The independent
To uncover
newspaper serving
the truth
Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s
and report
and holy cross
it accurately
Volume 55, Issue 40 | MONDAY, February 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
University admits 1,673 to class of 2025 Notre Dame accepts record number of students in early action application round, focuses on diversity By ALYSA GUFFEY Associate News Editor
The Universit y released decisions for its restrictive early action (REA) process Dec. 16, admitting 1,673 students to the class of 2025. With 7,744 total applicants, this year’s REA pool was the largest ever, w ith about a 21.6 percent acceptance rate. The total number of applications across REA and regular decision also hit an all-time high w ith 23,637 applications.
Don Bishop, associate v ice president for undergraduate enrollment, said the Universit y is up a total of 11 percent for all applications. Ninet y percent of this increase in admits are students of diversit y, he said, w ith 115 more admits for U.S. students of color and international students. “We’re tr y ing to become each year more diverse, more representative of the entire characteristics of see ADMISSIONS PAGE 4
LIYA BLITZER | The Observer
International students return to campus By ISABELLA LAUFENBERG News Writer
Due to w idespread COVID-19 restrictions and concerns, many Notre Dame internationa l students were unable to come to campus for the fa ll 2020 semester. According to Notre Dame Internationa l, 138 incoming internationa l students were affected by various COVID-19 complications that didn’t a llow them to arrive on campus in the fa ll. First-year chemistr y major Cecilia Ignacio was one of the students unable to come to campus due to v isa processing concerns. Ignacio, who hails from Manila, Philippines, said she was concerned about applying for a v isa and not receiving one due to COVID-19. “My embassy opened three days before I could leave, so we didn’t want to waste a ll that money apply ing for the v isa and then not get it,” Ignacio said. Fellow internationa l student Elysa Ng May May said her embassy continuously cancelled her inter v iew to apply for her student v isa. Ng May May, a first-year biolog y major, said doing her online classes was
NEWS PAGE 3
complicated by the extreme time difference bet ween South Bend and Ja karta, Indonesia, her hometow n. She said ba lancing her work w ith her part-time job was a lso difficult. “The timings are a little bit off. For example, my chemistr y course was at 1 a.m., but then daylight sav ings time caused it to be at 2 a.m. So, it was ver y ex hausting for me because I a lso have a part-time job,” Ng May May said. Ignacio said she a lso struggled w ith her time zone difference. “The time difference is completely opposite, so if it’s like 3 p.m. there, it’s 3 a.m. here,” Ignacio said. “I slept a ll day, and I was awa ke a ll night.” Many of the incoming internationa l students were able to continue their studies and were part of a group coined the “ND explorers.” A nother incoming internationa l student from South Korea, Sandy Nam, explained that the ND explorers had their ow n sections of oncampus classes they took remotely w ith others in their same situation. “One class I took had approx imately 12 students in it,
SCENE PAGE 5
and there were about seven classes open for us,” Nam said. “We had no interaction w ith the other students on campus, but sometimes when I went to office hours, I got to see them because the professors were interacting w ith other students on campus.” Ng May May said she a lso felt ver y isolated from the campus communit y, and it was hard to ma ke friends remotely. “I felt ver y disconnected w ith people who are on campus,” Ng May May said. “It was a lso initia lly hard to ma ke friends w ith the other indiv idua ls because they were on Zoom. It wasn’t as organic as say ing hi to someone in class.” The ND explorers were only a llowed to ta ke three classes last semester because they were classified as non-degree students. Ng May May said this fact made the adjustment period more difficult. “I honestly feel that so far, the requirements in online school were a little bit lighter. The grading criteria was less complicated than my current courses,” Ng May see RETURN PAGE 4
VIEWPOINT PAGE 6
SMC cancels 2020 in-person commencement Observer Staff Report Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online Feb. 5. The in-person commencement ceremony for the class of 2020, origina lly re-scheduled to ta ke place in May, has been cancelled in light of the ongoing pandemic, President Katie Conboy announced in a Friday email. In addition, a ll a lumnae reunions scheduled for June
have been cancelled. “W hile we a ll desperately w ish to gather together in person, it would be extremely cha llenging to host these live events safely,“ Conboy said. “Bringing people to campus from a ll across the nation and the world is just too risk y given the current public hea lth projections.“ The College is preparing for an in-person commencement ceremony for the class of 2021.
Next EIC picks support staff Observer Staff Report Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online Feb. 5. Juniors Evan McKenna, Isabella Volmert, Nelisha Silva and Colin Capece w ill help oversee The Obser ver’s Editoria l Board next term, incoming Editor-in-Chief Adriana Perez announced Thursday.
ND M BASKETBALL PAGE 12
McKenna w ill become the Managing Editor, while Volmert, Silva and Capece w ill ser ve as Assistant Managing Editors. The four students w ill begin their new roles March 21. McKenna, origina lly from Morristow n, Tennessee, is a junior study ing English and psycholog y at Notre Dame. see BOARD PAGE 4
ND W BASKETBALL PAGE 12
2
TODAY
The observer | MONDAY, February 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com
Have a question you want answered? Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com
What is the best thing about being back on campus?
P.O. Box 779, Notre Dame, IN 46556 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
Gracie Molnar
Abigail Knopps
sophomore Farley Hall
junior Holy Cross Hall
“Being back with friends and being kept busy.”
“Getting to actually see people.”
Bianca Widjaja
Shannon McCloskey
sophomore Farley Hall
junior Le Mans Hall
“Doing the little things, such as walking around the lakes, going to Mass, or getting dinner.”
“Being able to see my friends every day.”
(574) 631-6900 ads@ndsmcobserver.com
Elijah Thomas
Erin Meyer
Editor-in-Chief
junior Basil Hall
senior North Hall
“How tight our campus is. No matter where I go, I am able to see a familiar, smiling face.”
“The hard workers on the dining hall staff that ensure we are always taken care of.”
Editor-in-Chief Maria Leontaras Managing Editor Mariah Rush
Asst. Managing Editor: Maeve Filbin Asst. Managing Editor: Claire Rafford Asst. Managing Editor: Sara Schlecht
Notre Dame News Editor: Serena Zacharias Saint Mary’s News Editor: Mia Marroquin Viewpoint Editor: Nelisha Silva Sports Editor: Hayden Adams Scene Editor: Ryan Israel Photo Editor: Allison Thornton Graphics Editor: Diane Park Social Media Editor: Ellie Dombrowski Advertising Manager: Landry Kempf Ad Design Manager: Gabby Hong Systems Administrator: Stephen Hannon Talent & Inclusion Manager: Nola Wallace Office Manager & General Info
Ph: (574) 631-7471 Fax: (574) 631-6927 Advertising
(574) 631-4542 mleontaras01@saintmarys.edu Managing Editor
(574) 631-4542 mrush@nd.edu Assistant Managing Editors
(574) 631-4541 mfilbin01@saintmarys.edu, crafford@nd.edu, sschlecht01@saintmarys.edu Business Office
(574) 631-5313 Notre Dame News Desk
(574) 631-5323 news@ndsmcobserver.com Saint Mary’s News Desk
(574) 631-5323 smc@ndsmcobserver.com Viewpoint Desk
(574) 631-5303 viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.om Sports Desk
(574) 631-4543 sports@ndsmcobserver.com Scene Desk
(574) 631-4540 scene@ndsmcobserver.com Photo Desk
(574) 631-8767 photo@ndsmcobserver.com Systems & Web Administrators
webmaster@ndsmcobserver.com Policies The Observer is the independent, daily newspaper published in print and online by the students of the University of Notre Dame du Lac, Saint Mary’s College and Holy Cross College. Editorial content, including advertisements, is not governed by policies of the administration of either institution. The Observer reserves the right to refuse advertisements based on content. The news is reported as accurately and objectively as possible. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the majority of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Assistant Managing Editors and department editors. Commentaries, letters and columns present the views of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer. Viewpoint space is available to all readers. The free expression of all opinions through letters is encouraged. Letters to the Editor must be signed and must include contact information. Questions regarding Observer policies should be directed to Editor-in-Chief Maria Leontaras. Post Office Information The Observer (USPS 599 2-4000) is published Monday through Friday except during exam and vacation periods. A subscription to The Observer is $130 for one academic year; $75 for one semester. The Observer is published at: 024 South Dining Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-0779 Periodical postage paid at Notre Dame and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER Send address corrections to: The Observer P.O. Box 779 024 South Dining hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-077
Today’s Staff News
Sports
Alysa Guffey Trinity Reilly
Stephen Hannon
Graphics
Scene
Liya Blitzer
Ryan Israel
Photo
Viewpoint
Allison Thornton
Evan McKenna
Corrections The Observer regards itself as a professional publication and strives for the highest standards of journalism at all times. We do, however, recognize that we will make mistakes. If we have made a mistake, please contact us at (574) 631-4541 so we can correct our error.
ALLISON THORNTON | The Observer
Cold weather throughout the midwest and other parts of the country has caused snowfall and low temperatures in South Bend. As students begin the second week of school, they should expect frigid temperatures while walking to class and around campus.
The next Five days:
Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
“Propaganda and Personality Cults” virtual 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Featuring Professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat.
International Networking Tea Time virtual 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Discover tea culture around the world.
Conversations on Poverty & Inequality virtual 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Discussion on social entrepreneurship.
Panel Discussion virtual 11 a.m. - noon On interfaith approaches to peacebuilding.
Dante’s Antipurgatorio II virtual 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Workshop with George Corbett on Dante.
Love Data Week virtual all day Join for a series of workshops on how to manage data.
Social Concerns Fair 2021 virtual 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
“Fact, Fiction and the Future” virtual 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Part one of a series on nuclear technology.
Gallery Tour: Three on a Theme virtual 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m. Explore love in three pieces from the Snite.
“Racism and the Catholic Church” virtual 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. With speaker Fr. Bryan Massingale, S.J.
News
ndsmcobserver.com | MONDAY, February 8, 2021 | The ObserveR
3
Senate discusses petition, Campus Compact By EMILY DeFAZIO News Writer
Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online Feb. 5.
The Notre Dame student senate convened Wednesday to discuss a student body petition and select new members of the Committee of the Constitution. Fol low ing t he nominat ion of sophomores Da n Law a nd Benja min Erha rdt, discussion commenced on t he pet it ion circu lat ing t he student body in rega rds to t he recent ly a nnounced Ca mpus Compact. Junior Thomas Dav is, Judicia l Council president, verif ied t he signatures a nd presented on beha lf of t he pet it ioner. The document, which held approx imately 850 sig natures at t he t ime of t he meet ing, dema nds t he disciplina r y proceedings associated w it h t he Compact honor students’ right to due process. The Compact inst ituted t wo new ex pedited policies rega rding COVID-19 protocol: COVID
Probat ion a nd COVID Dismissa l. “COVID Dismissal is a form of dismissal w ith the opportunit y to apply for readmission, prov ided the student satisfies certain criteria communicated to them by the Office of Communit y Standards (OCS) at a time they were dismissed,” senior Michael Dugan said when giv ing background on the document. “COVID Probation, on the other hand, is a status that w ill render a student to face COVID Dismissal from Notre Dame if they v iolate associated rules w ithin the Campus Compact.” (Editor’s Note: Dugan is a former News Writer and Systems Administrator at The Observer.) Dugan said the Campus Contact Administrative Process, which covers these protocols, has received significant opposition from the student body. “[There are students] who are concerned about the potential for Notre Dame to arbitrarily and capriciously
punish students who are accused of v iolating the Campus Compact w ithout giv ing them an adequate chance to prepare and present their ow n defense,” he said. Dugan said the process, as currently defined by the Universit y, “does not give students sufficient time, nor an adequate setting, to defend themselves against allegations that have been issued by the Office of Communit y Standards.” “The email to students prov ided by [v ice president for student affairs Erin] Hoffmann Harding and [v ice president for Campus Safet y and Universit y Operations Mike] Seaman included a note that the Campus Compact Administrative Process would allow the Universit y to act sw iftly to address COVID v iolations,” Dugan said. “This is true. The sw ift deadlines imposed by the process w ill allow the Universit y to unabashedly discipline students w ith breakneck speed. But sw iftness is not the only
pressing consideration in creating a just disciplinar y process.” If they make no modifications, Dugan said, then the Universit y must justif y the current process. “Notre Dame must not skimp out on due process,” he said. In response to this, the petition calls for a sevenday period during which the accused student can rev iew the ev idence brought against them, follow ing the same policy as hearings for non-COVID issues; this time would also give students the opportunit y to contest these allegations. Furthermore, the petition requests that the Universit y guarantee students the right to elect a hearing setting and call w itnesses to testif y in their defense. It additionally asks Notre Dame to grant the right to meaningfully appeal decisions against students, even those regarding students not facing COVID Dismissal. W hen the f loor opened up to the other members of the
senate, a student questioned what Dugan’s response would be to the argument that the Universit y must act as quick ly as possible due to the fact that if they wait too long, things could get out of hand because of the nature of the pandemic. “If the Universit y, for example, is attempting to dismiss a student under the current rules, even w ith the expeditious, it w ill take five days,” Dugan said. “The student w ill get a notification. Then what they w ill do is have t wo days to respond. OCS then, if they’re instant in their rejudgement, the student then has three days to make an appeal. If they are not instant, if it takes 12 hours, if it takes 24 hours ... well now we’ve just lengthened it to six days.” Ultimately, the petition was over whelmingly passed in a 31-0 vote, w ith one abstention, thus ending Wednesday’s meeting. Contact Emily DeFazio at edefazio@nd.edu
Lecture explores fake news’ effect on business By GABRIELLE PENNA News Writer
Matthew F. Ferraro spoke at the Ten Years Hence Speaker Series 2021 on Friday, lecturing on the impact of fake news on businesses. Ferraro is currently a council member in the Washington D.C. office of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr L.L.P., where he practices at the intersection of national security, cybersecurity and crisis management. He councils clients, writes and speaks on the threats that digital disinformation and deep fakes pose on corporations, brands and markets. Ferraro began his talk — “News, Fake News and Deep Fakes. How Do We Know What’s True?” — commemorating the goal of Notre Dame’s
Mendoza College of Business. “Your mission to grow the good in business is needed now more than ever,” he said. Speaking to students in pursuit of careers in business, Ferraro touched on the disinformation and dangers of politics, how these dangers will worsen over time and how media enhancing this work will harm private companies. He warned students to “be ready for these dangers because they’re ready for you.” Beginning his lecture by addressing recent significant events in America, Ferraro touched on the role fake news played in what occurred in the Capitol on Jan. 6. In reviewing this day, he said the events that took place “prove that disinformation can have genuine consequences — it can poison minds and lead to disillusions
Paid Advertisement
of violence.” “[M]any people that day were victims of disillusionment; they had been told lies, and they believed them,” he said. This is only the simplest form of disillusionment, Ferraro said. Such violence “came from spoken lies.” He urged listeners to “imagine how much worse it could become if people on either side were to see a convincing video” to confirm their conspiracies. Ferraro then transitioned to key drivers of this risk, citing “the rise of the internet and the democratization of voices, the attendant loss of trust in institutions and gatekeepers, the growth of traditional disinformation and the deep-fakes enabled by artificial intelligence agencies.” In this world, in 10 years hence or sooner, Ferraro believes “businesses risks will grow substantially.” Ferraro explained deepfakes, a term that is a “portmanteau of deep learning and fake news [... or] a piece of synthetic media — text, image, audio or video — that is either manipulated or wholly generated by artificial intelligence.”
“[The issue is that] technology is improving, and in two years, we think that humans will not be able to know the difference between what is real and what is not,” he said. Deep-fakes are not incredibly hard to make, Ferraro said. They are a product of two computer systems called GANs that are adversarial networks — one network creates the image while the other network tries to detect it. “There is a competition between the two until the detector, the discriminator, can no longer differentiate true from false,” he said. Deep-fakes produce what Ferraro referred to as a “liars dividend.” As more people become “skeptical of video,” they are given more opportunities to gravitate towards their biases. To highlight the severity of this issue, Ferraro addressed how many deep-fakes exist, referring to a report from the middle of 2020 that confirms, “there were 50,000 deep-fakes, and the number doubles every six months,” meaning there are about 100,000 deep fakes currently online. The financial implications
Follow us on Twitter. @NDSMCObserver
of this on businesses is “a serious issue,” Ferraro said; a study from 2019 revealed that “disinformation costs businesses 78 billion dollars a year.” Ferraro said the top two risks to a business’ reputation are market manipulation and fraud. As normative tactics gain an increasing role in the business sphere, Ferraro explored how companies can prevent their costs proactively. If need be, Ferraro said businesses can go to court to combat disinformation. “When the facts and laws are on your side, go to court, and you will find success,” Ferraro said. “We live in a seminal age for disinformation,” Ferraro said. In the past year, “people have become more willing to combat disinformation and see it is more than a petty annoyance.” He argues for continuing practicing “good information hygiene,” for both business owners and the average person. Contact Gabrielle Penna at gpenna@nd.edu
4
NEWS
The observer | MONDAY, February 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Admissions Continued from page 1
this countr y,” Bishop said. “Notre Dame wants to be a top school for ever ybody, not just be more preponderance of certain groups so we’ve worked hard at that, and some of our hard work has paid off. There’s still more to do, but we’re mov ing for ward.” In the cohort of REA admits, over 8,000 high schools are represented w ith students coming from 63 countries. As a non-binding application process, REA allows students to apply prior to the regular decision process as long as they do not apply early decision to another school w ith a binding contract. “We are not going to prov ide early action for students who already have their
Board Continued from page 1
He began his time w ith The Obser ver his sophomore year as a View point copy editor and a w riter for the From the A rchives project, and is currently finishing his term as the project’s leader. He and the archives team have spent the past year uncovering highlights of the tri-campus communit y’s rich histor y, such as the 1992 vote of no confidence against Fr. Ma lloy, the histor y of co-education at Notre Dame and the stor y of the first woman on the Irish Guard. “I am so grateful for the home I’ve found at The Obser ver, and I am thrilled to continue ser v ing our tri-campus communit y as Managing Editor,” McKenna said. “I’m humbled to be work ing a longside such a ta lented team of student journa lists, and I only hope we can continue and expand upon the incredible efforts made by current and past leadership here at The Obser ver.” Volmert, a junior at Notre Dame, hails from the St. Louis area of Missouri and resides in
Return Continued from page 1
May said. “There’s a lot of requirements that I’m still tr ying to adjust to.” Nam said over the past semester she has come to rea lly va lue how online courses can be ver y convenient. “I noticed how online classes can actua lly be so convenient, and rea lly nice. Prev iously in high school, I thought online classes were so boring,” Nam said. “But when I got into college online classes, it’s prett y smart to do online because
hearts set on another place,” Bishop said. “Notre Dame is going to act like what we are, and we are a first-choice school. And while we don’t require you to come if we admit you, we certainly don’t want to admit you then have you unable to respond to that offer.” Ty pica lly, t he cohor t of REA admits has rough ly a 67 percent enrollment rate. Wit h t he Universit y ex pecting to enroll 2,050 tota l f irst-yea r students in t he fa ll of 2021, Bishop sa id he est imates about ha lf of t he class of 2025 w ill be REA admits. In addit ion, Bishop sa id t he Universit y is a lready up 15 to 20 percent in t he rate of admitted students securing a place in t he class. “This w ill require us to be cautious in how many students overall are admitted. We do not plan to
over enroll the class goal of 2,050,” Bishop said. “This fall we enrolled 2,193, which was 143 larger than our original goal.” A total of 1,712 REA applicants were deferred to regular decision. Bishop said deferred students are encouraged to continue to show interest in attending Notre Dame and send any major updates to attach to their application. In t he 2020-2021 admissions cycle, applica nts were not required to submit a sta nda rdi zed test score w it h t heir applicat ion due to dif f icu lt ies students were facing in t he midst of a pa ndemic. However, Bishop said the Universit y had already been mov ing away from the standardized test requirement in recent years. “Test scores are too often associated w ith income of the student and the family
background,” Bishop said. “There is more of an alignment bet ween high income and high test scores than ever before.” Thirt y-one percent of REA admits chose to be testoptional and have their application rev iewed w ithout a test score. Bishop said the Universit y was not more favorable to students who submitted a test score. “The fact that 31 percent of our early action students did not have a test score I think shows that we were prett y open to rev iew ing your attributes w ithout it, particularly this year, know ing that maybe, as many as t wothirds of those test-optional students wanted to have taken the test, but weren’t able to, and the other third maybe they just don’t see testing as their top attribute,” Bishop said. In t he tota l number of applicat ions, 51 percent
submitted a test whi le 49 percent chose to be test-opt iona l. In addition, Bishop said this year’s REA applicants were not compared to applicants from prev ious years in terms of academic and extracurricular opportunities that may not have been available at the end of their junior year and beginning of senior year due to the pandemic. “[Applica nts] a re on ly going to be rev iewed w it hin t he contex t of what ot her students of t heir sa me circumsta nces a re in a nd what t hey chose to do,” Bishop sa id. “[The pa ndemic] is rest rict ing t hings but we’re pay ing attent ion to whatever students wa nt to tel l us of what t hey have been doing a nd how t hey responded to t his cha l lenge.”
Wa lsh Ha ll. She is an English major minoring in theolog y and Journa lism, Ethics and Democracy, and she currently ser ves The Obser ver as an Associate News Editor. Volmert has worked for the Notre Dame News Department since her sophomore year and has covered student government, campus hea lth protocol developments and the 2020 genera l election. “The w riters and staff of The Obser ver have worked incredibly hard this past year to report on the events of our tri-campus communit y and produce high qua lit y journa lism despite the cha llenges of the pandemic,” Volmert said. “I’m thrilled to work w ith the Editoria l Board and the entire Obser ver communit y to continue this legacy.” Silva, a Las Vegas native, is a junior majoring in English and globa l affairs and minoring in the Hesburgh Program for Public Ser v ice. She currently ser ves as the View point Editor for The Obser ver. Silva has worked for the View point department since her sophomore year first as a copy editor, and then as department editor where she managed a team of over 30 columnists,
copy editors, illustrators and podcast hosts. “I couldn’t be more thankful for the family I’ve found w ithin The Obser ver, and I’m overjoyed to be chosen to ser ve the tri-campus communit y this upcoming year,” Silva said. “I’m proud to be work ing w ith such a ta lented group of editors dedicated to continuing The Obser ver’s legacy of student journa lism.” Capece, a junior from
Smithtow n, New York, is an Associate Sports Editor for The Obser ver and is majoring in politica l science w ith a minor in Journa lism, Ethics, and Democracy. A resident of Dunne Ha ll, Capece has contributed to The Obser ver’s sports department since his freshman year. He has covered many different sports at Notre Dame and has profiled figures ranging from a Benga l Bouts captain to Irish quarterback Ian Book.
“The Obser ver has been an incredible part of my Notre Dame experience, and I could not be more excited to join this term’s Editoria l Board,” Capece said. “This paper has a strong legacy of fair and honest reporting and ser ves as a major news source for the tri-campus communit y. I am extremely grateful for the opportunit y to further contribute to The Obser ver as an Assistant Managing Editor.”
you can meet w ith a professor at any time, any where.” Ignacio said she feels the whole experience has made her more grateful to fina lly be on campus. “I was friends w ith some people who did go to campus. So, I’d see them enjoy ing and I’d be like, ‘I w ish I could be w ith them,’” Ignacio said. “I’ve seen both sides, and I feel like I can be more thankful now.”a ll, but I k ind of just hope to settle back in and reconnect w ith people.” Contact Isabella Laufenberg at ilaufenb@nd.edu
Paid Advertisement
Contact Alysa Guffey at aguffey@nd.edu
The observer | MONDAY, February 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
5
LIYA BLITZER | The Observer
6
The observer | monday, February 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
The power of social media
Inside Column
Say yes Mariah Rush Managing Editor
Justice Mory In the Interest of Justice
This isn’t going to be original. I’d like to preface that before I start. It’s not a hot take, and it’s not something reply guys will argue about. It’s about saying yes. In the case of the class of 2021, this is likely — if all goes well — our last semester here at Notre Dame. I’ve found myself being (barf ) sentimental. I look around at my friends and want to hug them, for god’s sake! I plan gatherings dedicated to how much I love them. So yes, I’ve changed. And I’m here to tell you it’s for the best, and that you should start saying yes more this semester. All of my close friends know I prefer to be laying in bed at all times. I don’t think I’ve made the extent of that clear, though. Before this semester, literally anytime I am out any where, I would rather be in bed. That’s really not much of an exaggeration. However, I want to be clear it’s not because I want to sleep. It’s because I am lazy and want to literally just lay in bed and do nothing. I cannot wait to get home at all times and just sit down. I don’t understand why people insist on going out places when they have a perfectly good home to sit around in. I could write sonnets about the joy of laying down and doing literally nothing in my own home. I made it my goal this semester to get rid of this tragic and crippling aff liction. With jobs secured and goals checked, I found myself with only one thing on my to-do list for this last semester — have fun. So I’ve started saying yes to things I know I would never have said yes to before. In past years, if multiple people asked me to do something in one day … forget about it. I could only be counted on for one event a day, if that! Sometimes I would do one thing with people every couple days because I needed time off, and yes, it’s because I’m old and tired. But I think everyone can relate to taking advantage of their last few months here at college. Because I love sabotaging myself, I didn’t realize you could only do things that made you happy. I orchestrated a situation for myself this semester that involved a couple things I knew would cause me to dread waking up in the morning until I realized — literally, why? This is our last time to be relatively responsibility free, so why would I involve myself in some things that could jeopardize an otherwise amazing semester? I hate to say this because it will ruin my angsty brand, but I want to choose being happy. Gosh, please kill me. But obviously I’m still going to enjoy laying around and taking time off from life from time to time. Anyway, once I realized I had the potential to actually be happy, I quit the things I knew I would dread. I love my classes, my friends and my work at The Observer, so why would I involve an otherwise full and happy life with things that would bring me down? Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big believer in the real world. But I think this might be the last time we are able to hover outside that real world bubble, and in times like these, I’m going to take full advantage of it. So when my friends ask me to do something? I’m going to say yes. Booked days? I’m going to enjoy it. Fellow lovers of laying around, let’s take this semester and pretend we are young at heart. And to my bed — don’t worry sweetie, I’ll always come back to you. Contact Mariah at mrush@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Please recycle The Observer.
It should not be news to anyone that social media has a lot of inf luence in today’s world. Ever y aspect of life now ex ists online and “in real life.” Year after year, communication and organization bet ween people becomes easier, faster and more powerful. But just how impactful is social media’s connection of people? Today I w ill highlight three developments across social, economic and political issues that have offered dramatic examples of the power of social media.
Social media and music charts The social media app TikTok has become extremely popular in recent years. This app prioritizes the use of songs as part of the user’s content creating process. This has catapulted songs that become v iral v ideo trends into Billboard, Spotif y and Apple Music charting hits. Major examples of TikTok’s music inf luence include unsigned artist Arizona Zer vas rising to number one on the Spotif y U.S. Top 50 after millions of TikTok v ideos using the song “ROX ANNE.” TikTok also helped boost Lil Nas X’s breakout “Old Tow n Road” to eventually become 14-times platinum, the most platinum on a single in RI A A histor y. “TikTok helped me change my life. ... TikTok brought my song to several different audiences at once,” the artist said. W hile these last t wo examples are t wo of the biggest in recent years, even in 2021 TikTok trending sounds have made transitions in large numbers to music streaming ser v ices, w ith songs such as “drivers license” by Oliv ia Rodrigo, “Streets” by Doja Cat, “W hoopt y” by CJ, “Mood” by 24kGoldn and “W ITHOUT YOU” by The Kid Laroi currently occupy ing the top 10 spots on the Spotif y U.S. charts. And it’s not just newer artists — established artists have been able to reach record heights, such as Fleet wood Mac’s “Rumours” achiev ing top 10 status more than four decades after its initial release. This was largely due to the song “Dreams” becoming part of one of the most v iral v ideos, where one user named DoggFace is seen coasting on a skateboard drinking juice w ith the song play ing. The way TikTok utilizes music as a primar y component paired w ith the fact that many of the v ideos are well less than a minute long is important. It creates enough exposure for its users to want to listen to a song but also makes music streaming apps the only way to check out the full song. Social media has a lot of power in the organized listening behav ior of engaged users, w ith music artists, labels and agencies taking notice and noticeably investing in creating, releasing and marketing music that can spread like w ildfire on a platform like TikTok. Social platforms are a primar y way people make transfers of information in this day and age, and it should come as little surprise the v iral nature of social media posts is lending itself more and more to other related industries. It w ill be interesting to continue to monitor how general social media behav ior and trends impact mov ies, v ideo games and other forms of entertainment going for ward, as people spend more time interacting on social platforms where they share information and
participate in organized trends.
Social media and finance In recent weeks, platforms such as Reddit and Twitter have altered and disrupted stock and cryptocurrency prices. One forum, or subreddit, called r/wallstreetbets organized everyday retail traders in a way where their collective action has pushed up prices on stocks such as GameStop and AMC Entertainment. This group has also been pinned as having been a part of the reinvigoration of individual day trading, reshaping the options market and increasing trading volume. Without going super in-depth, what this trend points to is the larger impact of how social media can empower individuals to make a significant impact, especially when actions become coordinated or inspired on a platform. Everyday investors using services such as Robinhood are competing with hedge funds and Wall Street investors in shifting market momentum thanks to this online assembly of people’s behaviors. Another example has been a united effort to take the cryptocurrency Dogecoin, which began as a joke, “to the moon.” People on Twitter pushed Dogecoin to new heights, including people with major platforms spreading the effort to invest in the currency including Elon Musk, Snoop Dogg and others. Dogecoin, as of Sunday, is up almost 700% this month alone, and with no real reason except coordinated and popular buying trends that exist solely due to social platforms and their users.
Social media and the Capitol invasion The power of social media in organizing human behavior is not all light-hearted music trends or interesting financial developments. The consequences of social media are real, and platforms can be used to cause real harm to people. An example of the abuse of social platforms for organizing people’s actions occurred this January, with right-wing extremism spilling from online sources into the streets of Washington D.C. People from across the country infiltrated the U.S. Capitol, causing destruction and disrupting an important session of Congress. Social media platforms have become a place where some people are spreading disinformation and hate, as well as a tool for far-right organizing. Online communication enables people to do a lot more like an organized body, but this can be dangerous if used for violence. And while I would not be supportive of limiting the organizational abilities of people, monitoring public conversation and developments seems important to keep this from happening again, or at least to be prepared when it does. The main takeaway here is that social media hasn’t been just a place to share meaningless information for a while now. Human interaction, organization and behavior taking place on these platforms have real-world importance and implications. It is time government officials and big tech companies truly understand this. Justice Mory is majoring in business analytics and is part of the John W. Gallivan Program in Journalism, Ethics and Democracy. He is from Southern California and now lives in Duncan Hall. His main goal is to keep learning and to continue to become more informed. He can be reached at jmory@nd.edu or @JmoryND on Twitter to continue the conversation. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
77
The observer | monday, February 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
God, country, Notre Dame — and democracy Among the Trump f lags, confederate f lags, anti-government, pro-gun and white supremacy f lags waved during the Jan. 6 W hite House rally to “stop the steal” was one that dismayed members of the Notre Dame community: it read “God, Country, Notre Dame.” This f lag’s presence at a rally designed to thwart a fair and democratic election, a rally that evolved into a deadly attack on the United States Capitol by an insurrectionist mob, should give pause to everyone in the Notre Dame community. The words “God, Country, Notre Dame” adorn the east transept of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame’s campus. After the words were carved into the Basilica, in remembrance of Notre Dame students, alumni and faculty members who lost their lives in the First World War, University President Fr. Matthew J. Walsh remarked, “We should imitate our dead in that they have shown us the lesson of patriotism. If only the people of America would follow their example there would be no discrimination because of race or creed.” “God, Country, Notre Dame” honors members of the Notre Dame community who died fighting for democracy. How did a f lag with these words appear in the crowd on Jan. 6? We don’t know who carried this f lag or why. We don’t even know if those who did so had any affiliation with our University, but we do know that divisions in our country are ref lected within our Church. Some bishops (notably Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas), some Catholic politicians (notably Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona) and a scattering
of priests and lay Catholic leaders promoted President Trump’s unfounded attacks on the election results. A recent Vatican nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, has over the past year released a series of statements and videos increasingly unmoored from fact and championing President Trump’s attacks on a “deep state.” These Catholics often veer from praising President Trump in hyperbolic terms to excoriating Pope Francis. They decry Francis’s efforts at reform in the Church and amplif y media disinformation about climate change, systemic racism and other issues highlighted by the Pope. For example, Gosar refused to attend Pope Francis’s address to the U.S. Congress in 2015 because he rejected the idea that Catholics have any responsibility to alleviate the effects of climate change. No truth-seeking Catholic — indeed no truthseeking American — would have presented themselves at President Trump’s rally and endorsed claims about a fraudulent election. At Notre Dame, knowledge and love are our two most important commitments. They arise from our understanding of who God is. Our faith rests in a universal God, before whom all persons are equal. This foundation gave rise to our commitment to universal human rights, with its emphasis on the common good and the dignity of every human being. This circle of ideas is as far removed as one could imagine from white racial resentment or the perpetuation of dangerous falsehoods. How can a community — a university such as
Notre Dame, a country such as the United States, a global institution such as the Catholic Church — advance beyond lies? Tepid responses will fail. To love a university, a country or a church — to be its advocate and patriot — is not to praise it as it is, but to underscore gaps between the institution as it is and as it should be. We see the recent attack as a moment of reckoning that holds us accountable to evidence, sound reasoning, and loving kindness. Authentic respect for God, country and Notre Dame means rejecting the attack on democracy at the people’s Capitol on Jan. 6, denouncing race-based violence and blocking these toxic political views from distorting conversations about the future of our Church. The alumni memorialized on the east door of the Basilica gave their lives for the ideal of a universal church thriving in (and learning from) the world’s oldest democracy. Renewing that ideal in all of its dimensions — this semester and into the future — is the most appropriate way to honor their memory. Sarah A. Mustillo I. A. O’Shaughnessy Dean of the College of Arts and Letters and professor of sociology John T. McGreevy former dean and McAnaney Professor of History Mark W. Roche former dean and Joyce Professor of German Feb. 2
What really satisfies Andrew Sveda Church and State
When it comes to breaks, and especially long breaks like the one we just had, there’s always a strange progression in my attitude toward them. And I suspect I’m not the only one. The whole cycle has about four phases. The first phase starts about a month into school, when the monotony of homework and classes really starts to kick in. At about that point all the way through finals week, you can’t wait for break to begin so you can go back home and relax. If only you didn’t have all this work, you think to yourself, things would be pretty nice. Then break finally begins, which marks the second phase. Finally — freedom at last. The excitement reaches its climax here. With so much time, the possibilities are endless. While this attitude consumes the beginning of break, it soon begins to fade away. Boredom slowly creeps in. Sure, it’s fun to have a lot more time to yourself, but you can’t help but feel a little disappointed. Things didn’t turn out the way you hoped. You missed something along the way. At this point, something strange begins to happen. You increasingly understand that you actually want to go back to school again, not just because your friends are there but because classes sound much more exciting than what you’re doing right now. That’ll make you happy, you say. That’s phase three. The whole cycle ends with the return to school and another phase of excitement and possibility until it soon devolves into phase one, and we begin all over again — and ignore what we might have learned along the way. Now, I say all this not because I believe this is a unique phenomenon but because it’s not; it is an example of something universal in human experience. It is the failure of our circumstances to continually
excite and fulfill us. While they may seem to do so for a time, they inevitably fail us in the end. But why is that? Why don’t they satisfy us? Simply because they were never meant to. That is why they must fail. A pear may be a very delicious fruit, but if I make it the foundation of my diet, things won’t go so well for me. These things are at best signposts, not the road itself. This reality, that we “find in [ourselves] a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy,” to borrow from C.S. Lewis, can only mean one thing: “that [we were] made for another world.” But not just that: “our hearts are restless until they rest in [God]” (to use a famous quote from Augustine). This is no small realization, and certainly no small demand. But we should also keep this in mind: We fling all our hopes and longings from one excitement to another not only because we seek fulfillment but also because we want our cheap ideas of happiness to be the real desire of our hearts and the thing that can fulfill us. As weird as it sounds, it’s true: We would rather live by our own rules, even if they were subjective and arbitrary, than acknowledge and accept the objective purpose of our lives given by God, which remains true no matter our opinion. We want to have fulfillment, joy and meaning on our own terms. But we find God getting in the way. He won’t allow it. He can’t. Jesus called Himself “the way, and the truth and the life” (John 14:6), not one possible and equally-fulfilling style of life you can pick if you feel like it. Life’s not a game. You can waste it precisely because our lives do have an objective purpose, one that’s real, that puts demands on your life, that must be followed or we miss out on what life really was all about. And Jesus claimed to be just that source of real life. Jesus is effectively telling us that the buck stops here. It’s either Him, or nothing. Him, or a wasted life. That’s hard to hear. “Will it really mean no difference,” Lewis asks, “whether it was women or patriotism, cocaine or art, whiskey or
a seat in the Cabinet, money or science? Well, surely no difference that matters. We shall have missed the end for which we are formed and rejected the only thing that satisfies. Does it matter to a dying man in a desert by which choice of route he missed the only well?” Jesus’ words, too, resound in our ears: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26) God cannot allow you to enjoy rebellion as much as true life itself. Only a monster would allow such a thing. Because God is good, He works in our pain, in our emptiness that we feel when we try again and again to find our hope in anything other than Him. He beckons to us to “come to [him],” we “who are weary and heavy-laden.” And He, and only He, “will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Does that mean we can’t enjoy great things in life like family, learning, art, the beauty of nature or even just a break from classes? Quite the contrary. In fact, the Christian perspective allows one to appreciate these things in the fullest way possible by not over-inflating their importance but by enjoying them for what they really are: welcome blessings. While one can and should be thankful for these things and desire them, their rule over one’s life begins to melt away. Circumstances and earthly “thrills” become less and less the determiner of their happiness until its power shall at last be broken completely when the Christian takes their first step into eternity. That walk, that reliance on the grace of God and the work of Christ, is a life worth living. It’s the only one that is. Andrew Sveda is a sophomore at Notre Dame from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, majoring in political science. In his free time, he enjoys writing (obviously), reading and playing the piano. He can be reached at asveda@nd.edu or @SvedaAndrew on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
8
DAILY
The observer | MONDAY, February 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Crossword | WILl shortz
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Bring your “A” game to the table; you will achieve what you set out to do. Be the one to set the standard and call the shots. Refuse to let anyone push you or tempt you with something you know isn’t right for you. Put emotional situations to rest with honesty, integrity and hope for a brighter future. Romance is encouraged. Your numbers are 7, 18, 21, 28, 31, 36, 43. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take a walk down memory lane with someone you love, and you’ll discover something you didn’t know. The information will help you realize how much you are loved. Share your feelings, and it will lead to personal growth and a better future. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’ll get an earful from someone you least expect. Digest the information and consider the influence it has on you. A change may be your initial reaction, but making a hasty decision isn’t the answer. Bide your time, and do some soul-searching. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): An impromptu promise will lead to trouble when you change your mind. Fickleness will be challenging to deal with and likely to upset someone you love and respect. Romance is front and center if you are honest and live up to your word. CANCER ( June 21-July 22): Embrace what makes you feel comfortable. Don’t set yourself up for a fall when it isn’t necessary. Give others a chance, and you’ll discover no one is perfect. When the time is right, you’ll know what you have to do. Avoid a showdown. LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Put in time and effort, and the results will give you a new lease on life. Strive for better relationships, a stellar work ethic and a relentless drive toward a better future. Opportunity is within reach if you give your all. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A change you make at home will encourage you to start a new hobby. Be creative, and you’ll develop a unique idea that can help you bring in extra cash. Don’t let anyone downplay your plans. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t jeopardize your financial status. Shared expenses will be problematic or limit what you can do. Err on the side of caution when it comes to foreign investments. Educate yourself before you spend money. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Someone close to you will offer false information. When something doesn’t feel right, dig deep and gather facts. A change of plans or heart will occur regarding a friend, relative or colleague. Leave wiggle room when dealing with joint ventures. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your experience will help you decide what’s real and what isn’t. An emotional incident will clear up a situation that’s holding you captive. The freedom you gain from finding out the truth will encourage personal growth and new beginnings. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Don’t get angry over a change of plans. Start to gather the information that will encourage you to fulfill one of your old — but not forgotten — dreams, and you will find peace of mind and a renewed interest that captures your imagination. AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t take on someone or something irrational or impractical. Be smart, direct and determined about what you want to accomplish. Set the stage for success, not disappointment for someone else’s good fortune. Do what’s best for you. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Words and truth matter. Listen carefully and offer only information you have verified. Be kind and mindful of how others feel. The way you choose to interact with others will make a difference. Put your best foot forward. Birthday Baby: You are playful, enthusiastic and helpful. You are tireless and persuasive.
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
Work Area
Make checks payable to and mail to: The Observer P.O. Box 779 Notre Dame, IN 46556
Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday, The Observer is a vital source of information on people and events in the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross communities. Join the more than 13,000 readers who have found The Observer an indispensable link to the three campuses. Please complete the accompanying form and mail it today to receive The Observer in your home.
Enclosed is $130 for one academic year Enclosed is $75 for one semester Name Address City State Zip
SPORTS
ndsmcobserver.com | MONDAY, February 8, 2021 | The Observer
Sports Authority
Sports Authority
EA Sports challenges NCAA Jimmy Ward Associate Sports Editor
The NCAA is in panic mode. They have seen this coming from miles away. And their cards are starting to tumble, all because of a video game. This has been something the NCAA knew loomed over their heads since 2013, the last year that video game developer EA Sports released their “NCAA Football” series. Fans and athletes were devastated and placed blame on the legal disputes that the NCAA and EA Sports were fighting regarding athletes profiting off their name, image and likeness in the games. Eight years later, EA Sports has seemingly figured it out, and they are snubbing the NCAA from the table. The video game developer announced on Tuesday that they would be rebooting the series but made no mention of the NCAA, titling the game “EA Sports College Football.” Furthermore, no release date was given for the game, meaning that it could be another year or two in the making. EA Sports has been building a bad reputation for their non-commitment to their NFL series: “Madden.” A chance to right their wrongs is unfolding with college football, and with it a chance to win back the trust of their fans and take a big step for the business. Don’t get your hopes up too much if you’ve been waiting to buy this video game for years on end, as this is all still probably a long way removed from our current reality. EA Sports would need to create more than just a lackluster copy and paste of a “Madden” engine with college teams and licensing. That said, they would almost need to have all of Division I College Football on board, and they would ideally need to have the rights to use the players’ names and image in the game. This is where the issues always arise and everything comes to a stalemate. Lawmakers get involved, and the party that gets left out every time are the student athletes: Everybody around them is allowed to earn a profit but they are not. It’s the primary critique of the NCAA, and it looks like the tide is slowly turning around and the NCAA is now at the losing end. This will surely be an interesting experiment though. Amateur athletes in the NCAA have always been the pipeline for professional sports organizations, but now they
9
are finally on the cusp of being truly credited for what they are. These aren’t only student athletes but student athletes with an incredible drive and commitment to the games that they love that just so happens to draw in millions of dollars of revenue for the people and the university they play for, while they get snubbed on the back end. Sure, some athletes are fortunate enough to have most of their education paid for, but the end goal for a good sum of these athletes isn’t just to graduate from college but to make a professional league. As one could figure, only a slim number of college athletes get to go on to compete at the next level but many share this dream. It is criminal to profit off of these individuals who were providing so much for their communities and local economies. Money always complicates things, though, and I think this is why the NCAA has hesitated for so long with this issue. Think of college football alone — forget all the other D-I athletes that could be getting a check for their twoa-day workouts and a small share of their own jerseys that get sold in campus bookstores and just think about how many college football players there are. The FBS has 130 teams, and a school’s roster is allowed 125 active players. Some teams have four- or fivestar players; others don’t even send any athletes to the Draft some years. This unique dynamic is not only what makes college and amateur sports so fun, but also at the same time what is stopping money from flowing through the floodgates and into athletes’ pockets. This is where lawmakers are required to step up, and following the announcement of the “EA Sports College Football” game they have done just that. While the issues get sorted out in courts, it will be interesting to see if there will be any reaction from programs, coaches or players following these developments. And if players do finally begin to start collecting paychecks, what does it mean for amatuer sports and the NCAA? So far the NCAA has its hands tied and is really at the mercy of the players and lawmakers. 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.
Zwiller’s guide to NFL QB market: NFC edition Thomas Zwiller Sports Writer
NFC East Washington: With the midseason release of Dwayne Haskins, the Washington Football Team really doesn’t have a quarterback of the future. Alex Smith, while performing beyond most expectations and earning Comeback Player of the Year, is aging, and Heinicke, while a nice story, is not a long-term option. Giants: I never really liked the drafting of Daniel Jones, and at best I thought it was a reach picking him sixth overall. In my opinion, he seemed to regress: While his completion percentage went up, his TD-INT ratio got worse. The only positive was a drop-off in fumbles, which was a major issue in 2019. Cowboys: The solution to the Dallas QB problem is simple: sign Dak Prescott to a long-term deal. The fact that he was only franchise-tagged instead of being signed to a deal that fits his needs is ridiculous, as he has more than proved he deserves the money. Eagles: Carson Wentz has continued his regression this season; that was painfully obvious. To be fair, the team around him is not nearly what it was when he was making his MVP run, but with the contract he signed, he needs to elevate the talent around him, not seemingly make it worse.
NFC North Packers: The Packers upset Rodgers by drafting Jordan Love in the first round last year, and to follow that up Rodger won MVP. Thanks to that MVP, Rodgers is more than due for an extension and a restructuring of his contract for more guaranteed money. Bears: While I don’t think Mitch Trubisky has a future as a starter in the league, the Bears making the playoffs has taken away any chance they had of drafting a QB. I think Mitch will most likely
come back, as will Foles. There is a chance to make a play for Wentz, but that seems unlikely. Vikings: Kirk Cousins likely isn’t going anywhere, there have been rumors of a potential trade of Cousins for Jimmy Garoppolo but that seems dumb to me. I would much rather keep Cousins, because for the first time since 2009 the Vikings were a top-10 offense under Cousins. Plus, the best “ability” is availability, and Cousins has missed one game in six seasons, while Garoppolo has missed 23 in the last three seasons. Lions: The current future of the Lions during this rebuild is Jared Goff. He has been trending down in the past few seasons, despite quality weapons and head coach Sean McVay. I think that Goff will struggle now that he is on a noticeably worse team. The Lions need to get the best wide receiver available to them to help Goff make the transition.
NFC South Saints: With Drew Brees most likely retiring, it turns to the Saints’ backups. Taysom Hill is a good gadget player, but watching him play made me feel like he won’t be the answer. While Jameis Winston was a turnover machine in Tampa Bay, I think that may be more due to coaching than anything. I think Winston will be the Saints’ best option moving forward. Buccaneers: Should Tom Brady retire, the Buccaneers have a major problem at QB. However, I don’t think TB12 is going to retire — with a team this good I don’t think he’ll call it quits just yet. I think he wants another ring. Panthers: Teddy Bridgewater underperformed this season, but I think he is the Panthers’ best option going forward. It was a weird year, as well as losing Christian McCaffrey all season. Falcons: Matt Ryan doesn’t seem to be long for Atlanta. With a new coaching staff coming in, they will most likely want to start fresh.
ESPN has the Falcons drafting Zach Wilson out of BYU, so Ryan’s days are numbered in Atlanta, but not as a starter.
NFC West Seahawks: Russell Wilson had a great start to the season and seemed like the early on MVP, but that lasted until Week 7 when they played the Cardinals. Russ’s problem is that he is trying to compensate for a terrible defense. Spend picks on patching the defense and the offensive line. Russ can’t keep getting sacked 40+ times a season. Rams: The Matthew Stafford deal has settled it; the Rams have officially gone allin on making a Super Bowl. The Rams haven’t picked in the first round since drafting Goff, and after trading him they won’t pick until 2024. I think Stafford is going to be excellent, but the margin for error is slight. To help Stafford, get an offensive lineman. Cardinals: Kyler Murray made slight progress as a passer this year. His key improvement was in his running game: he took fewer sacks and his yards per scramble increased, and he’s scrambling more often. I think he’s learned to avoid pressure, and if he can work on his interceptions and fumbles, I think next year could see more improvement. I would suggest getting a cornerback to tighten up the defense, and let Murray continue to improve. 49ers: To me, the 49ers should feel no pressure to move on from Jimmy G. If everyone comes back healthy, this is a team that could be atop the division once again. If they luck into Deshaun Watson, get him and suddenly the 49ers look like a Super Bowl contender. But again, that trade will cost a lot of draft capital, and the margin of error would be slight. Contact Thomas Zwiller at tzwiller@hcc-nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The Observer accepts classifieds every business day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Notre Dame office, 024 South Dining Hall. Deadline for next-day classifieds is 3 p.m. All classifieds must be prepaid. The charge is 5 cents per character per day, including all spaces. The Observer reserves the right to edit all classifieds for content without issuing refunds.
wanted Labor of Love Childcare serving the South Bend/Mishawaka area is looking to expand our team. We are looking to hire a Full-time Nanny for a family of 2 girls. Candidates must have at least 6
months of childcare experience and be willing to sign a 1 year employment contract. Apply by sending your resume to: director@laboroflovechildcare.com. Visit our website for more information about our program at: www.laboroflovechildcare.com
Please allow me to introduce myself / I’m a man of wealth and taste / I’ve been around for a long, long years / Stole million man’s soul an faith / And I was ‘round when Jesus Christ / Had his moment of doubt and pain / Made damn sure that Pilate / Washed his hands
10
Sports
The observer | MONDAY, February 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
M Bball Continued from page 12
against a team that’s pressed us, but I thought it got us on our heels a little bit,” Brey said. “The second half turnovers and not letting us get in attack mode really hurt us.” Though the opposing team presented a challenge, Laszewski said the game could be a learning experience. “We just have to stay locked in, keep holding each other accountable, keep digging in defensively,” he said. The Yellow Jackets used their length and athleticism to force the Irish into turnovers and bad shots down the stretch. “They’re better athletes than us,” Brey said. “It’s happened a bunch to us this season. We’re not going to all of a sudden get more athletic.” A Hubb turnover which led to a fast break layup gave Georgia Tech its first lead in nearly 30 minutes, but Laszewski answered with a 3-pointer to put the Irish back in front. Laszewski scored a game-high 27 points on a career-best 11 field goals,
after scoring in single digits in each of the last three contests. “Nate’s a bounce-back kind of guy,” Brey said. “Even though we were winning, he wasn’t playing as well or scoring as much, but he was doing other things.” After Georgia Tech tied it at 70, the Irish scored six quick points to retake the lead, but they would only score four points in the last six minutes. A Laszewski and-one gave them back the lead with just under four minutes to play, but the Yellow Jackets continued to force the Irish into difficult shots and maintained a three-point advantage with just over a minute to play. Laszewski was sent to the line with a chance to bring it within one, but he missed the first free throw of the one-and-one, and after a defensive stop, junior guard Cormac Ryan was fouled and went one-for-two at the line. Georgia Tech got the ball back with 35 seconds to go, and the Irish elected not to foul. Laszewski blocked a layup and, with no timeouts remaining, Notre Dame got the ball up the f loor quickly. It fell to Ryan, who despite having what looked to be a clean look at the basket,
attempted to find a teammate, and the horn sounded before the Irish could get a shot off. “I feel for him,” Brey said. “If we had to do it all over again he would’ve rose up and taken that one. … We probably over-analyzed.” The Irish wrap up their short, three-game road trip with a trip to Durham, North Carolina, on Tuesday to take on the Duke. “I’ve got no speeches for them, baby,” Brey said. “There’s no rah-rah BS. We didn’t finish it; we didn’t get it done. Grow up, and get another chance on the road on Tuesday.” The Blue Devils (7-7, 5-5 ACC) are in the midst of an uncharacteristically poor season but still boast plenty of talent. They are led by sophomore forward Matthew Hurt, who averages 18 points per contest. Duke took the first game of the season series against the Irish on Dec. 16, with a 75-65 victory in South Bend. Tuesday’s game tips off at 4:30 p.m. from Cameron Indoor Stadium and will be broadcast on the ACC Network. Contact Liam Coolican at lcoolica@nd.edu Paid Advertisement
W Bball Continued from page 12
four-point cushion throughout much of the second quarter. The Cardinals eventually found some relief from junior guard Elizabeth Balogun who converted an and-one. Sophomore guard Anaya Peoples kept things close for the Irish with back-to-back two-pointers, but Louisville senior guard Dana Evans closed out the half with a bucket beyond the arc to give the Cardinals an eight-point lead heading into the locker room. Returning from halftime, the Irish defensive struggles continued as the Cardinals immediately scored off a steal. With the deficit at a game-high 11 points, Brunelle and Peoples were once again the women of the hour, recording five points. Sunday’s matchup did give Irish fans another look at what’s to come for the program, with early enrollee guard Olivia Miles making her second collegiate appearance since being approved to practice Jan. 25. After a four-point debut against Syracuse which ended early after she picked up four quick fouls, the New Jersey native registered 10 points and two rebounds in Sunday’s loss. With just under five minutes
remaining in the quarter and with the Cardinals leading 4452, Miles put an on offensive performance, recording three straight 2-pointers to bring the Irish within two points for the first time in over 10 minutes of play. With nine minutes left in the game, the Cardinals tied their largest lead at 11 and looked set to break away from the Irish. But head coach Niele Ivey and her team wouldn’t go quietly. Senior center Mikayla Vaughn and graduate student guard Destinee Walker each knocked down a pair of free throws. Vaughn sunk another two pointer, followed by a jumper by Brunelle. With just under two minutes remaining in play, Mabrey drained a deep 3-pointer off the dribble to pull the Irish within one point. Ultimately however, Evans proved too much for Notre Dame to handle, scoring six straight points to close out her 27-point performance. The Irish close out their fivegame road trip next Monday against NC State in Raleigh, North Carolina. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m., and the game will be televised on ESPN2. Notre Dame has five games remaining on the season before postseason play begins with the ACC Championship at the beginning of March.
Sports
Adams Continued from page 12
back who recorded more than 500 all-purpose yards despite probably being underused (great) • A five-star tight end who could be the Mackey Award frontrunner as a true sophomore (outstanding) • An All-American at free safety (you love to see it) • Question marks that linger at the buck linebacker spot despite three guys rotating through last year (hmm…) • A wide receiver room that returns 88 career receptions, including just 49 from the five-man rising senior class and zero from the three rising sophomores (oh…) • And a quarterback room that, aside from Coan, is a combined 4-7 passing for their collegiate careers (please stop…) As such, I would have thought it was in Notre Dame’s best interest to use the upcoming year to build up their talent and prepare for CFP runs in 2022, 2023 and 2024 rather than make a “desperate grab,” as I called it in that previous column, at another CFP berth in 2021. What do I mean by “desperate grab?” Well, with Jack Coan — an established game manager — as your starting quarterback in 2021, I can see a scenario where Notre Dame goes 12-0 against their schedule. I refer you to the previous column to see the in-depth breakdown of it, but suffice to say their toughest opponent could be Cincinnati (at home), and the Irish just stole the Bearcats’ defensive coordinator. Notre Dame takes on a reloading North Carolina team at home, Wisconsin and USC squads that didn’t look very impressive last year and a Florida State unit that epitomizes disfunction. It’s not a cake walk,
ndsmcobserver.com | MONDAY, February 8, 2021 | The Observer
but it’s nowhere near a murderer’s row. With that in mind, allow me to reiterate that I can see Notre Dame going 12-0. If they do, then I think they’ll be in the College Football Playoff again. I would normally accept that reality in any season. But here’s the rub (and what I mean by “desperate grab”): Notre Dame can go 12-0 and make the College Football Playoff by playing the exact same way they’ve been playing for the last three seasons, a style of play that has led to two embarrassing losses in the CFP. In my mind, Brian Kelly will be far too easily tempted by that reality and continue to refuse to become more dynamic on offense. That’s because, with Coan in the fold, they can keep playing it safe and get virtually guaranteed results. The guarantee? They’ll beat every team they should beat and get handled easily by every Playoff-caliber team they come across. It’s what has happened each of the last three seasons. If Notre Dame plays the same type of offense next season that they played with Ian Book as quarterback, they are going to get their you-know-what kicked by any of Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama or Oklahoma in a Playoff game, despite the fact that those first three teams will all be installing new starting quarterbacks (just like the Irish) and the last team plays almost no defense. Here’s another guarantee for you: Continuing to play with the same damn offensive philosophy as the last three seasons, none of the quarterbacks behind Coan are going to develop. I just mentioned that the Irish quarterback room, which returns two players to the roster, have combined to throw seven (7) passes in their three combined years. Current Boston College starter Phil Jurkovec threw just 16 in two
seasons with the Irish. In contrast, and while not counting the two games he had to start in place of a coronavirus-infected Trevor Lawrence, Clemson true freshman D.J. Uiagalelei threw 32 passes last season. Furthermore, Taisun Phommachanh and Hunter Helms threw 29 and 12 passes last season, respectively, for the Tigers. Side note: Who the hell are Taisun Phommachanh and Hunter Helms? Will Spiers — Clemson’s freaking punter — attempted as many passes (three) last season as both of Notre Dame’s backup quarterbacks — Drew Pyne and Brendon Clark — attempted each. Bryce Young threw 22 passes for Alabama in 2020. Allow me to point out once again that Notre Dame’s backups combined to throw six (6) passes the same season. What would you set the over/under at for combined backup quarterback passes by Notre Dame next season barring an injury replacement? Does 8.5 seem fair? That is a direct result of an archaic offensive philosophy. Yes, a Joe Moore Award-caliber offensive line and two great running backs meant handing the ball off and playing ball control were strengths. Conversely, a lack of developing wide receivers also led to you bringing in a Northwestern graduate transfer to be your go-to receiving threat. Look how that worked out in the ACC Championship and Rose Bowl. To be clear, if Kelly does end up evolving his offense with Coan as the starter, I will happily eat crow. HAPPILY. Coan’s got more experience than the other QBs (which I already harped on) and he’s a good player who led Wisconsin to appearances in the Big Ten Championship game and the Rose Bowl. With the weapons around him at Notre Dame, he could do even more damage
Paid Advertisement
— in the regular season and beyond. Of course, those weapons have yet to reach their full potential under a bullheaded head coach and a wide receivers coach — Del Alexander — whose place on the roster is steadily becoming more and more inexplicable and unjustifiable given the lack of explosiveness from Irish wide receivers not named Chase Claypool and Miles Boykin, and Claypool and Boykin only displayed consistent dynamism in their final seasons. Forgive me for having so little faith that either Kelly or Alexander is going to flip the switch in 2021 when they can just as easily keep doing what they’ve been doing and BS their way to another undefeated regular season, another Playoff game loss and another post-Playoff game press conference where they lament about how they need more dynamic playmakers. So, the two options I presented at the start of this piece aren’t really THE two options, are they? It’s really Notre Dame going 12-0 and making the Playoff before yet another frustrating loss OR the Irish dropping one or two games and winding up in a New Year’s Six Bowl (or perhaps another trip to Orlando for the rebranded Cheez-it Bowl). That latter scenario wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, except it will have been accomplished without any of the young quarterbacks getting any meaningful development because Coan will probably have started every game. That amounts to a waste of a season when Coan is gone in 2022 and you have to open the season vs. Ohio State in Columbus (and you have another November date with Clemson). I wonder what Kelly’s answer to that problem will be… Wait, I know! He’ll just go get
11
another transfer quarterback and forsake the three-, fourand borderline five-star players his staff actually recruited to play for him. Because why take the time to develop young men when you can take the easy way out and bring in pre-developed ones? That’s a great example to set for your young, impressionable players. So, please allow me to apologize to Coan, because I meant no offense by that previous column. I wish him nothing but the best in South Bend, and I honestly believe that, if the Irish open up the offense with him, they can compete for a national championship in a reloading year across college football. But at the same time, I worry that he brings with him an omen of continued mediocrity for a Notre Dame offense that is holding the program back from its first national championship in 33 years. And that’s not Coan’s fault; it’s Brian Kelly’s. But allow me to also offer my apologies to Kelly for the way I’ve taken him to task in two columns now. I’m sorry that I, as a member of the local media, am not taking it easy on you and saying you had a great year (as you bemoaned in the postRose Bowl press conference). Forgive me for expecting you to win one of your postseason games in 2020, against either a fully-loaded Clemson in the ACC Championship or Alabama in the Playoff. Forgive me for expecting you to execute a game plan that at least made it seem like you wanted to beat the Tide rather than play for a cosmetic loss. Forgive me for expecting you to develop the quarterbacks and wide receivers that you’ve actually recruited, players that have higher ceilings than those of the graduate transfers you’ve brought in. Have mercy on my soul for these unreasonable expectations. And once you are done rendering judgement upon me, please turn your gaze upon the rest of college football rather than the pundits in your backyard. I’ll let you in on a little secret: Dominating the former will make the latter treat you a whole lot better. And if you do that, then you can fulfill your post-Alabama promise: “We’re going to keep getting back here, and everybody can keep saying Notre Dame is not good enough. Well, you know what? You’re gonna have a problem because we’re gonna keep winning games, we’re gonna keep getting back here, and we’re gonna break through. And then I’m going to be terrible to be at a press conference with. Terrible.” I look forward to that day, should it ever actually come. Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
12
The observer | MONDAY, February 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
nd men’s basketball | georgia tech 82, nd 80
Irish unable to hold on, fall to Yellow Jackets By LIAM COOLICAN Sports Writer
Despite a first half in which they scored 50 points on 66% shooting, the Notre Dame men’s basketball team fell 82-80 to Georgia Tech on Saturday night in Atlanta. “Tough one to swallow,” head coach Mike Brey said after the game. The Irish had a chance to win at the buzzer, but were unable to get a shot off before time expired. “Our defense let us down tonight,” Brey said. “We scored 80 and probably had enough on the board on the offensive end.” The Irish came out of the gate quickly, opening the game with a 14-2 run thanks to their aggressive defense and continued that momentum for the remainder of the first half, shooting 19-29 from the field, including 6-13 from beyond the arc. They took a 50-35 lead into the locker room, the most points they’ve scored in a half this season.
The Yellow Jackets opened the second half on a 12-2 run, thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers, forcing Brey to take an early timeout. Junior forward Nate Laszewski scored six points in quick succession after the timeout to stretch the Irish lead back to 11 points, but Georgia Tech answered with a 7-0 run to bring the score to within two. The Irish continued to score inside with ease thanks to junior guard Prentiss Hubb’s playmaking, which led to easy looks for Laszewski and graduate student forward Juwan Durham. Hubb finished with 15 points and 10 assists, his third doubledouble of the season. Georgia Tech countered each score, however, shooting over 60% in the second half. “Our defensive rhythm was off,” Laszewski said. “They made some tough shots.” Georgia Tech’s full court pressure was also problematic for the Irish. “We really haven’t played see M BBALL PAGE 10
Photo courtesy of Hyosub Shin
Irish graduate student guard Juwan Durham goes for a block during Notre Dame’s 82-80 loss at Georgia Tech on Saturday at McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta. Durham had 18 points and three assists in the game.
column
nd WOMEN’s basketball | Louisville 71, nD 65
Notre Dame loses to No. 1 Choice for ’21: CFP or development? Louisville in close game Observer Staff Report
Notre Dame fell just short of upsetting top-ranked Louisville on Sunday afternoon, continuing a threegame losing streak on the road. Despite a balanced performance across the board — with four players reaching double digits — the Irish were unable to overcome a first-half deficit. In a game of momentum swings, the Cardinals (18-1, 11-1 ACC) got out to a quick start, leading 12-6 in the first quarter. The Irish (8-8, 6-6 ACC) mounted a response of their own, going on an 11-0 run bookended by 3-pointers from sophomore forward Sam Brunelle and junior guard Dara Mabrey. The Cardinals then closed out the quarter with nine unanswered points. After an opening quarter marked by long-range shots, both teams exchanged looks in the paint, with neither team able to gain more than a see W BBALL PAGE 10
Hayden Adams Sports Editor
Photo courtesy of Jared Anderson
Irish junior guard Dana Mabrey looks to pass during Notre Dame’s 71-65 loss against Louisville on Sunday at the KFC Yum! Center.
I know what you’re probably thinking, but hear me out. You may be thinking that I’m an idiot just from the title. I would think the majority of you reading this would easily pick making the College Football Playoff in 2021 over Notre Dame taking the risk of throwing inexperienced players on the field and figuring it out from there. Based on the staff’s decision to bring graduate transfer quarterback Jack Coan in from Wisconsin, I think they would agree with that sentiment. This winter, I wrote a column on why we shouldn’t trust Brian Kelly to get 2021 right because of that decision to add Coan to the roster. I have to confess that it was a bit of a knee-jerk reaction, and I didn’t really organize my thoughts as well as I probably should have. But that’s what this column is for. My point in that previous
piece was to say that, next season, Notre Dame is going into reload mode. The Irish aren’t necessarily rebuilding after two CFP appearances in three seasons and four straight 10win campaigns, but they do lose a lot, specifically: • A three-year starter and the winningest quarterback in Notre Dame history • Four of five starters along an offensive line that finished in the top three for the Joe Moore Award • Two starting wide receivers and two starting-caliber tight ends that accounted for 93 of 231 team receptions last season • Two starting graduate student defensive ends who combined for 40 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 10 sacks • The best linebacker in the country • And two graduate students in the secondary Meanwhile, they bring back: • A 1,000-yard rusher at running back and a dynamic No. 2 see ADAMS PAGE 11