as close contacts are required to quarantine in their home or University-provided housing.

Quarantined individuals will receive a PCR test on day four of quarantine and if the test is positive, they will move into isolation. If the test is negative, the individual will receive an antigen test on day seven and if the result is negative, they will be released.

The email also addressed an update to the daily health check, which will now include a yellow pass option — in addition to red and green passes — to identify those with severe symptoms of COVID-19 and those with other symptoms.

A red pass indicates “those who indicate they are exhibiting one of the big three symptoms (fever >100.4, shortness of breath, or loss of sense of taste or smell)” while a yellow pass indicates “those who exhibit secondary symptoms (e.g., unexplained new sore throat, headache, body aches, etc.).” Individuals who

Saint Mary’s Continued from page 1

destabilize our efforts,” she said.

The email urged students to review the code of conduct, share concerns about the actions of other students and take responsibility for their actions. Jenkins emphasized that students should “think twice about socializing in

Civic and Social Engagement is to explore, connect and serve the community,” Choinacky said.

St. Patrick’s County Park is located off Auten Road down Laurel Road. The county park was originally owned by the Sisters of the Holy Cross in the 1800s. They kept the land as a farm to produce food for the College until the ’70s when they sold it to the city to become a county park. While it is now open to the public as a place to hike, canoe and even kayak, the history still remains.

“The foundation these women [laid] should empower us to continue to be leaders

ourselves,” Choinacky said.

When students first arrived for the hike, they were greeted by a ranger who told them about the history of the farm and where they could explore on the property. After the introductions, students walked the perimeter of the park.

Unique features of the park include a tiki hut made completely out of branches, cabins for rent and a view of a bald eagle nest. First year Courtney Simmons said the actual walk itself was relatively easy, and she enjoyed the sites and greenery. Simmons is looking for new clubs to join as a first year and was excited to join this program.

“I’m a huge outdoors person, and it’s very peaceful to get away from campus and spend time with other girls,” Simmons said.

Simmons also said she learned something new from the whole experience and plans on attending more “Explore the Bend” events in the future.

The event was particularly conducive to adhering to COVID-19 regulations, as people could physical distance while getting to know each other, the town surrounding the College and the College’s history.

During the hike, senior Vianney Acosta said she was

reminded of the first time she explored South Bend on an informal trip. She said she not only enjoyed the time to connect more with the community outside of campus, but she also liked that she got to learn more about Saint Mary’s.

Acosta and senior Tyler Davis came on the trip together hoping to get away from the stress of academics.

“I’m feeling pretty stressed because I’m taking 18 credits this semester,” Davis said.

“This was a nice change of pace.”

receive a red pass will be automatically scheduled for a test while those with a yellow pass will be directed to a telehealth appointment to potentially schedule a test.

The email announced the next round of surveillance testing will begin this week.

The surveillance plan has been created in consultation with the St. Joseph County health department.

“If you are selected to participate in surveillance testing, you are obligated to make yourself available for testing. Anyone found to be positive through our surveillance testing will enter our isolation protocols, and we will begin the contact tracing process,” the email said.

The leaders addressed the spike in cases over the past couple of days. According to the email, yesterday another cohort of cases was linked to an off-campus party held Aug. 9..

“In public health, we sometimes talk about the rings that surround an initial infection,” the email said. “Our contact tracing reveals that there is a ring clearly associated with those who attended each of these off-campus events. Secondary rings have now occurred among those in close contact with those in the first ring. We should all be exercising every precaution possible to prevent the spread to a third ring.”

First week

sent home or totally locked down,” DeWane said.

Some students are concerned about the inadequate enforcement of the new University policies regarding COVID-19 from this past week.

In the outdoor dining space, Shaft said she noticed people sitting together and eating with distances much closer than 6 feet.

“People are distanced 6 feet to the sides, but they can sit directly in front of or behind others much closer than 6 feet,” said Caitlin Cunningham, a first-year neuroscience major.

Yin also questioned the seating arrangements in classes.

“Many of my instructors did not require students to report their seat numbers at the beginning of class, and many students were able to even change their seat each time,” Yin said.

Furthermore, Yin also thinks the University should reconsider the filtration effectiveness of the cloth masks which were provided in the welcome kit.

Some members of the Notre Dame community have been unable to return to campus as well.

Ziyu Ren, a junior majoring

in psychology, is taking all her classes online in China due to the travel ban.

“Due to the time difference, I cannot participate in the discussion in the class and missed the opportunities to make friends with the new students,” Ren said.

“Also, when I watched the class recording, I could not stay as focused as I did at an in-person lecture.”

Even though online classes could be challenging, Ren said she still believes her learning experience is “quite good.”

“All my professors now take notes under the projectors instead of on the blackboard for students online to be able to see and waived the attendance requirement for me with the consideration of the time difference,” Ren said.

Despite all the challenges and uncertainties that students are facing, many said they hope they can keep learning on the campus safely with their community until the end of the semester.

“I just really hope we are able to stay on campus,” Cunningham said, “and show the rest of them that reopening is possible.”

large numbers.”

“As Saint Mary’s works diligently to provide an environment that seeks to protect your health and wellbeing, we look to you to do the same,” she said. Jenkins’ email follows a pledge sent Friday afternoon by College President Katie Conboy and student government association president Giavanna Paradiso asking students to commit to making campus a safe environment.

Continued from page 1

Christian Matthew, a firstyear engineering student, also thinks it is a good idea to have school on site in the early August.

“It shows how strongly the University wanted the community and traditions to still be a significant part of its students,” Matthew said.

“With Notre Dame’s safety measures, development of knowledge and character of the students due to oncampus classes outweigh the negatives.”

While many students are ready for our semester to get rolling, a number of students have expressed their concerns.

“I am not very optimistic about the semester because new confirmed cases showed an exponential growth,” said Fangcong Yin, a sophomore computer science major, after he checked Notre Dame’s COVID-19 Dashboard.

Edward DeWane, a senior math major, said he is also worried about the future.

“It seems unlikely that we’ll be able to make it the whole way through without either having to get

Contact Madison Hansen at mhansen01@saintmarys.edu

Contact Fangrui Shen at fchen3@nd.edu

ALLISON THORNTON | The Observer

As classes began on Aug. 10, students have been asked to follow strict protocols to ensure health and safety. While some are optimistic about the semester, others expect a serious outbreak to occur.

6

The observer | Monday, august 17, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

Contemplating ‘The Goldfinch’

Too much of anything is always bad Trevor Lwere

Serena Zacharias

On the Other Hand

Notre Dame News Editor

My favorite book of all time is “The Goldfinch”

by Donna Tartt. W hile I could go on about the book for ages, I’d like to focus on the painting the story centers on. “The Goldfinch” was painted in 1654 by the Dutch artist Carol Fabritius. In the same year, 32-year-old Fabritius died in a gunpowder explosion which destroyed much of Delft and killed over 100 people. The painting was thought to be in Fabritius’ workshop at the time of the explosion. Historians have identified small dents in the painting which may have been a result of f lying debris from the explosion hitting the painting. Because of the lack of cracking on the canvas, the explosion may have occurred when the paint had not fully dried. Only 13.2by-9 inches in size, the painting survived.

The painting features a goldfinch perched atop a feeder fixed to a wall. A thin gold chain loops around the rings of the feeder and attaches to the little bird’s leg, trapping him in place. The shadows, the soft brush strokes, the colors make him look so realistic, I can easily imagine him f luttering his wings in preparation to take f light. I can hear the soft rattle the chain will make against the wooden rings if he tries to escape.

Normally when I look at the painting, I feel sad. I feel sad for this beautiful bird who has wings to f ly wherever he desires but is trapped. I feel sad that he’s alone, that he was caught, chained and then simply abandoned on his perch. He’s a bird, so it’s hard for me to decipher his expression, but the way he looks directly out at his audience made me think for a long time that he was challenging viewers to pity him, but to also pity themselves.

I think about the painting frequently because I identif y with the goldfinch. Like many people, I often feel trapped in the circumstances I’m in. Despite the opportunities that surround me, I don’t feel free, but I always feel like I’m on the verge of being free. If just a few things were different then everything would be different. Like the goldfinch, my invisible shackles are small, but they’re strong enough to make me stay still on my feeder.

I have been contemplating this painting for years, and for so long I just assumed that the goldfinch never leaves his perch. I assumed he was chained forever.

It has only recently occurred to me in the midst of a pandemic where many of us feel trapped that maybe he gets set free at some point. Maybe this is a temporary situation. Maybe he becomes strong enough to break the chain himself. Maybe he’s not alone. Maybe there are other goldfinches surrounding him on their own little perches, and he’s content in his situation because he’s with others. Maybe he’s not sad. Maybe his expression is one of acceptance, and he looks directly at the viewer to urge them to do the same.

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

It is a foregone conclusion that the ongoing pandemic has fundamentally disrupted our ways of life. Yet we don’t seem to be actively thinking about the reverse; how have our ways of life, individually and collectively as a society, affected our experience of the pandemic? In particular, whereas a lot has been said about the impact of the coronavirus on democracy, very little has been said on the impact of democracy on how countries have experienced this global phenomenon.

The United States Global Leadership Coalition has belabored the long-term effects on democracy of the tough measures instituted by governments across the world to slow the spread of the virus.

But how much regard must be accorded to personal freedoms under such unusual circumstances as we find ourselves in? It seems rather axiomatic that in the present circumstances, temporary inconveniences for long-term benefits is perfectly reasonable. In any case, one cannot enjoy their personal freedoms if one is not alive. Indeed, international human rights law has a provision for states to appropriate themselves extraordinary powers under unusual circumstances. At its heart, this discussion is one about how a country’s culture of governance has influenced the respective government’s response to the pandemic and the attendant consequences of that response. And while these are important questions, such outward looking, self-indulgent analysis has denied us the opportunity to reflect on how America’s cherished democratic tradition of personal freedoms and individual liberties has shaped the government’s response to the pandemic as well as the effectiveness of that response.

Across the world, countries that have managed to get ahead of the virus have had to put in place some tough, mandatory restrictions on the lives of their citizens. In most cases, these came with penalties for violation. Yet these restrictions on their own were not enough. For the restrictions to be effective, it was imperative that citizens in those countries abide by the restrictions for the most part. Holding all other factors such as information flow constant, it is quite obvious that the governance culture of a society is a key determinant of how citizens respond to the restrictions imposed in their lives by the government, and in turn the overall effectiveness of a government’s response. It is plausible that people in societies with a weaker democratic culture are more likely to adhere to government restrictions than people in societies with a stronger democratic culture. If that is true, then countries with weaker democratic cultures should have more effective responses to the pandemic than countries with a stronger democratic culture. Take for instance African countries where democracy is still taking root. For the most part, African governments instituted swift, total lockdowns, and populations

responded positively to these measures, rendering them effective. As a result, contrary to the fatalistic projections by world health experts — with the exception of South Africa — Africa has registered lower infections and less deaths, lower testing notwithstanding.

Enter the United States. Like elsewhere in the world, authorities in the United States — both at state and federal levels — issued guidelines and put in place some restrictions intended to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Indeed, 48 out of 50 states declared states of emergency at some point during the pandemic. Moreover, throughout the pandemic President Trump has touted America’s testing as superior to any other country. Yet, America’s experience with COVID-19 has been a catastrophic one. To date, more than 165,000 lives in the United States have been lost to the coronavirus, according to the Johns Hopkins University’s COVID-19 dashboard. That is over 50,000 more than the number of American lives lost during World War I. While there are several reasons that one can use to explain America’s catastrophic response to the outbreak of the virus, it is plausible that America’s cherished democratic tradition has significantly affected the effectiveness of America’s response.

Owing to an entrenched culture of personal freedoms and individual liberties, it was difficult for authorities to enforce tough restrictions necessary to slow the spread of the virus. At the same time, it was difficult for a considerable number of Americans to abide by the temporary inconveniences to their lives even for their own sake and the sake of their fellow citizens. As such, the effectiveness of America’s COVID-19 response was undermined by weak enforcement on the authorities’ part, and less than ideal adherence on the citizens’ part. Little wonder then that as citizens in other countries observed very restrictive stay-at-home directives, many Americans were in the streets protesting against shelter-in-place measures intended to keep them safe. Hordes of Americans continued to flock to beaches in Florida, even as the coronavirus ravaged the country. And now as Notre Dame experiments with in-person instruction while the coronavirus threat is still very existent, is it unsurprising that some of our fellow students, with regard only to their pleasure, continue to defy safety guidelines, putting us all at risk in the process. This open defiance to safety guidelines — born out of a culture of an addiction to personal freedoms and individual liberties — continues to make the effective implementation of control measures difficult both here at Notre Dame and in the country at large.

Trevor Lwere is a junior at Notre Dame majoring in Economics, with a PPE minor. He hails from Kampala, Uganda, and lives off campus. He is a DJ in his other life and can be reached at tlwere@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Submit a Letter to the Editor: viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com

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The observer | Monday, august 17, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

What I’ve learned from the time when nothing happens, not Here Renee Yaseen Outside the Lines

“Having just digested all the New York Times and some pretty awful clam-chowder I made for myself, I don’t feel the slightest bit literary, just stupid. Or maybe it’s just too much solitude.” — Elizabeth Bishop, in her letters to the poet Robert Lowell Hi, it’s me. Writing to you from ... not Here. I am a slim eight miles from the University, a distance which I am likely to keep for the next few months.

And although I’m not around in the normal sense, I’ve concurrently experienced a lot with you: the sunlight streaming in my window, the storm on August 10, the social, spiritual and physical transformations this pandemic has moved within us, the way the approaching 2020 election feels almost unreal, the rhythm of a four-year election cycle blurred and skipping beats against the backdrop of bigger, structural issues.

Maybe, in a few months, I’ll write a “W hy Taking a COV ID-Related Leave of Absence Was Actually the Best Decision I Ever Made” essay.

I could also write the “I Miss Dorm Life and Thought-Provoking Classes — and W hy That’s OK” essay. But I can’t say too much about how it’s going yet. I have days where, like Elizabeth Bishop, “I don’t feel the slightest bit literary, just stupid. … maybe it’s just too much solitude.”

I can name lots of historical figures who have successfully taken long breaks from formal work or from being in public. The famous writer Walker Percy was actually trained as a physician before he contracted tuberculosis during an internship at Bellevue Hospital in 1942. He spent several years quietly recovering at the Trudeau Sanitorium, resting, sleeping, reading and writing philosophy. He subsequently quit medicine, and began writing and reading about the issues that would make his career. Emily Dickinson rarely left her house. Frank Ocean hasn’t released an album since 2016. And the Pulitzer Prize-winning

poet, Elizabeth Bishop, expounds on her appreciation for solitude in her letters to Robert Lowell, documented in this wonderful blog post from Brain Pickings.

There hasn’t yet been enough time to discern whether these past few weeks of solitude have transformed me into Walker Percy or a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. But for many of us compelled to take leaves of absence due to the coronavirus, this semester is an experiment with perhaps the longest period of solitude we have every experienced. And sure, it’s not complete solitude, with my brothers popping in every hour or so to borrow my charger, watch “Phineas and Ferb” or ask if I can make them a smoothie. But it’s really, really close.

Here’s what I’ve learned thus far, from the periods of time where nothing happens:

Restrictions can spark your creativity.

It’s the rules of a game that make it fun. W hen the rules change abruptly, our brains go to work trying to find fun workarounds and new solutions to boredom. My leave of absence challenges me to creatively fill my time: to find resources for extracurricular education in the subjects that interest me, to get elbow deep in creative projects I never would have begun otherwise.

Stillness can reorient you towards meaningful work.

Like many children of immigrants, I was raised with a very pedal-to-the-metal attitude about academic and career achievement. More was always better. I often felt I was barreling as fast as I could toward an abstract idea of “success,” abandoning my own interests and passions half-explored in favor of an extra hour of studying or preparation.

But my leave of absence has distanced me from opportunities to be judged by metrics like grades and test scores for a while. I’ve been asking myself — in this stillness — all the sorts of questions you have to pretend you know the answers to in freshman Moreau class: what do I want? W hat is

success to me? W hat unique skills of my own can I use to add to this world?

Silence can make you a better listener.

To explicate on this point I’ll offer two resources: this poem, “Because These Failures Are My Job” by Alison Luterman, and this TED Talk by Julian Treasure called “5 Ways to Listen Better.”

Like Alison Luterman, I’ve realized the limitations of my own capacity for attention in a noisy, colorful, information-filled world. A little bit of silence, quiet and stillness is a great help for things like reading, writing, thinking and prayer or meditation.

The pandemic has made our world a little quieter as we all struggle to learn a “new language” with which to communicate and show affection.

The bit of awkwardness that comes with saying hello 6 feet apart feels like trying to tell my Syrian grandmother I love her in English — the effort to connect is made and acknowledged, but there remains an incompleteness in the interaction — a slightly disappointing hint of what it could have been (had I used the correct language to convey my emotion). I know that even on campus, many of you are experiencing that feeling of incompleteness and quiet in the face of distancing protocols and restrictions on social gatherings. But I think we are accomplishing feats of communication: we are listening to each other and (most of us) changing our behavior to be attentive to the needs of others. As we all learn a new language with which to communicate with one another during these “strange and unprecedented times,” here’s to those who patiently listen.

Renee Yaseen is a junior who majors in International Economics and Arabic. She’s currently on a gap semester doing lots of creative stuff and lots of un-creative stuff. She can be reached via the chat on a shared Google Doc at 3 a.m., on Twitter @ReneeYaseen or by email at ryaseen@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

A letter from a staff member I was saddened and angered at reading the news that an off-campus party contributed to a number of positive COVID-19 cases since classes resumed on August 10.

As a staff member who, like everyone else, has been stuck at home since March, I wanted nothing more than to be able to come back to campus.

It’s my second home. It’s the center of my social life. It’s where I’ve formed lifelong friendships.

I love the excitement of the fall football season, the beauty of the winter snow and the promise of warm weather when the f lowers start to bloom in the spring.

When it was announced that the University would be reopening in the fall, I was ecstatic!

Many of my friends and colleagues were (and still are) filled with trepidation, but I was only looking ahead. I am a recent cancer survivor, and many people kept reminding me I’m “high-risk” and should have applied to continue working from home. But I wanted to be back in the action and be on campus to welcome the students back and feel a bit of normalcy again.

I am happy to be back, but all of the preparation in the world won’t work if people don’t follow the guidelines.

Please recycle The Observer.

To the students: I implore you to please think of the consequences of your actions. Even if you’re not afraid of getting sick, think of people you may infect. I was happy to see old friends again, too.

But I knew to keep my distance and wear my mask.

I know I’ll be able to hug them when this is all over.

No one wants the University to shut down again, but that decision is in our hands. Let’s all learn from this and make this semester a huge success!

Greg Endicott Political science department coordinator Aug. 14

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The observer | Monday, august 17, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

LETTERs TO THE EDITOR

A call for responsibility Last Thursday, walking across South Quad, I overheard the following conversation between two freshmen girls: “I heard there was some party on South Quad?”

“Yeah, well I was there.”

“Oh! How was that?”

I’m frustrated. I’m disheartened. And most of all, I’m angry.

The complete selfishness and lack of empathy that some students in our community have shown since returning to campus is atrocious. Going to off-campus parties with many other people without wearing masks or practicing physical distancing. Doing the same, but on South Quad or McGlinn Fields. Accepting that these are normal things to do. My friend even saw a priest and an AR come back from around the lakes after collecting smashed beer cans that students had left the night before. It’s bad enough that students are participating in these parties, then to litter and leave the clean-up to others on campus that are trying so hard to keep them safe? I don’t have words to describe how selfish that is. And of course, there is the predictable uptick of COVID-19 cases that have accompanied such irresponsibility.

Some students seem to think that because they are younger, a pandemic won’t impact them personally as much, or at all. And perhaps for many, that’s true. They might get COVID, spend a week or

so feeling sick, then recover and go on with their lives. What some fail to realize, even after living through months of a pandemic, is that the world doesn’t revolve around them. The stakes here are very high and very real. Some students might think the worst thing that could happen is that we transition to online classes. While that wouldn’t be ideal for the sake of learning, it’s not even the beginning of the negative effects a COVID outbreak could bring about.

Some professors have sent emails to their classes, practically begging students not to party, because if they get the virus and pass it to their professor, it is likely they will not survive. There are immunocompromised and otherwise vulnerable faculty, staff and students. Not to mention the impact we as students have on how COVID affects the South Bend community, which is largely made up of Hispanic/Latino and Black residents, who are already disproportionately affected by COVID. This isn’t just about you as a healthy 18-22 year old college student; it’s much larger. Although if you haven’t gotten that through your head at month five of a global pandemic, it’s likely not a lack of understanding, but a complete disregard for the lives, safety and well-being of those other than yourself.

I chose to move off campus this year because I didn’t trust that the students on campus would

actually follow the protocols the University has put in place to keep us and our community safe. I really had hoped that I would be wrong in thinking this, but I have been extremely disappointed over the past week to find out that not only was I right, but the problem is much worse than I thought it would be. And sadly, the problem seems to stem mainly from off-campus students who, because they are not on campus, think they are exempt from following COVID protocols. These students, so far, have been the ones who have caused the largest number of COVID cases in the student body, and they are also less likely to be negatively impacted by a transition to online classes, because they will not have to move out of dorms or necessarily drive/f ly home. Maybe this is why these students seem to care less about following protocols, which is even more selfish, because their carelessness will ultimately have an impact on those other than themselves.

To those of you not taking this seriously — is maintaining the norm of partying really that important to you that you’re willing to sacrifice the lives of the Notre Dame and South Bend communities?

Kelsey Farr senior Aug. 16

It’s on all of us A lot of my friends have been asking me how I feel coming back to campus; I am in the high-risk category for coronavirus.

Personally, I am thrilled about being back on campus. I’ve missed it. I’ve missed my friends, the engaging classes and professors, and simply being able to walk around the beautiful grounds and see Mary overlooking us all on top of the unparalleled golden dome. I would have felt cheated, in a way, if the administration required online learning for another semester. I am sure my mental health and my educational experience would suffer if we couldn’t have come back.

I think Notre Dame is taking significant safety precautions that are adequate, including requiring masks at all times in public. I am okay with the fact that I will have to be more vigilant than others.

I’m not worried about myself; plus, I firmly

believe that God will take care of me. At the same time, I pray that you all know you need to do your part as well. I have confidence that you are smart and know that coronavirus is a serious matter. But at the end of the day, we are human. I think that it will be easy for many of you to become nonchalant about wearing masks and reasonable social distancing practices; you will tire of it, and many of you know that you are at very low risk. I have already seen how simple it is for many of you to forget how important it is to wear a mask and socially distance.

The University cannot police off-campus parties or absolutely everything that occurs among students. When you decide that pulling together hundreds of people in one small backyard constitutes fun, I hope you understand that the next day, you will put others at risk. Sitting less than six feet apart

while eating or studying on the quads isn’t safe. The University can’t track you as you get bored of campus and travel to Chicago for the weekend, where you encounter thousands of other surfaces and people that could very well have been exposed to coronavirus. When you return to class and to campus on Monday, I could be the student sitting next to you in class or sharing space with you in the dorm. And wearing masks is not a guarantee that coronavirus won’t be transmitted.

Making the choice to attend huge parties, be close to each other without masks or travel without telling the University? That’s on you. But I hope you remember that it’s on me, too.

Sarah Betts junior Aug. 11

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LIYA BLITZER | The Observer

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The observer | monday, august 17, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

By AIDAN O’MALLEY Scene Writer

I was in a movie theater when Notre Dame first went online.

It was the Wednesday of spring break. I was back home with no plans and no friends. Painfully aware of the homework I would return to, I dedicated my week to something I struggled to find time for on campus, going to the movies.

It’s hard to describe the feeling I get when I first walk into a theater. You know those candles your mom buys at HomeGoods, the ones that are supposed to smell like “home?” Just me? Well, I imagine mine might smell like a Cinemark.

But it’s more than just buttery popcorn — it’s the dim lights, the comfy seats, the tearing of the tickets. Most of all, it’s the conversation, the murmurs of people waiting in anticipation, the debates in the lobby once it’s over.

Walking into a movie theater is like sinking into the couch. It’s as if I can breathe underwater.

I went to an early screening of “Emma.” It was really good, but that’s beside the point. The point is when I

By COLLEEN FISCHER Scene Writer

As websites like Etsy and Redbubble have emerged as places to sell artwork, they have also brought up questions about the role that merchandise and — more specifically — “bootleg” merchandise plays in the music industry. It is worth mentioning off the bat the different types of bootleg merch. There is bootleg merch where the distributor illegally reproduces designs that the artist and people working with the artist made, as well as the more enduring bootleg merch community in which fans break out their embroidery hoops, tie-dye bottles and design apps to interpret and create tributes to their favorite artists. Merch — both official and fan-made — is a powerful marketing tool.

When asked how one can make a living a musician, Krist Novoselic, bassist for the legendary rock band Nirvana, responded by half-jokingly saying you should join a band and get them to sell your t-shirts at Macy’s. With a band like Nirvana, it’s hard to ignore the success they have seen through their merchandising and T-shirts becoming a staple in many people’s wardrobes. New listeners see the artwork — ranging from just the typeface band name to the crazy smiley face or the naked “In Utero” woman — and

checked my phone at the end; I had never seen so many notifications. And when I scrolled to the bottom, I saw why: I couldn’t return to campus. The email was sent at the exact time my movie began.

I was sucker punched. I called my parents and paced in the hallway. The virus was on everyone’s mind, but Americans had yet to fully grasp the severity of the pandemic. I don’t even think it was declared a pandemic at that point. Businesses were open, people were social and masks were misconstrued as paranoia. This was the first time the virus changed my life.

But I had already bought my tickets for my second film of the day, “The Invisible Man.” It was at a theater in the next town over. As I drove there, all I could think was, “This will be the last time, for a long time.” Reality sunk in — movie theaters would be next.

So I went into “The Invisible Man” with a heightened self-awareness that I don’t think I’ve ever experienced.

I was aware of the sights, the sounds, the smells. More than anything, I was aware of the people.

That I saw a horror film — a very good one, no less — proved particularly fortuitous. With the exception of comedy, no genre is better suited to be seen with a crowd.

It’s not just that people shoot up in their seats during a jump scare. In the case of “The Invisible Man,” the horror is all in the detail — the way the audience, for example, might gasp when they noticed something floating in the background. Now I know some people prefer to watch movies in stone-cold silence, but nothing makes me happier than audience participation. It means they’re invested in the movie; it means that the movie made them care.

I left “The Invisible Man” with a smile on my face. In part, that was because it was good. But it was also because it had reaffirmed for me something I’ve long held true, that movies are all about people. They’re about people, not just in an artistic sense — as a medium through which we can share our stories — but in the very way they’re meant to be consumed. Seeing a movie on the “big screen” isn’t just about scope and spectacle. Doing so enables us to watch them all together. Movies are people watching people. They’re the human condition projected on a screen, reaching out to every one of us.

So while the industry is changing, I hold on to hope.

Theaters will be back ... it’s in our cinematic blood..

look into the band. In some ways, the iconography of the band has become more significant than the band.

In the same interview, Novoselic mentions going to a math class as an adult and seeing a young kid wearing a Nirvana shirt. When Novoselic complimented the shirt, she received no recognition in response.

Nirvana emerged from the do-it-yourself punk scene, and while Novoselic’s comments reflect the financial benefits of their iconic merch, the band had its own share of bootlegs made during its prime — and even now. Especially after the digital revolution and in the midst COVID-19 times, purchasing merch directly from the artist is important, but that doesn’t mean we should stop making bootlegs.

The Grateful Dead are titans in the bootleg merch industry and used it to build community. Their lack of official merchandising in the beginning gave way to fans desperately coming up with ways to identify themselves as Deadheads in public. They didn’t release merch at the beginning, feeding the demand for bootlegs among their friends. The money they might have lost in merch sales as a result of bootlegs was made back with recent team ups with companies like Nike and Ben and Jerry’s. Creators like Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend have also followed their lead, offering official merch but embracing and encouraging the creativity of their fans — in the process getting free

advertising and a strong sense of community as artists share their latest creations online. Even John Mayer, of Dead & Company, has embraced the Grateful Dead bootleg universe. Social media has fed into the bootleg industry as online shops and creators’ accounts on Instagram and Facebook, as well as newsletters for the latest buys pop up across the internet, highlighting the sense of community and exclusivity that comes with having a handmade piece. However, the philosophical question still remains: when is it OK to bootleg merch?

It comes down to intent. Repping your favorite band on a T-shirt or other piece of clothing is a rite of passage, and with the rise of democratized access to art through straight to artist sales, this has come to include unofficial merch. At the heart of bootlegging is the heart of music: connection. Creating bootleg merch simply means the artist connected with someone enough that they dedicate their time and talent to making sure people know that they love them. So grab your embroidery hoops, screen printing ink, fabric markers and Photoshop tools, and make something awesome — even if it kind of sucks — to honor your favorite artist. At the end, you’ll get it. It’s not about the money, it’s about the community and the connection with the artist that is created by wearing it.

Contact Aidan O’Malley at aomalle2@nd.edu

Contact Colleen Fischer at cfischer01@saintmarys.edu LIYA BLITZER | The Observer

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ndsmcobserver.com | monDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 | The Observer

Crossword | will shortz

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Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Pay attention to detail. Stay in control, and verify everything that is said or done. Consider what’s important to you, and don’t veer off course due to decisions other people make. Look for positive ways to use your energy, intelligence and skills. Take care of medical, financial and legal matters quickly and efficiently. Your numbers are 6, 17, 23, 27, 38, 41, 43.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You’ll face uncertainty. When in doubt, sit tight and wait to see what transpires. Don’t let pressure or emotions dictate a decision you aren’t ready to make. An intelligent discussion with someone you trust will be revealing.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A window of opportunity is heading in your direction. Hone your skills, gather information and be prepared to take advantage of whatever comes your way. Say less, do more and reap the rewards you deserve. Romance is featured.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Focus on home, family and taking care of what’s important to you. An idea you have can be put into play if you take the initiative and do the work yourself. A joint venture will benefit someone other than you.

CANCER ( June 21-July 22): A personal change will boost your morale.

Spending time sharing ideas and plans with someone you love will encourage a positive lifestyle change. An opportunity to do something kind for someone in need will bring an unexpected return.

LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Take a moment to consider how best to get ahead.

A plan of attack should include a well-thought-out plan and an energetic display of enthusiasm. Once you inspire others to help, the rest will be easy.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Reach out to people who put a smile on your face.

Don’t donate or purchase luxury items. A conversation regarding lifestyle options will encourage you to make changes that ease stress and simplify the way you live. Romance is favored.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Spend more time doing and less time arguing. If someone pressures you or puts demands on you, know enough to walk away.

Use intelligence to conquer emotionally manipulative situations. Your words matter, so choose them wisely. Honor promises.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A unique environment will encourage you to make a positive change. Reach out to people who share your ideas, beliefs and pursuits, and an unusual opportunity will come your way. Romance will lead to a commitment that will change your life.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Live and learn. The way your life unfolds will depend on who you trust. Use common sense when sharing information.

Home improvements are favored as long as you don’t let someone talk you into doing something you cannot afford.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): An opportunity will lead to a positive change that affects your home environment and your relationship with someone special. Make a concerted effort to share your intentions with someone you love. Romance will bring you closer to your objective.

AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Get back to basics. Let the past enrich your life as you move forward. Remember the high points, and use the negatives you endured to help you make better decisions. A partnership looks promising.

Strive for equality.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A positive change is heading your way. Update your look, and prepare for what’s to come. Combat stress by embracing what you enjoy doing most. Don’t let the past hold you back. Let go of influences that are bad for you.

Birthday Baby: You are resourceful, kind and flexible. You are smart and self-assured.

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

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Sports

The observer | monDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Mooney

Sports Authority

We don’t need football David Kramer Sports Writer

“We want to be safe and we want to play.” So begins the open letter penned by the Irish football SWAT captains.

More of a desperate plea for clearance than an expression of intent, the message that flooded social media platforms this past week came ahead of the Big Ten and Pac12 conferences’ nightmarish news. In perhaps the most heartbreaking 12-hour spell of sports press releases this summer, conference administrators across the NCAA opted out of fall football, delaying their participation until the spring semester of 2021 at the earliest.

Per usual, Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book spearheaded his team’s work and released the statement on his various media accounts.

While Ohio State players, in the words of the legendary Cardale Jones, were being forced to “play school,” commotion around the open letter seeped out of the woodwork that binds the South Bend bubble.

As a huge Ian Book supporter, I hate to stray from my unrelenting support of our fearless leader. But the letter’s blatant attempts to dismiss the Irish football team as unsusceptible to coronavirus-related health risks strays from the advice of powers that be, so I’ll forgive myself. Sorry in advance, Ian. It goes without saying that everyone wants football.

Book, like all of us, appreciates the game as a uniquely potent antidote to the lingering social and cultural dryness, both on campuses and on our television screens.

But the question, of course, takes a different form entirely: while Power Five icons want to play football, should they play? Do we, a society so deeply hell-bent on the catharsis of adrenaline, need America’s game?

Surely Ian Book, the NCAA at large and medical professionals across the country understand the answer to this question. Concerns with revenue and player eligibility aside, the prospect of football as a distinctively dangerous game becoming potentially deadly is terrifying. To say that the “mental and physical health of this team is in a better place with the football season taking place this fall” would be to overlook the overwhelming amount of research suggesting otherwise.

Look no further than the MLB for a little proof. Just days after the ever-anticipated start of the 2020 MLB season, Boston Red Sox ace Eduardo Rodriguez announced that he would not pitch to empty stadiums in light of lingering heart issues. Health experts attribute Rodriguez’s myocarditis, a severe inflammation of his heart muscle, to his battle with COVID-19 symptoms.

Even as an elite, 27-year-old southpaw riding the peak of his athletic career, Rodriguez claims that the virus made him feel “100 years old.” In spite of numerous health officials approving a return to play, Eduardo’s health never improved as originally anticipated, and Boston began its season with a three-man starting rotation. Rodriguez joins countless other patients with proven links between permanent heart issues and COVID-19.

Pair this side effect with the nearly unavoidable brain damage caused by football.

The trajectory of concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) begins well before a professional stint, spanning throughout careers characterized by irrevocable loss of mental and physical health. Granted, players willingly assume the threats of America’s game, but a season away from lasting cognitive harm would become safe and healthy time well spent.

To be fair, activating the ACC as a great American experiment would vastly benefit the players from an economic standpoint, given the incredibly brief NFL career span and the importance of three strong collegiate seasons for potential draftees. But no amount of resiliency, raw athleticism or medical oversight protects athletes from coronavirus or brain damage. Period.

Like the players, coaches and personnel throughout the NCAA, the “die-hard sports fiend” part of me can’t help but crave football this fall.

The American landscape, however, invites us to be honest with ourselves and ask: Really, at what cost?

After all, as the old saying goes, heartbreak is temporary, but heart damage from coronavirus lasts forever … right?

Contact David Kramer at dkramer2@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Continued from page 16

double-doubles, adding 25 more of the latter to his career total and breaking Luke Harangody’s school record.

That play, along with the improved play of his team, catapulted Mooney into the national spotlight.

He was a finalist for the 2019-20 Karl Malone Award, given annually to the top power forward in college basketball. He was also named conference Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 6, and an All-ACC First Team selection. His statistical output as a senior had not been seen in college basketball since Blake Griffin and Tim Duncan. Since 1992, only those three players have averaged at least 15.7 points, 13.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest in a single season.

Since Notre Dame’s season

was cut short in the middle of the ACC Tournament, leaving Mooney with no chance to bolster his NBA Draft stock on a national scale in either the NCA A Tournament or National Invitation Tournament, he has signed with the Perth Wildcats.

Last season the Wildcats went 19-9 and claimed the NBL championship, their second consecutive title and the 10th in the franchise’s 39 years of existence. However, it is noteworthy that their most recent title came with a 2-1 series victory in a bestof-five NBL Finals, as the opponent Sydney Kings decided not to conclude the series with the coronavirus pandemic becoming more dangerous.

Mooney figures to play prominent role early in his professional tenure, as former Perth big man and All-NBL First Team player Nicholas Kay departed his

native Australia to sign with Real Betis of Liga ACB, the top division in the Spanish professional basketball circuit. Mooney is made in the same mold as Kay, both in terms of his physical build and on-the-court skills.

Mooney stands 6-foot-9 to Kay’s 6-foot-8 frame, while both players can be identified as a type of stretch bigman. Mooney shot nearly 36% from beyond the arc for his career in South Bend, with his best season coming as a sophomore at nearly 42% . Kay shot the deep ball at a 46.3% clip last season while contributing 15.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

Mooney may still enter his name into the NBA Draft and his contract does include an NBA-out clause for if he is selected.

The Draft was postponed due to the pandemic from its original June date to Oct. 16.

Observer File Photo

Former Irish forward John Mooney leaps for a contested layup during Notre Dame’s 80-72 win over Georgia Tech on Feb. 1 at Purcell Pavilion. Mooney was named to the All-ACC First Team last year.

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

sports

ndsmcobserver.com | monday, august 17, 2020 | The Observer

SMC Golf

Sports Authority

Atalanta vs. PSG: A reflection on a twisted Cinderella story’s end Greg McKenna Sports Writer

In a season unlike any other, it was fitting that for four straight nights in two nearly empty stadiums in Lisbon, a unique Champions League format for a COVID-19 pandemic world gifted score lines and storylines that beggared belief.

On Thursday, RB Leipzig, a club backed by an Austrian energy-drink company you’ve definitely heard of that played in the fifth tier of German football just 11 years go, beat hardened European veterans Atlético Madrid to reach their first-ever champions-league semifinal (thanks to a first goal in 27 appearances by American midfielder Tyler Adams, no less).

On Friday, a ruthless Bayern Munich put eight (yes, eight) goals past Lionel Messi and Barcelona to hand the Blaugrana their worst loss since 1946.

Finally, on Saturday, the haters of nouveau-riche super-clubs and lovers of Financial Fair Play had reason to rejoice as Abu Dhabi’s (oops, I mean Pep Guardiola’s) Manchester City tripped up at the quarterfinal hurdle yet again against a plucky Lyon. For 89 minutes of football Wednesday night, however, it looked like the first quarterfinal was a great chapter in a twisted Cinderella story that only 2020 could produce.

Back in February, casual fans around the world were just getting introduced to Atalanta, a small club from the small city of Bergamo that had miraculously found itself in the knockout stages of the biggest club tournament of them all. For most of its history, Atalanta has fought to preserve its identity as AC and Inter Milan fought for Scudettos and European Cups 45 minutes down the road. In 2018, the club even embarked on an effort to give a free shirt to each new parent in the province, hoping to ensure that families would prevent young fans from being lured away from the “black and blues” by the two Milan giants.

Perhaps the more important decision in regards to winning the hearts of young supporters, however, was the hire of Gian Piero Gasperini, probably one of the most offensively minded managers Italy has ever seen. In a league that generally prioritizes defensive stoutness and organization, Gasperini was unafraid to

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implement an exciting, highrisk and fluid attacking style that belied Atalanta’s meager budget, and it quickly began paying dividends.

After finishing fourth, seventh and third in the league in Gasperini’s first three years in charge, it soon became clear that the 2019-2020 season could be a magical one in Bergamo. In each of Atalanta’s first 10 games in the league, they managed to score at least two goals (including a 7-1 victory over Udinese). They closed the decade by producing a result unimaginable at the start of the 2010s, thumping AC Milan 5-0 at home.

Their maiden Champions League campaign looked over after three successive defeats at the beginning of the group stage, but a draw against Manchester City and shutout victories over Shakhtar Donetsk and Dinamo Zagreb in their final three games were ultimately enough to advance out of Group C. On Feb. 19, approximately 40,000 fans — a third of Bergamo’s population — traveled to the San Siro, usually home to the Milan clubs (Atalanta’s home ground is currently under renovation to meet standards for UEFA competition), for the biggest night in the club’s history.

Bergamo had never seen its side in the knockout rounds of the Champions League, and the first leg of their roundof-16 tie against Valencia went better than anyone could have hoped. Atalanta won 4-1 that night, and their electric play had formally put Europe on notice. Unbeknownst to anyone that night, however, Bergamo would soon be the talk of the world for very different reasons. That game, the apex of a footballing fairy tale, was actually the beginning of a very real nightmare.

The first COVID-19 case in Lombardy, the region containing both Milan and Bergamo, was reported the next morning. On Feb. 23, the local hospital admitted its very first patient due to coronavirus, and soon the city was considered the epicenter of the outbreak in northern Italy. Football briefly continued behind closed doors, and Atalanta’s players held a tshirt that read, “Bergamo, this is for you,” after they finished off the tie against Valencia in Spain, but the joy was shortlived as the death toll mounted. When relative normalcy began to resume in July, it was estimated that roughly 6,000 people in the province had succumbed to the virus. Eventually, the leading

pneumologist from the hospital referred to that beautiful February night in the San Siro as a “biological bomb.”

Soccer had unwittingly contributed to the unprecedented crisis, but in mid-June, the restart of Serie A (albeit without fans in the stands) allowed Atalanta to help the city heal.

Gasperini’s men began the restart where they had left off before the pandemic — scoring at will. Atalanta found the back of the net 98 times in Serie A, the highest total by a single team in the league since the 1947-1948 season, and managed to finish in third again. It was the date with PSG in Lisbon, however, that had football fans around the world salivating.

Financially speaking, the contrast between the Qataribankrolled Parisians and the Bergamese club could hardly be much sharper. Before the match, perhaps the most talked about statistic was that Atalanta’s yearly wage bill was roughly equivalent to Neymar’s annual wage.

Gasperini made sure to emphasize pre-match that his team had nothing to lose, and despite being substantial underdogs, they did anything but “park the bus.”

With a swift attack in the 26th minute, Atlanta took a shock lead through a leftfooted curler from Mario Pasalic, and for 64 minutes, PSG missed several chances to reply. It was meant to be.

Atalanta, whose unprecedented success had inadvertently facilitated a once-in-a-generation tragedy, had earned a massive gift for their recovering city by fearlessly defeating one of the richest clubs in the world. Except they hadn’t, because three minutes later, the score at the Estadio da Luz was 2-1 PSG. In 2020, it was probably naive to think that such a poetic story might avoid such a brutal end.

It is, of course, extremely short sighted of me to view this dramatic comeback victory as entirely depressing. As the always-eloquent commentator Peter Drury exclaimed when Marquinhos equalized for PSG, Atalanta’s devastation was simultaneously “Parisian Salvation.”

Since being bought by the Emir of Qatar through Qatar Sports Investments in 2011, PSG have largely steamrolled the competition in France while — like Manchester City — chronically underachieving in the UCL, the tournament they have been built to win.

As time ran out, manager Thomas Tuchel, who sat nursing a broken ankle, must have

figured he was minutes from losing his job. Doubt must have crept into the minds of supporters and players alike as memories of recent capitulations against Barcelona in 2017 and Manchester United in 2019 resurfaced.

On Wednesday, however, it was PSG who came up with the late goals, and from unlikely sources too.

First there was Marquinhos, the Brazilian center-back turned midfielder who had only scored four goals all season. Then, on a night when Neymar — the most expensive player ever — continuously fluffed his lines, it was 31-year-old substitute Eric Choupo-Moting who would play the hero. Two years earlier, Choupo-Moting only managed to score five times in 31 appearances for Stoke City as the Potters were relegated, and he has subsequently spent a large part of his two seasons in Paris on the bench. Before Wednesday, most Parisian fans probably wondered what he was even doing there in the first place.

As Gary Lineker hilariously noted on Twitter Wednesday night, however, the traditional skepticism of whether a top player had the fortitude to score on a “cold, wet, Tuesday night at Stoke” had been turned upside down.

Even from an Atalanta perspective, it is clear that Gasperini, his team and the city will not dwell too long on this loss. Despite all the horrors Bergamo has experienced over the last few months, the club have reached heights unimaginable just a few years prior.

Despite their post-match disappointment, many players could not help but smile when reflecting on what they had accomplished, and the province’s relative control over COVID-19 at the moment meant the team was able to receive a hero’s welcome upon their return, a sign of victory for the city in itself.

Moreover, this footballing phenomenon in Bergamo should be far from over, and another Champions League campaign beckons. Maybe next year, Atalanta will find themselves in another Champions League quarterfinal, and this time, they might be able to play in front of their loyal fans in their very own refurbished stadium.

Contact Greg McKenna at gmckenn2@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Continued from page 16

going on and what was going to happen to us,” she said. “Once we knew we wouldn’t be having any fall competitions I tried to have conversations to keep up the morale and help the team stay positive and focused on what we can do.”

Though the spring “was definitely not what anyone expected,” Moore said the players lucked out by escaping some of the limitations of the COVID-19 crisis.

“It definitely put a hindrance on the players’ competition opportunities,” she said.

“However, the summer was still a great opportunity for our players to get out and play as much golf as they could. Golf has been one of those sports that has been the easiest to social distance and stay safe. Early in the summer, some states did not have golf courses open, which hurt my players’ opportunity to practice. However, most golf courses opened up, and there was a lot of ability to get good training over the summer months. Toward the middle of the summer, most states started their amateur events, which some of my players took advantage of. It really did not feel any different than normal summer months because most golf operations were fully open, and golf was one of the things that most people could be doing during this pandemic.”

Moore and her team are hoping to continue training through this fall as best they can, much like this summer.

“The plan for this fall is still a little uncertain, but if everything goes to plan, we would like to have practice and work on our games to be as prepared as we can be going into a now even more important spring season.

Our practices would definitely be limited during the week, but we should be able to have opportunities to work together to better our games and get us as prepared as we can be going into the winter months.”

What is certain, though, is the team’s positive spirit and the relationship between the members, she said.

“Right now, it has been extremely important to get together and build that camaraderie when we can,” Moore said. “We are trying to plan more team dinners and gatherings as much as we can until we can get together more regularly during practice. I think the biggest thing they are doing right now, outside of sport, is getting acclimated to all of these changes around what they have to do during their typical day. Going to class, working out, studying, eating, socializing is all a little different right now, so they are really going through these changes together and learning how to manage successfully.”

Contact Mannion McGinley at mmcginl3@nd.edu

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Sports

The observer | monday, august 17, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Football Continued from page 16

education; we’ve got an informed student body — one that understands that their behavior will dictate, to a large degree, how positivity rates go up and down,” Kelly said. “Many are concerned about what it is going to be like when campus gets going.

You know, this is really about practicing good habits, and I think if you do that you have a chance of being successful in a very, very difficult time.

I think that Notre Dame so far has understood that. Now we saw this when we f lattened the curve as a country, and then we got all giddy and thought we had it licked. This is something that you have to do for a long time. This is hard. This is where you have really got to show some grit and stick with it, day in and day out or it’s going to jump up and really get to you, and we have seen that nationally.

So good start, long way to go — both for our football team and for our campus — and we’ve got to stay vigilant.”

Despite the vigilance of the campus community, COV ID-19 cases are continuing to rise on campus. As of Aug. 16, 45 Notre Dame community members have tested positive of the 473 tested, and the University has been put in a spotlight, being one of the first large schools in their country to reopen its doors after shutting down earlier in the pandemic. Now Notre Dame is being pushed from all sides, not only as a Catholic institution with the duty of putting the dignity and welfare of human beings first and foremost, but also as one of the few consistent perennial college football powerhouses in the country.

The message administration and the Notre Dame football program is sending is that there is too much to be lost by not making an attempt to play football this upcoming fall.

“This isn’t easy. We are fighting through a lot of different things at one time,” Kelly said. “Our guys haven’t tackled since December, so I am concerned with all of these things. … I’m looking at all those things necessary to make those kinds of judgements. Look, I have been doing it for 30 years — I feel like a first year head coach. So everything that I’m doing, I’m looking at some of the science that we have. I’m talking to our players at great length after practice to get a sense of where they are, meeting with the staff, trying to get as much information as possible as we plan out what we’re doing. We have a schedule, but I think it is so important right now — it’s prudent to be extremely f lexible in terms of what you’re doing.”

Kelly spoke about some of the changes in safety procedures during practice.

The issue that concerns him most is how handling player hydration changes with precautions in place.

“The biggest thing is you have your own water bottle, so they are positioned at kiosks throughout the field [and] that is your bottle,” he said. “W hereas in years past, you had a number of different athletic trainers with water handing out water. So our weight loss, for example, was exponentially different after a practice like yesterday than it has been at any other time since I’ve been here.

Generally we’ll have between six and eight players lose about 3% body weight; we had 15 to 17 [yesterday]. …

That’s a small thing, but it’s important to keep an eye on because you can’t continue to lose over 3% of your body weight and water weight because it is going to start to affect you.”

The team is taking other precautionary measures that might have seemed silly in years past. “[We are] spraying the footballs down with a disinfectant virtually after every throw with our managers to help reduce the spread. I think those two things probably stand out the most to me.

Other than, of course, every coach has to have a mask on, and having our players have a mask with them around their neck at all times. So if they do take their helmet off, they’ve got to try to pull the mask up, it’s recommended that they wear it. We know it’s not possible for them to have a mask on all the time, but anytime that they can we’re strongly recommending it.”

Kelly wrapped the virus discussion with his main message to his team during these times.

“I think they clearly understand that their human behavior has put them in a position for the University to feel as though they can trust their student athletes to make good choices and good decisions. The overall atmosphere here is, ‘We’re all in.’ In other words — both students and student athletes — we’re all in to see that we have a football season,” he said. “I think that they earned that trust in the six weeks leading up to the school starting here. I think our administration was making a decision as to what kind of behavior our football team would have, what kind of attention to detail they would have. They showed that this is very difficult but if we give them great healthcare and understand that we need great procedures and protocols and have all the things that are necessary to take care of our student athletes and our staff, then we can

do this. That coupled with the fact that they are in a safe environment here. Being involved in this program is very safe. If they left the program, the pandemic and the virus is not going away. You still have to wear a mask. You still have to social distance.

You still have to do all the things that you would have to do in this program, it doesn’t change things for you. We just have more guidelines, we have more safety checks for you, we have specialists for you, we have testing for you, we have a lot of other things to care for you within the program.”

Kelly also addressed the quality of graduate transfer from Northwestern wide receiver Ben Skowronek and senior safety transfer from Ohio State, Isaiah Pryor.

“W hen you take fifth-years and a transfer that’s coming in with one year [remaining], you obviously you need to be right,” Kelly said.

“By all indications, we got a great glimpse of Ben certainly with him being here early, and Pryor. Both of them were the leading point recipients this summer in their position groups. Pryor had almost 1,000 points as a DB, and then amongst the tight ends and wide receivers Skowronek just edged out [junior wide receiver] Kevin Austin [Jr.] with about 1,200 points.”

Skowronek had 141 receiving yards last season with the Wildcats despite playing in just three games. Pryor recorded 47 total tackles and seven pass breakups over his Buckeyes career.

Kelly also touched upon another transfer who joined the squad later than Skowronek and Pryor: graduate student cornerback from North Carolina State Nick McCloud.

“This was a step up for him.” Kelly said. “A step up in terms of the training, and he really took hold of it and made great strides throughout the six weeks that he was here. He finished the six weeks in the 650 range; just to give you an indication, 750 was the [sophomore defensive back Kyle] Hamiltons and the [graduate student cornerback Shaun] Crawfords. So he did really well in making up for some lost time. He’s long and he’s athletic, so those three guys really, really pleased with where we are with their presence in our program.”

Kelly fielded a question no other Irish football coach has had to answer before — a question about actually having a conference schedule.

“Our players are excited though, quite honestly, that they get a chance to play for an ACC Championship. So for the ACC to allow us that opportunity, they’re excited about it. They know it’s going

to be a great challenge,” he said. “They know that in a large degree obviously that runs through Clemson [and] South Carolina, but there are great challenges on our schedule with some really good football teams that we know are going to be great battles, so we’re looking forward to the challenge. I know our kids our excited about playing for a conference championship, but we’ve got a pretty daunting schedule that we have got to take care of one week at a time as well.”

Kelly concluded the interview with a question about how his team has kept up the fight against systemic racism since the team’s march on Juneteenth two months ago. He hinted at a few future events.

“We have a unity council that has been meeting, and we have some things that we’re doing internally and we’re not prepared to talk about them right now publicly. But they’re pretty exciting, … they’re really about activism, so you’ll see them before you hear about them, in terms of what our football team is going to be doing. It will be over the next month or two. There are two particular events that we’re going to be involved in, and we’re pretty excited about it.”

Contact Jimmy Ward at wward@hcc-nd.edu

allison thornton | The Observer

Irish junior wide reciever Braden Lenzy returns a kickoff during the Camping World Bowl, which Notre Dame won 33-9 over Iowa State on Dec. 28 in Orlando, Florida. Lenzy’s speed was a key weapon last year.

sports

ndsmcobserver.com | monday, august 17, 2020 | The Observer

Edmonds Continued from page 16

allison thornton | The Observer

Irish sophomore forward Sam Brunelle tries to steal the ball during a Dec. 11 home game against DePaul, which Notre Dame lost 105-94. Brunelle shot .315 from the 3-point arc last season, a team best.

allison thornton | The Observer

Junior guard Katlyn Gilbert drives to the lane during Notre Dame’s 105-94 loss to DePaul at Purcell Pavilion on Dec. 11. Gilbert tallied a team-high 61 steals last year and scored over 400 points.

greater South Bend community all while tallying over 900 wins over 38 seasons.

Her commitment to advocacy and inclusion didn’t stop on a personal level, either. The Notre Dame women’s basketball team and women’s basketball at large have continually voiced their support for various social justice campaigns, led by countless figures including McGraw. In the nearly four months since her former point guard and protege Niele Ivey took over as head coach, the program has demonstrated that it’s prepared to continue and develop that legacy.

Under Ivey’s leadership, the team has been actively involved in South Bend’s effort to address COVID-19 and assisting local schools as they prepare to return to in-person classes. Similarly, she maintained McGraw’s widely publicized tradition of only hiring women with the newest addition Coquese Washington joining Carol Owens and Michaela Mabrey as her support staff.

She has also continued to use her social media presence to advocate for racial justice, specifically bringing attention to the death of Breonna Taylor. Like McGraw, Ivey’s commitment to the community and causes she’s passionate about transcend the program’s culture and is increasingly relevant at a time of such uncertainty.

The simple fact is this: McGraw didn’t simply speak out on causes she was passionate about. She was a winner, someone who demanded

15

the respect of sports fans and athletes around the world.

Similarly, I have high hopes for Ivey as she takes the torch from McGraw. There will be some bumps in the road. Whether it’s this November or whenever basketball can safely resume, there’s no question that Ivey and her cohort will have to work through some kinks. The team is still finding its footing after losing all five starters of a national championship team to the WNBA Draft two years ago.

But the young team has potential. Star sophomore forward Sam Brunelle has a year of experience under her belt and is joined by the veteran presence of Destinee Walker and a freshman class that includes four five-star commits.

Add in the recent addition of transfer Dara Mabrey — the third in her family to wear the Irish uniform — and this team has all the makings to bring the Irish back to the pinnacle of ACC dominance.

And when that happens, don’t be surprised. This program is built to endure. They understand the importance of the process and did not waver throughout this past season of growing pains. But in the meantime, take note of their commitment to more than just basketball because they’re the real deal.

Also tune into the WNBA while they’re in the bubble.

Many of your favorite players at Notre Dame are still playing and deserve our support.

Contact Charlotte Edmonds at cedmond3@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

allison thornton | The Observer

Irish sophomore guard Anaya Peoples tries to block a pass during a 105-94 Notre Dame loss to DePaul at Purcell Pavilion on Dec. 11.

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The observer | monday, august 17, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

nd women’s basketball

nd men’s basketball

Mooney signs with NBL squad Observer Staff Report

Former Notre Dame men’s basketball forward John Mooney has signed a contract with the Perth Wildcats of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL).

The Wildcats are coming off of winning the NBL championship last season.

Mooney played for the Irish from the 2016-17 season through the abbreviated 2019-20 season which was cut short due to COV ID-19. After appearing in only 12 games as a freshman, Mooney was forced into a more prominent role in his sophomore campaign as injuries to forward Bonzie Colson and guards Matt Farrell and D.J. Harvey shortened the rotation. He proceeded to average nearly 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in his second year and showed out with an 18-point performance at North Carolina on 6-6 3-point shooting.

Ivey carrying McGraw’s legacy on and off court

Mooney’s junior year saw him become a force for the Irish down low. After recording only one double-double through his first two seasons, he recorded 20 in his third, including an 18-point, 20-rebound performance against Clemson in the regular season home finale. His play earned him a second place finish in the ACC Most Improved Player voting and an All-ACC Third Team selection as the Irish limped to a 14-19 record on the season.

After serving as a bright spot on a struggling team in his third year, Mooney’s senior campaign was a more fitting end to the Irish star’s career. He continued increasing his output, going from 14.1 points and 11.2 rebounds per game the previous year to 16.2 points and 12.7 boards in his final season. He also led the nation in defensive rebounds and

allison thornton | The Observer

It’s near impossible to write about the future of sports with so much still up in the air. It seems like every day there’s a new rumor about the trend of college football as conferences debate their next steps.

On the other hand, there are the few cases where we’ve seen athletes and coaches take this time off to rededicate themselves to a new craft or raise awareness for something they’re passionate about.

Back in April, I wrote a column reflecting on the storied career of Notre Dame women’s basketball head coach Muffet McGraw as a leader both on and off the court. Throughout her Hall of Fame career, McGraw continually advocated for women in leadership positions and was known to be incredibly involved in the

see MOONEY PAGE 12

Irish graduate student guard Destinee Walker dribbles during Notre Dame’s 105-94 loss to DePaul on Dec. 11 at Purcell Pavilion.

see EDMONDS PAGE 15

Charlotte Edmonds Senior Sports Writer

smc golf

football

Kelly discusses ACC, COVID-19, new players

Belles undeterred by postponement

By JIMMY WARD

By MANNION McGINLEY

Associate Sports Editor

Sports Writer

Irish football head coach Brian Kelly held a virtual press conference Thursday, after the Irish had concluded their first practice.

Kelly fielded a wide variety of questions ranging from transfer athletes and incoming freshmen to joining the ACC. Kelly addressed the elephant in the room — the coronavirus pandemic.

“You’re not going to be able to go through a pandemic without having positive tests,” he said. “We are going to continue to be transparent. We’re going to have our good days, and we’re going to have our bad days.”

He said the football team’s results could not be separated from the Notre Dame community or the country as a whole.

“I think we have been vigilant when it comes to

The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association announced the postponement of the fall sports season July 30.

The news was nothing if not disappointing to Saint Mary’s golf head coach Kimberly Moore.

“Obviously, I was disappointed about the postponement of our fall season,” Moore said in an email. “However, I was most disappointed in the fact that our seniors were not going to get the normal full season that they were hoping for. I do think most of the players saw this coming, as trends started heading in the wrong direction, and they were hearing of other teams and conferences canceling or postponing their seasons.”

Those two seniors are Hunter Kehoe and Summer Stillson, who led the team last season both on and off the fairway, ranking first and second respectively in scoring for the Belles. Kehoe posted a scoring

see FOOTBALL PAGE 14

allison thornton | The Observer

Senior running back Jafar Armstrong runs to the right side during Notre Dame’s 33-9 Camping World Bowl win over Iowa State.

average of 75.83, and Stillson had 78.58.

Moore worried for the underclassmen’s access to success as well.

“I think the biggest challenge is not getting that experience gained by competing,” she said.

“Having competitions in golf is so important in the growing aspect of a player’s game.

There are so many things, both mentally and physically, that you gain by just competing.

Plus, our underclassmen really haven’t had that normal opportunity to compete in college, which is another aspect that can take getting used to.

We will just have to try and mimic the feel of competition as much as we can during our fall practices.”

Despite the disappointment and the unease that comes with not being able to play, Moore aimed to keep morale up.

“I tried to make conversations with the team more informative because everyone was definitely wondering what was see SMC GOLF PAGE 13