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Volume 56, Issue 14 | WEDNESDAY, sEPTEMBER 22, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Terrence Floyd to speak George Floyd’s brother to lecture during Race Relations Week Observer Staff Report
Terrence Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, w ill speak at an event hosted by the K lau Center for Civ il and Human Right and by student government Oct. 6. The event offers both inperson attendance in the Dahnke Ballroom and v irtual attendance options for members of the Notre Dame communit y. In the wake of his brother’s murder at the hands of Derek Chauv in, Terrence Floyd has dedicated his life to
honoring George’s memor y and using his platform to uplift and empower others. He is the founder of We Are Floyd, a Brook ly nbased nonprofit dedicated to honoring the life of George Floyd through communit y serv ice and leadership. He is also a board member of The George Floyd Memorial Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit committed to ending systemic racism. The K lau Center for Civ il and Human Rights, student government and Multicultural Student
SpectrumX studies waves
Programs and Ser v ices are sponsoring “Speaking for My Brother: Terrence Floyd on the Fight for Racial Justice.” Floyd w ill ref lect upon his brother’s life and participate in a discussion on proactive solutions for ending racial and structural inequalit y. The dicussion w ill be moderated by A llan Njomo, student body president. The free but ticketed event begins at 7 p.m. and registration is required. Inperson seating is limited and reser vations can be made on the K lau Center’s website.
Staff Writer
The process of securing funds from Lilly Endow ment Inc. started a year before pilot communities appeared in selected dorms during the spring 2021 semester. Christine Caron Gebhardt, associate v ice president for student serv ices, said she began developing a grant proposal in Januar y 2020 before the Courtesy of Nicholas Laneman
By CAROLINE COLLINS News Writer
Spectrum refers to the radio frequencies that wireless signals travel over, and humans utilize these frequencies in all aspects of their daily lives: sending a text message, watching television or using the GPS in a car. Radiofrequency spectrum is a vital resource that is in high demand, and Notre Dame is a leading university in the new SpectrumX program specializing in the research. According to spectrum.org, SpectrumX was initiated through a
NEWS PAGE 3
five-year $25 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation, and the program is composed of 41 researchers and staff members from 27 universities. The official launch date for the program is Oct. 1. Notre Dame electrical engineering professor Nicholas Laneman serves as the director of SpectrumX and co-director of the Wireless Institute in the College of Engineering. Laneman emphasized the importance of studying spectrum as see WAVES PAGE 4
VIEWPOINT PAGE 7
Observer Staff Report
College President Katie Conboy addressed reports of anonymous social media posts against Saint Mary’s students in an email to the College community Tuesday. Starting over the weekend, derogatory comments against students have circulated on the social media platform Yik Yak. The comments have largely been in the context of the availability of student tickets for the
football game between Notre Dame and Wisconsin at Solider Fields in Chicago this Saturday, for which students from the tricampus were eligible. Conboy noted that the College has seen the posts and expressed frustration at their content. “Over the past 24 hours, we have heard from several of you about bullying and harassing anonymous posts on social see MEDIA PAGE 4
University utilizes grant to promote mental health By BELLA LAUFENBERG
Faculty and students in the Wireless Institute laboratory in the College of Engineering discuss a radio receiver design.
Saint Mary’s College condems social media post
COVID-19 pandemic struck campus. Before she started working on the project, the Lilly Foundation asked Universit y President Rev. John Jenkins to think about big issues that universities and their student populations face today. “The Lilly Foundation had reached out to Father Jenkins and other presidents across Indiana and across the nation and said, ‘So what keeps you up at
night? ’” Gebhardt said. “[He thought], ’We are seeing a rise in students’ needs related to their mental health. W hat are the ways that we can not only intervene and on those crisis situations, but actually how can we support students, all along the way? ’” Gebhardt said she was asked to help put the grant into action by gathering a working group w ith input see GRANT PAGE 4
Author debuts “Gay, Catholic, and American” By EVAN McKENNA Managing Editor
During his time at Notre Dame from 1978 to 1982, Greg Bourke’s identity as a gay man was something to be discussed only through student-run hotlines and covert off-campus meetings. Now, almost 40 years later, Bourke is in the midst of a book tour for his new memoir “Gay, Catholic, and American: My
SCENE PAGE 10
Legal Battle for Marriage Equality and Inclusion” — and one of the most surprising parts, he said, is that the book was published through Notre Dame Press, the University’s official publishing house. “This is really significant for [Notre Dame Press] because I don’t know that they’ve ever had a queer-friendly title before,” Bourke said. And he’s right — “Gay, Catholic,
and American” is the first book about LGBTQ identity to be released through Notre Dame Press, soon to be followed by Darrel Alejandro Holnes’ “Stepmotherland” in February 2022. “Gay, Catholic, and American” follows the history of the American LGBTQ rights movement through the lens of Bourke’s personal
SMC SOCCER PAGE 16
FOOTBALL PAGE 16
see BOOK PAGE 5
2
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View from student section during Notre Dame football’s victory against the Purdue Boilermakers, longtime in-state rivals of the Fighting Irish. The game marked coach Brian Kelly’s 105th win, tying Knute Rockne as Notre Dame’s all-time wins leader.
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Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Commuter Meet and Greet Commuter Lounge 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Meet fellow SMC commuter students.
Resume Clinic 114 Spes Unica Hall 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Stop by and perfect your resume. First come, first served.
An Evening with Matthew Morrison DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Tickets required.
Electric Vehicle Expo Innovation Park 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Get behind the wheel of several electric vehicles.
Basilica Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 10 a.m. and noon Masks required. All are welcome.
Portuguese Language Table 334 Bond Hall 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. MPractice Portuegese with food and music.
Harry Potter Trivia Night Legends 9 p.m. - 11 p.m. Test your knowledge and win prizes!
Ultimate Laser Tag Stepan Center 8 p.m. - midnight Run around and hide from the other tesm to protect your base.
Film: “The Green Knight” Browning Cinema 7 p.m. - 9:20 p.m. Dev Patel plays King Arthur’s nephew.
Gregory Orwell DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Organ recital. Tickets required.
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3
Professor develops prototype robotic nose By Kieu Anh Nguyen Le News Writer
The newest, hottest, trendiest nose is on t he rise, but it may come as a shock. Slim noses, w ide noses, button noses, hook noses are a ll in t he past. The f uture is in robotic noses. Engineering professor Nosang Vincent My ung certainly understands t his as he and his team are developing a protot y pe for an electronic nose t hat can detect various odors. W hen considering t he f ive senses, t he importance of smell is of ten overlooked. However, smell is v ita l in ensuring t he safet y of many people. This past Wednesday, My ung received an email from a parent in Greece, which expressed ner vousness for t he wellbeing of t heir child. “I read your research about t he dev ice you have developed as an electronic nose,” t he email stated. “I would like ask if t his dev ice w ill be possible to be used from people who can’t smell. My daughter is 15 years old and she can’t smell … A lt hough she is a clever girl, I worr y about her safet y. In a few years she w ill go for studies and w ill have to live a lone.” The concern of t his parent is ref lected in many people who have or have loved ones
w it h anosmia, t he loss of t he abilit y to detect smell. “The biggest problem comes dow n to t he question of safet y,” My ung explained. The f irst electronic nose originated over a decade and a ha lf ago in t he NASA Jet Propulsion Laborator y to be used in space stations. It has since evolved for many more uses. My ung and his team drew inspiration from t he physiolog y of t he human nose. The human nose relies on olfactor y sensors t hat respond to smells. The sensors transmit an electrica l signa l to t he brain where t he pattern of t hat signa l is stored. My ung noted t hat t he group’s protot y pe transfers olfactor y data to Bluetoot h enabled dev ices. “Our electronic nose is ver y similar to that,” My ung explained. “Except, instead of using biological molecules, we’re using nano engineering material, which responds to exposure to all smells. Instead of neurons transmitted electronically, Bluetooth sends a signal to your computer.” Smartwatches already exist to measure heart rate, temperature and all sorts of medical information that is sent to phones. My ung pondered the implication of hav ing a smart watch that can perceive what is in the air.
Courtesy of Wes Evard
Engineering professor Nosang Vincent Myung and his team have designed a Bluetooth enabled prototype of a nose that will receive olfactory data for individuals who do not have their sense of smell.
“Can you imagine now hav ing a smart watch that actually can see what’s in the air? ” My ung prompted. Robotic noses are not only relevant for amnesia patients but can be applied to a w ide range of markets. They can be used on naval ships to identif y dangerous odors, people w ith severe allergies could use it to ensure their food is safe, or they could even be used to detect cancers by analyzing changes
in the chemical makeup of urine. Connor Zendzian, the graduate student business consultant on My ung’s team, is driven by the idea of his work helping so many people. As a participant in the Notre Dame ESTEEM Graduate Program, Zendzian was matched w ith My ung’s project and tasked w ith the commercialization of the robotic nose. Zenzian says he sees immense potential in the
dev ice and wants to ensure its success on the market. “If you can’t get into the hands of people, it’s not going to make the world a better place,” Zendzian said. “And that’s why it’s so cool that these professors are teaming up w ith the program. Because it makes that a realit y. I love that I can genuinely make people’s lives better.” Contact Kieu Anh Nguyen Le at knguyenl@nd.edu
Kroc Institute celebrates 35th anniversary By CLAIRE LYONS News Writer
The Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies is celebrating its 35th anniversary this week — September 20-24. On Tuesday, Kroc faculty held a panel of speakers and reception to honor the International Day of Peace and the institute’s history. Communications director Hannah Heinzekehr also premiered a short film honoring the last 35 years of the Institute. The Institute was founded in 1986 by former University President Fr. Theodore M. Hesburgh and philanthropist Joan Kroc as a response to the threat of nuclear holocaust during the Cold War. Kroc donated a generous gift of $6 million to establish “a center for multidisciplinary research and teaching on the critically important questions of peace, justice, and violence in contemporary society” at the University of Notre Dame. Posthumously, Kroc donated an additional gift of $50 million to the program.
Through Kroc’s kindness, the Kroc Institute has now become one of the world’s leading centers for the study of violent conf lict and strategies for sustainable peace. Previously, peace studies was only offered as a minor for undergraduates and as a master’s degree, The program has since expanded to include a supplementary major for undergraduates and a Ph.D. program. In 2014, the institute became a part of the Keough School of Global Affairs, which studies international issues with specialty programs in regional areas. Erin Corcoran, executive director of the Kroc Institute, said the program “equips undergraduate and graduate students from around the world to understand the causes of conf lict, inequalities, injustice and trauma that f low from these experiences.” The goal, she said, is that graduates will have the “necessary tools and methods to affect change regardless of the profession or vocation.” The staff, faculty and advisory board members are all excellent examples for
current peace studies students, Corcoran said. “Each member of the Kroc Institute has unique life experiences that add a richness to our work,” Corcoran said. George Lopez, Kroc professor emeritus and founding member of the Kroc Institute, has an extensive background in putting peace studies into practical application. When he isn’t teaching students, he is advising the United Nations, various international agencies and governments on economic sanctions issues or writing books with fellow faculty member David Cortright. Lopez detailed his experience working with the United Nations directly after 9/11, where he and Cortright “became deeply involved in advising and then studying and evaluating Security Council resolution 1373 which passed at the end of September and imposed various targeted financial, travel and related sanctions on Al Qaeda,” he said. Lopez and Cortright wrote “Winning Without War: Sensible Security Options
for Dealing with Iraq,” which was called the most inf luential document for those favoring an alternative to war with Iraq. In 2002, Lopez offered a course called “Terrorism, Peace and Other Inconsistencies” and by the mid-2000s he had involved various graduate and undergraduate students in his work with the U.N. Over the past 35 years, Corcoran said the biggest achievement for the institute has been its ability “to adapt, ref lect and grow to remain relevant not only in the field of peace studies but on the ground in local communities.” During her four years as executive director, Corcoran is proud of the Building Sustainable Peace Conference the Kroc Institute hosted in the fall of 2019 which she said showcased the Kroc Institute as a leader in the field of peace studies. Heinzekehr, the communications director, emphasized the institute’s valuable alumni network of 1,800+ alumni who are working and living in over 100 countries around the world.
“[They are] engaged in all sorts of peacebuilding work, from environmental justice initiatives to roles at the United Nations, World Bank or U.S. State Department,” she said. While Kroc offers highgrade courses for students, specifically the Introduction to Peace Studies course as recommended by Corcoran, the institute also has a “terrific line of events open to the public and the university community,” Corcoran said. Some highlighted by the faculty are the annual Hesburgh Lecture in Ethics and Public Policy, the annual Dialogues on Nonviolence, Religion and Peace, the institute’s distinguished alumni award lecture and the Summer Institute of Teaching Peace in the 21st Century. Looking forward, Corcoran said the institute will seek “ways to engage our research even more in policy and practice” with a specific focus on combating systemic racism and advancing racial justice. Contact Claire Lyons at clyons5@nd.edu
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NEWS
The observer | WEDNESDAY, sEPTEMBER 22, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Grant Continued from page 1
from residential life and student health and wellness. “We decided that we wanted to look at how to help students build resiliency. How do we help them develop those skills or strengthen the skills to promote their health ever y day, but also when they faced challenges? ” Gebhardt said the group asked. The group settled on five key strategies: building a culture of wellness, early inter vention, postinter vention, responder mental health and sustainabilit y. After building the program for an entire year, Gebhardt and her team launched it spring 2021 in six dorms chosen to be pilot communities: Cavanaugh Hall, Keough Hall, Knott Hall, Pasquerilla West Hall, Walsh Hall and Carroll Hall. Gebhardt said the dorms were chosen to represent a variet y of different sized communit y, an equal number of men’s and women’s halls and halls w ith a rector w ith more than a year of experience in the position. Emily Orsini, rector of Pasquerilla West Hall worked on the implementation team w ith Gebhardt. Orsini said she is ver y excited for campus to get to know the programs they worked on and to bring about a new culture of mental
Media Continued from page 1
media regarding Saint Mary’s students,” she said. “We have seen the screen shots of these posts, and we share your anger and frustration that anyone would think these derogatory, degrading and untrue comments are acceptable.” Promising to support students, Conboy acknowledged that it is difficult to hold anyone accountable for the Yik Yak posts due to the anonymity of the authors. “We stand in solidarity with you, and we want you to know that leaders across the tri-campus community are united in the commitment to prevent, confront, and oppose bullying, intimidation, sexual harassment and other hurtful speech and behavior on our campuses,” she said. “As you know, the anonymity allowed by platforms like Yik Yak creates a breeding ground for the kind of messaging you saw on Sunday, and this makes it particularly difficult to hold people responsible for hateful speech.” Conboy reminded students of the common history between the institutions on the tri-campus and urged them to contribute to a better culture across campuses. “The majority of students across all campuses will be
health awareness. Pasquerilla West Hall’s Resident Assistants (R As) started small last spring by using the Lilly grant funds to introduce some small selfcare programs, but Orsini is hopeful that her R As w ill become more creative this semester. “I think there’s a lot of really good opportunities for my R As to be creative because this is new, and so they have a baseline of ideas, but now they can really build those. So, I’m excited to kind of see what my R As this year w ill build from what they learned from training,” Orsini said. One of the projects that Pasquerilla West Hall has implemented are small wellness carts outside of each R A’s door, Orsini explained. “We do wellness cards in ever y section of just tea and literally coloring books and things like that, just for something that’s not super active but super available,” Orsini said. She added that hall staff can utilize “mini-grants” to help them w ith their ow n self-care. They are allowed to use funds to do rela xing activ ities, such as getting their nails done, going out to eat or getting a massage. Orsini said this is one particularly important part of the entire program. “[The other schools] had really great programs for this, that and ever y thing, but this idea of taking care
of hall staff, or, you know, first responders, is something that a lot of schools are like, ‘Yeah if you figure this out, let us know.’” Orsini explained. “As a responder, you want to help, help, help, but how are you taking that after the fact, like taking care of yourself.” Follow ing the first pilot communities, the program has expanded to include more dorms: A lumni Hall, Breen-Phillips Hall, Duncan Hall, Flahert y Hall, Howard Hall, Johnson Family Hall, Lyons Hall, McGlinn Hall, Morrissey Manor, O’Neill Hall, St. Edward Hall, Sorin College and Welsh Family Hall. Gebhardt said that the program’s five-year plan includes an expansion to include all dorms by the spring 2022 semester. Her group also plans to make the program w idely available to other campus groups and other universities if it proves successful. Gebhardt said that she thinks the daily wellness awareness that the program promotes can impact ever yone on campus. “We don’t always have to react. We can actually promote wellness as a day-today activ it y,” she explained. “I’m really excited about that piece because I think that’s something ever y person on our campus can use.”
shocked and dismayed by this exchange,” she said. “Let’s work with those who want to build a stronger tri-campus culture and who can recognize and embrace the 177-year-old relationship of ND and SMC and the 55-year-old relationship these campuses share with HCC. These are deep ties that should never be forgotten or broken.” In addition, Conboy offered students the support of on-campus resources, including the College’s 24 hour telehealth services through Timely Care. Conboy closed the email by encouraging students to step away from uncomfortable social media exchanges and expressing her pride in the strength of Saint Mary’s students. “We encourage you to stay away from any interaction, activity, or social media platform that makes you feel uncomfortable or marginalized,” she said. “We are here to support you, and we hope you can support each other and show the world how proud you are to be Saint Mary’s students. We are incredibly proud of you.” Saint Mary’s senior and Student Government Association (SGA) president Eleanor Hanson responded to the comments with an Instagram post Sunday. “I want every Saint Mary’s student to know that it’s not your
fault you paid, entered and won a lottery ticket to the upcoming Wisconsin v. Notre Dame football game,” Hanson wrote in her post. “Regardless of what has been said, you deserve to go to that game just as much as any other student in our tri-campus community.”
Waves Continued from page 1
radio spectrum is used for many different applications including communication, like cellular systems and Wi-Fi, scientific uses, such as weather forecasting, radio astronomy and earth science, as well as military and public safety purposes. “There are a lot of different devices using spectrum and competing for spectrum. We’re starting to have more and more struggles meeting these demands,” Laneman said. Many different applications depend on the natural resource that is spectrum, so the goal of SpectrumX is “to develop new policies and technologies for better organization, management and more efficient usage of the spectrum,” said Xiwen Kang, a Ph.D. student in the Wireless Institute. Kang explained that he is interested in his work with SpectrumX due to its impact on everyday life. “I am interested in studying and researching wireless communication because these works are not just intellectually challenging, but they are impactful to our lives,” Kang said. “The advancement of wireless technology in both the commercial as well as the defense industry has changed our daily lives in a very remarkable way.” “We have a national and
Contact Bella Laufenberg at ilaufenb@nd.edu
Hanson also noted the many programs in which Saint Mary’s student actively participate on the Notre Dame campus. “Day in and day out Saint Mary’s students are subjected to derogatory comments for choosing this school to call home,” she said. “Smicks, I know you are
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global competitiveness challenge because we are fragmented in the way we manage spectrum and the way these different applications compete for spectrum. We need to come together as a nation to compete globally. By working together, between the defense sector and the commercial sector, we have new opportunities to enhance connectivity, enhance learning and provide more equity within our community,” Laneman said. SpectrumX is characterized as “a multitude of relationships across industry, government, and academia” that brings together experts from many different disciplines including engineers, computer scientists, economists and political scientists, according to its website. The ultimate goal of SpectrumX is to transform the way radio spectrum is managed to make it more accessible while educating students, expanding public awareness and ensuring the program’s success in the future. Not only will SpectrumX focus on collaboration across sectors, but Laneman said the program will also “conduct interdisciplinary research and educate students [through] curriculum development to prepare the next generation of the workforce to tackle some of these challenging problems.” Contact Caroline Collins at ccolli23@nd.edu
frustrated with the narrative that we are ‘here for our Mrs. degree,’ or that we ‘settled for SMC because we couldn’t get into Notre Dame’ — I know it hurts. With this being said, it is unacceptable to put down other women within our tri-campus community.”
News
ndsmcobserver.com | WEDNESDAY, sEPTEMBER 22, 2021 | The Observer
5
Saint Mary’s parking lots overcrowded despite increase in parking pass prices By MEG LANGE News Writer
There has been a recurring scene at Saint Mar y’s the past couple of weeks: cars parked on grass areas around campus. This scene has been the topic of many conversations between Saint Mar y’s students. Many have complained about the rising price of a parking pass— from $100 to $185 — due to limited parking spaces. Junior Kayla Ambrose said she does not understand the conf licting events. “I would understand the price increase if there were actual places to park in the parking lot, but since there’s not in any of the parking lots, I think it’s a bit ridiculous,” she said. According to Phil Bambeneck, director of the Saint Mar y’s campus safet y department, which oversees all campus parking guidelines, the department looks at other institutions’
Book Continued from page 1
life: After being dismissed as a troop leader from the Boy Scouts of America in 2012 on the basis of his sexuality, Bourke began a life of activism with his husband Michael De Leon, with the two eventually being named plaintiffs in Obergefell v. Hodges, the pivotal 2015 Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage across the nation. Both devout Catholics, Bourke and De Leon have also advocated for LGBTQ liberation within the Church, and their efforts earned them the title of 2015 persons of the year by the National Catholic Reporter. But before he made strides for equality on the national stage, Bourke started small. Throughout his four years at Notre Dame, he worked with other students to sustain and expand an underground network of solidarity — despite the administration’s oppositional efforts. “Back in 1980, when I started at Notre Dame, being gay was still against the law,” Bourke said. “So the University certainly would not grant any kind of recognition or resources to a gay student group. But that doesn’t mean we didn’t have one.” Bourke was an active member of the Gay Students of Notre Dame (GSND), the student-led coalition of gay students throughout most of the ’70s. Under specific circumstances, the group was able to meet freely on campus — Bourke recalled the solidarity
practices to determine his ow n department’s decisions. “We regularly rev iew our cost of parking relative to other peer organizations, and, hav ing not raised fees in the last 7 or 8 years, brought them in line w ith comparative organizations. We prov ide a number of benefits over and above many of our peers and those fees help w ith improved lighting, safet y features, escort ser v ices, motor vehicle lockouts, jump starts and other ser v ices,” Bambeneck said. The lack of parking has also been an issue for nonresident students, such as Anjelica Zitto, a sophomore who lives off-campus and expressed frustration over the uncertaint y of where to park ever y day. “I’m a commuter so they kinda put us on the outskirts of campus and the parking spots aren’t clearly marked, so ever y day you’re questioning whether you’re going
to get a ticket,” Zitto said. Bambeneck said his department worked over the summer to address parking issues. As a response, Saint Mar y’s created additional parking spaces for commuting students that were closer to the center of campus. Despite their efforts, Zitto said she feels this issue has not been solved. Bambenek also noted that parking is usually congested during the first couple of weeks as students adjust to parking on campus. Another change that was made to the parking guidelines according to Bambenek was that all students may utilize any spaces in all parking lots (except those specifically marked or identified for special permit, handicapped, or reser ved spaces) ever y day from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. “This should allow students parking opportunities in the lots closest to their residence halls during the
hours of darkness,“ he said. However, all resident student vehicles must be moved from these spaces by 8 a.m. ever y morning. Another complaint w ith students is that they have received tickets or warnings for parking on the “w rong grass” when they were prev iously told to park any where on the grass. Bambenek said parking on the grass was a “transitional step“ to deal w ith current construction and overf low. “We have tried to concentrate grass parking in a single area, and students parking on the ‘w rong grass’ are getting warnings due to the location creating unsafe situations for drivers entering or ex iting the parking lots,” he said. Grace Beauchamp is a dual-student at Saint Mar y’s and Notre Dame, and she drives back and forth bet ween the t wo campuses daily. She said she disagrees
w ith the raise in the price of parking. “We have to pay more to park in the grass, and sometimes I have to drive around the parking lots looking for a spot for 30 min and it makes me late to class because I can’t afford to pay the $ 50 ticket from Saint Mar y’s. I think it’s ridiculous that their parking situation is going to interfere w ith my education here at Saint Mar y’s,“ Beauchamp said. Beauchamp also noted she is unsure how the College w ill handle the issue when w inter comes. “We can’t park in the grass in the w inter seasons some people can barely park in the grass now, do they expect us to have 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive to drive up those hills to park? That’s ridiculous,” Beauchamp said.
and fellowship that formed over shared meals in South Dining Hall. “Suddenly, I discovered this community that got together every day and had meals together, and they talked and they shared information,” he said. “It was really a wonderful experience for me.” But in most other instances, GSND’s attempts to organize on campus were met with resistance. In addition to anecdotes of students tearing down informational flyers and the University refusing to provide meeting spaces, Bourke recalled a particular incident of administrative antagonism. In hopes of reaching and recruiting gay students without endangering their privacy, the group set up a “gay hotline” that connected interested students to organizers over the phone, allowing gay students to learn more about the GSND and its events while maintaining anonymity. But after the group advertised the hotline’s phone number in The Observer, Bourke said his rector shut down the hotline, citing that students cannot use campus phone numbers for “anything like that.” “It was kind of a harrowing experience for me personally,” Bourke said. “So that was the culture that we had to deal with in 1980 — it was very different from what you all have there now.” But despite his vivid remembrance of certain details, Bourke said that much of the LGBTQ student experience of
the ’70s and ’80s remains unremembered. This ignorance of history, he said, was one reason he chose to write his book — because “a lot of gay history has not been captured.” “I don’t think a lot of people today appreciate what it was like to be queer in the 1970s,” Bourke said. “I came out in 1976, and lived through a lot of change. I saw the sodomy
laws beaten down; I saw the AIDS crisis come and go. And I think a lot of people today, in the gay community, don’t really have an appreciation of that history. So I do think it’s important for people to try to remember — there are other books that are out there, and there are other attempts to capture history.” Honoring October’s
observance of LGBTQ History Month, Bourke will continue his memoir’s promotional tour through a visit to his alma mater, holding a book-signing event in Notre Dame’s Hammes Bookstore on Oct. 1 from 3:30-5: 00 p.m.
Contact Meg Lange at mlange03@saintmarys.edu
Contact Evan McKenna at emckenn2@nd.edu
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The observer | Wednesday, September 22, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
I (don’t) do politics
Inside Column
An open letter to Campus Dining Maggie Eastland Associate News Editor
Dear Campus Dining, I just have one question — what’s stopping you from serving Heinz ketchup? I know this might seem like a trivial request, but just imagine the utopia we could create by replacing the ugly, inferior Red Gold dispensers with the gold standard of tomato-based dipping sauces. Rest assured, I’m not the only one with a preference for Heinz ketchup. According to the most statistically sophisticated experiment in existence — yes, a whiteboard dorm poll — the women of Pasquerilla West Hall clearly favor Heinz. Even Taste of Home agrees: Heinz is superior. Unfortunately, the ketchup situation has grown so dire that I have resorted to bringing my own bottle to the dining hall. In fact, I may be growing a reputation for it. While this fun fact has served me well for the last year, it might be getting old. Perhaps it is time for both of us to turn in the towel and find a way to make Heinz an integral part of the dining hall experience. And speaking of (terrible) towels, did you know that Heinz operates out of the city of Pittsburgh, home to the best team in the NFL? Several former Notre Dame footballers, including the legendary Chase Claypool play for the Pittsburgh Steelers at none other than Heinz Field. Need I say more? If Notre Dame’s golden child wide receiver isn’t a foolproof reason to serve Heinz, I don’t know my vinegar from my sugar. The good news is, Heinz does. Compared to Red Gold, the ratio of vinegar to sugar is much higher in Heinz ketchup than other brands, giving it a more balanced flavor profile and less of a sickly sweet tomato taste. When viewing the ingredients lists of both brands, which list ingredients in order of descending weight, Heinz lists distilled vinegar as the second ingredient. For Red Gold, sugar is the second ingredient and vinegar the third. To myself and many other tang-seekers, sugar’s second-place position is a complete disaster. How can we be expected to reasonably substitute Red Gold for Heinz when the two products have so little in common? So the question remains: Why not replace Red Gold with Heinz? Maybe Red Gold provides a more affordable option for the dining hall; however, when comparing the prices of Red Gold and Heinz from one data point, 32-ounce bottles sold at Walmart, Heinz is $1.12 cheaper per bottle. I know you may have a contract with Red Gold; however, I would strongly encourage you to reconsider any such agreement as soon as possible. Now that I’ve made my case, let me express that I am very grateful for the dining halls, especially the cheerful and welcoming workers who often make my day. At the end of the day, I would prefer to dip my french fries in Heinz over Red Gold, but I thank you for providing the student body with a place to gather for food and camaraderie either way. If I have to keep lugging my own personal bottle of Heinz ketchup to North Dining Hall each day, I will do it with pride. Sincerely, a concerned ketchup lover You can contact Maggie at meastlan@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Submit a Letter to the Editor: viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com
Eva Analitis The Flip Side
“I don’t do politics.” Nowadays, this short sentence sparks fierce backlash from some, seeming like a spineless statement of privilege. In contrast, it garners nods of agreement from others who wish to stay out of the tangles of the political jungle. I used to be a member of the first group. It seemed frustrating that people could choose to sit on the sidelines of conflicts that were a matter of life-and-death for others. Some people don’t “do politics” because they don’t have to. Members of marginalized groups, however, often don’t have a choice. Politics has implications for their daily lives: the Dakota Access Pipeline, the right to marry, the safety of interactions with law enforcement, etc. For some Americans, politics is an external subject with which they can choose to engage or not, while for others, it is intertwined with their lives. So, I understood the anger unleashed against those who don’t “do politics.” You might notice my use of the past tense in some of the above statements and wonder if I’ve since scrapped my views — if the political turbulence of the past few years has caused me to give up on politics because it’s just too messy. Never fear. This is not my announcement that, in my fourth year of studying political science, I’ve decided to no longer do politics. I’ll always “do” politics to some extent. Mention of the Constitution or Supreme Court rulings will never fail to catch my ear. However, my views on what exactly it means to do politics have evolved. I remember my enthusiasm when I registered to vote as an eighteen-year-old and participated in the 2018 primary elections. It felt like a right of passage, as if I had finally reached full membership in society. I — wide-eyed, first-time voter — could not imagine how anyone would ever skip an election. I was eager for every chance I got to do my civic duty. The 2020 election was every voting enthusiast’s dream: the opportunity to take part in the most consequential election in history, we were told. The ballots rolled in — mine and many other college students’ by mail — and we did it, we got the bad guy out! The man under whom the coronavirus had run rampant, relationships with US allies weakened, unarmed Black Americans were killed by police and natural disasters raged. And we replaced him with a man under whom the coronavirus runs rampant, relationships with US allies weaken, unarmed Black Americans are killed by police and natural disasters rage. This is obviously a simplification that lacks nuance. To be clear, I am not claiming that Presidents Trump and Biden have failed equally in the tasks confronting them, and this piece is not an attempt to analyze or equate their presidencies. I only wish to point out that big problems still remain, even though I was assured by every campaign speech and advertisement that an electoral victory would wipe them away. The bright-eyed eagerness many of us young voters felt at the opportunity to make a difference has been stifled by the sobering realization that who we put in office often makes no difference. Don’t get me wrong — I plan to continue to vote in every election and encourage every reader to do the same. I have simply decided that elections no longer comprise the essence of politics to me, and I’m not waiting for our elected officials to fix the world. More than contacting my local Representative or my Senator, I will be contacting my family members and friends to learn about their experiences and struggles and to see how I can be a good fellow citizen to them. At the 2021 Met Gala on September 13th, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez donned a white mermaid gown emblazoned with a scarletlettered demand: “Tax the Rich.” Though some
observers applauded the display, she drew criticism from both the right and left for the irony of flaunting such a message at an event full of those very people. My initial reaction to “The Dress” was a shrug of the shoulders. She’s a political woman making a political statement, and to some onlookers, the gesture might send a powerful message. Furthermore, in Congress, she’s always promoted progressive causes in line with the message of her dress, so we can’t say she’s all talk, no action. No big deal, let’s move on. The real problem to me, however, is not “The Dress.” Rather, her attendance at the event reminded me that nearly all our elected officials operate in adjacent circles to the wealthiest, elite Americans. Even one of the most anti-establishment members of Congress who ascended to office from humble beginnings and intense grassroots organizing to supposedly fight for the little person finds herself at the same table as the ultra-rich at the end of the day. How committed can she really be to decreasing wealth inequality if she can cozy up among the upper echelon of society? As I mentioned, I am not one of the fierce critics of “The Dress,” and Rep. Ocasio-Cortez would not top my list of problematic politicians. However, what I have realized over the course of the past several years is that we cannot rely on her or any of our officials to ensure our wellbeing. We must take responsibility for ourselves and our loved ones. The government might help us out at times; it might not. But we all need to do the best job we can looking after our communities. If you are in an area with surging COVID-19 cases but inadequate safety precautions implemented, you need to decide for yourself what kinds of establishments are safe for you to go to or when to wear your mask or whether to be around others who are unmasked. Here at Notre Dame, if you are in a packed classroom where a mask is not required but you feel sick, wear one out of caution. If you have friends or family who are still hesitant to get vaccinated, don’t rely on officials to convince them — you have a better chance. Talk to and take care of your neighbors and the people around you to the extent you’re able. We don’t live in a utopia, and there will always be government shortcomings, even in a relatively “good” government or during prosperous times. In fact, hearing citizens of other countries to which the U.S. is often compared (such as Canada and the UK) also complain about their governments somewhat comforts me and reminds me that it’s not just us in America who are frustrated with our government. The grass is always greener on the other side, right? But if you are noticing that your own or your neighbor’s grass isn’t quite as green as it should be, don’t sit around waiting for rain that might never come or that might drizzle only a few meager drops. Turn on the sprinklers. “Doing politics” doesn’t have to mean attending rallies for our favorite candidates or knocking on doors to campaign for them. You don’t have to “do politics” in the sense of arguing at holiday dinners with family members of the opposite party when neither of your views is ultimately going to change, but you do have to be aware of the injustices occurring within your community and the struggles affecting your friends, family and neighbors. Anything we do to better our communities is political. So, while I intend to always “do politics,” my idea of what that means has changed from lamenting the limitations of the system to focusing on the capabilities of the community. A former resident of Lyons Hall, Eva Analitis is a senior majoring in political science and prehealth. Even though she often can’t make up her own mind, that won’t stop her from trying to change yours. She can be reached at eanaliti@ nd.edu or @evaanalitis on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The observer | Wednesday, September 22, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Suggestions from a neighbor I know that college students have always, and will always, want to drink and party. However, that doesn’t mean there is nothing that can be done to make the situation safer for them and more tolerable for us neighbors. The primary focus should be on party houses (i.e. boarding houses) which have been grandfathered in, so they don’t have to abide by the city ordinance which states that no more than two unrelated adults may live in one unit. These houses with five to eight students in them will obviously attract students that like to have big parties. They are set up for that. That said, the evenmore-focused attention should be on party houses which share a common backyard. These big, common backyards are the setting for almost all the outrageous, out-of-control outdoor parties. To deal with these problems, I think everyone should finally admit that efforts so far have been ineffective. Efforts by the police, Notre Dame officials, and student leaders to talk to students and encourage good behavior have not worked in the past 25 years, and there’s no hope that they will work in the future. The fundamental problem, assuming the students even care if they are admonished, is that each year a new group of students show up in the 24 party houses in our immediate neighborhood. Assume each of them has an average of two obnoxious parties before they get a friendly or stern warning from the police or Notre Dame officials. Even if they comply and behave well for the rest of the year, that means we have, on average, 48 of these parties every single year with no end in sight. That’s exactly how it’s been and will continue to be. It’s intolerable. While I’m grateful to officials from Notre Dame, student leaders and especially the police for their efforts, I think the following ideas will finally make a real difference.
Ideas for the city Go back to the legislation which South Bend was set to pass before the naive idea that a Campus and Community Advisory Council (CCAC) could solve the problem. The proposed language in 2007 stated that “Any person or entity desiring to host, conduct or permit a special event at a boarding house, where 25 or more persons are invited and would have access to alcoholic beverages of any kind, must first obtain a conditional use permit for a special event at a boarding house.” Require that these party houses (i.e. boarding houses) have back yards separated by six-foot fences at the property lines. Toughen up the noise ordinances. Currently police dispatchers tell me that on the weekends the police can’t go out and quiet down parties until after 11 p.m., so parents have to tell their sleepless children, “I’m sorry, honey, but there’s nothing I can do until 11 p.m.” (11 p.m. is past my and my wife’s bedtime, too.) Toughen up the nuisance property ordinance. My understanding is that currently, in order to be considered a nuisance property, an individual property must have at least five visits from the police in 60 days. That is so lenient (from my perspective as someone who is surrounded by 24 of these party houses) that it is laughably useless. The law should also be changed to count fire department visits to extinguish huge, dangerous bonfires as a nuisance call. After 10 years, eliminate the status of a grandfathered boarding house. I understand that investors bought these houses for a price assuming they would be able to make a lot of money renting to many students. But it has been over 20 years since the ordinance was passed disallowing more than two unrelated adults in one unit. Must these houses be allowed to be a scourge forever? If the city truly,
legally can’t do anything about it, might the city and Notre Dame be able to offer the landlord some money to give up the boarding house designation? (I’ll pitch in!) The city should pass an ordinance in which no more than three people with alcoholic beverages should be allowed on a roof lest they be subject to fines. These wild parties almost always have numerous drunken students on the roofs or porches and garages. One day, someone is going to fall to their death. Code enforcement should drive by these houses the Monday after each football weekend and the day after Halloween, Fat Tuesday, and St. Patrick’s Day in order to see who should be cited for litter and trash. They should also come by during the first week of school, graduation week and during unseasonably warm weather during the winter. The property assessor should consider the unique pecuniary value of these boarding houses with common back yards and assess the property taxes accordingly.
Ideas for the police: Ticket the students; don’t just ask them to quiet down. Work in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies to conduct raids in which underage drinkers and those who host them are busted. The police should ding each house for a nuisance call that has partiers on the porch and in the back yard instead of just the one address that they got the call about. They all contribute to the din, so they should all be held accountable. Matthew Costello class of 1983 Sept. 20
Forgive us our trespasses Devin Humphreys Law, Life and the Lord
Sometimes, Notre Dame Law School presents us with an opportunity to engage in the more important questions of life. Among those questions is one I posed to my colleagues throughout the spring semester last year: “What is your favorite common-law writ or form of action?” The possibilities in answering this question are many, and while it seems ridiculously niche, the answers my friends gave to this question (bless them for indulging me in my geeking out) were truly interesting. For instance, a popular choice was the writ of mandamus, coming from the Latin for “we command.” This writ was critical to the landmark decision of Marbury v. Madison, responsible for establishing the judicial review power of our Supreme Court and shaping the landscape of American constitutional law. In general, those who said “mandamus” had strong interests in constitutional law-related issues, among other things. The more liberty-minded among our cohort went instead for the writ of habeas corpus, coming from the Latin imperative “have the body.” They had interests in criminal procedure and civil rights law. As for me? My favorite form of action is trover, and not only because it’s a fun word to say. Trover has a storied history, and it all has to do with property. For back in ye olde England, when people took your stuff (fancifully called “chattel” to distinguish it from land), you could sue them to get your stuff back. Such an action was called “replevin.” But replevin left the door wide open to abuse. Say John loans his wheelbarrow to James, but James, disliking John, takes an axe to the wheelbarrow, chopping it up into a bunch of wooden bits. James sues John in replevin, and obviously wins, but all John has to do is give back the wooden bits of what once was a wheelbarrow. Since those are worthless, James would have ended up
losing his wheelbarrow with no legal remedy. And so it was for a couple of centuries, until the action in trover came to the rescue. In trover, James could sue John not for the wooden bits but instead for the monetary value of the wheelbarrow. Trover thus made wrongs right and took advantage of the existence of money to secure relief to aggrieved plaintiffs whose property had been messed with. John, in chopping up the wheelbarrow, committed a tort. For those who don’t know, which included me before law school: a tort is a private wrong committed against an individual for which the law provides a remedy of some kind. More specifically, John committed a tort called conversion. Conversion entails claiming something that belongs to someone else as your own and altering the thing beyond recognition. The tort of conversion is easily compared to its cousin, the trespass to chattels. Someone who has committed the tort of trespass to chattels has simply taken something that’s not theirs. It’s less of an interference than the tort of conversion, and an action in trespass to chattels typically secures a lesser remedy as well. In either case, though, if someone seeks recovery in trover, the defendant is then typically obligated to pay a sum of monetary damages, giving the plaintiff the opportunity to (for example) buy a new wheelbarrow. These torts find analogy in our Catholic faith. Christ is always calling us to let Him change our hearts. And the two main aspects of the tort of conversion fit that call. First: conversion involves claiming something that belongs to someone else as your own. At our baptisms, Christ claims each of us as a child of the Kingdom of God. As St. Paul says in Galatians, “yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me.” Second: conversion involves establishing this claim with permanence. In removing the stain of original sin, our baptism enables us to begin to realize that God has claimed us as His own for all time. But even with our baptisms, the human condition persists,
what with its concupiscence and all, and we are held back from fully embracing our Lord and Savior for who He is. The result is that instead of conversion, we find ourselves more in the territory of trespass to chattels, only getting part of the way to union with Christ. But there is hope, and it comes from two places: Christ’s death on the cross and his outpouring of grace through the sacraments. Christ’s death on the cross, the price of our redemption, is our remedy in trover; in paying that price, Christ makes us new. And by continuously giving us the opportunity to unite ourselves to him in the sacraments, most chiefly in both confession and the reception of Holy Communion, Christ consistently calls us to deeper, more fundamental conversion. Wherever you next find yourself for Mass (be it Thursday night at Dillon Hall for the Milkshake Mass, Friday afternoon at the Law School Chapel with Bishop Paprocki, or the Sunday noon Basilica Mass with the Folk Choir), when you pray the Our Father, remember these writs as you pray, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” May Christ, through our constant and unceasing prayer, lead us away from the lukewarm trespass to chattels and instead guide us to a deeper conversion. In the meantime, let’s reflect on how Christ’s death is our trover, our price to be made new. Devin is a member of Notre Dame Law School’s class of 2023. Originally from Farwell, Michigan, he is a 2020 graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College. In addition to serving as a teaching assistant at the law school, in his free time, he sings with the Notre Dame Folk Choir and discusses the legal developments of the day with anyone who will listen. He can be reached at dhumphr2@nd.edu or @DevinJHumphreys 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 22, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Full esteem ahead Julianna Conley In My Own Words
Two summers ago, I spent my days as a camp counselor, first at Notre Dame’s Summer Scholars Program and next at my local church camp. During my time at Notre Dame, I counseled 14 high school girls. Only a couple years younger than me, these girls were smart, funny, beautiful and much, much cooler than me. I spent the first half of the program panicked that at any time they would realize their power, smell my fear and overthrow me as their supervisor. Thankfully, my worry was unfounded; I finished the three weeks without any semblance of a coup d’etat. Still, I assumed that because I viewed these young women as unstoppable, they, too, must see themselves the same way. Sure, I knew that I was ridden with insecurity, but I was deserving of doubt. I was flawed and imperfect; these girls were awesome. During one of our nightly chats, we did an activity meant to reveal how similar we were to each other in an effort to break stigmas about personal struggles. To my disappointment — but admittedly not my surprise — when the opportunity arose to signify whether anyone felt held back by insecurity, each of the girls raised their hands. Theoretically, I’d known, of course, that everyone suffers from their own worries. But still, I felt sad when all but one girl admitted she actively disliked the way she looked. It made me sad to hear a natural leader tell me she struggled with an eating disorder. It made me sad to listen to one of the most athletic girls in my section tell me she quit swimming because she couldn’t handle wearing a swimsuit. It made me sad that these powerful, driven changemakers couldn’t see themselves in the same way I saw them. When I started my role as counselor at my church camp, this time counseling elementary schoolers, I braced myself for a similar situation. Once again, though, I was surprised. My 10-year-olds were fearless. They wore stained shirts, compared underwear sizes out of curiosity but never self-judgement and sported dirty hair with pride. My tall and my short girls, my twiggy and my more solid girls, my tomboys and my girly girls — they all carried themselves with such confidence. They spoke their mind (admittedly too freely sometimes). They sang and danced in front of the whole camp, eating up the limelight. They approached strangers without fear, strutted around the cabin in only bathing suits and never brought up weight, bodies or food once. If any shortcomings were discovered, they were shrugged off and the conversation quickly rerouted to an area they could brag about. I was so so proud of my brave girls. They made me wonder, though, at what point between fearless 10-year-old and self-doubting 16-year-old do we stop dancing for joy and start running for calorie loss? For me, it was age 11. The first time I remember actively stressing about what my body looked like, I was 11 years old. I was always very skinny as a kid, and as icky as it sounds, for lack of a better word, I loved it. I loved when my grandmother called me “Slim Jim.” I loved being able to wear my toddler shorts well into elementary school or squeeze on my friend’s old ballet
costumes when we would organize fashion shows. I felt special when I was selected to be the “human baton” thrown into the pool during church camp. I was skinny and I was proud. When I was in sixth grade, I developed what my mom called the “10-year-old tummy.” Suddenly, I was acutely aware of the fact that I could no longer play the piano on my ribs and we didn’t have to “take in” all of my pants by wadding up the waistband with a pin. Worse, I was even more aware of the fact that a few “lucky” girls in my class seemed to reach middle school unscathed, no tummy in sight. So used to being twiggy being my normal, I thought that there must be something wrong with me if I were no longer drastically underweight. Realizing that on an upcoming school trip, I’d be forced to wear a bathing suit in front of my peers, I panicked. Every afternoon I didn’t have soccer practice, I would go into my backyard, crank my Miley Cyrus “Breakout” CD on my electric blue boombox and hula hoop for hours, hoping to tone my midsection in time for the fated field trip. This was not the last time I would spiral from stress about my body in the coming years. It feels important to note here that I’ve been incredibly lucky to have never had an eating disorder. I am in no way attempting to equate my experience to the very real illness so many people suffer from. But I still have cried in more dressing rooms than I can count. I still ruined a fun lake trip by comparing my body to other girls’ and spending the entire weekend languishing in the shame of my decidedly not-flat stomach. I still missed out on beach days with friends the summer after freshman year of college because I felt a sense of panic at the thought of not running seven miles and doing yoga sculpt every day. My first year of college, I had an epiphany. For much of my young life, I felt embarrassed by my lack of flexibility. Whether this insecurity stemmed from dance when I was younger or the sit-and-reach section of the Presidential Physical Fitness Test in fifth grade, I always felt a deep sense of shame that I couldn’t do the splits. So you can imagine my relief when freshman year, during a Zumba class in Duncan, I realized my ability to do the splits bore no impact on my life whatsoever. I realized that at no time in the future would I need to move my feet to opposite ends of my body, and even if I could, this skill changed nothing. No matter how flexible or inflexible I was, I wouldn’t really change; I would still be the same Julianna — and that realization was liberating. Why then, can’t I have the same revelation regarding my body? Why can’t I apply the same logic to the concept of a flat stomach or lean legs or sculpted arms? Why can’t I shake the feeling that if I look like the women in magazines, I really will be a more confident, better version of myself? Intellectually, I understand the problematic, manipulative roots of beauty standards. As a sociology major, I know the gilded corset I feel trapped by is socially constructed. But as a perfectionist, it’s hard to accept the way I look — to embrace my body, flaws and all — without feeling like I’m giving up. As a feminist, I believe women should have the right to be any size, shape and design they choose. So when I try to embrace the version of myself looking back at me in the mirror, why is it so hard I shake the feeling that
I’m stopping short of the finish line? That I’m settling for what I am instead of pushing for what I could be? For so long, I’ve associated the idea of thinner with better, of leaner with stronger. I’ve tricked myself into thinking that making myself smaller is the only way to become more confident. And if I’m being honest, I don’t know how to rewire my brain to stop thinking that way. What I do know is this summer I decided to stop using exercise as a form of losing weight, and instead focus on it as a means of feeling good. What I do know is I’m trying to value my legs for the miles they let me run every week, my arms for the loads they carry every day. I’ve been saying yes to FaceTime calls or hangouts that last so long it’s too dark to run by the time they’re over. I’m saying no to putting my life on pause while I try to make my body “ready” for it. Quarantine gave me more than ample opportunity to reflect on the time and energy and emotional turmoil I’ve channelled into making my body “perfect,” and I’ve thought a lot about the other ways I could be using that energy. I’m not giving up on a healthy lifestyle, but I’m working towards no longer letting my fixation on body perfection hold me back from my other goals. From being a better sister, a better daughter, a better friend. I’m working towards harnessing that energy to do good in the world instead. I am thrilled to report that this year I did not return to campus with abs. My arms were not sinewy. My legs not freshly toned. For one of the first times in a long time, I didn’t approach a break from campus as my “chance” to transform my body into a smaller, more svelte version of the one that left South Bend, a better, prettier, improved version of myself. Instead, I tried to focus on transforming the way I think about my body. It’s not easy, and I know I have a long way to go, but I’m trying to realize, instead, that the version I am right now is just fine.
KERRY SCHNEEMAN | The Observer
Julianna Conley is a senior studying sociology and pre-health studies with a minor in Journalism, Ethics and Democracy. Though she is forever loyal to Pasquerilla East B-team athletics, Julianna now lives off campus. She can be reached for comment at jconley4@nd.edu or @JuliannaLConley 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 22, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
By GRACIE SIMONCIC Scene Writer
TW: Rape, Suicide and Trauma “Promising Young Woman” starts important conversations about how we discuss rape and modern feminism through a genre-bending film. Played by Carey Mulligan, Cassie’s characterized by her irreverent humor and inability to let go of the rape and death of her best friend, Nina. She’s a 30-year-old med school drop-out that still lives at home with her parents. When she’s not being careless about her day job as a barista, she’s at bars, doing her side hustle. Every night, Cassie pretends to be drunk to the point of incoherence. Men at these bars see her as an easy target and pose as a “nice guy.” They usually take her to their place, keep feeding her drinks and try to have sex with her. Never once does she consent to any of this. Just before any penetration can occur, she snaps out of her “drunken” state. The men are always horrified that she’s completely sober, exposing their understanding of their own actions. Not only is Cassie trying to scare these men out of harming women, but she’s also trying to cope with her own trauma of losing Nina by seeking out the types of men who hurt her. This movie pacing is maintained through multiple plot twists, including the subversion of the “nice guy” trope. Bo Burnham plays Ryan, Cassie’s old med school classmate
By JOYCE FU Scene Writer
When I first heard about “Kate,” it was introduced to me as a perpetrator of anti-Asian violence in that the majority of the Asian characters serve as cannon fodder for the white heroine. The next time I heard about “Kate,” it was number one on Netflix. I decided to momentarily put aside my prejudice against Woody Harrelson for promoting the “5G causes COVID” conspiracy theory on his Instagram account last year and give this movie a shot. For a mid-budget Netflix action, the “mise-en-scene” is equivalently appealing — cyberpunkish in the way all movies set in Japan are (think about “Ghost in the Shell” or “Blade Runner”). Admittedly, there is no claim towards cultural accuracy or attempt at winning any awards, perhaps not having the time to go beyond the LED, anime and katana stereotypes, but in the same way, it could also be argued that there’s no reason the white-dominated crew and cast needed to set “Kate” in Japan. Why shouldn’t we hold all movies, regardless of genre, to similar standards of cultural credibility? Unfortunately, despite the female John Wick angle, the cinematography simply doesn’t have enough artistic value on its own to justify the sheer amount of
whom she reconnects with after their coffee shop meetcute. At first, she’s cautious and tries to avoid him. She’s suffered so much after losing Nina, who was her whole world for so long, that to open herself up to someone else would be too risky. But Ryan isn’t like other guys. He doesn’t pressure her into dates or sex. Not to mention he’s a pediatric surgeon with a quirky sense of humor. They begin to fall in love, and after an adorable montage to “Stars are Blind” by Paris Hilton, Cassie gets lulled into this relationship. Only later do we find out Ryan was one of the men present when Nina was assaulted and did nothing to help her. Through this character development, the film expresses that any man is capable of assault, and we all play a role in rape culture. This movie does a good job contextualizing rape as a cultural phenomenon. It is not usually some random man jumping out of a bush. In truth, it’s usually someone the survivor knows and occurs in a safe space. Cassie’s ex-classmates are the medium through which the movie shows how society teaches us to think about party culture and sex. The consequences of victim blaming are extremely damaging, as demonstrated by Nina dropping her case against her rapist and eventually killing herself. However, I think this movie fails at acknowledging women of color and trans women’s experiences with sexual violence. Laverne Cox, one of the most famous and talented trans actors of our age, plays Cassie’s friends and coworker.
To not bring up the sexual violence trans individuals face daily is doing a disservice to the themes of this film and to women like Cox. From an artistic standpoint, this film experiments with elements from multiple film genres seamlessly. When trying to explain this movie to others, one might compare this film to a super spy movie having a baby with a horror film but make it new age feminism. Viewers will be sobered to realize that this plot isn’t unimaginable and the horrors it portrays are very real. This blurring of artistic lines makes this film so significant. Spurred by the discovery of video footage of Nina’s rape, the plot evolves into a revenge saga. Cassie creates a hit list for everyone involved, including the dean of their medical school and the lawyer who defended Nina’s rapist. Overall, this film succeeds in creating social commentary about sexual assault and the patriarchy. The plot is very unique, and while it feels original, the themes it deals with are far from fiction. The conversations Cassie and Nina’s story start can lead to greater discourse about rape culture and how women experience misogyny differently through the lenses of race, gender and sexual orientation. I would highly recommend this film for the social and creative value it brings to the medium of cinema.
plot-obfuscating action scenes. A confusing number of family members are introduced, seemingly for the entire purpose of being killed off within minutes. Postviewing, only three characters come to the forefront of my mind: Kate (the titular antihero), Ani (Kate’s teenage sidekick) and Varrick (Kate’s handler). Generally, with the exception of an admittedly cool close-up of fingers getting sliced off in the direction of the lens, the violence quickly becomes tedious. But the actual worst part of the entire movie is Miku Martineau’s Ani. Supposedly an orphaned teenager of her family’s internal power struggle, the creators attempt to do too much with too little. Part of it is just crappy lines and a too-sleek outfit that doesn’t align with the gung-ho personality Martineau attempts to portray, but the other part can only be attributed to the obvious emotional disconnect between the actress and the character. While Ani rarely goes a single sentence without some sort of expletive, the lack of emotional commitment makes the “get lost” unaggressive, the “you’re a badass killer, motherf*****” uninspirational and “no s*** from no dudes,” honestly, just kind of awkward. The narrative attempts to be fresh and subversive in making Kate beaten up and wretched (literally dying gruesomely of radiation poisoning) rather than
polished and sexy in the way mainstream female superheroes tend to be. The single best sentence in the entire hour and 40 minutes is when Kate realizes that the culprit behind her poisoning — the entire premise of the movie — was Varrick, the man who raised her, all along. With a ticking clock in her eyes, Kate desperately attempts to make meaning of a lifetime of contract killing and her final mad rampage through Japan: “I’m dying. I have to finish … I have to finish something.” This humanely rendered conflict-narrative shift from Japanese underworld politics to our fundamental human desire for existence arguably redeems the entire movie. We too, can’t help but wonder: If I only had 24 hours left to live, what would I do?
Contact Gracie Simoncic at gsimonci@nd.edu
Contact Joyce Fu at jfu3@nd.edu
“Kate” Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Miku Martineau, Woody Harrelson Director: Cedric Nicolas-Troyan Genre: Action
EMMA KIRNER | The Observer
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The observer | WEDNESDAY, sEPTEMBER 22, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
By WILLOUGHBY THOM Associate Scene Editor
I am very excited to announce the new acquisition at the Snite Museum of Art: “Earth Kid (Boy)” (2020) by Yinka Shonibare CBE. This incredibly compelling sculpture by the Nigerian-British artist is a very special addition to the Snite’s collection of contemporary art, and it’s something that should be celebrated! Shonibare is currently one of the most exhibited, collected and sought after artists in the world. His work is primarily focused on issues of colonialism, race, disabilities and identity (cultural, social, gender and sexual), and Shonibare addresses such issues through the use of photography, sculpture and textiles. “Earth Kid (Boy)” (2020) — acquired to coincide with Notre Dame’s 2021-22 forum, “Care for Our Common Home: Just Transition to a Sustainable Future” — is not only an exploration of climate change, but also an analysis of youth’s role in Earth’s preservation. When approaching this piece, the first thing you’ll notice is how small the figure is, even when it’s on a low pedestal. Its scale is impressive, and as you move around the small boy you find yourself lost in the textures, colors and dimensions of the work. Looking through the netted bag — assumed to be a fishing net — you find an abundance of trash. Did the boy go fishing
By JP SPOONMORE Scene Writer
Clint Eastwood’s newest film, “Cry Macho,” is a feeble attempt to fill up 100 minutes of your time. A meandering road trip story that promises car chases and cowboys sounds like a classic in the making — until those scenes last two minutes and are spliced between long, drawn-out moments in the arid desert of its narrative. Directed by and starring the Western icon himself, Eastwood’s flat execution after decades of filmmaking is almost laughable. The first two problems present themselves right away: the acting and the pacing. Eastwood is over 90 years old; his legs and mouth are the only real pieces of him still fit for the silver screen as he shuffles from point A to point B. His delivery has little range under his cracking voice, and at one point he needs a stunt double just to throw a fake punch. His partner in crime, played by Eduardo Minett, struggles to act in his second language, but I do think he has potential, looking at his track record in Spanish television. The rest of the cast is forgettable, as they only serve as frustrated bodyguards or women swooning for Eastwood’s character — a bizarrely common trend in his recent films. The pacing is too slow to grab anyone’s attention. Watching the film on HBOMax, I checked the runtime every ten minutes. Eastwood’s rooster sidekick is entertaining and the horse training sequence is fun, yet these
and catch trash instead? Did the boy intentionally gather the garbage to aid in ocean clean-up? These are just a few questions surrounding the ambiguity of the figure’s intentions, but it is evident that his knapsack is heavy. The posture and the gait of the boy’s walk implies struggle and/or determination, his life-like hands firmly gripping the net while his head (or the globe) is tilted down towards his feet. Unlike most of Shonibare’s work, the figures in this series have globes as heads, indicating that the weight on the boy’s shoulders are a universal issue rather than a individual one. Moreover, it’s important to note the clothing on “Earth Kid (Boy)” (2020) because this is often overlooked in the shadow of the net on his back. The ways in which Shonibare uses fiber as medium is vital to his works; clothing is an important component of defining identity. “The use of costume as disguise introduces doubt and uncertainty in the sphere of identity ... It inserts postmodern doubt and fragmentation within itself.” Clothing acts as a physical division between ourselves and others. It’s based in the idea of integrity of the body, and when Shonibare recreates iconic images, stories and paintings in headless forms adorned in beautiful wax fabric, he brings to the forefront the amount of “wealth [that] was derived from the exploitation of the colonies” while “draw[ing] attention to greediness regardless of race and times.”
Furthermore, Shonibare tackles the questions of race and sexuality directly, and his use of satire is implemented to create a powerful juxtaposition — “The beautification of the obscene.” The artist’s common use of headless mannequins has a double meaning; indeed, it’s a reference to the beheading of the aristocrats during the French Revolution, but more powerfully, it “may also be analyzed as a means of destabilizing identity construction and focusing attention on poses, gestures, and costumes.” Interestingly, Shonibare’s work emphasizes parody as a strategy of re-appropriation — a key figure in postcolonial art — and his use of wax fabric draws attention to colonialism, nationalism and globalism. Textiles themselves were “some of the first globally traded goods, making them an ideal vehicle to critique the values of global capitalism and homogeneity of production.” If you are interested in visiting “Earth Kid (Boy)” (2020), you can visit him Tuesday through Friday in the Snite Museum of Art’s Works on Paper Gallery, just inside the museum’s doors. It’s an inspiring piece, and I urge you to take some time admiring every detail and thinking about the ways the youth play a role in saving our environment.
actual scenes rarely have time to breathe as they are crushed under the absurdly drawn-out beats of characters talking about nothing. Taking a step back to look at what the film is trying to do, there is no missing piece with the story and its characters. It’s just boring. The only good part of this film is how it looks. The cinematography glides through the Mexican landscape, basking in the golden sun with horses and roosters racing against Chevy pick-ups. It looks like a love letter to the forgotten Western genre, preserving the rust and dirt just as the sun dips below the desert hills. This flavor of natural beauty is not only used for the landscapes, but for the dialogue and performances too, making the characters feel like parts of a distant land rather than people in a developing story. I can’t determine whether this was done on purpose or for the intent of a painterly American aesthetic, but the camera seems to run through muscle memory the whole way through. As if painted with a single brush stroke with no paint, this film tells little and says nothing. The most baffling part of this film’s production is the script. Written by N. Richard Nash before he died, it has a history of canceled productions going back to 1975. When it was first published, the story might have been fresh and new, but recently this archetype has been retold a dozen times: an old man with a troubled past rediscovers his humanity by helping a lost (non-white) child escape their own troubled upbringing. The film feels like an old man’s attempt at recreating the magic
of Taika Waititi’s “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” or James Mangold’s “Logan” while not understanding the beauty of those films at all. The dramatic flare is missing behind the camera, and the quirkiness of growing up or getting old is never capitalized on in any scene. I honestly don’t know why this film is getting mediocre reviews online. It’s only at a feature length runtime because it pads the weakest scenes while rushing the ones that actually sound interesting. I see no reason why Eastwood continues to act when it looks so uncomfortable and inefficient. He promised to give up acting with “Gran Torino,” but that was 13 years ago. Without his wrinkled face and household name, this film would be nothing — yet paradoxically, it convinced me that Eastwood has lost his cinematic spark.
Contact Willoughby Thom at wthom@nd.edu
Contact JP Spoonmore at jpspoonmo@nd.edu
“Cry Macho” Starring: Clint Eastwood, Eduardo Minett Director: Clint Eastwood Genre: Western If you liked: “The Mule,” “Logan”
MAKAYLA HERNANDEZ | The Observer
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ndsmcobserver.com | WEDNESDAY, sEPTEMBER 22, 2021 | The Observer
Crossword | Will Shortz
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Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Put more thought into the changes you want to make before you proceed. Question your motives to ensure your emotions aren’t propelling you instead of practicality and common sense. Channel your energy where it will benefit you most and help bring in more cash, peace of mind and opportunities. When dealing with personal and professional relationships, trust facts, not hearsay. Your numbers are 8, 13, 20, 24, 32, 38, 46. ARIES (March 21-April 19): You’ll advance if you shift your thoughts to what’s important to you and use your intelligence to fast-track what you want to accomplish. Change requires action and finishing what you start. Physical fitness and sharing with someone you love will bring good results. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Concentrate on getting ahead professionally and putting your energy into showing others how efficient and eager you are to use your skills diversely and navigate your way into a better position. An unusual encounter will lead to an emotional decision. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Distance yourself from people who nag or criticize you. Trust your ability to get things done your way and on time. Use your intelligence and finesse to choose the direction you want to pursue. A romantic gesture will enhance your life. CANCER (June 21-July 22): You’ll gain insight if you listen and observe. Don’t trust anyone with personal information or someone handling financial or contractual matters for you. Take control, and bring about the changes you want to happen. Avoid joint ventures and high-risk investments. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Resurrect old ideas and reconnect with people who have something to offer that will help you put your plans into play. A reunion will encourage you to partner with someone who shares your enthusiasm. Love and romance are favored. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take nothing for granted. If you want something done correctly, do it yourself. Choose your path, and follow through with your plans. Letting someone lead the way won’t bring you the satisfaction or happiness you desire. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You are sitting in a good position, so don’t let an emotional incident sabotage your plans. Put serious thought into how you live, what you want to accomplish and where you stand on issues that affect others. Mindful action is encouraged. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Live within your budget. Pay attention to the cost of living and where you can cut corners. Do what you can yourself instead of paying someone. A change will encourage you to rethink the way and where you choose to live. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Pay more attention to the way you look, the services you can offer and exploring new ways to use your skills, knowledge and attributes. A partnership with someone who is just as dedicated to a common cause will blossom. Romance is favored. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Don’t share personal or financial information. Put more into the way you present yourself physically instead of sharing opinions. You’ll get more in return if the people you deal with feel comfortable around you. Be a good listener. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Look at the logistics of a situation you face, then make decisions based on facts, not emotions. A disciplined approach to money, health and rules will spare you being put in an awkward position. Make fitness and romance priorities. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Get everything in order before you share your intentions with others. Expect someone jealous to rival you. Know your boundaries and put your energy into finishing what you start. A romantic gesture will take you by surprise. Brthday Baby: You are giving and warm. You shine with an inner light that radiates onto others
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
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The observer | WEDNESDAY, sEPTEMBER 22, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Cross Country
Sports Authority
Irish take first at National Catholic By EVAN MCKENNA Managing Editor
A f ter a successf u l season opener at t he WinrowVa lpa ra iso Open ea rlier t his mont h, t he Not re Da me men’s a nd women’s cross count r y tea ms ga ined momentum at t he 42nd Nat iona l Cat holic Inv itat iona l on Friday, each squad ea rning a f irst-place tea m f inish despite t he mugg y weat her. Bot h tea ms enjoyed a w ide ma rg in of v ictor y as well — t he men’s tea m bested t heir nex t opponent, Lew is, by 53 points, a nd t he women’s tea m dominated t he second-best Duquesne by a whopping 66 points, a lso boast ing a per fect score of 15, w it h its f ive scoring r unners f inishing in t he top f ive overa ll. The hot, humid day was f u l l of f irsts for t he Irish: This meet ma rked an Irish debut for f reshma n Kate Wiser, Universit y of India napolis g raduate student t ra nsfer Lauren Ba iley a nd sophomore Robbie Cozea n, who was redshir ted last fa l l. A nd not on ly was t he race t he tea ms’ f irst rea l taste of t heir home tur f; it was a lso t he tea m’s f irst home meet w it hout COVID-19 sa fet y g uidelines prohibit ing spectators. For t he f irst t ime in nea rly t wo yea rs, r unners were met w it h t he sights a nd sounds of fa ns lining t he course. Head men’s cross count r y coach Sea n Ca rlson st ressed t he impor ta nce of t his newfound energ y on Burke Golf Course — especia lly for t hose ex periencing t heir f irst col leg iate crowds. “For some of our younger r unners, t his was t he f irst t ime t hey have had a proper cha nce to r un in f ront of our home crowd,” Ca rlson sa id. “I t hin k t hey fed of f of t hat energ y. Wit h ACC’s being on our home course t his yea r, it was a g reat oppor tunit y to have a dress rehea rsa l for what t hat at mosphere w i l l be like.” Spor t ing a n Irish uniform for t he f irst t ime, Cozea n cer ta in ly seemed to feed of f t he course’s energ y — w it h Ca rlson’s eyes on t he former redshir t going into t he race, he proved himself to be a va luable asset for t he Irish mov ing for wa rd, a st rong second-ha lf k ick boost ing him f rom a subpa r sta r t to a second-place f inish. Ca rlson pra ised Cozea n’s per forma nce, a lso not ing
his la rge potent ia l in t he coming yea rs. “Robbie was a sta ndout per former for us,” Ca rlson sa id. “I a m excited about his potent ia l to be a key cont ributor for us in t he nex t couple of yea rs. He was hur t ing prett y ea rly on in t he race a nd dropped of f t he lead g roup, but was tough enough to ra lly back up to ta ke second place. He’s been consistent a ll summer in t ra ining a nd is looking to have a ver y st rong season.” Cont inuing t heir successf u l pack-r unning st rateg ies, t he men’s tea m stuck toget her f rom t he g un to t he f inish. At t he f irst mile ma rker, a ll eight men found t hemselves in t he top 11 posit ions, a ll sepa rated by less t ha n one second, a nd t he tea m’s top-f ive scorers a ll f inished w it hin a 10-second period. Ca rlson commended t he tea m for t heir steady commit ment to pack-r unning, st ressing t hat t he men’s format ion shou ldn’t cha nge much as t he season cont inues. “Ever y t hing we do here — in t ra ining a nd racing — is centered a round t he tea m,” Ca rlson sa id. “We wa nt to t ra in a nd race toget her, as a g roup. As t he compet it ion gets tougher, a nd as t he season goes on, it becomes even more impor ta nt to stay composed a nd r un a longside your tea mmates. This is a st rateg y we w ill def initely hope to employ moving for wa rd.” W hile not quite as successf u l in ma inta ining a la rge pack, t he women’s tea m st ill proved relat ively successf u l in r unning toget her — tea mmates crossed t he f inish line in t wos, w it h Kate Wiser a nd Maddy Denner snatching t he f irst t wo spots in quick succession, a nd t he pa ir of Lauren Ba iley a nd Kat ie Rose Blachow icz follow ing not too fa r behind. As t he season picks up speed, Ca rlson hopes to f ind success in steadiness. “Not hing cha nges for us — we w ill stay pat ient a nd focus a ll our energ y on nat iona ls a nd conference.” The Irish w ill r un nex t in t he Joe Pia ne Inv itat iona l on Friday, Oct. 1, w it h t he women’s 5K beg inning at 11: 00 a.m. a nd t he men’s 5-mile race k ick ing of f at 11:45 a.m.11:45 a.m. Contact Evan McKenna at emckenn2@nd.edu
Jeter, Grandal, evolution of stats perception MLB Gehrig Smalstig Sports Writer
Derek Jeter. A name synonymous with professionalism, consistency and a jumpthrow from the 5.5 hole. A player who fell just one vote short of becoming the second player to be unanimously inducted into the Hall of Fame. An icon of one of America’s greatest cities, who kids around the country now call … the most overrated player in baseball history? If anyone would have thought to have uttered those words just a decade ago, they probably would have chastised themselves for lack of a conscience. Now, with every member of Gen Z scouring the internet for the most comprehensive look at players, both past and present, some important discoveries have been made. The average fan would look at his basic stats and spot the .310 career batting average and 3456 career hits, both marks that put him among the best to ever play the game. Now, a nerd like me will scroll down the Baseball Reference page for some more context. There, I find a 115 career OPS+. This is a weighted stat that takes into account on-base percentage and slugging where 100 is league average for that year. Objectively, OPS+ gives a better look than batting average at the value that a player adds at the plate, as it takes into account valuable outcomes like walks and extra-base hits which average simply neglects. Now, a 115 career OPS+ is nothing to scoff at, but some context puts light on the situation. This mark puts Jeter tied for 534th all-time, and among the likes of other retired players like Dave Kingman, Grady Sizemore
SMC Soccer Continued from page 16
the Belles up 2-0 before the end of the half. Sophomore goalkeeper Brianna Dewey had a strong
and Lucas Duda. Good? Yes. First ballot worthy, on the other hand ... Well, what about his impact on defense? Not many can say that they have five Gold Gloves, especially at the shortstop position. As it turns out, Jeter was much better in highlight reels than he was on a day-to-day basis. According to Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), a stat that uses multiple advanced defensive metrics to compute defensive value, he might be one of the worst defenders in MLB history. In his career, he had -165 DRS and even won a Gold Glove in a season where he had -24 DRS. To be frank, that is a disgrace. But, this doesn’t mean you should look down on Derek Jeter. It simply means you should see him for what he truly is. He is a cultural icon that was very good, but maybe not great, for a very long time. He had so many magical moments; he dated superstar after superstar, and he won 5 World Series, all in New York City. This was a recipe for a level of fame that perhaps no other baseball player has seen. That’s why Derek Jeter is viewed as he is, despite the fact that advanced metrics cast a shadow on his illustrious career. While Jeter is an example of a household name whose performance doesn’t live up to the hype or the counting stats, there are plenty of examples of just the opposite. One of the best is Yasmani Grandal. A name that many casual fans would struggle to conjure up when asked who starts at catcher for the Chicago White Sox. What would that fan think when first seeing his .237 batting average this year? I expect they wouldn’t bat an eye, assuming that they were looking at another average catcher. In reality,
Grandal has easily been the best backstop in the league for all of 2021. He has some of the best plate discipline in the league and makes the best of his limited swings, creating a 160 OPS+. Additionally, while it hasn’t shown in recent years, Grandal is historically an elite pitch framer. Using data collected by Statcast, we can see that Grandal got strike calls on 52.5% of borderline pitches from 2015-2018, compared to the league average of 47%. These are the types of things that often cannot be observed while watching just one game, and in some cases cannot be found on the most popular statistical reporting apps and sites. This, in many ways, is an example of what makes baseball so beautiful. The general public wants to believe that baseball is boring, but I know that it is just wonderfully complex. The deeper you dive, the more you get out of every inning you watch, or piece of statistical information that you consume. A 10-pitch walk drawn by Juan Soto becomes just as impressive as a Brett Gardner home run that snuck into the Short Porch in Yankee Stadium. This may not be the best pitch to someone who’s thinking about starting to watch baseball, but I hope it makes the casual fan want to learn more. To progress from looking at batting average, to on-base plus slugging, to OPS+, to WRC+, and beyond. Really, I promise being a baseball nerd isn’t as bad as it sounds.
performance as well, earning her first career goalkeeping w in. She would post four saves on the night. She would allow one shot past in the 80th minute but defended the
only other attempt to tie by the Beavers in order to maintain the v ictor y for the Belles. The Belles look ahead to a home match against Manchester Universit y on Wednesday, September 22.
Contact Gehrig Smalstig at esmalsti@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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So you were never a saint / And I’ve loved in shades of wrong / We learn to live with the pain / Mosaic broken hearts / But this love is brave and wild / And I never (never) saw you coming / And I’ll never (never) be the same / This is a
state of grace / This is the worthwhile fight / Love is a ruthless game / Unless you play it good and right / These are the hands of fate / You’re my Achilles heel / This is the golden age of something good / And right and real
sports
ndsmcobserver.com | WEDNESDAY, sEPTEMBER 22, 2021 | The Observer
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OBSERVER FANTASY CORNER
Week 4: Williams and Pollard take top spots By SAM OUHAJ, GEHRIG SMALSTIG, J. J. POST, JOHN KALEMKERIAN and JAMISON COOK Sports Writers
Week 2 of the NFL is in the books, and man, was it brutal. Many key players were injured, which is always terrible to hear. However, besides the injuries, many players went off for fantasy teams across the world. Week 3 is underway, and whether your 0-2, 1-1 or 2-0, we here at the Fantasy Corner are ready to help you win.
Sam Ouhaj - Sports Writer Must Start: Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers How about Mike Williams having an excellent start to the 2021 season? The Clemson product has had 22 points in both games so far this season, and with a matchup against Kansas City this weekend, he is likely to continue his streak. Williams and second-year quarterback, Justin Herbert, have already developed a flourishing relationship with one another despite him being the WR2 on this team. Williams is a solid flex play this week and is someone I would consider implementing in your starting lineup here on
out. It also helps that he is rostered in only 85% of leagues, which means there’s a good chance he is on the waiver wire this week or on someone’s bench.
Must Sit: James Robinson, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars As an owner of Robinson, this is not what I wanted to see two weeks into the season. Robinson was the best waiver wire pickup last season, and many thought he would continue his dominance in Duval. However, as the Jacksonville offense continues to struggle, there is little reason to keep Robinson in your starting lineup. Robinson has yet to have over eleven carries in a game and has only had three receptions in each of his first two games. If you have the second year running back, bench him immediately or find a trade partner.
Who To Pick Up: Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys (Owned in 38.6% of leagues) John Kalemkerian - Sports Writer Must Start: Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers Only three WRs have accrued 20+ PPR points in both weeks. Paid Advertisement
Two, Cooper Kupp and Tyler Lockett, are almost unanimously started. The third? None other than fifth-year Charger Mike Williams. This finally appears to be the year Williams breaks out, as the clear 1A option next to Keenan Allen for young gun-slinger Justin Herbert. The Chargers offense looks to keep rolling in what is likely to be a high-scoring affair with Kansas City in week three and Williams, who has been targeted a ridiculous 22 times so far this season, will be a primary beneficiary of the Chiefs suspect secondary.
Must Sit: Kareem Hunt, RB, Cleveland Browns Hunt’s situation in Cleveland is frustrating, as he is clearly a talented back with high fantasy potential. However, sitting behind Nick Chubb on the depth chart severely decreases Hunt’s value. Although he actually saw more carries than Chubb against the Texans, his low snap count (he was only on the field for 23 plays) lowered his ceiling significantly. A matchup against a stout Bears front seven in week three will make it difficult to envision starting Hunt this week.
Who To Pick Up: Rondale Moore, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Gehrig Smalstig - Sports Writer Must Start: Sterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants On a team that seems to only be looking down right now, Shepard has been the bright spot. While I do expect Saquon to get things going in the coming weeks, the Giants (and their fans) seem insistent upon believing in their playoff chances and therefore will likely continue to lean on what’s worked so far. Shepard’s 19 targets have resulted in 16 catches for 207 yards and 1 touchdown. It’s safe to say that he’s been working and will only continue to do so against a poor Falcons’ defense.
Must Sit: Henry Ruggs, WR, Las Vegas Raiders I know that many who started Ruggs this past week will be riding the high of his second career 100 yard performance, but he still is very limited by his reliance on the big play. Ruggs now has nearly 40% of his career yards in just two of his 15 career games. This, coupled with the fact that he will be matched up against one of the best secondaries in the league leads me to believe that he will have a more typical and underwhelming performance. Instead, find a more reliable receiver with better target share, especially in PPR leagues.
the same worry as Elliot owners, though on a much smaller scale. The backup running back in Atlanta (Cordarrelle Patterson) has looked to be more efficient than the starter through these two weeks. And unfortunately, teams (especially struggling ones like the Falcons) care about production far more than fantasy ownership. If Patterson keeps making himself useful, Davis’ somewhat rare value as the owner of almost all the reps in his team’s backfield will diminish and with it will his fantasy upside.
Who To Pick Up: Darnell Mooney, WR, Chicago Bears Jamison Cook - Sports Writer Must Start: James White, RB, New England Patriots
Who To Pick Up: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, Green Bay Packers
With at least six targets and six receptions in both Week 1 and 2, White is a must-start flex in PPR leagues. He is a great fit with Mac Jones, and the volume he sees in the receiving game is off the charts each and every week. If White can get in the end zone like he did this week, then he becomes a reliable weekly starter. The Saints’ defense gave up 65 receiving yards on five catches to Christian McCaffrey a week ago, so this sets up nicely for White to have another high-scoring game. He may not be an RB as of yet, but he should be played at flex in PPR leagues.
J.J. Post - Sports Writer Must Start: Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Must Sit: Clyde EdwardsHelaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Despite only being rostered in 38% of ESPN leagues, I’m going bold on Tony Pollard as a viable 12 man league RB2/FLEX guy right now. I get Ezekiel Elliot is the big star in the Cowboys backfield, but Pollard got plenty of chances for the first time this year against the Chargers and thrived. Averaging 8.4 yards per carry, a touchdown and three catches for 31 yards, the nominal backup posted 23 PPR points. While Zeke had a solid game, Pollard did more with less. It’s hard to imagine if that continues the Cowboys won’t continue to work him into the backfield more and more.
I am sad to say that I seemingly wasted my second-round pick in both of my leagues on Clyde. Through two weeks, Edwards-Helaire has a whopping 86 rushing yards and three catches for 29 yards, totaling a cumulative 12.8 fantasy points in PPR formats. He also had the game-losing fumble on the final drive of the Monday night game against the Ravens, giving coach Andy Reid even more reasons to lose faith in the second-year back. The fact that he did not have any catches either is more cause for concern. I am not too optimistic about CEH going forward, especially in the Chiefs’ pass-heavy offense. Leave him on your bench in Week 3.
Must Sit: Mike Davis, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Who to Pick Up: Tim Patrick, WR, Denver Broncos (Owned in 12.8% of leagues)
I was bearish on Davis, who looked to have an ideal fantasy situation as the undisputed lead back for a team that picked him up seeing clear value off a good year. It appears as if my fears are looking more and more true. Davis owners now might have
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 and John Kalemkerian at jkalemke@nd.edu
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Sports
The observer | WEDNESDAY, sEPTEMBER 22, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Ward Continued from page 16
Cincinnat i. That will k ick of f t he mont h of f October for t he Irish, a nd by t he end of t he mont h, t he Irish w ill have hosted one more opponent t hat is ra n ked at t he t ime of t his w rit ing aga inst No. 21 Nor t h Ca rolina. The ha rdest work is by no mea ns out of t he way, but t he Irish a lso have ma naged not to t rash t heir whole season aga inst an ea rly opponent. They a re st ill in content ion for t he College Footba l l Playof fs, a nd sitt ing at No. 12, t hey rea l ly a ren’t in a terrible posit ion to st ri ke on tea ms t hat have historica lly cemented t hemselves inside t he top four t hat have, so fa r t his season, come of f a litt le sha k y a nd sta r t to not look t hemselves. It’s impor ta nt for t he Irish to be able to ca rr y t his momentum f rom t he w in over Purdue over to t heir f irst compet it ion aga inst a ra n ked opponent t his week. If t hey a re able to come toget her as a cong r uent unit, t hey w i l l be dif f icu lt to stop. The of fensive line needs to be patched up, but t here have been glimpses a nd spa rks of g reat play t hat have snuck t hrough in moments t his season, even if t his hasn’t resu lted in a ny major dominat ion on t he scoreboa rd. The r un ga me has sta r ted to show spa rks, Coa n is f inding ta rgets, a nd if, heaven forbid, he goes dow n, his backup t r ue f reshma n Tyler Buchner has ser ved as a dy na mic weapon when his number has been ca l led t his season. Look ing a head, playing toget her as a complimenta r y unit is one of t he most impor ta nt t hings for t his g roup to do if t hey wa nt to be successf u l. Contact Jimmy Ward at wward@hcc-nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Sports Authority
Ouhaj: Way too early 2021 NFL award predictions home the MV P.
Sam Ouhaj Sports Writer
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Mac Jones
We are already t wo weeks into the NFL season, and already a plethora of stor ylines have happened. W hether it is Trevor Law rence and Zach Wilson’s early struggles or Mahomes losing his first ever September game to Lamar Jackson, this season is already shaping up to be one for the memor y books. With the season starting, I thought it would be fun to give my way too early award predictions. These players have show n early on why they are deser v ing of the follow ing awards, but this is a long season, especially w ith a seventeenth game added this offseason, so take these w ith a grain of salt.
Most Valuable Kyler Murray
Player:
Last season, Kyler Murray was my mid-season favorite-to-w in offensive player of the year, but unfortunately, he would not stop King Henr y or Aaron Rodgers. However, this year is different, and we are already seeing what Murray can do in K liff Kingsbur y’s system a few years later. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year has already throw n for 689 yards and seven touchdow ns that may not lead the league. Still, the A rizona Cardinals are currently sitting at a 2-0 record. Murray has been playing fantastic football and is making Mahomesesuqe plays on the field, which ever yone around the league was hoping to see. The Cardinals have a relatively easy schedule for the rest of the season, though games against the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Brow ns, Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams could be tough matchups. If Kyler Murray can continue his dominance this season, he w ill be w ithout a doubt the favorite to take
How about the former Crimson Tide quarterback prov ing why he should not have fallen in the draft? Mac Jones looks impressive through t wo starts so far and compared to his other rookies, he is looking like maybe he should have gone over Trevor Lawerence. Through t wo games this season, Jones may only have one touchdow n to his name but his playst yle looks like he has been in the league for a few years already. Josh McDaniels is know n for creating an offensive scheme that best suits his quarterback. Despite the skill of other rookies this season, Mac Jones has the best coaching by far. At the same time, we have yet to see Jones sling the ball dow n the field, w ith McDaniels opting for shorter passes. I believe as the season continues, Mac Jones w ill develop into a top-15 Quarterback and become the fourth quarterback in five years to take home the Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Micah Parsons Micah Parsons was labeled as a concern heading into the 2021 draft. During the draft process, questions about his character off the field and his size on the field plagued him. He was also followed by his decision to opt-out of the 2020 season due to COV ID-19. However, the Dallas Cowboys who are know n for taking risks on players are looking like they hit the lotter y. Micah Parsons has been more than just an OLB on an injur y-ridden defense. Last week against the Los Angeles Chargers, he made his first start since his high school career at defensive end. That game went better than anyone could’ve expected. In that game, Parsons
finished w ith a higher rush grade than Joey Bosa, who is considered among the league’s best pass rushers, and to top it off, he proceeded to dominate the Chargers offensive line the entire game. Parsons was the pre-season favorite to w in the Defensive Rookie of the Year and still is. He has certainly begun to prove that idea to be right.
Comeback Player of the Year: Dak Prescott Another Cowboy cracks this list, and for a good reason. After a devastating ank le injur y during Week 5 of last season, Dak Prescott has picked up right where he left off. A fter going toe to toe w ith Tom Brady in a Week 1 loss, Prescott looked like he was ready to take his game even further. A top-five quarterback when healthy, Dak Prescott is the real deal. The former fourth-round pick out of Mississippi State is ever ything you want out of a player both on and off the field. W hen he is out there, the entire team feeds off his energ y. I do not need to detail why Prescott has already won the award. But, after seeing ever y thing he’s done since he stepped on the field this season, just know, he is taking home the award come Februar y.
Offensive Player of the Year: Derrick Henry Derrick Henr y has been the league’s best running back since the 2019 season. After his 237 total yard performance in a comeback w in against the Seattle Seahawks, he is looking to be the favorite to repeat as the award w inner. Last year Henr y rushed for 2027 yards and 17 touchdow ns which netted him the Offensive Player of the Year. Though if you ask me, he should have won the MV P over Aaron Rodgers. Since the Tennessee Titans traded for Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henr y has benefited the most.
Write Sports. Email Mannion McGinley at mmcginl3@nd.edu
Marcus Mariota, who is currently sitting as a backup behind Derek Carr, couldn’t do what Tennessee needed. Tannehill prov ides an arm that has to be schemed for, allow ing Derrick Henr y to feast. However, if Henr y rushes for 2000 yards again, he could easily replace Kyler Murray as the favorite to w in MV P. Offensive Player of the Year is not a lousy award to take home again though if he doesn’t leap Murray.
Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald Picking a Defensive Player of the Year this early on is always rough as most teams are still figuring out their defensive identit y. However, if I am w illing to put money on before they take off, Aaron Donald would be the name. Donald has already won this award three times in his career. A fourth time would be absurd, but there is a strong chance it happens again this season. If it did, he would pass J.J. Watt and Law rence Taylor for most times w inning DPOY. Perhaps the most outstanding defensive tack le ever, Aaron Donald is the only player I have w itnessed get triple-teamed on almost ever y single snap. Chandler Jones’s 5 sack game could create some competition w ith Donald. But ultimately, it is doubtful that Jones w ill produce at Donald’s level. Think about it like this, Donald had 20.5 sacks in one season during 2018. Additionally, over his eightyear career, he already has 86.5. I would bet that at the seasons’ end, we w ill see Aarron w ith his 100 career sacks. Contact Sam Ouhaj at souhaj@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authorit y are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
sports
ndsmcobserver.com | WEDNESDAY, sEPTEMBER 22, 2021 | The Observer
15
OBSERVER FANTASY CORNER
ND volleyball falls 3-2 to No. 3 Ohio State Observer Sports Staff
Editor’s Notre: A version of this story was published online on Sept. 21. On Sunday, Notre Dame volleyball dropped a five set decision, falling to no. 3 Ohio State 3-2 in Columbus. The two teams traded sets all match, w ith the Buckeyes claiming the first 17-25, before the Irish leveled the score in the second 25-20. Ohio State would once again take control of the match w ith a 20-25 w in of their ow n in set three, but Notre Dame clawed back from the brink of defeat w ith a 25-23 fourth set v ictor y to force a decisive fifth set. That deciding set proved to be all Buckeyes. After the two teams exchanged the initial points in a 3-3 start, the home side pulled away and established a firm four point lead that would eventually stretch to six by the end of the match, w ith Ohio State taking home the set 9-15. Despite the loss, the contest wasn’t w ithout promise for the Fighting Irish. Ohio
State clocked in as the third ranked team in the nation in the new American Volleyball Coaches Association poll that was released today, and taking them to five sets is no easy feat. This is especially true when one compares the results on Sunday to Notre Dame’s contest with the Buckeyes just days before on Friday at home. Ohio State took home that match in a three set sweep, and was at a fair arms length away from reach of the Irish for most of the night. The team’s three leaders in kills — sophomore Aubrey Hamilton, senior Charley Niego and junior Caroline Meuth — all led the way on the attacking front in Columbus over the weekend, posting a team high 18, 12 and 16 kills respectively. Senior setter Zoe Nunez recorded 45 assists, bringing her season total to 316, and sophomore libero Hattie Monson picked up 24 digs, adding to her team-high season total of 145. The Fighting Irish (37), will now enter the
conference-only portion of their schedule, starting with a two game home stand this week against Florida State and Miami. Florida State, who received 16 votes in the most recent AVCA poll, will enter the match at a 7-2 clip, whereas the Miami Hurricanes currently hold an impressive 9-1 record. It is worth noting that Notre Dame’s record, while weaker, has also featured losses to tougher opponents: the Irish have fallen to no. 3 Ohio State, no. 1 Texas, and no. 16 Western Kentucky, while the Seminoles have only played no. 14 Florida (who they beat 3-1), and the Hurricanes have yet to face a ranked matchup. These first two conference tests should prove an interesting benchmark for the Fighting Irish, as they look to climb the standings early on and establish themselves in the conference. Catch Notre Dame volleyball opening up ACC play on Friday night at the Purcell Pav ilion in South Bend at 7 p.m. The match w ill also be streamed on ACC Net work extra. Paid Advertisement
RYAN VIGILANTE | The Observer
Irish freshman outside hitter Paris Thompson jumps up to serve the ball over the net during Notre Dame’s home win over Oakland, 3-2.
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The observer | WEDNESDAY, sEPTEMBER 22, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Football
Hardest test for Notre Dame lies ahead, starts in Chicago with Wisconsin Jimmy Ward Associate Sports Editor
The Irish may have come away w it h a w in on Saturday at home aga inst a n in-state riva l, but t heir ha rdest work of t he yea r st i l l lies a head of t hem. A lt hough it was t heir most dominat ing per forma nce of t he season, t he Boi lerma kers st i l l gave t he Irish a r un for t heir money at t he end of t he day. Of course, at t he end of t he f irst ha lf, Not re Da me on ly held a 10-3 lead over Purdue a nd was st r ugg ling to get much of a ny t hing going in f ront of t heir la rge home crowd. This was appa rent ly a big enough ga me for someone prett y high up on t he ladder to deem it a n “Irish Wea r Green” ga me. Now, t hese g reen out ga mes have historica lly
been ta ken adva ntage of by t he people ca lling t he shots in order to sell shir ts a nd mercha ndise while not actua lly wea ring t he fa mous g reen jerseys. Green scheme aside, t hey usua lly at least have t he self-awa reness to choose a big ga me as opposed to, oh, I don’t k now, maybe a 2 :30 Week 3 matchup aga inst Purdue, where t he biggest sta r ha iling f rom West La fayette in t he weekend is NBC’s new poster boy in Drew Brees. At least someone had t he wherew it ha l to g ive a ll t he students g reen pom-poms so as to ensure t he product a nd bra nding on Peacock looks good; but in t his case, who k nows? For a ll we k now t he pompoms cou ld have made a ll t he dif ference in t his ga me. I mea n, I g uess it def initely lends to t he unique
stor y of how t his tea m has achieved a 3-0 record. It t r u ly has been a n interesting one. But t he Irish w ill play t heir f irst ra n ked tea m t his weekend; g raduate t ra nsfer qua r terback Jack Coa n w ill squa re of f aga inst his f riends a nd former tea mmates in a College Ga meday showdow n bet ween t he No. 12 ra n ked Irish a nd t he No. 18 ra n ked Wisconsin Badgers. It is not going to be a n easy ga me for t he Irish, a nd it ver y well may resu lt in t he f irst loss of t he season for t his tea m; but, unfor tunately, it ver y well cou ld a lso not be t he last. The Irish w ill return home a f ter t heir Sha mrock Series ga me at Soldier Field a nd turn a round to host now No. 8 ra n ked see WARD PAGE 14
MAX PETROSKY | The Observer
Irish senior wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. reaches for the ball during Notre Dame’s 27-13 home win over the Purdue Boilermakers.
SMC SOCCER
Belles take down Anderson, Bluffton Observer Sports Staff
ANNA MASON | The Observer
Belles junior defender Sophia Fleming dribbles away from a defender during Saint Mary’s home loss to Anderson on Sept. 4, 2019 with a score of 2-1. The Belles defeated Anderson this year, 1-0.
The Belles earned their first w ins of the season w ith battles against Anderson Universit y and Bluffton Universit y on Saturday and Monday, respectively. The Belles hosted Anderson at home in Notre Dame, Indiana, and walked away w ith a shutout v ictor y. Freshman for ward Katie Harrington netted one early on in the match to make her first collegiate goal and the only score of the day. Harrington’s successful shot came after a few attempts from senior for ward Rose Stack house. Senior midfielder Maya Cole then took a free-kick, the ball eventually finding the feet of Harrington before soaring past the Ravens’ goalie into the upper right of the net. St. Mar y’s defense also prov ided some offensive pressure, w ith Cole and defenders senior Lindsey Herdsman and freshman
Sydney Skarbek inching up from the back line. Despite this, all other shots on goal proved futile, whether because they missed their target or were saved by the Ravens. Freshman goalkeeper Kara Stacey ex hibited the same effort in goal, denying any attempt from their opponent. At the end of the day, the Belles outshot the Ravens 16 to 11 and secured the w in. At their next contest on Monday night, the team demonstrated the same tenacit y on the road against Bluffton. There was another early goal that game, as junior for ward Jillian Bowen made her first of t wo goals of the night in the 22nd minute. This followed several shots on goal that were fired in quick succession, all being blocked from the back of the net until the junior’s made good on the attempt. Bowen would score again in the 40th minute, putting see SMC SOCCER PAGE 12