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Volume 56, Issue 11 | Wednesday, september 15, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Panel recalls activism Former student leaders discuss changemaking on campus By EVAN MCKENNA Managing Editor
On Monday evening, one DeBartolo lecture hall was filled with the voices of Notre Dame student government’s famous firsts. Among them, a certain trio marked a steady progression of representation for the group’s highest office: David Krashna ’71, the first Black student body president, Brooke Norton Lais ’02, the first female student body president and Bryan Ricketts ’16, the first openly gay student body president. Joining them were Elizabeth
Shappell Lattanner ’07, the third female student body president and first student assistant to the Gender Relations Center following its founding; former student body vice president and president Becca Blais ’18 and former student body president Alex Coccia ’14. The six University alumni spoke to students as part of a panel on student activism and changemaking within student organizations. Hosted by student government’s University policy core team, the discussion was driven by questions from attending students while panelists participated over Zoom.
Director of University Policy Dane Sherman led the conversation, starting with introductions before transitioning into a Q&A format. To begin, sophomore Layton Hall briefly discussed the emails sent to students detailing recent reported incidents of sexual battery and rape on campus before asking the panelists their thoughts on policies t o prevent future occurrences. In response, Lais argued that while there is still much work to be done in regards to sexual assault prevention methods, the current system represents a vast see PANEL PAGE 3
NDPD informs community of rape on campus Observer Staff Report
The Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) has reported an incident of rape on campus that occurred the evening of Sept. 9, according to an email from the Notre Dame Police Department (NDPD) to the University community Monday. The email said the male victim, a student, had exchanged messages with the
male suspect on a dating app before they met in a parking lot on the east side of campus. The email said there is no additional suspect information available at the moment and the OIE continues to investigate. The email stressed the importance of safety and awareness and said instances of sexual see NDPD PAGE 5
2021 Domer Dozen speak Students celebrate return of fullof life after Notre Dame capacity football
By ADRIANA PEREZ Editor-in-Chief
The Alumni Association and YoungND board named the 2021 Domer Dozen on Thursday, as part of an initiative meant to celebrate the accomplishments of young Notre Dame alumni. These 12 former students were selected out of 88 nominees and were celebrated Friday in Geddes Hall ahead of the Notre Dame vs. Toledo game. “Those chosen represent a truly outstanding group of young Notre Dame graduates who continue to make a
difference in their faith, service, learning and work, serving as inspiring role models to a rising generation of soon-to-be Notre Dame graduates,” the Domer Dozen website states. The honorees included Sarah Mervosh, Tia Paulette, Zoe Kourajian Rote, Qing Zhu, Jessica Pedroza, Marissa Koscielski, Claire Conley, Rene Bermea, Kiersten DeHaven, Matt Conaghan, Austin Hickman and Michael Hillmer. The nine alumni who were able to make it to campus gave short “TEDx-style” talks on Friday. They shared their
post-graduation and life experiences in fields that range from education, health care, peacebuilding, law, engineering, entrepreneurship and journalism. A former managing editor at The Observer and a current national correspondent at the New York Times since 2018, Sarah Mervosh ’12 graduated from Notre Dame with majors in psychology and Arabic and a minor in Journalism, Ethics and Democracy. After working at the Dallas Morning News, she joined the Times — but by the see DOZEN PAGE 4
Full capacity in-person campus tours return By MEGAN FAHRNEY News Writer
This fall, on-campus information sessions and tours have been brought back to full capacity for prospective Notre Dame students. The Office of Under-graduate Admissions canceled on-campus
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offerings in March of 2020 due to the onset of COVID-19. The office has been offering virtual campus tours and information sessions since that spring. Limited capacity on-campus offerings resumed during the summer of 2021. In accordance with the University’s visitors policy, all visitors must wear masks indoors,
SCENE PAGE 9
regardless of vaccination status. Tour guides must wear masks inside specified campus buildings, such as the first floor of McKenna Hall, where information sessions take place. Maria Finan, assistant director for undergraduate admissions, see TOURS PAGE 5
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ALYSA GUFFEY | The Observer
Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s, and Holy Cross students watched as the Irish defeated Toledo Saturday, their 25th consecutive home win. By MEG LANGE News Writer
This past weekend half of the tri-campus w itnessed their first taste of what a normal Notre Dame home game is like, w ithout so many COVID protocols in place. For some it was their first home game in a full stadium, for others it was the first home game in their college career, but for the upperclassmen it was a return to what they had come to know and love about Notre Dame home games before
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the pandemic: tailgating, a full student section and events all around campus pumping people up for the game against Toledo. The festive weekend started out w ith a Friday pep rally, which included a live band and all the Notre Dame dorms show ing up to South Quad in st yle. Dunne residents came sporting Sentinel helmets, the Badin Hall women all wore frog bucket hats and Lew is Hall even had see GAMEDAY PAGE 5
soccer PAGE 16
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Students in the first-year section raise an American flag at the Notre Dame-Toledo football game Saturday. The game took place on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, with University President Fr. John Jenkins giving remarks before the game.
The next Five days:
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Wednesday
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Sunday
“Bound up with love...” Exhibit 102 Hesburgh Library 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Honor the anniversary of the Dante Alighieri.
2021 Tocqueville Lecture DeBartolo Preforming Arts Center 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. All are welcome.
Friday Night Bash Notre Dame Stadium 6:15 p.m. - 10 p.m. Tickets are $10 and the event is open to the public.
Saturdays with the Saints Lecture Geddes Hall 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Featuring Sister Thea Bowman.
Basilica Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart. 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m. Masks required. All are welcome.
“Jim Dine: American Icon” Exhibition Snite Museum of Art all-day View the collection of 238 prints.
Shrek Trivia Night Legends 9 p.m. - 11 p.m. Test your knowlede of Shrek with other Shrek fans.
Cookies and Canvas Library Lawn 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. Paint your own picture of the Golden Dome while eating cookies.
Notre Dame Football Game Notre Dame Stadium 2:30 p.m. Irish vs. Purdue Boilermakers.
“Promising Young Woman” Showing DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 3 p.m. Student tickets are $6.
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improvement over those of the past. “I would say: Thank God you’re getting emails, as sad and terrible as they are,” Lais said. “This would have all been secret and quiet, even when I was there. There was no whisper from ResLife or anyone else about any of this stuff. As shocked as I am to hear that all this is happening, I’m at least slightly gratified to hear that there’s some openness to it — at least to some extent — and that the students are able to speak about it and band together and help make things better.” And recalling a particular experience during her sophomore year when the University refused to release to students her committee’s detailed report of sexual assault cases on campus, Lais described the actions she took afterward that allowed her to still spark change. “When they refused to publish that report, we made it the centerpiece of our campaign,” she said. “And so that’s how I think you can make a big impact on things like sexual assault at Notre Dame: You can push through the back channels. There are lots of committees … that are already focused on it. And I think generally, people are trying to do a really good job on it.” The next question came from sophomore Briana Chappell: “What have you learned since leaving college about changemaking that you think can be applicable to
our work in student government right now?” Drawing from his experience in national politics, Coccia stressed the importance of preparation and research. “I worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services after graduation, and I had to know the institutional memory because a lot of the civil servants had been there for a very long time,” he said. “They were working with political leaders, and in order for them to have good rapport and work well … they had to do their research and they had to go into those meetings prepared.” Any group fighting for change — whether in D.C. or in DeBartolo Hall — can learn a crucial lesson from these anecdotes, Coccia said: “Know your history, and know your people.” Answering the same question, Lattanner said that after 11 years on Capitol Hill, she learned how to harness the power of coalition-building. “An initiative can fly or fail depending on the PR you built around it and whether or not students are bought into the process,” she said. “So it’s important to build coalitions within the student body for a certain thing you’re working on — perhaps certain clubs, certain areas on campus — and thinking creatively about how you can leverage the power of the student body without trying to convince everyone all the time.”
And thinking beyond the bounds of the University’s campus, Lattanner also spoke of healthy competition with other colleges and universities as a viable strategy for sparking change. “Certainly, Notre Dame is very proud of its unique position in the world, its Catholic character and all the things that make it special,” she said. “But at the end of the day, it’s an institution that has to compete for the best and brightest in our country. So if our peers are doing something better than us, can we challenge the administration to step up?” In response to a question from senior Zoë Case about how to remain optimistic as an activist, Krashna spoke of healthy responses to uncompromising adversity — something he became very familiar with during his campaign for a term as Notre Dame’s first Black student body president, as his comments regarding the lack of a “comfortable racial atmosphere” on campus were met with pushback from students and administrators alike. “The Afro-American society — which I was very proudly a member of — the leadership came to me at one time and said ‘David, we just don’t like what you’re doing about Black students,’” Krashna said. “And I said ‘Well, I’m going to continue to do it.’” And this persistence, Krashna noted, created countless opportunities for him and his cabinet. “We had an open-door policy
with Fr. Hesburgh,” he said. “At any time of day, we were able to go see Fr. Hesburgh, and I was able to get him to do certain things like send me and other students around the country to recruit Black students … So there’s a certain persistence that you’re going to have to have as student leaders.” And following a question about the 2016 election’s effects on University policy, Ricketts and Blais spoke of the aftershocks felt within the student population, as well as the lessons learned from Trump-era national politics within the microcosm of the University’s campus. Ricketts, who served as student body president at the time of Trump’s election, described his efforts in organizing the student walkout during Pence’s 2017 Commencement speech, advising students to employ anger in politically effective ways. “We spent the whole year sort of reeling,” he said. “And one of the things that happens when you feel under threat is the sort of fight-orflight response, and you want to lash out at the person or political party that’s making it happen … And so change [the anger] from this individual, personal sort of response into something that is like: ‘We’re here. This is about solidarity. We’re building something.’” Ricketts exemplified this process through an anecdote, recalling the efforts of student activists as they spoke to national news outlets
about the purpose of the walkout — all in an attempt to “change the message and drive something home.” Answering a final question about dealing with failure and growing from one’s mistakes as a student activist, the panelists reminded students that even the most renowned changemakers make mistakes. In the wake of last summer’s racial reckoning, Lattanner recalled an instance of regret from her time as a student policymaker, as well as a recent story of reconnection. “I’m really reflecting upon my time at Notre Dame because I don’t think I was — I know I wasn’t — forcefully in favor of a Black Student Union that [a classmate] proposed at the time, and I was blind to the Black student experience,” Lattanner said. “[That classmate] and I connected last summer around the Black Lives Matter protests and had a really great conversation, and he remains a friend to this day.” But despite the often-unavoidable anxieties of failure and rejection, Lattanner hopes that student government can continue offering students a positive, gratifying experience during their time at Notre Dame. “This is a new experience for so many of you, so just take a deep breath, enjoy this time and be with the community there,” she said. Contact Evan McKenna at emkcenn2@nd.edu
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time the pandemic started in 2020, she said she had begun to debate whether to change profession. However as Mervosh began to cover the coronavirus, she said, she realized her talents in writing, interviewing and synthesizing information; her joy in meeting new people; and the world’s need for facts, compassion and connection all coalesced into her own personal mission in journalism. “The best of journalism is about service, it is about other people. It’s not about an ego or a byline …” she said. “This something that I first learned at Notre Dame, which is sort of the Notre Dame way — what I consider to be the Notre Dame way: Bringing your own sense of social justice to the world, wherever you are, wherever you live, whatever job you’re in, basically wherever you happen to be.” Tia Paulette ’18 J.D. has dedicated her career to securing justice for those who have been wrongly convicted of crimes. She was the
founding president of the Notre Dame Law School’s Exoneration Project, and she currently serves as an Assistant Attorney General and seeks to address inequalities in access to legal services. Zoe Kourajian Rote ’16 is a middle school social studies teacher at a public school in Twin Cities, Minnesota, which has the largest urban population of Hmong people in the U.S. Her classroom mirrors that, but so does her curriculum, which she has built to reflect the life experiences and cultural backgrounds of her students. For instance, Kourajian began to teach about the Secret War — which was fought in Laos during the final years of the Vietnam War and after which communists drove many Hmong out of the country — after one of her students inquired about it. This student, Kourajian said, more broadly helped shape her two-pronged approach to education. “The first prong of that is that I truly believe it is the duty of every single teacher to ensure that their students are present and seen and
heard in the classroom and in the curriculum,” she said. Her second prong, she added, is a focus on prioritizing critical thinking skills over memorization. A short introduction of Qing Zhu ’19 MGA included details of his passion for positive peace and sustainable development, which began even before pursuing a master’s degree in global affairs and peace studies at Notre Dame. In 2013, he managed over 50 municipal projects in Tianjin, China, in order to improve water quality, reduce pollution and conserve wetlands. He is the co-founder of China’s first environmental social innovation consultancy, Pumbaa Eco. Jessica Pedroza ’17, the daughter of Mexican immigrants, was a firstgeneration college student at Notre Dame, where she majored in political science. She now advocates for educational equity in Congress. She has won an Educational Graduate Fellowship with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, and has worked alongside Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M, and currently with Rep.
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Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. On the other end of the spectrum, Marissa Koscielski ’17, ’18 M.S. has dedicated her life to pursuing improvement in mobility care after she was given a prognostic she’d never regain her ability to walk after a mass was removed from her spine in 2013. At Notre Dame, she received her bachelor’s degree for mathematics and graduated from the Engineering, Science, and Technology Entrepreneurship Excellence Master’s (ESTEEM) program. Other accomplishments include being able to walk again and founding Enlighten Mobility to offer patient-driven early intervention solutions in mobility care. “While Notre Dame provided me the acumen to combine science with business to have a tangible impact in medicine, some of the most fundamental principles of my work actually were learned in this very building at the Center for Social Concerns,” Koscielski reflected. “When we acknowledge and take a vested interest in our shared humanity and then accompany our fellow human beings,
especially the most vulnerable, we are able to participate in mutually transformative relationships. When we apply that philosophy to science or to innovation, we are able to create solutions that have never existed before.” Claire Conley ’12 currently serves as assistant professor of oncology at Georgetown University. She has combined her interests in clinical psychology — which she obtained a master’s and doctoral degree for at the Ohio State University — and her personal experience with cancer — her mother, aunt and grandmother had breast cancer and survived — into a career in clinical psychology focused on supporting others through their diagnosis and fight against this disease. Family history played a similar role in Rene Bermea’s career choice. After his sister was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor at only 6 years old, he said, he became motivated to pursue a career in medicine and biomedical research. Bermea graduated from Notre Dame in 2012 with degrees in biochemistry and philosophy and attended medical school at the University of Chicago. He is currently a fellow in the Harvard Medical School Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Program. During the past year, he has taken care of scores of COVID-19 patients in critical condition and conducted research on lung transplantation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Kiersten DeHaven ’14 said her journey to where she is now also started with one of her siblings — though halfway across the world in Istanbul, on their way to adopt her little brother in Kazakhstan. She became fascinated with how people experience faith, community and family. After she graduated from Notre Dame with a major in political science and a minor in Spanish, she joined the PeaceCorps in Western Samoa, became a rowing coach in New Zealand, earned a master’s degree in global human development from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service and is now living in Ethiopia. There, she works as senior project manager at Kidame Mart — the country’s largest distribution network of highimpact products which seeks to empower over 3,000 rural female micro-entrepreneurs. “So basically, we’re the Avon ladies minus the pink catalogs of Ethiopia,” DeHaven said. Since the Tigray War broke out in Ethiopia in 2020, six Kidame Mart employees and a hundred of their women have disappeared, she said. DeHaven’s boyfriend, a photojournalist, had to flee to Turkey. On her way back to Notre Dame for the weekend, DeHaven once found herself once again in Istanbul, reflecting on the “twists and turns of life” and how faith and community have carried her through. Matt Conaghan ’15 studied marketing at Notre Dame. After a post-graduation copywriting job at Ogilvy & Mather, he went to Dublin, Ireland, to work on a fundraising nonprofit called Change Donations, which allows users to round up the total of their see DOZEN PAGE 5
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purchases to the nearest dollar in order to donate the difference to a cause of their choice — which range from big nonprofits like Red Cross and UNICEF to an animal shelter in Galway and Flossie and the Beach Cleaners, a beach cleanup project. He also earned a master’s degree in digital marketing and strategy from Trinity College Dublin, where he is now an adjunct teaching fellow. After graduating with an electrical engineering degree from Notre Dame, Justin Hickman ’16 obtained a doctoral degree from Cornell University. He has focused on the “development of aluminum nitride (AIN)-based power amplifiers, which have yielded a breakthrough in the ability to produce high-power millimeter-wave frequency signals,” according to his Domer Dozen biography. He is also the co-founder and CEO of Soctera, Inc. Also an engineer, Captain Michael Hillmer ’17 graduated from Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering. He serves in Hawaii as a commissioned cyber operations officer in the United States Air Force and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in computer science from Georgia Tech.
assault can happen to anyone and are never the sur v ivor’s fault. It also stated that intox ication is not an excuse for failure to obtain consent. “On college campuses, perpetrators are more likely to assault an acquaintance than a stranger,” the email said. “Being aware of your ow n safet y and watching out for your friends are important steps you can take to reduce the risk of sexual assault.” In addition, NDPD recommended meeting in public spaces when using dating apps and telling friends and family about plans to meet up w ith someone. “Arrange your ow n transportation and if you are feeling uncomfortable for any reason, leave,” the email said. Information about sexual assault prevention and resources for sur v ivors of sexual assault are available on the NDPD website and on the Committee for Sexual Assault Prevention website.
said there have not been issues bringing back on-campus tours and sessions for prospective students. “I think we’ve done a good job of clearly communicating expectations when it’s coming to things like you have to mask if you are coming to a session,” Finan said. Virtual offerings, including information sessions and tours, continue to be options for prospective students. Finan said virtual tours are a good option for those who live far or for whom it is too expensive to travel. Senior Sara Wallander started leading in-person tours the summer after her first year, switched to guiding virtual tours and is now back in person. She said turnout for virtual tours was high. “We had a lot of international students on those tours, and there’s less international students on the in-person tours, so I thought that was a good way to outreach,” Wallander said. For virtual tours, a couple of student guides discuss campus as pictures are shown and answer questions prospective students ask on a virtual chat. On-campus visits are now offered Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Though
Dozen
Contact Adriana Perez at aperez8@nd.edu
Gameday
no tours are offered on football Saturdays, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions decided to increase the number of tours given on Fridays before home football games. Finan said the University is now offering five different session times on home football Fridays, and they are completely booked through the season. “We’ve seen a lot of [high] attendance,” Finan said. “I think for families, if they’re able to come in person, [it has] been really exciting for them to walk around and see campus.” Junior Christine Van Kirk gave her first tour Friday. She said she thinks in-person tours help get students excited about applying to Notre Dame and that students are happy to walk around campus. “Even this past game weekend, I think hearing the band is a lot different than watching a video about the band,” Van Kirk said. Finan said she does not think there is a way to replicate the feeling of stepping on campus and getting a feel for what it is like in-person. “Notre Dame has a beautiful campus,” Finan said. “You step foot on it, you’re struck by the natural beauty, but also [you get] a sense for the way that students are just happy to be here and that they feel like they’re members of the Notre Dame family.”
some residents. “This year I was labeled as a junior instead of a senior and I did email [the ticket office], and they never got back to me,” she said. The ticket situation seems to be causing a lot of confusion and frustration for some students across the tri-campus communit y. For others like first-year Maya McK ler. there was only excitement in the air. “I just feel blessed because we get a real experience right off the bat and especially after COVID it’s just the Notre Dame family,” McK ler said. W hen asked for her opinion on Saturday’s game versus last year’s games, Saint Mar y’s sophomore Lauren Dav is said, “The energ y was so high compared to last year, and it was really cool to see ever ybody in the stands all together, students, families and all the Notre Dame fans just hav ing a lot of fun together.”
Contact Megan Fahrney at mfahrney@nd.edu
Contact Meg Lange at mlange03@stmarys.edu
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An almost loss
Inside Column
My first time at Cedar Point Allison Thornton Photo Editor
This weekend I went to Cedar Point for the first time. And before you ask, of course I got the “First Visit” button. Who do you think I am? It was the best part of my outfit that day. I went to the park with my volleyball team from Saint Mary’s and we fit six roller coasters in about four hours, which I would say that is a pretty successful day if you’re asking me. Since riding the roller coasters are still fresh in my mind I thought I would rate the ones that we went on. Let’s get into it!
6. Iron Dragon Coming in at the bottom of the list at number six is the Iron Dragon. This was the last coaster of the day and we went on it because my coach wanted to ride one with us, but not one of the more intense ones. Now, I’m not saying it was a terrible ride, I was quite satisfied with it. But it was just short and sweet. There were no huge drops or twists and turns. It is a great coaster for beginners. I would highly recommend it for younger kids who pass the height requirement.
5. Steel of Vengeance At number five I would have to put Steel of Vengeance. Out of all the coasters, we waited in this line the longest for it to just be decent. In my opinion at least. Especially after going on some of the staple rides at Cedar Point, this coaster just didn’t pique my interest.
4. The Raptor The coaster coming in fourth place has to be the Raptor. This was the first coaster we went on and had no wait time, which was an absolute miracle! It was a great one to start out with. It had everything from unexpected turns to more loops than I thought it would have. I would definitely recommend this to first time park goers.
3. The Maverick For third place I am going to have to put the Maverick. While waiting in line I tried to get a feeling for what the ride was going to be like. But when I got on, it was nothing like how I expected — it was way better! (Minus the part when one of the workers said my seat belt was unbuckled as a joke right before we sped up onto the incline.) After I got off, we had a good laugh about it. But my favorite part was about half way through the ride when we slowed down before speeding up really fast to go straight into a loop. Now that was good.
2. The GateKeeper In second place will be The GateKeeper. What I loved about this is that you go over the entrance of the park and you can see all the people coming and going. They also get to see you laugh or scream your head off which I thought was pretty funny. Another great part was as you are coming to the drop, you get a gorgeous view of Lake Erie. Out of all the coasters we went on, this one was the longest, yet it felt short. Right after it was over, I wanted to go on it again.
Krista Akiki The Lifestyle Nomad
I was less than two months old when this nation lost countless lives following the tragic events of 9/11. I cannot personally attest to the magnitude of this specific cataclysm, but I think we can all agree that this speaks volumes about how little control we have over our individual lives. I have so little control over what affects me and how it does; that definitely does not sit well with a perfectionist like me characterized by high functioning anxiety. This past weekend, my social media feed was dominated by 9/11 related content. Some were recalling the trauma, others were remembering the heroes they lost that day. Among all these posts, the few that really stood out to me all had one thing in common which I labeled “an almost loss.” If it weren’t for one insignificant event, these people either almost died or almost lost someone during 9/11. Wanna know what these insignificant events all had in common? They can happen to anyone at any moment. They must be great then right? Well not exactly … When they happen to any of us we almost always scoff in anger or sigh in disbelief. These events stress us out. They make many of us mad. They make us feel like the unluckiest people in the world. This is exactly why I decided to write this column. I want you to realize that one person made it that day because their alarm didn’t go off. One person made it because their favorite coffee shop was unusually busy. One person made it because their car wouldn’t start. One person made it because their kid wouldn’t stop crying at kindergarten drop off. One person made it because it was their turn to bring donuts into the office. One person made it because they were stuck in traffic. I could go on and on with all these testimonies that I gathered from the Instagram posts, the TikToks, the tweets, the blogs etc. that mentioned “an almost loss.” All this is to say that something good can really come out of any minor inconvenience we experience. Maybe these inconveniences, that so often turn our mood foul, are just the universe’s way of telling us that we are right where we’re
meant to be. 9/11 might not have hit too close to home for me, but something else did: the August 4 Beirut Blast. I was just wrapping up an amazing summer of family, friendship and adventure. I was at home packing my bags for my flight which was scheduled later that night. My father said he needs to drive over to his office (which is only a couple blocks away from where the blast hit the hardest.) I picked a fight with him. I honestly can’t even remember what it was about or why I was so adamant about resolving it before he went anywhere. He kept saying he was in a rush. Five minutes later we hear the blast loud and clear. I hugged my father real tight that night. They say grief teaches you the hardest lessons to learn. “An Almost Loss” teaches you just as much. It teaches how to hold on to the people that make you feel alive, to the ones that make you feel loved. It teaches you how to be thankful for the time you’re given. It teaches you to replace frustration, anger and anxiety with gratitude, love and forgiveness. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at my everyday disturbances the same way I did in the past. I am human so yes, I will feel frustrated or anxious or stressed. But at the very least after a few seconds (maybe minutes?) of cursing I will pick up my phone and inevitably see my lock screen: my favorite picture I took of my father. I will sigh in relief as I remind myself to be patient and practice some gratitude despite the crappy day I am having. I will look at that picture and remind myself of this column I wrote. I’ll remember this because my father was my almost loss … Krista Akiki is a junior living in McGlinn Hall, majoring in business analytics and minoring in computing and digital technologies. She grew up in Beirut, Lebanon and moved back to the U.S. to pursue her undergraduate degree. She loves learning new languages, traveling and of course trying new foods. She craves adventure and new experiences and hopes to share these with readers through her writing. She can be reached at kakiki@nd.edu or @kristalourdesakiki via Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
1. Millennium Force And finally, the coaster that comes in first place is the Millennium Force. I know I might sound basic for saying that this coaster comes in first, but it truly deserves the title. On this coaster I felt both scared to death and pure joy. As I got into the cart I panicked because the bar went over your lap and not your shoulders. As we made the steep journey to the top you saw a lovely view of the lake and then almost immediately plunged to your death with a huge and long drop. After the drop the roller coaster was no longer scary and it was the most fun I had at the park. As we were walking out, although I felt a bit queasy from the amount of coasters we went on in such a short amount of time, I loved having this experience with my teammates. After long days and nights of school and practice, it was nice to just go have fun with everyone. The weather was perfect. We couldn’t have asked for a better day. I know my teammates and I will remember this trip for a very long time. It has also made me want to go back to ride all the ones we didn’t get to do. I will definitely have to be convinced to go on the Dragster because that just looks scary, but making memories is the most important part. I am very grateful for this weekend and look forward to going again soon. You can contact Allison at athornton01@saintmarys.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
KERRY SCHNEEMAN | The Observer
The observer | Wednesday, September 15 , 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
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For joy and sorrow Sydni Brooks Everyting is Fine
In the last column I w rote entitled “W ho’s to Say? ” I spoke about my belief that this life is a simulation, and argued that in some capacity, our lives are monitored by an ever-present being or beings. This insinuates a bit that much of our lives are decided by an outer source, which, to m e at least, removes some of the deep human emotion involved in the life experiences we have since they were bound to happen any way. Many people with a faith in a higher power, including myself, believe that God has a plan for all of us, and all of our circumstances occur out of his will. W hile a dependence on something greater than myself is comforting and supporting, It leaves little room for processing the most consistent parts of living life — joy and sorrow. I have spent most of my life going through the motions of excellence because that is what has always been expected of me. I graduated from high school amongst the most academically successful students in my class with an extended list of accolades, few of which I actually cared about and others simply because doing more was the standard. I attend one of the most prestigious Universities in the country, and I am expected to graduate on time and with f lying colors. There are very few times in my life where I can truly say I struggled in something, and that struggle seems so trivial compared to the real tribulations that people right next to me face everyday. Family, friends, mentors and even strangers in Walmart who notice my Notre Dame sweatshirts all express their complete amazement in how I can accomplish so much at such a high quality, and while I know this is about to sound extremely cocky, up until very recently, very few things I have done have triggered an immense emotional
response. This is the life I am expected to live, and these are the tasks I am meant to accomplish; If I were to do anything less than absolute perfection, I would be wasting all of the energ y, patience and work everyone who has ever supported me has invested. However, though I have known it all my life, I am able to feel this nonchalant chronic pressure to succeed because of how immensely privileged I am to be in this position. I grew up in a home with a family who see so much more in me than I have ever seen in myself. I have never and probably will never worry about being homeless or going hungry, not only because of my ability to take care of myself, but also because of the immense amount of support and resources I could turn to in an instant if something tragic would place me in such a vulnerable position. I have great health, people that love me and opportunities coming through every door, and I have the nerve to sit through my life and complain about the monotony of being successful and the struggles of a well off college student. Unsatisfactory dining hall food has no comparison to no food at all. Wearing a mask to class is in no league next to death daunting health issues. Was that argument or stupid, petty behavior worth the heartache of losing someone forever too soon? I am so blessed to have so many things to be proud of and grateful for, and it would be a detriment to myself to not take the time to give thanks and be joyful because I am so blessed. I must honor those who have carried me to this point and those who couldn’t make it this far by finding the light in everything I do and every opportunity presented to me. I must constantly remind myself that while there might be an all powerful being or a society of individuals monitoring our process as human beings, this life and the emotions it evicts from us are the only real thing we have, and we must constantly be intentional about how we
direct our energ y. Pain is real. Suffering is real. But so is happiness. So is joy. I went to high school with someone who was the complete embodiment of what it means to find joy in everything. He had severe and chronic heart issues before his freshman year and they lasted all his life. Not once did he ever complain about his circumstances or how his health treated him, and he spent everyday providing everyone with joy, even if it was at his own expense. He was so grateful to be alive, and he never had to say so verbally; it was all in how he treated people and how he attacked life. There wasn’t anyone he wouldn’t talk to, and whether you liked it or not, you were going to know he was in the room. We weren’t best friends, but he was always supportive, even if he had no idea what he was supporting me for. He simply wanted to show up for his people, and he exemplified what it means to pull joy out of every opportunity and possess humility through all of your blessings. He passed away recently, and I am forever touched by his spirit because of the way he lived. He embraced every moment until his last, and trying to comprehend his absence reminds me of how f leeting those moments of joy can be. Every moment won’t be perfect. Every moment doesn’t deserve a pat on the back and confetti thrown in your face. But every moment deserves the chance to be embraced and hold weight in our short lives. Every moment deserves to know its circumstances on being here. Every moment deserves to be cherished. Sydni Brooks is a senior studying English and gender studies. She hopes to continue her work in writing and editing in her career while advocating for women’s health issues. She can be reached through her email sbrooks2@nd.edu or @sydnimaree22 on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The return of Yik Yak Claire Miller Better Everyday
It’s 6:30 p.m. on a Monday night in North Dining Hall and my friends are laughing at their phones. It might as well as been a random night in 2013 given the fact that my friends were using Yik Yak, an app I hadn’t heard of since it was downloaded on my iPod Touch nearly eight years ago. Yik Yak provides a platform for anonymous messages to be posted to a network of people within a five-mile radius of the user, and the result is a constantly updating stream of the thoughts, worries and questions of anyone and everyone. The app only collects your phone number, making the posts virtually anonymous to even the app developers. Posts can be upvoted or downvoted: the equivalent of a “like” or “dislike,” and the most upvoted posts are posted on the “hot” page while the “new” page displays posts as they are posted. The anonymous feature is especially intriguing to me. W hen I discovered that I had upvoted one of my best friends posts without any idea it was her post, I suddenly became aware that the shield that a platform like Yik Yak provides is real and
powerful. If I couldn’t recognize a post from one of my best friends, who is to say that anyone can ever be identified, especially when identification may be necessary? This dilemma is one of the reasons that Yik Yak faced severe backlash when it was popular in 2013 and 2014. During Yik Yak’s prime time, the platform was used by some college students to threaten shootings, rape and other violent crimes. The anonymity feature left college officials desperate, going as far as to ban the app from their wireless networks. Despite this, Yik Yak has returned after being shut down in 2017. The platforms website states that the purpose of the app is to provide “riskfree, lens-free spaces to be vulnerable, to be curious and to learn more about the people around us.” The website also makes it clear that bullying and hate speech aren’t allowed according to their Community Guardrails, and that when posts are reported, they will be reviewed immediately. Frankly, I am not super optimistic about how effective these “Community Guardrails” will be, considering I have seen several posts with unkind messages about specific people and groups of people. Rather, my prediction is that similar to the surge it experienced nearly 10 years ago, the
popularity of the app is just beginning. First, the growing discontent with other social media will pull people in. Yik Yak provides a solution to the biggest criticism of popular social media platforms: the censorship and control of information sharing. The anonymity of Yik Yak ensures that when posts are taken down, it is purely because of the threatening content and not because of the position or viewpoint of the speaker. There is also a particular intrigue to anonymity. It is slightly thrilling and encourages vulnerability. Besides, without Yik Yak, the closest thing you can get to an anonymity at Notre Dame is to carve out a message on one of the wooden desks on the upper f loors of the Hesburgh Library. Personally, I will be continuing to share some of my opinions in the Observer and my anonymous opinions on Yik Yak. Or maybe I won’t. You’ll never know. Claire Miller is a junior majoring in political science, with a minor in innovation and entrepreneurship. She is a proud resident of Flaherty Hall and the state of Texas. She can be reached at cmille45@nd.edu over email. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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The observer | Wednesday, September 15, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
America has a sick problem Ellie Konfrst Butterfly Effects
Nearly a year ago today, a CNN article proclaimed that “things are most likely never going ‘back to normal.’” At the time, that wasn’t really a controversial statement — it was the prevailing sentiment among people who spent too much time reading the news. The COV ID-19 pandemic had shaken the foundations of our “normal,” and six months in it really did feel like the world we left behind in the early months of 2020 was gone forever. A year later, I don’t really know where we stand on “back to normal.” It’s been a rollercoaster of a year, w ith ever yone waiting w ith baited breath through a vaccine w inter wonderland, a spring re-awakening, a summer o’ fun and a doom and gloom early fall. Despite the dreaded Delta variant, however, things certainly look much more “normal” now than at this time last year. Airports are filling up again, most colleges are back to in-person classes and, most importantly, Notre Dame Stadium is once again open to the public. These are all examples of a delightful normal, one full of hugs and mask less laughter and estranged families reuniting. I have recently, however, been reminded of some of the lessthan-ideal things about our former “normal.” If you’ve never lived in a dorm, sharing germs and bathrooms w ith 300 other teenagers, you’ve probably never experienced the “freshman f lu,” but I’m sure you can surmise what it is. Prett y much ever y year, at prett y much ever y college, it seems like all the freshmen on campus, and a good chunk of upperclassmen, come dow n w ith the same vague cold. Thanks to extensive masking and social distancing regulations in place last year, it seemed like the freshman f lu had been largely defeated. Now that we’re back to “normal,” however, it’s back w ith a vengeance, and it seems to be hitting the Class of 2025 harder than ever. I am not a freshman nor do I live in a dorm, so this is all purely anecdotal: I came to this conclusion entirely from my experiences in classes
and on campus this past week. Ever y where I go it seems like people are coughing and sneezing, all (expectedly) w ithout a mask on. Rest assured, they prett y much always follow these outbursts of illness w ith the crucial disclaimer that they already tested negative for COV ID-19. Still, I find it unsettling. I’m vaccinated and recognize that Notre Dame has required vaccinations this year, so I’m not particularly concerned about an uncontrolled COV ID-19 outbreak. Instead, hearing the chorus of coughs in DeBartolo Hall had me wondering: why were these students in class in the first place? They were clearly miserable, and even if it wasn’t COV ID-19, I didn’t really want to catch what they had. Last year, coughing in class was practically outlawed — hybrid classes and Zoom links gave ever yone good reason to stay home if they were sick, even if they weren’t sick w ith COV ID-19. We’ve all had messages about personal responsibilit y for public health imprinted on our brains for the last year and a half. So why would anyone still come to class sick, even if it wasn’t w ith COV ID-19? In many classes here on campus, the answer is prett y simple: you have to. Many classes have strict attendance policies that were waived last year but firmly reinstated this year. W hile all of my classes last year had a Zoom link set up for students who were ill or quarantined to attend class v irtually, this year none of my classes (nor the classes of most of my friends) have that choice. If you are really sick and want an exemption from the attendance policy, there’s usually a long string of hurdles to jump through. So, students come to class sick. It’s a real problem, and it’s not one exclusive to Notre Dame or even college campuses at large. As of 2020, only thirteen states require companies to give their employees paid sick leave. The United States is one of the only industrialized countries in the world to not require paid sick leave federally, and as a result nearly a quarter of US adults have been fired or threatened w ith termination for taking sick days. Many schools and workplaces require a doctor’s note as proof of illness even when granted sick leave, an odd and unjust requirement in a countr y w ith no
universal health care, where 30 million people lack health insurance. Even as the countr y has been struggling to keep its head above water amidst all these COV ID-19 waves, most emergency paid sick leave requirements expired months ago. Unsurprisingly, in the absence of legal requirements, most companies have gone back to their pre-pandemic policies on paid sick leave, and nearly half of all US employers aren’t even guaranteeing time off for workers to get vaccinated against COV ID-19. It is absolutely absurd that after a year and a half of unfathomable pain and loss due to a failure to prioritize public health, Americans still cannot stay home w ith the f lu w ithout risking a tanked GPA or a lost income. Even if COV ID-19 is a smaller concern, those most atrisk for serious illness from COV ID-19 are also highly at-risk for serious illness from other diseases. And even if you’re not high-risk, do you really want to spend three days w ith a fever just because your coworker or your classmate couldn’t stay home? I understand that there are legitimate logistical concerns here, but the COV ID-19 pandemic made clear that many jobs can be done from home, and classes can easily be made available to sick students. Even still, most resistance to these proposals are not logistical but ideological — the American work ethic encourages people to push through, work harder and show no sign of weakness. It’s tox ic, and it’s putting our collective health at risk. We need paid sick leave, we need better on-campus accommodations for sick students and, on this, we need to stray far from “normal.” Ellie Konfrst is a senior studying political science with a minor in the Hesburgh Program for Public Service. Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, she’s excited people will once again be forced to listen to her extremely good takes. You can find her off campus trying to decide whether or not she’ll go to law school or bragging that Taylor Swift follows her on Tumblr. She can be reached at egloverk@nd.edu or @elliekonfrst13 on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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The observer | Wednesday, september 15, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
By CHRISTINE HILARIO Scene Writer
Considering how misconceived Platt’s casting seemed in the trailer, I expected the rest of the choices in the film to be of the same vein. After viewing the preview screening at DPAC, I’m not surprised to say that my expectations were spot-on. “Dear Evan Hansen” is the second most ill-conceived movie musical I’ve seen, and the only reason why it isn’t the most ill-conceived is because I saw the “Cats” movie in theaters. Based on the Tony Award-winning musical of the same name, “Dear Evan Hansen” follows anxious high school senior Evan Hansen, played by an ancientlooking Ben Platt who originated the role on Broadway. Evan is assigned by his therapist to write positive letters to himself, and one of these letters falls into the hands of school outcast Connor Murphy (Colton Ryan), the brother of Evan’s longtime crush Zoe (Kaitlyn Dever). Connor commits suicide, and his parents find Evan’s letter and assume they were friends. In order to not disappoint them, Evan proceeds to deceive Connor’s family into thinking they were friends until the lie inevitably comes crashing down around him. The film was heavily marketed as an uplifting story about self-acceptance and helping others, but the message is undercut by the fact that Evan is a truly awful person. The film frames Evan as some sort of hero advocating for mental health awareness, but the entire time he’s actively tricking a grieving family to become close to them for his own personal gain. He even ends
By RYAN GEORGI Scene Writer
The moment Justice Thomas sits dow n in front of the camera, you know you’re in for a genuine stor y of triumph over injustice. Forget your politics, and leave behind your preconceived notions about the normally silent Justice; you’re about to hear him discuss his life stor y for a whole hour and 56 minutes. As a prelude to the 2021 Tocquev ille Lecture featuring U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, the Debartolo Performing Arts Center screened the 2020 documentar y “Created Equal: Clarence Thomas In His Ow n Words,” this past Friday. As the title suggests, the film is solely composed of the warm and intimate stor y telling of the 73-year-old Supreme Court Justice and his w ife, inspiring self-ref lection and the introduction of new perspectives. “Created Equal” chronicles Thomas’ life from his early upbringing in rural Georgia, to his present life as a Supreme Court Associate Justice in Washington D.C. As he begins discussing his childhood in “rural povert y” and “urban squalor” in Savannah, you begin to understand the long road that a young Thomas had in front of him. You’re immediately engaged in his stor y and start to wonder how this young, southern African American boy at the mercy of systemic injustice
up in a relationship with Zoe because of his deception. Evan doesn’t just passively go along with the family’s assumption that he and Connor were friends; he commissions his sort-of-friend Jared (Nik Dodani) to create fake emails between him and Connor to show to the family. One of the most preachy, saccharine songs of the film, “You Will Be Found,” is performed by Evan at Connor’s memorial service. Its sentimental message becomes disturbing when you remember that Evan doesn’t know anything about Connor and definitely doesn’t deserve to speak at his memorial. Nevertheless, Evan’s performance gets posted online and starts a movement for mental health awareness — all based on lies. And the audience is supposed to feel uplifted by this. I’m all for flawed main characters, but the film tries to present Evan’s manipulative actions while still framing him as someone who uplifts others and is a true force for good in the world. It just doesn’t work. At the end, there’s an attempt to redeem him, but it’s not enough to justify the harm he’s caused. All these instances of Evan being the worst are present in the stage musical, but the film tacks on baffling technical choices to this mess of the story. The film has fondness for close-ups, so the audience has the chance to get up close and personal with Ben Platt’s terrible make-up job. In addition to that, director Stephen Chbosky seems to have no idea how to properly stage musical numbers. One of the most egregious examples is during the song “Sincerely, Me,” which features uncomfortably prolonged shots of the actors staring and walking directly into the camera. This musical number
also includes some of the worst sound mixing in the movie, where the actors voices are drowned out by the backing track near the end. This film is only redeemable if you find the songs catchy. Platt’s vocal performance is good, but it’s not enough to make up how out of place he looks. Personally, I have a lot of pent-up rage regarding the musical’s most popular songs, “Waving Through A Window” and “You Will Be Found,” because in high school, I had to watch basically every show choir in Iowa do a middling rendition of them. Suffice it to say, the songs didn’t really do it for me. If you’re a die hard “Dear Evan Hansen” fan, just stick to the soundtrack or YouTube bootlegs. However, if you have any desire for a musical with more nuanced mental illness representation, I’d recommend checking out “Next to Normal.” While you’re at it, check out “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” because it was robbed at the Tony’s, and I personally blame “Dear Evan Hansen” for that injustice.
w ill come to preside over the highest form of law and justice in the United States. This intrigue sets the stage for the entire film. W hile Thomas may be an excellent stor y teller, it’s through the help of masterfully crafted behind-the-camera questions and the excellent selection of images and film roll that his story is able to truly come to life. Clarence Thomas is impressive, but like any of us, I’m not so sure he’s capable of sitting down for nearly two hours to tell his entire life story. This is where producers Michael and Gina Pack and their “unprecedented access” come into play, asking the perfect guiding questions to craft a wholehearted account of his life. Clarence Thomas’ firsthand account, coupled with the striking images of 1950s southern poverty and archival films from important historical events, including lengthy clips from his confirmation hearing, are integral to the direction of the film. If you are hoping for greater insight into Thomas’ role and judicial philosophy on the Supreme Court, this film has little to offer. Instead, this film acts as much needed insight into the life and stor y of an often misunderstood man that continues to polarize those in the political sphere. In a Q& A session w ith the producers follow ing the screening, an elderly woman spoke up to share the immediate impact the film had on her prev iously negative opinion of Justice Thomas, regarding the allegations put forth by Anita Hill. For
those of you who are unaware or simply too young to remember (like myself ), Clarence Thomas faced allegations of sexual harassment during his confirmation hearing, similar to Justice Kavanaugh, albeit much milder. Thomas’s personal account of what he once described as a “high-tech ly nching” struck many in the audience. So I ask you, step into the world of Clarence Thomas w ith an open mind, and let his stor y inspire you to strive for more. Feel grateful for all that you’ve been blessed w ith here at the Universit y of Notre Dame, and always remember where you came from. W hether you’re a “fan” of Justice Thomas or not, I recommend anyone take a look at “Created Equal” to gain a rare and indepth glimpse into the life of one of America’s most polarizing Supreme Court Justices.
Contact Christine Hilario at chilario@nd.edu
‘‘Dear Evan Hansen’’ Starring: Ben Platt, Amy Adams, Kaitlyn Dever, Julianne Moore Director: Stephen Chbosky If you like: Dogleg, Glass Beach, Neck Deep
Contact Ryan Georgi at rgeorgi@nd.edu
“Created Equal: Clarence Thomas In His Own Words” Director: Michael Pack Starring: Clarence Thomas Genre: Documentary If you like: “RBG,” “The Plot Against The President”
EMMA KIRNER | The Observer
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The observer | Wednesday, september 15, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
By JP SPOONMORE Scene Writer
From start to finish, James Wan’s new film “Malignant” pushes further into insanity through textbook scares and exemplary body horror. With great reveals, a bizarrely bombastic score and creepy action-set-pieces, this film achieves what every 90s horror flick wished it could be. Even the most absurd feels par for the course in its comically double-downed severity, serving to be one of the many corkscrews in this terrifying thrill ride. On paper, the story appears familiar in all of its scares and concepts, but the plot twists it all backwards, starting with what would be the final showdown in any other horror film as the inciting incident. Any preconceptions of where the plot was going are thrown out the window in the first ten minutes, and from that point on, it is a visceral experience unlike most supernatural, murder-mystery films. It constantly evolves into something new every scene, building the audience’s curiosity in a seamless flow. Each question raised comes crashing down in an avalanche of realization right at the climax, engulfing you into the very center of the action. In relation to the murder-mystery classics, this film is definitely missing the grit and texture necessary to feel the tension. The drone-shot b-roll of Seattle is glossy and vibrant, with shots of police cars sliding through
By ANNA FALK Scene Writer
Just before the one year anniversar y of her Grammy-nominated album “Punisher,” artist Phoebe Bridgers announced her upcoming North American tour. Tickets sold out almost instantly, and she certainly did not disappoint. Her Indianapolis stop, while originally scheduled for the Egyptian Room at Old National Centre, was held at the TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park in favor of health checks and greater safety with the presence of coronavirus. Sitting on the edge of the river, this venue offered copious amounts of space to mill about before, during and after the festivities; it was clean and provided lots of coverage in case of unfavorable weather. Even while filled with teens and young adults donning pink hair, Doc Martens and skeleton clothing (a reference to the “Punisher” album), the stage was easily v isible and the sound qualit y was impressively high Opening for Bridgers was an all-female pop band named MUNA, and they prov ided an electric and inv igorating performance. For their set, the band kept up the energ y of the house, and it was easy to dance along to ever y song regardless of prev ious knowledge. They had no v isuals w ith their performance, but that detail was easily forgotten w ith the qualit y of their play ing and the atmosphere they were able to create. Not only is MUNA touring w ith Bridgers for most of her tour, but the two artists released a collaboration titled
clean streets in sunny weather. In multiple parts of the film, as soon as the sun rose, I felt safe enough to recline back into my seat — which should never happen in a horror film. The atmosphere completely falls apart to this bizarrely quirky detective subplot that never gets its hands dirty. There is no sense of corruption or bureaucracy, just two detectives solving the standard case. It might be a stretch, but I do think it has a place in the film. When this part of the story sinks into the night, there is a feeling of intrusion in the room, as if Wan built this safe space for us to unclench, only to rip it from us in the third act. The idea succeeds in a glorious action scene, similar to his camera work in “Aquaman,” yet my excitement struggled to connect it back to the true soul of the film. It is effective, but for a majority of the runtime I was stuck wondering why it was happening at all. Whether this film is trying to say something or not has me stumped. There is a lurking theme of how mothers and motherhood can poison or save children, while also paralleling one’s free will to control their own body. There are multiple scenes of abuse and childhood trauma that feel authentic with emotional stakes, but is it culminating to something meaningful, or is Wan exploiting these motifs of domestic violence as a timely avenue for scares? For me, the craft of this film feels too clean to hide such a cheap ploy. If anything, Wan is well known from his “Saw” franchise to dance over the line on what to film and what not to film, and I think “Malignant”
is his new attempt to find the next controversial body horror; this time, though, with a bigger budget, and a studio-polished execution behind the camera. The quality of “Malignant” can be best described as the full potential of popcorn horror. Extra butter and cheese. On the one hand it feels like a hidden gem you would find with your roommates, late at night on Netflix — even though this film in particular is on HBOMax — while on the other hand it has the calculated reveals and shock factor to best be experienced in a crowded theater, laughing and shouting all together. I made the mistake of watching it alone with headphones, and in return had a very sleepless night before Monday classes. Please, heed my warning and find the biggest watch party possible — for when you press play, even if you are by yourself in your room, you will not be watching alone.
“Silk Chiffon” the day prior. This song rounded out their setlist and left a lasting and positive impression on the crowd. Upon the entrance of Phoebe Bridgers and her band, clad in skeleton clothing, the crowd went w ild. A lmost immediately, they began play ing the popular hit “Motion Sickness” — a song that sounds equally good in concert as it does on your phone or computer. Continuing with the first five tracks of the “Punisher” album, Bridgers and her band led the audience through waves of emotions and musical themes. One of the defining traits of Phoebe Bridgers’s music and lyrics is the addressing of mental illness and the struggles of romantic and platonic relationships, something that many members of her fan-base find comforting and affirming. The rest of her show confirmed her status as a rising artist in the music industry; her vocals soared throughout the venue, heavy with emotion, her band added the extra instrumentation which carried the effects of her ly rics. The stories and banter from the group gave audience members a feeling of belonging and camaraderie. Her set consisted of the entiret y of the “Punisher” album w ith regrettably (but understandably) only t wo songs from her first LP “Stranger in the A lps.” Through the duration of the show, a projector displayed beautifully illustrated depictions of each song. With string lights w rapped around the instrument stands, decorated bookshelves in the background of the stage and impressive lighting transitions through the set, this show prov ided a
feast for the eyes. A final surprise was uncovered w ith the ending song, “I Know the End,” a song about the apocaly pse that contemplates the realities of current American culture. The last few minutes of the song consist of a fair amount of screaming and upheaval of emotion, and the set design ref lected this. The stor ybook illustrations looked as if they were catching fire and burning, fog machines started to rage, and the lights began to f lash and f licker w ith oranges and reds. The descent into chaos of the stage perfectly matched that of the song, and was a great joy to those in the audience. Overall, this concert showed that Phoebe’s folk rock sounds and poetic ly ricism are worthy of more popularit y in the mainstream. Besides her ow n music, she has recently collaborated w ith Lorde on “Solar Power” and the Killers on “Runaway Horses.” Fans of hers should also expect to see her featured on Taylor Sw ift’s upcoming album “Red (Taylor’s Version).”
Contact JP Spoonmore at jspoonmo@nd.edu
“Malignant” Director: James Wan Starring: Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson, George Young If you like: “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” “Basket Case”
Contact Anna Falk at afalk@nd.edu
Phoebe Bridgers: The Reunion Tour Location: TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park in Indianapolis, IN Date: Sept. 8, 2021 Favorite performance: “I Know the End”
MAKAYLA HERNANDEZ | The Observer
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Crossword | Will Shortz
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Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Look for opportunities, not trouble. Refuse to let your emotions take over and lead you in a direction that creates domestic problems. Do your best to put your energy toward making a difference and improving your life and the lives of those dear to you. Less anger, more compassion, and forgiveness will encourage an empowering, meaningful and fulfilling lifestyle. Your numbers are 3, 14, 21, 25, 36, 42, 47. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Stay on track. If you let your emotions interfere with your objective, you will lose time, money and confidence. Put your energy where it counts, and avoid getting into a debate with someone who will never see things your way. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take over and do your own thing. Change begins with you. Following in someone’s footsteps will not satisfy your needs. Take the initiative and see where it leads. You’ll never know what you can do if you don’t try. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You are heading in the right direction. Don’t let anyone lead you astray or tempt you with something that will deter you from reaching your objective. Broaden your scope and push yourself until you reach your target. Today is about positive change. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Consider what’s being said, and make decisions based on your needs. Anger will not solve a problem, but being rational and making preferences known will allow you to follow a path that beckons you to put your mind at ease. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t let money slip through your fingers. Generosity will lead to trouble. Slow down; think before you promise the impossible. It’s OK to ponder over requests and to say no when you are not up to what someone asks of you. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Count your blessings, and choose to be positive. Put your energy where it counts. Bring about changes that will make a difference. Don’t get involved in someone’s negativity or poor decisions. Think for yourself and do your own thing. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Think outside the box, and choose a plan that helps you overcome negativity brought on by someone who lacks vision. Don’t share your goals until you’ve worked out all the details. Discipline and hard work will pay off. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Peace and love prevail. Approach whatever and whoever comes into your presence with kindness and compassion. You will ward off negativity and encourage support. Don’t take a health risk or give in to someone putting unrealistic demands on you. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Keep your message clear. Refuse to let anyone twist your words or interfere with your plans. Discipline and hard work will lead to rewards. Trust only those who give you the freedom to follow the path that feels most comfortable. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Put more time and effort into personal growth, learning and establishing what you want to do next. Refuse to let anyone stand in your way or interfere in your life. Take the road less traveled to discover what’s best for you. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Talk to an expert. The information you receive will give insight into what’s possible. Take care of any health or financial issues that arise swiftly, and avoid the risk of future setbacks. Don’t let uncertainty lead to poor decisions. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Follow your heart, put your thoughts in motion and do what’s best for you. A chance to use your strengths to get ahead will unfold. It’s time to accept an opportunity to take on something new and exciting. Trust and believe in yourself. Birthday Baby: You are tenacious, persuasive and optimistic. You are innovative and consistent.
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
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Sports Authority
Sports Authority
Lose ‘focus on the glove’
Let’s overreact to week 1 Tom Zwiller Sports Writer
David Kramer Sports Writer
It’s a tale as old as time. Your local Little League phenom toes the rubber and enters the most cataclysmic free fall of pitching command in their young career. The pitcher looks for any source of valuable constructive among the sea of v icarious parents and overzealous wannabe coaches. After walking the bases loaded, the young starter heaves a deep breath and steps off the mound. Sensing the need for a pep talk, a parent-coach motions for time and trots out to the mound, his hands buried unnecessarily deep in his pockets: “Guys, we’re doing fine ! We all just need to rela x out there, make the plays that we know how to make, and help this guy out.” The “guy,” invariably suffering from a brutal case of the y ips, needs the greatest consolation of all. Instead of reframing his adv ice for the infielders, the coach turns to his pitcher and imbues one of the most misguided quips in all of youth sports: “It’s just you and the glove out there.” In premise, the phrase “just you and the glove” carries great intentions, particularly for young levels of baseball. Youth baseball fans’ tolerance level — and the overall success of the club — almost solely revolves around consistently hitting the strike zone. Inexperienced and underdeveloped hitters at early levels of kid-pitch get themselves out. So long as Little League arms pound the zone, most hitters w ill beat themselves w ith an undisciplined or immature approach. Of course, “just you and glove” is used in an effort to simplif y the art of pitching in an increasingly stressful and mentally ta x ing scenario. In other sports, coaches implement the tactic of limiting the thoughts of over whelmed athletes to what they’ve know n and practiced for weeks or years — for some, their entire lives. Repetitive Oly mpic sports like sw imming and row ing become particularly salient for simplif y ing bigstage moments; in many cases, the most brilliant and well-versed athletes atop the world attribute their success to “letting go” during preparation and performance. Obsessions over
nuanced technique, form and efficiency fall by the wayside under the spotlight, leav ing them w ith nothing but a pure, simplified, sharply focused head. But pitching, arguably the most mentally ta x ing and cognitive position in sports, ought not fall under the framework of Oly mpic legends. Telling a pitcher w ith a case of the y ips to “focus on the glove” resembles telling a 4-star quarterback recruit w ith a torn ACL to “focus on recovering” or “tr y to get better.” Clearly, barriers to performance ex ist, and they persist not through lack of attention or care at the positional core but rather through a physical impediment. Instead of encouraging pitchers to overcome the disparit y between intentions and outcomes on the mound, encourage them to change their approach. Directing young pitchers w ith poor control to do the same thing over and over — w ildly throw away clean counts w ith poorly throw n fastballs early, then claw their way back from highball counts w ith dead-red fastballs late — and expect a different result is nothing short of insanit y. In spite of obv ious and valid concerns about cur veball usage at young levels, it’s ver y feasible to develop secondar y or tertiar y pitches that do not carr y dangerous long-run health ramifications. Struggling to locate four-seam fastballs poses a substantial issue, but taking a deep breath and rely ing on changeups, two-seam fastballs, cutters or forkballs leave pitchers w ith better solutions. By better, I mean ver y applicable and relevant as pitchers rise the ranks. With maturit y comes the narrow ing of the intentions-outcomes gap and the expectation for a w ide arsenal of deceptive pitches. Hitters get themselves out less often, and the onus of so-called “pitch design” — not pitch science — falls on bullpens far more heav ily. If youth coaches truly aim to prepare their players for long-term success in baseball, it’s best to adv ise them that way. Contact David Kramer at dkramer2@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Football is back, and it was a beautiful sight to behold. There was a lot of chaos in the opening week, so I want to dive in and react to some of the more surprising results this weekend.
Cardinals 38 @ Titans 13 Cardinals’ Reaction: Kyler Murray will be the NFL MVP. If one player should come out of the weekend looking like the MVP frontrunner, it should be Murray. He threw 32 times, completing 21 of them, getting four touchdowns, and only throwing one interception. He also added 20 yards on the ground and a fifth touchdown. Not an Overreaction: While Kyler will not be playing the Titans defense every weekend, I don’t think this is the last time Murray puts up some incredible numbers. He’s not my pick for MVP (that’s Matthew Stafford), but he should be in the mix for the award.
Titans’ Reaction: The Titans are in trouble on both sides of the ball. Coming into the season, I felt like the Titans would have a lousy defense as they had the year before. That was fine, though, because the Titans were supposed to have an elite offense of A.J. Brown, Julio Jones, Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill. However, the offense was dreadful, scoring only 13 points. Tannehill was sacked six times, and Henry only had 58 yards. Overreaction: The Titan’s defense will be bad, but the offense should improve. I will chalk this one up to rust; the Titans offensive started played a limited amount of time this offseason.
Browns 29 @ Chiefs 33 Browns Reaction: The Browns will make the AFC Championship game. In the AFC Divisional round, the Browns season was ended at Arrowhead last year, losing 17-22. It fitted that the Browns got to start their season at Arrowhead, and they came so close to avenging their playoff loss. Although the Browns did not get the win, they came pretty close. Not an Overreaction: The Browns made the AFC Divisional Round last year, and they improved their defense, namely in the secondary. Their offense boasts one of the best o-lines
in the NFL; they can pass and run with the best of them. The Chiefs are the team that everyone measures themselves against, and in my eyes, the Browns measured up quite well. I am not guaranteeing the Browns an AFC Championship berth, but do not be surprised if they make it.
Chiefs’ Reaction: The Chiefs have a major defensive problem. The Chiefs gave up 321 passing yards (although 0 passing touchdowns) and 153 rushing yards, and four rushing touchdowns. They also allowed the Browns to convert on three of four fourthdown attempts. If not for a truly miraculous one-play, 75-yard pass from Mahomes to Hill, and a bad punt by the Browns, the Chiefs could have quite easily lost. Not an Overreaction: I do not have much faith in this Chiefs defense, and the Browns showed you just why. To be fair to the Chiefs, they were missing FS Tyrann Mathieu and DE Frank Clark. But still, this defense could be a problem for the Chiefs. Luckily, the Chiefs aren’t playing the Browns every weekend, but this likely will not be the last time the two face off.
Packers 3 @ Saints 38 Packers Reaction: Go to DEFCON 1. The score says it all; the Packers lost by 35, which I do not think anyone expected. Rodgers threw two interceptions and zero touchdowns. The Packers rushed for only 43 yards. Their defense didn’t force a punt until the second half. It was not the opening expected of the reigning MVP. Overreaction: If I were a Packers fan, I would be disappointed by the performance, but not overly worried. The temperature in Jacksonville was almost 90 degrees and incredibly humid, something the Packers struggle with. I think the weather just exhausted the Packer’s defense and forced them out of their game plan. I do not believe this is a trend that continues for Rodgers or the Packers.
Saints Reaction: The Saints have their QB in Jameis Winston. In what reminded me of Green Bay at Tampa Bay last season, the Saints cruised to an easy win over the Packers. Jameis completed 14 of 20 attempts, passing for 148 yards and getting five touchdowns! He also added 37 yards on the ground. Not an Overreaction: While
it was not against an elite defense like the Steelers, Jameis still played incredibly well against a good defense. I did note that I thought temperature played a factor in the game, and I stand by that; this is not a typical performance or result. But Jameis of the past would have put the Packers back in the game, not keep the Saints in the driver’s seat. I bought all the Jameis stock I could when Brees retired, and I am not selling it anytime soon.
Steelers 23 @ Bills 16 Steelers’ Reaction: The Steeler’s offense is good. Overreaction: I’m not going to try and defend the position before giving you my answer. Do not let that 23 fool you; the Steelers did not score a 23 on offense. Their defense was able to get a TD on a punt block. Big Ben went 18/32 and got less than 200 yards. The rushing game did little to help, gaining only 75 yards (of which rookie Najee Harris only added 45). However, I think that the Steelers should improve on offense this season. The Steelers had rookie Najee Harris, a new O-Line, and a new offensive coordinator. As the season progresses, I expect the run game to improve for the Steelers.
Bills’ Reaction: Josh Allen and this Bills offense will regress from last season. The Bills played at home well against the Steelers but ultimately came up short on offense. After an incredible kickoff return that set up the Bills in Steelers territory, the Bills settled for a field goal, which they would do two more times, outscoring their offense. Allen had 270 yards, but it was on 30 completions and 51 attempts yielding only one touchdown. Overreaction: The Bill’s performance did not indicate their offensive ability but rather the Steeler’s defensive ability. The Steelers were outstanding on defense last year, and after yesterday’s performance, there is no reason to think they should continue to be great defensively. I think the Bills improve throughout the season. That being said, Allen and Co. do not have it any easier next weekend; they face Miami at Hard Rock. Contact Tom Zwiller at tzwiller@hcc-nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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But I guess I lucked up / And I feel this pain / Because it probably won’t be until the day I die that they love us / But trust every nomination I don’t get / Every list that I ain’t on / Is a reminder of why I wrote songs in the first place /
As a way to escape where I came from / This just my pretty toxic heavy conscience / Weighing on my soul / Play this song / On the first day I am gone, I do not want you to cry / Legends never die
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Fantasy
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Continued from page 15
shootout, so make sure Thielen is in your lineup.
Must Sit: Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants Yikes, I feel bad for Bark ley ow ners. A lready feels like a waste of a first-round pick doesn’t it? Bark ley’s talent is undeniable, but the Giants and their offensive line are horrendous. Volume was also a problem for Bark ley, as he received only 10 carries, racking up just 26 rushing yards. The Giants w ill be play ing from behind a lot, meaning fewer carries for Bark ley, and this team really is just a disaster all the way around. They play Washington in Week 2, who has a better defense than Denver, so I would recommend keeping Saquon on your bench this week, as much as that may hurt his fantasy ow ners.
Who To Pick Up: Sterling Shepard, New York Giants (owned in 25% of leagues) Justice Writer
Mory
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Sports
Sports Authority
Analyzing NBA superteam problem Matt Young
Must Start: Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Sports Writer
Despite a quarterback competition, the 49ers passing game looked sharp, primarily running through Deebo Samuel. Samuel showed week one he may be the impact player who the fantasy communit y projected teammate Brandon Aiy uk to be. His versatilit y and bigplay abilit y were on display, and while huge days like his game against the Lions won’t happen ever y week, his role moves him from a bench or fringe f lex play to a week ly starting W R role on your fantasy team until further notice.
Over the past fifteen or so years, the makeup of the NBA landscape has drastically shifted from one of relative parity to one dominated by a few “superteams.” Such superteams feature multiple stars and are typically a shoein to at least make the NBA Finals, if not win it all. Today’s NBA is no different, as teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets can be reasonably considered rough equivalents of superteams that previously dominated the league. A dive into the origins of the modern NBA superteam and the consequences of an NBA with only a few legitimate contenders can help shed a light on the state of the league we watch today.
Must Sit: Williams, RB, Broncos
Javonte Denver
Despite being selected in the early 2nd round, the Universit y of North Carolina rookie has not yet become a player worth starting consideration. This may be upsetting to people that drafted Williams, but Melv in Gordon’s strong show ing dampens Williams’ potential this season. I adv ise fantasy managers to wait to see if this situation changes. W ho To Pick Up: Elijah Mitchell, RB, San Francisco 49ers (ow ned in 2% of leagues) Contact Sam Ouhaj at souhaj@nd.edu, J. J. Post at jpost2@nd.edu, Jamison Cook at jcook22@nd.edu, Gehrig Smalstig at esmalsti@ nd.edu, John Kalemkerian at jkalemke@nd.edu and Justice Mory at jmory@nd.edu
Origins: How Do Superteams Come About? There’s a lot of speculation around whether the first modern NBA superteam was the 2008 Boston Celtics or the 2010 Miami Heat. The 2007-08 Celtics traded for stars Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett after a miserly 24-58 season the year prior and immediately became title contenders. Lebron James famously established the Miami Heat superteam in the 2010 offseason with his nationally-televised “decision.” The Heat, featuring James among other stars like Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, dominated the NBA during the next four years. Regardless of which team is the first true modern superteam, a closer look into why both teams formed, and why subsequent superteams emerged, bears two overlapping
conclusions. First, superteams emerge because star players are willing to take pay cuts. Both Lebron James and Chris Bosh took pay cuts when they joined the Heat to ensure that the squad could retain a few of its veteran leaders. Kevin Durant relinquished ten million dollars at the peak of the Warriors dynasty for similar reasons. Star players have demonstrated a readiness to reduce their own salaries to ensure that their teams become and remain dominant forces. Second, superteams form because the NBA teams can accommodate the salaries, reduced or not, of multiple NBA stars at once. The salary cap, or amount of money each team can spend on its players salaries, tends to remain around 110 million dollars each year. This leaves teams in a comfortable position to pay multiple superstars the salaries they demand, and some teams are even willing to exceed the salary cap and pay a subsequent luxury tax to retain their stars. Stars willing to take pay cuts and teams with the means to pay multiple enormous yearly salaries create the conditions conducive to superteams. Finally, as I will explain later, the existence of just one superteam creates a vicious cycle that encourages the formation of more and more superteams.
The Consequences: A Predictable League with Little Loyalty Incentive The primary consequence of an NBA with only a few legitimate contenders is predictability. The Boston Celtics superteam, arguably the weakest out of those that followed, won the 2008 NBA championship and appeared in the NBA
Finals two years later. The Miami Heat superteam made four straight NBA Finals appearances and won two of them. The Golden State Warriors superteam, highly regarded as the greatest team of all time and a bona fide NBA dynasty, made five straight NBA Finals and won three of them. Finally, while both the current NBA superteams, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets, failed to advance past the semifinals in last year’s NBA playoffs, both teams looked to clearly be the best in the NBA when fully healthy. Superteams reduce the parity in the NBA by virtue of their sheer starpower. The incredible offensive capabilities of the Golden State Warriors dynasty, for example, overwhelmed opponents for years. The Warriors only lost one game in the entire 2017 NBA playoffs that year en route to a championship and similarly swept their NBA Finals’ opponent a year later. Such dominating runs reduce the incentives for star players not to make or join other superteams. After all, if one or two teams are predictably better than all others, a star player’s loyalty to a small market franchise will be rewarded with nothing but an unceremonious exit from the playoffs by the reigning superteam. This creates a vicious cycle that in turn makes the NBA a very top-heavy league. When one superteam predictably dominates, more need to form just to compete with it. Future Hall of Fame players tend to flock to the large market franchises that have the means to sustain competitive superteams, further concentrating star power. The result is one, two or three dominating teams,
and twenty-eight or so teams that have no hope of competing for a championship. Most interpret that a league constituted as such as rather unhealthy.
Is this even a problem? The picture painted about an NBA dominated by superteams is rather stark; it suggests little competition and little loyalty incentive. However, one factor makes the NBA willing to exist in such a state: revenue. The 2017 NBA Finals featured the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, a predictable matchup and the third straight between the two teams. That year, on average 20 million people watched each game. The 2021 NBA Finals between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks was a bit of a rarity — neither team was considered a superteam. Despite being a competitive and unpredictable finals matchup, on average only 10 million people watched each game. Superteams have name recognition — they have star power that attracts casual NBA fans, which in turn creates higher TV ratings, greater ticket sales and other augmented sources of revenue for the NBA. So, in the end, the following question remains. Is the NBA a healthy league when it makes the most money? Or, is it at its peak when it is most competitive? The superteam era the NBA currently finds itself in has put those two perspectives at odds. Contact Matt Young at myoung25@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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Football Continued from page 16
us. They’re giv ing us formational cues. They’re making sure that we study and understand the defense inside and out. W hen you know the defense, and you kind of have an idea of what the offenses are going to do, you’re going to be able to be comfortable when you get out there and be able to find the ball from there,” Bertrand said. Bertrand wants to make sure that his teammates are bringing the intensit y to ever y game and practice. “Football is obv iously a physical sport, and we need to make sure we bring it ever y day. It probably would have been nice to have that rest day last Sunday, but at the end of the day, it
doesn’t matter. We at least need to make sure that we bring it ever y day. I think that’s going to be an emphasis in practice. And we’re going to make sure ever yone is going to bring that intensit y,” Bertrand said. Toledo had a couple of big plays in Saturday’s game, and Bertrand understands the importance of limiting big plays going for ward. “At the end of the day it comes dow n to execution, and we got to make sure ever yone’s doing their job,” Bertrand said. “So, we’ll look at it, get it cleaned up, and from there we w ill learn and get better this week and throughout practice continue to emphasize to do better.” Despite giv ing up the go-ahead touchdow n to Toledo, the defense was tasked w ith
stopping the Rockets only a minute later in the game to seal the v ictor y for the Irish. Bertrand discussed the importance of resetting after allow ing touchdow ns and big plays. “[Defensive coordinator Marcus] Freeman makes a big point about the idea of one play, one life. And at the end of the day, that’s the biggest thing that matters. We need to make sure we just play one play at a time and those past plays don’t matter,” Bertrand said. “I think we did a good job dealing w ith any kind of turnovers or even the goal-line stand at the beginning of the game. We just need to make sure that we continue to have that attitude as the game goes on.” Bertrand is confident in the defense’s abilit y to be ver y successful going for ward.
“This was a good game for us in the sense that we’re going to be able to learn from this. I think it was an eyeopening game and it was bittersweet. I think we’re going to be able to take it from here and identif y where we need to get better. I think ever y guy in that room knows that they need to look at their ow n play indiv idually and look at where they can get better. We w ill go from there,” Bertrand said. Despite being throw n into a starting position this season, Bertrand has already proven himself as one of the best players on the Irish defense, and he appears set to have a ver y successful season and future w ith the Irish. Contact Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu
Write Sports. Email Mannion McGinley at mmcginl3@nd.edu
M Soccer Continued from page 16
turnaround for Tuesday’s game following their matchups this past weekend. The last time Notre Dame and Michigan State faced one another was in September 2019 with Notre Dame claiming the victory in East Lansing, winning 1-0. The home-field advantage could prove crucial for the Fighting Irish as Michigan State continues to travel on the road for its third game in a row, but there is no doubt both teams are hungry for a win. Notre Dame will return home to face off with Michigan State Tuesday night, at 7 p.m. ET at Alumni Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
sports
ndsmcobserver.com | Wednesday, september 15, 2021 | The Observer
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OBSERVER FANTASY CORNER
Week 3: Sit Barkley, start Singletary? By SAM OUHAJ, GEHRIG SMALSTIG, J. J. POST, JOHN KALEMKERIAN, JAMISON COOK and JUSTICE MORY Sports Writers
The first week of the NFL is in the books. Fans worldw ide have gotten a feel for how their teams w ill be this season, including fantasy players. Now w ith a clear sense of how your fantasy team w ill perform, it is time to dive into who you can play, sit and add this week on Fantasy Corner.
Sam Ouhaj Writer
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Sports
Must Start: Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals W hat a game for the former Ok lahoma Sooner. Mixon had a day against a disappointing Minnesota defense in which he rushed for 127 yards and a touchdow n. Ever yone has been hoping for Mixon’s big break since he came into the league and while he has show n f lashes so far, I really believe this is his year to make the leap. The Bengals w ill be facing the Bears next week who looked terrible against the Los Angeles Rams and allowed Darrell Henderson to rush for 80 yards and a touchdow n. If you have Mixon make sure you are starting him. If you do not have him, I highly suggest you begin to work on a trade before it is too late.
Must Sit: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers How do I start off when it comes to Aaron Rodgers? Last year’s MV P, Rodgers looked uninterested at times against the Saints. His zero touchdow ns, two interceptions, and 138 passing yards along w ith a rating of 36.8 were his second-worst performance since 2014. W hile it makes sense as to why he would be in your starting lineup, I adv ise you get rid of him immediately. His performance aside, Rodgers had an eventful offseason w ith the Packers and while he is back, for now, I cannot help but think he just does not care any more when it comes to Green Bay and this may not be the only time we see this stat line this season from him.
Who To Pick Up: Nelson Agholor, WR, New England Patriots (Owned in 30% of leagues)
John Kalemkerian - Sports Writer Must Start: Singletary, RB, Bills
Devin Buffalo
Singletar y got a massive vote of confidence when it was announced that his backfield mate Zack Moss was going to be a healthy scratch in Buffalo’s opener. Singletar y capitalized on the opportunit y, leading the team in both carries and rushing yards. W hile the results weren’t any thing to get elated about (just 11 PPR points w ith no touchdow ns) an upcoming matchup w ith a Miami defense that gave up 100 rushing yards to Damien Harris should prove much easier than the staunch Steelers front the Bills faced in week one. I expect Buffalo’s entire offense to rebound from a rough show ing, so start Singletar y w ith confidence.
Must Sit: Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals I w ill admit, I was ver y high on Boyd coming into the season. A healthy Joe Burrow paired w ith a w ideout room filled w ith talented yet inexperienced youngsters seemed to leave the door open for Boyd, a veteran reception machine, to have a sneak y good season. The Bengals game plan in week one, however, stared rookie Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins alongside a heav y run attack. Boyd appeared to be an afterthought, racking up just three catches for 32 yards. As the third W R in the pecking order, Boyd w ill no longer be worthy of
a week ly start in fantasy. As long as you have other w ideout options, Boyd would be better left on the bench until he proves that he has a legit role in the new-look offense in Cincinnati.
Who To Pick Up: Sterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants (Owned in 25% of leagues) Gehrig Smalstig - Sports Writer Must Start: Chris Carson, RB, Seattle Seahawks Carson looked great against what should be a solid run defense in week 1, and his matchup gets exponentially better in week 2. I’m sure that Mike Vrabel w ill have the Titans’ defense as motivated as ever follow ing their embarrassment against the Cardinals, but it simply won’t matter. The Seahawks w ill be able to create mismatches across the board and open up running lanes for their feature back. Additionally, it’s worth noting that a healthy Chris Carson only posted below 4 yards per carr y once last season. For those reasons, his f loor is too high to be sitting on anyone’s bench.
Must Sit: Robby Anderson, WR, Carolina Panthers I had a hunch that last year would be Robby Anderson’s career year, and I’m starting to believe it more and more. DJ Moore is the clear W R1 on this offense, despite the prev ious chemistr y bet ween A nderson and Sam Darnold. Additionally, Anderson didn’t even
see W R2 target-share in Sunday’s game. That spot was held by rookie Terrace Marshall Jr. A nderson w ill obv iously have homerun potential as a deep threat, but w ith that comes bust potential that could lose you a matchup. Combine that w ith his lack luster histor y versus the Saints, and he looks like an obv ious sit for week 2.
Who To Pick Up: Elijah Mitchell, RB, San Francisco 49ers (owned in 2% of leagues) J.J. Post - Sports Writer Must Start: TJ Hockenson, TE, Detroit Lions I gambled drafting Hockenson in all three of my leagues, and he repaid me big time in week one. Dan Campbell has sparked dozens of questions and memes alike w ith his, shall we say, unique approach over the offseason, but he’s unquestionably the perfect coach to make the Iowa product the clear favorite of the nonKelce/Kittle/Waller options to be the premier fantasy tight end. A former tight end himself, Campbell reportedly works extensively and in a hands-on fashion w ith Hockenson and the other Lions TEs. Add Campbell’s coaching w ith Detroit starting a new quarterback know n for favoring shorter, safer routes in Jared Goff, and it’s a perfect storm for Hockenson’s value.
Must Sit: Michael Pittman, WR, Indianapolis Colts Generally speaking, I’m war y of overreacting to week one games and reading too
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much into what might have been a matchup issue or perhaps a nagging injur y from preseason that limited reps. But if I had to pick from players w idely considered fantasy starters that looked fully replaceable in the first week, Pittman is a strong call. Facing a Seahawks defense that was torn apart over the air last season as the nominal W R1 for the Colts, Pittman only generated four targets all game, producing three receptions for 29 yards. That’s not exactly a great sign for a player that has T Y Hilton ready to supplant him as his team’s leading w ideout in the future and w ill be matching up w ith Jalen Ramsey and one of the league’s best defenses next week in the Rams. Must Add: KJ Osborn, W R, Minnesota (Ow ned in 0.1% of leagues)
Jamison Writer
Cook -
Sports
Must Thielen, Vikings
Start: Adam WR, Minnesota
Thielen had a monster game in Week 1, and it would have been a good game even if he had not caught t wo touchdow ns. His final stat line came out to be nine catches for 92 yards and t wo scores, giv ing him over 30 fantasy points in PPR leagues. Thielen picked up right where he left off in 2020 and has a great connection w ith QB Kirk Cousins. The contest this coming week against the Cardinals is sure to be a high-scoring see FANTASY PAGE 13
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The observer | Wednesday, september 15, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Football
J.D. Bertrand finds success at linebacker amid teammate injuries, wins game ball By NATE MOLLER Spor ts Writer
A few weeks ago, junior linebacker J.D. Bertrand was not at the top of the depth chart at his position, but a season ending injur y to Marist Liufau made Bertrand the starter at the weakside inside linebacker position. Bertrand has proven himself so far this season, and in Saturday’s 32-29 v ictor y against Toledo, Bertrand received the game ball for his efforts. In the v ictor y against Toledo, Bertrand finished the game w ith 11 total tack les, which included three tack les for loss, a sack, and a fumble recover y. Bertrand also finished w ith eleven total tack les against Florida State. Bertrand’s fumble recover y occurred w ith just under 30 seconds
remaining in the game to seal the v ictor y for the Irish. Bertrand gave credit to graduate student tack le My ron Tagovailoa-Amosa for forcing the fumble. “Credit to My ron, I was just making sure I was hustling to the ball, and I was there to get it inthe scramble, but My ron was there to strip it,” Bertrand said. “Obv iously it’s a team sport, and I’m just tr y ing to do my part.” Bertrand talked about different things that the defense prioritized in Saturday’s v ictor y. “Coach Freeman has emphasized before that it’s not the calls that are going to w in us the game,” Bertrand said. “We got to make sure we don’t go one for one on blocks, and ever yone’s hustling w ith an effort and attitude towards to the ball. That’s just something
I prioritize, and that’s what our defense prioritizes.” Bertrand discussed how injuries are part of the game and that ever y thing happens for a reason. “At the end of the day w ith football, there are going to be injuries,” Bertrand said. “I’ve made sure to follow my process and put my trust in God. Marist [Liufau] and I have talked about this before. We just need to trust God because ever ything happens for a reason.” Despite stepping into the starting role abruptly, Bertrand has felt ver y comfortable on the field in the first two games. “I felt super comfortable. I think it’s a big credit to our coaches. They do a great job preparing see FOOTBALL PAGE 14
NATHANIAL GEORGE | The Observer
Irish junior linebacker JD Bertrand stps up to make a tackle in Notre Dame’s 32-29 win over toledo on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium.
Men’s Soccer
Irish prep for OOC battle after BC 1-1 draw Observer Sports Staff
Editor’s Notre: A version of this story was published online on Sept. 13.
Courtesy of Notre Dame Athletics
Irish senior forward Jack Lynn protects the ball in Notre Dame’s home game against Michigan State on Tuesday. Lynn has accumulated 50 points over his career playing for the Fighting Irish.
The Notre Dame men’s soccer team will lace up at Alumni Stadium for an out-of-conference match this Tuesday against the Michigan State Spartans. The Fighting Irish are coming off of their 1-1 draw in a contentious first ACC game against Boston College this past weekend.The game went into double overtime despite Notre Dame being reduced to 10 men after a red card call against senior forward Tyler Shea. The 10-man team was able to persevere and hold off the Eagles to keep them from claiming the victory. In previous weeks, Notre Dame has fallen victim to two nationally-ranked opponents in No. 9 Indiana and No. 17 Kentucky but secured the victory against Northern Illinois. Freshman forward Matthew Roou and fellow
freshman defender Josh Ramsey are potential players to watch this upcoming game. Their performance against BC led to the only successful Irish shot of the match. This goal, scored quickly after going a man down, was Roou’s second of the season and allowed Ramsey to pick up the first assist of his collegiate career. Down south in Oklahoma this weekend, Michigan State lost 5-1 to No. 24 Tulsa. The Spartans gave up two quick goals by the 10th minute, and even the goal by senior midfielder Luke Morrell was not enough to save the match. In addition to Tulsa, the Spartans have previously faced off with Cleveland State, Akron, Oakland and Bowling Green. They are currently 2-3 for the season and play their first Big Ten conference game against Wisconsin this Friday. The Irish and the Spartans make a quick see M SOCCER PAGE 14