defend democracy like a champion today

It’s been two years since we collectively witnessed a failed insurrection and attack on the United states capitol, and the threats to America’s democracy remain serious.

In its nationally-representative health of democracy survey, taken weeks before the midterm elections, The rooney center for American democracy uncovered a series of findings with grave implications for the future of our republic. For both democrats and republicans, the results showed strikingly low support for various, core democratic values — including free speech and voting rights. Just over half of republicans surveyed continue to doubt the integrity of both past and future elections. And more than half of republicans and one-third of democrats in the sample held the belief that the United states is currently on the brink of a new civil war.

Taken alongside continued threats to voting rights and elections and the rampant spread of disinformation, these findings tell a story of how deep divisions and widespread distrust — of each other and our institutions — threaten to compromise our entire democratic system.

more than 200 years ago, the Framers of the constitution engrained a series of participatory rights into our founding documents as a means of forging a public square that would direct and maintain our country’s democratic system. In the words of legal scholar John hart ely, these provisions were “centrally intended to help make our governmental processes work, to ensure the open and informed discussion of political issues, and to check our government when it gets out of bounds.” however, the Founders’ framework was deeply flawed, and set America on a journey — at times a struggle, with blood and tears — to live up to the ideal that democracy allows government to truly reflect all of us. suffragettes like susan b. Anthony, Alice Paul, Ida b. Wells and elizabeth cady stanton, and civil rights trailblazers like Fannie Lou hamer, ella baker, dr. martin Luther King, Jr. and diane nash laid it all on the line fighting for voting rights. As the late-great representative John Lewis, a giant in this fight, reminded us in his parting words: “democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the beloved community, a nation and world society at peace with itself. so how can we reconcile this history and our shared burden with the present moment, where the threats of distrust, disinformation and division pervade political reality? If we are endowed with a duty to uphold our constitution and the democracy it creates, what tools are at our disposal to combat these challenges, two years after a violent attempt to overturn a free and fair election? how can we keep our republic when there is such widespread misunderstanding of, and sometimes contempt for, the inalienable truth that it is, truly, ours? second, undergraduate students are invited to join the rooney center’s new hesburgh democracy Fellows program. This program is open to any student who is passionate about the work of understanding and preserving American democracy, regardless of their course of study. As a hesburgh democracy Fellow, you will have the opportunity to build community with other fellows and receive exclusive access to opportunities for sustained engagement with the work of the center and its programming, throughout and beyond this semester’s slate of events.

All considered, the story of our democracy is defined by a sense of ownership and responsibility — where “We the People” are tasked with upholding the core values and functions of our democratic system, by playing a direct role in preserving and embodying them.

This spring, the rooney center and the hesburgh Program in Public service are presenting a semester-long series, nd democracy Talks, focused on bringing our notre dame community together to answer these exact questions. And we invite you — members of this community, of all backgrounds, perspectives and disciplines — to join us in these efforts.

First, we invite you to join us for the series, beginning Feb. 8, where we will host various scholars and guest speakers for interactive discussions on their work related to the state of American democracy. subjects that we will work through, together, include our democracy’s complex foundational history, political parties, voting rights and the health of democracy. At each talk, you will have the chance to ask questions, think critically and engage with these guest speakers. The goal is that by learning about the important pillars of democracy we will all be better able to champion it throughout our daily lives.

Undoubtedly, these will be tough conversations on the complex state of our democracy, the future of our country and the role we each play in shaping it. but they are necessary. because, as dr. matthew hall, director of the rooney center, has made clear, “the preservation of democracy and the democratic spirit in the American public is an essential part of notre dame’s larger mission to fight oppression and injustice in our society.”

In this season — amid mounting challenges to our democratic system and a growing need to figure out how to best preserve it — we must come together to better understand the task at-hand and what we must do to confront these questions.

We hope you will join the rooney center and the hesburgh Program to critically engage these topics alongside other members of the notre dame community, and fight alongside us to discern what it will take, from each of us, to defend democracy like a champion today.

Claudia Francis associate director for undergraduate programming and center advancement, rooney c enter for American democracy

Nicholas Crookston senior

By ANDY OTTONE

Scene Writer

A casino, a rest stop, a Texas BBQ restaurant and a touring heavy metal band. What do they all have in common? Murder, lies and a woman who finds herself caught up in all of it.

Poker Face, whose first four episodes out of ten are out right now on NBCUniversal’s Peacock, is the most recent project by Rian Johnson, the mind behind mystery films such as Knives Out and Glass Onion. With those credentials, it’s not surprising that he can competently craft a weekly murder mystery. However, the various cases, while always entertaining, are not the show’s only strength; that would be the main character Charlie Cale, played by Natasha Lyonne (“Russian Doll,” “Orange is the New Black” w). A woman on the run from her former employer, Charlie is a complex character, torn between her own self-preservation and her desire to do what is morally right. Oh, and one small detail: She has the uncanny ability to instantly tell when anyone is lying to her.

One might assume that having a character who can tell when someone is lying would make for a dull show, or that the cases would be solved quickly. The real fun is watching Charlie sort out what is the truth and where the lies fit into the puzzle. The best part? The audience knows more than Charlie most of the time. Presented in the “howcatchem style,” the episodes typically present the first part of the episode as establishing the murderer, the victim and the crime itself. We as the audience know how it all goes down. Most shows would have the sleuth come in after the murder, and piece together the rest from there. Poker Face sets itself apart by jumping back in time to the episode’s start, showing the events from Charlie’s perspective and explaining how she found herself embroiled in the episode’s death. Sometimes, the death is even a result of Charlie’s actions in the town, creating a further sense of obligation to help solve the mystery. The thing I love most about the show is the fact that it allows itself to be an episodic series, lacking a real overarching plot across most episodes. Charlie is on the run, and her former boss Cliff Legrand (Benjamin Bratt) is on her tail. Beyond that, every episode is free to tell its own story. Charlie as a character drives the show, and it is immediately obvious that the character was written for Lyonne, who also serves as an executive producer. When we meet Charlie, she thinks she’s already had enough excitement in her life and is content in her life as a cocktail waitress at a Vegas casino. When she becomes embroiled in a criminal conspiracy involving her co-worker and the owner of the casino, she goes on the run rather than silently accepting her role in the criminal operation. That is what makes the character so compelling. It would be a lot easier for her to keep her head down and keep driving through these towns rather than try and help their people out. The first episode establishes her as paranoid, suspicious of most people (due to her ability to catch lies), but also believes that there are fundamentally good people out there — the type of people she usually meets who usually wind up dead — and it’s her duty to do good by them even if it puts herself at risk.

It’s hard to craft a good mystery, and one might argue revealing the identity of a killer takes away the suspense. Despite this, Poker Face manages to not only create compelling mysteries for its protagonist to unravel, but by bringing the audience in on the means, motives and methods, the show becomes all the more satisfying when she brings the truth to light.

Contact Andy Ottone at aottone@nd.edu

“Poker Face”

Starring: Natasha Lyonne, Benjamin Bratt

Favorite episode so far: “Episode 3: Dead Man’s Hand”

If you like: “Knives Out,” “Glass Onion,” “Columbo”

Where to watch: Peacock

By ROSE ANDROWICH

Scene Writer

Paris Fashion Week is more than just beautiful clothes. The designs are interconnected to the beliefs of the companies. Fashion is a way of expression. Fashion week shows the fascination with style. each designer tries to encapsulate many facets while branding their products.

Maison Margiela

Maison Margiela is a Parisian haute couture house founded on ideas of nonconformity and the subversion of norms. Maison Margiela made its comeback after years of absence from fashion week. The collection matches the overall branding of the company, especially the non-conformity aspect. The non-conformity is reflected through the intentional design choices curated by John Galliano. The clothing from Maison Margiela shown at Paris Fashion Week 2023 aligns with the philosophy. The designs featured unique silhouettes and deconstructed looks. The silhouettes were cut against lower hemlines, and sheer fabric was used for layering. Several shirts depicting Mickey Mouse were used in the show providing an interesting spin on haute couture despite the brand being primarily punk-chic.

Chanel aims to be “A wardrobe freed from constraints and superfluity, tweaked with masculine accents, created a visionary allure that has become timeless and yet wildly modern.” The looks at Paris Fashion Week reflected the timelessness of Chanel’s signature style. The silhouettes designed by Virginie Viard were timeless but still innovative. In several looks, the cuts were altered from the conventional style. Chanel used their signature fabric tweed in a number of looks. Outfits were accessorized with black and white bow chokers. The bows are more vintage Chanel while the choker is more modern. The scene for the fashion show was inspired by the animals in Coco Chanel’s apartment, a more subtle approach for the line to take. Coco Chanel is still a relevant aspect of the brand as they frequently take inspiration from her ideas.

Yves Saint Laurent

YSL staged 10 pieces total, the items taken from Anthony Vaccarello’s women’s collection. YSL initially gained attention by placing women in trousers for all occasions. Creative Director Vaccarello furthers this approach in his fashion and design philosophy. Vaccarello wants men and women at the same level. The looks used neutral tones, black mainly used to highlight the silhouettes. The line has gained attention for the sharp tailoring and the celebrities who wore Vaccarellos designs. Jenna Ortega, the star of Netflix’s series “Wednesday,” wore a black hooded backless gown designed by Vaccarello.

Emily Bode emily Bode has been deemed the down-to-earth luxury fashion brand. She launched her New York based brand in 2016. Her designs have been spotted on Harry Styles, Jordan Peele and the Jonas Brothers. This year at Paris Fashion week Bode showed her debut women’s collection titled “The Crane estate.” She took inspiration from her mother in designing this collection. Bode’s mother often wore her finest gowns to eat dinner alone. The collection differs from other designers who created looks that did not differ much in silhouette and color. Bode curated casual streetwear looks and sophisticated evening gowns. Needless to say, I enjoyed the so-called new “emily in Paris.”

Fendi

In the haute couture show, Fendi showcased 40 different looks. Since 1925 Fendi has been synonymous with excellent craftsmanship, creativity and timeless style. They are known for their specialized bags and their fur workshop, which has existed since their founding. The collection consisted of evening wear with unique twists such as a deconstructed blue gown with a lace silhouette under it. Several of the dresses were sparkly with sheer fabric (a recent trend). Fendi’s collection also used florals as one of its focal points. Towards the end of the show, after styling evening wear gowns, Fendi created a sunrise through the use of a pantsuit.

Contact Rose at randrowich@saintmarys.edu

Happy Birthday: follow the path of least resistance. Explore the unfamiliar, and you’ll develop concepts that will make life easier. Invest time and money in what’s important to you. k eep moving toward your target with an open mind and positive attitude. r elationships will stabilize if you are willing to give and take. Don’t jeopardize your health; protect against illness and injury. your numbers are 5, 11, 16, 28, 35, 38, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Turn an idea into something with moneymaking potential. hone your skills and present what you have to offer. r ecognize who needs your help and who intends to take advantage of your kindness and good nature before you commit.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A proposal someone makes will tempt you. r ely on yourself, not others, if you want to get ahead. Set your own goals instead of trying to follow in someone’s footsteps. Don’t let someone’s bragging make you feel inferior.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t give up when you should get moving. home, family and getting things in order will help put your mind at ease. An emotional issue will escalate if you let anger lead the way. use moderation and your imagination, and success will be yours.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Make a financial move that lowers taxes. you can sell items you no longer use and ease the stress the changing economy brings. A partnership will prompt you to reevaluate prospects and protect what’s yours. Personal gain is apparent.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): By offering your services, you’ll position yourself for success. Be true to yourself and do the best job possible. Just take on what you can handle and do your best; your effort will improve your profile and credibility. Manage money wisely.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Dig in and live up to your promises. Don’t expect someone to swoop in and take over. Plan strategically and execute your plans flawlessly, and progress will be yours.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Inconsistency will be your downfall. g ather information and decide your next move based on your findings, \feelings and what you want. Don’t feel the need to give in to someone trying to bully you. honesty will clear up an emotional setback.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Be a good listener. Size up situations and keep an open mind. g o directly to the source to avoid misinformation. you may need to visit someone in person to get a clear picture of their situation and how it affects you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): l eave nothing to chance. Ask for proof in writing in order to avoid disappointment. Saying yes to someone before you have all the facts will leave you in a precarious position. A job prospect looks inviting but difficult.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): g o with the flow, find your rhythm and make your mark. Take care of business before moving on to something that’s more fun. Don’t let a money matter disrupt a friendship or your plans. Don’t trade in one set of problems for another.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A curious mind will lead to innovative options. Don’t be afraid to do things differently. Set a course that helps you expand your qualifications. A change at home will turn out better than anticipated. Believe in yourself.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Put your to-do list in order of importance and start working toward an end goal. The proper sequence of events will make your life easier and encourage others to participate. A friendship will be affected by your course of action.

Birthday Baby: you are curious, sensitive and intuitive. you are determined and persistent.