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Volume 57, Issue 30 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
NDBridge replaces SSLPs CSC begins new summer community engagement program By TESS BRENNAN News Writer
The summer service learning program (SSLP) and its international counterpart (ISSLP) have been phased out by the Center for Social Concerns. NDBridge is the University’s new summer community engagement program, limited to rising sophomores. The previous programs were open to students in each of their three summers. NDBridge will continue to offer eight-week service-based immersion experiences, a onecredit supplementary course and international options through NDBridge-International to the smaller applicant pool. JP Shortall, associate director of the CSC, said that the new program will build on the SSLP framework. “NDBridge will combine the
best elements of the SSLP/ISSLP programs while also providing additional resources and structures to enhance and deepen the experiences of our students as they engage in domestic and global service-learning opportunities,” Shortall wrote in an email to The Observer. Shortall cited the difficulties the previous programs faced over the past three years as the reasoning behind the CSC’s decision to replace SSLP and ISSLP with NDBridge. “The past three years have presented significant challenges for community engagement programs both at Notre Dame and around the country,” he wrote. “As disruptive as these challenges were, they offered us an important opportunity to assess best practices in community-engaged
learning, both nationally and globally,” he wrote. “In light of these assessments and changing student interests on campus, we decided it was a good time to make some changes to our summer community engagement programs.” The program’s goal is to “get students to think hard about injustice, work with communities around the world that face it and consider their responsibility to the common good while at Notre Dame and beyond,” according to the NDBridge website. Shortall added that he hopes the Notre Dame community can gain “a sense of connection to communities around the country and the world, a sense of solidarity with their joys, hopes, griefs and challenges” through the program. see NDBRIDGE PAGE 4
University stages fall theatre performances
ND defends affirmative action By ISA SHEIKH Associate News Editor
Last week, the Supreme Court heard two concurrent cases on the state of affirmative action in college admissions, Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina and Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. The petitioner in both cases — Students for Fair Admissions, a nonprofit that has taken issue with the race-conscious admission policies at UNC and Harvard — has argued that those policies constitute racial discrimination, especially against Asian-Americans. The University of Notre Dame has taken a side in the case,
News Writer
The “Steel Magnolias” cast takes a bow. They perform at the Decio Theatre in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center from Nov. 10-13. The production is hosted by the department of film, television and theatre. By KELSEY QUINT News Writer
Notre Dame students are taking the stage this weekend in two different shows. The department of film, television and theatre (FTT) will be staging Robert Harling’s “Steel Magnolias” at the Decio Theatre in the DeBartolo Performing
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Arts Center, Nov. 10-13. Elsewhere on campus, the Not-So-Roya l-Sha kespea re Company (NSR) will be putting on “A Winter’s Tale” at the Washington Hall Lab Theater, November 10-12. Both plays share the label of a “tragicomedy,” which FTT professor Carys Kresny, director of the “Steel Magnolias” production,
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said is sure to ignite all of the audience’s emotions. She said this weekend presents a unique opportunity for a double feature for play-lovers. “People can have a blast going to both,” Kresny said. She also described the nature of the tragicomedy: “A see THEATRE PAGE 4
SCene PAGE 9
see ACTION PAGE 4
Speaker discusses breaking stigma By CHLOE CODDINGTON
Courtesy of Stacey Stewart
signing onto an amicus brief alongside 56 other Catholic colleges and universities, supporting the institutions that have employed affirmative action in their admissions. The brief at one point quotes Notre Dame’s mission statement, which says that “the intellectual interchange essential to a university requires, and is enriched by, the presence and voices of diverse scholars and students.” Asked for comment on why Notre Dame chose to weigh in on the case, University spokesman Dennis Brown said the school’s “position as stated in the brief speaks for itself.” Jennifer Mason McAward ‘94, a Notre Dame law professor who
On Monday night, the Saint Mary’s College director of the Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership, Emily Rose McManus, hosted Aanya Wig and her talk, “How To Break Stigma.” Wig is a young alumna of the United States State Department program, Study of United States Institute for student leaders (SUSIs). Wig completed the SUSIs scholar program at Saint Mary’s College in 2021. Wig is the founder of Girl Up Rise, a youth-led collective working toward a future where women have menstrual, financial and legal literacy and aid. In addition, Wig is a co-founder of COVID Fighters India and works for UNICEF’s Young People’s action team. Since beginning her humanitarian work, Wig has also given three TEDx talks. Wig graduated from Lady Shri Ram College for Women with a degree in history and a minor in journalism. She reflected on her upbringing and the role of women. “I grew up in a household with a single mother and a sister and for
BARAka bouts PAGE 13
me, women were leaders at home, women were leaders in industries. They run households. They did everything right,” Wig said. “But while growing up, I realized that’s not how the world sees women. We’re often looked at as the second sex, or we’re often looked at as the alternative option.” While in college, Wig started a social-entrepreneurship project called Aghaaz that taught underprivileged women skills such as stitching and sewing. Wig discussed the marginalization and poverty these women faced on a daily basis. “We worked towards imparting these skills so that they could use waste cloth material and convert it into bags, into pencil boxes, into so many things,” she said. “And all the money that we would get from selling these products would go back to these women.” While working with COVID Fighters India during the pandemic, Wig began Girl Up Rise as an online platform. She used Zoom for training sessions and workshops for women. These segments were aimed to teach women skills see STIGMA PAGE 4
men’s basketball PAGE 16
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Stadium lights are shut off in Notre Dame Stadium as the band organizes in “ND” formation before football players rush onto the field to play Clemson on Saturday. The Fighting Irish came away with a 35-14 victory and students rushed the field in celebration.
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Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Ballet et Beignets Haggar College Center 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Join the French club for a ballet lesson and French donuts.
Cooking on a Budget Rice Commons 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. Make staple meals out of commmon ingredients.
Lucy Family Institute Faireside Chat Series 231 Hesburgh Library 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Data poetics: Allison Parrish.
Lisa Loeb Performance DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Family singalong.
Theatre Matinee: “Steel Magnolias” DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Presented by ND FTT.
An Evening of Gratitude McCandless Hall 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Write thank you cards for custodians.
Spes Univent: Graham Cracker Houses Siegfried Dining Hall 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Sponsored by SGA.
Korean Kimchi Decio 151 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. A hands-on workshop on the traditional Korean dish.
On Her Turf Watch Party O’Rourke’s 3:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. The Citi Shamrock Classic is on NBC.
Organ Recital Basilica of the Sacred Heart 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. French romantic organ works.
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Theatre Continued from page 1
friend of mine used to say that she loved a happy-sad sandwich.” “Steel Magnolias” is ‘laughter through tears’ “Steel Magnolias” is a play about a group of women set in Louisiana in the 1980s. Kresny hinted at what the audience should expect from FTT’s production. “There’s a line from the play, which I think sums it up,” Kresny said. “‘Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.’ It’s really, really funny, but there’s also real human experiences that are pretty tough that happened in the play … And you know what? [At first,] I was like, ‘This is a chick-flick, this is a girl play.’ But the guys who have seen it so far have just been laughing their heads off, not at the women, but with them.” Kresny continued by explaining other initial hesitations she had about “Steel Magnolias.” “When I took on the production, I was a little bit skeptical of
NDBridge Continued from page 1
NDBridge will seek to deepen the experiences and connections of their students through the living situation for students in the program, Shortall said. “In NDBridge rising sophomores will live with other
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serves as director of the Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights, said there is some incentive for institutions like Notre Dame to defend race-conscious admissions. “I would think that, at a Catholic university that really does come from a faith tradition that values diversity and inclusivity, it is a core part of who we are to recognize that there are many parts of the body of Christ, and we want to have all of them represented at our school,” she said. Richard Garnett, a law professor with concurrent appointment to the political science department, said that it’s unlikely that Notre Dame’s stated concerns on racial diversity and the religious freedom to consider race will be primary considerations for the court. “Because Notre Dame is a private institution, its ability to consider race is not limited by the Constitution, only by its acceptance of federal funds. It is unlikely, in any event, that the justices will rely explicitly on considerations of institutional religious freedom or of Catholic mission,” he wrote in an email to The Observer. Mason McAward explained that the legal history of these affirmative action cases goes back to 1978, when the Supreme Court
this play because it was all about women, but women’s experiences written by a guy,” Kresny said. “But it’s really amazing how authentic it is. I think the reason is because this playwright, he wrote it to honor his sister, for starters, and he wrote it directly out of his own experience — each woman is based on someone he actually knows and loves.” Kresny said the hard work and dedication on behalf of the cast and crew have made the production a “vivid visual treat.” “It’s a really big tech show. There’s all kinds of fun aspects of the set. The costumes are incredibly detailed and the hair obviously does all kinds of things. So there’s a lot to look at, and that takes a lot of thought, time and organization both on the part of the designers and the actors,” Kresny said. “Everyone has had a blast working with each other, and the actors have been just a delight for me. The whole way through, they’ve really stepped up … So if you are in the mood to get your ‘80s on, we’re here for you.”
“The Winter’s Tale” is ‘one of Shakespeare’s most beautifully written plays‘ The cast and crew of NSR’s production of “The Winter’s Tale” echo how, for their play, its “coming together” was a product of commitment and collaboration. The Shakespeare group is completely student-run, which Dominic Keene, a junior studying electrical engineering and FTT, says led community in the club. “It has been a fair time commitment, depending on what kind of role you have,” Keene said. “But we have a lot of fun with it. And at least to me, it doesn’t feel like a time commitment. It feels like an excuse to hang out with my friends every day. And that’s part of the reason I love it … My reason for doing theater is getting to spend all those hours in the rehearsal room, getting to know people. I’ve never made bonds with people and friendships the way I’ve made friendships in a rehearsal room.” Ryan Mantey, a junior studying philosophy, classics and FTT, agreed.
“I joined up the first semester of my freshman year and everyone was very kind and just open to receiving anyone and everyone who was interested in theater and in Shakespeare,” Mantey said. This weekend’s production was selected both for its beauty and its application to modern audiences, said director Noah Sim, a junior studying computer science and history. “‘The Winter’s Tale’ is one of Shakespeare’s most beautifully written plays,” Sim said. “Some of the language and the structure of his phrases are really just, well, beautiful. The story is not too intense, but still very important, I think, even for a modern audience.” Eliza Chaney, a sophomore studying political science, international relations and economics said that Shakespeare is still important. “A lot of people are turned away from Shakespeare because they’re like, ‘Oh, the language is really old, I won’t understand it,’” Chaney said. “But this play in particular, actually, there’s so much in there that’s really still very relevant and relatable
to a modern audience. We all feel jealousy, we feel insecurity, we feel love, like all of those emotions are very human, regardless of when it was written. And I think that definitely comes through in the play … So come along, we’ve put in a lot of hours and effort, and we can’t wait to show you.” Christina Randazzo, a senior studying psychology and FTT, describes the play as “a tragedy when you give it time.” Randazzo hints at the “scandal” and “twists and turns” that the audience can expect. “There may be romance. There may be babies thrown into fires. There may be people mauled by bears, but you will just have to come and see for yourself,” Randazzo said. “But this play is a group of the most dedicated people that I’ve ever met and had the pleasure of knowing. I think their dedication and love for what they’re doing is really evident in what you will see.”
students in intentional communities of four either at or near community partner sites,” he wrote. “Students often find themselves searching and/or disoriented after their first year in college, and programs like NDBridge serve to reorient them with meaning and purpose. The four-person intentional living-learning communities will offer
opportunities to enrich the work the students are doing each day through common meals, prayer, reflection and discussion, with special emphasis on engaging with the local community.” According to the website, “applications for NDBridge opened Oct. 31 and close at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 2, 2022.” Students will then be selected
for interviews, receive offers and enroll in a preparatory course. Shortall said that students should apply because the program “connects some of the most important things about being a person: meaning, purpose, a sense of community and self-discovery. And it’s a great way to participate in the University’s mission ‘to create
a sense of human solidarity and concern for the common good that will bear fruit as learning becomes service to justice.’” The next information session for NDBridge is on Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. in the Geddes Hall coffeehouse.
decided a case called Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, when a white man seeking admission to medical school was rejected twice despite qualifications exceeding those of 16 minority students admitted in reserved seats. “The controlling opinion in that case ended up being Justice Lewis Powell’s solo opinion, which concluded that, although racial classifications are ‘inherently suspect,’ such consideration could be justified ‘under some circumstances,’ when necessary to the ‘goal of achieving a diverse student body,’” Garnett wrote. “The Court has never embraced the position that four justices took in Bakke, namely, that affirmative action in admissions is justified as a reparative or remedial measure.” According to Mason McAward, Bakke was the law of the land through 2003, when the Supreme Court heard Grutter v. Bollinger. Grutter “reaffirmed that diversity was an acceptable goal for universities to have and that race-conscious admissions were permissible,” Mason McAward said. “Race could be only one factor among many that schools could consider and so they had to be very careful in how they use race as one factor in a broader picture understanding of what diversity really means.” Harvard has been specifically accused of discriminating against Asians in a variety of ways. The Trump administration
had taken up the case of those students, siding with the petitioner’s argument. Under the Biden administration, the solicitor general’s office has reversed course, arguing in favor of the universities and affirmative action processes. Mason McAward says the broader questions around affirmative action expand these critiques. “Those questions that are swirling about whether promoting racial diversity in some sense leads to racial discrimination in another sense is a concern that is underlying some of the justices approaches to the case. And there’s their assessment that really, maybe we should just take race out of the conversation altogether, because there’s just no good way to make sure that everybody has equal opportunity, that it’s a kind of zero-sum game,” she said, drawing from oral arguments. Garnett identified two questions facing the court. “The questions for the justices are, first, whether ‘diversity’ in these institutions is such an interest and, second, whether raceconscious admissions practices are necessary to accomplish it,” he wrote. Ultimately, the justices are tasked with setting out a legal view of race and admissions, and whether to overrule Grutter. Mason McAward outlined a number of possibilities. “One big question that the justices have to decide is whether
the US Constitution ever allows the consideration of race in any context, but especially in the university admissions context. So the court might say that race just can never be considered at all. Or the court could say ‘we think that diversity is an excellent goal, but schools can’t use race as one of that one piece of that constellation.’ The court might say, we actually don’t think diversity is a concept that is concrete or constrained enough that would justify the use of race,” she said. Garnett said that the court is dealing less with whether these practices are discriminatory, but rather if they’re justifiable in light of the government’s interest. “In addition, in part because a majority of the current justices embrace the textualist and originalist methodologies, it seems clear that they will be asking whether the text of the federal civil-rights law, and the original understanding of the Fourteenth Amendment, permit racebased government policies,” he wrote. “Both of these questions are, of course, challenging and much-debated.” Garnett said that the impact of the ruling relies on how much the court chooses to address. It “ will depend on, among other things, whether the justices address the constitutional question, the statutory question, or both. This is because only staterun institutions are constrained by the Fourteenth Amendment,” he wrote. “A Court ruling against
race-based admissions would not prevent universities from aiming at diversity, in various forms, including but not limited to racial diversity. Instead, it would require them to develop new strategies for achieving this goal.” In the case that the consideration of race is totally prohibited in the admissions process, Mason McAward anticipates the path forward that institutions might take. “Some state university systems have been precluded from using race for some time. I think the experience in California was that the number of racial minorities in the flagship California schools dropped precipitously when race conscious admissions were initially taken away. But what I think you’re going to see over time is that schools try and come up with other ways of creating a diverse student body,” she said. Mason McAward said there are other ways to ensuring diversity with explicit racial considerations. “So whether it’s a focus on socioeconomic diversity, whether it’s, as we see in Texas, a top 10% program where the top 10% of high school graduating classes are guaranteed admission to certain schools, I think that what you will see is a continuing commitment to diversity and an experimentation in other ways to get there,” she added.
Contact Kelsey Quint at kquint@nd.edu
Contact Tess Brennan at tbrenna4@nd.edu
Contact Isa Sheikh at isheikh@nd.edu
News
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Glynn Honors opens lounge, fosters scholarship By PETER BREEN News Writer
On Oct. 27, the Glynn Family Honors Program celebrated the opening of its new, 1,500 squarefoot lounge on the second floor of O’Shaughnessy Hall with apple cider and donuts. For the 400 undergraduate students in the Glynn program, the multipurpose common room will serve not only as private study space, but also as a hub for Glynn specific events, e.g., alumni speakers and senior thesis workshops, program co-director Margaret Meserve said. The Glynn program offers select undergraduates, in Notre Dame’s college of arts and letters, college of science and school of architecture, “the opportunity to pursue academic excellence within a On Oct. 27, the Glynn Family Honors Program celebrated the opening of its new, 1,500 square-foot lounge on the second floor of O’Shaughnessy Hall with apple cider and donuts. For the 400 undergraduate students in the Glynn program, the multipurpose common room will serve not only as private study space, but also as a hub for Glynnspecific events like alumni speakers and senior thesis workshops, program co-director Margaret Meserve said. The Glynn program offers select undergraduates in Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters, College of Science and School of Architecture “the opportunity to pursue academic excellence within a community of like-minded learners,” according to the program’s website. “It’s an honors program for academically ambitious, intellectually curious students in Arts and Letters, Science and Architecture,” Meserve said. Notre Dame developed an honors program in the 1980s and in 2006, the program became known as the Glynn Family Honors Program, growing to its present size of about 100 students per year. In the program’s current form, Meserve distinguishes two primary features: a unique path through Notre Dame’s core curriculum and sponsorship for undergraduate research which Glynn students are expected to integrate into their senior thesis. “The support for research and
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with the goal of empowerment. Eventually, Wig’s team grew to be more than 80 members across India. “Let me tell you, we started when there was no pandemic and within a month of our starting up back in early 2020, the pandemic started. So a lot of the work that we did was actually online, which of course eventually moved offline, but the beginning was online,” Wig said. Girl Up Rise now works alongside universities, colleges, think
the sense that you’re going through Notre Dame with a cohort of other people who are also doing research and thinking about a senior thesis is also a really great opportunity,” Meserve said.
Reimagining humanities spaces Over the past decade, academic programs all across Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters have been receiving makeovers. On the third floor of O’Shaughnessy Hall — the location of Glynn’s old 1,250 square-foot lounge — the honors program will be saying goodbye to their neighbors, the program of liberal studies (PLS) student lounge. But down on the second floor of O’Shaughnessy, the Glynn program will welcome as neighbors the newly remodeled Tech Ethics Lab and Reilly Center for Science, Technology and Values. These aforementioned departmental areas and several others in O’Shaughnessy and Decio Halls have been renovated in recent years as a consequence of the $400 million Campus Crossroads project, Meserve said. “If you go back to 2015 or 2016, Campus Crossroads, which is the buildings by the stadium, opened up, including new buildings for anthropology and psychology and music,” Meserve said. “And at the same time, Jenkins Nanovic Halls, down towards the south end of campus, opened up with new space for political science, sociology and economics.” Easily half the College of Arts and Letters suddenly had new departmental suites built on a new model designed to facilitate student-faculty interaction. “For the very first time, those are integrated spaces where the department office, all the faculty offices, graduate students, undergraduates, classrooms, lounges, the mail room, the coffeemaker — everything was under one roof,” Meserve said. Faculty offices, which had previously been found in the crevices of Decio, Malloy and Flanner Halls, were reconnected with the main department office — former “storefronts,” which used to be located in either O’Shaughnessy or Flanner Halls. Thirty to 40 years ago, “your office was in Decio, it was in Malloy, it was on another floor of Flanner not near
tanks and news journals around the world. The United Nations has also helped Girl Up Rise with its mission. With such a diverse network and team, Wig and Girl Up Rise have addressed the livelihoods of refugees, period poverty, menstrual health awareness, legal literacy, legal aid and financial literacy. To address these issues, Wig and Girl up Rise have taken action to break stigmas. One of these stigmas is toward refugees. To help refugees affected by the pandemic, Wig began a probe project with the United Nations High Commission on Refugees. “We realized that this was
the department,” Meserve said. “When I started at Notre Dame, Decio felt like a dorm for faculty. It was like 250 single offices and not even like a bench in the hallway, just absolutely like little cells lined up.” Under the old model, neither students nor faculty in the humanities had any sense of an academic home on campus. “The idea is to bring the faculty all together,” Meserve said, “But also, for me, it was very important to feel like if you are an undergraduate here and you declare a humanities major, you have a place to go that feels like your own.” Meserve, who has been managing these renovation projects for the College of Arts and Letters in O’Shaughnessy and Decio Halls, said that so far, Notre Dame has done projects for: history, English, East Asian languages, German and Russian languages, PLS and smaller programs as well — “taking this empty space and trying to reimagine it.” The classics department is receiving their renovation over winter break and a new project is currently underway for the Initiative on Race and Resilience on the third floor of O’Shaughnessy. “The last few departments that we have to do are American studies and Romance languages. And those are in the planning stages,” Meserve said. “Eventually, every humanities program will be in a new space and thus far, we’re more than halfway there.” The new Glynn program lounge, known affectionately as the “Glounge” by its students, is complete with an open study area plan, faculty offices and fresh Einstein Bros. Bagels brought in every morning. John W. Glynn ’62 and his wife, Barbara, have maintained their financial backing of the program throughout its most recent evolution. “We are very grateful to the Glynns who continue to support the program, they gave a gift that made this renovation possible,” Meserve said. “We’re very excited, it’s a beautiful new space … We’re really pleased with what we’ve been able to do.”
by the same professor to a small group of about a dozen students. The reading and writing intensive course fulfills the core curriculum’s writing and rhetoric and University seminar requirements. Meserve said that the seminar is meant to be an encounter with literature and the intellectual history of primary texts. “The idea is that, in the course of a year, you should cover a broad range of chronology, different authors, different voices, different kinds of texts,” she said. “We let every professor set their own syllabus, and some of them will choose a theme, like tragedy or war, or [they will] focus on the Catholic intellectual tradition or the environment.” Seminars’ syllabi span literary history, touching upon authorities from Plato to Dante to Tolkien. “[Professors] usually set books on the syllabus that go from the Old Testament or the Iliad and the Odyssey, all the way up to the twenty-first century,” Meserve said. “The hope is that an exposure to literature of all stripes in the humanities seminar, that all these diverse encounters will compel students to question how they ought to understand calling in their own lives,” professor Jillian Snyder said. Jack McEnery, a junior PLS major, remembered his “Gleminar” as a stimulating meeting of the minds between professor and students. In addition to the humanities seminar, the Glynn course of studies includes honors philosophy, theology, science and mathematics courses, typically taken in the first or second year. Notre Dame’s core curriculum requires that humanities majors complete a combination of three total math and science courses. Glynn students in the College of Arts and Letters must take one more for a total of two science and two math classes.
Scholarly excellence
The centerpiece of the Glynn program is a two-semester, first-year honors humanities seminar taught
Every Glynn student must write a senior thesis. Along the way, the Glynn program offers funding and students participate in research and writing colloquiums, Meserve said. Though it’s not required, students, for the most part, write their thesis with an advisor from their major. Topics are as variable as students’ interests. “We have art students who do creative projects. Someone just did
a group of people who were extremely affected. Most of them lost their jobs if they had any, and they didn’t have access to resources,” she said. “And using our platform, using networks like Amazon, we started selling these masks so that these women could have an income.” Wig also spoke about the lack of legal education for women in India, as well as the stigmas that conceal sexual harassment from the public eye. “What we can do is trigger a conversation around it to make people realize that this is sexual harassment,” Wig said. “If anything happens to your dignity, I
think it’s so important for us to realize that these women have a response channel, and there’s so much that we can do to support them.” Wig went on to introduce her new phase of humanitarian work: HerHaq. Wig strives to continue the issues addressed by Girl Up Rise through HerHaq — in Hindi, “her right.” “I want to reach out to more people,” Wig said. “I want to help and support as many women as we can. We’re finally a nonprofit now, which means we’re so much more than just a chapter in college. We are so much more and we’re going to do so much
A unique path
their piano recital as their senior project,” Meserve said. “Last year, we had a student who published their own children’s book.” Emily Hannon, a senior history major, used Glynn funding to conduct research this summer at the Library of Congress on the development of American history textbooks “I’m specifically looking at how the women’s liberation movement changed the way that women are discussed in American history textbooks,” she said. “My thesis is a little strange because it’s more of historiography, which is the history of history.” Hannon chose American Pageant, a common American high school textbook used for AP United States History initially published in 1956. A challenge with studying textbooks is that they are often destroyed when newer editions are released. The 17th edition of American Pageant came out in 2019. “I used a Glynn grant to go to DC to go through all the editions of the textbook over the summer,” Hannon said. “The Library of Congress is one of the few places that actually keeps all of these old editions.” Hannon intends on going to law school to work in the field of public education following graduation and anticipates a 40-to-80-page senior thesis with the history department to be ample preparation. “Undertaking a long-scale writing and research project is really helpful for being a lawyer and managing thoughts,” she said. “[My research] will also give me more of a handle on how different forces engage in shaping public policy.” The Glynn research and writing colloquiums, classes that Snyder teaches, serve as a memorable bookend, along with the humanities seminar, to the Notre Dame honors student experience. Being back in these colloquiums with other Glynn students “is really cool to see, because it’s one of the weird things where your freshman year, you’re together all the time and then you finish your requirements and go off into your major and don’t really see anyone,” Hannon said. “It’s cool to come back now and see what the students I had class with freshman year are doing now.” Contact Peter Breen at pbreen2@nd.edu
more together, and we realize that it’s so important to have male allyship to break stigma so we opened our applications to all genders,” Wig said. Wig spoke about her inspirations. “All of these women who stay in the slum areas, who don’t have households, who stay on the streets. They’ve empowered me so much. And they’ve made me so grateful for the things that I have. And they’ve made me realize that you don’t need a lot to be strong,” she said. Contact Chloe Coddington at ccoddington01@saintmarys.edu
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The observer | WednesdAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
Reflections on the Sacred Heart
Inside Column
Disney’s ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ Marcelle Couto Scene Writer
After acquiring a copy of Victor Hugo’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” during fall break, I was suddenly in the mood to rewatch the Disney animated musical. Doing so made me realize, not for the first time, how criminally underrated this adaptation is. Not only was it not as successful as other Disney films, but it is also significantly inconspicuous compared to the more widely-acclaimed classics. I believe part of the reason may stem from the fact that many of us did not watch it in our childhood, and understandably so — the film’s darker themes might not have been favorable to parents. However, I would argue that “Hunchback” is not so much a movie for children as it is a wonderful work of artistry, and it should be revisited and appreciated today. To start with, there is the incredible soundtrack, one of Disney’s best. Scored by Alan Menken, awarded for masterworks like “The Little Mermaid” (1989), “Beauty and the Beast” (1991), “Aladdin” (1992) and “Pocahontas” (1995), together with Stephen Schwartz, acclaimed for hits such as “Wicked” (2003), “The Prince of Egypt” (1998) and “Godspell” (1971), the music is glorious and breathtaking. Composed in the style of operatic musicals like “Les Misérables” — also inspired by a Victor Hugo novel — the style does just tribute to Hugo’s hauntingly beautiful work. From the longing “Out There”, the passionate “Heaven’s Light”, the tender “God Help the Outcasts” to the sinister “Hellfire”, the songs leave nothing amiss in terms of riveting melodies or establishment of a thematic, profound atmosphere. Even the post-credits special, “Someday”, captures the fervent thrill of the story, and it is only unfortunate that it was cut out from the movie. The animation is also gorgeously detailed and picturesque. It is evident that the studio poured hefty amounts of craftsmanship into the work. Indeed, the film accentuated the greatness of the Notre Dame Cathedral, which would, once again, earn a nod of admiration from Victor Hugo. After all, the underlying motivator behind his novel was the depreciation of gothic architecture and the withering of magnificent buildings like Notre Dame. In fact, the work inspired a restoration of the medieval monolith in the mid-nineteenth century. Then, of course, comes the story. While the film amassed criticism for its inclusion of mature themes for a Disney movie, I would argue that “Hunchback” is considerably more toned-down than Hugo’s heart-rending tragedy. The fact that the movie’s creators were able to make the tale of a, frankly, oftentimes horrifying novel accessible to children — albeit preferably slightly older children — is a major accomplishment in itself. Playful comedic interpolations break the unease of other, more eerie scenes and while the film has been criticized for a disorienting tone, I believe the humor aids in the presentation of such a complex story to a younger audience. The moral force of the story is unmatched, with themes such as the rampant abuse of power, oppression of the disadvantaged, prejudice and the transformative power of gentleness and kindness. In short, it is a timeless tale, full of character, strength and beauty enough to provoke countless chills. Nothing proves the unfortunate reception of “Hunchback” better than its stage musical adaptation, which premiered in the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, California on Oct. 28, 2014, ran until Dec. 7, 2014, and subsequently went on to open on March 4, 2015, at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. As expected, the augmented soundtrack is gorgeous, and I recommend you listen to it on Spotify if you are a fan of show tunes. This rendition featured star actors like Michael Arden and Patrick Page as well as an incredible set. It also retained much of Hugo’s original writing, including the miserable yet impactful ending. However, the show closed all too early on April 5, 2015, after it was announced that it would not move to Broadway. If you are an animation enthusiast, I hope to have convinced you by now to revive “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and give it the recognition it deserves. Contact Marcelle at mcouto@nd.edu. The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Devin Humphreys Life, Law and the Lord
Sacred Heart. What do you think of when you hear those two words? For me, they most clearly bring to mind Sacred Heart Academy, the K-12 school in Mount Pleasant, Michigan that changed my life for the better by bringing me to the Catholic faith I now call my own. But they also bring other things to mind: our Basilica, for instance, that bears the Sacred Heart as its namesake, or even Timothy R. Smith’s Mass of the Sacred Heart, composed to fill the liturgical music void caused by 2011’s revised English translation of the Roman Missal. I have previously written about my conversion to Catholicism in the seventh grade, but in that column I never really wrote about what led to my conversion. When people hear that I grew up reading a Protestant Bible, with a non-denominational Protestant conception of Christianity, they often make certain assumptions about what aspects of our Catholic faith were the biggest stumbling blocks along my way. Most of the time, these assumptions are made in good faith as generalizations of other, more public conversion stories. The book “Rome Sweet Home”, for instance, relays an absolute blessing of a modern Protestant-to-Catholic conversion story. But I find myself not relating to many of the flashpoints Dr. Scott Hahn and Kimberly Hahn raise in that book. For a key example, take our relationship with the saints. In my religion classes, we learned about the distinction between God, who we worship, Mary, who we venerate and the saints, of whom we ask for intercession as those who have the ear of God. Nothing about this was objectionable theology to my young not-yet-Catholic ears. Then, on reading “Rome Sweet Home” when our parish gave all its parishioners that book as a Christmas present not long after my own conversion in 2012, I got the sense that many a more well-educated non-Catholic theologian than I ever had been in my own pre-conversion childhood may be operating under a misperception of how the Catholic Church views her saints. After all, we don’t pray to saints. We ask the saints to pray for us on our behalf to our Heavenly Father, the same way that we ask our friends to do the same. And it truly is the same way, because in our Apostles’ Creed, we confess a belief in the communion of saints, by which we mean that the church militant (those on earth), the church suffering (those in purgatory) and the church triumphant (the saints in perfect union with God in Heaven) are in communion with one another. The saints in Heaven can intercede for those in purgatory and those of us on earth, and we on earth can intercede for those in purgatory. But if I had a nickel for every time that I have heard a Catholic friend of mine say that they’re going to pray “to” St. Anthony to help them find a lost thing, pray “to” St. Joseph of Cupertino regarding an exam they haven’t studied for as much as they’d like or pray “to” St. Blaise because their voice gave out after a legendary weekend where Notre Dame’s victory over Clemson led to much rejoicing, I would have far more than two nickels, and that’s the crux of the matter: what the Church actually believes and what her faithful actually practice are too often entirely different things. This is not news to anyone who’s followed the everpresent issue of bad catechesis surrounding the issue of transubstantiation. A 2019 update of the Pew Research Center’s survey of U.S. Catholics on their beliefs regarding transubstantiation and the Eucharist was exceptionally telling, because it asked both about what people actually believe and about what people think the Church teaches on the issue. All of its findings are surprising and insightful, but here are a few examples. First, while 31% of Catholics believe in transubstantiation, 2% of Catholics think the Church teaches that the Eucharistic bread and wine are mere symbols but believe in transubstantiation anyway. Second, 69% of Catholics do not believe that the bread and wine
become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ in the Eucharist, but only 22% of Catholics believe that the Eucharistic bread and wine are mere symbols while understanding that the Church teaches differently on the issue. Third, and finally, a whopping 43% of Catholics do not believe in Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist, not because they know Church teaching and are in disagreement with it but because they think the Church teaches something she doesn’t. My guess is that these numbers would be similar for a poll asking about Church teaching regarding the saints. But this seeming diametrical opposition between official Church teaching on one hand and the private beliefs and practices of the faithful on the other is not the whole story. It’s already convoluted to note that there’s about a 2-to-1 split between Catholics who don’t know what the Church teaches and Catholics who don’t care what the Church teaches on the Eucharistic issue, but the Eucharist, or the saints, are matters on which the Church has authoritative Magisterial teaching that we are called as Catholics to accept as a matter of faith. What about the places where our private understanding of the faith concords with Church teaching, but in a diversity of ways? I opened this column with two words: “Sacred Heart.” And the various Sacred Heart name-drops I mentioned have little to do with each other besides pointing outside of themselves to three simple metaphysical realities. First, Jesus was a man, who “loved us all with a human heart” (CCC 478). Second, Jesus was divine, therefore said heart is sacred. And third, accordingly, it is a good Catholic spiritual practice to give devotion to the Sacred Heart. While the Catechism of the Catholic Church does briefly discuss the Sacred Heart in paragraph 478, it does so mainly in definitional terms, describing the Sacred Heart as “the chief sign and symbol of that . . . love with which the divine Redeemer continually loves the eternal Father and all human beings without exception” (internal quotations omitted). The message we are to take from Church doctrine on the Sacred Heart, however, is clear: Jesus loves us, each of us, more than we could imagine, and understanding the significance of His Passion is something that asks more of us than both knowing and accepting the teachings of the Church. Instead, we’re asked to go further, to develop and embrace a personal relationship with Jesus, with particular regard for His Sacred Heart. This relationship will look different from person to person, but that’s not just to be expected but to be embraced. Each of us is not just told in John’s Gospel that “God so loved the world” (3:16), but also in Galatians that “the Son of God . . . has loved me and given himself up for me” (2:20, emphasis mine). So the relationship each of us has to Christ’s Sacred Heart is innately personal, something not to be learned from spiritual reading or a good theology class but instead cultivated through prayer and through welcoming Christ into our daily walk of life. As I began embracing the faith 10 years ago, I found myself drawn to the doctrinal clarity the Church provides on things like the sacraments, moral philosophy, the dignity of every human life, the sanctity of marriage and the need for guiding authority in our lives. But the roots of my conversion, roots I have so often lost while considering the minutiae of our faith, are in the Sacred Heart. So let’s commit ourselves to commemorating Jesus’s Sacred Heart as the source of God’s love for us, that we might in turn grow in our love of God and one another. Devin Humphreys is a 3L at Notre Dame Law School. When he isn’t serving as the sacristan at the Law School Chapel or competing at a quiz bowl tournament, he’s sharing his thoughts on the legal developments of the day with anyone who will listen. For advice on law school, hot takes on Mass music and free scholarly publication ideas, reach out to Devin at dhumphr2@nd.edu. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The observer | Wednesday, November 9, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
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Riding the No. 2 bus Dane Sherman Saints Among Us
The No. 2 Bus is the route in Seattle that slices right through the city’s heart. Flying over the high hills of Queen Anne, winding through the tight one-way streets of the city center and crawling next to the thriving bike paths. This route is unique not only because of the diverse terrain it covers but because of the people who consistently ride it. You experience every sect of humanity — the wealthy tech bros coming from their million-dollar mansions on Queen Anne, the unhoused trying to find some warmth on cold days, businessmen early in the morning on the way to the market opening, single moms headed to work in the city center and everyone in between. I think about this route a lot when discussing my grandma, Moo, and when thinking about what it means to be part of a democracy. Moo spent most of her career running hospice care for folks living and dying with AIDs, politically organizing (even running the first campaign of our former mayor) and protesting the lack of medical care offered to marginalized communities. Moo has told me since I was little that the best leaders she’s ever met are those who consistently ride the No. 2 bus — that if you want to truly know democracy, it requires less rendezvous with Aristotle and more with your next-door neighbor. The No. 2 bus is one of the few places in the city where everyone is able to interact with everyone. Moments of democracy and citizenship. While fulfilling the duties of a citizenry, I’ve felt jaded at times, seeming to go through the motions of the processes without the motions themselves seeming to have merit. Voting for the first time, signing up for the draft and being called for jury duty — all actions of being a citizen, but each one never feeling fully satisfying on its own. My first authentic rendezvous with democracy was in August of 2021. Sitting in the backyard of St. Paul Bethel Baptist Church in South Bend, Indiana, on a warm and friendly summer day with organizers from Faith in Indiana discussing plans for the upcoming year. The pastor sitting on a swing set. Small metal chairs squeak with every movement. Small, manicured lawn. Our faces still hidden under masks. One of the lead organizers’ voices rings in my head as
she says, “I talk to people who tell me they’re not interested in politics, that they exist above the fray. Politics is about who gets resources and who suffers. There is no way to exist outside of it.” An understanding of politics as decisions between who suffers and who gets fed makes it easier to reconcile differences. On this cool summer day, I found myself sitting between a Mormon and a Quaker talking about racial justice in South Bend. The connecting of people from multiple creeds and codes, discussing what our dream is for life together. A winding street of the brotherhood we all share in. A few weeks ago, I was riding back to campus late at night on the South Shore Line. Currently, part of the tracks is broken and requires a bus for the middle section to Gary, Indiana. I was last off the train getting on the bus, and there was one seat left — at a table with two other people. I sat down a little drowsy and ready to crash as soon as I got home. I accidentally stumbled into a conversation with the pair of Hoosiers — Andrea and Paul (names changed for privacy). Andrea, a nurse, was surprised with a trip to Chicago by her son. They had spent the day scootering around the lake, visiting Boystown, eating deep-dish pizza and enjoying the big city atmosphere. Paul, a contract driver, obviously loved his mom more than anything in the world and could not stop talking, in the most endearing way, about all of the ways she had changed his life. We got on the topic of South Bend and what their thoughts were on the midterms. Their three biggest issues for their votes were crime, homelessness and the economy. Andrea talked about the ways she had seen the really scary downwind effects of people messed up by addiction, and she saw homelessness both as a problem of public safety and of human dignity. But it’s impossible to ignore the way their issues of choice melded so neatly onto national Republican agendas being spread. In some ways, the reason these topics had become such prevalent issues before the election is because of the nearly 10 billion dollars spent on the midterm campaigns. With Republicans focusing 32% of their ads on public safety, 32% on inflation and 18% on immigration. However, it’s also Democrats attempting to spoon-feed issues to voters instead of listening to their concerns first. Three quarters of voters said violent crime was a major
issue for them in voting. The majority of voters cited the economy as the top issue. And many of the voters just didn’t trust Democrats on those issues because they didn’t contest their narratives on them. According to a recent poll, voters trusted Republicans to do a better job handling the economy by 39 percent to 29 percent. They did not contest economic narratives that did push for their policies and that would provide more freedom and choices for working class Americans than Republican plans would. These tensions remind me a lot of my grandmother, Moo. My neighborhoods in Seattle are more divided than ever from the downwind effects of redlining (political policies in the early 20th century that restricted neighborhoods and real estate to limit where people of color were able to buy houses) and generational wealth. Church is still one of the most “divided hours in America” — schools, places of work and social clubs are all segregated, too. These spaces we hold as sacred spaces of interaction are often divided across race, class, socioeconomic status, gender, faith, etc. The No. 2 bus is a place where people are in community with one another. Obviously, everyone doesn’t need to literally ride the No. 2 bus in Seattle, but if we actually desire a functioning democracy, we need to figure out ways to systemically build the No. 2 bus into our ways of life. If we want to be individuals actually engaged with the world, we need to meet the world in our backyard barbecues and coffee meetings. Democrats are increasingly the party of college-educated coastal elites. The people who staff Democratic campaigns, offices and policy shops are even more coastal, affluent and elite. They don’t have a good finger on the pulse of where people are standing, often overestimating the levels of progressiveness of Black and Latine voters. Editor’s note: A full verison of this column can be found online. Dane Sherman is a junior at Notre Dame studying American studies, peace studies, philosophy and gender studies. Dane enjoys good company, good books, good food and talking about faith in public life. Dane ALWAYS wants to chat and can be reached at @danesherm on twitter or lsherma2@nd.edu. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
My how time flies! Editor’s Note: This letter contains mentions of eating disorders. For as long as I can remember, Notre Dame has been my dream school. I went to my first ND football game when I was in third grade, and for the next decade I said I would go to Notre Dame. I stressed myself out over making myself the perfect Notre Dame applicant nearly all of high school, sacrificing so much to get here, driving myself damn near insane just to be a part of the fighting Irish community. When I got in, I cried tears of happiness and was so relieved that after four years of hard work and nearly a lifetime of being a Notre Dame fan that I had finally gotten in. But when quarantine started, I started to doubt my decision. I bit my tongue and decided to go, suppressing all my doubts and going full throttle into the semester. What ensued, and what my reality has been for the past two years, was anything but expected. As a freshman, I believed that Notre Dame would find a way to keep us safe, enforce COVID safety measures and give the class of 2024 something to reward us for all that we lost the last part of their senior year. I came in with the understanding that there were certain restrictions in place, but I thought I would be able to find community HERE within the first few weeks. Looking back, I can say with complete certainty, disappointment and frustration that my freshman year was anything but that. The academic stress of Notre Dame, the difficulty of making friends and the fear that was testing positive caught up to me. I threw myself into work and what I thought of as “self improvement” (read: waking up early to workout, eating healthy, working 24/7). By the end of my freshman
year, I was a shell of myself, I had lost a significant amount of weight, could not function without strict rituals and had left Notre Dame not wanting to go back. If I wasn’t spending my time panicking over food, exercise and deadlines, I was panicking over whether or not I would make it through the night. The build up to my second year was scary but promising. I had some friends, COVID restrictions were lifted so social activities were back and there were things to do other than the strict rituals I conditioned myself to compulsively complete. As the weeks rolled by, I started to realize that I couldn’t hold onto the work hard, play hard mentality I thought I could. My lifestyle working myself down to the bone started to fail, and so were my organs. I started to pass out repeatedly. My heart rate was critically low. I could feel the slowness in my chest. I started having “mini-seizures” due to critically low blood sugar. I would walk across campus, feel my legs give out from under me and black out. I couldn’t eat, I could barely sleep and each day I was shocked to find myself alive. On Nov. 14, 2021 my heart failed. I was picked up by an emergency vehicle and resuscitated. I was told it was just a panic attack, that it was normal. When I went home for the holidays, I finally saw a doctor who, when she took my weight and vitals, told me I was going to be hospitalized and shortly thereafter transferred to a higher level of care for eating disorder treatment, or as I have since affectionately dubbed it: “rehab.” I spent the first eight months of 2022 in a treatment program. In this program and with the connections I made with other patients, I realized that if I didn’t treat this now, I would either live my life
trapped in rigidity or I would die. It was kill the beast, or be killed. I can say that getting back to Notre Dame was difficult and nerve wracking. I no longer had the same coping mechanisms, routines, interests, friends or the same body — quite frankly I didn’t even recognize myself. I was essentially starting from scratch. But as this semester has gone on, I’ve never been more grateful for sticking through the misery that was the last two years. While not everything is perfect this year, I am ultimately in such a better place than I’ve ever been. The last two years were marked by extreme angst and depression, but if I didn’t go through it I wouldn’t be able to fully relish in all that Notre Dame has to offer. No, I don’t have the same motivations, the same body or the same habits, but at least I don’t have crippling fear over food, exercise or dying. All this to say that if you’re going through a difficult time, whether it be a stressful week, a breakup or something as dangerous as an eating disorder or addiction, you will get through it. Not only will you get through it, you will also come out on the other side a more impassioned, powerful and strong person. Tough times don’t last, tough people do. It will all be OK. Thank you, Notre Dame for putting me through hell and back, but for also welcoming me back with open arms and giving me the experience I’ve waited for my entire life. Genevieve Jackson junior Nov. 4
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The observer | Wednesday, November 9, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
What’s the path forward?
The addictive aspects of ‘Lord of the Rings’
Pablo Lacayo Reliable Ramblings
Mikey Colgan Day at a Time
As I write this column, I find myself in a slightly uncomfortable position. It is currently on track to be printed after the conclusion of this week’s midterm elections, but will be written before the United States goes to the polls. Since I could not find any crystal ball to accurately predict the future in Notre Dame’s bot-ridden Sales and Giveaways GroupMe, the following column has no choice but to be a mixed bag of predictions I hope will turn out to be at the very least slightly correct, and an analysis that will hopefully not fall flat once the results of the midterms are known. The general narrative that has dominated the news cycle in the closing days of the 2022 campaign is one of Republican resurgence and potential dominance. After the Supreme Court decided to overturn Roe v. Wade this summer, Democrats were buoyed by public anger towards the ruling. Hoping to transform the elections into a referendum on abortion access, Democrats believed propelling social issues to the core of their messaging would help boost key components of their coalition: the young, women and ethnic minorities. At first, it seemed to be working, as Democrats saw their poll numbers improve, and even came to lead Republicans throughout the waning days of summer and early into the autumn. Additionally, Democrats overperformed in special elections and gained further confidence in their strategy after abortion rights groups scored a momentous landslide victory in defense of their cause in ruby red Kansas. However, winds began to blow in the GOP’s favor as the campaign barreled into full swing, as the nation’s economic woes continued to become more latent, and Republicans took advantage of the Democratic focus on the abortion rights issue to commandeer the narrative on the economy, inflation, and crime. The last two weeks saw the pendulum swing towards the Republicans rather precipitously, and the day before the election saw the Republicans leading Democrats by just under three points in RealClearPolitics’ generic ballot poll aggregator. FiveThirtyEight, arguably my most visited website in the past few months, predicted Republicans to be slightly favored to take control of the Senate, while simultaneously giving them over four in five odds to flip the House of Representatives as well. If by the time this column is printed Democrats achieve what most now see as close to impossible and retain total control of government, the first thing that will emerge is a huge sigh of relief from just about everyone in the White House. Democrats will have had made history, and would have received a huge vote of confidence from the American people, as such a victory bucks a trend that has only broken twice in over seventy years. In this instance, business would continue as usual, with varying degrees of bickering and debate depending on the size of their parliamentary majorities. If they are anything like the one in the last two years, expect more of the same. However, most analysts agree that the aforementioned scenario is unlikely to play out, and that Republicans will have taken back at least one chamber of Congress. Here, the fate of President Biden’s agenda will take a dark turn, as its fate will come to rely on the administration’s negotiating prowess and congressional Republicans’ goodwill. In this instance, what’s the path forward? The state of polarization in contemporary American politics, and the built-in dysfunctionality of divided government presents a less than rosy picture for the remainder of President Biden’s turn. Recent history is proof enough. After taking back control of the House of Representatives in 2010, and control of the Senate in 2014, President Obama’s legislative agenda effectively stalled. After winning back the House in 2018, President Trump encountered a similar fate. In both instances, politics in the United States was reduced to partisan theater and continuous gridlock. Buoyed by their support and validation at the ballot box, Republicans in 2022 will no doubt be tempted to resort to the same strategies of the near past, and turn the remaining half of President Biden’s term into a rambunctious spectacle with the intent of gearing up to retake the White House come 2024. In my opinion, taking such a stance would only inflict further pain in an already hurting country. At a time where inflation soars to four decade highs and confidence in the nation’s institutions collapses to an all time low, adding more flames to the fire only threatens to sink the United States deeper into the pits of despair. The solution to the dire problems of our present will not be found forcing the government into another prolonged shutdown, vetoing every piece of legislation that lands on the Resolute Desk or stalling at every turn. If both Democrats and Republicans are honestly committed to improving the sliding standard of living of countless American families and refuting the 70% of Americans that think the country is on the wrong track, they both need to understand that a day of reckoning is upon them. Elections have consequences, but this time around the consequences need to go beyond who’s in the Majority and who’s in the Minority, but on how the Majority and Minority can both provide the best solutions to lift the country off such a delicate situation. Pablo Lacayo is a senior at Notre Dame, majoring in finance while minoring in Chinese. He enjoys discussing current affairs, giving out bowl plates at the dining hall, walking around the lakes and karaoke. You can reach him at placayo@nd.edu. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
When people brought up “The Lord of the Rings” in the past, I used to laugh at the series. Why would I want to watch a bunch of tiny hobbits, dwarves and elves go on a journey over some fuss about a gold ring? It all sounded far too mythical and fantasy-like for me. In other words, I thought it was too nerdy. However, this summer I decided to give the trilogy a go after hearing about the wisdom brought to life by the hobbits, dwarves, elves, orcs and other creatures in the series. Admittedly, it took me a little while to adjust to the oddities of the characters in the movies and especially long to not be creeped out by Frodo’s eyes, but with time, I became enamored with the series and its prequel, “The Hobbit.” The first aspect of the movie that made me curious was the choice of Frodo as the ringbearer. Frodo was immature and had next to no life experience. He lived in the comfort of the Shire and knew very little about the violent history of Middle Earth and the sacrifices made to maintain the peace. Instead of giving the ring to a highly capable individual like Aragorn or Gandalf, a god-like figure, the future of Middle Earth hinged on a child-like hobbit. To highlight Frodo’s underdeveloped mind and will, the writers literally made him exceptionally small. Not only was he a mental-midget of sorts, but he was also physically tiny. As the four hobbits embarked on their journey to destroy the ring, Frodo showed his flaws after multiple near-death experiences which could have been avoided with better judgment. Luckily, with Aragorn at his side, Frodo and the hobbits survive and he grows from the experiences. At the Council in Rivendell, Frodo’s growth becomes evident. When the One Ring is put up for grabs, fighting breaks out over the best solution. Although Sauron is the only person that could unlock the power of the ring, the leaders of many races of Middle Earth wanted to use it to fight back against him and empower their people. This showed how ignorance, arrogance and greed can become oversights for the most talented and capable individuals. Simply put, superior ability does not translate directly to mental fortitude or wisdom. After witnessing how the ring impacted these powerful people, Frodo took the lead and decided the bear the great burden of the ring. Frodo had questioned time and time again why he should hold the ring, but now he could see why he was as good as anyone else. Without aspirations for great power or wealth, Frodo did not want to use the ring for anything. He just wanted peace and tranquility back in his life and those he loved. Even though many of these great men and women wanting to bear the ring had positive intentions, as Gandalf said in the first movie, the power of the ring would be too strong. No man or woman was meant to have power that great, and corruption of the mind and ensuing actions are inevitable. So with the ring in hand, Frodo and the
fellowship of the ring began the trek to Mordor with seemingly insurmountable challenges in the way. Even with knowledge of the ring’s effect and Gollum as a physical symbol of where it could lead him, Frodo could not overcome the temptations it presented. After seeing countless friends and allies die in the hope of destroying the ring, Frodo is finally given the opportunity to end it once and for all on top of Mount Doom. Then came the moment that frustrates me to no end every time I see it. In a moment of immense weakness, Frodo places the ring on his finger. After all the suffering he and Middle Earth endured, Frodo could not throw the ring in the fire. He could not think even slightly outside of his immediate desire, and just drop it. Luckily, Gollum’s obsession with the ring saved the day, but that ending always leaves me so disappointed. After Boromir’s death, Gandalf’s battle with the Balrog, Sam’s loyalty through Frodo’s insanity and the deaths of so many in war, Frodo still cannot muster up the courage to close his eyes and chuck that ring in the fire. Over time, I have come to appreciate how poetic that scene is and determined it’s a main driver for why I continue to rewatch the series. Even though Frodo had grown tremendously from his time in the Shire, he still makes the fatal mistake he knows he absolutely cannot do at the very end. He had every reason in the world not to give in, and he still did it. As a thirdparty observer, I was most frustrated by his giving in out of all scenes of the movie. However, this is also when I started to see Frodo as the perfect ringbearer. Frodo was not some crazy, mystical creature with unreal powers. He was just like any other human. He was a small blimp in the universe with the same weaknesses we are all susceptible to. Even though you would never expect it, the decisions of this little, immature hobbit were crucially important. It goes to show you that the choices we make everyday matter. It may be difficult to see on a grand scale, but every action we take means something. Every time we hold onto the ring, we fail. We fail ourselves and all those around us. Now we don’t hold some powerful ring of sorts, but we all have flaws and harmful habits that hold us back from doing what we know is right. Every time we choose to give in to temptation, we choose an immediate desire without giving mind to the ramifications of the action. Ultimately, we all strive to live up to our highest respective ends. In order to move towards those ends, we must identify our habits and decisions that represent the ring and push back against them. In other words, develop key virtues and set clear objectives as Frodo did over time, then bear down and chuck the ring in the fire when familiar temptations do their best to veer you off your path. Mikey Colgan is a sophomore from Boston majoring in finance and ACMS. He can be reached at mcolgan2@nd.edu. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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The observer | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
CHRISTINA SAYUT | The Observer
By OLIVIA SCHATZ Associate Sports Editor
Noah Kahan teased his newest album “Stick Season” as an ode to New England. W hen he released his first single, the namesake of his album, it blew up on Tik Tok, and the once-niche indie singer was throw n into stardom. The single “Stick Season” released June 8, while his second single “Northern Attitude” was released Sept. 16. Kahan’s album captures a sense of nostalgia for a region many people have never even been to. Stick season is a term coined for the transition in Vermont from fall to w inter. He opens the album w ith his two singles, both of which encapsulate the changing of the seasons. The album follows this pattern w ith the first seven songs on the track list being more upbeat, w ith a quick strum of the guitar in the background of ly rics about love and memories. W hile fall may be considered a depressing time of year, there is something about the beaut y of the changing of the leaves that we cannot hate. The first new song of the album is “A ll My Love.” This track, like many of the songs on this album, talks about forgiveness and lost love. “Now I know your name, but not who you are”, Kahan sings, “there ain’t a drop of bad blood, it’s all my love.” The yearning for what was, but acceptance of time, follows throughout the album. “She Calls Me Back” takes its spot as track four,
and again has the fun guitar strums in the background as Kahan sings about a love that once was. It is in the fifth track “Come Over” where the audience sees its first shift to a darker tone. In contrast to “She Calls Me Back,” in “Come Over” we hear Kahan’s longing for a lost love. “Ever y where, Ever y thing” is when the audience really sees the shift of the season and the album. Despite also follow ing the stor y of t wo lovers, this song takes a much more melancholic outlook on love. He w ishes to rot, just as does ever y thing at the turn of the seasons. Regardless of the more pessimistic tone in this song, it is relatively upbeat when compared to his next track. W hile all of his prev ious songs had a darker tone toward love and nostalgia, “Orange Juice” follows the tale of a friend who has struggled w ith sobriet y. The soft strum of the guitar combined w ith Kahan’s gentle voice contrasts w ith the second half of the song, where he can sense the frustration w ith the situation, a struggle w ith sobriet y familiar to many. The remaining songs all add onto each other, and Kahan perfectly transitions from fall to the dark uncertaint y of w inter. It mirrors his transformation from a singer from Strafford, Vermont to performing in front of a national audience. W hile the first half definitely has a lighter mood than the second, mental health is another theme present throughout the album. Medication and trauma are intert w ined w ith the ly rics. This does
not distract from the overall album, but rather deepens the meanings and intention of each song. It is a personal album for Kahan, and we see this best in “The View Bet ween Villages.” “The View Bet ween Villages” is the perfect ending to Kahan’s love letter to a New England childhood. Any college student can relate to the feeling of being trapped bet ween t wo stages in life, and this song encapsulates those emotions perfectly. “A minute from home but I feel so far from it,” he sings as the chorus picks up. We feel his anger, frustration and confusion before the guitar slows dow n, and the audience is left w ith an ambiance nothingness. The final minute of the album has no ly rics. The audience is forced to sit and think. This album feels like a wave rushing over you, and there is no better time to listen to it than when the leaves are falling and the first bit of crispiness is hitting the air.
Smino’s st yle by formatt ing t he song a round t he a r t ist as opposed to t he ot her way a round. It is clea r in “Luv 4 Rent” how well t hese t wo a r t ists k now each ot her a nd t heir aspirat ions for t he music just by listening to t he songs. Even t hough t he a lbum bounces a round bet ween song st r uctures, leng t hs a nd st yles, Booker’s product ion prov ides a t hrough line by keeping t he record’s crisp a nd ref reshing qua lit y consistent. “Luv 4 Rent” t hemat ica lly focuses prima ri ly on love as a n object. W het her it’s a love of ot her people, of yourself, of music or of money, t he a lbum is a ll about love. W hile I’ve had a dif f icu lt t ime actua lly pay ing attent ion to t he ly rics on some of Smino’s music because of how cra z y his voca l composit ions a re, he ta kes a lot more t ime to say what he wa nts to say in t his a lbum. In t his way, “Luv 4 Rent” is much more pat ient t ha n his ot her work a nd presents a f ina l product t hat a llows itself to breat he. However, a number of fa ntast ic “radio hits” st ill pop up t hroughout t he a lbum, including “90 Proof ” w it h J. Cole, “Pro Frea k” w it h Doechii a nd Fat ma n Scoop a nd “Pudg y” w it h Lil Uzi Ver t. These a re a lso some of t he most high-prof ile features Smino has had on a ny of his music. Wit h his labelmates a nd ot her up-a nd-coming a r t ists rounding out t he a lbum,
“Luv 4 Rent” feels a lmost li ke a fa mi ly-produced project. W hi le Smino is t he sta r of t he show, he cont inues to return t he love for his f riends a nd t hose who have suppor ted him. Overa l l, t his a lbum is a cont inuat ion of t he sou lf u l a nd out-of-t his-world voca ls Smino is k now n for. Yet his sound has risen to new heights: at t imes chi l l, rela xed a nd sou lf u l product ion a nd at ot hers, beats sound li ke t hey cou ld turn a subwoofer into a bomb. The diversit y of sound a nd ever y t hing in bet ween holist ica l ly represents Smino as a n a r t ist. Despite “Luv 4 Rent” not being a tota l ly per fect a lbum, it shows plent y of promise, a nd a nyone who enjoys rap or sou ladjacent music shou ld g ive it a listen.
Contact Oliva Schatz at oschatz@nd.edu
“Stick Season” Artist: Noah Kahan Favorite tracks: “Homesick,” “The View Between Villages” If you like: Gregory Alan Isakov, Dean Lewis
MARIA GORECKI | The Observer
By BRENDAN NOLTE Scene Writer
St. Louis rapper a nd neo-sou l a r t ist Smino’s t hird studio a lbum, “Luv 4 Rent,” presents some of t he smoot hest a nd most enter ta ining music of t he ent ire yea r. W hile t his has been t he case for most of t he music he’s released, Smino’s latest ef for t bui lds beaut if u lly on his prev ious work. In “Luv 4 Rent,” he improves bot h his product ion a nd voca l composit ions while broadening his hori zons in terms of inf luence a nd song st r ucture. Smino’s f irst t wo records, “blksw n” a nd “NOIR,” released in 2017 a nd 2018 respect ively, a re t wo of t he most melodic a nd unique-sounding pieces of hip-hop I’ve hea rd in t he last decade. His sof t yet dist inct voice f loats across bot h t he ha rd-hitt ing a nd roma nt ic product ion. W hi le “bl ksw n” opted for a slower a nd relat ively sou l-cent ric record a nd “NOIR” was more inf luenced by modern hip-hop, “Luv 4 Rent” is Smino at his most diverse. The t wo core players on “Luv 4 Rent” a re Smino himself (obv iously) a nd Monte Booker, a labelmate on Smino’s ow n “Zero Fat ig ue” a nd producer/co-producer on 10 of t he 15 t racks on t he a lbum. Booker’s product ion meshes so well w it h
Contact Brendan Nolte at bnolte2@nd.edu
“Luv 4 Rent” Artist: Smino Favorite tracks: “Curtains,” “Pro Freak (with Doechii & Fatman Scoop),” “Pudgy (with Lil Uzi Vert)” If you like: Chance the Rapper, EARTHGANG, Saba
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The observer | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
CHRISTINA SAYUT | The Observer
By MATHEUS HERNDL and JULIA JORGE Scene Writers
W hen Amazon’s “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” (ROP) was first announced, we were skeptical. This feeling worsened when the first trailer dropped, revealing how most male elves had short hair and no dwarven women had beards. Although these details seem small, they are consistent in Tolkien’s work. As much as Amazon claimed they were respecting the source material, they weren’t actually paying attention to it. Now that the first season of the show is completed, can Amazon disprove the skeptics? In short, no. Set during some mysterious time period of the Second Age of Middle Earth, ROP — the most expensive TV show ever made — follows four simultaneous plotlines. The elf Galadriel is on a revenge mission against the mysterious Sauron, the Dark Lord who killed her brother. Her friend Elrond forges an alliance with the Dwarves to help the latest mysterious project of elvensmith Celebrimbor. The elf ranger Arondir investigates mysterious happenings in the Southlands with the help of Bronw yn, a human healer. Meanwhile, the Harfoot Nori discovers a mysterious stranger, whom she is determined to help. And, yes, we did use “mysterious” repeatedly for a reason. But to provide a fair review of this season, we
must approach it through two lenses: as an independent fantasy show and as a Tolkien adaptation. As a fantasy show, ROP suffers from slow pacing and fails to properly establish the main characters, with the exception of Nori. Some of the plotlines are engaging, such as the Harfoots and the Stranger, and some relationships are better developed, such as the friendship between the elf Elrond and the dwarven prince Durin. The culmination of Arondir’s plotline in “Udûn” results in the best episode of the season. However, Galadriel and Arondir’s plotlines as a whole feel sluggish compared to those of Nori and Elrond. As an adaptation, ROP somehow manages to fail even harder. W hen the show is not actively contradicting Tolkien’s lore, it is too busy ruining complex and beloved characters such as Galadriel, who the show turns into a petulant teenage-like elf with anger issues. The lore was butchered in an attempt to create conf licts that did not exist in the source material which makes the entire show feel like fanfiction. The timeline, which originally extended 3,441 years, has been compressed. Events that should take place over generations take place over less than a month. Additionally, ROP over-relies on mystery boxes to keep viewers coming back, which either don’t make sense or are so obvious that we question why they were a mystery in the first place. Sometimes, the dialogue tries to emulate the way
characters speak in previous Tolkien adaptations, but it often feels forced and unnatural. However, the show is gorgeous and truly depicts Middle Earth and some of its societies in their Golden Age, giving a new glimpse into Tolkien’s universe that could not be seen in “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit.” It also depicts important historical moments that were never seen on-screen before, such as the Two Trees of Valinor. The score is another highlight of the show, capturing the atmosphere of the original Peter Jackson movies, so it’s not all faults. The positive points, however, cannot change the fact that, as an independent fantasy show, The Rings of Power is painfully average. As a Tolkien adaptation, it makes us wish Morgoth had won in the first place. Contact Matheus Herndl at mherndl@nd.edu and Julia Jorge at jandrad3@nd.edu
“The Rings of Power” Starring: Morfydd Clark, Robert Aramayo, Markella Kavenagh, Ismael Cruz Córdova Favorite episodes: “Udûn,” “The Eye” If you like: “House of the Dragon” and “Wheel of Time”
MARIA GORECKI | The Observer
By GABRIEL ZARAZUA Scene Writer
This past week was one of my roughest weeks yet. Yes, I got to see a part of history and storm the field while Notre Dame beat Clemson, but waiting for me was three paintings and one drawing with fastapproaching deadlines. The Sunday Scaries were hitting hard and more late nights were coming. Naturally, I decided to binge-watch some movies to have on in the background, which turned out to be a good and bad idea. I put on “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman. W hat I expected to be a night full of movie background noise and project progress ended up being completely consumed by the film. So what makes another “Spider-Man” film so special, especially if it’s created by Sony Animation? (The same team that created the dreaded “The Emoji Movie? ”) Simply, it’s because this film was made with love, loads of patience and pushed animation to new heights — spurring a whole wave of studios to push their own limits. This article will mostly be an appreciation of what this film did for animation, but first, let’s get to the story. Bitten by a radioactive spider, Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales develops powers that transform him into Spider-Man. W hen he
meets Peter Parker, he soon realizes that there are many others who share his powers from other universes. Miles must now use his newfound skills to battle the evil Kingpin, who is using a weapon to travel across the multiverse for his own needs. The film’s main theme is taking responsibility, even when we feel we are not qualified to do so. Yes, this theme is used countless times with Peter Parker, but Miles also has to deal with living up to the expectations of Peter himself, someone who is idolized all around New York. Along with figuring out who he is as a person, Miles deals with selfdoubt throughout the whole film, but by accepting help and bonding with Spider-Men who went through his pain, as well, he is able to truly become his own Spider-Man. With that quick synopsis, let’s get to the best part of this whole film: the animation. First off, did you know that it took around 800 people over the course of four years to create this film? Any given second of the film sometimes took around a week to animate. How was Sony able to create such a unique look? Collage. The animators were blending hand-drawn animation over CGI, creating the look of a hand-drawn, comic book world but giving the characters a 3D effect in the process. The use of comic book-language panelization, action lines and dot shading help make the whole film and each universe within it feel unique. The directors
stated that they want the movie to be so beautiful visually that at any time you pause the movie, it will look like a page out of a comic book. Every time you watch it, you always find a new detail you didn’t notice before. I can go on and on, but this article would basically take up a whole page — you just have to simply watch this film for yourself to truly appreciate what it has to offer. Not only is it the best “SpiderMan” and comic book movie of all time, I consider it one of the best films of all time. Yes. I really mean that. Sony Animation took a universal character and role model for kids like Spider-Man and created a new story for him that is actually a breath of fresh air, all while pushing animation to new heights. I can watch this film over 100 times and never get tired of it. I’m probably going to watch it again after I finish writing this. Contact Gabriel Zarazua at gzarazua@nd.edu
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld
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ndsmcobserver.com | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022 | The Observer
Crossword | Will Shortz
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Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Uncertainty and confusion will slow you down, but preparation will get you in the zone and on the road to victory. Plan your actions, organize and consider all your options. Let your creative imagination help you develop a unique, doable plan that encourages you to use your skills, experience and knowledge to do the best job possible. Live life your way. Your numbers are 5, 12, 20, 26, 31, 38, 43. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Be quiet about your expenses, earnings and contractual matters. Don’t give anyone the upper hand or private information that might influence your reputation. Put your energy into closing any gaps that can cause disruption, loss or ill health. Self-control will pay off. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A last-minute change will leave you questioning what to do next. Separate yourself from your emotions regarding work responsibilities, and you’ll find it easier to do what others expect. Leave nothing to chance. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t be fooled by someone trying to take advantage of you. A disciplined approach to your responsibilities will bring the best results. Put your energy and effort in high gear and rely on your ability to get things done by yourself. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Experience is the best education for something you’ve never done. Take a hands-on approach and see what happens. Gravitate toward what comes naturally; you will thrive. Self-improvement, socializing, spirituality and romance are on the rise. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You may desire change, but before you adopt a new path, consider the cost and time involved. Do your research before you set out to conquer the world. Baby steps will help you maintain a steady pace and affordable budget. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You’ll learn plenty if you participate in conferences, events or group projects. Consider who does what best, then delegate jobs accordingly, and you will find it easier to succeed at what you set out to achieve. Personal gain is within reach. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Make your mind up and follow through with your decisions. Dedicate time and energy to learning and preparing to pursue and achieve your goal. Keep an eye on those you live and work alongside, and you’ll recognize your role in ensuring success. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t limit what you can do because of complaints or someone trying to monopolize your time and services. Stay focused on what’s important to you. Budget wisely and change only what’s necessary. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t start something you cannot finish. Put your effort into something that has meaning and reflects what you care about most. Be secretive regarding your plans to deter others from interfering in your business. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The sky’s the limit. Look at the possibilities and make your move. Tuning in to what’s flowing will help you get things done with ease and win favors from those who have something you want. A disappointment will turn into relief. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Step back and distance yourself from disagreeable people. Move toward groups and projects that are akin to your way of thinking and will help you line up comrades just as eager to achieve the same goal as you. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Have faith in your ability to persuade others to see and do things your way. A financial gain looks promising and will prompt you to donate to something that matters to you. A commitment will transcend into you being able to execute personal plans. Birthday Baby: You are dedicated, ambitious and unusual. You are impulsive and extravagant.
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
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The observer | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
Sports Authority
Week 11 of CFB: Top 5 games Joseph Tunney
there will probably be holes in the coverage.
Sports Writer
5. No. 15 North Carolina @ Wake Forest, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2, (Wake Forest -3.5) North Carolina has run the table since their loss to Notre Dame, making the Irish win look all the better. The Tar Heels are currently 8-1 and are favorites to win the ACC Coastal division. The line favors Wake Forest, but the Tar Heels are 5-0 on the road this season. UNC quarterback Drake Maye has been lighting it up the entire season, passing for nearly 3,000 yards and 31 touchdowns compared to just three interceptions. The fact that he is putting up these gaudy numbers as a freshman should be extremely encouraging to Tar Heel fans. Maye is absolutely destroying defenses and could even garner some consideration for the Heisman. Wake Forest is coming off of two straight losses, which has seemingly eliminated them from conference contention. The only thing they have left to play is the role of spoiler; they could derail North Carolina’s hopes for a New Year’s Six Bowl. After a great start to the season, Demon Deacons quarterback Sam Hartman has thrown 3 interceptions in each of his last two games. North Carolina has a porous pass defense, so
4. No. 22 UCF @ No. 16 Tulane, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2, (Tulane -2) Tulane is the top-ranked team in the Group of Five, which puts them on track for a New Year’s Six game. The Green Wave are 8-1, with a signature win over a Kansas State team that is currently ranked 23rd. Their only loss was a letdown game to Southern Mississippi the week after their upset. Running back Tyjae Spears has been on a tear for the Green Wave, rushing for over 100 yards in each of his last three contests. On the other hand, UCF has a case for being the best team in the state of Florida. The Golden Knights are 7-2 and trail only the Green Wave in the conference standings. Head coach Gus Malzahn has engineered an offensively talented team; UCF has put up 40 points in four of their games this year. Two weeks ago, UCF won their biggest game of the season so far, beating Cincinnati 25-21. Backup Mikey Keene had to lead the Golden Knights to victory, and he also beat Memphis last week by a score of 35-28.
3. No. 24 Washington @ No. 6 Oregon, 7:00 p.m., FOX, (Oregon -13.5) The seminal PAC-12 game of the week is a pivotal rivalry
contest. Washington needs a win to keep their hopes of a PAC-12 championship alive. The Huskies have shown flashes of an extremely talented team in the first year of the Kalen DeBoer era, but lack a true signature win. Last week, quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. led a game-winning drive to beat a ranked Oregon State team and the Huskies are largely dependent on the play of Penix. In their losses to UCLA and Arizona State, Penix has made crucial mistakes, throwing interceptions in each. The Huskies also have a suspect pass defense due to both injuries and inexperience. Oregon has inspired its fans into once again thinking about a potential playoff bid. Quarterback Bo Nix is having a lot more fun than he did in the season opener, as the Ducks have ripped off eight straight wins since a 49-3 demolition at the hands of Georgia. Nix has 22 touchdowns compared to just 5 interceptions. Last week, the Ducks destroyed a 1-8 Colorado team 49-10. If there is more chaos on the national scene, the Ducks could back their way back into the playoff. However, they have to win out.
these two SEC teams. The Rebels are 8-1, but haven’t done it in a very convincing manner. Last week, they needed another monster performance from freshman running back Quinshon Judkins in order to beat a 3-5 Texas A&M. Judkins rushed for 205 yards in last week’s victory, a game he played on his 19th birthday. The Rebels needed a bounce back from their first loss two weeks ago, 45-20 to LSU in which they utterly collapsed after holding a 17-3 lead. The Tide are still sore from their own loss to LSU, a 32-31 overtime classic. After scoring a touchdown to start overtime, LSU responded with a touchdown of their own and scored on a two-point conversion to win the game. Alabama is 7-2, but has lost their games by a combined 4 points. Quarterback Bryce Young was routinely throwing under pressure last week, and an opportunistic Rebels defense needs to try and take advantage of any weakness they can find. Alabama was favored by nearly two touchdowns in their last game, but will the Rebels pull off another upset and send the Tide reeling?
Horned Frogs have sprinted out to a 9-0 record (their best start to a season since 2010) highlighted by wins over Oklahoma State and Kansas State. Although they’ve won all their games, they haven’t looked unbeatable. They have faced double-digit deficits twice: down by 18 to Kansas State and by 17 against Oklahoma State. Quarterback Max Duggan has been the architect behind the Horned Frogs’ meteoric rise. Duggan has 24 touchdowns compared to just two interceptions this season. He also has a host of talented receivers to spread the ball around to — nine have a touchdown this year. Texas is coming off of a huge win over Kansas State that keeps them in the race for the Big 12. Star running back Bijan Robinson ran for 209 yards and a touchdown as Texas withheld a Kansas State comeback to win by a touchdown. The defense came through for the Longhorns against Kansas State, forcing a fumble to ice the game. The Longhorns will need a similar effort if they want to win against this high-f lying TCU offense.
2. No. 10 Alabama vs. No. 11 Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m., CBS, (Alabama -11.5)
1. No. 4 TCU @ No. 18 Texas, 7:30 p.m., ABC, (Texas -7)
Contact Joseph Tunney at jtunney@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
It’s a rare sight to see Ole Miss with the better record in the annual meeting between
TCU might just be the surprise of the season in college football. In head coach Sonny Dykes’ first season, the
ND Women’s Soccer
Irish receive top seed in tournament, road to College Cup will run through South Bend By J.J. POST Sports Writer
Notre Dame women’s soccer received a one seed for the upcoming NCA A tournament during the national selection show Monday afternoon. The Irish w ill now host as many as four games in the tournament, and w ill play in South Bend all the way to the College Cup if they continue their w inning streak. Head coach Nate Norman remarked on the advantages of being able to keep their games at home heading dow n the stretch of the season. “I think it’s great,” Norman said. “Just sleeping in your ow n bed, being able to be home w ith all the comforts — our ow n training room, our ow n
locker room … the normal things like the sights and the smells and play ing on your ow n field … I think that’s a huge advantage. It’s also great to be here in South Bend in November, if you get some teams from the south and west and have to play in colder weather which is obv iously something we’re used to.” Notre Dame’s path to the College Cup, even if it may run through A lumni Stadium, is far from easy. North Carolina, who spent much of the regular season as the second ranked team in the countr y, looms large as the second seed in the region. Stanford, who won a national championship as recently as 2019, stands as the three seed w ith plent y of upset pedigree, w ith the
Cardinal hav ing knocked off No. 1 UCL A earlier in the season. Michigan State, who took home the Big Ten’s regular season title, is the four seed. And looming as a potential second round matchup for the Irish is 2020 national champion and 2021 College Cup participant Santa Clara. Norman remarked on the qualit y of the region and the number of talented teams Notre Dame could face along the way on their road to Car y. “I think it’s exciting,” Norman said. “I look and there’s three really historic teams on our side of the bracket w ith Santa Clara, UNC and Stanford. I think just to have the opportunity to play those teams see TOP SEED PAGE 14
The Observer accepts classifieds every business day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Notre Dame office, MAX PETROSKY | The Observer
Irish senior midfielder Erin Hohnstein fighting for possesion of the ball in game against NC State on Oct. 6. The Irish won the game 3-0.
024 South Dining Hall. Deadline for next-day classifieds is 3 p.m. All classifieds must be prepaid. The charge is 5 cents per character per day, including all spaces. The Observer reserves the right to edit all classifieds for content without issuing refunds.
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Baraka Bouts
Tournament commences with quarterfinals By Observer Sports Staff
The 20th Annual Baraka Bouts commenced on Monday, Nov. 10. Here are the quarterfinal results.
Ring A Lindsey “Smol Ranger” Michie def. Lauren “HalfPint” Hubert of Farley Hall To start the night, both women came out of the gates on the offensive, landing multiple punches on each other, and it was apparent the fight was going to be very competitive. In the second round, it was Michie who started to find a rhythm and land multiple jabs on Hubert. As the round endured, however, both boxers started to fatigue, and Hubert fought back and landed some jabs of her own. Both boxers got a newfound energy in the third round, and this time it was Hubert that came out of the gates firing. Michie would fight back, though, and land some more punches to win the fight by unanimous decision.
Annie “Big Ann” Guinan of Pasquerilla East Hall def. Catie “little boy” Ellis Guinan came out of the gates strong in this one, landing a flurry of punches on Ellis in the opening seconds. As the round endured, Ellis changed the tide of the fight, knocking Guinan to the ground. To start the second round, Guinan went back to work, landing punch after punch against Ellis. In the third round, though, Ellis fought back, landing some punches of her own against Guinan and pinning her up against the ropes. As Guinan continued to fatigue, Ellis continued to land a flurry of jabs to end the fight. Ultimately, Guinan did enough at the beginning of the fight to win by unanimous decision.
Ryn “Rico” Weiss of Badin Hall def. Aranza “Pistolera” Sierra Weiss landed some strong jabs early to get the fight going. As the first round endured, Weiss continued to have her way with Sierra, landing punch after punch. In the second round, Weiss flew out of her corner, going after Sierra immediately. Weiss continued to control the pace of the flight throughout the course of the second round. In the final round, Sierra showed some fight, landing some jabs of her own against Weiss. Weiss would land some more jabs to end the fight, though, and ultimately won by unanimous decision.
Monica “Mc4” Caponigro of Pasquerilla East Hall def. Delaney “D MONEY” Smith of McGlinn Hall Both boxers came out of the gate on the offensive, and landed a flurry of punches on each other. As the round progressed, Caponigro gained some momentum, landing some jabs on Smith. In the second round, it was Smith who fought
back by landing a couple of quick jabs on Caponigro. Both fighters continued to battle in the second round, and it was evident this was about to be a highly contested fight. Caponigro fought back in the third round to land some more jabs on Smith, which was enough for her to win the fight by unanimous decision.
Kim “The Grillmaster” Nguyen of Walsh Hall def. Tess “Boulder Shoulders” Kesler of Walsh Hall In the first round, it was Nguyen who came out of the gate firing, landing a couple of jobs on Kesler to start the fight. Nguyen continued to dominate in the first round, landing a string of punches on Kesler to end the opening round. In the second round, Nguyen flew out of the gate and again continued to land punch after punch on Kesler. Nguyen finished the round on a strong note, landing some more jabs against Kesler. In the third round, it was evident that both fighters began to fatigue, but Nguyen continued to control the fight, and she would ultimately win by unanimous decision.
Maggie “Thunderstruck” Langheim def. Katie “Gilgamesh” Gilland of Howard Hall The first round began with aggression from Langheim, landing numerous jabs with frenetic energy. While Gilland would land some punches of her own, Langheim controlled the pace and seemed to overwhelm a defensive Gilland. In the second round, Gilland came out angry and landed a flurry of punches upon Langheim, who retaliated with pointed counters. Following a brief suspension of play, Gilland would maintain her almost frantic pace and continue to strike, but Langheim remained stout in her defense. The third round was all Langeheim’s, overpowering a fatigued Gilland and dealing a number of jabs. Gilland would land some punches, albeit much less. Langheim would go on to win this spirited bout by unanimous decision.
Layann Wardeh of Lewis Hall def. Emma “Bad Intentions” Speyrer of Cavanaugh Hall Round one began with Wardeh in complete control, pushing Speyrer into corners and landing numerous jabs upon her opponent. Speyrer would rebound, landing punches of her own, but overall, the round was defined by Wardeh’s pace and energy. The second round saw skill on both sides, with Wardeh’s light footwork and lethal punch accuracy on full display alongside Speyrer’s ability to land jabs in defenseless spots. Speyrer elevated to match Wardeh in her aggression. The third round, accompanied by deafening chanting from the crowd, saw both fighters land
critical jabs and calm down from their previous energy level. Wardeh of the gold corner would go on to win by an unanimous decision.
JJ “Soldier Boy” Jorgensen of Lewis Hall def. Kylie “Fireball” Fuerbacher of Welsh Family Hall The first round began with electric jabs from Jorgensen forcing Fuerbacher to the ground, into the ropes, and staggering all about the ring. Jorgensen’s speedy footwork and pace defined the fight, pushing Fuerbacher across the floor. The second round brought more of the same, with Jorgensen landing jab after jab, forceful hooks, and again forcing Fuerbacher onto the ground. Jorgensen again controlled the fight in the third round, with a lethal hook motion that resulted in staggering punches and hectic defense from Fuerbacher. Fuerbacher mounted a valiant defense but was again brought to the floor of the ring. Jorgensen’s furious fighting style would lead to her winning the bout via unanimous decision.
Gabi “Texan Perfection” Cano of Pasquerilla West Hall def. Caitlin “Aces” Yarusso of Pasquerilla East Hall The first round of this fight began with brilliance from both fighters, as both landed jabs on each other, defended with poise and showed continued aggression despite their daunting opponent. Over time, Cano would come to overpower Yarusso in the round, forcing her to defend as she piled up jabs. Cano would open up swinging in round two, landing a flurry of punches and forcing Yarusso into mostly defensive positions. Cano continued to find weak spots in Yarusso’s defense, however, dealing jabs through a combination of hooks and penetration. Round three was characterized by a vigilant Cano dealing punches on a fatigued Yarusso, using a right hook motion to consistently deal jabs. Cano would win the bout by unanimous decision.
Ellie “The Hammer” Hammerschmitt of Pasquerilla East Hall def. Lauren “Spider Monkey” Glynn of Breen-Phillips Hall Round one started off fiercely, as both fighters dealt jabs and fought with an angry pace. Hammershmitt would gradually go on to dominate, landing a flurry of aggressive punches. The second round saw more of the same, as Hammerschmitt pushed Glynn around the floor and dealt a series of jabs. Round three saw both fighters resort to aggressive defensive techniques, with Glynn taking control and bullying Hammerschmitt into the ropes. While Glynn dominated the third round, Hammerschmitt would win by unanimous decision.
Lily “The Chelsea Dagger” Whitman of Lyons Hall def. Anna “Power Tower” Prest of Ryan Hall Whitman started out strong and controlled the pace of the first round. With a bevy of quick jabs and a strong left hook punctuating her attacks, “The Chelsea Dagger” got off to a clear advantage. Whitman’s lethal left continued its onslaught in the second round, jabbing between Prest’s gloves with great frequency. In the third round, Prest, needed to find some momentum but couldn’t avoid the corners of the ring. Whitman, who is looking to go further than last year when she lost in the semifinals, earned an authoritative victory by unanimous decision.
Hannah “Happle Apple” Vespalec of Welsh Family Hall def. Grace “Haak Attack” Haak of Ryan Hall Haak and Vespalec commenced their bout with a frenetic pace. However, it was not with reckless abandon, as both boxers demonstrated composed defense to keep things close. Locked in a tight bout, Vespalec utilized body shots that opened up a clean right hook and a stronger attack before the bell ended the second round. Buoyed by a strong cheering section, “Haak Attack” landed the first punches of a pivotal third round. But “Happle Apple” continued to counter and came back with a strong sequence of jabs to avoid a major momentum swing. As both boxers tired, the bout became a back and forth affair with both boxers exchanging late punches. Ultimately, it was Vespalec’s strong finishes to the last two rounds that proved decisive in a split decision victory.
Sydney “Angry Elf” Higgins of Lewis Hall def. Mary “Rozemboxer” Rozembajgier of Johnson Family Hall This bout saw two boxers with wildly contrasting styles competing. The shorter Higgins relied on short jabs while Rozembajgier utilizing her longer reach to connect on a couple of looping hooks. Each boxer controlled one of the first two rounds, with the result remaining in doubt at the second bell. “Angry Elf” landed a few early jabs in the crucial final round and then did a fantastic job keeping her gloves high and fending off late offensive surges from “Rozemboxer”. A high-energy bout with both boxers bringing boisterous fan sections concluded with a split-decision victory for Higgins.
Amber “The Bulldog” May def. Veronica Louise “V-Hulk” Mendoza Two graduate students headlined this bout. Mendoza alternated left and right hooks that frequently connected with a strong jab sequence. However, she received a warning for some
of those hooks morphing into open-palmed slaps. May withstood the early pressure and controlled second half of the bout. “The Bulldog” came out strong in the third round and evaded some pressure to land a few decisive left jabs. That was enough to grant May the split-decision victory in a hotly-contested round.
Nicole “Knuckles” Lies of Welsh Family Hall def. Maggie “Read the Observer” Eastland of Pasquerilla West Editor’s Note: Eastland is an Assistant Managing Editor at The Observer. Lies brought the pressure early in the first round, but Eastland brought strong defense to keep her opponent away from much in the way of decisive blows. “Knuckles”, a junior captain in the club, continued an onslaught of pressure that led to headgear shots. Lies stayed on the offensive throughout and slowly broke down the active defense of Eastland in a dominant second round. The Pasquerilla West junior needed late offense and found a few sharp jabs, but it wasn’t enough. Lies marched on into the semifinals with a victory via unanimous decision.
Molly “MC Hammer” Caplice of Flaherty Hall def. Colleen “Queen Colleen” Driscoll of Breen Phillips Hall Caplice, a 2021 runner-up in the Baraka Bouts, fended off an frenetic early attack from Driscoll, allowing the bout to settle into a tence, defensive affair. “Queen Colleen” delivered a right hook early in round two, connecting with Caplice’s headgear. However, “MC Hammer” continued to be patient and her probing left jab began to frequently split the gloves of her opponent. Caplice came out with a little more urgency in the third-round, seeking some decisive shots. She landed a handful and maintained her strong defense to earn a unanimous decision victory.
Emily ”Enemy Jane” Nowak of McGlinn Hall def. Emma “The Enforcer” Hazel of Pasquerilla West Ring A’s finale featured a junior in Nowak taking on freshman Emma Hazel. The freshman controlled the early pace and connected on a few hooks, but Nowak found a couple of late combinations to land some punches of her own. “Enemy Jane” controlled more of the pace in the second round, as “The Enforcer” took a more defensive approach. Neither boxer, however, landed much in the way of a decisive blow, keeping the evening’s final bout in doubt at the second bell. However, the McGlinn Hall junior demonstrated stronger stamina in a dominant final round, taking the fight to see BOUTS PAGE 15
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The observer | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
ND Women’s Basketball
Irish dominate Huskies in women’s basketball season opener By J.J. POST Sports Writer
Notre Dame women’s basketball eased into their 2022-23 campaign with a comfortable 88-48 victory over Northern Illinois Monday night. Sophomore guard Olivia Miles paced all scorers with 17 points, but it was a team effort that propelled the Irish to victory. Graduate student guard Dara Mabrey chipped in with 16 points, 12 of which came from beyond the three point line. Junior forward Maddy Westbeld added 13 points and graduate student center Lauren Ebo chipped in with 10 points as well. Notre Dame didn’t explode out of the gates against the
Huskies, rather steadily building their lead over the course of the full forty minutes. Miles stressed the importance of consistent offensive output after the victory. “We talked about keeping our foot on the gas the whole time,” Miles said. “That fourty point lead didn’t come right away. Just working through those struggles we do have. [Runs] will happen, that’s basketball, you know. But we kept shooting and kept getting to the basket. If we aren’t making it from the outside, we’d go inside, and vice versa.” That focus on working the inside was a major factor in the Irish slowly building their lead, with Ebo and junior forward Kylee Watson slowly but
surely pounding away at the Northern Illinois interior. The pairing combined for 19 points in an efficient performance, one that Miles noted after the game gave the team a different dimension. “They work really well off of each other,” Miles said. “I was telling [head coach Niele] Ivey, ‘we should run post-up plays’ just because they couldn’t really guard Ebo or Kylee. Really getting them actions is super important, getting them the ball, calling doubles when we see them, working off of each other. It’s really important posting one of them up so they can work off each other.” Another major element of Notre Dame’s winning season-opening performance was
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an impressive defensive display, as Ivey highlighted. “That’s something that we are working on and something that we are growing, our defensive mindset,” she said. “They’re all locked in, committed to it. There are some things we’re focused on as a team and that was one of them. So [the defense] was really great, and it just goes to show our growth over the last couple of weeks. The commitment, the trust, in our defense … they’re working towards it, in practice you can just tell the energy is shifting in that regard … for us to be able to show and perform like that defensively is what I love.” The Irish will now look to
take Monday’s performance on the road to St. Louis for what figures to be a tougher test against Cal in the Citi Shamrock Classic. The Golden Bears provided an impressive victory of their own in their opener, dispatching Cal State Northridge 86-56. Cal struggled last season to a 2-10 finish in the PAC-12, but return three starters and added two transfers. The Golden Bears are led by sophomore guard Jayda Curry, who won PAC-12 freshman of the year last season. Notre Dame will take on Cal at 4:00 Saturday afternoon in the Citi Shamrock Classic in St. Louis, Missouri. The game will be broadcast on NBC, becoming the first women’s college basketball game to ever be shown on the channel. Contact J.J. Post at jpost2@ nd.edu
Top Seed Continued from page 12
is always a fun experience because those programs have so much success.” Norman also made sure to give credit to Notre Dame’s potential round of sixteen matchup Michigan State, who have engineered an impressive turnaround as a program in two years under head coach Jeff Hosler. “I think what they’ve done is remarkable,” Norman said. “Jeff’s done an amazing job there, to be able to take that program in such a short time and make them really a national contender I think is truly amazing. So all respect to them and they’ll be someone where if we’re fortunate enough to make it that far and meet them that will be a really challenging game.” But regardless of any potential historic rematches with UNC or Stanford or local rivalries with Michigan State, Norman’s top priority is the first game on the schedule for the Irish, a matchup with Omaha on Saturday. “I think we’ve given up some goals [recently],” Norman said. “We’ve played some very good teams but I think really we want to take the early part of this week and focus on some of the defensive elements we have and then really later on in the week get back into the things we believe we’re great at so we’ll be able to hit the ground running once that Saturday game hits.” Saturday’s game kicks off at 2 p.m. at Alumni Stadium. Contact J.J. Post at jpost2@nd.edu
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Bouts Continued from page 13
Hazel. While Hazel demonstrated impressive defense, the sustained pressure from Nowak was too much. “Enemy Jane” claimed victory by unanimous decision.
Ring B Katherine “Bend It Like” Beckman of Howard Hall def. Xiaotong “Michelle” Yuan The first fight of the night in Ring B opened with both boxers stepping out on the offensive with flurries of punches. Using her slightly taller frame, Beckman was able to land some hits to the head at the end of the first round. Beckman came out swinging at the beginning of the second round, but Yuan continued to swing back as well. With a loud crowd behind her, Beckman kept landing hits on Yuan, eventually leading to a stoppage near the end of the third round. Beckman won out of the gold corner by unanimous decision.
Frankie “Frank the Tank” Masciopinto of McGlinn Hall def. MC “Can’t Touch This” Elliot of Walsh Hall The first round of this bout opened up fairly evenly between freshman Elliot and junior Masciopinto. Both women landed their fair share of hits until Masciopinto began to wear Elliot down with stronger footwork, harder punches and a dominant stance. The bout remained fairly even until Masciopinto eventually overpowered Elliot in the third round by swinging without any breaks. By unanimous decision, junior captain Mascipinto won the bout with an aggressive startto-finish performance.
Chiara “French Thunder” Thrum of Lewis Hall def. Maddie “Murph” Murphy of Cavanaugh Hall Out of the gate, Thrum shook down the thunder with quick, hard punches throughout both the first and second rounds, leaving Murphy on the defensive and unable to deliver many solid hits to Thrum. At the third round bell, Murphy changed the tides with a series of jabs to Thrum, leaving the latter flustered. The late offensive wind, though, was not enough for Murphy to take home the win, with Thrum winning the bout by unanimous decision.
Mary “Red Sky” Quirk of Ryan Hall def. Teresa “T-Bone” Cato of Ryan Hall This fight between two boxers representing Ryan Hall escalated quickly with both women stepping into the ring prepared to fight on the offensive. With both swinging hard and consistently, a fairly even first round grew into a slight advantage for Quirk in the second as Cato grew fatigued. An already loud crowd grew deafening in the third round as Quirk pushed Cato stumbling into the ropes. After a reset, a few solid hits solidified the bout in Quirk’s favor by unanimous decision.
ndsmcobserver.com | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022 | The Observer
Luisa “Karma” Capobianco of Welsh Family Hall def. Ari “The Jurk” Jurkowitz of McGlinn Hall The first round saw Capobianco coming out hot, forcing Jurkowitz on the defense. This only lasted for a few seconds, though, as the two danced around the middle of the ring before it was Jurkowitz’s time to attack. The two went back and forth in the first round. The second round again saw Capobianco on the offense, landing multiple hits before pushing Jurkowitz into the corner. The atmosphere was electric as fans for both sides cheered on their competitor. In the third round, Jurkowitz stumbled back after a series of hits from Capobianco. Capobianco would again attempt to corner Jurkowitz, however, she resisted, and the two continued to battle. Ultimately, by unanimous decision, Capobianco was named the winner.
Sarah “Midshipmenace” Nowak of Welsh Family Hall def. Clary “Scary” Conroy of Pasquerilla West Tensions were high at the start of this match, with both competitors throwing hard and fast. Conroy was thrown into the corner before quickly answering and knocking Nowak into the ropes. After a brief pause, both women were back at it. Conroy was saving her energy on the defensive before finding a moment to strike. It was Nowak throwing punches though at the end of the round. The second round again saw both competitors giving it their all. It was Nowak’s turn to push Conroy into the ropes, however, Conroy quickly hit her way out of it. Just as in the first round, the bell rang as Nowak was cornering her opponent. The third round saw Nowak start on the defensive. However, the aggressiveness didn’t subside, and the ref separated them multiple times throughout the round. By split decision, Nowak was crowned winner.
Lauren “Blondie” Buetow of Flaherty Hall def. Chevelle “Not Even A Little Bit Sorry” Boomershine It was Buetow who had the first hit of the match. Boomershine attempted to fight back but was knocked into the ropes by her opponent. In the second match, it was Boomershine’s time; she started the round on the offense, landing multiple hits that forced Buetow back. Buetow instantly retaliated, also knocking Boomershine back. Not only did Buetow come swinging right out of the gates in the third round, but throughout the match, she remained on offense. Anytime Boomershine would have an opening, Buetow would respond in a series of hits, and by unanimous decision, Buetow was named the winner.
Kiera “Red Lightning” Judd of McGlinn Hall def. Ola “The Phantom” Abdalsalam It was clear how Judd got her nickname as she instantly started
the round with a series of quick punches. Abdalsalam was forced into the ropes, and the referee called a break. Another series of hits sent Abdalsalam on the floor. Abdalsalam started the second round with good defense, but Judd was able to break through, sending “The Phantom” into the corner for the fifth time of the night. Abdalsalam was not letting the past rounds affect her, however, and she started the round with a series of punches. Judd would retaliate, sending Abdulsalam to the ground for the second time of the night. The end of the match saw the competitors nod to each other, and Judd was named winner by unanimous decision.
Caroline “Wasian Persuasion” Landry of Lewis Hall def. Vivienne “The Oblivion” Dragun of Walsh Hall
By unanimous decision, Solferino won.
Luzolo Matundu of Farley Hall def. Kiara “Kiki” Gutierrez Forbes Matundu got Gutierrez off her feet quickly with her first flurry of punches that forced another stumble which sent her tripping through the ropes early. Matundu would start in again soon after and her quick punches mixed with a misstep from Gutierrez sent the Nicaragua native to the floor. By referee stopped contest in the first round, Matundu took the win.
Jessica “The Adjudicator” Vickery of Ryan Hall def. Lauren “6 Foot Hero” Barnes of Johnson Family Hall
This match saw both competitors swinging hard, fast and early. Landry landed the first solid hit of the match, but Dragun would not lie idly. Landry would accidentally knock Dragun’s mouthguard out, pausing the match. When the competitors returned, Landry hit a series of punches. Dragun hit back, this time sending Landry backward. The second round again saw both women swinging hard. With ten seconds left, Landry would land multiple hits, but Dragun would swing back, forcing Landry to stumble back again. Both competitors were just as aggressive at the start of the third round, but this time, Landry hit Dragun into the corner. After a mandated break, it was Dragun’s turn to land some punches, but ultimately Landry would win by unanimous decision.
The pair started an even match, both landing a flurry of punches throughout the first round. What Vickery lacked in height she made up for in speed, landing punches to Barnes’ face and body but when Barnes could stay out of her reach, she landed a few of her own. Barnes opened the second round with a combination but once she got close enough, Vickery stuck a flurry of punches to her. Vickery got Barnes on the ropes about halfway through the round and maintained the rest of the round after that. Barnes opened the third again but Vickery blocked a few of them before Barnes started in on her again, knocking her to the ground. After a quick count, a tired Vickery was back in before Barnes took the round over. It wasn’t enough though as Vickery took the round by split decision.
Emma “Slay-Ferino” Solferino of Lewis Hall def. Nadine “Sweet Hands” Hashem
Cece “Ginga Ninja” Giarman of Lewis Hall def. Sara “Speed and Violence” Vechinski of Walsh Hall
Solferino was the first to land a punch, and while Hashem would not waiver, Solferino’s hits were endless. It was Hashem’s time to shine in the second round, as she came out hard. However, after a brief pause from the ref, Solferino responded with a series of hits. Hashem then landed a hit directly to Solferino’s face. Solferino would respond, but the clock stopped them before anything else could happen. The third round started off evenly between the competitors, but Solferino was able to push Hashem back with a series of hits.
Giarman struck first against her fellow California native. After Giarman backed her into a corner, Vechinski received a count. Coming out of it, Vechinski landed a few of her own but Giarman’s intense left hook came back to bite as the first round closed. The second round started more evenly but it was Giarman’s mastery of the hook that remained the dominant punch in the fight. However, it would be Vechinski who got the last strike in the round. The third round saw two tired boxers, both of them landing a last set of
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solid punches but with one more right hook, Giarman won by split decision.
Jenny “The Big Bad” Wolf of Johnson Family Hall def. Hope “Twinkle Toes” Wanken of Lewis Hall Wolf came out of her corner on the hunt, landing the first flurry of punches and keeping up with Wanken. Relying heavily on her right hook, Wolf connected with Wanken several times to close the first round. Wolf got Wanken on her heels again to start the second before Wanken landed her own combo. Seconds later, Wolf took one more set for herself. Wanken put everything into the last round, coming out of her corner and backing Wolf into her own or against the ropes several times. Wolf’s hook wouldn’t let up though and, by split decision, she won.
Martha “The Menace” Gluck of Howard Hall def. Maeve “The Menace” Murdock of Pasquerilla East The first round remained even the whole way through with Gluck and Murdock exchanging punch for punch almost identically. Coming out in the second, Gluck took over for the first half but the round evened again shortly after until Gluck found a second wind to close the round. Gluck took control again early in the third. After a jabhook combination from Gluck, Murdock received a count just before the round ended. By unanimous decision, Gluck ultimately won.
Ocean “The Matador” Leto of Welsh Family Hall def. Caroline “Bah Bah Bah” Flannery of Ryan Hall The first round started evenly with strong defensive capabilities from both fighters but just as the round closed, Leto began to break through. Coming out in the second, Flannery threw some successful combinations backing Leto up before a right hook from Leto got Flannery on the run for Leto to get a set of her own punches in. The beginning of the third belonged to Leto who kept Flannery on the run the whole round. When Flannery could keep her still, she landed a few on Leto but it wasn’t enough. By unanimous decision, Leto won the bout.
RYAN VIGILANTE | The Observer
Graduate student Xiaotong “Michelle” Yuan blocks a swing from sophomore Katherine “Bend It Like” Beckham in the first round of the night in Ring B. Beckham won the bout by unanimous decision.
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The observer | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com
GABRIEL ZARAZUA | The Observer
‘Something to build off of’: Irish eye March Madness return By AIDAN THOMAS Sports Editor
Notre Dame men’s basketball begins their regular season this Thursday against Radford. The Irish will play two out-ofconference games and four Gotham Classic games before beginning the 2022 ACC/Big 10 Challenge on Nov. 30. Notre Dame has one preseason game under their belt as they head into the regular season. The Irish played Xavier Louisiana in an exhibition game on Wednesday, winning 67-52. It’s always good to win, but Notre Dame’s performance was lacking last week, considering Xavier LA is an NAIA team. The Irish had 12 turnovers and shot less than 27% on threes. Graduate student guard Dane Goodwin had a solid performance with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Fifth-year forward Nate Laszewski also had a strong game with 12 points. Highly recruited freshman guard J.J. Starling added only two to the final score despite playing 32 minutes. Based on this performance, it seems the Irish will rely heavily on their graduate students this year. The team consists of six graduate students, four of whom started in the game against Xavier LA. The team
relied almost entirely on its upperclassmen for scoring last week: Graduate students scored 59 of Notre Dame’s 67 points. Notre Dame’s graduate students, especially Goodwin and Laszewski, will have to consistently post high-scoring performances for Notre Dame this year in order for the Irish to win games. Starling was unexpectedly quiet in his first college game. He finished 1-7 from the field and 0-5 from three. However, his stat lines last week are not indicative of Starling’s skill or potential. At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Starling is a wellsized guard and physically ready to break into the college game. With his speed and size, Starling is a difficult opponent to guard; he should have no problem scoring and helping run the offense this season. It appears that Starling simply had a bad shooting night and is expected to improve as the season picks up. Head coach Mike Brey said of Starling’s performance: “J.J. had one of those ‘first time in a uniform’ nights, but he got some great looks … And we’re gonna keep shooting ‘em.” Starling was the 18th-ranked player in his high school class in the ESPN 100 rankings. This makes him Notre Dame’s
highest-ranked recruit and only five-star ever. He will fill the shoes of last year’s “oneand-done” star Blake Wesley and hopefully lead the team to another NCAA tournament. The fact that Starling played 32 minutes while only scoring two points indicates Brey’s confidence in Starling’s abilities. Two other freshmen, forwards Ven-Allen Lubin and Dom Campbell, join the team along with Starling. Lubin is a four-star recruit and the 75thranked player. Campbell is a four-star recruit, as well. Lubin in particular should contribute to the team this year, joining Laszewski in the front court as a true post player. Brey was happy with both players’ performances against Xavier LA and is optimistic about their abilities. “Nate and Ven are our main big guys and I think they kind of got us started,” he said. “Ven gave us 15 solid minutes … He can block a shot, he’s long.” Standing at 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, Lubin has an advantage over most freshman forwards in that he’s physically ready to compete with older players. He will give the Irish additional size that they have been lacking in recent years. Even with the addition of Lubin, Notre Dame’s guards
will still have to rebound well in order for the team to succeed defensively. Goodwin spoke about actively focusing on rebounding in his play in a post-game interview last week. “I realize that’s gotta be a big priority for me this year,” he said. “We’re playing a little smaller, so I gotta get in there and grab some boards to help the team however I can.” Despite their slow performance against Xavier LA, the Irish are confident about the upcoming season and the team. “I think we’re in a good spot, we have a week until our first official game,” Goodwin said. “We’re gonna watch some film and kind of address it and move forward. There’s definitely something to build off of.” The ACC Preseason Poll ranked Notre Dame sixth in the ACC. They are currently ranked one spot ahead of defending ACC champion Virginia Tech. North Carolina is currently ranked first in the ACC. Notre Dame could automatically qualify in the unlikely scenario that they win the ACC Tournament, however, it is more likely that they earn an at-large bid. The Irish qualified for the NCAA Tournament as an
eleven seed last season for the first time in four years. They performed fairly well considering their rank, defeating sixth-ranked Alabama in the first round and losing to third-ranked Texas by only six points in the second. As of Nov. 8, ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi predicts that the Irish will earn an eleven seed again this season. Notre Dame is currently expected to be one of the “last four byes,” meaning that the Irish will be one of the last four teams to qualify for the tournament without having to play a play-in game. Based on this prediction and their performance last year, Notre Dame has a decent chance of making the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in seven years. Qualifying for the Sweet Sixteen this season would open up a new era of success for the Irish after a rebuild period of several years. Tournament success helps with recruiting and gives younger players important experience. The Irish will need solid contributions from the returners — and Starling to step up to his full potential — to achieve this level of success this season. Contact Aidan Thomas at athoma28@nd.edu