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VOLUME 58, ISSUE 30 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
Professor speaks on keys to happiness Professor Arthur Brooks presented his findings on how to live a happy life in the modern world By KELSEY QUINT News Writer
On Mond a y a f t e rn o on , Me nd o z a C ol le g e of Busi ness a nd t he C e nt e r f or C it i z e n s h i p a nd C on s t it ut ion a l G o v e r n m e nt w e lc om e d Ne w Yor k T i m e s b e s t s e l li n g a ut h or A r t hu r Br o ok s t o t h e Jor d a n A u d it or i u m . Br o ok s , a pr of e s s or a t H a r v a r d B u s i n e s s S c h o ol , c ol u m n i s t f or T h e A t l a nt ic a nd a ut h or of 13 b o ok s , d e l i v e r e d a le c t u r e e nt it le d “Mov i ng f r om St r eng t h to St r eng t h i n Wor k , L i fe & Ha ppi ne s s.” C om mu n it y memb er s, f ac u lt y a nd st udent s a s s emble d i n t he aud ienc e to he a r Br o ok s’ t a l k on t he u n i v er s a l que st ion : how to b e h a pp y.
Reconciling with the societal conception of happiness Brook s opened h i s lect u re by d i sc u ssi ng t he c u rrent st ate of happi ness i n t he world today, spec i f ic a l ly t h roug h t he len s of t he st udent s he encou nter s at Ha r v a rd Bu si ness School. “W hen people a sk w hat I teach at Ha r v a rd … T he y t h i n k it mu st be accou nt i ng or f i na nce or genera l ma nagement or somet h i ng. I say no, I teach happi ness. How cou ld t hat be a cla ss i n t he bu siness school ? ” Brook s sa id. “But, it ’s one of t he most over subsc r ibed cla sses at Ha r v a rd Bu si ness School.
KELSEY QUINT | The Observer
see HAPPINESS PAGE 3
New York Times best-selling author and Harvard professor Arthur Brooks explained the nature and causes of changes in happiness throughout one’s lifetime in Mendoza College’s Jordan Auditorium on Monday.
Students anticipate TikTok star Brittany Broski By GRACE TADAJWESKI News Writer
A f ter ta k ing ov e r T i k Tok ’s For You P a g e w it h h e r v i r a l k om bu c h a v id e o i n 2 019, Br it t a n y Br o s k i w i l l t a k e on t h e Un i v e r s it y of Not r e D a m e on We d n e s d a y i n a g u e s t s p e a k e r e v e nt . Br o s k i i s a s o c i a l m e d ia i n f luencer who spec i a l i z e s i n c om e d y a nd p o d c a s t s . T h e St u d e nt Un ion B o a r d ( S U B ) w i l l h o s t a t ic k e t e d a nd m o de r a t e d d i s c u s s ion w it h Br o s k i f r om 7- 8 p. m . i n D eB a r t olo 15 5 . “I’m j u s t r e a l l y e x c ite d I t h i n k f or t h e e n e rg y t h a t s h e’ l l br i n g i nt o t h e r o om ,” s e n ior S U B e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t or L i l y C ond o d i n a s a id . “S h e’s r e a l l y f u n n y, r e a l l y c h a ri s m a t ic , but a l s o, I f e e l l i k e pr e t t y l i k e d o w n t o e a r t h .” T h e e v e nt w i l l o c c u r i n a q u e s t ion-a nd-a ns w e r f or m a t . T h e f i r s t
NEWS PAGE 4
45 m i nut e s of t h e e v e nt w i l l f e a t u r e q u e s t ion s del ivered by t wo SUB m e m b e r s , a nd t h e l a s t 15 m i nut e s w i l l f e a t u r e q u e s t ion s s u bm it t e d v i a G o o g le For m s pr ior t o t h e e v e nt . “I think it ’s rea lly u n iq u e t h a t w e g ot t o c u r a t e t h e q u e s t ion s a s w e l l t o a s k h e r [ q u e st ion s ] . It ’s n ot l i k e s om e p e r f or m a n c e t h a t s h e’s d on e a m i l l ion t i m e s ,” C ond o d i n a s a id . “I’m r e a l l y e x c it e d t o s e e t he s t u d e nt s’ r e a ct ion a nd see t hem e n j o y it a s w e l l .” Ju n ior Emily Mc D ou g a l l , d i r e c t or of pr o g r a m m i n g f or t he Live E nt e r t a i n m e nt C om m it t e e , a nd s op h o m or e L e i l a A s t ol f i , c h a i r of t h e L i v e E nt e r t a i n m e nt C om m it t e e , will be on stage w it h Br o s k i . A c c or d i n g to Mc D ou g a l l , t h e t w o w i l l ask Br o s k i a v a r ie t y of q u e s t ion s a b out
VIEWPOINT PAGE 6
Br o s k i’s f a m e a nd p op u l a r c u r r e nt t opic s — h opi n g t o g e t a t t h e hu m or a nd p e r s p e ct i v e t h a t m a d e Br o s k i f a m ou s . “I j u s t h op e I d on’t w or d v om it on s t a g e ,” Mc D ou g a l l s a id . “S h e s e e m s s o n ic e , s o I’m r e a l l y e x c it e d t o g e t t o s it d o w n w it h h e r a nd k i nd of h a v e a c on v e r s a t ion w it h h e r.” Ac c ord i ng to C ondo d i n a , t h e L i v e E nt e r t a i n m e nt C om m it t e e d e c id e d t h e y w a nt e d t o br i n g a r e c o g n i z a b le c om e d i a n t o c a m pu s d u r i n g t h e br a i n s t or m i n g pr o c e s s , w h ic h b e g a n o v e r t h e s u m m e r. A f t e r r e v ie w i n g l i s t s of n a m e s a nd id e a s , t h e id e a of br i n g i n g Br o s k i t o c a mpu s g ot p o s it i v e f e e d b a c k f r om t h e g r ou p. “ We w or k w it h a lot of d i f f e r e nt a g e nt s , a nd t h e a g e nt r e c om m e nd e d see TIKTOK PAGE 5
SCENE PAGE 9
College singers compete in state By KATELYN WALDSCHMIDT Associate News Editor
This last Saturday, six Saint Mary’s students traveled to Butler University to compete in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition. Participants included Julia Zusi, Delaney Nold, Rachel McMillen, Camryn Hurley, Georgia Sigler who placed first in her treble voice fourth and fifth-year category and Maeve Kearney, who placed third in her category of treble voice fourth and fifth-year musical theatre category. Elizabeth Schleicher, a voice instructor at Saint Mary’s, oversaw the competition for Saint Mary’s. Zusi, a senior music education major, competed in two categories: classical music and musical theatre. “I’ve done this competition for three years. This is the first year I’ve done two categories, but I just wanted to push myself after doing classical every year, so I just
M BASKETBALL PAGE 12
thought I’d push myself,” Zusi said. Zusi explained the music a competitor plays depends on how long you have been studying music at the collegiate level. “For us, you have to have at least two languages and one has to be an aria,” she said. “So I chose a German piece I sang last year and then I was working on an aria early this semester that I really wanted to put in front of an audience.” Sigler, a senior vocal performance and communication studies major, competed in classical music, singing in English, French and Italian in her performance. For Sigler, this competition is a chance to be competitive and see where she measures up against other performers as she prepares for graduate school. “I’m applying and auditioning for voice and opera performance programs see COMPETITION PAGE 5
BARAKA BOUTS PAGE 16
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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
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GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer
The Golden Dome shines through the almost leaf-less trees in between Breen-Phillips Hall and Stepan Chemistry Hall in the midafternoon. With leaves on the ground, students, staff and guests should begin preparing for the fast-approaching winter season.
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Corrections Monday’s paper incorrectly credited the Baraka Bouts photos. The photos were courtesy of Katherine O’Neal. An article in Friday’s paper misspelt Juan Sebastián Chamorro’s name. An article in Friday’s paper incorrectly stated Notre Dame football lost to Duke.
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Henna Night Haggar Parlor 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Learn the history behind henna and get it done.
“Path to Sainthood: Columba O’Neill” Hesburgh Library 102 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. A special collection of writings on display.
Closing Ceremony for Sand Mandala Jordan Hall of Science, First Floor Reading Room 4 p.m.
Kilt Mile Washington Hall 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. The bagpipe band hosts a run to raise money for veterans.
Tridentine Latin Mass Alumni Hall Chapel 10 a.m. Morning Mass offered in the Tridentine Latin.
Swing Club Lessons and Open Dance Smith Center Activity Studio 3 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. Swing dance.
Theater: “A Doll’s House 1954” Patricia George Decio Theatre 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Enjoy the film.
Concert: Laro Cura Philbin Studio Theatre 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. Listen and meet Lalo Cura, a Latin and soul music group.
Opera/ The Met: Live in HD — “Dead Man Walking” (Jake Heggie) Browning Cinema 1 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Twelfth Night Stapleton Lounge 2:30 p.m. Enjoy a performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
NEWS
Happiness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
I have t wo sec t ion s of 90 st udent s. I have 40 0 M BA st udent s on t he w a it i ng l i st for my cla ss. I even have a n i l lega l z oom l i n k t hat t he y t h i n k I don’t k now about .” W hy ex ac t ly do st udent s w a nt to t a ke a cou r se on happi ness ? Brook s expla i n s t he c r i si s t hat plag ues ma ny h ig h-ach ievi ng st udent s. “T he y go i nto H BS t h i n ki ng w hat t he world tel l s t hem, w h ich i s t hat i f t he y get world ly success t he y ’re goi ng to get happi ness for f ree. A nd about t he second semester of t hei r second yea r, t he y ’re on t hei r w ay out, a nd t he y ’re st a r ti ng to f ig u re out t hat t hat ’s not r ig ht,” Brook s sa id. “T he y ’ve been sold a bi l l of good s not by t he Ha r v a rd Bu si ness School, but by t he world a nd t he y ’re st a r t i ng to pa n ic.” Brook s sha red a n a necdote t hat prompted h i m to i n it iate cha nge i n h i s ow n l i fe. “So I hea r t h i s couple t a l k i ng beh i nd me on t he pla ne. It ’s n ig ht t i me a nd it ’s da rk a nd I c a n’t see h i m. But I c a n tel l you t he voices … t he y ’re elderly probably m id-80 s,” Brook s sa id. “[ T he woma n ] say s, ‘Oh, don’t say it wou ld be bet ter i f you were dead.’ W hoa, now I’m a l l ea r s r ig ht — now I’m rea l ly i nterested.
NDSMCOBSERVER.COM | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023 | THE OBSERVER
A nd he mu mbles a l it t le bit more a nd she say s, ‘it ’s not t r ue t hat nobody remember s you a ny more or c a res about you a ny more.’ A nd t h i s goes on for 20 m i nutes.” L i sten i ng to t he couple’s conver sat ion, Brook s rec a l led a ssu m i ng t h i s ma n “probably d id n’t get t he educ at ion he w a nted, d id n’t get t he jobs he deser ved, d id n’t st a r t t he compa ny he d rea med about a nd now, now it ’s too late. A nd he’s d i sappoi nted.” Upon la nd i ng , t he a i rpla ne l ig ht s went on a nd Brook s t u r ned a rou nd to see “one of t he most fa mou s men i n t he world … a n aut hent ic A mer ic a n hero.” Brook s rec a l led ret u r ni ng home to h i s w i fe t hat n ig ht, pa n icked about t he cou r se of h i s l i fe. “A nd she sa id, ‘Don’t you have a Ph D ? W hy don’t you u se it for somet h i ng u sef u l ? St udy you r sel f, f i nd t he solut ion. You k now t hat model of l i fe i s w rong. W hat ’s t he r ig ht model t hat c a n ac t ua l ly lead you, a s a per son w ho’s work i ng ha rd a nd t r y i ng to be successf u l, but c a n a l so be a t r u ly happy per son ? ’” Brook s sa id. “A nd so I d id it . I set to work on it . I worked on it for eig ht yea r s.” Happi ness, accord i ng to Brook s, i s a su m of t h ree fac tor s : enjoy ment, sat i sfac t ion a nd pu r pose. Yea r s of dat a a na ly si s proved, PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Brook s sa id, t hat a lt houg h hu ma n s have t he tendenc y to bel ieve happi ness i s gener a l ly upw a rd s-slopi ng , t here i s a n obser v able patter n of happi ness over t he cou r se of a n aver age huma n l i fe. Du r i ng a n i nd iv idua l’s m id- 6 0 s, Brook s ex pla i ned t he gener a l popu lat ion spl it s i nto t wo g roups : one i n w h ich happi ness i nc rea ses a nd t he ot her w h ich ex per iences decl i ne, t y pic a l ly f rom a lack of pu r pose or f u l f i l l ment .
What can you do now? A f ter out l i n i n g t he s t a t e of h a ppi n e s s i n s o c ie t y, Br o ok s assured t h e a u d ie n c e t h a t n ot a l l h op e i s lo s t . T h e r e a r e , he ex pla i ned, pr ov e n f a c t or s u nd e r a n i nd iv id u a l’s c ont r ol t h a t c a n c ont r i but e t o bu i ld i n g a h a pp y l i f e . Re f e r e n c i n g t h e 8 0 -y e a rlon g H a r v a r d s t u d y of a d u lt d e v e lopm e nt , Br o ok s d e s c r i b e d “ T h e H a ppi n e s s 4 01 k Pl a n ,” w h ic h i s c ompr i s e d of s e v e n c ont r oll a b le c om p on e nt s . T h e s e i n c l u d e n o s m ok i n g ( or q u it t i n g e a r l y) , n o pr ob le m d r i n k i n g , m a i nt a i ni n g a h e a lt h y b o d y w e i g ht , w a l k i n g a s d a i l y e x e rc i s e , d e v e lopi n g a n a d a p t i v e c opi n g s t y le ( s u c h a s pr a y e r a nd d a i l y m a s s ) , reading to c ont i nu e on e’s e d u c a t ion a nd f i nd i n g lo v e t h r ou g h
f r ie nd s h i p s a nd a lon gter m ma r r iage. Br o ok s s a id h e w ou ld pr e s c r i b e this list to t h e g e n e r a l p opu l a t ion . Ho w e v e r, h e s a id , “ T h e H a ppi n e s s 4 01 k Pl a n” i s i n s u f f ic ie nt f or h i g ha c h ie v i n g i nd i v id u a l s , t h e “s t r i v e r s .”
What about the “strivers”? L ook i ng out at t he aud ience of Not re Da me st udent s a nd rev i sit i ng t he ma n f rom t he pla ne, Brook s sha red t here a re add it iona l cha l lenges for t he pa r t ic u la rly mot iv ated sec t ion of soc iet y, a s t he y a re of ten predest i ned for d i sappoi nt ment . “I a ssu med w hen I fou nd t he dat a t hat successf u l people, world ly successf u l people, t he y ’d be i n t he top br a nch automat ic a l ly — not t he lower br a nch. T hat ’s w rong ,” Brook s sa id. “T he more successf u l you a re i n you r c a reer, t he more l i kely you a re to end up on t he lower br a nch, mea ni ng t hat a f ter ret i rement, you’re goi ng to decl i ne i n happi ness. I don’t w a nt t h i s to be t r ue. Bel ieve me, I rea l ly don’t w a nt t h i s to be t r ue.” A f ter com i ng to t h i s rea li z at ion, Brook s w a s determ i ned to f i nd a w ay to be bot h a mbit iou s a nd happy. “I’m not goi ng to stop st r iv i ng. So w hat ’s t he work a rou nd ? W hat ’s t he loophole ? W hat ’s t he hack t hat you a nd I c a n ac t ua l ly do to be a mbit iou s a nd ha rdwork i ng a nd successf u l a nd happier? ” Brook s sa id. “How do I avoid t he t r ade of f ? ” T he a n s wer, Brook s w a r ned, i nvolves st a nd i ng up to nat u r a l i ncl i nat ion s. T h i s protest aga i n st h ig hach iev i ng tendenc ies ha s fou r pa r t s. Fi r st, t he st r iver mu st u nder st a nd t he i nev it abi lit y of decl i ne. Brook s expla i ned t hat “you’re good at d i f ferent t h i ngs at d i fferent ages i n you r l i fe, a nd you’re goi ng to be most successf u l i f you k now w hat t he y a re, a nd you desig n you r l i fe a rou nd you r nat ur a l cog n it ive abi l it ies.” Brook s desc r ibes t he t r a n sit ion t hat occ u r s f rom “f lu id i ntel l igence” to “c r y st a l l i z ed i ntel l igence” du r i ng m idd le adu lt hood. T he for mer t y pe su rrou nd s i n nov at ion a nd problem solv i ng , w h i le t he lat ter spea k s to acc u mulated w i sdom a nd teach i ng abi l it y. “At my u n iver sit y, t he best teach i ng ev a luat ion s u n i for m ly go to professor s over sevent y. W hen g r aduate st udent s r ig ht out of t hei r Ph Ds come to me say, ‘W hat ’s t he sec ret to g reat teach i ng ev a luat ion s ? ’ I say, ‘get older,’” Brook s sa id.
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Second ly, t he st r iver mu st rea l i z e sat i sfac t ion i s t he quot ient of “haves d iv ided by w a nt s.” Rat her t ha n spend i ng l i fe at tempt i ng to i nc rea se t he nu mer ator, Brook s ex pla i ned a n i nd iv idua l shou ld look to a lw ay s “w a nt less, w a nt less, w a nt less.” “T he mat h i s si mple. L ook, you c a n t r y to i nc rea se t he nu mer ator i n t he sat i sfac t ion equat ion a nd tempor a r i ly sat i sf y level s of joy for a m i nute or you get a much more ef f ic ient a nd endu r i ng level of sat i sfac t ion by dec rea si ng t he denom i nator by ma nag i ng you r w a nt s,” Brook s sa id. Brook s of fer s up t he concept of a “rever se bucket l i st .” “A rever se bucket l i st i s w here I t a ke my world ly c r av i ngs — mone y, power, plea su re, fa me — a l l t hose idol s, a nd I l i st t hose idol s a nd t hen I c ross t hem out . Not bec au se I won’t get world ly t h i ngs, but bec au se I don’t w a nt t hem to be i n my l i mbic s y stem a s g host s,” Brook s sa id. “I w a nt to ex per ience t hose w a nt s i n t he pref ront a l cor tex of my br a i n a nd to of fer t hem up i n my pr ayer such t hat I c a n ma nage t hem a nd t he y don’t ma nage me.” T he t h i rd step t he st r iver mu st t a ke i s to recog n i z e t hei r jou r ne y i s not a sol it a r y one. “T he happiest people a re not cou nt i ng t he su m of t hei r ach ievement s. T he y ’re cou nt i ng a su m of t he love for t he people i n t hei r l ives a nd t he d iv i ne love t hat c a n t ie it a l l toget her,” Brook s sa id. T he fou r t h a nd f i na l step on t he st r iver’s pat h tow a rd long-ter m happi ness i s to rejec t t he a l lu re of “spec ia l ness.” Brook s rec a l led h i s ex per ience i nter v iew i ng a bi l l iona i re on Wa l l St reet . “She con fessed to me t hat she w a s deeply u n happy,” Brook s sa id. A f ter quest ion i ng w hy she had never made a cha nge, “She sa id, ‘Bec au se I’ve a lw ay s made one spec i f ic dec i sion to be spec ia l r at her t ha n be happy.’” Brook s sa id t h i s desi re to be d i f ferent, to out-compete ever yone el se, sever s t he st r iver’s core relat ionsh ips, i n stead feed i ng i nto t he ph i losophy of “more, more, more.” Brook s concluded w it h adv ice to t he aud ience of Jorda n Aud itor iu m. For w hatever work a n i nd iv idua l emba rk s on, t he y shou ld u nder t a ke it “for t he g lor y of G od a nd t he e n j o y m e nt of m a n .” Contact Kelsey Quint at kquint@nd.edu
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NEWS
THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
The Domino’s Pizza odyssey at Notre Dame By THOMAS DOBBS From the Archives Leader
A tale of deliveries, campus-wide bans and stolen signs Sept. 10, 1982 | Observer Staff | May 4, 1984 | Marc Ramirez | Jan. 30, 1985 | Mary Seiger | Sept. 16, 1986 | Observer Staff | Nov. 18, 1986 | Observer Staff | April 22, 1993 | Sarah Doran | Befor e Gr ubhub del i ver y r ob ot s a nd t he c onv en ienc e of mo der n fo o d del i v er y a pp s, t here w a s D om i no’s P i z z a , a n ic on ic br a nd t h at p opu l a r i z e d t he ide a of pi z z a a r r i v i ng at y ou r do or step. For Not r e Da me st udent s, D om i no’s w a s mor e t h a n ju st a pi zz a joi nt . It w a s a f a m i l i a r n a me t h at del i v er e d del ic iou s s l ic e s r ig ht to t hei r dor m r o om s. I n t h i s jou rne y t h r ou g h t he a rc h i v e s, w e del v e i nto t he h i sto r ie s of D om i no’s P i z z a at Not r e Da me, e x plor i ng t he moment s t h at def i ne d it s pr e s enc e on c a mpu s.
Domino’s and the 30-minute guarantee L ong b efor e t he of del i v er y a pps
a ge a nd
autonomou s r ob ot s, D om i no’s Pizza revolut ion i z e d t he w or ld of pi z z a del i v er y w it h t hei r g r ou ndbr e a k i ng 30 -m i nute g u a r a nte e. T h i s ic on ic c onc ept w a s t he br a i nc h i ld of t he c ompa ny ’s v i sion a r y fou nder, Tom Mon a g h a n . In a memor a ble mo ment etc he d i n h i stor y, Mon a g h a n m ade a sig n i f ic a nt i mpr e s sion w hen he v i site d S a i nt Ma r y ’s i n 19 8 4 to del i v er a s p e e c h . D u r i ng h i s add r e s s, he hu mor ou s l y qu ipp e d, “I pr om i s e to del i v er t h i s le ct u r e w it h i n 30 m i nute s or del i v er it f r e e of c h a r ge.” T h i s w it t y pr om i s e not on l y lef t t he aud ienc e at S a i nt Ma r y ’s i n st itc he s but a l s o r e s on ate d w it h hu ng r y c ol le ge st udent s f a r a nd w ide, i nc lud i ng t ho s e at tend i ng Not r e Da me. Mon a g h a n’s i ngen iou s ide a w a s si mple yet g a me c h a ng i ng : g u a r a nte ei ng t h at pipi ng hot pi z z a s w ou ld a r r i v e at c u stomer s’ do or steps w it h i n h a l f a n hou r or b e on t he hou s e. It w a s t h i s c om m it ment to s p e e d a nd c u stomer s at i sf ac t ion t h at s et D om i no’s a pa r t a nd pr op el le d it to
Observer Archives | Sept. 10, 1982
The first Domino’s advertisement in The Observer, offering company founder Tom Monaghan’s revolutionary thirty-minute delivery offer.
t he for ef r ont of t he pi z z a del i v er y i ndu st r y. O v er t he ye a r s, t h i s g u a r a nte e b e c a me s y nony mou s w it h D om i no’s a nd pl aye d a pi v ot a l r ole i n s h a pi ng t he c ompa ny ’s s uc c e s s stor y.
“Pizza, pizza ... but not every day?” A m id st t he pi z z a-cent r ic bu z z su r rou nd i ng Dom i no’s at Not re Da me, t here emerged a subt le rem i nder t hat v a r iet y i n c ul i na r y ex per iences was t he spice of col lege l i fe. T he Obser ver feat u red a resona nt t it le t hat echoed t h i s sent i ment : “Domer s c a n not l ive by Dom i no’s a lone.” T he ph r a se, i n it ia lly prompted by t he endu ri ng popu la r it y of Dom i no’s P i z z a on c a mpu s, took on a deeper mea n i ng. It w a s a rem i nder t hat w h i le pi zz a m ig ht be a beloved st aple, t he pa late yea r ned for more. I nt r ig u i ng ly, t h i s c u l ina r y aw a ken i ng fou nd it s cha mpion i n t he for m of a n “on-c a mpu s cook book,” w h ich w a s t he br a i nch i ld of Du ke Un iver sit y st udent Mol l ie Fit zger a ld. T he cook book pitch, echoi ng t he sent i ment s of t he Not re Da me com mu n it y, h ig h l ig hted t he need for c u l i na r y d iver sit y on c a mpu s. It i nv ited st udent s to ex plore qu ick mea l s beyond t he fa m i l ia r pi z z a boxes, show i ng t hat w h i le Dom i no’s had it s place i n col lege l i fe, t here ex i sted a world of u nex pec ted ga st ronom ic del ig ht s t hat cou ld be prepa red i n one’s dor m room.
i nv ol v e d t he d i s a pp e a ra nc e of a D om i no’s sig n f r om t he top of a del i v er y c a r pa r ke d ne x t to Gr ac e Ha l l . T h i s pu z z l i ng t hef t r a i s e d que st ion s a b out t he mot i v at ion s b eh i nd s uc h a n u nu s u a l ac t . It ’s not ent i r el y i mpl au sible t h at t he c u lpr it ’s dor m r o om m ay h av e s udden l y b enef ite d f r om t he add it ion of a pr i z e d e d it ion of D om i no’s P i z z a sig n a ge, t r a n s for mi ng it i nto a n u ne x p e c te d pi z z a pa r lor h av en .
A stolen Domino’s car and sign
Domino’s briefly banned from campus
W h i le Not r e Da me st udent s enjoye d t he c onv en ienc e of D om i no’s del i v er y, not a l l i nc ident s w er e a b out get t i ng pi z z a s on t i me. O ne pa r t ic u l a r l y memor a ble e v ent i nv ol v e d t he t hef t of a D om i no’s P i z z a del i v er y c a r, a 1977 Old smobi le v a lue d at $1,0 0 0, f r om b eh i nd Ly on s Ha l l . T he t h ief ’s d a r i ng e s c a pade le d to a n u ne xp e c te d t w i st w hen t he y got i nto a n ac c ident w it h t he stolen c a r. Fac e d w it h t he pr o s p e c t of d i s c ov er y, t he t h ief de c ide d to a ba ndon t he c a r, le av i ng Not r e Da me s e c u r it y w it h t he u ne x p e c te d t a s k of r e c over i ng t he v eh ic le. A not her bi z a r r e i nc ident
But perhaps t he most sign i f ic a nt event i n t he h i stor y of Dom i no’s at Not re Da me w a s t hei r tempor a r y ba n f rom del iver i ng pi z z a s to t he Un iver sit y i n 1993. T h i s ba n, la st i ng f rom Ma rch 31 to Apr i l 20, resu lted f rom Dom i no’s fa i lu re to abide by c a mpu s reg u lat ion s concer ni ng t he post i ng of sig n s on c a mpu s. Accord i ng to longst a ndi ng Un iver sit y pol ic y, sig n s mu st be approved by t he Of f ice of St udent Ac t iv it ies before bei ng d i splayed on c a mpu s. Dom i no’s, however, had posted sig n s w it hout obt a i n i ng t he necessa r y approv a l, w h ich led to t he ba n. W i l l ia m K i rk,
Observer Archives | Jan. 30, 1985
a ssi st a nt v ice president for st udent a f fa i r s, sa id t he Un iver sit y had w a r ned Dom i no’s on mu lt iple occ a sion s about t he proh ibit ion on u napproved sig n s. I n it ia l ly set to la st u nt i l May 18, t he ba n w a s shor tened “to accom modate t he st udent s,” accord i ng to K i rk . Not re Da me a i med to st r i ke a ba la nce bet ween en forc i ng t he r u les a nd u nder st a nd i ng t he st udent s’ need s. I n t he end, Dom i no’s P i z z a rema i ned a fa m i lia r na me at Not re Da me, del iver i ng pi z z a s to eager st udent s, a lbeit w it h a br ief i nter r upt ion due to sig nage-related i ssues. W h i le Gr ubhub del iver y robot s may have t a ken center st age i n recent t i mes, t he legac y of Dom i no’s a s t he st aple pi z z a del iver y ser v ice w it h a touch of cont rover s y l ives on i n t he memor ies of Not re Da me a lu m n i. In t he ever-evolv i ng la nd sc ape of food del iver y, one t h i ng i s cer t a i n : Not re Da me’s appet ite for pi zz a rema i n s u n sha keable, w het her del ivered by huma n s, robot s or a ny ot her mea n s. Contact Thomas Dobbs at tdobbs@nd.edu
NEWS
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to be able to have that Competition them opportunity to put their CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
across the country for grad school. And then from there, I’ll hopefully have a job performing. I would really love to sing opera professionally,” Sigler said. “Or I’d love to teach at the collegiate level.” Sigler said the competition helps her prepare for her future in performance by pushing her to improve every year. Zusi, however, said she does not go for the competition, but rather to further her education and gain different perspectives. “It’s very much feedback based, so they write very extensive comments, and they grade you on a scale,” she said. “For something like voice, the different perspectives are, to me, so valuable. Yes, it is good to have one voice teacher that you work with constantly, but also being able to have something maybe my teacher missed or a lot of time they’ll explain something a different way.” Schleicher echoed Zusi’s comments. “It is so helpful to have extra performance opportunities because that gives you the experience of nervousness that we can’t create in the studio,” she said. “For
voices out there with that added helpful pressure really helps them develop how they use their voice and performance.” Sigler ref lected on how this competition mimics her childhood solo and ensemble competitions, and how she continues to grow through her competitive spirit. “Even if you aren’t ranked the highest, you can learn who sits higher than you than ok what is this person doing that I’m not, what can I do to be at their level and then get above their level,” she said. Zusi and Sigler both encourage any students who are interested to participate. “It’s a really controlled environment where you can have performance experience and also learn more about how you do under pressure and what other people think,” Zusi said. “It’s really helpful growth tool because it forces you to prepare for something early in the semester, so you have that repertoire done and get it solid really fast.” Contact Katelyn Waldschmidt at kwaldschmidt01@saintmarys.edu
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a bu n c h of c om e d ia n s , but on e on t h e l i s t was Br it t n e y Br o s k i ,” Mc D ou g a l l s a id . “A nd I lov e h e r, m y c om m itt e e c h a i r lo v e s h e r. We t h ou g ht s h e w ou ld b e a r e a l l y g r e a t p e r s on t o br i n g t o Not r e D a m e’s c a m pu s .” L a s t y e a r, S U B br ou g ht B e n H i g g i n s t o Not r e D a m e , a nd , t w o y e a r s a g o, S U B br ou g ht No e l M i l le r, b ot h of w h ic h C ond o d i n a t h i n k s c omp a r e t o Br o s k i i n t e r m s of d e m a nd a nd s t ud e nt v a l u e . T ic k e t s f or PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Br o s k i’s e v e nt w e nt on s a le a t 7 p. m . T hu r s d a y a nd s old ou t w it h i n 15 m i nu t e s . “I’m a l w a y s j u s t e xc it e d t o pu t on t h e s e e v e nt s f or s t u d e nt s , e s p e c i a l l y t h e s e l a r g e -s c a le e v e nt s a nd g e t t o br i n g p e op le t o Not r e D a m e’s c a m pu s a nd show t h e m h o w c o ol Not r e Da me i s ,” Mc D ou g a l l s a id . “A nd I’m e x c it e d to see what her a nswers a re. I rea l ly have n o id e a w h a t t o e x p e c t , s o I’m e x c it e d t o g e t u p t h e r e a nd l a u g h r i g ht a lon g w it h h e r.” For freshma n Ma r y W i l l i a m s , s e e i n g Br o s k i i s
a “ h i g h pr ior it y.” W i l l i a m s s a id s h e w i l l b e s t a ndi n g i n t h e w a it l i n e ou ts id e of t h e e v e nt b e c a u s e s h e c ou ld n ot g e t a t ic k e t on l i n e . “I t h i n k it ’s a m a z i n g t h a t w e h a v e t h e r e s ou r ce s t o g e t s om e on e w h o i s s o bi g f or ou r g e n e r at ion ,” W i l l i a m s s a id . “A nd w h i le w e h a v e opp or t u n it ie s t o a t t e nd t h e le c t u r e s of e c on om i s t s or s e n at or s , I lo v e t h a t S U B i s ta k ing t he s t r id e s to c on n e c t us w it h c e le br it ie s of ou r o w n g e n e r a t ion .” Contact Grace Tadajweski at gtadajwe@nd.edu
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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
Politicians love Taylor Swift, too
The alcohol-free article
Erin Drumm Drummer’s Circle
Kate Casper Love Letters from Rome
Each election season, a plethora of voting guides are published by media outlets and advocacy groups. The guides parse out information as to where candidates stand on various social and fiscal issues. In other words, pretty routine stuff. It is clear to me that another good indicator of the character of a candidate is what their favorite Taylor Swift song is! Taylor Swift is one of the most famous American musicians of all time, so it’s no wonder why many politicians have a favorite Swift song. Though some of these politicians haven’t officially declared their favorite Swift songs, they have engaged with particular songs. Many of their favorite “Miss Americana” songs reveal things about them as people or perhaps their political agenda. Some of our Notre Dame leaders shared their favorite Swift songs and the reasons for their choices as well!
1. Daniel Jung, Notre Dame student body president: “Out of the Woods” In an email, Jung said, “Out of the Woods: The complexities of love and the passage of time, coupled with the journey to move beyond a difficult period in one’s life make it instantly relatable to any listener. Additionally, it’s got a certain catchiness that’s just unshakeable. Easily her best track on her best album.”
2. Collette Doyle, Notre Dame student government chief of staff: “cardigan” In an email, Doyle said, “Not only does ‘cardigan’ possess a uniquely captivating sonic composition — a blend of mellowness and melodicism — but also illustrates Swift’s exceptional storytelling skills. Lines like: ‘You draw stars around my scars / But now I’m bleeding’ and ‘Chasing shadows in the grocery line’ are easily some of the best lyrics within Swift’s discography and a testament to her ability to craft such vivid imagery that deeply resonates with the listener. ‘cardigan’ unashamedly remains my top played song each year since its release.”
3. Joe Biden, President of the United States: “Only the Young” Swift’s 2020 song, “Only the Young” was used in a pro-Biden ad for the 2020 election produced by California’s Democratic U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell’s PAC. The ad encouraged people to get out and vote, specifically to vote Democratic. With lyrics like “They aren’t gonna change this / We gotta do it ourselves” and “Only one thing can save us” sung with children’s vocals in the background, the song is overtly political and makes sense as a Biden favorite.
4. KellyAnne Conway, former counselor to the president “You Need to Calm Down” While Conway’s politics show that she does not support the political message of Swift’s “You Need to Calm Down,” she recited the lyrics “’If you say it on the street, that’s a knockout / If you put it in a tweet, that’s a cop-out” on a Fox News broadcast in 2019. Conway said she loved those lyrics because they describe “Washington in a nutshell.”
5. Josh Shapiro, governor of the great state of Pennsylvania: “Never Grow Up” In July, when Taylor was in Pittsburgh on her Eras Tour, Governor Shapiro was asked to name his favorite Swift song. Shapiro selected Swift’s Speak Now ballad “Never Grow Up.” “I cry basically every time I hear it,” Shapiro said. “Makes me think of my baby girl who’s now 21, Sophia, and I love it.”
6. Amy Klobuchar, senator for Minnesota: “I Knew You Were Trouble” Senator Klobuchar led the TicketMaster hearing with Senator Lee of Utah. After the hearing, “Variety” asked her a series of questions, one of them being about her favorite Swift song. Klobuchar said, “‘I Knew You Were Trouble,’ because that’s how I feel like when several of our committee members walk in the door.
7. Chris Christie, presidential candidate and former governor of New Jersey: “We Are Never Getting Back Together” Chris Christie attended a Cowboys-Cardinals game with Dallas Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones in September. In reference to Taylor Swift’s romance with Travis Kelce one person tweeted “Ooh, who on the Cowboys is Chris Christie dating?” to which Christie responded that he and Donald Trump are “never ever getting back together.”
8. Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut’s senior senator: “Anti-Hero” During the Senate Judiciary Committee’s January hearing regarding TicketMaster, Senator Blumenthal quoted Swift’s single, “Anti-Hero.” Blumenthal said that rather than blaming Taylor Swift for not having enough concerts, “Ticketmaster ought to look in the mirror and say, ‘I’m the problem. It’s me.’” Taylor Swift is currently the most streamed artist in the world on Spotify with over 100 million monthly listeners. As an American, her musical success has impacted American culture and politics, which is shown through her constant presence in the news. Gannett, America’s largest newspaper chain even recently hired a Taylor Swift reporter. From this list, it is clear that Taylor Swift’s music is even in “Style” in American politics. Erin Drumm is a senior at Notre Dame studying American Studies, journalism and history. She is from Philadelphia and spends her summers (and every weekend possible) at the shore in Cape May County, New Jersey. Outside of The Observer, Erin can be found cheering on the Fighting Irish and the Phillies, reading and talking about pop culture and history. She can be reached at edrumm@nd.edu. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
In a niche cocktail bar in Venice, we fit right in — in our post-Flixbus outfits, still shivering from the chilly walk/run to our establishment of choice on Fondamenta Frari. Fife and I found Il Mercante by chance through a fateful Google search: “Cool speakeasy Venice.” We spent two hours there and too much money. And we loved it. Particularly, we loved the ambiance — the warm glow radiating from the tiny glass lamps scattered throughout (couched between bottles of liquor behind the bar, perched atop midcentury modern coffee tables). And of course, we loved the drinks — the steady, controlled flow of liquor and its counterparts (kombucha or seaweed or black tea or cocoa butter) into cups of all shapes and sizes, adorned with crackers or dried fruits or olives. I remember we received our drinks quickly, and we sipped slowly, savoring every sweet second of our fourteen-euro beverages. And maybe we sipped slowly because we were in Venice or maybe because the ambiance was cool (with the warm glow radiating from tiny glass lamps). Or maybe because we were keenly aware of the fact that we were drinking fourteen-euro beverages. But I like to think we sipped slowly because we wanted to relish in the experience, the harmony of flavors in each cocktail glass — the colors, the shapes, the chatter and laughter floating from tables and chairs of couples and friends, people just like us. If I had it my way, every drink would be just like that, taste like that in a place like that with company like that. It usually isn’t though. I admit, throughout my career at Notre Dame, drinking often meant getting drunk (and getting drunk often meant making wild decisions and perhaps winding up with a casual hangover the next day to nurse with blue Powerade in the dining hall). But drinking also meant fun. It meant dancing like you’re on fire and saying things impulsively and leaning into situations that felt super romantic (but were mostly just sticky and gross). But for many of us, drinking is like that line from A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” I’ve had my best times while drinking, but I’ve also had my worst times. I’ve sipped fourteen-euro cocktails with Fife in Venice; I’ve also drank so much seltzer that I simply could not keep it all in. I’ve had enthralling conversations with (Morrissey) boys at house parties; I’ve also cried outside of those same house parties over (Morrissey) boys. I’ve said things I meant; I’ve said things I meant but probably shouldn’t have said. I’ve danced until my limbs were literally flying in people’s faces; I’ve also
face-planted and taken tumbles that gave me bruises up and down my whole body. I’ve called hometown friends and left the most thoughtful voicemails; I’ve called loose acquaintances I hadn’t spoken to in months to “check-in” at 3 a.m. I’ve made friends in the bar bathroom; I’ve ended friendships (also in the bar bathroom). I’ve kissed kings; I’ve kissed frogs. I’ve ended my nights in Za Land; I’ve ended my nights crying in the BP communal showers with Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well (10-Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)” playing on full blast. But thousands of miles from the BP Communal showers, at Il Mercante in Venice, I was reminded of something I always knew: That I can enjoy alcohol and the good it brings me in moderation, how it can keep me warm and fuzzy and invite intimate conversation, how it can bring people together and taste good when it’s done right. That’s Italian culture, though. Notre Dame culture doesn’t want us to enjoy our drinks, I’m afraid. Notre Dame culture wants us to grind Sunday through Wednesday and black out Thursday through Saturday. Notre Dame culture wants us to lose ourselves in a moment, instead of finding ourselves in a moment. Notre Dame culture celebrates the next morning when we discover a Snapchat video of something heinous we did but truly can’t remember. And, Notre Dame culture often neglects the all-important question: “Why?” Why did I drink so much at that much-coveted South Bend establishment last weekend? Why did those casual High Noons over spring break taste better than the ones I (allegedly) chugged before the spring darty? Why were the best nights last year always the sober dance parties we threw in room 117 exclusively for the BP girls (and maybe Andrew or Aedan)? I think there are a million reasons why we drink (or don’t drink), and while I can’t quite pinpoint the reason I drank in Venice, but I can safely say that it was intentional. So perhaps, the answer isn’t to not drink at Notre Dame. Perhaps, the answer is to consider why and to maybe give yourself the space to say: “Perhaps I don’t need a drink tonight. Maybe I just need a walk. Maybe I just need a nap. Maybe I just need a hug.” And today (or tonight), I hope you can give yourself the space to choose to not drink or choose to spare fourteen euros on the best drink of your life (maybe save 4 euros and make it non-alcoholic, maybe adorned with a dried fruit slice). Kate Casper (aka, Casper, Underdog or Jasmine) is from Northern Virginia, currently residing in Rome. She strives to be the best waste of your time. You can contact her at kcasper@nd.edu. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
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INSIDE COLUMN
Construction criticism Maria Tobias Graphic Designer
As a lifelong Texas resident, I have seen more than my fair share of construction. W hether it’s another skyscraper in an attempt to turn Austin into the next high-rise city or some giant, ambitious overpass that the Texas government decided we simply must have, it is a rarity to return home without having to experience construction of some kind that makes me ask “is this really necessar y? ” Over the last three years, I have noticed the same kind of construction pops up all over our campus. W hether it be the re-gilding of the Dome, the new dorms or whatever renovation caused the incessant beeping from the Rock that, for at least a couple of months, became my daily alarm clock at 7:00 in the morning, it seems like I can’t go anywhere on campus without witnessing some kind of new construction project. The more construction I see, the more this same question begins to creep back into my mind: “Is this really necessar y? ” Some of it is. As a resident of Lyons Hall, I would
agree that a lot of our older buildings could benefit from some heav y reconstruction (after all, we only just got new and functioning shower heads) and improvements when the dorm has some kind of foundational or fundamental problem. However, the majority of the construction that I have noticed seems to be additional or cosmetic, seeking to improve a campus that many already deem perfect. The insatiable need to improve itself to the point of unachievable perfection is a sentiment that I have noticed is shared by both the University of Notre Dame and many of its students. I spend ever y minute of ever y single day surrounded by the most intelligent people that I have ever met in my life who feel as if they need to race to improve themselves in whatever way they can in order to further set themselves apart on their path to success. The academically rigorous environment that we all coex ist in here is both a blessing and a curse; we have the opportunity to be inspired by the people around us to achieve as highly as we possibly can while we are subconsciously and simultaneously forced to directly compare
ourselves to them in the face of future career opportunities. W hen this comparison happens, especially if it is an unfair one, we often harshly pick ourselves apart in an attempt to find some part or piece of ourselves that we can tear down and reconstruct in an attempt to make ourselves better. W hile some of these renovations are foundational, genuinely making us into better versions of ourselves, many of them are often frivolous and unnecessar y, sometimes even ruining the parts of ourselves that make us individualistic and interesting. So, tri-Campus, I implore you: the next time you find yourself tr ying to renovate some small part of you that you think needs to be fixed, I want you to tr y and look past all of your excuses and reasoning and consider if this fix is a necessar y, foundational one or just another unnecessar y, surface-level renovation. In other words, ask yourself, “Is this really necessar y? ” You can contact Maria at mtobias@nd.edu. The views expressed in this Inside column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Naming nature In my sophomore year, I was forced into a Friday afternoon class for a minor requirement. This class, entitled “Local Flora” seemed, at minimum, to be a waste of a Friday afternoon and, at its worst, a class full of brainless yet time-consuming memorization. W hat could be the point of learning to name the plants of Northern Indiana? In my naivet y, I thought there could be no practical implications or even a meaningful takeaway this class could offer. I was w rong on both parts. This past summer, I had the best internship I could ask for: I interned at a zoo ! One of the jobs I assisted w ith was collecting browse, the natural plants and trees that animals eat, from different areas on the propert y. Each animal, from the orangutans to the rhinos, has specific f lora they could and couldn’t consume. W hile other zookeepers and interns had to rely on identification apps, I was surprised at how much I could identif y based on this one sophomore-year class. In this most unexpected way, know ing the names of nature helped me thrive at my internship. At a deeper level, this internship reignited the larger-scale question I first pondered while taking “Local Flora.” Could nomenclature be beneficial beyond know ing the practicalit y of what is safe to eat and what isn’t? I have the confidence that it can be. Our lack of desire to learn the names of nature exemplifies and explains the disconnect bet ween humanit y and the Earth. Only by learning the names of nature can we restore this relationship.
W hen getting a pet, a stuffed toy or even a car (shoutout to my car Benny), we feel the urge to name it. This name creates a bond bet ween us and the object of the name. By giv ing non-humans names, we personif y them to increase emotional attachment and meaning. This is obv ious for names that we do not choose as well. Look around the room you are in. Most of us can name ever y single item around us. Pen. Lamp. Desk. Chair. These items have names because we value them. We need a pen to w rite, a lamp to see, a desk to work at and a chair to rest. Now move outside. W hat is the name of that little black bug crawling on those black berries all around the lake? W hat about the name of that plant, the one w ith the purple stem? How about the name of the tree outside your dorm that you walk past daily? This fauna and f lora benefit us by producing the food we eat and the ox ygen we breathe, yet we do not clearly see these benefits, so we do not learn to name them. Because we do not name, we do not notice. Our lack of awareness of our external surroundings is only heightened by the extreme awareness we have of our indoor life. If your roommate changes the pattern of the rug in your dorm room, you are sure to recognize the change. If someone were to pull up a tree near God Quad and replant a different species, would you notice? I doubt I would. If we look at what we name, know ing that names create a sense of attachment, it is clear
that humans do not feel as attached to the Earth as they do to the material things we make. I could not name 20 species of bugs, of which there are nearly a million, while I could easily name 20 brands. By taking the time to learn the names of lifeforms we see daily, we w ill be more mindful of our outdoor world. Maybe we w ill be able to notice when the once prevalent native woodland pink root slowly disappears throughout Indiana, or when our common nightcrawlers become overtaken by invasive jumping worms. By naming the plants and animals we encounter daily, we can develop a kinship w ith them and not only notice when their presence is changed but feel for them and miss them. Through the threat of global warming and the continued pollution of our Earth, we have proven to care more about the consumption of humanmade goods than the beautiful world that has evolved for so long w ithout the presence of humans. By learning to name nature, we w ill be able to connect w ith this outdoor world we have ignored for so long and maybe even develop a desire to fight for it. Kaitlyn Donton class of 2024 Oct. 30 The views expressed in this Letter to the Editor are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
Genocide occurs in silence Carlos Basurto Eudaemonic Banter
“[I don’t k now] how long I w ill live so I just wa nt t his to be my memor y here before I die. I a m not going to leave my home, come what may. My biggest regret is not k issing t his one g uy. He died t wo days back. We had told how much we like each ot her a nd I was too shy to k iss last time. He died in t he bombing. I t hink a big pa rt of me died too. A nd soon I w ill be dead. To Younus, I w ill k iss you in heaven.” There a re no words t hat ca n possibly begin to express what is ta k ing place before our eyes. The horrors t hat a re unfolding a re more terrible t ha n a nyone could ever imagine. A nd in t he face of a ll t he atrocities, what we f ind is t he most ridiculous discourse. We spea k of t he complex it y of histor y, of geopolitica l stabilit y, of economic relations. We a rg ue for self-defense technica lities a nd diplomatic excha nges a nd U.S. policies. We spea k a nd spea k a nd spea k, treating t he issue as a nua nced one. The reasons a nd context may be. However, t here is not hing complicated about genocide. The words above were w ritten a nony mously on t he website Queering t he Map by a person residing in t he Ga za Strip. Wit h t he Pa lestinia n media n age being 18 yea rs old, t he aut hor was most likely a teenager or young adult, a round college age. They were Pa lestinia n a nd a member of t he LGBTQ communit y. They loved Younus, even a fter he was murdered. They lived in Beit Ha noun, a cit y of 52,237 nort heast of Ga za. As of October 26t h, Beit Ha noun no longer ex ists. The entire cit y was obliterated by Israeli a irstrikes. Of t he tight ly packed streets, only ash a nd r ubble rema in. No hospita l, school or religious building was spa red. Indiscriminately, innocent men, women a nd children were slaughtered. it’s possible, t he aut hor was too. Of t heir cheer, fea rs a nd drea ms, only t heir words rema in. May t hey haunt t hose who a llowed t his to happen. Tell me, how is t he world a sa fer place now t hat Younus was murdered? W hy was his life cut short, his life destroyed a nd his histor y hurried? W hat is t he point? W hat is t he goa l? Have we won? Sha ll we cheer now t hat he is dead? Have we achieved world peace? Ever yone, pack it up ! Clap for us, for we a re t he v ictors ! W hy, only t he righteous could possibly rema in. I beg of you to a nswer t he former questions honest ly, for I certa inly ca nnot understa nd why. I ca nnot understa nd why t his is t he pat h we have chosen to support. I spea k of we, for you a nd I
a like, f ina nce t his genocide. In tota l, t he United States government has prov ided Israel w it h $124 billion in a id since World Wa r II a nd recent ly has repeatedly enforced its position of unconditiona l support for t he genocida l regime. U.S. President Joe Biden spea ks of Israel’s “right to defend itself ” yet under no def inition, illusion, or depraved act of lunacy ca n t hese racia lly a nd religiously motivated massacres we w itness be considered such a t hing. We may now stop k idding ourselves: no act of self-defense could possibly depend on t he br uta l a nnihilation of a n entire people of f t he face of t his pla net. W hen t he United Nations, A mnest y Internationa l a nd internationa l law schola rs a ll plead for a degree of mora l sense to be found, for Israel’s repeated wa r crimes to cease, for huma n rights to be remembered, how a re we still attempting to obf uscate t he rea lit y? This is not a wa r, not a “have to listen to bot h perspectives” a rg ument. This is a one-sided et hnic clea nsing sponsored by our ver y ow n ta x dolla rs a nd ma ny members of t he internationa l communit y. This is genocide, as simple as t hat. “I’ve a lways imagined you a nd me sitting out in t he sun, ha nd [in] ha nd, free at last. We spoke of a ll t he places we would go if we could. Yet you a re gone now. If I had k now n t hat bombs ra ining dow n on us would ta ke you from me, I would have gladly told t he world how I adored you more t ha n a ny t hing. I’m sorr y I was a cowa rd.” The text above is a not her excerpt, a not her stor y, a not her possibly-dead innocent soul in Ga za retrieved from t he sa me website. Genocide occurs in silence. So, listen to t heir voices. W hen t hey a re gone from t his cursed world t hat tossed t hem to t he side, let t heir voices be hea rd for centuries to come. Natura lly, I mea n not to justif y t he actions of Ha mas. W hy, I w ill even utter t he buzz words idiotic indiv idua ls crave: I condemn Ha mas — t he murder of innocents is unconscionable. Yet we appa rent ly have ref used to lea rn t he lessons of histor y: v iolence begets v iolence. W hat we w itness is not a solution but t he sow ing of t he next greater conf lict. Even if ever y single Ha mas member is located a nd executed, if in t he process you exterminate a child’s entire extended fa mily, neighborhood a nd academic class, it w ill not be t he least surprising when t hey ensure a successor to Ha mas is born. However, Israel does have a response to t his: just k ill t he children, too ! In less t ha n a mont h, t he a mount of reported murdered children has crossed a minimum of 4,000. That number is greater t ha n t hat of my entire Notre Da me class of 2026. These numbers a re unacceptable ; a ll of
t hose who a rg ue ot her w ise should forever feel a great, terrible sha me. Yet a ver y specia l degree of sha me sha ll befa ll on Former Secreta r y of State Mike Pompeo, who on t his ver y ca mpus not only predicted but psychopat hica lly advocated for t his slaughter. He is t he primordia l exa mple of t he irredeemable, utilita ria n a nd ultimately moronic perspective ma ny in power adhere to t hat t his is some inev itable bump on t he road, yet a not her litt le incident t hat, while a bit sad, sure, we w ill br ush over. Hell has a spot reser ved for t hem. So sha me on t hem a nd ever y single member of t he U.S. a nd Israeli government perpetuating t he massacres. Sha me on Fat her Jenk ins a nd t his universit y t hat cla ims to adhere to Cat holic va lues of peace yet pa radox ica lly a nd unforgivably in a statement sa id it “sta nds w it h Israel.” Sha me on some of my fellow View point w riters who so ca llously attempted to a rg ue innocent Pa lestinia ns simply deser ved t his fate. But most of a ll, sha me on huma nit y. We w ill deser ve what comes. Ta req Hajjaj, a loca l Pa lestinia n reporter, in his hea rt-shattering piece tit led “This could be my last report from Ga za” w rites: “My message to ever yone who reads t hese lines is to remember t hat t he most powerf ul countries in t he world a re k illing civ ilia ns in Ga za. Do not believe t hem when t hey spea k about huma n rights a nd huma nit y. They have no huma nit y. We begged t hem over t he past 17 yea rs to brea k our siege. They never listened. Yet t hey a re r ushing to k ill us. Keep my stories a live so t hat you keep me a live. Remember t hat I wa nted a norma l life, a sma ll home f ull of my children’s laughter a nd t he smell of my w ife’s cook ing. Remember t hat t he world t hat pretended to be t he sav ior of huma nit y pa rticipated in k illing such a sma ll drea m. Remember me, as I prepa re myself to leave t his world by force a nd go to a better one – one where t he U.S. a nd Israel do not ex ist.” Carlos A. Basurto is a sophomore at Notre Dame ready to delve into his philosophy major with the hopes of adding the burden of a Computer Science major on top of that. When not busy you can find him consuming yet another 3+ hour-long analysis video of a show he has yet to watch or masochistically completing every achievement from a variet y of video games. Now, with the power to channel his least insane ideas, feel free to talk about them via email at cbasurto @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 8, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
By ANNA FALK Scene Editor
On Nov. 2, the unthinkable happened — The Beatles released a new song. For anyone even remotely familiar with the legendary Liverpool rock quartet — composed of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr — this seems like an impossibility, as Lennon and Harrison passed away many years ago. However, the truth about the song’s production reveals the magic of modern technology and why some artificial intelligence isn’t all that bad. The creation and production of this release, titled “Now and Then,” began in 1977 at Lennon’s home in Manhattan. It was one of many songs Lennon had been working on before his assassination in 1980, stored on a cassette tape which was eventually given to McCartney in 1994 by Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono. The cassettes contained four songs — “Free as a Bird,” “Real Love,” “Grow Old with Me” and “Now and Then.” After taking them to the studio, the first two were released by the remaining Beatles as singles. “Grow Old with Me” ended up on Lennon and Ono’s final album “Milk and Honey,” but “Now and Then” presented some problems. Producer Jeff Lynne remembered McCartney, Harrison and Starr messing with it for “one day
By CLAIRE McKENNA Scene Writer
Taylor Swift is now a billionaire, and we welcome her to the exclusive club that also holds members such as Bill Gates, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. There was of course, hints of sarcasm in that opening sentence, but her introduction to the billionaire club is not fully an unwelcome one. If there have to be billionaires on this earth, then Taylor Swift is not the worst person to become one. And, in a world that mostly measures accomplishments by dollar bills, being a billionaire is a big deal for Swift. The one thing that separates Swift from the other billionaires I mentioned previously is that she has not created an external product that people buy. Rather, she is the product. One aspect that I have always thought people do not mention enough is how business savvy Swift and her team have been throughout her whole career. For as much as Swift is a stellar songwriter who cares deeply for her fans, she and her team are also astute businesspeople who have capitalized on the opportunities presented to them. Kudos to them
— one afternoon, really.” There was a noticeable and hard-to-remove hum on the track, the song l acked verses and the band never finished the backing track among other issues. Mostly due to Harrison’s distaste for the record, the band stopped working on the project. Over the years, hope for a finished product lingered even past Harrison’s death in 2001, but director Peter Jackson’s work on the documentary “The Beatles: Get Back” was pivotal for the fulfillment of the promised song. Throughout the production process, he and his team were able to utilize a technique called sound source separation to take apart the sound clips and enhance them. The same was used for “Now and Then,” allowing the surviving band members to isolate Lennon’s vocals from the track. Artificial intelligence is not, to many fans’ relief, used to generate new, synthetic vocals but rather to fix the issues with the original recording. Not knowing this, I was quite skeptical of “Now and Then” — dubbed the Beatles’ final song. As someone who had not even been born by the time Harrison passed, I never thought there was even a small possibility of this reality. Very obviously, I was proven wrong. The song is a bittersweet reminder of the band’s friendship. Opening lyrics “I know it’s true / It’s all because of you / And if I make it through / It’s all
because of you” tug at the heartstrings, reminding the listener of the band’s history together and their time apart. In his lyrics, Lennon asserts to his former bandmates, “I want you to be there for me / Always to return to me.” Despite the storied past and breakup of the Beatles, this song ultimately emphasizes that, no matter what hardships the four had gone through together, they have an inseparable bond that lasts beyond life itself. Lead vocals from Lennon in 1977 and McCartney in 2023 are especially heartbreaking in their ensemble. The instrumentation in this song is complex, with Harrison’s guitar retrieved from archival works along with McCartney and Starr’s various additions and an orchestral arrangement. The strings pack a particularly powerful punch, drawing on the emotional nature and context of the lyrics to deliver an incredible performance. As the Beatles’ last song, McCartney and Starr make sure they go out with a bang. Though this may be the end for the Beatles — even though many thought their end was many years ago — “Now and Then” does not mark the end of their legacy, as its release has further proven their impact on modern music and the everlasting power of their creativity and their friendship.
for doing so because, at least to me, Swift is no longer just a person but something more that everyone wants a part of — through her music, her performances and her products. I do not think, however, that the correct response to her new status is to separate her from her other wealthy peers. When it was announced Swift became a billionaire, my Twitter feed (because I will never call it X) was filled with jokes along the lines of “I don’t like billionaires, but I like my billionaire.” While I respect the cognitive dissonance — and have my own fair share of it — I do think that it is important to remember that one billion is a gigantic number. Taylor Swift has more money than there were people in the United States in 2021 — three times over. That is a lot of money. I respect the grind that got her to where she is today, but I do hope Swift goes on to use her money for good causes that touch more than just those around her. For example, over the summer, Swift gave each of the bus drivers on her tour a $100,000 bonus, and I love that. Those bus drivers put in a lot of work and I bet that money meant a lot to all of them. I also bet that the money was a business
expense. I do not mean to completely undermine the action, but I also hope that she is pulling some money from her pockets to make a difference in the lives of those who have not worked for her. Donations to charity are tax deductible if she cares about that sort of thing. The very concept of a person having a billion dollars is bigger than Swift. It’s also a concept that a lot of people feel strongly about. I know that Swift seems more than just a mere human at times (which I would wager is a consequence of literally being the product sold), but I hope that people remember her humanity and criticize it if necessary. This is not to say that I endorse people mindlessly hating on her or invading her privacy. Rather, it is that she should not be exempt from constructive conversations about topics such as the massive accumulation of wealth by the few. People talk about Swift in non-constructive ways all the time. Maybe this is the time to steer some of those endless conversations about who Swift is dating onto topics that impact all of us.
Contact Anna Falk at afalk@nd.edu
Contact Claire McKenna at cmckenn4@nd.edu ANNA FALK | The Observer
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HOROSCOPE | EUGENIA LAST Happy Birthday: Change is necessary; call on those who can help you finish what you start. Don’t limit the outcome this year because you are too proud to ask for something. Be the mastermind behind your plan, and pick the best candidate to execute your command. It’s time to update your way of thinking and doing things. Focus on the best way to get things done on time. Your numbers are 5, 17, 21, 27, 34, 44, 46. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t volunteer or let anyone rope you into something that isn’t beneficial. Work quietly behind the scenes on something you enjoy doing that will help you reach a personal goal. Help yourself to get ahead instead of counting on others. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You are ready, so don’t stop short of reaching for the stars. Trust your ability, experience and desire to reach your chosen destination. An open dialogue will clear up any questions and give you the confidence to forge ahead. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Take better care of yourself. Say no to temptation and letting others take advantage of you. Make changes because you want to, not because someone uses emotional manipulation. Learn from the experience and set the record straight if someone offers false information. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Opportunity knocks; don’t be afraid to open the door. Your calling card will be how you handle others and situations as they unfold. Don’t fall short because you fear failure. Step up and take the initiative to move mountains to get what you want. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Communication will spare you anxiety. Ask and filter through the information you receive, and you’ll figure out how to reach your objective using what’s available. Don’t let what others decide to do stand in your way. Take on what’s doable and proceed. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Gravitate toward learning experiences, positive change and creating opportunities that encourage growth and happier days ahead. Participate in events that offer an inside view of what’s trending, and you’ll find a way to update your goals. Make decisions before someone makes them for you. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Pay attention to detail and what’s happening around you. Keep close tabs on spending contracts and do your best to live a healthy lifestyle. Don’t let laziness flare up, causing you to miss an opportunity that can define a better future. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Apply pressure and finish what you start. Do your fair share, and the help you need to reach your goal will unfold. A partnership will encourage you to pick up the pace and adjust to change. Focus on stabilizing your environment and opening new possibilities. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Be careful who you trust. Don’t let the changes others make define your next move. Follow the path that leads to your happiness. The less time you spend trying to convince others to see things your way, the more you will achieve. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Open your eyes and understand what’s unfolding. Don’t believe everything you hear; what you see will depict what’s happening. Use common sense and offer practical solutions. Those who agree with you are the ones you want on your team. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Stick to simple rules, common sense and frugal spending, and you will bypass scams, temptation and people trying to steal your thunder. Focus on self-improvement, better health and saving. The plan is to put your mind at ease, not to stir up chaos. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You’ve got what it takes to reach your goal. Ignore those trying to slow you down or take over. Do your own thing at a price you can afford with a smile, and you’ll maintain momentum and cross the finish line. Birthday Baby: You are ambitious, courageous and helpful. You are aware and proactive.
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ND MEN’S BASKETBALL
ND MEN’S BASKETBALL
Niagara falls to Notre Dame 70-63 By ANNIK A HERKO Sports Writer
The (freshmen) boys are back. The much anticipated start to t he men’s basketba ll season has come and gone and Mica h Shrewsberr y’s team is 1-0. Not only did we get to see t his team’s abilit y to batt le back from behind in t heir game against Niagra, t he comeback was led by freshman point g uard Markus Burton who had a recordsetting 29 points in his f irst game. The prev ious scoring record for a freshman in his f irst game at Notre Dame was held by LaPhonso Ellis (27 points in 1988), who was in attendance Monday night. Burton was joined in t he starting lineup by fellow freshman Braeden Shrewsberr y, who scored seven in his debut. This marked t he f irst time in 25 years t hat a pair of freshmen started a game for t he Irish. Freshman for ward Carey Boot h didn’t start for t he team but did see significant play ing time and was t he second highest scorer for t he Irish. Don’t be surprised if at some point t his season t he Irish starts t hree freshmen. W hile t he f irst game of t he season ended happily for Notre Dame, it could have been a nightmare. A fter t he f irst nine minutes, Niagara had an 18-8 lead, and t he Irish could just not get any t hing going on offense. Burton scored his f irst t hree on an and-one lay up. A minute later, Shrewsberr y sank t he Irish’s f irst t hree of t he game to ta ke t he lead dow n
to f ive. Notre Dame took t heir f irst lead of t he game si x minutes into t he second period, lost it brief ly w it h si x and a ha lf to go before Burton made a t hree pointer. The Irish never lost t he lead again, and as Niagara fouled in an attempt to stop t he clock, Notre Dame made f ive of si x free t hrows. A fter a f ina l lay up by t he Niagara point g uard, t he Irish came away w it h a 70-63 v ictor y. Were Irish fans hoping to see a stronger start from t he team? Yea h, probably. But Niagara did have a decent number of returning players from last season and ended last year w it h a w inning record. Notre Dame is still learning to play toget her and while t hey did mount a comeback last night, t his season cannot turn into “The Markus Burton Show.” If it does, better teams w ill double team him or ma ke him foul out. It was only t he f irst game, so t here’s no need to overreact eit her way, but a more ba lanced offense w ill ma ke t his team more competitive in an ACC f illed w it h experience and teams expected to be in t he Top 25. There is still a ways to go before conference play starts, but t he season could have a frustrating end if t he team doesn’t play t he way t hey did at t he end of t his game for t he f ull 40 minutes of ot her games. The Irish host Western Carolina at 2 p.m. Saturday for t heir next match-up. Contact Annika Herko at aherko@nd.edu
Follow us on Twitter. @ObserverSports
Irish kick off new season with perfect weekend By CARL ALEX ANDER Sports Writer
Welcome to a new era of Notre Dame men’s basketball. After 23 seasons under legendary Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey, Notre Dame is ready to begin a new era with former Penn State head coach Micah Shrewsberry. After transforming the culture at Penn State, the Indianapolis native is looking to do the same for the Irish. Shrewsberry will be taking over a team that finished with an underwhelming 11-21 record last year, so he is definitely in for a process. Shrewsberry has a daunting task ahead of him. With a team that consists of 11 scholarship players, five walk-ons and four returning players, Coach Shrewsberry is in for a roller coaster ride. However, he is not a stranger to rebuilding programs. When Shrewsberry took on the Penn State job in the 2021-2022 season, the Nittany Lions had not made an NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011 and had not won a tournament game since 2001. It only took Shrewsberry two seasons to reverse both of those droughts. After a deep Big 10 tournament run where the Nittany Lions finished as runner-ups, they were able to lock up a spot in the NCAA tournament. Penn State then went on to get their first NCAA tournament win since 2001 in dominant fashion against Texas A&M. Penn State got knocked out the next round in a close loss against Texas, but what Shrewsberry was able to accomplish in his two-season tenure was nothing short of remarkable. Notre Dame has one preseason game under their belt as they head into the regular season. Although preseason games may not be seen as significant, they are significant for teams like Notre Dame who are trying to build continuity. The Irish played Hanover in an exhibition game last Monday, winning 96-62 before beating Niagra 70-63 last night in their season opener. The exhibition gave a good glimpse of who the Irish plan to heavily rely on this season. The Irish started Markus Burton, Braeden Shrewsberry, Kebba Njie, Julian Roper II and Tae Davis. Their starting five consisted of two freshmen and three transfers. Based on this performance, it seems like the Irish will heavily rely on their two freshman guards Burton and Shrewsberry to be creators. Burton and Shrewsberry accounted for a third of the Irish’s points. Markus Burton — former Mr.
Basketball of Indiana — led the team in scoring with 18 points on an efficient 7-10 shooting. Burton was the only player out of the three players in Coach Brey’s final recruiting class who remained committed to Notre Dame despite Brey’s departure. The Mishawaka native is the first Mr. Basketball to sign with Notre Dame since 2004. Although Burton is a freshman, Burton will have high expectations this year given how unestablished Notre Dame’s core is. Coach Shrewsberry understands his importance and is encouraging him to be the best version of himself in order to get the most out of Burton. “He’s done it, right? He hasn’t done it at the college level, but how he’s played, the major thing for him is I want him to be himself,” Shrewsberry said. “He doesn’t have to be who I think he should be. We just want him to be himself and play the way he can.” The starting freshmen backcourt is joined by two other freshmen, Carey Booth and Logan Imes. Both freshmen were original Penn State signees who followed Shrewsberry to South Bend. Imes is a tough and gritty guard from Zionsville, Indiana, who will be asked to take on tough defensive assignments throughout the sea++son. Booth is the most highly touted recruit in Notre Dame’s incoming class, holding a 49th national player rank. The freshman out of Brewster Academy just turned 18 years old in late July and will be expected to produce right out of the gates. Booth comes from an NBA background, as his father Calvin is the current GM for the Denver Nuggets. While Coach Shrewsberry understands how young Booth is, he still has high expectations for his four-star recruit. “Carey’s really productive, man. For someone who just turned 18 in late July, he should be playing high school basketball, but he shows it in flashes, his productivity. Now it’s about being more consistent,” Shrewsberry said. The Irish will heavily rely on their three transfers as well. Roper II, Njie and Davis were all starters in the exhibition game, so that is a good implication of what is expected of them coming into the season. Roper II is a transfer junior guard from Northwestern, who will be expected to add defensive toughness and experience to the Irish backcourt. Njie is a sophomore transfer forward who followed Shrewsberry to South Bend from Penn State. He
was a starter on the Nittany Lions last year as well. Given that he is the only player on the team that has experience in Shrewberry’s system, a lot will be asked of him. Njie will be asked to anchor the defense and provide valuable leadership for the team. Davis is a sophomore transfer forward from Seton Hall. The 6-foot-9, 208-pound forward brings versatility to the team, and Coach Shrewsberry has high hopes for him this season. “I’ve stayed on him in practice because I want so much from him. He’s really, really talented and what he’s able to do with the basketball,” Shrewsberry said about Davis. “We’re putting a lot on his shoulders. We expect a lot from him.” The three returning players will be strongly counted on to provide leadership and production. Senior leaders Tony Sanders Jr. and Matt Zona will be heavily relied on as leaders and maintaining the old Irish culture. As the only true seniors on the team, both players have a great understanding of what is required to be exemplary studentathletes. Junior J.R. Konieczny, who sat out last season, will be expected to take a big leap this year. The South Bend native was a part of the same class that brought in former Irish standout and South Bend native Blake Wesley. Shrewsberry is excited to see what Konieczny can provide for the team this season. “There are different guys that make moves up the depth chart because they’re trying to do what you ask. I think if you ask J.R. about preseason practice, he’d probably tell you he’s having more fun than he’s ever had before,” Shrewsberry said. “You see the joy in his face. He’s going to play for us, man. He’s going to be on the court. He’s going to help us.” There is a lot to look forward to as an Irish Basketball fan. Shrewsberry’s strong track record proves that he is the right man for the job. As an Indiana native and former IU South Bend head coach, Shrewsberry has a strong connection to Irish Culture and is committed to turning this program around. Given Shrewsberry’s success with Penn State, who had much less recent success than the Irish, there is no question that he can get the job done. Although Shrewsberry has a successful track record, Irish fans need to be patient with him because the Irish program will not transform overnight. Contact Carl Alexander at calexan2@nd.edu
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SPORTS
Bouts CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16
by putting together packages of punches that found Lies more and more frequently as the clock ran on. Lies settled in during the second round, forcing the referee to quickly pause the battle to check in on “Stonesplitter.” For the rest of the middle frame, “Knuckles” directed her opponent wherever she wanted. The ice in “Knuckles’” veins had not evaporated at the start of round three. During the final 75 seconds, the pressure was on “Stonesplitter” to impress the judges. The senior from Johnson Family Hall used every second until the final bell and maybe a quarter of a second after the bell to tally points. It wasn’t enough as Lies won the contest by split decision.
Rosie “The Riveter” Binette def. Tess “Lucky Lefty” Gilmore The freshman Binette spent the opening seconds of the match breaking through the defense of Gilmore, a sophomore. “The Riveter” finished the first round seemingly without a sweat. Although taking many more steps in the backward direction than the forward direction, Gilmore found the red mask of Binette with her blue gloves more often as the bout wore on. Having recovered all the oxygen they needed after the second round, the boxers leaped out to face one another before the final 75 seconds of the competition. “The Riveter,” to chants in the crowd of “Rosie,” argued her case compellingly when it mattered. The referee stopped the bout twice during the final round, first checking out Gilmore and then Binette. By split decision, “The Riveter” was named victorious.
Sami “The Smaller” Jorgensen def. Chevelle “No Sorry in Sight” Boomershine Boomershine, a graduate student, got off to a hot start in the first round. This provoked Jorgensen to
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land a massive blow, which caused the referee to hold Boomershine out of the contest for a 10 count. Still, “No Sorry In Sight” would not stop instigating contact as the opening 75 seconds expired. A sophomore and a resident of Flaherty Hall, Jorgensen continued to dominate from the back of her stance all the way through the second frame. While Boomershine would not stop pestering her taller foe, the crowd shouted out, “Sami, Sami,” urging Jorgensen to polish off a near-perfect performance. “The Smaller” did not let her opponent out of the gold corner come close to landing a strong blow on her blue mask in the final round. By unanimous decision, Jorgensen won the fourth bout of the night in Ring B.
Frankie “Frank the Tank” Masciopinto def. Erin “Emoney” Coyne Masciopinto executed the first barrage of punches, which Coyne quickly countered. “Frank the Tank” spent the last 10 seconds of a very active first round pushing “Emoney” around the ring. Coyne sustained some heavy hits in the middle round, but was still able to send her red gloves flying into the face of Masciopinto, a senior from McGlinn Hall. “Frank the Tank” could not stand it, and she landed one too many blows, forcing the referee to hit pause during the second round to check out Coyne. In the final round, “Emoney” appeared to be running too short on breath or maybe she was just a little dazed by so many hits from “Frank the Tank,” so the referee stopped the match one more time before the final bell rang out. Masciopinto won by unanimous decision.
Olivia “The OG” Guza def. Aranza “Pistolera” Sierra Guza fired the first punch and most of the rest of the punches that were launched during the opening round. Overcoming her short stature, Sierra sent blow after blow upward into the face protection of “The OG” as the first frame
came to a close. A junior resident of Pasquerilla East, Guza would not relent nor give up an inch of ground in the second round. Sierra and Guza probably did not get as many breaths as they would have liked before it was time to come out for the final 75 seconds of battle. “Pistolera,” a senior living offcampus, and Guza fought a clean fight which the referee did not pause as the clock wound down. Guza would win by unanimous decision.
The referee was not taking any chances and stopped the match once again to protect Speyrer. After the pause, Speyrer focused more on defense and Vespalec wasn’t able to land as many punches as the clock ran out during the second round. “Happle,” a senior from Welsh Family Hall, probably didn’t need the third round to convince the judges and the crowd that she was winning this match, but didn’t care. She won by unanimous decision.
Caroline “Bah Bah Bah” Flannery def. Miriam Bitro
Tess “Big Steppa” Kesler def. Isabella “Bear” Rempel
Flannery jumped into the action, and the referee had to stop the match just seconds into the first round to give Bitro a chance to get some air. Bitro, a junior from Flaherty Hall, fought back and leveled the playing field by the end of the 75 seconds. A junior living in Ryan Hall, Flannery sprang out in the second round just like she did the first time around. Bitro was more ready to deflect this second onslaught from her foe out of the gold corner. When the bell rang to signal the end of the second round, the boxers had spun each other around and needed a second to discern their respective home corners. Flannery made it three strong openings and about a dozen seconds into the final frame, the referee stopped action to make sure Bitro was okay. A small but vocal fan section screamed “Bah Bah Bah” until the final chime. Flannery carried the quarterfinal bout by unanimous decision.
As soon as the referee said the word “box,” Kesler and Rempel flew at each other. After the 75 seconds of the opening round passed by, there was no indication of who had the upper hand. Rempel, a freshman living in Ryan Hall, landed the first punch of the second round, directing her opponent around the ring. Midway through the middle round, the momentum swung back in the favor of Kesler, a sophomore from Walsh Hall. Each boxer took as much water and breaths as possible in the short, crucial span between the second and third round. In the seconds before the final bell, the crowd roared, wondering if a desperate, last-ditch push by Rempel would be enough to turn the tide of the bout. The referee solved the question on everyone’s mind when he announced that Kesler won the quarterfinal match by unanimous decision.
Hannah “Happle” Vespalec def. Emma “Bad Intention” Speyrer Vespalec leaned on form in the first round, keeping her arms up high and ducking away from the bursts of Speyrer, a junior living in Cavanaugh Hall. It paid off. The referee stopped the contest very early in the opening round to give “Bad Intention” some time to recover from the tyranny of Vespalec. “Happle,” like a machine, dominated in the second round as well.
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Kylie “The Better Jenner” Staebler def. Caitlin “K.O.” Yarusso In the first round, there were even strikes. Staebler sent Yarusso into defense with a flurry of punches. Yarusso got some good shots in once Staebler tired. In the second round, Yarusso launched into an attack, pushing Staebler back to her corner and hitting her with a brutal gut shot. Staebler returned fire, but not before taking several jabs to her face. In the third round, Staebler took the lead, but
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Yarusso stayed strong, recovering well after taking hits. Staebler hit Yarusso quickly with barrages of punches, while Yarusso reserved her hits, saving her strength for a few devastating blows. Ultimately, “The Better Jenner” won the match by unanimous decision.
MC “Can’t Touch This” Elliot def. Ashley “The ChoStopper” Cho Elliot came in strong as the first round began, attempting a strong swing that didn’t land. It was a very aggressive and passionate match for both fighters, but they soon slowed their pace, reserving their shots. In the second round, Elliot got the first hit off on Cho, but Cho learned quickly, ducking under Elliot’s taller stature for some strong punches to her abdomen. Cho pushed Elliot back around the ring, her fan section cheering her on. In the third round, Elliot again took the first hit, but Cho retaliated with a flurry of punches, forcing Elliot to recede. Elliot got some controlled, strong face shots in, despite losing ground. She opted to swing around Cho’s defense, aiming for the side of her head. Elliot pulled ahead, winning the match by unanimous decision.
Mary “Red Sky” Quirk def. Layann “The Little Thorn” Wardeh Quirk and Wardeh started the first round off strong, both energetic and light on their feet. Each landed solid punches before they eventually got tangled together when Quirk grabbed Wardeh. The referee had to separate them three times in the first round alone. Quirk started strong, while Wardeh was not far behind with some quick dodges. Quirk grabbed Wardeh again, ruthlessly landing a series of punches on her until she got free and receded. In the third round, Wardeh came out hot with some great shots. She and Quirk had to be separated twice more before the round ended. In the end, Quirk took the lead, winning by split decision.
Abby “Silence of The” Lamm def. Kaitlin “Mo Pain” MohlenKamp Both Lamm and MohlenKamp came out swinging in the first round. Lamm’s fan section roared as she pushed MohlenKamp back twice in the round. In the second round, MohlenKamp began aggressively, but Lamm forced her backward. Both fighters got off strong hits on each other, with Lamm eventually cornering MohlenKamp until the second round ended. In the final round, MohlenKamp pushed Lamm around, hitting her with a series of jabs. Lamm turned the table and eventually won the match by unanimous decision. Contact Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu, Gabrielle Beechert at gbeecher@nd.edu, José Sánchez Córdova at jsanch24@nd.edu, Peter Breen at pbreen2@nd.edu and Sofia CrimiVaroli at scrimiva@nd.edu
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SPORTS
THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
ND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Led by backcourt stars, Notre Dame women’s basketball is aiming high in 2023-24 By J.J. POST Associate Sports Editor
Notre Dame women’s basketball w ill play their first official game in the United States of the 2023-24 season on Sunday against NJIT w ith their eyes on making a statement. The Irish began their regular season abroad on Monday afternoon in Paris and suffered a rude awakening. Notre Dame looked outgunned in France, conceding 100 points en route to a 100-71 loss to No. 6 South Carolina. It’s unlikely that the lopsided margin of defeat is a sign of things to come, though. For one, the Gamecocks are one of the best teams in the countr y and their athletic roster and playstyle presented a major mismatch for the Irish. More importantly, Notre Dame was dow n several key players. Sophomore guard KK Bransford and graduate student for ward Beck y Obinma were kept out of the game by minor injuries. And the timetable on superstar junior guard Oliv ia Miles, who was
missed the 2022-23 postseason w ith a knee injur y last Februar y, still remains unclear. The one silver lining from the defeat in Paris was the emergence of what looks to be a new star in Miles’ place. Freshman guard Hannah Hidalgo was all over the f loor for Notre Dame on Monday, accounting for over 40% of the Irish’s points. Hidalgo’s 31 points were the most ever by a Notre Dame freshman in their debut. Irish head coach Niele Ivey w ill be banking on veteran experience accompanying the talented freshman in the backcourt, at least until Miles returns. Fordham transfer Anna DeWolfe made her Irish debut against South Carolina, but struggled to get involved offensively. The graduate student guard took just two shots in the game, finishing w ith two points. Junior Sonia Citron is likely to be the central figure for Notre Dame alongside Hidalgo in Miles’ absence, w ith the combo guard ser v ing as
something of a Sw iss Army knife for Ivey to use in the rotation. Capable of playing and guarding multiple positions, Citron ser ved as the team’s makeshift point guard for long stretches of the postseason last year. Her 12 points against the Gamecocks tied senior forward Maddy Westbeld for second-most on the team. W hile Westbeld may not lead the Irish in scoring (or any statistical categor y) this year, she might still be Notre Dame’s most important player. She’ll all but certainly be given the difficult task of aiding the team in more or less ever y facet of the game. Westbeld can be expected to both supplement the Irish’s post presence and stretch the f loor on offense w ith her three-point shot. Ivey has show n in the past that she’s w illing to get creative w ith the senior’s unique skillset, and Westbeld’s versatility w ill likely be even more v ital for a squad short on frontcourt depth and lacking their starting point guard. The frontcourt remains Notre Dame’s biggest
question mark heading into their matchup w ith NJIT. Senior for ward Kylee Watson played 25 minutes against the Gamecocks as the team’s nominal center and couldn’t seem to find a rhy thm on either end of the court. Watson finished the game 0-4 from the field, and Notre Dame’s post defense (playing shorthanded w ithout Obinma) conceded 70 points in the paint. One of the few positives dow n low for the Irish on Monday was a nice game from senior for ward Natalija Marshall, who scored eight points in spot minutes. If Obinma’s injur y proves to be more long-term, Marshall w ill likely step up from her role last year of key reser ve into a full member of the rotation. One underrated X-factor for this Notre Dame squad is how much they’ll get out of their other two freshmen guards. Hidalgo looked the part of an instant star on Monday. Emma Risch and Cassandre Prosper, however, looked more like players in need of further development. Prosper, in
particular, has f lashed sk y-high potential. Her defensive instincts and ability to attack the rim both helped her play a role in the Irish’s regular season ACC title as an early-enrolee last year. But her shooting (1-9 from the f loor against South Carolina) is yet to come around. If Prosper or Risch (who came to Notre Dame in the offseason touted as a potential sharpshooter) can help space the f loor, the Irish’s offensive ceiling rises considerably. Ultimately, the return of Miles w ill likely be the factor that defines Notre Dame’s season. It’s unlikely that the frontcourt, even at full strength, w ill ever be much of a strength for the Irish. If Miles returns, though, and she can find immediate chemistr y w ith Hidalgo, Notre Dame can pack an explosive one-two punch that could give Ivey’s squad the firepower to put together an NCA A Tournament run. Contact J.J. Post at jpost2@nd.edu
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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
BARAKA BOUTS
Women boxers compete in quarterfinal bouts By ANDREW McGUINNESS, GABRIELLE BEECHERT, JOSE SANCHEZ CORDOVA, PETER BREEN, SOFIA CRIMIVAROLI Spor ts Editor, Assista nt Ma nag ing Editor, Assista nt Ma nag ing Editor, Interim Not re Da me News Editor, Photo Editor
The 21st annual Baraka Bouts commenced Monday. Here are the quarterfinal results.
Ring A Lauren “Half-Pint” Hubert def. Catie “Little Boy” Ellis In the first round of the evening, Ellis came out with a strong start. From the ring of the bell, Ellis was on the offensive, forcing Hubert to take a defensive stance for much of the first round. However, the tide turned with the start of the second round. Hubert took a much more offensive stance from the start and kept her momentum going throughout the third. Despite almost hitting the ground and needing a reset in the middle of the second round, Hubert’s change of pace in the final two rounds won her the bout in a split decision.
Lily “Legends by 7” Storrs def. Maisie “I don’t have one yet” Jenuwine Both boxers came out ready to fight right off the bat. There was lots of movement around the ring, and both Jenuwine and Storrs kept alternating who went on the attack. This trend continued for all three rounds, with each boxer continuously delivering calculated and deliberate hits. Even though Jenuwine was able to land some powerful punches, Storrs was able to maintain an advantage. In a split decision, Storrs was declared victorious.
Maria “La Leche” Silvestri def. Kiera “Red Lighting” Judd From the beginning of the first round, it was clear Silvestri held an advantage. Although Judd was able to deliver some powerful hits, Silvestri maintained a dominant position that forced Judd away from the center of the ring and caused her to keep readjusting her headgear. Judd came out with a stronger start at the beginning of the second round, but Silvestri’s dominant footing allowed her to keep her advantage. A high-energy start to round three ended in a reset for Judd. In a unanimous decision, Silvestri was declared the winner.
Katherine “Bend it like” Beckman def. Emma “The Enforcer” Hazel Both boxers came out quickly with a flurry of punches. Hazel began the first round by
backing Beckman into the side, but Beckman was able to eventually gain her footing. By the start of the second round, Beckman had found her groove. Although Hazel was able to keep consistent footing throughout the three rounds, it wasn’t enough for her to take home the win. Beckman’s powerful punches and strong defensive performance won her the bout in a unanimous decision.
Maggie “Read The Observer” Eastland def. Kathryn “Big Red” Forrest Editor’s note: Eastland is editorin-chief of The Observer. Eastland began the first round circling and throwing jabs at Forrest. There was a lot of frenetic movement from Eastland, who landed a few headshots throughout the round before Forrest landed a solid flurry just before the bell. Halfway through the second round, a stiff jab from Eastland forced a count for Forrest. After resuming the action, Forrest kept valiantly charging forward, but Eastland found the gaps in the guard and kept landing blows. Eastland kept the momentum with a few solid right hooks and mixed in a few body shots to force another count in the third round. The pace slowed considerably as fatigue set in for both fighters during the tail end of the third round. In the end, Eastland claimed the victory by unanimous decision.
Luisa “Karma” Capobianco def. Jaylene “Texas Toast ‘Em” Diaz Capobianco landed some sharp, short jabs and got Diaz uncomfortable, pushing her up against the ropes in the first round. Diaz responded in the second round, ratcheting up the pressure, but Capobianco managed to duck away from punches adeptly. Diaz’s intensity paid off by landing a few solid punches, but both tired toward the end of the round and retreated to their corners. Capobianco came out strong in the third, landing early and often. A flurry of punches backed Diaz into the ropes and forced a count. After the resumption, Diaz showed great spirit, landing blows and even slightly stunning Capobianco, who lunged in for a desperate clinch just before the bell. After three rounds, Capobianco stood with her hand raised for a unanimous decision victory.
Brianna “The Menace” Tennes def. Mary “Sudsy” Sutherland Tennes started strong with a few stiff jabs that found Sutherland’s sturdy guard. Sutherland seemed reluctant to throw punches and only managed to land a few
despite Tennes’ aggression. The fight opened up a little in the final half of the first round as Tennes began to break through her opponent’s guard. Sutherland threw a few reaching body shots in the second, but Tennes still largely controlled the affair. She backed Sutherland toward the ropes and landed a solid combination of punches that highlighted the second round. Tennes continued to assert herself in the third round, sealing a comfortable unanimous decision victory.
Erin “Cardi E” Pfeifer def. Kylie “Fireball” Fuerbacher Both tentatively marched forward before Pfeifer started throwing wildly when they met in the middle. After a frenetic opening, the pace settled and Fuerbacher landed a stiff jab that forced a count just before the bell. A vicious right hook from Pfeifer merited a count just a few ticks into the second round. After a few exchanges to open the third, another right hook from Pfeifer forced Fuerbacher to stumble back. After a quick check from the referee, the fight got back underway. Fuerbacher was able to sprinkle in a few good blows, but another forceful combination from Pfeifer forced the referee to intervene. Once the bout resumed, Pfeifer was right back to it, finishing the round with a flurry buoyed by a raucous crowd chanting her name. Pfeifer claimed the victory via unanimous decision.
Lauren “Blondie” Buetow def. Meghan “The Bull” Sharkey The bout got off to a frenetic start with Sharkey landing the firmest punch of the opening exchanges, a stiff jab right up the middle that jerked Buetow’s head back. The pace slowed significantly as the opening round drew to a close. Buetow opened the second round aggressively before swinging back hard. Sharkey began pushing Buetow back before a strong blow to the head forced a count from the referee just before the bell. Buetow was fiery to open the final round and a strong combination quickly forced a count from the referee. After the resumption, Buetow got back to it with a big flurry of punches. Sharkey mounted a response as best she could, but Buetow kept her foot on the gas and forced another count that brought the third round to a close and gave her the win by unanimous decision.
Shay “Z-Force” Zilvitis def. Quinnlan “T-4 Everything” Murray In what was the loudest fight of the night up to then, Zilvitis came out strong with multiple stiff jabs landing on Murray’s headgear.
She kept the pressure up all round, landing combinations and eventually forcing a count from the referee. It was a quick start to the second round before a head blow jarred Zilvitis’ head gear loose. After a quick adjustment, the fight was back underway. The quick pace slowed toward the middle of the round as both boxers patiently picked their opportunities to step forward and throw a punch. The third round began with another roar from the crowd and a few measured exchanges. Zilvitis threw most of the punches in the third but lacked effectiveness throughout a relatively uneventful final round. In the end, Zilvitis got the win by unanimous decision.
Ocean “The Matador” Leto def. Ella “Havoc” Haley It was a fast start to this bout, with Haley getting the better of the opening exchanges. Leto slowly grew into the round, showing off great technique and deftly picking her punches to break through Haley’s guard. Haley seemed to lose some of the thrust behind her punches throughout the second round while Leto kept landing strong blows. One hit seemed to noticeably rattle Haley to the point where she paused for a second without the referee’s intervention. Leto obliged — seemingly out of confusion — before continuing her barrage until the end of the round. Haley started the third strong, but Leto kept picking her spots well, taking advantage of her opponent’s visible fatigue. Soon, Leto landed a hit that started a count from the referee and even required a quick medical check. After the restart, both fighters threw with everything they had up until the bell. It was a close bout, and Leto claimed the win by split decision.
Riley “No Smiley” VandeVelde def. Ola “The Phantom” Abdalsalam Both boxers traded a series of short, frenetic jabs in the opening moments, with VandeVelde connecting on the first major punches to force a count just seconds into the match. VandeVelde’s dominance continued throughout the first round, with the referee having to check on Abdalsalam before the end of the round. Another count ensued early in the second round. Abdalsalam showed some signs of life, especially early in round three, landing a couple of quick body blows on VandeVelde. Her late improvement was not enough, as VandeVelde won by unanimous decision.
Kim “The Grillmaster” Nguyen def. Anna “Killer Punch” Kierski Both boxers came out of the
gates with plenty of energy. Nguyen connected on a quick uppercut and some more head jabs shortly thereafter. Kierski ran out of energy as the round progressed, and Nguyen didn’t hesitate to take advantage. Kierski started the second round strong, but Nguyen used her long reach to pummel her opponent. Nguyen started to run out of steam as well but was still able to consistently penetrate Kierski’s defensive efforts. Kierski connected on some wild jabs early in the final round, although both competitors were running low on fuel at that point. Nguyen took advantage of Kierski’s fatigue a bit more, earning the victory via unanimous decision.
Elle “The Greek Freak” Strogilos def. Ryn “Rico” Weiss Strogilos came out swinging but was quickly knocked to the ground by Weiss, forcing a count. She was no worse for wear, though, backing Weiss against the ropes consistently. Weiss was eventually able to maneuver away but was forced into a defensive posture for most of the opening round. The second round offered more of the same, with Weiss connecting on a few punches but often finding her back against the ropes. Strogilos didn’t let up, moving her feet well and continuing to push Weiss back in the third round. The final bout of the night ended in a unanimous decision favoring Strogilos.
Ring B Olivia “Manny” Mancuso def. Hope “The Wonder” Wanken A matchup between Hope “The Wonder” Wanken out of the blue corner and Olivia “Manny” Mancuso out of the gold corner kicked off the 21st Annual Baraka Bouts over in Ring B. Mancuso, a junior from Howard Hall, edged out ahead during a quiet opening frame. Both boxers ran out with more drive in the second round. Wanken, a sophomore from Lewis Hall, shifted the momentum back to equilibrium with a host of punches that landed on the face of the junior. “Manny” needed the final round to add some insurance punches, but Wanken would not go away and backed Mancuso into the ropes for an instant. A last-second spurt of haymakers by Mancuso was enough to secure the bout. She won by unanimous decision.
Nicole “Knuckles” Lies def. Ally “Stonesplitter” Splitstone The second match of the evening in Ring B was a senior-senior bout between Illinois natives. Splitstone started off the fight see BOUTS PAGE 13