Print Edition of The Observer for Thursday, December 8, 2016

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Volume 51, Issue 64 | thursday, december 8, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Dorms continue Christmas traditions Notre Dame community gears up for holiday season with unique decorations, customs

By NATALIE WEBER News Writer

As the semester winds down, many dorms come together to celebrate Christmas with different traditions.

As part of its celebrations, Alumni Hall has a candlelight Mass each year. According to Alumni Hall president Matthew Krach, everyone wears formal attire to the Mass, which he says is well-attended.

“Everyone wears suits and ties and dresses up, and usually it’s a standing-room-only Mass, so it’s pretty good,” Krach said. “We have this hanging Advent wreath near the altar, and for each Advent

Mass we always have one of the shorter freshmen try and light the wreath with one of the lighters, and it always takes like five minutes for them to actually get it lit.”

The dorm also hosts a Christmas party each year for those who have volunteered in the dorm during the semester.

“We have a Christmas dinner for anyone who’s contributed to the dorm in any way, like any commissioners, or Eucharistic ministers or people who play in the band,” Krach said.

In the days leading up to Christmas, Breen-Phillips Hall hosts its Christmas-themed formal see DECOR PAGE 5

Students discuss photography, gun violence

CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer

A light-up shamrock adorns McGlinn Hall in preparation for the Christmas season. Many dorms on campus have unique Christmas holiday traditions.

Former Reagan advisor emphasizes discourse

By NICOLE CARATAS Saint Mary’s Editor

In 1981, Bay Buchanan was appointed as the youngest treasurer in American history, serving under President Ronald Reagan. Buchanan spoke Wednesday at Saint

ROSIE LoVOI | The Observer

Senior Isabel Cabezas discusses PhotoFutures’ selection of a photo relating to gun violence Wednesday evening in the Snite Museum.

By AIDAN LEWIS News Writer

Tasked with contributing a photograph about gun violence in America to the Snite Museum of Art, four students in the PhotoFutures program unveiled their choices at the museum Wednesday evening.

The students selected a photograph from photographer Carlos Javier Ortiz’s “We All We Got” project. The image focuses on a pool of blood while a little boy’s blurred

NEws PAGE 3

face stares into the camera.

Senior Christine Anspach said the decision was difficult, since the group needed to hone in on the message they wanted to deliver.

“It ultimately came down to, ‘W hat do we want to say about gun culture? ’” Anspach said. “We can’t say everything. We wanted to pick a photograph that would raise questions for students in the future. So we thought, how, as millennials, are we see PHOTO PAGE 5

Viewpoint PAGE 6

Mary’s, criticizing political correctness and ewmphasizing the importance of political debate.

Buchanan said she has seen a tendency for people on the left to work to empower women, but only when those women have the same

point of view as them.

“You cannot have it both ways,” she said. “You cannot call on all women to be bold, to stand up, to be heard, not to be afraid, that this is your human right, and then to see BUCHANAN PAGE 5

Student groups petition against Trump invitation Observer Staff Report

Members of the Notre Dame College Democrats and the Diversity Council penned a petition asking University President Fr. John Jenkins not to invite President-elect Donald Trump to speak at the 2017 commencement ceremony.

Every President of the United States since Dwight Eisenhower (except Bill Clinton, whom the University did not invite) has spoken at the first commencement ceremony since his election. In an interview with the Observer on Dec. 2, Jenkins said he had not decided whether to extend an invitation to Trump.

Scene PAGE 8

The petition asks Jenkins not to continue the tradition, citing Trump’s behavior towards Mexican immigrants and women and his appointment of former Breitbart News executive Steve Bannon as his chief policy strategist.

“This behavior is not consistent with our mission at the University of Notre Dame,” the petition reads. “His hateful rhetoric towards people of color, his embrace of sexual assault and his utter lack of respect for opposing viewpoints not only render him unfit for the Oval Office, but unfit to set foot on our campus.”

The petition also asks Jenkins to declare Notre Dame a “sanctuary

Men’s Baskeball PAGE 16

campus,” protecting undocumented students. At a November prayer service, Jenkins told Notre Dame’s undocumented students the University would “do everything we can to ensure that you complete your education,” and he later signed a statement in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an action which the petition applauded.

“However, we fear for the safety of so many of our classmates, peers and community members should the President-elect deliver the Commencement address in May,” the petition continued. see PETITION PAGE 5

ND W Basketball PAGE 16

2

TODAY

The observer | THURsday, december 8, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com

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Describe your finals week in a movie title.

P.O. Box 779, Notre Dame, IN 46556 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556

Alex Tatarian

Kevin Kussman

sophomore Breen-Phillips Hall

junior Dillon Hall

“‘Gone Girl.’”

“‘Nightcrawler.’”

Ryan Brickner

Jacqueline Adams

junior Zahm House

junior Cavanaugh Hall

“‘Titanic.’”

“‘The Big Short.’”

(574) 631-4542 mhynds@nd.edu

Nadezhda Braun

Luis Young

Managing Editor

junior Howard Hall

junior off-campus

“‘Mean Girls.’”

“‘The Nightmare Before Christmas.’”

Editor-in-Chief Margaret Hynds Managing Editor Business Manager Kayla Mullen Emily Reckmeyer

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Today’s Staff News

Sports

Emily McConville Lucas Masin-Moyer Jordan Cockrum

Marek Mazurek Tobias Hoonhout

Graphics

Scene

Christina Interiano

John Darr

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Viewpoint

Rosie LoVoi

Sarah Hynds

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ROSIE LoVOI | The Observer

Students play with a dog Wednesday during Donuts & Dogs, sponsored by Notre Dame student government. Donuts & Dogs took place in Hesburgh Library, giving students a chance to de-stress before tackling finals next week.

The next Five days:

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Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Last Day of Classes campus wide all day Last class day of the fall semester at Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s.

Study at the Snite Museum Snite Museum of Art 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Coffee and snacks available in the atrium.

What and When Was the Christmas Star?

Jordan Hall of Science 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

An astrophysics perspective.

Mass at the Basilica Basilica of the Sacred Heart 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

With music from the Notre Dame Folk Choir.

Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica of the Sacred Heart 5:15 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception Basilica of the Sacred Heart 5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

President’s Christmas Reception Main Building 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m All faculty and staff welcome to celebrate.

Hockey vs. Boston College Compton Family Ice Arena 7:10 p.m.

ND takes on the Eagles.

Vespers Basilica of the Sacred Heart 7:15 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.

The celebration of evening prayer.

Final Exams campus wide through Friday, Dec. 16 Beginning of final exams at Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s.

News

ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, december 8, 2016 | The Observer

3

Copenhagen unveiled as study abroad location

By EMILY McCONVILLE News Writer

If students of science, technology, engineering or math want to study abroad during the academic year, the best options for most of them are London, Dublin or Perth, Australia.

That will change next year. Due

to a student petition and Notre Dame International’s (NDI) effort to increase the number of STEM students studying abroad, the Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS) in Copenhagen, Denmark, will become an official Notre Dame study abroad program in the fall of 2017.

NDI director Kathleen Opel, who oversees the program,

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said Denmark is particularly suited to students in STEM fields.

“Copenhagen’s very environmentally conscious, sustainable,” she said. “Their city is designed in such a way that it takes advantage of bicycles, ... [which] makes it possible for students to do lots of different explorations.”

According to the DIS website, programs of study include biomedicine, computer science, environmental science, neuroscience and sustainability, fields which can sometimes limit students’ study-abroad options elsewhere. Opel said applications for next year, which were due in November, were limited to STEM majors.

“Having those kinds of options in a place where you can still take history and literature and philosophy just made a lot of sense,” Opel said.

Opel said a handful of STEM students attended DIS on academic leaves of absences over the past few years, but then students came forward asking NDI to add DIS to its official programs.

“It got very good reviews, so I then went over to visit and spend the week there, going to classes, doing everything a student would do and getting this educator’s workshop,” she said. “I found it to be a really extraordinarily good program, so we were excited

about saying, ‘Let’s make this possible for more students by making it an official program that you didn’t have to petition for.’”

Four Notre Dame students who specially petitioned to go to Copenhagen are currently attending the DIS program, and one will go this spring, Opel said. The first official group will go next fall, and though Opel said there was a “high level of interest” in the program, NDI does not yet know how many Notre Dame students it will send or how many DIS will take.

Opel said DIS emphasizes learning in many forms. Each “core course” of the program takes weeklong “study tours” to other parts of Europe — such as studying arctic biology in Iceland. More than 200 electives are offered, according to the DIS website. There are also on-site courses and volunteering opportunities.

“Every part of the program is designed to be a learning experience,” Opel said. “When you are taking a course, it’s not just in the classroom taking lectures.

You’re taking tours around the city, you’re going to various sites where your area of interest, your core class, has something that would be valuable to learn.”

Students can choose to live in apartments with other students, with host families or in a living-learning community

focused around a particular interest, such as cooking.

“If you’re in a living learning community, let’s say that all during the day, you’re focused on let’s say biomedicine and you’re very scientific, but when you come home what you really enjoy is cooking, and that’s one of your hobbies,” Opel said. “You can join the culinary living-learning community, and they will invite guest chefs, people will cook together, they’ll go to places where you’ll find local produce and learn local recipes, they’ll do things to encourage, and there’ll be a coordinator for that living environment.”

Opel said she thinks students currently in Copenhagen have had a positive experience so far.

“I’ll know better after the students get back, because the first group is still there, but I have gotten a couple of emails that tell me that it’s fantastic, life-changing, that it’s extraordinary, that they’re really excited,” she said. “Study abroad is always exciting. This is a particularly exciting new program because it is different from our others in that, I don’t know if any of our other programs include a weeklong study tour with professors and all the other things they’ve arranged for students.”

Contact Emily McConville at emcconv1@nd.edu

Student senate

Robisnon delivers ‘State of the Student Union’

By DEVON HARFORD News Writer

Amid donuts and hot chocolate, Senate discussed last-minute business, planned for the new semester and heard from student body president Corey Robinson.

The meeting began with the official swearing in of new senators: Sage Guynn from Knott and Michael Semanek from Seigfried. A resolution was also passed that edited the Student Union Constitution’s non-discrimination clause to include age and veteran status.

Robinson then gave his State of the Student Address.

“We are living in uncertain times,” he said.

But uncertainty, he said, was not a setback.

“Uncertainty leads to necessity and creates innovation,” he said.

Robinson highlighted the successes of the senate during the past semester, including the creation of a sustainability committee and Race Relations Week.

“The rule book has gone out the window,” Robinson said.

“We have a choice. Go down the well-trodden path or blaze a new trail.”

He called on the senators to consider how they can better represent the student body.

“Are we really the united voice of our student body?” he said.

“Do you represent your dorm or your section? This is the crucial crossroads.”

He concluded by encouraging students to follow their ideas.

“We can make the student government what we want,” he said.

“Blaze your own path. Some will say you’re wasting your time, but many will follow you.”

Afterwards, committees met to make some tentative goals for the next semester, including editing the Taxi Bill of Rights, getting better coffee in the dining halls and sending out information on new dining hall hours.

Contact Devon Harford at dharford@nd.edu

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Decor Continued from page 1

and announces the winners of its decorating contests, according to Sister Mary McNamara, the hall’s rector.

“In BP we have, usually just before Christmas, our formal dance, and the week leading up to the dance we have a gingerbreadhouse-decorating contest and a section-decorating contest,” McNamara said. “At the dance, at the end of the week, we announce the winner of the hall-decorating and gingerbread-house-decorating contests.”

This year, Father John Conley, the Siegfried rector, contacted Sister Mary Jane Hahner, the Pasquerilla West rector, and the two dorms combined finances to decorate the tree between them. “[Conley] thought that it would be a wonderful welcome, pointing up to the two new dormitories too, and be … special for this time of the year for everybody,” Hahner said. “I thought it was great, our kids seemed to like it, and it just adds a little bit of Christmas cheer.”

Pasquerilla West also lights the “Ugly Bush,” the bush in the roundabout in front the dorm, each Christmas as part of its community-building traditions.

“Forty to 45 girls came out for the lighting, and we sang ‘Oh Ugly Bush, Oh Ugly Bush’,” “Hahner said.

Around Christmas time each year, O’Neill Hall hangs a wreath with an apostrophe next to it as a symbol of their hall, according

ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, december 8, 2016 | The Observer

to O’Neill Hall president Owen Lane.

“The O is all around O’Neill,” Lane said. “The joke, or just motif, is everything that has an O, you put an apostrophe after it, so that’s definitely the most pervasive symbol for O’Neill Hall,” Lane said. “And so that, as a Christmas wreath, is perfect, especially when you consider — I’d say that we get into the Christmas spirit pretty well in O’Neill.”

Edward Mack, former O’Neill Hall rector, said the wreath was purchased from Walsh Hall several years before he began working as rector in 2002.

“The guys used to say that if you are flying into the South Bend airport, and know where and when to look, the wreath is so big you can see it from the air,” he said in an email. “I was lucky enough to see it from my flight once, and I have to say, I had tears in my eyes.”

However, O’Neill Hall is not the only dorm to decorate for Christmas with a symbol of their dorm. Each year, McGlinn Hall hangs a shamrock, the dorm’s mascot, on the building’s side.

“I think that when the residents of McGlinn wanted to pick their mascot, they just thought about the Irish and what they thought of was shamrocks,” hall president Jenny Richardson said. “I personally really like our mascot because I think it’s easily identifiable, and it really relates to Notre Dame.”

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Buchanan Continued from page 1

say that if you disagree with what we think is right, we are going to do everything we can to quiet you, to intimidate you, to call you names that are so offensive that you would never want to move forward and be someone who speaks out.”

According to Buchanan, political correctness has impeded debates from taking place in America in recent decades.

“Political correctness became the strateg y of the left,” she said. “Political correctness is a strateg y. It is deliberately imposed out there to quiet the opposing team, to keep you from speaking.

From not debating the issue, not recognizing two sides.

Not for the American people to hear what I have to say and then what a liberal might have to say and debate it and have them decide on their own.”

Buchanan said it is important for everyone to strive towards being a leader in life.

“Everyone should have

Photo Continued from page 1

perceiving gun culture in this country, and what’s important to us?”

Senior Isabel Cabezas said Ortiz’s photograph was

5

those abilities to stand up for what is right, no matter where you are and what the pressure is,” she said. “We need people who are willing to fight for what’s right.”

Buchanan said this fight is extremely difficult at times.

“You have to put yourself in the position where you are having to start to build the kind of courage and fortitude that allows you to know that when the time is tough, you’ll do it,” she said.

Buchanan said being a leader starts by debating, which she said is an important freedom for Americans that has been underutilized.

“You want to discuss the issue, let’s discuss the issue,” she said. “Tell me why you have your position. I respect that people disagree with me. … Legitimate debate: That is what is needed in America. Then the frustrations don’t build up. It is key to our nation to have people’s opinions out there — free exchange.”

Buchanan said political issues are not being addressed fully because the leaders in Washington, D.C. are not focusing on the actual issues,

making them poor leaders.

“We don’t have the leaders in this country we need,” she said. “The reason is they’re intimidated, they’re hesitant. They’re so afraid of losing that cushy little job of theirs that they will not take on the tough issues. … W hat is number one in their life is not the country, but keeping their job. ” According to Buchanan, empowerment involves learning your personal views on issues.

“W hat is empowerment if not being able to discern for yourselves what it is you believe,” she said. “W hat do you think is right? W hat do you think a communit y should move towards, what policies are good for this nation, for your family, for you communities? W hat is right? W hat is important to you? A nd then to be able to be as vocal as you want w ith anyone whom you are and not have consequences that would make you feel intimidated or hesitant to be bold.

“This is empowerment.”

eventually picked because it gave the best “look at the humanity and the results and repercussions of gun culture in America.”

“You see the humanity, because there is a little boy, whose face is blurred out, but you can’t ignore him,” Cabezas said. “As humans, we are drawn to our own likeness.”

The photograph was also chosen, Cabezas said, because it served as a call to action.

“You’re being called to focus on this gruesome scene, but the innocence of this little boy, he’s almost looking up to you and wondering ‘What are you going to do about this?

Will this be my future? What will happen next?’” Cabezas said.

Cabezas said the striking nature of Ortiz’s photograph was another reason for its selection.

“Your eye goes directly to the really dark spot on the cement, which is a bloodstain,” she said. “There was a 15-year-old boy who was shot and burned after being beaten to death, essentially.

The body is not in this image; all we see is the violent bloodstain.”

As a part of the PhotoFutures program, Ortiz was actually

brought to campus and the students had a chance to speak with him. Anspach said they learned about Ortiz’s artistic process.

“For his photographs, he went to these communities and actually made friends so that he got to know the people,” she said. “He has a very photojournalistic approach to his photographs.”

Junior Regina Ekaputri said that as a part of the program, the students were asked to probe their own views on gun culture through creative assignments.

“We had to pick a gun target, like the ones you would see at a shooting range,” Ekaputri said. “We had to live with one for a week. Some of us put it in our rooms, some put it in the front seat of their car, to get us thinking about gun culture and how it affects our lives.”

Ekaputri said this was all a part of the process of discerning the best photograph for the Snite.

“We had to develop our own set of categories for how to pick one photograph that will match the theme and complement the mission of the University,” she said.

Petition

crimes and ignorance. Were he to deliver the Commencement address on our campus, we have no doubt that the safety of many in our community would be at risk.”

As of 11 p.m. Wednesday night, the petition had garnered 382 signatures.

Continued from page 1

“He has already proven himself unwilling to denounce violence and hatred on behalf of his cause. He has brought with him a string of intimidation, hate

Contact Nicole Caratas at ncaratas01@stmarys.edu

Contact Aidan Lewis at alewis9@nd.edu

6

The observer | thursday, december 8, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

Santa is real Courtney Becker News Writer

About 10 years ago, my dad referenced “Yes, Virginia” in an email to me. I didn’t get the reference at the time, so I looked it up. In 1897 Virginia O’Hanlon, an 8-yearold girl, w rote a letter to the New York Sun newspaper asking the editors to tell her if Santa Claus is real or not. The editors responded w ith an editorial in which they w rote, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He ex ists as certainly as love and generosit y and devotion ex ist, and you know that they abound to give your life its highest beaut y and joy.”

This editorial has really stayed w ith me over the years, and, for obv ious reasons, I always find myself thinking about it during the Christmas season. Spoiler alert: Santa Claus — the liv ing, breathing man w ith a red suit, a sleigh and eight or nine f ly ing reindeer (depending on whether or not you count Rudolph or you’re a purist) — is not a real person. But, as the Sun editorial eloquently points out, Santa Claus is real.

Santa ex ists in the love, generosit y and devotion of parents who stay up until the early hours of the morning to keep their kids’ belief in Santa Claus alive for at least one more Christmas. He also ex ists in the love, generosit y and devotion of people who donate their time, money and effort to bringing Santa Claus to kids whose parents might not be able to afford to do so.

He ex ists in the childhood excitement and innocence that leads to kids waking up at 6 a.m. to make sure Santa Claus has v isited their house in the middle of the night.

He ex ists in the spirit of the Christmas season, which, in the end, is about giv ing and lov ing and the good in humanit y that we don’t pay enough attention to throughout the year. Basically, he’s ever yone who passes a belief in Santa Claus dow n to others, no matter how they do so.

Regardless of one’s religious beliefs, I think we all start to appreciate a universal spirit of Christmas as we grow older.

Christmas isn’t about getting presents, and Santa isn’t about giv ing them as an incentive for little kids to behave throughout the year. Instead, Christmas is about giv ing and Santa Claus is the perfect sy mbolic representation of this ideal. There’s a reason Santa Claus has been around for so long w ith different incarnations in so many cultures: Without Santa, “there would be no childlike faith then, no poetr y, no romance to make tolerable this ex istence. We should have no enjoy ment except in sense and sight. The eternal light w ith which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.”

We’ve heard a lot lately about how div ided this countr y is, but I ask you to set any div isions or political discontent aside for a moment this Christmas to bring some joy to the world by giv ing someone a reason to believe in Santa Claus again. Because “he lives, and he lives forever” to “continue to make glad the heart of childhood.”

Contact Courtney Becker at cbecker3@nd.edu The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

LETTERs TO THE EDITOR

Thank you students and staff Dear Notre Dame students and staff, My life changed for the better the moment I stepped onto the University of Notre Dame’s beautiful campus. The one goal I had set in my mind to achieve was to become a better man, a Notre Dame man. After growing through many trials and triumphs, the thing I’ve learned most from my experience was that if you don’t believe in yourself first, then no one else will. I believed in becoming a better man and succeeding through any circumstance, and I can say that I’ve truly accomplished that. I often refer to the famous quote from the movie “Catch Me If You Can” that was well put by Frank Abagnale: “Two little mice fell in a bucket of cream. The first mouse quickly gave up and drowned. The second mouse wouldn’t quit. He struggled so hard that eventually he churned that cream into butter and

crawled out.”

I’ve put my heart, soul and passion into the University, the football program, the South Bend community and the Irish community worldwide.

I have the unbelievable honor to represent this University to the fullest as a student and soon-tobe alumni. Thank you to the amazing students and staff that I’ve met through the years for helping me grow into the person I’ve always wanted to be. I love the Irish and will always be an Irish alum no matter where I go! I look forward to keeping in touch. Let’s change the world!

Go Irish!

Malik Zaire senior Dec. 7

Letter to Professor Watchlist Recently, an organization called Turning Point USA unveiled Professor Watchlist, a website listing the names of professors “that advance a radical agenda in lecture halls” of U.S. colleges and universities. Notre Dame professors are among those listed as advancing “leftist propaganda” in their classes. In response, a number of Notre Dame facult y sent the letter below to Professor Watchlist.

Dear Professor Watchlist, We, the undersigned facult y at the Universit y of Notre Dame, w rite to request that you place our names, all of them, on Professor Watchlist.

We make this request because we note that you currently list on your site several of our colleagues, such as Professor Gar y Gutting, whose work is distinguished by its commitment to reasoned, fact-based civ il discourse examining questions of tolerance, equalit y and justice. We further note that nearly all facult y colleagues at other institutions listed on your site, the philosophers, historians, theologians, ethicists, feminists, rhetoricians and others, have similarly devoted their professional lives to the uny ielding pursuit of truth, to the critical examination of assumptions that underlie social and political policy and to honoring this countr y’s commitments to the premise that all people are created equal and deser v ing of respect.

This is the sort of company we w ish to keep.

We surmise that the purpose of your list is to shame and silence facult y who espouse ideas you reject. But your list has had a different effect upon us. We are coming for ward to stand w ith the professors you have called “dangerous,” reaffirming our values and recommitting ourselves to the work of teaching students to think clearly, independently and fearlessly.

So please add our names, the undersigned facult y at the Universit y of Notre Dame, to the Professor Watchlist. We w ish to be counted among those you are watching.

John Duffy English

Katrina Barron Mathematics

Ani Aprahamian Physics

Kevin Barry Kaneb Center

Francisco Aragón Institute for Latino Studies

Christine Becker Film, Television, and Theatre Gail Bederman History

Doug Archer Hesburgh Libraries Carolina Arroyo Political Science

Patricia Blanchette Philosophy

Susan D. Blum Anthropology

Jane Doering Gender Studies

Catherine E. Bolten Anthropology and Peace Studies

Jean Dibble Art, Art History & Design

John G. Borkowski Psychology Bruce Bunker Physics Elizabeth Capdevielle University Writing Program Matthew Capdevielle University Writing Program Robert Randolf Coleman Art, Art History & Design Brian Collier Institute for Educational Initiatives

Margaret Anne Doody English Kevin Dreyer Film, Television, and Theatre Amitava Krishna Dutt Political Science Stephen M. Fallon Program of Liberal Studies and English Stephen Fredman English Christopher Fox English Judith Fox Law School

Philippe Collon, Experimental Nuclear Physics

Mary E. Frandsen Music

Michael Coppedge Political Science

Jill Godmilow Film Television & Theatre

David Cortright Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies

Karen Graubart History

Mary D’Angelo Theology

Stuart Greene English and Africana Studies

Antonio Delgado Physics

David Hachen Sociology

Denise M. Della Rossa German

Matthew E.K. Hall Political Science

Michael Detlefsen Philosophy

Darlene Hampton First Year of Studies

Tarek R. Dika Program of Liberal Studies

Susan Harris English Dec. 7

To view the complete list of 113 authors who have signed their names to this letter, visit ndsmcobserver.com

The observer | thursday, december 8, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

7

An island in the sea, or Yosemite?

Lucy Collins Stuck in the Middle

W hich island will it be this year? ” “Well, we’ve already been to Aruba, the Dominican Republic and Hawaii, so this year we are hitting up Cancun! W hat about you? ” “We can’t decide. There are simply too many tropical destinations!”

As much of a #firstworldproblem this situation is, come the last few weeks before any break from school and this conversation, along with many others just like it, are all-too common. I have met quite literally dozens of classmates who have been on multiple tropical island getaways, some to destinations so exotic that I couldn’t even tell you their names. Despite Notre Dame students’ propensity for vacations, I can count the amount of people I have met at school who have been to even just ONE of America’s very own National Parks with the fingers on one hand. Don’t get me wrong — I enjoy a sunny beach and fruity cocktail just as much as the next person, especially during a South Bend winter. However, with such spectacular destinations only a road trip away, Notre Dame students could benefit from taking a break from Aruba and trying their hand at a national park instead.

Yellowstone, America’s first national park, was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872. Since then, 57 other parks, ranging from the desolate desert of Death Valley to the marshy swamplands in the Everglades, have been created in order to allow the common man to experience the spectacular beauty within the borders of our very own nation.

It is no big secret that participation in outdoor recreation provides a range of well-documented

benefits, including mental and spiritual wellbeing, an increase in self-esteem and an appreciation for the natural and cultural environment in which the activity is taking place, as well as health benefits derived from involvement in physical activities. It is a blessing to lay on a beach with an endless supply of fruity drinks, but the restorative power of being surrounded by pristinely fresh air and nature is a reward in itself.

Aside from the demonstrated benefits to one’s health, the national parks provide a memorable vacation without the exorbitant price tag usually equated with a trip to an exotic location.

Recently a friend told me he had factored $1,500 into his budget for next year, solely for spring break. In Indiana, where minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, a student would have to work 207 hours just to pay for that week-long extravagance. For some, it is worth it to rela x at an all-inclusive resort or party at Panama City Beach for five days straight. But those looking for a cheaper alternative need look no further than within America’s parks. Part of the experience of a national park trip comes form the road trip itself, so a plane ticket is unnecessar y. As for the park itself, in 2016 it costs $30 for one vehicle and all its passengers to access the park for seven days. Tack on the price of a tent (which could most likely be borrowed from a friend), or even a few nights in a cabin, and you are nowhere close to that $1,500 price tag.

I have never been able to relate to my peers as they discuss their upcoming vacation plans, because I have never been on a “tropical vacation.”

I have, however, been to 21 of the 58 parks our nation holds dear. Growing up, I would nag my parents, attempting to persuade them to let up and take us to Jamaica or the Bahamas — basically any where that did not involve a 16-hour

car ride and hiking. Looking back with some perspective, I would not trade those trips for any sun-soaked beach. It was at the ver y bottom of the Grand Canyon that I learned the true meaning of grit, knowing that I had to somehow stick it out and get to the top again. Standing alone on Half-Dome peak in Yosemite, almost 9,000 feet in the air, I learned just how small, but at the same time, how powerful, I was. Lying alongside Old Faithful, hearing wolves howl and gazing up into the heavenly spectacle that is a night sky completely unobstructed by man-made light, I came to terms with a faith I had been doubting and questioning for some time. I have spoken to people from all walks of life, some who travelled half way around the world to take part in the same hikes or rafting trips I had the opportunity to enjoy.

John Muir, naturalist, author, environmental philosopher, early advocate of preser vation of wilderness in the United States and one of the pioneers of the National Parks Ser vice, once claimed, “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness, for in ever y walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”

As students at Notre Dame, we pride ourselves on seeking out knowledge, discovering truths and barreling through adversity. With this in mind, visit a National Park for your next vacation.

The universe is yours.

Aside from incessantly quoting “Hamilton” and other perfect works of theater/film, Lucy Collins majors in economics and history, is a sophomore at Notre Dame and is often found trying to balance her hopeless romanticism and nearly constant cynicism. Please direct comments to lcollin8@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

The wave of populism continues Jordan Ryan Words of WisDome

The wave of populism continues to f lood Europe with the Italian referendum held this past weekend.

Italians voters were faced with the opportunity to vote yes to a constitutional reform that would alter the division of powers within their legislature and increase control by Italy’s central government. Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi vocally supported the measure, which would have strengthened his position as Prime Minister. With 70 percent voter turnout, Italians voted 60 percent “no” and 40 percent “yes” to the referendum. Renzi confirmed on Dec. 4 that he will resign as PM as a result of this crushing defeat. He stated after the vote on Sunday, “when you lose you cannot pretend that nothing has happened and go to bed and sleep. My government ends here today.”

This vote sparks yet another European nation moving towards populist values.

The term populism is frequently used to describe and even justify seemingly unrelated events such as Brexit, the election of Donald Trump and the Italian Prime Minister’s downfall. Populism has now come to define a political movement consisting of large segments of a population, often the lower and middle classes, challenging the rule of dominating elites, often the existing ruling class.

Populism is not confined to any social or economic class nor is it necessarily associated with a conservative or liberal agenda. It is frequently defined as being anti-establishment and anti-corruption.

In the context of President-elect Trump, populism manifested in the mobilization of those whose

voices were not being heard to unseat the ruling class of old guard politicians, arguably personified

by Hillary Clinton.

Analysts believe this vote is a huge victory for “eurosceptic and nationalist parties.” Populist parties in Italy, such as the anti-establishment Northern League and Five Star, see this as a boost for their efforts. Following the referendum, Northern League leader Matteo Salvini wrote: “Viva Trump, viva Putin, viva la Le Pen e viva la Lega!” The Five Star movement, if it succeeds in electing the new prime minister, has vowed to conduct a referendum on Italy’s continued membership in the EU, arguing that membership has crushed opportunities for the working middle class.

What does this mean for the European Union?

We aren’t quite sure. This is yet another instance in which establishment and strong central governments are being harshly rejected. Will we continue to see a rejection of the status quo and the continuation of a populist wave in the West? Only time will tell. As one possible indicator, in preparation for upcoming elections in March, the anti-EU political parties in the Netherlands have been gaining momentum and are now polling as the largest or second-largest party across the nation, making possible an Italian-like outcome. Though analysts say this is highly unlikely in the Netherlands, did anyone expect Donald Trump to be elected?

Austria may be a bright spot and a sign of hope for the Eurozone. The Trump equivalent candidate, Norbert Hofer, lost his presidential bid, signaling a win for the EU. However, Hofer did win 46 percent of the vote using closed border rhetoric similar to our president-elect.

We may now safely assume that voters in

Western democracies are prepared to send packing members of government who are seen as elitist, entitled, arrogant and possibly corrupt and replace them with anti-establishment candidates.

What exactly is next for Europe is hard to predict, though a rejection of the entrenched government in Italy clearly cuts a path for reform movements in both the Netherlands and France in the spring of next year.

Italian banks have been struggling since the global recession in 2008, and they did not respond well to the outcome of this referendum vote.

Though the Euro fell then immediately restabilized, shares in Italian banks have fallen drastically even in an environment where European stocks generally are rising. Sadly, this event will not help one of Europe’s worst performing economies.

What we don’t need in today’s interlocked economy is European instability, political, economic or otherwise. The EU continues to deal with unresolved issues following the debt crisis in Greece.

The West does not need Italian banks being punished for political uncertainty, as they have been the last several days. The EU and the United States do not need an existing Italian debt problem to escalate into a Greece-like crisis. The practical lesson to be learned from the 2016 rise of populism in the West is that Europe and the global economy must be prepared for the continued rejection of the political status quo.

Jordan Ryan a junior resident of Lyons Hall, is a political science and peace studies major with a minor in Constitutional studies. She can be reached at jryan15@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

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CRISTINA INTERIANO | The Observer

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Crossword | Will Shortz

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Take your time and pick and choose what you want to do carefully. Don’t think too big or set unreasonable goals. Take one step at a time and build a strong base to ensure your plans are secure. Problems with communication will surface if you don’t trust in your own knowledge and judgment. Your numbers are 6, 9, 15, 21, 24, 37, 45.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take pride in what you do and stay tuned in to what others expect. Keeping a balance between what you want to do and what you have to accomplish will help you reach your goals and gain satisfaction in the process.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take good care of your health, reputation and your assets. Let your intuition help you make the best decisions. A conservative approach to finances, business and how you are going to move forward will help you avoid setbacks.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Emotional interaction can go two ways. Refuse to let anyone take advantage of your kindness or generosity. Ask questions that are relevant to the situation before you offer physical assistance. Take care of your own personal and physical needs first.

CANCER ( June 21-July 22): Adjust things to meet your needs. Back up your findings and your desire to get ahead with innovative ideas and an open mind. You can get others to listen if you choose the right words. Moderation and diplomacy are encouraged.

LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Interact with people who challenge you and give your all. Your abundance of energy and desire to reach the finish line will prove that you are the right person to bring about positive and lasting change. Play to win.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): It will be difficult to know which way to turn or who to believe. Do your research and put your mind at ease before making a decision. Problems with children or seniors will surface. An alternative plan will be your best option.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Consider alternative ways to improve your health and to deal with matters concerning your colleagues. A problem with a pet or elderly family member is best dealt with quickly. Don’t lose sight of what’s truly important to you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t get angry; get busy. You can bring about positive changes to the way you live or how you get along with your coworkers if you make an effort to compromise. Self-improvement projects will pay off.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): It’s up to you to stay on top of matters.

Listen to what’s being said and ask for a written commitment before you proceed. Emotional matters will surface due to a lack of information or understanding.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Let your imagination wander and it will lead to some interesting ideas. Keep a little in reserve when it comes to your energy levels. Too much of anything will be your downfall. Be patient and stay healthy.

AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Do your best to take care of responsibilities and finish what you start so that you can move on to bigger and better things. Take advantage of an opportunity that will improve your life.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Be careful how you deal with friends and relatives. Choose your words wisely and refuse to let anyone dump unwanted responsibilities on you. Respond with encouragement, not hands-on help. Do something creative to take your mind off of your worries.

Birthday Baby: You are intuitive, determined and ambitious. You are aggressive and worldly.

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sports

ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, december 8, 2016 | The Observer

Sports Authority

nba | cavaliers 126, Knicks 94

Woods is back and ready to play Elizabeth Greason Sports Writer

He’s back.

He’s not better than ever, but he’s back and that’s what matters.

Tiger Woods’ return to golf was honestly significantly better than I expected. I had visions of a rusty Woods, making double bogeys left and right. I certainly was not expecting to see glimpses of the Tiger of old. I wasn’t rooting against him, I just genuinely didn’t think he would pull off anything resembling an impressive showing in his first event back, especially after the controversy surrounding his withdrawal from the Safeway Open in October and the immense pressure that would inevitably be on him after 17 months away from the game.

While his 72 holes saw their fair share of missed shots, I think Woods’ first outing in over a year and a half was a solid one. All four of his rounds, with the exception of the second, had their ups and downs. But Woods’ high points rivaled those of his opponents, although he struggled to keep hot streaks alive and to maintain a high quality of play throughout the tournament. But that’s something that will come more with time, as he gets back into the swing of playing in PGA Tour events again.

But when you’re making highlight reels alongside Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama, not because of your name but because your shots are the same caliber as theirs, you’re doing something right.

While he may not be back in full force, Tiger is back.

And I’m glad Tiger is back.

Golf missed him. Golf needs him.

There is simply no one else who can draw interest or viewers like Tiger Woods can.

This is even more true now.

If Tiger had been unable to return, his career would have been unsatisfying. It would have left fans with a bad taste in their mouths. Having the man who was on track to be the greatest of all time

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go down to an injury would have been one of worst endings imaginable to one of the best careers anyone has or will ever have.

While I stand by what I said earlier in the year in that Woods should have played in the Safeway Open after committing to play, seeing Woods ready to go was fun.

Seeing him smile again was fun. As Tiger’s former selfproclaimed biggest fan, I am glad to see him pain-free and playing golf well once again.

However, despite what I consider to be a fairly good showing in his return, I think Las Vegas has lost its mind in making Tiger’s odds to win the Masters in April 201. Woods will continue to make major improvements between now and then, but I can’t see how a man who finished four-under-par at an unofficial tour event in the Bahamas he hosted can suddenly become one of the favorites to take home a green jacket. There probably isn’t anyone still playing today who knows Augusta better than Tiger Woods.

But you can’t make mistakes at Augusta National if you’re going to be successful. And Tiger’s eight bogeys and six doubles at the Hero World Challenge certainly prove that the man has not yet regained his immunity to mistakes.

Tiger’s performance last weekend restored my faith that he has the ability to win another major and maybe even another green jacket this year, or at some point down the road if he can stay healthy. But I would not consider him a favorite until he proves his game is sustainable and that he can compete on a bigger stage in an event that matters. I don’t know if he will be able to catch Jack Nicklaus’ record at this point, but I won’t rule it out.

But I won’t get ahead of myself. For now, I’ll just say: “Welcome back, Tiger.”

Contact Elizabeth Greason at egreason@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Cavs’ Big Three blow out Anthony, Knicks at MSG Associated Press

NEW YORK — LeBron James scored 25 points, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love also surpassed 20, and the Cleveland Cavaliers crushed the New York Knicks 126-94 on Wednesday night.

James had nothing to say Wednesday morning about Knicks President Phil Jackson and not much more about his decision to not stay with the team in a Donald Trumpbranded hotel, but he and the Cavs made a loud statement at Madison Square Garden.

It was their second straight win after a three-game skid, and they did it easily in handing the Knicks their worst loss of the season. Irving led Cleveland with 28 points and Love scored 21, 16 in the first quarter.

Brandon Jennings scored 16 points for the Knicks, who had their four-game winning streak snapped and lost for the just the third time in 10 games. He started for Derrick Rose, who missed his first game of the season with lower back pain.

Tristan Thompson grabbed 20 rebounds for the Cavs.

They played without guard J.R. Smith, who returned to Cleveland for additional testing after hyperextending his left knee Monday in Toronto.

It was the first meeting since James was angered when

Jackson referred to his friends and business partners as a “posse” last month in an ESPN interview. James refused to answer questions at the Cavs’ shootaround about Jackson, who watched the game from his usual seat a few rows back of center court.

Love and Irving made consecutive 3-pointers to kick off a 20-4 spurt that extended a one-point lead to 34-17 and the Knicks never really recovered.

They trimmed it to nine late in the first half, but James had a ferocious dunk during the Cavs’ run of six straight points, and another burst to open the second half pushed it to 71-48 on Irving’s 3-pointer.

... The Knicks welcomed back a number of former players during a 70th anniversary season celebration, and former coach Jeff Van Gundy, working the game for ESPN, got a big ovation when shown on the overhead video screen.

Lebron’s Lodging James said the decision not to stay at the Trump SoHo was a personal preference and not a political statement. He said it was the first time he hadn’t stayed in the team hotel — some other players also changed hotels — though he did ride the team bus as usual to the morning workout.

Bad Back Tip-Ins Cavaliers: It was a rough first quarter for former Knicks guard Iman Shumpert, who missed a layup and a breakaway dunk, when he appeared to hurt his hand after hitting it on the rim. ... Irving came in averaging 28.4 points in five games at MSG, his highest in any arena.

Knicks: Anthony was presented with his USA Basketball Olympic championship ring before the game.

He shared USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year award earlier Wednesday with Kevin Durant after winning his record third gold medal in Rio.

Rose left the Knicks’ victory over Miami on Tuesday in the third quarter and was still feeling pain when he arrived Wednesday to meet with team doctors, who sent him for an MRI exam to make sure there was nothing structurally wrong.

Up Next Cavaliers: Host Miami on Friday. The Cavaliers have won the last three meetings in Cleveland.

Knicks: Visit Sacramento on Friday to open a five-game trip in the West. The Knicks just beat the Kings here on Sunday, 106-98.

nBA | ROCKETS 134, LAKERS 95

Gordon, Harden too much for Lakers to handle Associated Press

HOUSTON — Eric Gordon made a career-high eight 3-points and scored 26 points to help the Houston Rockets cruise to a 13495 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.

James Harden added 25 points in three quarters for the Rockets.

They scored a season high and extended their winning streak to a season-best four games.

The Rockets were up by 12 in the third quarter, then had a 22-6 run to make it 96-68 and put the game out of reach with about 3 minutes left in the quarter.

Houston made four 3-pointers and got a nifty one-handed dunk from Clint Capela in that run to pad the lead.

Gordon already had four 3-pointers 7 minutes into the first quarter after making each of his first four attempts. It was his seventh straight game with at least four 3-pointers, which is a franchise record.

Houston has its longest winning streak since taking five straight in January.

Lou Williams led the Lakers with 24 points. They have lost four in a row, their longest skid of the season.

The Rockets led by 18 after a layup by Gordon to start the second quarter. It was the only shot he made that wasn’t a 3-pointer.

The Lakers got going after that, using a 17-6 run to cut the lead to 51-44 about five minutes before halftime. Brandon Ingram made two 3-pointers in that stretch and Jordan Clarkson capped the run with a 3.

Houston got back on track after that and had pushed the lead to 67-52 with 1.4 second left in the half. Lou Williams cut the deficit after that when he hit a 3-pointer from beyond half court at the buzzer.

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Sports

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M Bball Continued from page 16

on Saturday. Notre Dame is having its best start to a season since the 1973-74 campaign, when the team started 12-0, but senior forward V.J. Beachem said he is convinced that this start is just scratching the surface of what they can accomplish against the Wildcats (9-0).

“I think we can honestly hit another level,” Beachem said.

“Personally, myself, I haven’t been shooting the ball well really all season, so I think I have a whole other gear left in me, and I think we all have another gear in us as far as how we’re defending and moving the ball.”

If the Irish can truly hit another level of offensive efficiency, they’ll undoubtedly be among the nation’s best given how high they rank across multiple statistical measures.

The Irish are 13th in assists per game (19.0), 16th in 3-point percentage (41.3 percent), first in free-throw percentage (85.9 percent), first in assistturnover rate (2.34) and 10th in scoring offense (88.9 points per game).

Brey praised the team Tuesday on how well it can space the floor, move the ball efficiently and find good looks from beyond the arc. However, he said he recognizes that against a team like Villanova, the Irish have to become more aware of knowing when driving to the basket is the better option.

“The 3-point line is a weapon for us — I don’t want to go talking percentages — just take what the [defense] gives us, but always be mindful when we have a driving opportunity to take it after some movement.

We’ve probably have talked about that a little bit more.

Even V.J putting it down and getting a hand-check or two.”

The Wildcats were 15th in the country last season in points allowed, giving up just over 63 points per game. They are on pace to match that effort this season, allowing just 62.6 points per game. The most difficult challenge for Notre Dame will be getting through Villanova’s 3-point defense that allows just 28.1 percent from beyond the arc.

“They really guard, and Nova has never changed that way,” Brey said. “We’re going to have to work harder on the offensive end, and I think a big challenge for us will be if we have an empty offensive possession, can we be mentally tough enough to go back and guard?

That’s a thing we really have to talk about over the next couple of days.”

Beachem echoed that concern in emphasizing the need to remain consistent throughout the game. Against Fort Wayne, the Irish held the Mastodons to just 23 points in the first half but then allowed 49 in the second half.

“I think we just got to be sharper for our 40 minutes,” Beachem said. “We weren’t really that sharp in the second half [Tuesday], so being sharp for 40 minutes will put us in a great position to be in that game.”

Brey acknowledged the underdog status the Irish will carry heading into Saturday, but said that Notre Dame has never been shy of playing under the lights against big time programs.

“I think we were thought of as more of an NIT team, and we still certainly have a lot to earn before we’re smiling on March Madness. So that was a nice motivator for them,” Brey said. “They heard that ‘With four NBA guys gone, what do they have really left?’ I always felt that we had a good nucleus coming back that knew how to win, and they certainly have played on big stages — our nucleus — and have delivered on big stages, like Saturday afternoon, so they’ll be really ready.”

Following Saturday’s matchup, the Irish will take a week off and then return to the court on Dec. 17 to take on No. 18 Purdue at the Crossroads Classic in Indianapolis. The Irish then compete against Colgate and St. Peter’s at home before starting conference play.

Notre Dame kicks off its ACC slate against Pittsburgh on New Year’s Eve on the road.

The Irish then face off against No. 11 Louisville and Clemson at home before embarking on a road trip that includes traveling to Miami, Virginia Tech and Florida State.

With the biggest game of the season in front of them, the Irish are confident in their chances of taking down the defending national champions.

“We’ve got a huge challenge in front of us Saturday, but we’ve been in games like this before.” Beachem said. “We’re really excited about it. We know how great of a team they are.”

Notre Dame tips off against Villanova on Saturday at noon at the Prudential Center in Newark.

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Sophomore Rex Pfleuger drives in for a layup during Notre Dame’s 107-53 win over North Carolina A&T on Dec. 4. The Irish are off to their best start since the1973-74 season, and next play top-ranked Villanova.

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Hockey Continued from page 16

Against UMass-Lowell on Nov. 17, the Irish were whipped by the River Hawks, 4-1, in a game that wasn’t that close.

The very next night Notre Dame flipped the script, controlling the game en route to a 4-1 victory of its own.

Last weekend, the Irish struggled through the first 40 minutes against UMass on Friday night, finding themselves down 3-0 after two periods. Though the Notre Dame ended up losing 5-4, the momentum from a fourgoal third period carried over in Saturday’s 3-0 victory.

Jackson said this inconsistency has roots in Notre Dame’s offensive struggles to get to the front of the net.

“It’s probably been more about our inability to score that’s led to the problem,” Jackson said. “And then there’s nights where we look fine. We score four goals. But in those games where …we play against a really good goaltender or a hot goalie, and we get shots but we don’t necessarily get the type of gritty chances in front of the net that we need to score against a really good goalie. Because that happens against good teams: You’re going to run into good goaltenders, and you have to find a way to get a little bit grittier in

ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, december 8, 2016 | The Observer

and around the net area.”

Jackson said the team needed to find ways into these dirty areas.

“You kind of expect that from the big guys, and I see it from our energy guys but they just don’t finish all the time,” Jackson said. “Guys like [sophomore forward] Jack Jenkins or [freshman forward] Cal Burke. Cal Burke has had a history of being a pretty good offensive player, but he’s snake-bit right now in and around the crease area.

Sometimes even our bigger guys, sometimes they get pushed out of that area. … It’s grit, it’s fortitude, but it’s also being strong on your skates and strong over your stick so your stick doesn’t get lifted up.

You’re just competing for those pucks in the dirty zone.”

Jackson said the Irish were emphasizing these battles in practice in the week leading up to UMass.

“We’ve started doing a little bit more consistently competitive stuff from an offensive perspective,” Jackson said. “It’s kind of a tough thing to practice to be better or grittier offensively, but … we have to do them. We have to put our guys in uncomfortable situations to get them to respond when they get into those situations in a game.”

The emphasis appeared to work somewhat against UMass. On sophomore defenseman Bobby Nardella’s goal, Notre Dame’s third of four in the third period of Friday’s game, freshman forward

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Cam Morrison and junior forward Jake Evans were screening the UMass goalie. Sophomore forward Andrew Oglevie got the scoring started Saturday by putting home a rebound opportunity, and Morrison causing havoc in front of the net allowed Evans to blast in another rebound for Notre Dame’s second goal of the game.

It’s a trend that will need to continue for the Irish to find success against Boston College and freshman goaltender Joseph Woll, who is allowing just 2.48 goals per game while posting a .918 save percentage en route to a 10-5-1 record in net.

The Eagles are also outscoring opponents 71-46, led by senior forward Matthew Gaudreau, younger brother of current Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau. The younger Gaudreau paces the Eagles with 22 points while sophomore forward Colin White leads the Eagles with 10 goals.

“I’d like to go into the second half with a little momentum if possible,” Jackson said. “I think this season hasn’t been poor, but it just hasn’t been great.”

The Irish can continue building that momentum with a victory over the Eagles. Puck drop is Saturday at 7:10 p.m. at Compton Family Ice Arena.

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Irish sophomore Jack Jenkins skates up the ice during Notre Dame’s 4-1 win over UMass Lowell on Nov. 18 at Compton Family Ice Arena.

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Sports

The observer | thursday, december 8, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

W Bball Continued from page 16

consecutive wins against the Irish. The last time Notre Dame defeated Geno Auriemma’s squad was in the Big East Championship in 2013.

However, McGraw said it wasn’t the recent history behind the matchup that was most disheartening, but rather the fact that Notre Dame failed to meet its usual standards on Wednesday.

“We’re just frustrated that we didn’t play well,” McGraw said.

“We didn’t go down swinging.

Let’s play our game, and if we lose 72-71 on a buzzer beater, it’s a great game and we did a lot of good things. But we can’t feel good about the way we played, and that’s where the frustration is.”

The Huskies jumped out to an immediate 11-2 lead in the monumental matchup, staying safely in front for the first quarter before Notre Dame came out for its best quarter of the night by far. The team opened the second with a quick 8-0 run, and by the time halftime rolled around, the Irish had tied the game at 34.

Notre Dame limited UConn to less than 30 percent shooting in that quarter and outscored the Huskies 20-11 on the back of a particularly strong performance by sophomore guard Arike Ogunbowale.

However, the Irish returned to the court for the second half in the same rut they started in. Nearly six minutes ticked by without a single Irish point, until freshman guard Jackie Young sunk a layup.

One of the few Irish players to be seeing the Huskies for the first time, Young scored seven points with four rebounds and four steals before exiting the game late with an ankle injury.

McGraw praised Young and the rest of her bench, which contributed 15 points for the Irish. UConn’s bench scored only four.

Young’s layup triggered another 8-0 Irish run, and the score was even at 42 with 1:56 left in the third quarter. From that point on, though, the Huskies buckled down and began to run away with it.

A double-double from Turner and 11 points from star senior guard Lindsay Allen proved insufficient to compete with the UConn trio of sophomore guard Katie Lou Samuelson, sophomore forward Napheesa Collier and junior forward Gabby Williams, who scored 18, 19 and 20 points, respectively.

Those totals reflect how Notre Dame was thrown off its ideal defensive strategy, McGraw said.

“It’s not our intention to play one-on-one. That was our problem,” McGraw said. “It was our intention to share the ball, and I think our frustration showed early, and it turned into one-on-one with our wings.

That was another source of

disappointment for us.”

Notre Dame averaged about 39 percent shooting in the second half, and McGraw said shot selection was a major issue throughout the whole game.

“We were so anxious to shoot it that we just let it go, and just made really, really poor decisions,” McGraw said. “I think it’s all about ‘I’ve gotta score, and I want to do it soon.’ I think we’re impatient. I think our younger players are impatient.

I don’t think you see that from Lindsay and Bri, but you see it from the young ones. Their job is to score, and they were just trying a little too hard.”

The Irish do not have much time to recover before a tough matchup with No. 16 DePaul — which lost to the Huskies last week — on Saturday. The Irish will play ten games between now and the start of the spring semester, including five against ACC opponents.

ALLISON CULVER | The Observer

Contact Renee Griffin at rgriffi6@nd.edu

Irish senior guard Lindsay Allen holds off a UConn defender during Notre Dame’s 72-61 loss to the No. 1 Huskies on Wednesday at Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame next faces No. 16 DePaul on the road on Saturday.

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ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, december 8, 2016 | The Observer

15

ALLISON CULVER | The Observer

Irish junior forward Kathryn Westbeld attempts to stay in front of a UConn player during Wednesday’s loss. The Irish fell behind early, but a strong second quarter propelled them to level the game at halftime. Notre Dame struggled to score in the second half against the Huskies defense, and fell to the defending champions 72-61.

Greason Continued from page 16

the Huskies. This game did not affirm that UConn is the best team in the country right now, it simply solidified the Huskies’ ranking.

I fully believe Notre Dame is one of the two best teams in the country at the moment.

But the Huskies were playing the shell of the full-bodied, vibrant Irish team that could have and should have stepped onto the court. While Notre Dame can play like one of the top two teams in the country on a regular basis, it did not Wednesday.

There were bright spots in the game, without a doubt.

The Irish scored 15 points off the bench, compared to UConn’s four.

Freshman guard Jackie Young came off the bench to spark multiple runs with her four steals.

Junior forward Brianna Turner scored 16 points and snagged 12 rebounds despite a complete offensive breakdown.

And there were bad breaks in the game, without a doubt.

Young injured her ankle and was forced to leave the game with three minutes left.

Notre Dame had just eight attempts at the free-throw line, compared to UConn’s 20, which was arguably due to some the officiating.

But, Notre Dame converted on just four of those eight free throw chances, while the Huskies made all but one.

More than anything, however, there was poor play on the part of the Irish

throughout the game.

Losing is no fun. But it’s even worse when it comes as a result of failing to perform at the level of which you are capable. When the secondranked team in the country fails to make a single 3-point shot until the second quarter, the loss is going to sting a little bit more. Because if those two teams had faced each other on Notre Dame’s best day, or even a slightly better one, the storyline of the game — particularly the second half — would have been totally different and the outcome could have been turned upside down.

Everyone has off days; it’s just unfortunate that Notre Dame’s off day came on the most anticipated matchup of the season.

While UConn’s defense was

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strong, it was not outstanding. It did not do anything special that threw the Irish for a loop. They simply could not get a shot to drop in the first quarter, causing them to rush their offensive sets, which exacerbated the problem. This issue carried over throughout most of the game, with the exception of the second quarter.

The offense was inefficient and incapable of scoring. It repeatedly failed to get the ball inside to Turner.

Sophomore guard Marina Mabrey, who had an explosive showing against the Huskies last season, failed to pick up a single point until she scored the final points of the game. Mabrey is supposed to be a perennial offensive powerhouse, but she wasn’t Wednesday. Sophomore guard

Arike Ogunbowale is used making layups effortlessly, no matter how many people she has to drive through to get to the basket. But she could not get a single one to drop, scoring only nine points. The second best team in the country does not wait until over halfway through the third quarter to score its first points of the second half.

While senior guard Lindsay Allen took responsibility for the lack of offensive production after the game, the fact of the matter is that the team as a whole did not play well. The mental factor of the Irish facing off against UConn cannot be overlooked and it probably played a role in Notre Dame’s slow start to both halves and its inability to slow the UConn offense, especially in the paint and in transition.

But more than anything, it was just not Notre Dame’s day.

We saw glimpses of the Irish team the country was expecting to step onto the court.

There were moments when the offense ran flawlessly.

There were plays that made everyone in Purcell Pavilion believe they were watching the top two teams in the nation. But overall, we were not watching a top-two matchup.

We were watching the two best teams in the country, one of whom grew increasingly frustrated with itself. UConn did not stop Notre Dame.

Notre Dame stifled itself.

Notre Dame absolutely deserves to be one of the top two teams in the country. It was simply the wrong day to have an off day.

Contact Elizabeth Greason at egreason@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

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The observer | thursday, december 8, 2016 | ndsmcobserver.com

Nd Women’s Basketball | UConn 72, nd 61

Irish falter in second half; fall to No. 1 UConn Notre Dame’s home winning streak snapped by Huskies

ND picked the wrong day to struggle offensively

By RENEE GRIFFIN

Elizabeth Greason

Sports Writer

Sports Writer

No. 2 Notre Dame was stuck playing catch-up to No. 1 Connecticut all night Wednesday, falling behind from the outset, then fighting back, then allowing the Huskies to widen the margin again.

A final surge never materialized, and the Irish (8-1) lost 7261 at a packed Purcell Pavilion to cement UConn’s spot at the top of the rankings.

“Just really disappointed in pretty much everything: execution, ability to get the ball to [junior forward Brianna Turner], just completely ineffective offensively,” Irish head coach Muffet McGraw said. “ … I’m surprised. I really didn’t expect that. We’ve got some things to work on.”

It wasn’t the first time the Notre Dame was left behind by the Huskies (8-0), who now have 83 wins in a row and six

ALLISON CULVER | The Observer

A rankings flip-flop between formerly No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 2 Connecticut on Monday that left many surprised and confused.

It marked the first time in over a decade the top-ranked team was jumped without a loss and Wednesday’s matchup between No. 1 UConn (8-0) and No. 2 Notre Dame (8-1) was supposed to decide which of the two was actually the best in the country.

And while the Huskies will maintain their top ranking after stretching their winning streak to 83, they will not do so after beating the second-best team in the nation. They may have taken down the second-ranked team, but they certainly did not see Notre Dame’s best. They did not see the skill and prowess that put the Irish at the top. While Notre Dame has absolutely earned its ranking, it did not put up its best fight against

see W BBALL PAGE 14

Sophomore guard Marina Mabrey dribbles up the court during Notre Dame’s 72-61 loss to UConn on Wednesday at Purcell Pavilion. The loss snapped a 35-game home winning streak for the Irish.

see GREASON PAGE 15

men’s basketball

HOCKEY

ND ready for challenge against No. 1 Villanova

Irish offense seeks consistency

By MANNY DE JESUS

By ZACH KLONSINSKI

Sports Writer

Assistant Managing Editor

Just moments after walking off the court following its 87-72 win over Fort Wayne on Tuesday night, No. 23 Notre Dame had its matchup against No. 1 Villanova on its mind.

“We got our hands full,” Irish head coach Mike Brey said.

“It’s a great opportunity for us.

They’re really good. Mentally and physically tough, but we’re pretty good too. It’s two similar programs, and Jay’s [Wright] a good friend back from the Hofstra and Delaware days and the old Big East days. … It’s kind of an NCAA tournament feel. I’ve heard they’ve sold a lot of tickets, so we’re excited.

Our guys were talking about it two minutes after the game, so they’re really excited.”

The Irish (9-0) travel to Newark, New Jersey, to face the defending national champions at the Prudential Center

As No. 14 Notre Dame heads into Saturday’s matchup with Hockey East rival No. 4 Boston College at Compton Family Ice Arena, Irish head coach Jeff Jackson and his squad are still looking for consistent production in close games as the end of the semester nears.

“It’s just been a little bit of inconsistency in our game,” Jackson said.

“And it generally comes offensively, more than anything else, but we break down in those close games when we’re not scoring.”

Saturday marks the last time the Irish (8-6-2, 4-3-1 Hockey East) host the rival Eagles (13-5-1, 8-0-1) as Hockey East foes, as well as the marquee game of Notre Dame’s 2016-2017 home slate. The matchup also provides Notre Dame with the opportunity to wash away some of the sting from last year’s 4-0 loss against the Eagles at Compton.

The Irish struggled in close games against top competition last season, but Jackson said he’s been “surprised” and “disappointed” by

see M BBALL PAGE 12

ALLISON CULVER | The Observer

Senior guard V.J. Beachem pulls up for a mid-range jumpshot over the North Carolina A&T defender Sunday at Purcell Pavilion.

Notre Dame’s frustrations so far this year.

“I think we start stressing a bit where we don’t finish, and it leads to like last game [a 2-0 loss to Clarkson on Nov. 26] where we give up a 2-on-0 on a four-on-four situation,” Jackson said. “And those things just can’t happen because you have to win a game like that 1-0 or 2-1. That’s what I’m hoping for.”

The Clarkson loss isn’t an anomaly, but at the same time the Irish have also looked like the top-10 preseason team that began the season. The variation has been wild: During Notre Dame’s loss to UConn on Oct. 27, the Irish dominated most of the first period but couldn’t break through with a goal.

Two defensive breakdowns in the final minutes of the period, however, sent the Irish to the locker room down 2-0 after a period where they controlled the vast majority of play.

The next day the Irish opened the flood gates while thumping the Huskies, 6-2. see HOCKEY PAGE 13