Print Edition of The Observer for Thursday, September 29, 2016 by The Observer

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Volume 51, Issue 28 | Thursday, September 29, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Student Senate

North Dining Hall to be renovated Food area design, kitchen equipment to be redone throughout spring semester of 2017 By DEVON HARFORD News Writer

Though it will not fully close, North Dining Hall will undergo a major renovation this year to replace old equipment and infrastructure, expand seating and create a new entrance facing Mod Quad, campus dining staff told student senate Wednesday night. The renovation will begin after fall break and last through next summer. Director of campus dining Chris Abayasinghe, director of retail dining Luigi Alberganti and director of student dining Scott Kachmarik presented the plans to the senate at its weekly meeting. “North Dining Hall was last renovated in 1988,” Kachmarik said. “It is due for an upgrade.” Kachmarik said the main work would be on the design of the dining hall. “We are going to open all

[the food area] up; we are going to knock down the walls,” Kachmarik said. “That is the bulk of what will be happening.” Additionally, pipes will be replaced, some kitchen equipment will be changed, and ceiling and lighting fixtures will be switched out. The renovations will also address an occasional odor behind the hall. “It will be gutted in a similar way to what Walsh Hall is right now,” Kachmarik said. There will also be a new entrance on the building’s east side for people coming from Mod Quad dorms and Flaherty and Dunne Halls, Kachmarik said, and the existing main entrance will see restrooms, a new look and location for Grab ‘n Go with the possibility of a conveniencestore setup, as well as a common space before students swipe in. Kachmarik said the dining hall will have a “modern” look, see DINING HALL PAGE 4

SMC Democrats register voters By EMMA O’BRIEN News Writer

The Saint Mary’s College Democrats is holding a voter registration drive throughout this week, with the goal of helping students exercise a civic duty, club treasurer Meredith Mackowicz said. “[Voting is] your responsibility as a citizen, as an American, as a person in this generation who cares about the future of our country,” Mackowicz said. College Democrats secretary Gabby Haff said Saint Mary’s students should value the right to vote, given the College’s status as an allwomen school. “Registering to vote is a right that men and women fought long and hard for, which is something not only

NEWS PAGE 3

Saint Mary’s should appreciate as women, but also as citizens,” Haff said. “Still to this day, there are people around the world who are not granted the right to vote, and we as American citizens should register to vote for all of those in the past and present who were/are not able to.” Junior Stephanie Stapleton, a member of the club’s board, said she thinks it’s important for young voters to know that they have a say in the election and what happens in the world. “If we get them started now in political affiliations, then it can help them understand what they want, which can help shape future elections,” she said. Mackowicz said students see VOTERS PAGE 4

SCENE PAGE 5

ROSIE LOVOI | The Observer

North Dining Hall, which was last renovated before the 1988 academic year, will undergo a major design upgrade over the course of the spring 2017 semester

2016 Election observer: Carey Cavanaugh

Former ambassador, alum analyzes first debate Editor’s Note: Throughout the 2016 presidential campaign, The Observer will sit down with Notre Dame experts to break down the election and its importance to students. In this 13th installment, Associate News Editor Rachel O’Grady asks former United States ambassador and alumnus Carey Cavanaugh, class of 1978, about the impact of international relations on this election. Rachel O’Grady: Broadly speaking, what’s your takeaway from Monday’s debate? Carey Cavanaugh: When you know there will be a test, it pays to do your homework. This is true in regular life — and in classes at Notre Dame — but in the presidency it is essential. Donald Trump belittled the effort Hilary Clinton put

into getting ready for their first debate, but her performance showed that a mastery of policies and facts makes a difference. The Oval Office is not the place for anyone who believes they can just wing it or who does not take advantage of the enormous expertise of those around them. The stakes are simply too important. ROG: Given your experience as a former foreign service officer and U.S. ambassador, how are international relations playing a role in this election? CC: From immigration and trade to combatting terrorism and addressing climate change, global issues are front and center in this election. The American people understand that we live today in an interconnected world. Our security and prosperity depend not simply upon our own policies, but on our international partnerships.

Maintaining effective working relationships with friends and foes will be paramount to achieving our goals. ROG: You have just returned from several months in Europe. How is the race for the presidency being seen there? CC: Trump has set off shockwaves with his glib pronouncements about nuclear weapons, not defending NATO partners and other allies — if he believes they have not paid their fair share of defense costs — preparedness to have the U.S. engage in torture — waterboarding and “much worse” — and intention to expel millions of immigrants and implement a shutdown of Muslims entering the U.S. Countless nations have long regarded the U.S. as the global leader, a shining “city on a hill.”

VIEWPOINT PAGE 6

Cross country PAGE 12

ND WOmen’s soccer PAGE 12

By RACHEL O’GRADY Associate News Editor

see ELECTION PAGE 3

TODAY

The observer | Thursday, September 29, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com

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If you could take Notre Dame and move it somewhere else, where would you move it?

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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junior Zahm House

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junior Flaherty Hall

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“Hawaii.”

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Farley Hall freshman Kathleen Liebscher plays interhall flag football Wednesday at Riehle Fields. At the end of November, the top two teams compete in a championship game held in Notre Dame Stadium.

The next Five days:

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

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

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.

ACMS Colloquium Hayes-Healy Center 4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. Discusses use of computer models in predicting behaviors.

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.

Film: “Blood on the Mountain” DeBartolo Hall 7 p.m. Free and open to the public.

News

ndsmcobserver.com | Thursday, September 29, 2016 | The Observer

Professor explores meaning of ‘voting Catholic’ By STEPHANIE SNYDER News Writer

In an effort to help prepare students for the upcoming election, Saint Mary’s associate political science professor Sister Amy Cavender presented on what it means to “vote Catholic” at Wednesday night’s installment of the Theology on Fire lecture series. According to Cavender, voting

Catholic has multiple elements. “It means approaching the process and our fellow citizens with appropriate respect and keeping in mind key principles that our faith tells us are vitally important in public life,” she said. “It’s being knowledgeable about the way our government works, being as informed about important issues as we can, asking the right questions and having respect for the process.”

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Showing respect and having the right attitude is key when making decisions on politics, Cavender said. “We want to be civil to one another, we want to respect one another and we want to presume good faith of others,” she said. Cavender used the core principles of Catholic Social Teaching for students to use as a guide to help identify what issues they may want to focus on when researching candidates. The first principle she addressed was dignity of the human person, which focuses on issues such as abortion, racism, torture and unjust war. She then addressed subsidiarity, which focuses on which levels of government should be handling certain issues. “A higher level of government should not take on an issue if a lower level of government can do as well or better,” Cavender said. “On the other hand, higher levels of government should step in when a lower level is not well-suited for the task.” Third, Cavendar said, is the common good, which she said had many examples. “Some are human rights, dignity of workers and care for our common environment,” she said. The final principle Cavender

addressed was solidarity, which she said is closely tied with dignity and concerns issues such as care for other human beings, welcoming strangers in reference to immigrants and caring for the poor. “We need to be familiar with the principles we’ve just considered,” Cavender said. “We need to consider what they tell us. We also need to be familiar with who the candidates are and what a candidate is likely to actually be able to do if elected. Remember, we’re not only electing a president this time around.” Identifying goals and how students can achieve them when taking a side on a political issue is a way to decide on a candidate, Cavender said. She used the example of abortion. “Do we like candidates who are pro-life or do we want to reduce the number of abortions that take place?” she said. “We would like to say absolutely yes to both of those, but if we find ourselves in the situation where we don’t think we can have both, which one are we going to give priority to?” Cavender said students can answer this personal question by evaluating what laws already exist and by looking at the issue from the

opposing view. “Consider why those who take the pro-choice position take that position,” she said. “What can we learn from what they say about that even if we don’t agree? Are there values that overlap with ours, and are there ways we may be able to work together to reduce the number of abortions?” Cavender provided students with an additional online resource they could use to help them decide who to vote for based on their Catholic faith, called “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.” Senior Helen Kovach said she liked how Cavender said to look at the opposing views and that students need to adjust their focus beyond the presidential elections. “I think as millennials, we complain about the terrible presidential choices at the moment, but it’s more than just a presidential election,” she said. “It is true candidate always make all of these promises, but the question is if they can actually do that. It always depends on Congress and the courts.”

Election

such policies. ROG: As a professor, what do you think is the most salient issue of this election? CC: The candidates’ basic approaches to economics. When I entered the Foreign Service, the first president I served under was Ronald Reagan — also, the speaker at my wife Laura’s Notre Dame graduation. He was a great believer in “trickle-down” economics, or as George H.W. Bush called it “voodoo economics.” It didn’t work then, and I do not believe it will work now. Trump is pushing that same approach, that the nation’s problems can be solved if we just give enormous tax cuts to the very wealthy and dramatically cut government regulation of business. This is, in part, how we reached the current state of extreme economic inequality. Also, the recent phony accounts scandal at Wells Fargo is just one more example that businesses cannot be relied upon to police themselves. Clinton is looking toward massive investments in infrastructure and education — student debt relief — via a tax increase on the very wealthy, as well as measures to rein in Wall Street. ROG: Bringing it back to Notre Dame, what is the most important issue students should be paying attention to in this election? CC: Trump and Clinton present radically different images of America. Trump sees a nation that is in collapse, afraid, beset by violence, with a depleted military, run for decades by “stupid” officials and public servants — generals, admirals, trade negotiators, intelligence officers, even ambassadors — none of whom have a clue what they are doing. He argues that he is uniquely qualified to accomplish the task that he trumpets on his hat, “Make America Great

Again.” Clinton sees an America that is already great, with tremendous human capital, a growing economy, reduced levels of crime, armed forces second to none and that today occupies the dominant position on the world stage. She has worked with those public servants, from the senior ranks of the military and State Department in Washington, D.C., to schoolteachers in Little Rock, Arkansas, and found them competent, engaged and committed. She acknowledges the daunting problems before us, in particular healing the racial divide, but believes that working together, the nation can bring to that task a spirit and a strength that can meet the challenge. I have a hard time connecting with Trump’s dark, bleak vision. It is not the America that I have known, nor as I travel across this great land the one I see today. True, our nation faces serious issues, but I have found the American people to be hardworking, competitive, optimistic, caring and compassionate. We are champions of freedom, justice and human rights, with an abiding belief that we can build not only a better America, but a better world. Furthermore, I have also found our public servants not only capable and dedicated, but willing to put their lives on the line — whether they are serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, aboard naval ships in the Pacific, at a remote U.S. Embassy or on the streets of Chicago. Students must decide for themselves which vision they believe is most accurate and from there determine who would best represent them in the White House.

Continued from page 1

They cannot comprehend that a serious candidate for president of the United States could promote Paid Advertisement

Contact Stephanie Snyder at ssnyder02@saintmarys.edu

Contact Rachel O’Grady at rogrady@nd.edu

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The observer | Thursday, September 29, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Dining Hall Continued from page 1

with tables of different sizes and heights. The dining hall would remain open throughout the process except during fall, winter and spring breaks, Kachmarik said. “We will do all of this while we continue to serve you,” he said. Kachmarik said the first planned target of renovation is the pasta and pizza sections. Larger areas, and more of the seating space, will be tackled during the first few months of the second semester, from about January to March. “We will rotate through food in the sections that we have open,” Kachmarik said, “Hopefully it will not be too much difference from a menu standpoint.” Abayasinghe said the renovations will be completed over the summer, and the finished dining hall will open Aug. 1. “I will be very up-front with you — it’s going to be tight,” Abayasinghe said. “That’s why we need your help to communicate with the students about what is happening.” Senate parlimentarian Monica Montgomery congratulated the presenters on updates to the dining services website, as well as a more active Twitter account. “That would be a great place to start from, for communications,” she said. “We are going to have to communicate things on the fly,” Kachmarik added. “It sounds like that will be our best tool for getting updates out quickly, like if the workers accidentally knock the water out while working on the pipes, we need to have a way to communicate that immediately.” St. Edward’s Hall senator Corey Gayheart suggested a website dedicated entirely to the North Dining Hall renovations, complete with updates and answers to frequently asked questions. Aside from communications, the most discussed problem was how to address overflow once the renovations start. Duncan Hall senator Zach Huber asked if both dining rooms of South Dining Hall could open during the renovation, Flaherty Hall senator Jade Martinez asked if meal swipes could be converted into flex points and Dunne Hall senator Matthew Donohue asked if there could be a take-out option. The directors gave no guarantees but praised the feedback. “Afterwards, we are going to have a conversation about how this went with big smiles,” Alberganti said. Alberganti, who is in charge of food developments in Campus Crossroads, could not give many details regarding future plans. “The reason we are taking our time is because we are really reliant on the feedback we are getting,” he said. “We are getting the best partners that we can find.” Contact Devon Harford at dharford@nd.edu

Voters Continued from page 1

should vote for a person who can “create a world we want to live in.” “Especially in an election like this, where it really is going to come down to a small number of votes on either side, I think it’s really important for students to get in early, to register and to not let this opportunity pass them by,” she said. Stapleton said party lines have blurred in this election, meaning some students are questioning whether to register. “I’ve had some students tell me they weren’t sure who to vote for, but I still encourage them to register because when it comes down to it, every voter has to make a choice,” Stapleton said. Students are also hesitant to pick a side, Mackowicz said. “I know, especially just sitting at the registration table today,

we had a lot of people who were not sure if they wanted to register yet or not sure if it mattered,” she said. So far, the drive has helped around 35 to 40 students register to vote, but more have come in asking questions regarding absentee ballots. “A lot more people than I expected stop by and say, ‘I’m already registered, but how can I vote and where can I get my absentee ballot?’” Mackowicz said. The drive will continue throughout this Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, it will be in Le Mans Hall from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. On Friday, it will be in the Student Center Atrium from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. “The amount [of registrations] we’ve had is pretty awesome so far, and we’re hoping for a great turnout for the rest of the week too,” Mackowicz said. Contact Emma O’Brien at eobrien3@saintmarys.edu Paid Advertisement

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The observer | Thursday, September 29, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

By BRIAN BOYLEN Scene Writer

If you could be any animal, which one would you choose? This question, a staple of playground chats, seems relatively innocuous in nature. This is not the case in the world of “The Lobster,” where the transformation from man to animal is a harsh reality. In the dystopian society presented by the film, adults must find a romantic partner within 45 days — else they are turned into an animal of their choosing. This terrifying premise perhaps implies that “The Lobster” is a horror film; however it is actually a black comedy thick with social commentary on the nature of dating in the 21st century. Colin Farrell stars as David, a recently divorced man who must now find a new lover within 45 days or else suffer the fate of his brother, who has been turned into a dog. In order to facilitate the process of matchmaking, single people are brought to a beautiful seaside resort where they can court other singles ready to mingle. Unfortunately, the hotel is anything but romantic. Patrons are subject to a wide

By CHRISTIAN BUNKER Scene Writer

Even in 2016, music has some nativist moments. People, myself included, are quick to classify artists by decade and country, as if a year or a timezone inherently changes how humans create and experience sound. Luckily, artists like David Bowie are around to absolutely demolish these kinds of preconceptions. Simultaneously a British, American and German artist, Bowie recorded an incredible 25 albums over 53 years that refused to stay within any conceivable system of boundaries. Bowie repeatedly veered off into new genres, diving into new sounds even after reaching the peak of success in an established one. The fact that his last studio album, “Blackstar,” ranks securely among his top five albums ever recorded is further proof that time has no power over his art. His earliest albums, recorded in London, encompass his best known work, including “Space Oddity,” “Life On Mars?” and of course the “Ziggy Stardust” pantheon. His later “Berlin Trilogy,” recorded with Brian Eno, typically garners the most critical acclaim. Even the intermediate “American phase,” which is often overlooked, was immensely productive for Bowie; his work during the time period is captured in the baff ling sprawl of

swath of strange rituals such as watching poorly acted plays on the dangers of being alone or, even more terrifying, hunting escapees of the hotel known as “Loners” in a nearby forest. Despite the emphasis placed on finding on a partner, the dystopian society certainly makes it challenging. People must have a defining quality in common with their prospective lover in order to become a couple and avoid life as an animal. This rule serves as a great source of humor and social commentary throughout the movie. Characters desperately trying to find some trait in common with one another is distinctly reminiscent of first dates in our own world, where potential partners grasp at straws to find any sort of commonality between them. The term “black comedy” fails to do this movie justice. As David’s time dwindles, he becomes increasingly desperate and attempts to woo a woman whose heartlessness defines her. The film takes this plot point to its logical endpoint; ultimately David must pretend to enjoy the agonizing screams of a woman who just failed a suicide attempt in order to pass as an emotionless psychopath. This notion

of changing oneself to find a partner is a repeated motif throughout the movie. In a more humorous, but still disturbing example of this, one of David’s acquaintances induces a nosebleed by smashing his nose into a swimming pool wall in order to have common ground with a girl that suffers from chronic nosebleeds. Director Yorgos Lanthimos never shies away from connecting this world to our own — the entire film is blatantly allegorical. Despite pacing problems in the back half of the film, “The Lobster” remains a must-see. The humor is dark, but certainly enjoyable, and the social commentary will only ever become more poignant as the use of superficial online dating services increases. See “The Lobster” Oct. 1 or 2 at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center for an enjoyable, yet mentally stimulating experience. A word of warning, however: Unless you have a strong stomach or three, you might end up losing your lunch in exchange for the vivid, disturbing realities illustrated throughout the film.

a new collection — “Who Can I Be Now?” — which includes over 500 minutes of music from this period. However, the collection is far more than a repackaging of old material used to bait record collectors into dropping a couple hundred bucks; included within “Who Can I Be Now?” is a never-before-released full album by Bowie, titled “The Gouster.” With an artist as prolific and inf luential as David Bowie, no work of his can truly be taken out of the context of his career. However, “The Gouster” challenges this notion. Preserved like a time capsule for over 40 years, the record is now completely divorced from its original time. Thankfully, the era in which “The Gouster” was produced remains an intriguing period in the context of Bowie’s career. Much of “The Gouster” was ultimately assimilated into his 1975 album “Young Americans,” a record that is often cited as displaying Bowie’s soul inf luence. However, Bowie’s interest in the genre really comes forth as pure adoration on the new release. With a backing gospel choir on “Young Americans,” emphatic “grrrs” on “Right,” and call-and-response lyrics appearing on a number of cuts throughout the record, soul music is undoubtedly at the heart of this album. As is expected, Bowie incorporates these inf luences with grace. The superb use of saxophone throughout makes me want to ship the

instrument, or at least a coupon for it, to my favorite bands. Bowie is generally a very personal artist. His music centers around himself and the characters he assumes, and his face adorns the majority of his record covers. As much of a genius at showmanship and self-advertising as he was with any instrument, Bowie became as much of a brand as a musician for much of the ’70s. However, “The Gouster” does not quite fit with this trend. The music wears its inf luences on its sleeve and the use of a chorus on several of the tracks ref lects a desire for Bowie to rein in his own voice’s presence throughout the album. However, “The Gouster” remains the work of a singular musician. The record is akin to a prism employed in reverse, in which the wonderfully multicolored inf luences of American soul are condensed into a single stream of pure Bowie light. Nothing demonstrates this better than the album’s greatest moment, in which a gospel choir, which includes no less than soul legend Luther Vandross, builds to a frantic climax before dropping out completely leaving just Bowie to scream, “Ain’t there one damn song that can make me break down and cry?” Only every one of them, you beautiful plastic soul.

Contact Brian Boylen at bboylen@nd.edu

Contact Christian Bunker at cbunker@nd.edu ANDREA SAVAGE | The Observer

The observer | Thursday, September 29, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

ND brought me to leave Catholicism Grace Tourville Photographer

“Look at what I can do now, watch! In the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Amen,” my niece exclaimed over FaceTime the other day. She was showing me how preschool taught her how to pray, starting with the Sign of the Cross. She was giddy to show people, and of course it made the other Catholics in my family proud. However, all I could do was force a smile and say, “good job” without feeling too much pride. It felt odd to me that my three-year-old niece believed in religion, especially when I didn’t. However, she’s only three, so she believes anything that her family and teachers tell her. Still, it threw me off. I grew up just like her, though. I attended a Catholic preschool, then a Catholic elementary school and middle school. We said the “Our Father” daily and had school-wide masses every Monday during Advent. We dedicated entire classes to learning about Lent and what we were giving up that year. I never questioned being Catholic because it was ingrained in me. I believed in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. However, when I went to public high school, I started to question what I was saying during Mass. I was still active in the Catholic Church; I went to mass every Sunday and monthly CCD. I was confirmed my sophomore year of high school, and I spent a lot of time my junior and senior year with the youth program. But still, in the back of my head, something didn’t feel quite right. I hated going to Mass and I resented reading the Bible. I didn’t feel any love towards God. God was not an entity, but rather a question which lingered in the back of my mind. My faith felt artificial, and saying I truly believed in God felt like I was trying to swallow sand. That changed, however, when I got to Notre Dame. I thought a Catholic university would bring me closer to God, but the freedom of college is what originally made me turn away. Being on my own schedule meant that I could pick when I had to go to Mass, if I wanted to go at all. I no longer felt obligated to go, even though so many of my friends invited me to a dorm mass every Sunday. Instead, I spent my Sunday’s focusing on my classes, some of which made me question God in new ways. One of the most influential classes I took my freshmen year was my “Foundations of Theology” class. The more I read about God, the less I believed in Him. I questioned why God would even care about humanity when there was so much more to the universe than us. Being at Notre Dame gave me the opportunity to really question the things I believed in. Notre Dame shaped my faith in an ironic way. By requiring that I study the Catholic Church, it has made me realize I do not truly believe in its beliefs or teachings. Ultimately, I concluded that I cannot be in Church that I don’t fully believe in. While the Catholic Church may be for some, it no longer is for me. Contact Grace Tourville at gtourvil2@nd.edu The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Letter to the editor

My life as a gay alum and a faithful Catholic My life as a gay Catholic man, father, husband and Domer started many years ago being brought up in a traditional middle-class Irish Catholic family in the suburbs of Boston. Both my parents were school teachers who strongly valued hard work ethic, advanced education and bringing their children up in the Catholic religion. My life’s path was to study hard, get into a good college, get married and have children. This was not thrust upon me, just assumed. Does this sound familiar? While attending Notre Dame back in the mid ’70s, I thoroughly enjoyed attending Mass in the basement of Alumni Hall with my dorm mates. Mass at ND was a true community event that provided time for reflection and a break from the hectic study and social schedule. I truly feel I was spoiled by that experience. After graduating, I followed the expected path: obtained an MBA, got married, had a child and settled into a “normal” life of working hard and advancing up the corporate ladder. After about eight years of marriage, I began to suspect that something wasn’t right. After much soul searching, I realized I had to be truthful to myself and my family. Fast forward 25 years. I am now married to my husband. My daughter, who graduated from ND in ’07, is married to another Domer (BTW, a girl she met freshman year in Cavanaugh) and they have a beautiful little 13-month future Domer, class of ’36 (I hope). I also have the privilege of being the national chair of the LGBT Alumni group of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s GALA ND/SMC. Did you even know one existed? Many don’t! The way I practice my faith these days is to believe and act as we were taught growing up: to be honest, treat everyone with respect, show love and compassion especially for those less fortunate and most of all to try to help others build a better community. It is with this strong belief that I desperately would love to see the Catholic Church be so much more inclusive of people like myself, my daughter and her family and the many other Catholics who also happen to be part of the LGBT community as well. Why do I feel so strongly about this? Because I have personally seen the impact of the current state of intolerance. My own daughter-in-law was forced to leave a teaching position at a local Catholic high school because she was gay. My granddaughter will not be

brought up in the Catholic faith because her two mothers are not welcome. Can you imagine? What a shame. I encourage our school, Notre Dame, as the premier Catholic institution of higher education in the U.S., to use its position of influence to take the lead amongst its Catholic peers and step forward with words, action and deeds to more fully embrace LGBT Catholics. Take Pope Francis’s own vision during this Year of Mercy and become more merciful and inclusive. Embrace his wish for more tolerance and love and move away from the fear and distrust so often taken with the LGBT community. What does this look like? Think of the image of our own University president emeritus Fr. Theodore Hesburgh fighting for civil rights in the ’60s. His unabashed vision and drive to push for equality for all humans, regardless of their background or skin color. Like Fr. Ted did in the ’60s, Notre Dame should speak out against the firing of teachers, coaches, even cafeteria workers who lose their jobs in Catholic schools simply because they are gay (it is happening ever day). Notre Dame should encourage greater tolerance and publicly condemn hatred and bias demonstrated by groups who disenfranchise LGBT individuals and seek to pass laws not only limiting rights, but in many cases, removing rights. Why should Notre Dame take this leadership role? Because at Notre Dame, we love tradition. We have a tradition of being leaders, not just in the classroom, on the playing field or in the boardroom, but in the way that Catholics and all individuals across our country live and treat each other. To encourage the pope’s vision of greater inclusion and compassion, GALA ND/SMC is sponsoring a “Pilgrimage of Mercy” in New York on Sunday. This pilgrimage is similar to ones that have occurred on Notre Dame’s campus and across many cities. The goal is to celebrate the pope’s message and call upon Catholic leaders everywhere, including at Notre Dame, to hear his words and follow his lead. My hope is that his message is heard, and someday I can see my granddaughter not only graduate from Notre Dame, but have her entire family be welcomed into the Catholic Church.

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Jack Bergen Class of 1977 Sept. 16

The observer | Thursday, September 29, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Where Obama’s words fail Jordan Ryan Words of WisDome

President Obama, during his 2008 presidential campaign, proved beyond any doubt that he is a gifted orator. As proof of his public speaking skills, he repeatedly stressed just how important word choice can be. During a campaign speech in Milwaukee, then-Senator Obama emphasized the power of the use of particular words: “Don’t tell me words don’t matter,” he said in his remarks. “‘I have a dream.’ Just words? ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.’ Just words? ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself.’ Just words? Just speeches?” To the contrary, these are forceful words uttered by great leaders at defining moments in our nation’s history. Though I often disagree with the president, he is certainly right on this point. Words do matter, a lot. Therefore, we must ask why President Obama, in light of his acknowledged view on the power of particular words, continues to refuse to employ obvious word choices, which could assist in defining existential threats to America. One is left with the conclusion that he consciously does so in an effort to distort reality and manipulate public opinion to suit his own political agenda. Just last week, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest summarized President Obama’s most recent foreign policy pronouncement on the terror

challenge: “When it comes to [the Islamic State group], we are in a fight — a narrative fight with them. A narrative battle.” What does a narrative battle even mean? A war of words? A publicity fight? This position is, unfortunately, in keeping with President Obama’s repeated efforts to reshape reality so that it can somehow coincide with his personal views of the world order, a world order that simply does not exist. President Obama’s efforts to characterize the killings in Orlando as a “hate crime;” the murders in Fort Hood as “workplace violence;” or, as recently as this week, the stabbing attacks at a Minnesota mall and the bomb blasts in Manhattan and New Jersey which injured 29 innocent people as a “narrative battle” is either an Orwellian effort to rewrite news or a reflection of the president’s condescending view that it is his job to define the truth and then make, interpret and enforce the laws on behalf of the rest of us (including Congress) who simply don’t get it. If President Obama were true to his belief that words in fact matter, he would confront the threat of terrorism to the United States and beyond on the term which defines it: radical Islam. This description clearly, concisely and correctly defines the enemy and importantly differentiates these dangerous extremists from other Muslims. This nonsense cannot continue. Blaming the murders of innocent Americans in Libya on an internet video, trying to capitalize on the senseless killings in San Bernardino and Orlando to advance the left’s

gun control agenda, referring to IS as the “JV team” or referring to countless murders of innocents around the world by IS killers as “isolated” events will not advance the ball. Likewise, an effort to recast the goals of extremists utilizing bullets, bombs, knives and airplanes to kill as a “narrative battle,” while perhaps more consistent with the president’s ideological agenda, will not change the facts. It is time to define our enemy for who they are: radical Islamic terrorists. The time for political spin, an overblown sense of political correctness or an effort to reshape reality to better coincide with the administration’s sense of priorities is long past. These notions have accomplished nothing except the impairing of our ability to realize and react to the depth of this crisis. President Obama now claims, “There is no magic to the phrase ‘radical Islam.’” As he himself has acknowledged, words do matter, especially these powerful words which cannot be ignored for political gain. IS is not a narrative threat. We are not engaged in a narrative battle. IS is made up of murderers. Mischaracterizing the very essence of the problem will not make it disappear. Either we take on and defeat IS or continue with the administration’s effort to distort reality. We again find ourselves at what may well prove to be a defining moment in our history. Jordan Ryan, junior resident of Lyons Hall, is a major in political science and peace studies and minors in Constitutional studies. She can be reached at jryan15@nd.edu

Cut the chitchat Lucy Collins Stuck in the middle

“What did you do last weekend?” “Did you guys go out last night?” “What’s your dorm/major/hometown?” Questions like these are plenty abundant around campus. They are often used to ease tension at parties where the music may not be quite loud enough, to catch up with that random person you chose to sit next to on the first day of class and are now stuck with for the rest of the semester or to minimize the awkwardness of a silent elevator ride in the dorms. These seemingly harmless questions start to be problematic, however, when they are relied upon as main conversation staples amongst those who consider themselves close friends. There is nothing wrong with catching up with a friend about a weekend’s debauchery, but small talk is quickly turning into an escape route from deeper, more meaningful conversations. Small talk prevails because of the need to find a socially acceptable topic to discuss, but without asking more difficult questions about things like life, religion or morality, is it possible to truly connect with others and form strong bonds? Many articles have been written imploring people to put an end to small talk, citing many reasons that culminate to the same basic idea: Small talk kills

any hope of getting to really know someone else. In one particular piece from Wired, the author spoke of a dinner party she held that had only one rule: no small talk allowed. The party started off a little awkward, with guests unsure of what exactly qualified as small talk, afraid to call others out for resorting to trivial discussions. As questions ranging from matters such as assisted suicide and race relations to sexuality began to pop up in conversations, however, a difference could be seen. Guests were more animated, standing more intimately with one another, earnestly speaking their minds. Rather than decreasing their possible conversations, this rule gave people the freedom to talk about the things they really wanted to talk about. In today’s divisive society, it is easy to think that it is best to steer clear of controversial subject matter in conversation, particularly if you want to maintain a friendship with someone who might disagree with you. Based on my personal experiences, however, I would argue that it is because of these conversations, rather than despite them, that friendship can blossom. If anyone were to look at my ideological profile, compared to that of one of my closest friends’, Lauren, they would see a recipe for disaster. Lauren identifies as an atheist, a socialist and an all-around “flaming liberal”. You would not think that I, a Catholic, moderately conservative individual, would find much common ground with her. It was during

moments of intense debate, sometimes escalating to screaming matches, when our friendship bloomed and strengthened to what it is now. Perhaps it is because we now already know everything about the each other’s beliefs, or maybe because we have debated some of life’s most difficult subjects, that our friendship can withstand next to any hardship. Our ideological differences have not served to distance us, but rather to show us that it is possible to form lasting bonds with people of different mindsets than our own, bonds strengthened by our strength of convictions. When you are presented with the opportunity to discuss topics of actual interest with strangers and friends alike, you are given the freedom to push past awkward introductions and really get to know another individual, and as a famous quote states, “It’s nearly impossible to hate anyone whose story you know.” Regardless of the beliefs you hold dear, the simple act of sharing presents an innate trust and respect for the other person. When it comes to forming long-lasting, deep friendships, the first step is to cut the small talk. 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

Daily

The observer | Thursday, September 29, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | Will Shortz

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Look for a unique way to get things done and to bring about positive changes at home and to the way you take care of business. Show what you have to offer and express your concerns and reasons for wanting to move in the direction you are heading. Preparation and presentation will make a difference. Your numbers are 6, 17, 26, 28, 35, 42, 44. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t feel pressured to take on the impossible. Gauge the possibilities and only offer what’s realistic. It’s better to offer less and do more than to offer more and fall short. Try to live up to your expectations. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Plan an outing or trip that will broaden your outlook and give you an advantage over any competition you face. An open mind and curious attitude will help you gather important details. Romance is highlighted. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Children, relatives and friends will challenge your boundaries. Stand your ground and use ingenuity to get others to see things your way. An incentive coupled with a compliment will help you get your way. Don’t overspend. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Keep your life simple and affordable. If you take on too much or make promises that aren’t financially sound, you will face opposition at home. Work on personal improvements and getting along with the people you care about most. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Rediscover, update and follow trends that will help you stay on top of the changes going on around you. Professional advancement will depend on continuous education and mastering new skills. Learn as you go and you won’t fall behind. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Share your feelings and you will be able to put an end to a situation that has been bothering you. Your practical outlook will spark interest in someone you least expect. Don’t be afraid to do things differently. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Someone will come to your aid. Listen to the voice of experience and make the changes suggested. Don’t overspend or overindulge to fill an emotional void. Fix whatever is wrong instead of masking the problem with unnecessary items. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Use your insight, vision and sense of practicality to get things done on time and according to your strategy. Refuse to let anyone lure you off course. Someone may be threatened by your precision and skills. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t let your emotions interfere with what you have to achieve today. Preparation will give you the confidence to dismiss anyone who is trying to lead you astray. Initiate change instead of having it forced on you. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Stick to what you know. Negotiate contracts and legal matters on your own behalf. Set high standards and don’t let anyone deter you from reaching your goals. Do things differently if it will lead to greater success. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Deal with money, legal and health matters calmly. If you let your anger mount, you will end up looking bad and not gaining any ground. Look at the big picture and consider what you can give up to get what you want. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Form a partnership with someone you enjoy doing things with. Whether it’s a business or personal partnership, the joint effort will bring about positive results. Money matters will improve if you can find a way to cut your overhead. Birthday Baby: You are generous, caring and intense. You are protective and patient.

JUST ADD Water | John Roddy & ERic Carlson

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

Fling By Spring | Riley Mccurrie

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Sports Authority

MLB | Mariners 12, AStros 4

Summoner’s Cup up for grabs Marek Mazurek Sports Editor

This time of the year lends itself to predictions of all sorts. Predictions for the College Football Playoff, for the NFL or preseason picks for the NBA and NHL. Yet there is another event, that begins Thursday night, which deserves some analysis — the 2016 League of Legends world championships. Worlds, as it is called, operates much like the FIFA World Cup with a group stage of 16 teams that narrows into an eightteam tournament in its later stages. Also like the World Cup, Worlds brings together teams from across different regions who have vastly different levels of expectations. Just as Europe dominates the soccer world, Korea dominates the League of Legends scene, with the past three world champions hailing from South Korea. Will this be the first time since 2011 a Western team takes home the Summoner’s Cup? Probably not, but here are a few teams worth watching as Worlds get underway.

SK Telecom T1 (SKT) As the Season 3 and Season 5 champions, SKT is arguably the greatest esports organization in history, and they enter 2016 Worlds looking to repeat as world champions. Sanghyeok “Faker” Lee is arguably the best player the world has ever seen, and he has been the cornerstone of two world champion teams. Despite its pedigree, SKT enters Worlds as a No. 2 seed, as ROX Tigers and Samsung Galaxy outmuscled it in Korea. The departure of top-laner Jang “MaRin” Gyeong-Hwan before the season has put Faker in a position where he needs to carry every game, and enemy teams are clued in to this strategy. If SKT fails to get Faker rolling, it could run into problems in later stages of the competition. However, the Koreans are too good at macrogameplay to fail to make it out of arguably the easiest group, Group B. I don’t think SKT has everything it needs to repeat as champions, but it’ll get a sniff of the Summoner’s Cup when

Cano’s homer keeps Mariners in playoff chase

all is said and done.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Team Solo Mid (TSM)

HOUSTON — Robinson Cano continued his dominance against the Houston Astros on Wednesday to keep Seattle’s playoff hopes alive. Cano hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and the Mariners kept pressure on the other AL wild-card contenders with a 12-4 win over the Astros. Kyle Seager added another three-run drive in the eighth, his 30th home run this season, as Seattle pulled within 1½ games of Baltimore for the second AL wild card. Houston dropped three games back as its magic number for elimination was cut to two. The Orioles were at Toronto on Wednesday night. “If you want to help your starter, you’ve got to start early and also put pressure on the other team,” Cano said. “That’s what we did today.” Cano’s career-best 36th home run, a drive off Doug Fister (12-13), landed in the first row of the Crawford Boxes in left field. Cano has nine homers and 25 RBIs in 19 games against Houston this season. “Huge home run early by Robbie really got everybody

Every year, hopes are high entering Worlds for North American teams. Like clockwork though, North America fails to break into the upper echelon of the League of Legends ranks. Last year, none of the three North American representatives managed to make it out of the group stages, but this year is different. TSM is the best team North America has produced to date with Søren “Bjergsen” Bjerg leading a revamped squad that includes veterans like Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng and Dennis “Svenskeren” Johnsen along with rookie support Vincent “Biofrost” Wang. Individually, TSM may not intimidate many people, but over the course of the Summer Split, it dominated by posting a 17-1 record and winning the Summer Split playoffs. If North America has any hope of making it the semifinals or beyond, it is TSM that will do it.

Edward Gaming Just as TSM carries the hopes of North America, Edward Gaming (EDG) carries the hopes of China. After a disappointing showing at last year’s Worlds, EDG made some roster changes, bringing in midlaner Yechan “Scout” Lee to synergize with star jungler Kai “Clearlove” Ming. Clearlove is one the game’s greats, and along with Worlds veteran Hyeokgyu “Deft” Kim, he has the ability to propel EDG back to international prominence. Throughout 2016, EDG has built a reputation for being a team of five talented individuals who also happen to play on the same team. If the Chinese squad can come together as more than a collection of talented individuals, EDG will be a force to be reckoned with, especially with no clear challenger in its group, Group C. Look for EDG, as well as the other Chinese teams, Royal Never Give Up and I May, to make a strong showing after last year’s letdown. Contact Marek Mazurek a mmazurek@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

relaxed a little bit,” manager Scott Servais said. “Everybody contributed today ... everybody had to contribute and we’re still alive.” Seattle doubled its lead in the second on Nori Aoki’s RBI single and Seth Smith’s tworun single. Ketel Marte made it 7-0 with a run-scoring infield single in the third. James Paxton (6-7) allowed three runs and six hits in five innings, striking out eight. Fister gave up five runs and five hits over 1 1/3 innings in the shortest start of his big league career. Fister has lost five straight decisions, and Houston has lost his last seven starts — all five innings or fewer. “Getting into the game was very difficult for him,” Hinch said. “His command wasn’t great. He didn’t execute the way he does when he’s good.” George Springer hit a solo home run in the third for the Astros, who closed to 7-4 in the sixth on Evan Gattis’ solo homer. Since the Astros are off Thursday, if the Orioles win their next two games, Houston could be eliminated by the time it takes the field on Friday. “I’m not ready for that,” Hinch said. “This is not a position that we’re happy to be

in, but it’s a position that we are in.”

Scribner Solid Ser vais was impressed w ith the work of reliever Evan Scribner, who took over w ith t wo on and no outs in the sixth inning and got the Mariners out of a jam. He allowed one hit and no runs in t wo innings for his third hold this season. “He’s been awesome probably about the last 10, 11 times out,” Ser vais said. “But you have those days where it just didn’t look good and it was time to go to Scrib and he certainly picked us up today.”

Up Next Mariners: LHP Ariel Miranda (5-2) w ill start the first of a four-game series Thursday against Oak land. Miranda w ill be making his 12th appearance and w ill be looking to rebound after giv ing up three runs in four innings Saturday at Minnesota. Astros: Brad Peacock (00) w ill start for Houston on Friday when it opens a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. It w ill be the fifth start this season for Peacock, who has a 2.67 ERA.

MLB | Yankees 5, Red Sox 3

Red Sox lose game, but win divison title ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Mark Teixeira hit a game-winning grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning, and the New York Yankees staved off playoff elimination at the last possible moment with a 5-3 victor y over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night. Boston clinched the AL East title nearly 30 minutes before Teixeira connected, thanks to Toronto’s 3-2 loss against Baltimore. But a five-run comeback by New York in the ninth prevented its longtime rival from celebrating on the Yankee Stadium field. The victor y by the Orioles put the Yankees on the brink of wild-card elimination following a surprising

charge late this season. New York had only one infield hit and trailed 3-0 heading into the ninth, with Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel on his way in from the bullpen. Kimbrel, however, gave up a leadoff single to Brett Gardner and issued three straight walks, the last forcing in a run. Red Sox manager John Farrell lifted Kimbrel (2-5) for Joe Kelly, who struck out Starlin Castro and retired Didi Gregorius on a foul popup. With the Yankees down to their last out, Teixeira, planning to retire after this season, launched a 99 mph fastball on an 0-1 count into the New York bullpen in right-center. Yankees relievers raised their arms and Teixeira puffed his cheeks and spread

his arms wide as he rounded first base. The 36-year-old, in his 14th big league season, tossed his helmet away and happy New York players poured out of the dugout to swarm him at home plate. “I’m going to take away a lot of memories. This will be one of the best,” Teixeira said. Meanwhile, the Red Sox walked back to their bench and quietly cleared out of the dugout, an awkward way to celebrate their second division crown in four years. New York ensured its 24th consecutive season with a winning record. Teixeira hit the Yankees’ first gameending grand slam since Alex Rodriguez on April 7, 2007. James Pazos (1-0) was the winner.

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EMMET FARNAN | The Observer

Irish senior goalkeeper and captain Kaela Little boots a goal kick up during a game against Missouri on Sept.4 at Alumni Stadium.

W Soccer Continued from page 12

goal. I think we were playing a lot of great crosses and making a lot of great hard runs into the box on Sunday, so just to continue to get that going.” Louisville (7-2-2, 2-0-1) is unbeaten in its past four games, including a come-from-behind win against Boston College and a stout defensive display against No. 12 Duke. The Cardinals and the Irish are among the five teams tied for first in the ACC, so Romagnolo is not taking them lightly. “I mean they’re a tough game — I think there’s no easy game in the ACC,” Romagnolo said. “I think they do a great job of getting numbers behind the ball; I watched a bit of the Duke game and Duke had trouble getting through them, so they do a good job of being very organized, so we’ll have to be patient and move the ball well and look for the right gaps in order to find them and face them. They already beat [Boston College] and Pitt and they tied Duke, so they’re obviously coming into the game with a good amount of confidence and belief, so it’s going to be two teams that are undefeated in the ACC.” While Louisville has been enjoying success, so have the Irish. Sunday’s win at home against Pittsburgh continued Notre Dame’s eight-game unbeaten run and the offense had four different players on the score

sheet. Senior captain Kaleigh Olmsted led the Irish with a goal and an assist, freshman forward Jennifer Westendorf scored another to bring her tally to five on the year, and juniors Kaitlin Klawunder and Karin Muya also scored. The defense, led by senior captain and goalie Kaela Little, was once again strong, bringing the Irish clean sheet total to eight on the year, and Romagnolo credits the senior leadership and the work during the week to the recent success of the Irish. “I think it just has the excitement of it being [Little’s] last season and wanting to give it everything she’s got,” Romagnolo said. “She’s an extremely athletic and talented goalkeeper and we’re seeing what she can do. I think we’re also seeing the consistency of it now, so it’s just been really exciting for all of us to see her on the field and healthy and continuing to grow in that position and her leadership. … I think we’re growing every game. We do video every Tuesday to review where we’re at offensively and defensively, and this week we’re focusing on a little bit of everything. We’re continuing to move the ball well in practice, and two-touch rhythm, and we’re doing a lot of finishing, offensive patterns.” The Irish play at Louisville on Saturday night, with kickoff at 7 p.m. Contact Tobias Hoonhout at thoonhou@nd.edu

“We worry more about the day-to-day process of things than we worry about goals,” Sparks said. “It sounds funny, but if we take care of things day-to-day, then the preseason goals we talked about will come along with those. [The Joe Piane Invitational] is just another piece of the puzzle, and we’ll build for bigger and better things down the road. We don’t want to put too much emphasis on something in September, but it is a home meet, and everybody will take a little bit more pride Observer File Photo in running well.” Current captain and graduate student Danielle Aragon sprints down Though it is still early in the straightaway finish in 2014’s National Catholic Championships. the season, Sparks did say he plans to use the meet to while the men’s squad can break in the race Friday. gauge where his team stacks into the top 15. “It’s always a comforting feel“If the women could be in ing to find your teammates who up against both national and the top five, we’d be excited. you train with everyday. They’re conference competitors. “With 10 to 15 of the top We’d like to try and take a run going to be on the lookout for teams in the country com- at one of those top teams — those people,” Sparks said. “It’s ing in on both sides, it will Providence, North Carolina State going to be a much more congive us a good idea of not only and New Mexico,” Sparks said. gested field, so it will be much where we fit in nationally, but “Realistically, they’re all top five more difficult to find their trainalso within our conference,” in the country, so if we can still ing buddies, but if they can Sparks said. “Florida State’s take top five, we’ll still feel we’re group up with somebody in the a team on the men’s and where we need to be as far as race, it gives you that much more women’s side we often com- goals at the end of the season go. confidence to know, ‘We’re runpare ourselves too. Also NC If the men’s team could finish in ning where we’re supposed to be, State and North Carolina will the top 15, we’d beat some really we train together every day, let’s both be here from our confer- noteworthy teams, and it would keep working together.’ So there ence. Clemson will be here. So bode well for later in the season.” will some team concepts in mind Two weekends ago, Notre come Friday.” there’s several ACC opponents that we’ll see again in a month Dame’s strategy on the course The Joe Piane Invitational is centered around running in scheduled to begin Friday at 2 at the conference meet.” With sophomore Anna pairs, with an upperclassmen p.m. at Notre Dame’s Burke Golf Rohrer racing for the first time runner being paired with a fresh- Course. this season, Sparks said he man to give the younger athletes hopes the women’s squad can experience. Sparks said he plans Contact Marek Mazurek at compete for a top-five result, to implement that same strategy mmazurek@nd.edu Paid Advertisement

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ndsmcobserver.com | Thursday, September 29, 2016 | The Observer

W Tennis

Swimming

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Louderback said. “We’ve got a bunch of kids who are good competitors and I feel like we’ve gotten to play in those situations in practice, which have been really good for us to get ready for this tournament. Our main thing to get ready for the spring is to play a lot of match time in the fall.” Overall, Louderback and his team are excited for this weekend as a chance to take what they’ve been doing in practice forward into live competition. “I think our big thing right now is we’re wanting to get matches in and see us playing against other players and teams,” Louderback said. “We’ve been working on some things, so were not worried as much about wins and losses this fall as much as our kids getting used to playing. If

are definitely on track for a great year on both sides.” Senior Danielle Margheret also showed confidence in the new combined team, say ing she likes the dy namic the combined team brings. “This year we really hit the ground running w ith practices starting earlier and it has had a ver y noticeable, positive impact on the team as a whole,” Margheret said. “A lso, now that we’re combined, we have become prett y tight-knit, and we’re really looking for ward to seeing how that translates in the pool on Friday.” This is the season opener for Michigan State w ith the sw imming being held outdoors and div ing events taking place indoors. The team is facing a more difficult schedule this season compared to prev ious years and this first meet launches the start of tough competition. Looking ahead, Notre Dame hosts the Dennis Stark Relays at the beginning of October. The highlight of the fall schedule for the Irish w ill be a home meet against Miami, Rutgers and Purdue at the end of October. “Both the men and the women have been working hard in and out of the pool since the ver y first day of classes to achieve our goals of being an ACC powerhouse and also achiev ing a high team GPA,” Stewart said. “I personalit y can’t wait to see what this season holds for us.” The opening meet gets under way at McCaffree Pool in East Lansing, Michigan, at 4 p.m. on Friday. under way at McCaffree Pool at 4 p.m. on Friday.

CAITLYN JORDAN | The Observer

Junior Brooke Broda hits a backhand return during a match against Indiana on Feb. 20 at Eck Tennis Pavilion. The Irish begin the 2016 campaign this coming weekend at Northwestern’s Wildcat Invite.

they’ve changed any strokes or are doing something different, they’re going to get a chance to do that under match conditions. Plus we have four freshman that are all going to play in their first

tournament, so we’re looking forward to seeing them play for their first time against college players. “Our big thing is we want our kids to play loose and go out and play hard and

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not worry about anything,” Louderback said. “All they want to do is play how they have been in practice.” Contact Molly Murphy at mmurph40@nd.edu

Contact Brenna Moxely at bmoxely10@nd.edu

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The observer | Thursday, September 29, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

ND Women’s Soccer

Swimming and Diving

Notre Dame faces Louisville in ACC battle

Irish open year with road meet

By TOBIAS HOONHOUT

By BRENNA MOXLEY

Sports Writer

Coming off their best offensive performance of the year, the No. 18-ranked Irish travel to Louisville this weekend for a battle atop the ACC. The Irish (7-1-3, 2-0-1 ACC) opened the flood gates on Pittsburgh on Sunday, putting four past the Panthers, and Irish head coach Theresa Romagnolo is hoping her team can keep that going against Louisville when the Irish face the Cardinals on Saturday. “I think we just need to keep getting better at being us,” Romagnolo said. “It doesn’t have much to do with Louisville; I think it has to do with us continuing to move the ball well, to trust each other with passing the ball, continuing to move off the ball for each other so that we can get a good passing rhythm and then got a lot of opportunities, and look to set people up to go to

The season kicks off for the Notre Dame men’s and women’s sw imming and diving teams this Friday at the McCaffree Pool at Michigan State in East Lansing, Michigan. There are high hopes for the Irish this season due to the freshly updated program driven by head coach Mike Litzinger. This w ill be his first full season as head coach of the new combined program after leading the women’s team all last year and finishing out the season coaching the men’s team as well. He sent four women and six men to the NCAA championships and broke six school records in his short time as head coach in the 2015-16 season. The Irish w ill send, for the first time in over 20 years, a combined sw imming and div ing team to East Lansing to face both Michigan State

see W SOCCER PAGE 10

EMMET FARNAN | The Observer

Junior forward Karin Muya rips a shot past a Mizzou defender during a game on Sept. 4 at Alumni Stadium. The Irish won, 1-0.

ND Women’s Tennis

Sports Writer

This weekend, Notre Dame w ill take to the road to compete in the Northwestern Inv itational held in Evanston, Illinois. At the Inv itational, Irish head coach Jay Louderback, the competition w ill be tough. “The tournament is at Northwestern and four Big Ten teams and one SEC team w ill be there, so it’s going to be a lot of teams that are top 40 in the countr y, “ Louderback said. “So it should be really good for us. We’ve been practicing for the last month w ith each other and I think our kids are tired of beating up on each other. They’re ready to play some other players.” In addition to being a chance to compete, Louderback also v iews this tournament as a way to gauge his team and its standing in the ACC as they head into the season. “Quite a few teams w ill be

see SWIMMING PAGE 11

ND Cross Country

Irish begin season at Northwestern By MOLLY MURPHY

and Iowa. The men’s and women’s teams now practice and compete together, a move made in hopes of improv ing recruiting and climbing to the top of the NCAA rankings. This w ill be the first meet in which the men’s and women’s teams w ill both be guided under one collective coaching staff, so it is the first opportunit y to see how that change is affecting the Notre Dame program. Sophomore Dav id Stewart said he is looking for ward to seeing the combined team compete together for the first time. “This first meet w ill be a great way to see how we’re developing as a team thus far,” Stewart said. “The team dy namic has been great lately now that we have combined the men’s and women’s teams under one coaching staff, and now that we are in sy nc as a squad, we

in the top 40, so I feel like it w ill give us a good indication of how we can fare this season in the ACC because the ACC is maybe the top women’s tennis conference in the countr y,” Louderback said. With a new season also comes new doubles teams, a factor that Louderback is excited to see play out this weekend. “We’re probably going to have all new doubles teams from a year ago,” Louderback said. “We have a couple of seniors in the lineup for doubles, so we’re excited to see some different players play ing together in doubles.” The team has been working hard in practice to ensure they get the season started on the right foot, and Louderback is proud of the efforts the players have so far put in. “For the last three weeks, we’ve been play ing more against each other in practice and it’s been very good,” see W TENNIS PAGE 11

ND welcomes top teams for Joe Piane Invite By MAREK MAZUREK Sports Editor

The competition is heating up for the Irish, as Notre Dame hosts the Joe Piane Invitational on Friday at its Burke Golf Course. “We’ve got three of the top five [women’s] teams in the country coming in with New Mexico, the defending national champion, Providence and NC State and some of the top individuals as well,” Irish associate head coach Matthew Sparks said. “It’ll be a good test for the entire team.” The Joe Piane Invitational, named after the longtime, former Irish head track coach, will bring a whole new level of competition to South Bend. In addition to women’s No. 1 Providence, No. 3 New Mexico and No. 5 NC State, the Irish will also welcome ACC rivals Clemson and Florida State. Despite the increased quality of competition, Sparks said the team is focusing on the daily process to find results.

CAITLYN JORDAN | The Observer

see XC PAGE 10

Sophomore Annie Heffernan runs in the Meyo Invitational on Feb. 20. On Sept. 16, she finished first in the National Catholic Invitational.