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Volume 51, Issue 93 | thursday, february 16, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
Notre Dame will not be a sanctuary campus University president ‘concerned that such a declaration may give our students a false sense of security’ By COURTNEY BECKER News Writer
It was announced at student senate Wednesday that University President Fr. John Jenkins sent a letter to the members of the faculty senate Feb. 7 informing them he will not declare Notre Dame a sanctuary campus at this time. Jenkins said in the letter — which he sent in response to a resolution from faculty senate asking that the University be declared a sanctuary campus — that he is concerned declaring the University would give students a false impression of the weight the term carries. “While the senate no doubt recognizes that the practical import of declaring Notre Dame a sanctuary campus
is limited, the resolution affirms that the term ‘carries considerable symbolic weight,’” he said in the letter. “I appreciate this point, but am concerned that such a declaration may give our students a false sense of security.” According to the letter, Jenkins’ concerns stem from the University’s duty to “comply with the law,” potentially conf licting with any promises the students could interpret from the declaration. “The senate’s resolution itself recognizes that while the term ‘sanctuary’ could be understood as a place ‘free from civil intrusion,’ the University must comply with subpoenas, court orders and warrants,” he said in the
CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer
see SANCTUARY PAGE 3
Demonstrators pushed for the University to become a sanctuary campus in November. On Feb. 7, Fr. Jenkins wrote that Notre Dame “would not voluntarily provide information … without a clear legal requirement.”
Saint Mary’s hosts Athletes reflect on black activism Chinese exchange student By ANDREW CAMERON News Writer
The Office of Multicultural Student Programs and Ser v ices hosted “Sports and Activ ism: Fame, Controversy, and Impact” — a panel to discuss the importance role that sports have played in African-American activ ism — Wednesday night in LaFortune Student
Center. The panel featured three speakers: Amira Rose Dav is, Johns Hopkins Universit y histor y Ph.D. candidate; Karin Muya, senior for ward on the Notre Dame women’s soccer team; and Autr y Denson, class of 1999 alum and current running backs coach for t he Fighting Irish. see ATHLETES PAGE 4
By GINA TWARDOSZ News Writer
Saint Mary’s has sent students to China Women’s University through an exchange program before, but junior Siwei Li is the first student from China Women’s University to attend the College. “I love the environment here because there’s so much free time and you can do all of the
things you want to,” Li said. “Also, I’ve met plenty of great students here.” Alice Siqin Yang, associate director of international education at the College, said China Women’s University is an esteemed college firmly invested in women’s empowerment. “It is affiliated with the AllChina Women’s Federation, which is a national network,” Yang said. “There’s a strong
network support for women’s empowerment and girl’s education in the country. We all support the idea of women’s education. We share the same philosophies and visions for leadership and training for our students.” In her three months in the U.S., Li has visited three states, including Indiana. see EXCHANGE PAGE 4
‘Iran Beyond Politics’ display comes to Snite In an attempt to showcase a dif ferent side of Iran, t he Persian Association of Notre Dame (PAND) is hosting a photo ex hibit, tit led “Iran Beyond Politics,” on Friday at t he Snite Museum of A rt. Fatemeh Ela hi, an organizer of t he event and a
member of PAND, said t he ex hibit “emphasizes t he diversit y of t he Iranian people — especia lly culture and et hnicit y.” The ex hibit includes photographs of Iranian societ y, nature and architecture. “This ex hibit shows some ver y old parts of Iran and some ver y new parts, and I t hink t his contrast is my
favorite,” Ela hi said. PAND, which was founded in October, is hosting t he ex hibit in order to show Iran from an angle not usua lly seen in t he media, Elhai said. “Especia lly w it h a ll t he recent news about Iran, we’re tr y ing to prov ide a different image of how eager Iranian people are to communicate
w it h t he west, and how what t he media shows is not t he true representation of Iran,” Ela hi said. Ela hi, who emigrated to t he United States from Iran when she was 16 years old, said she relates to t he exhibit’s mission on a persona l level. “W hen I came to t he U.S., a melting pot of dif ferent
cultures, I rea lized how much my government, my media had skewed my mind to t hink a certain way about certain people,” Ela hi said. “W hen I met t hose people, I rea lized t hat wasn’t true at a ll, or t hat was only part of t he stor y.” The ex hibit is not seek ing
news PAGE 2
Scene PAGE 5
viewpoint PAGE 6
men’s lacrosse PAGE 12
women’s basketball PAGE 12
By CIARA HOPKINSON News Writer
see EXHIBIT PAGE 3
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Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Workshop: “Introduction to Text Mining” Hesburgh Library, CDS Classroom 129 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m.
“Prolanthrophy: The Business of Helping Athletes Give Back” Mendoza College of Business noon - 1 p.m.
Cardio Kickboxing Rolfs Sports Recreation Center 11 a.m. - noon Arrive early. Space is limited.
Junior Parents Weekend Closing Brunch Joyce Center 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Tickets are required.
Workshop: “Writing A Strong Undergraduate Grant Proposal” Brownson Hall 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
“Asylum in the U.S. Law and the Lives it Touches” 1140 Eck Hall of Law 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch provided.
Hockey vs. Providence Compton Family Ice Arena 7:35 p.m. Tickets available online.
Douglas Reed Organ Concert Basilica of the Sacred Heart 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. Open to the public.
Vespers Basilica of the Sacred Heart 7:15 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. All are welcome to join for evening prayer.
Book Launch: Julia Douthwaite’s “Rousseau and Dignity” Geddes Hall 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
NDVotes renews partnerships By MEGAN VALLEY Associate News Editor
NDVotes will carry on its partnerships with the Center for Social Concerns (CSC) and the Rooney Center and to continue pushing for the student body to participate in “civic engagement.” Post-election season, sophomore Kylie Ruscheinski and junior Andrew Pott, co-chairs of NDVotes, said the renewal marks a new start for NDVotes. “There’s a sort of rebranding of NDVotes,” Ruscheinski said. “A lot of people seemed to appreciate the void that was filled on campus for civil engagement and staying informed about the election, but civic engagement doesn’t necessarily stop after the election season, so finding a way to provide that platform and a space for students to be engaged in politics in the off season is important. We’re still going to do voter registration, but next steps also, like how do you stay involved in local politics.” While NDVotes will have a slightly different focus, Ruscheinski said both
the Pizza, Pop and Politics events and the dorm liaison program will continue. This new focus, Ruscheinski said, will be on increasing the “effectiveness of engagement.” “We used to have voter registration tables, but since there isn’t an election in the next few years, we’re thinking of replacing those tables with civic engagement tables, so basically stuff about how to write letters to your congressmen, who your congressional representatives are,” Pott said. To kick off the “rebranding,” the next Pizza, Pop and Politics event will center on the effectiveness of protests. “Our next speaker is about the sociology of protest; is protest the best way to get your voices heard by your leaders? What are the strategies for calling your representative or writing in? Basically, it’s how to stay involved in the process with more than just your vote,” Ruscheinski said. Future events might be focused on local elections and interpreting the “new media,” including “alternative facts,” “fake news” and “how to get reliable information when everyone has
an agenda.” Pott said ND Votes was valuable because it “fills a void” on campus. “I can’t think of any other organization that consistently has some sort of really interesting political talk like we do — maybe Bridge[ND] — but College Democrats and College Republicans bring in interesting speakers, but it might just be once a semester,” he said. “ … There’s also no slant to ours, or at least we try for there not to be.” Part of what makes NDVotes important and valuable is how accessible it is, Ruscheinski said. “We have professors come and speak, so they’re people you can continue the conversation with and see on campus,” she said. “The present it in a very approachable way for everyone to understand and follow along. Our last event, we filled Geddes Coffee House. It was standing room only. I think that shows people are interested and if you provide the service, they’ll come.” Contact Megan Valley at mvalley@nd.edu
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Sanctuary Continued from page 1
letter. “We do not now, and would not, voluntarily provide information about any student without a clear legal requirement to do so, but we would comply with the law and so cannot promise a campus entirely ‘free from civil intrusion.’ I do not want to appear to make our students a promise on which we can not deliver.” Jenkins also said he was concerned about potential action against Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students at Notre Dame if the campus were declared a sanctuary campus. “I am also mindful that a public declaration of our campus as a sanctuary campus could unnecessarily draw attention to these vulnerable students and provoke a reaction from authorities that we might otherwise avoid,” he said. “ … Key members of the administration have either signaled or said that there are no plans to act aggressively against those with DACA status, and at this point, it is perhaps best to monitor the situation.” After Jenkins released his letter, the Notre Dame College Republicans said they were supportive of his decision. “We are very pleased with Fr. Jenkins’ decision to not make Notre Dame a sanctuary campus,” senior Kevin Burke, College Republicans secretary, said on behalf of the club in an email. “The rule of law is an important and necessary part of American society and we applaud Fr. Jenkins on his decision.” The Notre Dame College Democrats said they were disappointed in Jenkins’ decision. Senior Andrew Gallo, co-president of the College Democrats, said the club had hoped Jenkins would a step to provide any extra protection
Exhibit Continued from page 1
to show some sort of grand image of Iran, Elhai said. Rather, it seeks only to show a fuller vision of Iran, beyond its political and religious conf licts. “It’s actually ver y mundane things ... basically, we’re showing that no, they’re just people,” Elahi said. Mar yam Ghadiri, a Ph.D. student at Purdue and the curator of the ex hibit, gave a TED Talk called “Iran from a Different Lens” last spring. After seeing the talk, several members of PAND proposed booking the exhibit. The event happens to fall just a few weeks after President Donald Trump issued an executive order temporarily banning foreign
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available to DACA students at Notre Dame. “We think that as a Catholic university and a university of our stature that we are in a tradition of welcoming refugees and welcoming those who need it and those who are cast aside,” he said. “And so in light of the new administration and the new policies regarding immigration and refugees, it’s really disappointing to see that Fr. Jenkins will not designate us a sanctuary campus — that he will not provide these basic and necessary protections that we think are so essential for many members here in our community.” Despite his decision to not declare Notre Dame a Sanctuary Campus, Jenkins assured the Faculty Senate his commitment to DACA students at Notre Dame remained unchanged and said the University would continue to support them. “ … I also met privately with a number of our DACA students to listen to their concerns and assure them of the University’s support,” he said. “There are a number of our University colleagues who are doing superb work in providing day-to-day assistance and guidance to these students during this difficult time, and I can assure you, we will continue to provide the University resources necessary to do so.” Student senate additionally discussed potential executive cabinet restructuring that would cut the number of members from 22 to 17, passed an amendment to the constitution that will restructure the Shirt Enrichment Endowment to put the profits from The Shirt Project to better use and incentives for students to live on campus for their senior years during its meeting. Contact Courtney Becker at cbecker3@nd.edu
nationals and refugees from seven predominantly Muslim countries, including Iran, from entering the countr y. Catering to fears of “the other,” Elahi said, is nothing new. “This is a ver y common strateg y that many politicians have used in the past to establish their own government and gain popularity,” Elahi said. Though many Americans have pushed back strongly against the travel ban, there are other ways to combat misconceptions and misguided fear, Elahi said. “Another strateg y is communication, showing ourselves in the community and tr ying to represent ourselves,” Elahi said. Contact Ciara Hopkinson at chopkin1@nd.edu
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NEWS
The observer | thursday, february 16, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
Athletes Continued from page 1
Richard Pierce, associate professor of A fricana studies and histor y, moderated t he panel. “W hen we t hink about t he histor y of [A frica nA merica n activ ism in sports] it’s rea lly easy to go to t hat iconic image in ‘68 at t he Mex ico cit y ga mes w it h Tommie Smit h a nd John Ca rlos, but in rea lit y t he histor y of at hletic activ ism dates fa r beyond t hat a nd one of t he reasons why is because sports has a lways had a platform,” Dav is sa id. “Our infatuation w it h it is not new. It’s been t here for a while, a nd for A frica nA merica n activ ists, t hey saw it as a site where you could ma ke a lot of ga ins.” Muya sa id players of tea m sports experience a restricted freedom of public speech. “If t he issue doesn’t resonate w it h t he majorit y of t he tea m, it could be seen as a distraction,” she sa id. On t he recent trend in which whole tea ms a re mobilizing to ma ke statements about race, Dav is sa id t he “Wyoming Black 14,” a group of Universit y of Wyoming footba ll players expelled for protesting racism w it h black a rmba nds, “did not have power” at t he time. Denson sa id black at hletes’ have a responsibilit y to use t heir position to
foster cha nge. “I’ve played footba ll since I was 7 yea rs old, a nd so my mom taught me t hat I was blessed so t hat I could be a voice for t hose t hat don’t have a voice,” Dav is sa id. “That’s a ll I k new grow ing up, t hat at hletes have t hat responsibilit y. That being sa id, you have to a lso lea rn how to ma neuver w it hin t hat str ucture because you’ve a lso got to be a pa rt of it to bring about t hat cha nge.” Denson a lso ack nowledged t he constra ints on t his potentia l responsibilit y a nd sa id his persona l roles as husba nd a nd fat her limit what he ca n do a nd say. He added t hat at hletes should not be forced into t he role of activ ist. “Just because I ca n r un a footba ll or she ca n k ick a soccer ba ll doesn’t mea n she has to f ight ever ybody’s batt les a ll t he time, a nd I t hink t hat, unfa irly, t hat is what has happened,” he sa id. Dav is sa id being forced into t hat role ca n have rea l reprecussions. “There is a ver y economic risk to spea k ing out … I have seen people str uggling w it h if to spea k, when to spea k, how to spea k,” he sa id. Simply t he presence of black at hletes in prominent positions ca n send a powerf ul message, Muya sa id. “Serena Willia ms is a n a ma zing presence for us — she’s a role model in being a n incredibly successf ul
black woma n as a tennis supersta r, rega rdless of where she is politica lly or if she’s involved in activ ism,” she sa id. To close, Dav is sa id t here were drawbacks as well as benef its of t he power sports has as a platform for activ ism. “Sports has been given representationa l power,” he sa id. “We k now t here a re ma ny more black doctors a nd ma ny more black teachers t ha n t here a re black professiona l at hletes, a nd yet, for ma ny, t hey t hink t hat t he only way t hey ca n come up is by juggling t he ba ll or play ing on t he tennis court, a nd I t hink t hat it’s a double-edged sword because, one, it cuts ot her avenues out, but t wo, it brings t his microscope to t he platform, because it does have t his representationa l power a nd I t hink it’s importa nt to understa nd what t hat encompasses. “ … It goes beyond t he f ield, beyond at hletes. It’s about t he ways people compete a nd mobilize a round sports. People a re t hink ing about sports as beyond t he ga me itself. There is no deny ing t hat Universit y sports have power, so for people tr y ing to mobilize a round issues of socia l justice, sports w ill rema in a place to mobilize in.”
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Exchange Continued from page 1
“The first time I was here, I was a freshman and I came here through a summer program at my university,” Li said. “I’ve been in America for three months now. I stayed in Montana and Utah and made pretty good friends in Utah. I know Utah has good national parks, so I hope I can go back there and visit them.” Li said she has not had much opportunity to explore Notre Dame or South Bend yet. “I go to Notre Dame often, but I just go for my class and I don’t stay awhile — the campus is really big,” Li said. “I haven’t really gotten the chance to explore South Bend yet, but I want to. I spend a lot of time [at Saint Mary’s] because I want to get used to everything here first.” Saint Mary’s exchange program has a successful past, but Yang said she hopes to expand it and welcome even more international students. “We have our exchange program here at Saint Mary’s where we send students to different countries and then we welcome them to send their students here,” Yang said. “Ewha University and Seoul National University did send women to our campus some
years ago, and now [Li] is the first student from China Women’s University. We hope other countries like India — maybe even Canada — will come together and collaborate with us.” While Li said she is comfortable here, she also said she misses her family, especially this time of year during China’s Spring Festival. “Right now in China is the Spring Festival, so I miss my family a lot,” Li said. “The Spring Festival is like how Christmas is for Americans. It’s important for the family to be together for the Spring Festival so many Chinese people travel to get back home. It’s important for kids as well, because they get red envelopes which have money and well wishes inside them.” Yang said welcoming international exchange students to campus is one of the most enlightening experiences for students. “We want our students to grow and be women leaders and make changes in the world,” Yang said. “We are learners and teachers to each other. When international students come here, they learn from us but we learn from them, and broaden our view of the world.” Contact Gina Twardosz at gtwardosz01@saintmarys.edu
The observer | thursday, february 16, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
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Cristina Interiano | The Observer
6 Inside Column
What’s the next big thing? Joseph Han Graphic Designer
W hen I got back home for w inter break, I went through a box of some of my childhood items and found my old fourth generation iPod Touch from my middle school days. I turned it back on and was immediately greeted by the old operating system, iOS 6.1.6. After using the iPod Touch for a couple of minutes, I realized not a lot has changed w ith current smartphones. A lot of f lagship smartphone dev ices boast a great deal of improvements and extra features. But if you break it dow n to the bare backbone, they are the same as their predecessors. You just have to add the word “better” to a certain component of the dev ices and there you have it — a “new, revolutionar y” phone. For example, the iPhone 7 just has a better screen, better data connection, better storage, better processor, better securit y and better build. The same thing applies to its competitors, the Samsung Gala x y lineups and other Android dev ices. It was not a surprise when I later heard the news that the smartphone market was destined to die out in five years or so. Take a look at tablets, laptops, and other hybrids. Companies have seemed to just follow the path of “if there is nothing w rong w ith it, leave it.” As a result, the competition w ithin the technolog y field has driven these dev ices to become faster, lighter, and stronger, and now it has reached a point that customers do not see any further improvements as a necessar y push to upgrade their dev ices. Even though I bought the iPad Air in 2013, I don’t find the need to upgrade to the latest tablet out there. I’m sure later in the future, we w ill reach a point where we won’t upgrade our smartphones as much either. This stagnation w ithin the smart dev ice market makes me wonder what the next new thing w ill be. W hen the first set of mobile phones came out, it changed how people communicated by making it more personal and portable; it allowed consumers to reach others for one-on-one conversations or message chat. W hen the first iPhone came out in 2007 along w ith other smartphones, it changed how people interacted w ithin social groups and networks. Apps like Instagram and Snapchat have changed how people share and exchange information. W hat kind of change w ill the next level of communication bring the societ y to? W hat form of communication w ill it utilize? Will it be v irtual realit y headsets? W hat w ill be the next big thing? Contact Joseph Han at shan3@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The observer | THURSDAY, february 16, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
LETTERs TO THE EDITOR
Don’t invite Donald Trump to Commencement Fr. Jenkins, It has been years since I last read an Observer article, and even longer since I wrote a letter to the editor, but today I found myself, drawn back, through social media: Friends had shared an article about whether Donald Trump would be invited to speak at the 2017 Commencement. As a student and as an alumnus (and, in fact, until the results of this election), I was proud of the University’s tradition of inviting the sitting president, regardless of party, to speak. Now, I am terrified of associating Donald Trump with the best traditions, let alone the intellectual and moral life, of our University. There is so much to say about the reasons not to pick Trump — much of it said during the course of the presidential campaign. Rather than repeat the innumerable scandals and embarrassments, I want to focus on three things which I’m sure you look for in a commencement speaker: inspiring Notre Dame’s newest alumni, commending the value of higher education and furthering the unique mission of Notre Dame. First, and most basic, can you imagine Trump inspiring the class of 2017? Can you even imagine him saying anything of value, at all, to a graduate? W hen you ask students, faculty, staff, trustees, Holy Cross priests or other trusted friends, can they imagine it? He speaks at a lowest common denominator level, playing to fear and insecurity, trading on innuendo and conspiracy theories. Second, Trump may be among the worst people to uphold the value of higher education among our recent graduates. That may sound hyperbolic, but this man has utter distain for any sort of learning or expertise, as he demonstrated by claiming to
“know more about ISIS than the generals do,” and that that his “primary foreign policy consultant is myself” because “I have a very good brain.” Learning should inspire humility about the limits of one’s own knowledge; as Socrates ref lected: “The ancient Oracle said that I was the wisest of all the Greeks. It is because I alone, of all the Greeks, know that I know nothing.” W ho can picture Trump ever betraying a hint of ignorance about anything? That, after all, would be a sign of weakness. Third, and finally, Trump’s words and conduct are antithetical to Notre Dame’s unique mission. As a student, I was inspired by the University’s commitment to teaching the whole person, to promoting a moral and spiritual, as well as intellectual, education. Trump represents no kind of moral or spiritual life. Everything that Trump says, everything that he does, is in service of himself and his ego. The things he likes, the things he does, are the best; he says kind words about those who support him or treat him well, and no one else. Those who oppose him are liars, failures or losers. I am not saying that our commencement speaker must be Catholic, or even Christian, but Trump’s conduct provides no evidence of any guiding moral principle, beyond pride. Fr. Jenkins, I can think of no worse commencement speaker than Donald Trump. It is prestigious for the University to have presidents speak at commencement, but surely prestige alone cannot drive this decision. W hat shall it profit the University to have Donald Trump as a speaker? Mike Romano class of 2004 Dec. 7
Why we should celebrate Chinese New Year On Jan. 28, 2017, China celebrated Spring Festival, the annual Chinese New Year and the most widely celebrated holiday in China. As a freshman, this is my first year living away from home during this national holiday, and like many others on campus, being away from home during this festive season will be the case for many years to come. As I spoke to my parents and friends, I could not help but reminisce about the days as a child when I was blessed to spend this holiday at home. I could not help but remember the color red lingering in every corner of the city as everyone prepared to celebrate; beautiful red lanterns, decorative paper-cuttings and traditional antithetical couplets — traditional poetic idioms that expresses good fortune — adorning every household. I also remembered the smell of mother’s dumplings, and the warm feeling of family as we cuddled together waiting for the countdown to the New Year. Three … two … one … and the sound of the city lighting up in fireworks. I was very happy when I saw that the Chinese Culture Society decided to organize special events to celebrate this joyous occasion, but I was also sad to see that the school itself had paid little attention to this holiday. My
calculus professor, who is from China, expressed briefly that, “hopefully someday, the school will give us a holiday because it is the most important day in China.” This seemingly perfunctory comment made me realize how little attention the school pays to cultural events outside the United States. Some of my friends who had gone to universities such as UC Berkeley and NYU had all seen red colored decorations put around the school, and even temporary changes in dining hall menus. Notre Dame’s student body is over 8 percent international students — not to mention a large part of this percentage is students from China — and with this number growing each year, our school is becoming more and more international and outward facing. I encourage the school to realize this and harness this opportunity not only to diversify its students on campus, but also to diversify its culture, to learn about the different traditions and backgrounds of people it houses behind its academic doors and to strive to make our home under the dome a place for everyone. Wendi Gradoville freshman Feb. 14
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The observer | THURSDAY, february 16, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
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Experimenting with joy would explain why it’s possible to find joy amongst great suffering; and why it’s easy to produce happiness when one possesses joy alone. To put this another way, because joy is a state of mind something that exists independent from external circumstances, and because a foundation of joy can provide a subsistent supply of happiness, there’s never a reason why you can’t choose to be the happiest person in the room. What’s more, joy has a self-catalytic effect, wherein once you detect the trace of joy, it naturally leads you to discover even more, and the more joy you find, the more you recognize has been hidden all around you, disguised under the veil of daily distractions, just waiting to be uncovered. I know this to be true, because I been repeatedly revealed this effect through my own experiments with joy. Lately, when walking to class, or sitting down to dinner, I have begun to feel the infectious powers of joy. It comes over me, at first, like an itch, but then quickly evolves into something as expressive as a sneeze. The result is that things as small as a smile from a stranger, a glance at the dome, or a meager memory can lead me to break into laughter for no reason aside from the overwhelming experience of joy. What’s even more remarkable than this, however, is the way that joy manages to spread itself. In Buddhism, there’s a concept called “mudita,” which means that you receive joy simply from witnessing other people experience it. Thus, my joyous laughing fits are a transmittable phenomenon, and the method of doing so is as simple as being near someone. With this in mind, it should follow that through meeting one of these moments face-to-face, a person would respond with wonder whilst they receive the seedling of a great joy. But this is not always the case, and often we greet joy instead with distrust, or even worse, disgust. We call someone who sits alone with a smile on their face “strange,” or someone who walks and laughs to his or herself “weird.” Where,
Matt Williams Viewology: Critical Reflections on Life
Of all the existential questions to get tossed around on Friday nights or over coffee on Saturday mornings, my all-time favorites are those considering the point of human life. They usually begin as raw why questions about our existence, which get mixed into questions of how to live a “meaningful” life, before finally rising into half-baked opinions about the pursuit of pleasure, power and a plethora of other emotions and achievements. Recently, I have been trying a different approach to this process. Working backwards, I assume “to maximize joy” as my hypothesis for the worthiest pursuit in life, and then I test this hypothesis by experimenting with joy so to speak. Before beginning these experiments, however, I had to first figure out what exactly this intangible concept of “joy” truly was, where this state, which seemed to transcend the realm of feelings like happiness and suffering, came from, and why everyone from His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Pixar producers at Disney Land seemed to believe that it was the most important part of life. This sounds like a simple task, but for a threeletter word that entered most of our vocabularies in grade school, joy turned out to be a surprisingly elusive concept to catch. I quickly discovered that it couldn’t be activated from a sample set of emotions and actions, such as “if chocolate, then joy,” but rather, inducing the experience of joy relied upon our completely adopting a certain state of mind. Thus, while happiness could be clearly traced to a great piece of cake or a first kiss, and suffering directly derived from a stomach ache or bad break-up, joy was not so simply summoned. I think this is because joy is of a different degree than happy and sad, and therefore is not subject to the same principles of cause and effect that these more temporary emotional reactions are. This
when and how did this unwelcome social norm weed its way into the garden of western culture? My initial diagnosis, for what it’s worth, would be that this invasive custom lies rooted partially in the West’s indulgence in capitalism, and partially in the rights that members of this modern era now inherit with birth. On the first, I would argue that as capitalism is driven by competition, competition is driven by comparison, and as Theodore Roosevelt so elegantly put it, “comparison is the thief of joy.” As members of the Notre Dame microcosm of America’s highly capitalist society, we are constantly comparing ourselves to each other in order to retain a competitive edge; a process which is far more conducive of the German phenomena “schadenfreude,” in which one gains pleasure from the misfortune of others, than it is of the Eastern ideal “mudita.” On the second, I would argue that when something, like education, per say, is viewed as a right owed to us by society, as opposed to an opportunity to be earned, it becomes far easier to complain about its non-ideal aspects, and much more difficult to appreciate its perfectly adequate ones. This becomes a problem, because as joy resides in an internal state of mind, cultivating it requires that we consciously choose to focus on the good parts of circumstance; something we are becoming less adept to do. In closing, while my experimentation with joy is still in its infancy, I hope to offer these ideas as some food for thought — some starter, so to speak, for crafting a satisfactory solution to the aforementioned existential recipes. Have any procedures to recommend? Want to propose an alternative hypothesis? Need to see some proof in person? Please feel free to contact Matt at mwilli41@nd.edu (and in the meanwhile, don’t forget to be awesome). The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily of the Observer.
The final frontier Lucy Collins Stuck in the Middle
Ask anyone who was alive at the time what they were doing July 20, 1969. Chances are, whether they were young or old, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, they were planted in front of a TV set, watching with eyes wide with wonder as history was made and mankind reached the moon. Think about that for a second — barely 20 years after the invention of colored TV, and decades before cellphones and desktop computers became commonplace, humans found a way to travel 238,900 miles to the moon. Such a feat could only come about through the work of mercilessly relentless and incredibly passionate individuals. In recent years, however, our species’ thirst for more knowledge about space has taken a sideline to more pressing issues, receiving fewer and fewer funds. In fact, it’s been 40 years now since anyone has walked on the moon. A renewed dedication to space exploration could open new doors for mankind, and unite a divided people under one goal. When President John F. Kennedy confidently announced that America was going to reach the moon, it was not merely due to a desire to explore. With the Cold War raging, Americans needed a victory, and space was the way to do it. Not only would putting a man into space open doors for new technologies and weapons, but it would also strike a chord with our enemies, spelling out that we weren’t to be messed with. America was going through tense, divisive times (sound familiar?), and space was a common goal to be shared. Obviously,
things are different this time around. In the ’60s, NASA received almost 5 percent of the national budget. Today, it receives less than half of 1 percent. During the 1960s, many Americans felt the expense of Apollo was justified because of its importance to national security. Today, some people question whether human space exploration is valuable. It’s a much loftier goal that we are after this time around — creating a settlement on the moon, as well as branching out farther, towards Mars. This obviously means that more money is needed. It’s understandably difficult to get a lot of people to rally behind the idea of pouring billions of dollars into space exploration when there are so many things to fix on Earth, but the implications of an expanded and more dedicated space program could be just what us Earthlings need. One of the many new technologies discovered could have applications on the ground. For instance, advances in high-efficiency batteries, energy storage systems, closed-loop environmental control and life support could benefit people back on Earth. Aside from the scientific and environmental benefits, there is a powerful, purely symbolic reason to set our sights on space again. Human beings are innate explorers. There’s a reason why science fiction and tales of discovery have dominated TV and movie screens for almost a decade now — we have a fascination with conquering the unknown. Now that Mount Everest has been climbed hundreds of times, it’s no longer that impressive; a new goal is needed. After the Earthly frontiers had been all but closed, it makes sense that we next looked to the skies. With this new goal comes new jobs and a new passion for the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)
subjects for younger generations. Despite the government’s hesitancy to fund these extraterrestrial endeavors, several private corporations have taken the reins. Perhaps the best known of these entrepreneurs is Elon Musk, founder of Tesco Incorporation and SpaceX. Musk has made contracts with NASA and has spent billions on new technologies with the goal of “enabling people to live on other planets.” In 2016, National Geographic released an epic six-part miniseries, appropriately titled “Mars,” which documented a fictional voyage to the red planet, interspersed with real footage and interviews with some of the field’s preeminent scholars including Musk himself. It is clear that there is an interest in getting back up into space, but a national consensus on just how important that goal is needs to be reached for any progress to be made. As Matthew McConaughey’s character Cooper says in one of my favorite movies, “Interstellar”: “We used to look up at the sky and wonder at our place in the stars, now we just look down and worry about our place in the dirt.” I personally think “Interstellar” was on to something — perhaps all the solutions to our Earth-bound problems lie in the sky, out of sight, but within reach. Aside from incessantly quoting “Hamilton” and other perfect works of theater/film, Lucy Collins majors in economics and history, is a sophomore at Notre Dame and is often found trying to balance her hopeless romanticism and nearly constant cynicism. Please direct comments to lcollin8@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily of the Observer.
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DAILY
The observer | thursday, february 16, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
Crossword | Will Shortz
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Face challenges with confidence. Trust and believe in your ability to make things happen and to achieve positive gains throughout the year. Choose to participate and to negotiate on your own behalf. Good fortune awaits you if you are willing to do your part. Act quickly and with precision. Romance and commitment will lead to a brighter future. Your numbers are 8, 13, 20, 26, 31, 37, 43. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Test what you have discovered through conversations and past experiences. Your ability to expand an idea and to get things up and running will help you drum up interest and support. Romance and physical improvements are highlighted. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Interacting with financial or medical institutions, government agencies or the courts will be difficult but doable if you have your documents in order and a good plan of action. Keep an open mind and be willing to compromise. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Put some muscle as well as thought into whatever you take on today. Foresight and progressive action will show that you mean business. Much can be accomplished this year, and the payoff will lead to greater personal security. CANCER ( June 21-July 22): Learn as you go and refuse to let anyone step in and take over or lead you in the wrong direction. Moderation will be your ticket to success. Problems with children or peers will surface if you are aggressive. LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Personal changes will improve your position. An investment will pay off, altering the way you live. Sharing your thoughts with someone special will help you raise your standard of living. Love is highlighted. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Taking part is one thing, but spending more than you can afford is another. Don’t go into debt to keep up with your peers or to give someone something in order to win favors. Live within your means. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You’ll have too many options. Size up your situation and eliminate anything that isn’t in your best interest. Stay focused on what you want to achieve and resist becoming a jack-of-alltrades and master of none. Romance is favored. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Show consideration and be attentive toward the people you deal with daily. It’s important not to let anyone take advantage of you. Find balance and equality in the relationships you choose without giving up the right to do things your way. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Shoot for the stars. It’s how you strategize and maneuver your way through the ups and downs that will secure a place in the spotlight. A romantic gesture will improve your personal life. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Minor accidents or injury can be expected if you take unnecessary risks. Think before you make a move that you feel the least bit uncertain about making. Trust in your intuition, not what someone else says or does. AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Step up and make every thought and motion count. You are right on target, so don’t back down when there is so much you can do to make your life better. Personal improvements will build the confidence required to become successful. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Show courtesy and goodwill, but don’t let anyone take advantage of you. Show strength and courage to follow the path that will lead to success on your own terms. Take initiative and help your cause. Birthday Baby: You are charismatic, courteous and free-spirited. You are progressive and precise.
just add water | eric carlson & John roddy
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
Draw comics. Email Margaret at mhynds@nd.edu
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Sports Authority
Bye week could cause problems Michael Ivey Sports Writer
Bye weeks are known throughout the football community as the week of the season where a team doesn’t practice or play a game. Each NFL team has one while a college team can have as much as two each season. Now the term is expanding to another sport. Last season, the NHL announced that beginning in the 2016-17 season, each team will take a five-day period of rest during the season. No practice. No games. Each team’s bye week takes place at some point between Jan 1 and April 9 — essentially during the dog days of the hockey season. The one-week break was implemented as a way to give players extra rest during the grueling NHL schedule that can include playing three games in the span of four days. However, the week of rest could prove to be problematic for some teams. Over the course of the season, the players and coaches on a team work themselves into a groove in which they get used to the busy schedule. Giving them a week off of practice and playing in games could throw them out of that groove and sputtering to get back into the swing of things, which can be hard during this time of the season. This season in particular is a tough time to implement this policy, given how the majority of teams are still in the playoff hunt. Bye weeks can also affect the playoff race in the NHL. Let’s say Team A is only two or three points behind Team B for a playoff position when Team A enters their bye week. Team B has already had their bye week, and can widen their lead over Team A with a few wins while Team A can’t skate or practice. It puts teams’ in a tough position to find their groove again while chasing a playoff spot. It can also affect how teams decide what to do during the trade deadline. The bye weeks will also affect teams later on this season due to the scheduling. In a season where the schedule is already condensed due to the World Cup of Hockey in September, the bye weeks will condense the schedule even more, meaning that a lot of teams will play an unusually
large amount of games during the last month of the regular season. The Chicago Blackhawks’ bye week is this week, and when it’s over they’ll play in four games during the first week back. That small stretch will ser ve as the time to get back in the groove of things before they play 16 games in 31 days during the month of March. That much hockey in that amount of time can only add to the wear and tear on players’ bodies. The bye week may help teams rela x now, but they’ll need it even more later on in the season. The Blackhawks aren’t the only team to face this dilemma. Ever y team will. The team the Blackhawks are currently chasing in the standings, the Minnesota Wild, will have their bye week later this month. After it’s over, the Wild will play their last 20 regular season games during a 35 day stretch. That can affect their performance down the stretch in tr ying to win the Central Division. Has it had an effect on teams’ that have already had it? Let’s look at the numbers. The New York Islanders had their bye from Jan. 1-5. In their first seven games after the break, the Islanders went 1-2-2. This stretch, along with the bad start to the season the Islanders had, led to the dismissal of head coach Jack Capuano. The Philadelphia Flyers had their bye from Jan. 1620. They lost their last two games before the break before winning three of their first four games after the break ended. The New York Rangers lost their first three games after their bye from Jan. 8-12. The Pittsburgh Penguins won the first game after their bye, but then lost the next three straight. On Saturday, the Edmonton Oilers lost 5-1 in their first game back from their bye. It’s still early in the process and the results so far are mixed, but the trend seems to be teams initially struggle coming back from the bye. Let’s hope this doesn’t affect teams too much, or else a little extra rest during the season can inadvertently lead players to more rest during a longer offseason. Contact Michael Ivey at mivey@hcc-nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
EMMET FARNAN | The Observer
Irish senior Patrick O’Connell stretches his neck after crossing the finish line in the 800-meter dash at the Meyo Invitational on Feb. 4 at Loftus Sports Center. O’Connell clocked a personal best in the event.
Track Continued from page 12
Mondo track that we are on ever yday and we know where the splits are. A lso not hav ing to travel on a bus or plane is always good. I hope we w ill have that advantage when we host the ACC indoor championships the follow ing week when it really matters.” Considering the overall team’s performance, Turner said the team is not at the level
he expected and will have to put in quality training time to qualify for nationals. “The younger players have not progressed as much as I would have liked them to,” Turner said. “Even the older players have not done as well. The women’s team last year was three points away from going to the championships. They’ve bounced back-andforth from fifth to sixth place in the conference, and they have to work their butts off and compete against Miami, Clemson and Florida State to
qualify for nationals. As for the men’s team, they’ve had a hard time at conference meets. They haven’t had the numbers and have had injuries. There are not as many injuries this year, and they are in the middle ranking of fifth to ninth in the conference. Their competition is Virginia Tech, Syracuse and Florida State because they have the numbers and quality times.” Contact Meagan Bens at mbens@nd.edu
EMMET FARNAN | The Observer
Irish sophomore Anna Rohrer competes in the 3000-meter run during the Meyo Invitational on Feb. 4 at Loftus Sports Center. Rohrer finished in fifth place in the event. 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.
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The observer | thursday, february 16, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
M Golf Continued from page 12
second win this year in an full-field competition, marking the first time the Irish have secured two such wins in one season since the 20112012 team won both a 16-team match play event and the 12team Big East championship. Irish head coach Jim Kubinski said he was very pleased with his team’s dominant performance over the weekend. “Our guys did all the things we’ve asked of them this week,” Kubinski said. “We played with the best focus I’ve seen from this year’s team, a tremendous attitude throughout and high level emotional maturity.” Kubinski said he was also happy to see every golfer contribute to the team’s victory. “I’m always impressed with both the game and leadership of senior Blake Barens, and our sophomores Ben [Albin] and Miguel [Delgado] are two of the most intense and invested competitors I’ve coached,” he said. “This week, though, the freshmen really stood out in posting a combined 7-1-1 record in our 4-5-6 lineup positions. Our depth there — the win margins — set us apart this week.” After winning the event, Kubinski told his team he couldn’t have been any prouder of its performance. “Beyond the win itself, I was proud of how they competed all three rounds, and really, for how they represented Notre Dame this week,” Kubinski said. “Our guys played with strong resolve and sportsmanship throughout.” Kubinski said he will look for his golfers to build on this win and continue to improve on their games. “We just have to maintain the level of focus on every shot and continue to exhibit the emotional maturity throughout the tournaments that led to our championship win down in Tampa,” he said. The Irish golf team will be back in action February 27-28 in Tucson, Arizona, to compete in the National Invitational Tournament at Omni Tucson National Golf Club. Contact Kyle Barry at kbarry@hcc-nd.edu
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MICHAEL YU | The Observer
Irish freshman Davis Lamb marks his ball on the green during the Notre Dame Kickoff Challenge on Sept. 3 at Warren Golf Course. Lamb’s putt Tuesday on the 18th green at Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club clinched Notre Dame’s victory in the finals of the Yestingsmeier Match Play. Paid Advertisement
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ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, february 16, 2017 | The Observer
GRACE TOURVILLE | The Observer
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EDDIE GRIESEDIECK | The Observer
Irish senior midfielder Sergio Perkovic surveys the field to make a pass during Notre Dame’s 8-6 victory over Duke on April 10 at Arlotta Stadium. The Irish open their season Saturday against Georgetown.
Irish sophomore guard Marina Mabrey brings the ball up the court in Notre Dame’s 90-69 win over Georgia Tech on Sunday.
M Lax
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freshman Brian Willetts. “On the attack, we w ill have a couple new faces,” Corrigan said. “Brendan Gleason, Anthony Marini and [Brian] Willetts w ill all be playing significantly in the attack. Gleason was a midfielder last year, Willetts was in high school last year and Marini did not play a lot. Those are three guys who are going to be playing a lot of minutes for us and are going to be new faces on the attack.” Gleason played in 13 games last season, while Marini played in a total of
eight. Willetts, on the other hand, was a top-10 recruit in this past year’s class according to Inside Lacrosse. The Hoyas (0-1) dropped their first game of the season against High Point on Tuesday, 9-3, and have now lost 10 of their last 11 games dating back to last season. Georgetow n was tied w ith High Point at the half but outscored 7-1 in the final two quarters. Redshirt junior attack Peter Conley led his team w ith 10 shots, but he only managed to tally one goal. Sophomore attack Daniel Bucaro also netted a goal and contributed an assist for the Hoyas. In net, junior goalkeeper Nick Marrocco made six saves in Paid Advertisement
the losing effort. The Irish open the season as part of the Patriot Cup in Frisco, Texas. The team w ill play at the Dallas Cowboy’s new practice facilit y, which opened late last year. “[There is no difference in the site of the game], other than it should be really cool. I am looking for ward to seeing The Star,” Corrigan said. “We have been part of these t y pes of events [for] many years, so our guys are used to it. No big deal, just a great env ironment to play in.” The Irish take the field at 2 p.m. against Georgetow n on Saturday. Contact R.J. Stempak rstempak@nd.edu
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guard Ali Patberg, are all dealing with injury or illness at the time, leaving the Irish with limited options off its bench. While Irish head coach Muffet McGraw called Johnson “questionable,” she called both Westbeld and Patberg “doubtful” for the game at Clemson. Westbeld, who played in Sunday’s win, has particularly been affected by her ankle injury, which has continued to cause her pain, so the training staff has decided to keep her out to allow her the chance to return to full health. “It will continue to cause her pain,” McGraw said of Westbeld’s ankle injury. “It’s just — it’s not healing. She’s not 100 percent, and we want her to be 100 percent.” With Westbeld doubtful and potentially out for more than just Thursday’s game, the Irish will turn to freshman forward Erin Boley and senior forward Kristina Nelson to take on her minutes and replace her production. McGraw said she has full confidence in both players. “I think [Boley] is very ready for this opportunity, and I think [Nelson] is as well,” McGraw said. “So I think we’ve got some depth at that position.” At the guard spot, Patberg’s absence — she missed Sunday’s game with the flu — has forced McGraw to ask senior guard Lindsay Allen to play extended minutes this season. And while she knows Allen can physically handle the extra time, McGraw has still made efforts to rest her in practice and hopes to get Patberg back soon so Allen will not be pushed too much during the ACC tournament. “She’s really playing a lot of minutes for us this year,” McGraw said of Allen. “And without Ali [Patberg], it’s been really hard to take her out of the game, so it’s really important that we get Ali back so that we can rest her a little bit because, with the ACC tournament looming when you got to play back-to-back, that could really be an issue.” Fortunately for the Irish, freshman guard Jackie Young has been able to pick up some of the slack, as she was named the ACC Rookie
of the Week for her performances last week. “I think lately her rebounding, really been strong at both ends,” McGraw said regarding Young’s play as of late. “She’s getting some big rebounds, and she’s really been — I mean, she’s aggressive going after it, but she’s really been steady and doing a lot of good things. Her shot selection has been really good, she’s shooting a little more — which I like; I want her to shoot even more. Defensively, I think she continues to get better. I’ve seen a lot of improvement with her.” And despite all of the in-house issues McGraw and the Irish are currently dealing with, they still are well aware of the challenge the Tigers will present Thursday. Despite its record, Clemson has secured all three of its ACC wins in its last five games, which McGraw said indicates how much more dangerous they are than some might think. “They have pretty much a whole new team from last year,” McGraw said of the Tigers. “It seems like this is a different team, so they’re getting a lot of confidence now — young team just figuring things out, so they’re a dangerous team at home.” For the Irish, the main focus in practice has been improving their defensive fundamentals and technique, an area McGraw believes her team has struggled of late. “We’re just continuing to work on our defense and get back to the fundamentals: containing the ball, keeping them in front of us and rotating,” McGraw said. “A lot of defensive details.” And although a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament is still theoretically in play for Notre Dame, it is not putting its efforts towards the pursuit of that goal. Rather, the Irish want to do everything they can to be healthy and poised for a postseason run, regardless of what spot they have to make that run from. “I think we lost our chance for that,” McGraw said of a No. 1 seed. “I think we’re just trying to get to the end of the regular season right now.” The Irish and the Tigers will tip off at 7 p.m. Thursday at Littlejohn Coliseum. Contact Ben Padanilam at bpadanil@nd.edu
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The observer | thursday, february 16, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
MEn’s Lacrosse
nd woMEn’s Basketball
Injuries hamper Notre Dame as ACC play rolls on
Irish to meet Hoyas in Texas
By BEN PADANILAM
By R.J. STEMPAK
Associate Sports Editor
Sports Writer
With the regular season winding down, No. 7 Notre Dame will look to keep its ACC regular season title hopes alive when it travels to Clemson, South Carolina, to take on the Tigers on Thursday. Coming off a 90-69 victory over Georgia Tech on Sunday, the Irish (23-3, 11-1 ACC) currently sit atop the ACC with No. 4 Florida State, who is Notre Dame’s final opponent of the regular season. But in order for that game to have title implications, the Irish will first need to beat at least two of their next three opponents, starting with the Tigers (14-12, 3-10). But the Irish have another focus as well heading into Thursday’s contest: getting and keeping everyone healthy. Juniors Kathryn Westbeld and Mychal Johnson, as well as sophomore
No. 4 Notre Dame will begin its season Saturday in Frisco, Texas, in a neutral site game against Georgetown. The Irish will look to start the season off on the right foot, especially after graduating top point-scorer Matt Kavanagh and defensive stalwart Matt Landis. Irish head coach Kevin Corrigan said the team is looking for an identity, and it will have to focus on the fundamentals early on in the season. “It’s the first game, so we are concerned with our fundamental execution of the things we want to do without knowing a lot about our opponent because it is an early season game,” Corrigan said. “We have to rely on our communication and our fundamentals. From that standpoint, it is like ever y opening game ever y year. You have to be ver y aware and able to adapt because you are going to get surprised
see W BBALL PAGE 11
EDDIE GRIESEDIECK | The Observer
Irish sophomore guard Arike Ogunbowale looks to get by a defender during Notre Dame’s win over Georgia Tech on Sunday.
Alex Wilson Invite up next for ND Sports Writer
The Irish will compete at home in the Alex Wilson Invitational at Loftus Sport Center on Saturday. Unlike previous meets in the indoor season, most schools participating will not be sending a majority of their teams to compete at the invitational. “This meet is different than most,” Irish head coach Turner said. “Most of the coaches sending athletes the week before the indoor championships will not load athletes in multiple events. A bulk of the athletes will be resting due to the timing. We will be having some of our distance and relay runners competing. As for the relays, most teams don’t put their four best people in them until conference championships and nationals. The medley distance relay will be the one event to watch. But overall most of the athletes will just be in one event and this meet is the last opportunity to tune up.” Even though not as many
see M LAX PAGE 11
men’s golf | Yestingsmeier MAtch Play
Track & Field
By MEAGAN BENS
by some things because it is early in the year.” Players who the Irish will look to carr y the scoring burden early include senior midfielder and captain Sergio Perkovic and sophomore attack Ryder Garnsey, who was third on the team in points scored last season despite making only five starts. Defensively, Corrigan said the Irish will need senior Pat Heely to get comfortable with his new role quick ly, as he only appeared in three games last season. “Pat Heely is stepping into a really important starting role on our defense,” Corrigan said. “I think that is new for him, but he has had a really good preseason and he has been ver y consistent, which is good for us to see.” New players that will be featured in the attack are sophomore Brendan Gleason, senior and captain Anthony Marini and
athletes will be at the invitational, Turner said the quality of the competition will not be any different. “The mile, 800-meter, the relays and the field events are the key events this weekend,” Turner said. “The best teams in the country will be there. Our bigger indoor track attracts teams from coast to coast. Stanford will be there, BYU, Georgetown, TSU. It’s a real mix of everything all from the top conferences. No one will be bringing full team though. Key runners at the meet for us will be [junior] Jessica Harris in the women’s distance medley relay, [senior] Jacob Dumford in the mile and medley relay, and [senior] Chris Marco in the medley relay.” The Alex Wilson Invitational is a non-scored competition, Turner said; Notre Dame has hosted the meet for at least 30 years. “It’s always an advantage to be home on our track,” Turner said. “We have a 320-meter see TRACK PAGE 9
Lamb secures victory for squad in Florida By KYLE BARRY Sports Writer
MICHAEL YU | The Observer
Irish freshman Davis Lamb strikes the ball during the Notre Dame Kickoff Challenge at Warren Golf Course on Sept. 3.
It was a successful trip dow n to South Florida for Notre Dame, as the Irish captured the Yestingsmeier Match Play championship at Lake Jov ita Golf and Countr y Club in Dade Cit y, Florida, on Monday and Tuesday. The Irish, who were seeded second in the eight-team field, defeated both DePaul and Ball State on Monday in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the event before defeating Seton Hall in the event’s final round Tuesday. Freshman Dav is Lamb was one of the key components of Notre Dame’s success. Lamb was paired w ith Pirates senior Kev in O’Brien, and their match was at a draw heading into the 18th hole Tuesday. With the championship on the line, Lamb sank his putt to w in the match 1 up and secure the title for the Irish. This is Notre Dame’s see M GOLF PAGE 10