Print Edition of The Observer for Wednesday, September 28, 2016 by The Observer

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Volume 51, Issue 27 | Wednesday, September 28, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Campus Safety recaps gameday Attendance, weather contribute to successful and safe Duke game weekend By EMILY McCONVILLE Associate News Editor

While campus was less full Saturday than it was for the football game against Michigan State last week, attendance for the Duke game was “very high” for an afternoon game, which vice president for campus safety and event management Mike Seamon attributed to good late-September weather. “It was the first of our football games that was dry from start to finish,” Seamon said. Seamon said the Friday pep rally in the Joyce Center was at its

capacity of 6,000 people, 1,408 fans attended a public practice at LaBar Practice Complex, and the maximum of 50 people attended Run Club, a Saturday morning running tour of campus. Additionally, 3,450 golf cart rides were delivered over the weekend. Parking lots were full with plenty of tailgates, which Seamon also said was due to good weather. “We noticed our medics have to deal with a lot more bee stings because the weather hasn’t gotten cold enough to suppress that,” Seamon said. Departure from the stadium

and campus was “smoother than Michigan State, but that’s expected with an afternoon game versus a night game,” he added. Saturday was military appreciation weekend — active duty members and veterans were recognized before the game. “It was nice to give another nod to the military,” Seamon said. According to the Notre Dame Security Police (NDSP) crime log, an arrest on a charge of illegal possession, consumption or transportation of alcohol took place at Cavanaugh Hall early Saturday morning. Additionally, arrests on

charges of possession of paraphernalia, resisting arrest and “drugsmarijuana-other” were made at Stanford Hall. NDSP police chief Keri Kei Shibata said no “game related” arrests on Saturday. After three home game weekends in a row, Seamon said Campus Safety is looking forward to taking a break as the football team travels. “It’ll be nice to have a couple of weeks off for the away games,” he said. Contact Emily McConville at emcconv1@nd.edu

Lecturer addresses politics, religion By SYDNEY DOYLE News Writer

Julie Hanlon Rubio, a professor at St. Louis University, spoke Tuesday night at Saint Mary’s College about relations between Catholicism, politics and finding common ground. Rubio’s lecture highlighted the obstacle of an increasing polarity brought on by social media influences and the current presidential race. Rubio said that within this country and even within the Catholic communities the divide continues to grow. “It seems the divide is deepening rather than going away,” she said. “We sort ourselves into neighborhoods with people like ourselves.” Rubio said that we as people today tend to accept that people who are part of a different political party are just fundamentally different from us and that the most we can to is to merely tolerate them. When Rubio asked her students at St. Louis University if they could befriend a person of opposing political views, she said the majority of them answered no. Rubio said that people need to acknowledge the polarization today actually holds common ground. Most of what is spewed out in the media polls are misrepresentations of those who are actually in the middle on the issues, Rubio

NEWS PAGE 3

ALLISON CULVER | The Observer

Julie Hanlon Rubio speaks at Saint Mary’s College on Tuesday night. Rubio’s lecture considered the relationship between religion and politics in light of the upcoming presidential election.

said. “Those choices do not capture what people actually think,” she said. “When given two choices, you just choose one.” Rubio moved to polarization in the Catholic community specifically and said that Catholics may disagree on the more political topics but there is common ground once we move past the hot-button issues. She said on the topic of marriage, while there has been disagreement in areas such as gay marriage and divorce,

SCENE PAGE 5

Catholics can find common ground in that they support marriage. While the specifics of those thing might be politically blurred, she said there is hope for common ground. Rubio said that even though politics creates a divide in the Catholic community, Catholics cannot give up on politics, but must instead find out a way to connect faith with politics. “The best thinkers today are ok to move from faith to politics in public,” Rubio said. “Catholics should bring faith into the public sphere.”

VIEWPOINT PAGE 7

Rubio said that the Catholic communities cannot let go of hope when it comes to politics. With politics, Catholics must to find the space between hope and realism, according to Rubio. Even though what some may hope for as Catholics never comes true through our political systems and it seems unfair, it’s important for Catholics to accept a modest hope and keep it alive, she said. “We are going to have to accept compromise and defeat,” see RUBIO PAGE 3

football PAGE 12

Email warning fails to send Observer Staff Report

An email notification to students warning them to stay away from Galvin Life Sciences Center due to a suspicious package found there Thursday afternoon did not send because the email Listserv, which was supposed to contain students’ emails, was empty, University spokesperson Dennis Brown said. “As a result, no messages could be delivered,” Brown said. “We’re now working to understand why the list was empty.” Faculty and staff received an email through a separate Listserv notifying them to avoid the area. The notification was also meant to reach students via the empty Listserv, Brown said. Police officers responded to a call Thursday afternoon about a suspicious package in the bushes on the south side of the Galvin Life Sciences Center. A passerby noticed the container around 1:30 p.m. and contacted Notre Dame Security Police (NDSP), who roped off the area. South Bend and state police were called in to assist, and officers finished assessing the situation and reopened the area around 2:15 p.m. Police identified the container as a cooler containing food and beverages. Brown said Campus Safety decides when, and through what channel, to send urgent messages to students, faculty and staff. In this instance, the student Listserv — as opposed to the ND Alert system — was used, Brown said. “In last Thursday’s case, the size and location of the container made it clear that only the immediate area needed to be cordoned off and evacuated, which was done,” he said. “The message to the campus was to notify people to avoid the area.”

WOMEN’s soccEr PAGE 12

TODAY

The observer | Wednesday, September 28, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com

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If you were to combine two animals into a super animal, which would you choose?

P.O. Box 779, Notre Dame, IN 46556 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556 Editor-in-Chief Margaret Hynds Managing Editor Business Manager Kayla Mullen Emily Reckmeyer

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senior off campus

sophomore Alumni Hall

“Shark and hummingbird.”

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sophomore Dillon Hall

sophomore Flaherty Hall

“Human being and lion.”

“Dolphin and eagle.”

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Shannon Leahy

senior Pasquerilla West Hall

junior Howard Hall

“Alpaca and butterfly.”

“Wolverine and wombat.”

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GRACE TOURVILLE| The Observer

Sylwia Ptasinska, associate professor of biophysics, speaks during “Plasma: From Lightning to Medical Applications” at the Jordan Hall of Science on Tuesday night. The talk focused on the uses of electrical plasma in industry and medicine.

The next Five days:

Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Architecture & Urbanism Lecture: “The Spirit of Cities” Bond Hall 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. Open to the public.

Graduate Student Social Brownson Hall 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Open to all Notre Dame graduate students.

ND Volleyball vs. Duke Joyce Center 7 p.m. The Irish take on the Blue Devils.

Fall 2016 Freebie Classes: Yoga Snite Museum of Art 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Open to the Notre Dame community.

ND Volleyball vs. Wake Forest Joyce Center 1 p.m. The Irish take on the Demon Deacons.

Screening: “Thank You for Playing” Eck Visitors Center 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Screening to be followed by discussion.

ND Theatre NOW DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. See “In Paradisum” and “The Pink Pope.”

Family & Children’s Center’s Festival Irish Green 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Ticketed and open to the public.

Reception for Fall Special Exhibitions Snite Museum of Art 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Free and open to the public.

News

Rubio Continued from page 1

Rubio said. Rubio then said that Catholics and other Christians that donate to their church organizations sometimes worry about how they might be supporting a cause that do not politically agree with. “We worry how we are connected to these social and structural issues,” she said. An easy solution Rubio brought to this issue was getting to the local level and actually talking with people in the community to find out what is really needed. “We don’t talk much about the local,” she said. “Should we put more energy there?” Rubio said when she was in college she was invited to a conversation discusses pro-life and pro-choice points of view. She said she walked in the room not knowing anyone’s

ndsmcobserver.com | Wednesday, September 28, 2016 | The Observer

opinion on the issue and they all had dinner together and then came together in a calm conversation. “It allowed us to avoid binary thinking,” Rubio said. “We were able to ask genuine questions to those on the other side.” She said the exercise made her realize that there are not just two sides to the issue but a lot of middle ground in which they started questioning what they could do together. Once we can get ourselves out of the framework of government we can explore what people worry about the most and at their base they are usually pretty similar, Rubio said. “People are just frustrated and uncertain about how much is sacrificed to to that.” She said. At the local level, Rubio said if we really care we will take action and participate in the community to make a difference for the better and that is

out common ground. Catholics and people of opposing parties should not give up hope when it comes to participating and finding common ground in politics. She said people cannot stray away when it looks like hope is lost, but communication bust continue. “We live in-between” She said “When we lose and we compromise, people suffer, and that is why we don’t like to compromise.” Politics may seem dirty but talking about it and creating that common ground is ultimately the solution calming this polarization issue both within the catholic community and between all people of opposing political parties, Rubio said. “We need to find space that hasn’t been explored and create conversations with people we never thought we would.” Rubio said. Contact Sydney Doyle at sdoyle01@saintmarys.edu

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Students launch online forum By EMILY McCONVILLE Associate News Editor

This week, a group of students released a beta version of Elephant in the Room, an online forum where students can post anonymous questions about mental health issues on campus. The project is through Design for America (DFA), an organization started at Northwestern University that helps students design programs aimed at improving communities. Senior Kiely Wilcox, a leadership board member and project leader for Elephant in the Room, said members of Notre Dame’s chapter form small groups focused on different issues in the community. Senior Ali Julian, another project leader, said in the fall of

2015, she and other members of the mental health issues team partnered with the University Counseling Center (UCC) and began to send out surveys and interview students and employees, aiming to find ways to make mental health issues more approachable. Wilcox said a major challenge turned out to be knowing how to get help. “The UCC does have amazing resources to offer students, but students are worried and intimidated to make the walk to St. Liam[‘s] to get help,” Wilcox said. The group then developed the idea for an online forum, with the refocused goal of helping students access the UCC’s resources. “Most students our age feel the most comfortable in a technological atmosphere,” Wilcox said. “We wanted to do something that was online, where people could enter whatever they want without judgement.” Wilcox and Julian are both mechanical engineers, and other project leaders included Kevin McCarthy, a junior chemical engineering major, and Danielle Partyka, a junior marketing major. Since none of the leaders knew how to code, early mockups of Elephant in the Room were PowerPoint presentations with hyperlinks, Wilcox said. Computer science majors Courtney Kelly and Katie Schermerhorn later joined the team. The group created prototypes of the site and made a final presentation video about the project with the help of a Film, Television and Theatre major last spring, Julien said. Wilcox said the group received a $250 grant from the national DFA to code the site. Students have to give their names and an nd.edu email address to sign up for the site, but what they post is anonymous, moderated by the DFA team. “It’s people who are in your same community, go to your same school, someone you could be walking by on your class,” Julien said. “... You’re more comfortable in the community, so though they’re anonymous, you know they’re your peers.” Wilcox said the DFA team is currently monitoring the site, which runs until fall break, to find out how easily users can interact with it, whether they like its format and responses and what other features they would want to add. She said the group will make improvements and launch the final version before spring semester starts. The team hopes, she said, that other campuses can later have their own versions. “The goal for the site is that it can be applied to many different schools,” Wilcox said. Contact Emily McConville at emcconv1@nd.edu

The observer | Wednesday, September 28, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

By JIMMY KEMPER Scene Writer

Once when I was still living in Atlanta, I went to see the movie “Elysium.” The movie itself was honestly maybe a bit forgettable, but it was worth remembering because of what happened in the movie theatre bathroom after the show. As I walking in, a short guy who I swore I knew was walking out. As I struggled to figure out who he was — and instead of just asking him — we gave each other the classic ‘sup’ nod and went our own ways. After a few minutes, I realized it was Usher and was disappointed that I didn’t recognize him immediately. The Usher on his latest album, “Hard II Love,” sort of feels like the Usher I met (in arguably the lamest celebrity encounter of all time) in that it’s tough to recognize him. For this record, Usher has placed himself squarely in the “tough lover” archetype that currently dominates the R&B genre, which is radically different from the Usher of 2012’s “Looking 4 Myself.” He’s singing mainly about the difficulties in loving him, the kind of women he’s looking for and how he’s better than other lovers. To accomplish those ends, tracks on this album can be split into two broad categories: smoother love ballads and bumpier club tracks. While most of Usher’s work can arguably be placed into one of those two categories, never before have the boundaries been so clearly defined. Take, for instance, album opener “Need U,” which begins with Usher trying to explain himself before he goes off into a Bryson Tiller-esque flow over Kanye West-esque 808 beats. It effectively conveys the point that Usher thinks he’s a tough guy and he wants the girl, but it doesn’t do much more

By KELLY McGARRY Associate Scene Editor

This month, “South Park” joined the sparse ranks of cartoons to make it to their 20th year. The season opened to a third-grade basketball team’s protest of the national anthem, but in its typical fashion tied together multiple issues that combine to hint at a theme for the season. The longevity of “South Park” is matched by only one comparable cartoon, “The Simpsons,” shedding some light on what it takes for a cartoon to stay alive: the combination of timely references and timeless humor. While “The Simpsons” has declined in popularity, the comparatively more outrageous “South Park” has managed to stay on top, and it doesn’t appear to be going down anytime soon. Looking back on all the significant “South Park” moments over the years, it’s appropriate that the opening episode is titled “Member Berries.” The talking berries for which the episode is named, at first seeming

than that. This type of song is huge right now in the R&B industry, with everyone from Zayn to Miguel to Drake and even the now-excellent Justin Bieber creating some variation of that motif. However, Usher is so much older and has so much more experience than those artists that, coming into this record, I was expecting a little more. Lyrically, this isn’t that impressive of an album. And the production, while featuring the who’s who of the field — including the up-and-coming Metro Boomin — feels vague and incohesive, in part due to that broad range of producers. In spite of these difficulties, Usher’s singing is still unparalleled in his field, and he doesn’t need the big complicated trap-style production or vocal effects and enhancements of this album to make his voice heard. This was made abundantly clear on 2012’s “Climax,” where Usher’s soaring vocals carried listeners across an intense emotional chasm. “Climax” was the centerpiece of “Looking 4 Myself,” a magnum opus to which every other track on that album could relate. It was critically successful, even gaining the honor of Pitchfork’s top song of 2012, and also commercially successful, reaching No. 1 on the U.S. Hot R&B charts. “Hard II Love” does not have a “Climax.” It also fails to connect with the 10 weird, critically obsessive kids on campus who actually read Scene — and the greater music community. Even the tracks designed to gain some traction at the clubs simply do not have the capability of gripping the audience the way Usher has in the past. For example, “No Limit” feels pretty limited: even a feature from Young Thug can’t liven that song up. As I mentioned in

my review of Young Thug’s latest masterpiece, “(No My Name Is) Jeffrey,” Young Thug is one of the top rappers in the game right now with his trippy vocals that exist in some undefined space between hip-hop and pop, and I don’t think Usher took full advantage of that weirdness, choosing instead to underemploy his talents on a pretty straightforward track. “Make U A Believer,” produced by the aforementioned Metro Boomin, is probably the best track on the album. It features traditional Atlanta trap beats and booming bass thumps, but the production is minimal enough that Usher has the space to expand vocally. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the gravitas to justify an entire album surrounding it. Usher has shown us in his previous seven albums that he has the capacity to think forward instead of leaning back on the archetypes that currently dominate airwaves. Hopefully on his next album we’ll be able to recognize that Usher and give him more than a passing nod.

random, are used by adults in the show to relax. As the episode progresses, the member berries ask questions like “‘Member feeling safe? ‘Member no ISIS? ‘Member Reagan?” clarifying their role in the larger plot. Lining up with an election year, this significant anniversary has promise of endless material. Giant Douche (Mr. Garrison) runs against a familiar-faced Turd Sandwich. Some of the most clever aspects of the election are only funny because they’re so realistic. The extremist policy of Mr. Garrison sounds like a rewording of one of the candidates in the current election. His horrible comments in a frantic attempt to lose votes only gain him more support. When Stan asks his dad, Randy, why we pick every year between a Giant Douche and a Turd Sandwich, he answers emphatically, “Because we’re Americans. Because this is America.” This mix of disturbing and hilarious content is classic “South Park.” But the election demonstrates another effect of the show being around for 20 years. “South Park” doesn’t need to refer to familiar events in order for people to

relate — it’s able to sustain itself entirely on self-referential inside jokes. Giant Douche and Turd Sandwich were first introduced in the eighth season. The nonchalant use of the outlandish terms goes unexplained to new viewers, but, for many, explanation isn’t necessary. The second episode zeroes in on cyberbullying and equates deleting social media accounts to suicide. Its closing sequence — a mass breakup set to the dramatic “Gortoz a Ran” from the “Black Hawk Down” soundtrack — creates suspense for what’s to come in tonight’s third episode of the season. So far, season 20 in still in the stages of gathering momentum. Like “PC Principle” in season 19, the driving factors of this season are just beginning to unveil themselves. Trey Parker and Matt Stone will undoubtedly draw material from the events that unfold with the current election, tying it together with humor that will still be fun to watch from a distance years from now.

Contact Jimmy Kemper at jkemper2@nd.edu

“Hard II Love” Usher Label: RCA Records Track: “Make U A Believer,” “Need U” If you like: Zayn Malik, Miguel, Drake

Contact Kelly McGarry at kmcgarry@nd.edu LINDSEY MEYERS | The Observer

The observer | Wednesday, September 28, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Going with the flow

Inside Column

Entering intern season Aiden Lewis News Writer

During my freshman year, I rarely concerned myself w ith “the future”. It was never any thing more than an abstract concept, too far off for me to truly feel any worr y about. W henever the thought came up, I simply assured myself of how much time I would have later to think it through and prepare. Career Center emails went directly into the trash bin; I’d have three more years for that. Ignorance was bliss. Honestly, I don’t particularly regret my lack of career preparation freshman year. I didn’t really have an idea of what I wanted to do, and it’s difficult to prepare for a question mark. W hat I was not prepared for was the looming onslaught… Sophomore year, it turns out, is far less detached from the future. Ever y morning I am greeted by a barrage of emails, each reminding me of an internship I haven’t applied to yet or some workshop that is apparently v ital for obtaining any kind of job. The Career Fair was over whelming in its sheer size alone. The internship application process has brought back unwelcome memories of college applications. At least w ith those, a response was guaranteed; internship applications feel like they’re being sent into the void, and hearing back feels hopeless. Yes, these internship applications are much simpler, requiring not much more than a resume and a cover letter, instead of dozens of supplementar y questions. But when reduced to a resume, there’s pressure for ever y action to revolve around strengthening said resume. If an activit y doesn’t contribute to the resume or further your skills in something relevant to your major, then it seems disposable. A dangerous thought comes to mind: all activ ities that don’t make the resume should be discarded, or at least discounted. This unhealthy attitude, which I myself have struggled w ith recently, is easy to fall into. Nevertheless, at the cost of your non-career related passions, you cannot accept this mindset. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do extracurricular activ ities that relate to your major; after all, you should love what you do for your major, and should want more of it. Preparing for a career is important, and we all have to somewhat play along if we want employ ment. However, it’s imperative that this does not come at the expense of other passions. College should be a formative experience on your terms, not those of employers. Contact Aiden Lewis at alewis9@nd.edu The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Matthew Willis Guest Columnist

Aristotle believed that “adaptation” was the result of species being built a certain way. The problem with Aristotle’s view, which is still accepted by many, is that it implies we are perfectly built and intentionally designed to do the things we do. I want to show how Dar win’s argument for an alternative explanation of adaptation, via natural selection, can improve our ever yday lives. The trick is understanding natural selection’s limitations, specifically its lack of foresight. Natural selection is not a conscious agent. This means that it cannot imagine how successful an individual would be in a different environment or at a future time. It can only work with what increases fitness at the current time and place. It is also essential to know that natural selection cannot invent any thing new. It can only tinker with what it has. It is reasonable to think, then, that there are potentially far better traits for an organism to have in its niche, but because selection is stuck working with the variation we already have, there is no way to get there from here. This means that, metaphorically, natural selection has endowed us with a sharp spoon and asked us to use it as a knife. To see what I mean, consider the location of our trachea directly above our esophagus. In other words, the channel for bringing air into our body, the thing we need most to sur vive, is right next to a channel frequented by objects just the right size to clog it. It would have made a lot of sense to put these two channels in different places, but instead we are stuck with a handy little f lap called an epiglottis, which works well enough (except for when it doesn’t and we choke). The point is that our bodies and minds were not constructed intentionally to do the things we do ever y day. Nor are they perfectly adapted to be doing them. We are just jerr y-rigged creatures tr ying to ex ist in a new environment, and to make things even more difficult that environment is constantly changing at an increasing rate. This may sound disappointing, but I am not saying that we are broken

or faulty creatures. We are indeed extremely complex, possibly the most complex life-forms on Earth. W hat I am tr ying to say, is that sometimes when we feel weird, fall down or get sick, it is not our fault. We are just spoons tr ying to be knives. A lot of times when you ask ex istential questions or wonder why you have a this or a that, the answer isn’t because someone “built you a certain way” and meant for you to use your this or that for a purpose; it is simply because having a this or that increased our ancestor’s fitness at some point in histor y or because it didn’t decrease it enough to get removed, so it has stuck along for the ride. So does this make us purposeless products of randomness tr ying to find meaning in the world because our cognitive abilities are maybe a little too advanced for our own good? It shouldn’t. Anyone who has ever been “in the right place at the right time,” be it catching a perfect wave during dawn or meeting a future spouse or best friend at a place you almost didn’t go to, knows this to be true. The stor y of ex istence is riddled with many things that were not “intended” to happen and probably statistically shouldn’t have, but they did, and that makes them even more astounding. We are no exception. Humankind is another beautiful moment in the ex istence of planet earth. To the cosmic obser ver, we are like a moment of stillness on the pond of life, just long enough to catch a glimpse of a ref lection before the water begins to move again. The point is that accepting and understanding Dar win’s explanation does not make our lives purposeless or make religion meaningless. Nor does it turn mankind into a violent creature fighting day and night to be the fittest. W hat it does do, and it does so beautifully, is help us understand how we got here, why our bodies and minds are the way that they are and why we have a hard time answering these questions in the first place. It helps us understand why we are really good at some things and not so good at others. Perhaps, most importantly of all, it helps us go with the f low, understanding why things don’t always go like they should, but still accepting and loving ever y second of it simply because it is. Contact Matt Williams at mwilli41@nd.edu

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The observer | Wednesday, September 28, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Liberty must always supersede security Eddie Damstra Dinner Table Talks

A couple of weeks ago, Oliver Stone’s new film “Snowden” was released in theaters throughout the United States. I have not had the opportunit y to see the film yet, but I hope it can rev ive necessar y discussion about government sur veillance and the sanctit y of personal libert y. A fter all, as November approaches and I evaluate each of the major part y’s candidates, I have little faith that either of them places much value on the indiv idual liberties of the average A merican citizen. Edward Snowden’s stor y is perhaps one of the most inspiring American tales of our day. W hile many may label him a traitorous v illain, Snowden sacrificed nearly ever y thing in the effort to protect millions of A mericans’ God-given rights. He did so because, like the Founding Fathers and countless A mericans, Snowden believed we should never sacrifice personal libert y for perceived securit y. Despite what the National Securit y Agency may tell you, giv ing up indiv idual libert y in exchange for perceived securit y is extremely dangerous and antithetical to the ver y founding principles of this nation. W hen the NSA was exposed as collecting innocent A mericans’ phone records, they were not only v iolating the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, but also placing

the citizenr y at the w ill of the government. Instead of receiv ing the consent of the people, as any arm of the government must do, the NSA unilaterally decided that A mericans were going to sacrifice their right to privacy. The Founding Fathers would turn in their graves at such a rejection of the Constitution and of democracy itself. Many w ill claim that the NSA, while hav ing information on millions of innocent citizens, never acted nefariously w ith such information. This assertion is disingenuous, as there is ev idence the NSA was using the information to aid in domestic policing and there are even many accounts of NSA employees spy ing on ex-lovers. However, even had the NSA not abused the information, there would have still been a need to condemn the agency. A government agency having unwarranted access to the private information of millions of A mericans is in and of itself a crime. There is no reason we should place our full faith in the prudence of a large government agency w ith access to a broad range of private information. Edward Snowden once said that it is akin to someone holding a gun to your head and say ing, “Trust me, I won’t pull the trigger.” Feeling apathetic towards an encroachment upon any of our liberties is extremely dangerous. Libert y is such a precious good that we should protect it against any attempts of infringement. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Injustice

any where is a threat to justice ever y where.” I believe the same holds true for libert y. A repression of libert y any where is a threat to libert y ever ywhere. It is my hope that A mericans never give up their right to privacy out of fear or apathy, because that w ill be the starting point for the deterioration of protected libert y as we know it. Liv ing in a truly free societ y involves accepting risk. Eliminating all securit y threats could only be achieved through the elimination of all libert y. We should never buy into the delusion that securit y can be paid for w ith our libert y. Our libert y is, as the Declaration of Independence says, an “unalienable right.” It should not, and cannot, be taken from us, under any circumstances. The nation has made impressive steps towards curtailing the systemic invasion of privacy carried out by our government. Parts of the Patriot Act have been halted and many politicians from both parties seem to have come out against the behav ior of the NSA. However, the conversation must not stop there. We must constantly remind ourselves of the immeasurable value of libert y and never stop preventing our government from stripping away such a sacred blessing. Eddie is a sophomore from Orland Park, Illinois. He is majoring in economics and political science and considering pursuing law school after his time as an undergraduate at the University of Notre Dame. He can be reached at edamstra@nd.edu

Letter to the editor

Why I am boycotting the presidential debate Tonight, I have decided to sit a stone’s throw away from South Quad and write this article. I have made the decision to forego tonight’s entertainment in favor of more worthwhile endeavors. I could walk outside to hear the rambling voices from the loudspeaker. But tonight, I will hear from neither Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton. I have developed across the 21 years of my life an aversion to being lied to. I do not know if I am unique in this, or if I am simply more affected, but I refuse to sit in a quasi-celebration of the hate-filled propaganda that has become the hallmark of this election. Anyone who knows me knows how much I enjoy political debate in all its forms. I do not believe, however, that this debate will really be about politics. I know that political participation is a right that people fight for every day. I do not mean to belittle the idea of the electoral debate or anyone’s efforts to become more informed about our two major candidates. I simply will not take part. “I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” – Abraham Lincoln My main reason for boycotting this debate is that, like Abraham Lincoln, I have strong pride in the intelligence of the American people and the utmost trust in the democratic system. And this debate is decidedly and unapologetically undemocratic in how it favors the major party candidates. The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) describes itself in this way: “The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) was established in 1987 to ensure that debates, as a permanent part of every general election, provide the best possible information to viewers and

listeners. Its primary purpose is to sponsor and produce debates for the United States presidential and vice presidential candidates and to undertake research and educational activities relating to the debates. The organization, which is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) corporation, sponsored all the presidential debates in 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012.” I would like to point out a few crucial ideas here. First, they say that they were established to make sure that the debates “provide the best possible information to viewers and listeners.” I welcome any explanation of this statement that justifies excluding a candidate that is polling the highest of all candidates amongst 18 – 25 year olds and amongst military personnel, is polling above 10 percent nationally, is polling above 15 percent in some battleground states, and is the only other candidate present on the ballots in all 50 states. Please let that sink in for a second. Gary Johnson, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are the only candidates whose names appear on every single ballot in the United States. Yet, only one was excluded from the national debate. That is not providing “the best possible information to viewers and listeners.” That is a direct choice to keep the American people in the dark. It would be nice if people all did their own research and decided on the candidates after careful consideration and discussion of all the facts, but that is simply not the case. Millions of people will be swayed by tonight’s debate and the subsequent ones. The reason Governor Johnson has been excluded is in direct conf lict with the second idea from the CPD’s self-description that I want to highlight. It is the word ‘nonpartisan.’

The CPD appears to be confused about the distinction between ‘nonpartisan’ and ‘bipartisan’. The former describes an institution with no affiliation with any political party, the latter describes an institution that gives no preference for Republicans or Democrats but can show both equal favoritism over any other party. The latter also describes the CPD which is made up of current and former Republicans and Democrats. Of course they would object to letting someone else crash their debate. Even Wikipedia recognizes the CPD as “a nonprofit organization controlled by the Democratic and Republican parties.” Which makes it all the more terrifying that they have controlled every single debate since 1988. The intention of this article is not to promote voting for Gary Johnson. I am in favor of that choice, but I am not so naive as to think that I can properly express in this piece the various nuanced positions that he holds. All I can say is that he is a legitimate candidate for the President of the United States with real experience as an executive and with real beliefs on how to empower the American people, not just himself. He will be on each person’s ballot when they go to vote and the citizens of this country deserve to hear what he has to offer. It is not simply a slight against Gary Johnson to exclude him. It is an insult to the American people and a violation of the principles of American democracy.

Ben Swanson senior Sept. 28

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The observer | Wednesday, September 28, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | Will Shortz

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: A positive attitude will improve your relationship with others. Listen and offer solutions. Take the initiative and set an example of what you expect from others through your own actions. Look for practical ways to cut costs at home. Self-improvement, sticking to a strict budget and avoiding indulgent behavior is encouraged. Your numbers are 5, 11, 23, 27, 34, 41, 46. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Keep on top of the job you are given and do the best you can. Persistence will pay off if you lay low and stay focused. Being practical and precise will help you avoid making unrealistic promises and decisions. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Business meetings, educational pursuits or socializing with people who motivate you will all help you get ahead. A contractual development or new job offer looks appealing. Romance is on the rise. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Trouble is brewing. Stick to the truth and get to the bottom of any problem you face. Someone will be less than accommodating and might expect something for next to nothing. Don’t be afraid to decline a proposal. CANCER ( June 21-July 22): You can gain wisdom by learning about different cultures, traditions and lifestyles. Spend quality time with children or family members to help improve your attitude and perspective. LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Take initiative and make the changes that bring you joy. Get out with friends or attend a function that will help you discover alternatives you hadn’t previously thought of pursuing. A challenge will allow you to show off. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Accept the inevitable and keep moving forward. Don’t waste time or pretend to agree with someone when you don’t. Look out for your interests and make the move that is best for you. Cut your losses and aim to win. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You’ll learn from the people you have helped in the past. Discipline and an intuitive approach to the changes going on around you will enable you to maintain a sense of accomplishment, regardless of what others do. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You need a pick-me-up. A change at home or a shopping spree will motivate you to take on a challenge that will help you advance. Take an unusual route and you will discover something you haven’t noticed in the past. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Concentrate on where you want to be and what you want to do. Communicate with experienced individuals and make arrangements that suit your current needs. Take action, offer incentives and ask for help. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): An incident while traveling or dealing with institutions will develop if you try to take on too much. Contain your temper. Be observant and avoid idle chatter. Keep the peace and keep your personal secrets hidden. AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Suggestions that will alter the way you look should be considered carefully. You are better off protecting your assets and liabilities before you shake things up in your professional world. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): An original approach to work and the way you handle others will put you in a good position for advancement. Romance is on the rise, and making plans with someone special will lead to a positive change. Birthday Baby: You are expressive, outgoing and playful. You are adaptable and progressive.

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Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

Fling By Spring | Riley Mccurrie

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ndsmcobserver.com | Wednesday, September 28, 2016 | The Observer

Sports Authority

MLB | Mets 12, marlins 1

This week could decide playoffs Alex Carson Assistant Managing Editor

Through four weeks of the college football season, we’ve learned a bit. Louisville has jumped from preseason dark horse to the No. 3 team in the country, Wisconsin might just be the surprise team of the season and Texas A&M is off to a fast start. Wait, that last thing ain’t much of a surprise, is it? But by and large, as September draws to a close, we haven’t learned all that much about some preseason favorites. No. 4 Michigan and No. 5 Clemson are largely sitting in the top five based on August expectations, not in-season performances. That can change this weekend — and that’s lovely. Between Friday and Saturday, we’ll see three matchups between top-10 teams — matchups with direct playoff implications that could start to help us trim the number of legitimate contenders as the calendar turns to October.

No. 7 Stanford at No. 10 Washington Like the aforementioned Wolverines and Tigers, Washington is a top-10 team largely based upon preseason expectations — ones that perhaps came out of nowhere for casual fans. Predictive metrics loved the Huskies before the season started — their defense was highlyrated last year, and Washington returned nearly all of its team from 2015 — but through four games, their best opposition has been Arizona. It took an extra overtime period for Washington to get through that challenge. The Cardinal, on the other hand, have at least been challenged a little more, with Saturday night’s tight, lastminute win over UCLA the key one coming to mind. Stanford is, I think, what we all thought it would be: a team that won’t be flashy and won’t always blow people out. And sometimes, that’ll come back to bite the Cardinal. But fundamentally, Stanford should be considered the class of the Pac-12 until it’s usurped by someone else. And with the way the rest of the conference looks so far, the Huskies are the only team that looks particularly capable of doing that. Friday night’s showdown will more than likely determine the North division’s winner — and the conference’s one shot at a playoff berth. Give me the Cardinal in a tight, low-scoring affair at a loud Husky Stadium.

No. 8 Wisconsin at No. 4 Michigan

So, this is a matchup between a team I’m still not convinced is pretty good and a team I need to be convinced is pretty good. Truth be told, I didn’t expect the Badgers to amount to much of anything this year. But after wins over LSU and now-No.17 Michigan State, it’s time to start considering whether or not they are a pretty good — if not playoffcaliber — team. Of course, the Badgers don’t have the luxury Iowa had a year ago coming out of the Big Ten’s West division in avoiding the Wolverines and Ohio State; they only have to play them in back-to-back contests. If Wisconsin is to win the Big Ten, and make the playoff at 12-1, it probably needs to win this game. On the other hand, Michigan really hasn’t proven much this season. Sure, the Wolverines have looked good, but their best opponent to date is still Colorado. I entered this season thinking 2017 was a better “arrival date” for Jim Harbaugh’s team, and until it proves to me otherwise, I’m going to classify Michigan as a good, probable 10-2 team for this campaign. I’ll take Michigan on the day, but neither is good enough to top No. 2 Ohio State down the road.

No. 3 Louisville at No. 5 Clemson To date, Saturday night’s showdown is going to be the game of the college football season. The Cardinals, once ACC dark horses, have suddenly morphed into a favorite for a playoff berth after demolishing Florida State a couple weeks back. Lamar Jackson is the September Heisman winner — though past history (hi, Geno Smith) shows that doesn’t indicate much success for the last two-thirds of the season — and the Cardinals have legitimately been the best team in college football so far. If I had a ballot, based on what they’ve done, I’d vote them No. 1. On the other hand, Clemson looks like a team coming off a title-game loss hangover. Winning at Auburn should never be scoffed at, but in their most impressive win, DeShaun Watson and the Tigers didn’t look great. But at the end of the day, the best teams get up for the biggest games, and Saturday marks the first “biggest game” Clemson plays this season. While Jackson’s been the story so far, I like Watson and the Tigers at home by double digits. Sorry, Louisville: the dream season ends this week. Contact Alex Carson at acarson1@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Mets keep Wild Card lead against mourning Marlins ASSOCIATED PRES

MIAMI — With time running out in the playoff race, the New York Mets set sy mpathy aside. Noah Sy ndergaard struck out eight and allowed one run in six innings Tuesday night, and the Mets totaled 19 hits to beat the griev ing Miami Marlins 12-1. Jay Bruce and Yoenis Cespedes each hit his 31st homer for the Mets, who began the game w ith a halfgame lead over the Giants in the battle for the first NL w ild-card berth, w ith the Cardinals 1 1/2 games behind. The game was the Marlins’ second since the death of ace Jose Fernandez in a boating accident. One night after a heart-tugging v ictor y over New York filled w ith tributes to their teammate, emotions were more subdued, and Miami’s bats were too. Sy ndergaard (14-9) had a lot to do w ith that. After missing a scheduled start Saturday w ith strep throat, he threw 93 pitches and lowered his ERA to 2.60, third-best in the majors. He’ll return to pitch the regular-season finale Sunday at Philadelphia if needed.

For mourners at Marlins Park, there were nudges toward a return to normal. The Kiss Cam and organ music returned after a onegame hiatus, but the dugout dancers were still missing, along w ith the sea creatures that usually race around the warning track. Marlins players were back in their regular uniforms after they all wore Fernandez’s No. 16 on Monday. But each jersey sported a patch w ith “16” on the sleeve, and the number remained stenciled on the back of the mound. The crowd was mostly quietly, except for transplanted New Yorkers. Bruce hit a t wo-run homer into the upper deck in right field in the second inning, and Cespedes hit an even more majestic t wo-run shot off the home run sculpture in the third. Lucas Duda hit a threerun double, and Curtis Granderson also drove in three runs for the Mets. Dee Gordon, who hit a Holly wood-worthy homer in the first inning Monday, again got things going in the first. This time he reached on a bunt, stole second and came home on a single by Marcell Ozuna.

That was Miami’s only run. Tom Koehler (9-13) allowed four runs in 3 2/3 innings.

VETERAN ROCKED Mets manager Terr y Collins said RHP Bartolo Colon was unable to block out the emotions of the occasion when he allowed a season-high seven runs in 2 1/3 innings Monday. “We’re going to throw that out,” Collins said. “There were just too many things on ever ybody’s mind. I don’t think the true focus was there.”

MOURNING MARLINS Slugger Giancarlo Stanton said it’s important that the team pay proper tribute to Fernandez as they grieve. “It has nothing to do w ith baseball,” Stanton said before the game. “If you care about life, if you have passion or loved ones or anybody, you can relate to this situation.” A memorial ser v ice and public v iew ing for Fernandez are scheduled for Wednesday. Players w ill attend a Mass on Thursday. Fernandez’s agent, Scott Boras, watched the game w ith Marlins ow ner Jeffrey Loria.

MLB | blue jays 5, orioles 1

Sanchez tosses a gem in win over Orioles ASSOCIATED PRESS

TORONTO — Josh Donaldson hit a two-run homer, Aaron Sanchez struck out 10 and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-1 on Tuesday night in the opener of their AL wild-card showdown. Ezequiel Carrera also homered as the Blue Jays won for the sixth time in eight games. They lead the wild-card standings by two games over the Orioles with five to play. Baltimore began the day two games ahead of Detroit and Seattle for the league’s final playoff spot. Orioles slugger Chris Davis was ejected for arguing with plate umpire Will Little after striking out against Joe Biagini in

the seventh, the third time in three at-bats Davis was caught looking. Baltimore manager Buck Showalter also was tossed after he came out to argue. Sanchez (14-2) struck out the first four hitters he faced and five of the first six. He gave up one run and five hits over six innings to win for the first time in four starts. The right-hander walked three and reached double digits in strikeouts for the second time this season. Batting leadoff in place of injured second baseman Devon Travis (left shoulder), Carrera went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and scored three runs. He walked in the first and scored when Donaldson homered off right-hander

Kevin Gausman, his 37th. Carrera connected for an opposite-field drive in the third and drove in a run with a single in the fifth. Two batters later, Toronto made it 5-1 when Carrera scored on third baseman Manny Machado’s throwing error. Gausman (8-12) allowed five runs, four earned, and seven hits in six innings. He gave up two home runs for the second straight start.

TR AINER’S ROOM Orioles: Ryan Flaherty replaced Davis. ... LHP Wade Miley left the team and returned home for the birth of his first child, a son. He’s expected to return in time for his next scheduled start, Friday or Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

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The observer | Wednesday, September 28, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Kelly Continued from page 12

bring the energy, the enthusiasm, the passion, the morale [and] the camaraderie. I need those things from Greg. That’s what I need. I want our kids to be excited when they step on that field against Syracuse. I’ll worry about the implementation, the scheme. I’ll take care of that for him right now. As [Hudson] gets more comfortable with what we have and what our system is about, then he will be much more involved in what we do. “But right now, you know, we’ll write the music, and he’ll be the lead singer. If that’s a — I don’t know if that’s a great analogy — but if that makes any sense. He’s going to be out front, but he just got here. He’s just — in terms of being, you know, assuming this role, he’s learning everything as well.” At his press conference, Kelly also answered questions concerning his postgame remarks following the team’s most recent loss to Duke and responded by saying he did not think he was too critical of his players. “I don’t know that I was that tough on the roster as much as I was tough on my coaches,” Kelly said. “I think when you tell your coaches that they’re

Sports

on a job interview for the rest of the season, that seems to be pretty tough, more so than saying there is a standard of play at a particular position. “But you guys can interpret it any way you want. It’s my team, and I don’t think that I’m too tough on them. I think there is an expectation that you have at Notre Dame, and that you need to play that way.” One player in particular Kelly said he feels needs to step up is quarterback DeShone Kizer. Kizer went 22-of-37 for 381 yards passing against Duke, including two touchdowns and an interception. “[Kizer’s] standard of play is not where we want it to be for him,” Kelly said. “I think I made that pretty clear after the game. There is a standard that is set for a player, and that standard is based upon what he believes and what we believe should be acceptable for him, and turnovers and his ability to continue to grow as a quarterback sets that standard. If he was a firsttime starter or he didn’t set the pace that he had set last year, maybe the standard would be a little bit lower. But he has set a standard of play that we believe he needs to meet and exceed every time he goes out there.” CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer

Contact Marek Mazurek at mmazurek@nd.edu

Notre Dame junior quarterback DeShone Kizer fires a pass in Notre Dame’s 38-35 loss to Duke on Saturday. Kizer threw for 381 yards in the game, including two touchdowns and one interception. Paid Advertisement

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ndsmcobserver.com | Wednesday, September 28, 2016 | The Observer

W Golf Continued from page 12

need to keep it progressing and getting better every time we compete,” Holt said. “We’re at a pretty good starting point, and we can definitely build on it.” Holt said sophomores Emma Albrecht and Isabella DiLisio were impressive in the early season, as both finished in the top 25. “Emma played really well,” Holt said. “She had a really good freshman year, and it’s nice to see her being able to pick up where she left off. “I think Isabella playing three pretty solid rounds was good for her confidence. She struggled a bit in the spring, and it’s nice to see her kinda getting her game back.” Ultimately, Holt said she

feels her team had a strong showing this weekend and has established a solid starting point to build on. “I told the girls they’re close,” Holt said. “Again, it just goes back to cleaning things up and doing the little things better. I think each one of them can do that and save one or two shots a round. And at the end of a tournament, that could be upwards of 10 to 15 shots. And they know that, and I feel pretty confident they’ll do what they can to make those adjustments.” The Irish will compete next at the Texas State Jim West Challenge Invite. The twoday tournament is set to start Oct. 9 at the Carleton Woods Club in The Woodlands, Texas. Contact Molly Murphy at mmurph40@nd.edu

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Westendorf Continued from page 12

2-2 draw with Stanford, and a curling shot from the edge of the box that proved to be the game-winning score in Notre Dame’s 1-0 win over Missouri. Westendorf had been a key prospect on the Irish recruiting radar for years, and she committed to the Irish in 2013 while Randy Waldrum was still the head coach. Irish head coach Theresa Romagnolo has had praise for her top scorer all season and said she could see right away that Westendorf had the ability to make her mark at the start of her first season. “I think, in the recruiting process when you watch players, the closer they get to coming to Notre Dame, you start to see what they can do,” Romagnolo said. “She was already at a really high level so we anticipated her coming in and having to make an immediate impact. She was here this spring as an early enrollee, so it was great to have her already immersed in the team. Jen is a special player — she’s capable of scoring in a lot of different ways.” Westendorf showed what she could do during Notre Dame’s spring season this year, leading the team with four goals and adding two assists. She said her main challenge currently is keeping up her success on the field while balancing soccer with work in the classroom. “I think adapting to the soccer aspect of it is something I got used to in the spring,” Westendorf said. “But now with the season going on and school, I think what’s hard for me is keeping up with my schoolwork

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EMMET FARNAN | The Observer

Irish freshman forward Jennifer Westendorf fires a shot during Notre Dame’s 1-0 win over Missouri on Sept. 4 at Alumni Stadium.

and managing that with ever ything on the field I have to do.” As a strong player with powerful left foot, Westendorf has found success in both creating chances for herself and other players. The forward said she believes her style of hold-up play works well with the players around her at Notre Dame. “I really like the ball at my feet,” Westendorf said. “I like to post up on defenders and turn them and lay it off for other people to shoot it. I’m not one to make these runs, so I think it works well

for my outside for wards that I play with like [junior] Kaitlin [Klaw under], [junior Meghan] Doyle, and [senior] Kaleigh [Olmsted]. They like to get these crosses in, and I like the ball at my feet. It works well together.” Despite Westendorf’s early success, Romagnolo said she believes the freshman can still improve as her time at Notre Dame goes on. “She’s still learning,” Romagnolo said. “She’s learning how to play the game at this college speed, she’s learning how to hold the ball against bigger, stronger defenders. So there’s still huge room for her to keep going this season. But right now, we can still see these great f lares of what she can do, which is exciting.” Westendorf said she is confident in her ability to keep improving upon her early success thanks to her team’s culture of working to improve one another — something she has been able to both take part in and benefit from. “As a team, we all accept criticism and helpful tips from each other,” Westendorf said. “So I’d consider myself a leader, but I’d consider everyone else on the team a leader in the same way. We’re always giving each other help on the field and listening too.” Westendorf and the Irish will be in action again Saturday when they travel to Louisville. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Lynn Stadium. Contact Daniel O’Boyle at doboyle1@nd.edu

The observer | Wednesday, September 28, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

football

‘[The defense] will have more of my stamp’ Kelly discusses changes in defensive scheme and personnel under new defensive coordinator By MAREK MAZUREK Sports Editor

Four weeks into Notre Dame’s season, Irish head coach Brian Kelly has already made significant changes to his team. Kelly fired defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder on Sunday, replacing him with former defensive analyst Greg Hudson. In addition to the coaching shakeup, Kelly said there would be roster changes as well, as he looks to get more out of his defense. “You can’t take somebody that’s had no reps and give them 70 on Saturday. That’s impossible,” Kelly said. “But what we can start to do is put a depth chart together that gives a young man a look at saying, ‘I got a shot, here. I’m part of the solution.’ I want guys to feel like they’re part of the solution here. There is going to be a lot of those guys that are going to feel like that they now can be part of the solution, both in a defensive standpoint and, in some instances, on the offensive side of the ball.”

While Kelly did not say what specific personnel changes he had in mind, he did say he plans to give more players a chance to see the field on game day. Kelly listed junior defensive lineman Jay Hayes, junior linebacker Greer Martini and sophomore linebacker Asmar Bilal as candidates for increased snaps. “We’ve got some guys out there that are dog tired trying to do things,” Kelly said. “They got too many reps and we got too many good players sitting behind them watching, and we’ve gotta get them in the game and we’ve got to trust them and we’ve got to coach them and get them in the game. And that’s on me.” Following VanGorder’s departure, Kelly said the defense for the rest of the season will reflect his personal modifications, with Hudson being put into a motivational, cheerleading role as new coordinator. “[The defense] will have more of my stamp on it,” Kelly said. “Greg has been empowered to see KELLY PAGE 10

CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer

Irish sophomore linebacker Asmar Bilal, left, tangles with a Duke blocker in Notre Dame’s 38-35 loss to Blue Devils on Saturday. Kelly said Tuesday that Bilal will see more playing time going forward.

woMen’s soccer

ND women’s golf

Westendorf lives up to hype in freshman season

Irish finish sixth in season opener

By DANIEL O’BOYLE

By MOLLY MURPHY

Sports Writer

It can be hard to live up to the hy pe of being a fivestar recruit. Freshman forward Jennifer Westendorf had to deal w ith expectations of a big impact in her opening season at Notre Dame. But the success Westendorf has had in her first 11 games for the Irish (7-1-3, 2-0-1 ACC) suggests that dealing w ith expectations hasn’t been a concern for her. Westendorf hit the ground running in her Notre Dame debut, scoring twice against Wright State. Since then, she’s added three more for the season to lead the Irish in goals, most recently volleying in the second goal in Notre Dame’s 4-0 home victor y over Pittsburgh. Westendorf’s other two goals were impressive efforts — a free kick to earn a

Notre Dame competed in the Schooner Fall Classic in Norman, Oklahoma, this past weekend and tied for sixth amongst 12 teams. This was the first tournament of the season for the Irish, and head coach Susan Holt said her team’s mentality coming into the event was one of excitement to start the season and a readiness to compete. The team’s combined score of +19 and sixthplace finish were results the team can build upon, she added. “I thought, first tournament of the year, we’re just getting back into the routine of traveling and competing,” Holt said. “I thought we could have done better, but there was a lot of positive points to the weekend. We had a lot of good scoring from four of our players, all pretty consistent. We definitely have things to work on, but I think we’re definitely gonna be able to make those necessary adjustments and we’ll be just that much better when we get to Texas State in

see WESTENDORF PAGE 11

EMMET FARNAN | The Observer

Irish freshman forward Jennifer Westendorf corrals a loose ball during Notre Dame’s 1-0 win over Missouri on Sept. 4.

a couple of weeks.” Focusing on those adjustments necessary for her team, Holt pointed to its play on par 5s in particular. “We didn’t play the par 5s very well at all any of the rounds,” Holt said. “We’re pretty long hitters and pretty accurate, so I was a little surprised by the par5 score being as poor as it was. I think it just comes down to playing a little bit smarter on those holes and putting ourselves in better positions to make birdies and pars. We discussed that and — looking forward — those are just some of the little things that make a big impact on your score and that we need to make adjustments on.” Holt emphasized, however, she has confidence in her players and the strength of the line up despite their performance in their first event not being up to par. “We’ve got really good players, and I think, individually, we had some good showings across the board, and I just think that we see W GOLF PAGE 11