The independent
To uncover
newspaper serving
the truth
Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s
and report
and holy cross
it accurately
Volume 54, Issue 21 | thursday, september 26, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
ND Forum addresses Church crisis Panelists discuss causes, plan of action for recent clerical abuse scandals as part of annual event By MARY STEURER AND NATALIE WEBER Associate Managing Editors
Four major players in addressing the Catholic sex abuse crisis called for greater transparency, concrete reforms and a better understanding of Church scandals during the Notre Dame Forum’s panel Wednesday night, entitled “‘Rebuild My Church’: Crisis and Response.” Featured guests included Archbishop of Baltimore William Lori; former FBI executive assistant director Kathleen McChesney; Juan Carlos Cruz, an advocate for clergy abuse survivors; and journalist Peter
Steinfels, a previous editor at Commonweal and past New York Times columnist. John Allen, editor of the online Catholic newspaper, Crux, moderated the panel. Panelists speak on the keynote panel of the 2019 Notre Dame Forum Wednesday evening, which focused on rebuilding the Church in the wake of the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal. Each panelist was invited to reflect on where the Catholic Church stands in addressing the abuse crisis. Neither the panelists’ see CHURCH PAGE 3
College library outlines student resources By SARA SCHLECHT Associate Saint Mary’s News Editor
With the semester well underway, the Cushwa-Leighton Library at Saint Mary’s aims to remind students of the services it offers. One way of doing this is through a social media promotion featuring young children wearing capes. “Captain Cushwa-Leighton is our resident library superhero,” senior Taylor Strong, who works at the library’s circulation desk, said. Editor’s Note: Strong is a social media manager at The Observer. Strong is also the library’s social media intern. She manages posts for the Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts where the Captain Cushwa-Leighton images have appeared. Captain Cushwa-Leighton and the super tutors have appeared on signs posted in the library and the library’s social media posts. “[The kids] aren’t here often … we just like to use their pictures,” Strong said. “The library like[s] to use them in social media posts to get students excited about asking questions for help.” Captain Cushwa-Leighton images have been used by the library
news PAGE 3
before, with children of faculty affiliated with the library and writing center appearing as the superheroes, junior writing tutor Brynne Volpe said. “Their children are the writing center’s unofficial mascots,” she said. Among the services the library likes to remind students about is the research help desk, which is staffed by a librarian most of the hours the library is open. “The research desk is there for anything,” Strong said. “You can get help finding sources for different research papers. … They also help with citations.” The Cushwa-Leighton Library also has librarians who specialize in particular subjects and research areas. “These librarians focus on certain areas and know more about individual subjects,” Strong said. Also located in the library is the Writing Center, where students can meet with tutors for help during the process of writing papers, Volpe said. “We assist, support and aim to help people become better writers see LIBRARY PAGE 4
scene PAGE 5
HANNAH HUELSKAMP | The Observer
Panelists speak on the keynote lecture of the 2019 Notre Dame Forum. Among the panelists was Baltimore Archbishop William Lori, who has been accused of opacity in his past investigative work of abusive clergy.
NDFD welcomes first fulltime female firefighters Observer Staff Report
The University announced in a press release Wednesday that the Notre Dame Fire Department (NDFD) recently welcomed its first full-time women firefighters: Christi Shibata and Michelle Woolverton. Shibata, 37, began her time with the department in July, according to the release. She is a native of Petoskey,
Michigan, where she worked as a physical therapist assistant and personal trainer prior to joining the department. Notre Dame Police Department (NDPD) chief Keri Kei Shibata is her sister. Woolverton, 42, started with the department in August, the release said. She is from South Bend and worked as a supervisor in Building Services at Notre Dame prior to joining NDFD.
Shibata and Woolverton are both certified emergency medical technicians. Their duties will not be different from other firefighters on the force and will include “driving the [fire] engine and operating the engine pump,” the release said. Both women are graduates of Clay Fire Academy. Bruce Harrison, chief of see FIRE PAGE 4
Howard Hall hosts yearly Totter for Water By JACKSON OXLER News Writer
New students on campus might wonder why there will be a teeter totter in the middle of South Quad on Thursday and Friday. Each fall, the women of Howard Hall spend 24 hours riding the totter to help raise money for projects dedicated to clean water access in communities across the globe as part of the dorm’s annual
viewpoint PAGE 7
Totter for Water event. At 6 p.m. Thursday, Howard’s residents will begin taking shifts operating the totter and continue their work throughout the night. Students will have the opportunity to ride the totter if they desire and are encouraged to help Howard in their fundraising goals. This year, sophomores Eileen Leach and Sarah Walters are planning the event. Leach and Walters said the
ND FOOTBALL PAGE 12
dorm is hoping to raise $25,000 at this year’s event — about $7,000 more than last year. To accomplish such a task, they began the planning process before they arrived to campus. “Sarah and I have been working on the project for several weeks now, we contacted the organization, made t-shirt designs and poster designs,” Leach said. see TOTTER PAGE 3
ND MEN’S GOLF PAGE 12
2
TODAY
The observer | thursday, september 26, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com
Have a question you want answered? Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com
What food can you not live without?
P.O. Box 779, Notre Dame, IN 46556 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556 Editor-in-Chief Kelli Smith Managing Editor Charlotte Edmonds Asst. Managing Editor: Maria Leontaras Asst. Managing Editor: Mary Steurer Asst. Managing Editor: Natalie Weber Notre Dame News Editor: Tom Naatz Saint Mary’s News Editor: Maeve Filbin Viewpoint Editor: Evelyn Stein Sports Editor: Connor Mulvena Scene Editor: Mike Donovan Photo Editor: Anna Mason Graphics Editor: Diane Park Social Media Editor: Mary Bernard Advertising Manager: Landry Kempf Ad Design Manager: Ruby Le Systems Administrator: Mike Dugan Office Manager & General Info
Colleen O’Leary
Crystal Lin
junior Breen-Philips Hall
freshman Pangborn Hall
“Spaghetti.”
“Watermelon soup.”
Kevin O’Leary
Molly Schroeder
sophomore Zahm Hall
freshman Cavanaugh Hall
“The eucharist.”
“Spaghetti.”
Joey Sorrentino
Zoe Shepherd
freshman O’Neill Family Hall
sophomore Holy Cross Hall
“Fried raviolis.”
“Peanut butter.”
Ph: (574) 631-7471 Fax: (574) 631-6927 Advertising
(574) 631-6900 ads@ndsmcobserver.com Editor-in-Chief
(574) 631-4542 ksmith67@nd.edu Managing Editor
(574) 631-4542 cedmond3@nd.edu Assistant Managing Editors
(574) 631-4541 mleontaras01@saintmarys.edu, msteure1@nd.edu, nweber@nd.edu Business Office
(574) 631-5313 News Desk
(574) 631-5323 news@ndsmcobserver.com Viewpoint Desk
(574) 631-5303 viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.om Sports Desk
(574) 631-4543 sports@ndsmcobserver.com Scene Desk
(574) 631-4540 scene@ndsmcobserver.com Saint Mary’s Desk
mfilbin01@saintmarys.edu Photo Desk
(574) 631-8767 photo@ndsmcobserver.com Systems & Web Administrators
webmaster@ndsmcobserver.com Policies The Observer is the independent, daily newspaper published in print and online by the students of the University of Notre Dame du Lac, Saint Mary’s College and Holy Cross College. Editorial content, including advertisements, is not governed by policies of the administration of either institution. The Observer reserves the right to refuse advertisements based on content. The news is reported as accurately and objectively as possible. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the majority of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Assistant Managing Editors and department editors. Commentaries, letters and columns present the views of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer. Viewpoint space is available to all readers. The free expression of all opinions through letters is encouraged. Letters to the Editor must be signed and must include contact information. Questions regarding Observer policies should be directed to Editor-in-Chief Kelli Smith. Post Office Information The Observer (USPS 599 2-4000) is published Monday through Friday except during exam and vacation periods. A subscription to The Observer is $130 for one academic year; $75 for one semester. The Observer is published at: 024 South Dining Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-0779 Periodical postage paid at Notre Dame and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER Send address corrections to: The Observer P.O. Box 779 024 South Dining hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-077
Today’s Staff News
Sports
Tom Naatz Renee Pierson Callie Patrick
Stephen Hannon Mannion McGinley
Graphics
Scene
Cristina Interiano
Ryan Israel
Photo
Viewpoint
Hannah Huelskamp
Nelisha Silva
Corrections The Observer regards itself as a professional publication and strives for the highest standards of journalism at all times. We do, however, recognize that we will make mistakes. If we have made a mistake, please contact us at (574) 631-4541 so we can correct our error.
The next Five days:
Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
MFA Alumni Mini-Conference 232 Decio Hall 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. Former students read their newest works.
“Partisan Politics in the Era of Trump” Eck Hall of Law 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. Panel discussion with three U.S. senators.
“Creating an Academic Website” 512 Duncan Student Center 9:30 a.m. - 1:45 a.m. Job search series.
Film: “The Tree Of Life” Browning Cinema 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. The story of a family as they experience loss.
Talk on social media in academic work Hesburgh Center 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. Open to graduate students and faculty.
Book Launch: “A Saint of Our Own” Jenkins and Nanovic Halls, Room 1030 4 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. Panel discussion.
Dante Now! A Divine Comedy Celebration Annenberg Auditorium, Snite Museum of Art 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Open to the public.
Book talk: “Soldiers of the Cross” Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Open to the public.
Recital: Conrad Tao, piano O’Neill Hall of Music 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Worldwide pianist and composer performs.
Nuclear Physics Seminar 184 Nieuwland Science Hall 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Open to the public.
SMC archivist preserves history By MAEVE FILBIN and MARIROSE OSBORNE Saint Mary’s News Editor and News Writer
Eric Walerko joined the Saint Mary’s community in June, becoming the College’s newest archivist. Since then, he has started the task of maintaining materials pertaining to the history of Saint Mary’s “Having an undergraduate degree in history, I always had an interest in a hands-on approach to history and its preservation,” Walerko said. “I was fortunate enough to get a student work position at the [Indiana University South Bend] archives on special collections, which really introduced me to the field.” The Indiana University of South Bend (IUSB) graduate further pursued his education, spending about two and a half years at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and receiving a master’s degree in archival studies there. “Then I had my first position for a nonprofit foundation in Philadelphia,” Walerko said. “And after a few years there, I saw the position open up here at Saint Mary’s, and the opportunity to move back home and work for such a fantastic institution I was familiar with, it was just an opportunity too good to pass up. So, I was very fortunate and was able to join the Saint Mary’s
community.” The archives are crucial to safeguarding the identity of the College, Walerko said. “I mean, of course, you have the records management aspect of keeping a paper trail for the routine records of the administration and operating procedures,” he said. “But we’re much more than that. The history we have here has enduring value for generations. It tells everything from the story of the College itself – from a small academy in Bertrand, Michigan turning into the bustling liberal arts college that it is today.” Walerko said many Saint Mary’s alumnae have contacted the archives, hoping to find remnants of their own pasts. “There’s also a lot of personal connections here, with records connecting students and alumna from generations,” Walerko said. “Every week, we get research requests from the people in the community that are either looking for an ancestor that went here, or maybe even information about themselves that they thought was lost forever … so I think that’s why it’s really important to have functioning archive.” While preparing the archives for student use, Walerko noted he and the student assistants are also making the collections more accessible to the community as a whole. “I have some long-term goals, such as a digital repository for photos, art and
documents that will make it possible to pull those up much quicker,” he said. “I also have plans for an online archive management tool that will allow for our collections to be searchable to students online, and … have access to the descriptions of those collections for quicker and easier research.” For now, however, Walerko said he is focusing on establishing the archives as an important and valued resource on campus. “In the short term, I’ve definitely been playing up to the campus’ theme of community this year, trying to connect with different department faculty, administrators and students to kind of get the word out [about] what the archive is and what kind of services we can offer, because it’s very important that people know that we’re here for those functions,” Walerko said. Walerko said he invites those interested in learning more about Saint Mary’s history to stop by the archives in Madeleva Hall. “I’d be happy to answer any questions,” Walerko said. “The archive is typically open between nine and four. If the lights are on, I’m probably here. So, feel free to come by and ring the doorbell.” Contact Maeve Filbin at mfilbin01@saintmarys.edu and Marirose Osborne at mosborne01@saintmarys.edu
News
ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, september 26, 2019 | The Observer
STUDENT SENATE
Group meets with FMB By JACK JERIT News Writer
At their weekly Wednesday night meeting, the Notre Dame student senate met with the Financial Management Board (FMB) Student Union treasurer Christine Arcoleo in a follow-up to a previous meeting two weeks prior. The presentation from Arcoleo, a senior, sought to clarify some of the senators’ previous questions. According to numbers provided by Arcoleo, across all student government organizations there was a net $77,000 left in surplus from the previous fiscal year. The student government also ran a surplus in the years prior. This number is down from previous years primarily due to issues with the budgeting of the Midnight Express. Only one to three individual student government organizations were running a deficit. When asked why the FMB frequently ran a deficit, Arcoleo said the FMB underestimates its actual budgetary needs and the budget is often based off precedent. “We have not been reconciling how much we are actually spending because the person who spends most of it is not myself, it’s just somebody that I work with,” Arcoleo said. Some senators were surprised to learn how much funding the student government actually does not spend every year. One concern was raised about why student government was not spending all of its funds. “Is there a reason why every year we get to the end of the year and we have over $100,000 left?” Jackson Oxler, a sophomore senator from Duncan, said. “Why are we not using that money if it’s being allocated to us to provide things for the students?” (Editor’s Note: Oxler is a news
writer for The Observer). Arcoleo explained that many organizations budget with a certain set of events in mind then do not follow through with every event and are sitting on unused funds, or that there may be unforeseen events causing a large amount of spending or saving. Eric Kim, a senior and executive director of SUB, provided an example of an unforeseen event leading to unspent funds. “For the 2017-18 fiscal year, that was the year we were going to bring GoldLink to campus but he cancelled four hours before the concert, so [SUB] had $40,000 left over because of that,” Kim said. “That was an unforeseen circumstance in our situation.” Another response to the surplus was the sentiment that some of the funds should be reallocated towards funding the Club Coordination Council (CCC) and other clubs. The senate previously met with CCC chair senior Jordan Isner to discuss funding going forward. “I still think — going back to the CCC presentation — that Jordan did a good job showing that CCC still has substantial need even with a 3% point increase [in total allocated funds],” Quentin Colo, an off campus senior, said. “I still believe CCC needs more money.” Just like the last meeting with Arcoleo, senators believe some form of financial accountability should be in place even if the matter is not urgent right now. “From the numbers, it doesn’t seem like there is a need for accountability measures, but then that doesn’t necessarily mean that there shouldn’t be accountability measures — right now there’s no issue, but there’s nothing in place to prevent issues from happening,” James Bathon, a senior from Keough, said.
The most discussed options for more accountability at the meeting include a higher emphasis on the winter budget meeting the FMB conducts, requirements in either the FMB’s bylaws or the constitution that student government organizations meet with the FMB to discuss spending, requirements that organizations spend a certain percentage of their allocated budget every year and reallocating extra funds to other student government organizations. After senate adjourned, Arcoleo explained her plans to make FMB more effective this year and particular accountability measures that she favored. “I’m going to have to monitor organization expenses more closely this year; I’ll be checking in with the FMB this year to make sure they’re OK with being scrutinized more closely,” Arcoleo said. “I think I’ve gained a lot of insight from this whole process through senate, and in the future, for the winter reallocation and the spring allocation, we will definitely make polling the numbers that I showed today part of the whole allocating process. In particular, holding the organizations accountable, make sure we’re every month reconciling what they’ve spent and comparing it to their overall allocation and the budget they sent me last year. The thing I’m more excited for is the winter reallocation process.” After the discussion, senate deliberated a resolution written by sophomore Allan Njomo, the senator representing Stanford Hall. The resolution sought to rename the “Freshman Class Council” to the “First Year Class Council.” The resolution passed. Contact Jack Jerit at jjerit@nd.edu
Paid Advertisement
3
Event fosters racial dialogue By ALEXANDRA MUCK News Writer
As part of Race Relations Week, Student Government hosted the event “Let’s Talk about Race” on Wednesday evening. The occasion featured a brief introduction by senior Nick Ottone, student government director of University policy, to frame and conversation, and then students had small group discussions led by a student facilitator. Senior Katie Hieatt, one of the organizers for the event, said this is its third year taking place (Editor’s Note: Katie Hieatt is a columnist for The Observer). She said the event was started by a group of students who participated at the Realities of Race seminar through the Center for Social Concerns, which is an opportunity for students to discuss race. “After they went on that seminar, they thought there wasn’t a great space on this campus to talk about race in a frank and intimate way,” Hieatt said. “That’s why we came up with the idea of small group discussions with penetrating questions to help people explore these things.” Hieatt said she hoped the event would be valuable to furthering the discussion of race on campus. “I hope people get out of it that when they mess up, it’s OK and that these conversations are really valuable anyway even though they can be uncomfortable,” Hieatt said. “I hope people recognize that value and decide to pursue them more because being aware of them is really important.” Race can be difficult to discuss, Ottone said, because it is oftentimes framed incorrectly
in discussions. “The way we approach it [is] as something that is political or a debate or a zero-sum game when it reality it’s not,” he said. “Everyone deals with race every day whether we know it or not and I think we should approach it as part of a person’s identity.” During the event, several participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage in a difficult conversation in a structured way. “I think it’s very easy at Notre Dame to not interact with diverse communities on campus,” senior Matthew Schoenbauer said. “I was trying to be intentional about hearing other people’s stories because it’s pretty infrequent that there’s a safe structured way to do that.” Schoenbauer said he was especially surprised by the level of understanding from the other participants. “I’m coming from a point of ignorance and I was helped out a lot,” he said. “It was very supportive.” Estefan Linares, a junior who participated in the event, said he thought the conversation helped to create awareness. “You have to be willing to open up to someone else and let them open up to you,” he said. Linares said even if people have radical views, they should be allowed to articulate them, and if they have valid reasons behind them they can productively contribute. He also thought the event was productive in helping create a sense of action. “This was a good first step,” he said. “I think a lot of us have actions we want to take.” Ashley Lizana, a sophomore and a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Board for student government, said student government is supporting the event in order to create a culturally competent campus. “Their initiative this year is to create … a space where people can talk with other cultures,” she said. “ … That’s why we have Race Relations Week.” Lizana said the most important component for these events to succeed is getting a variety of students to participate. “We need support from everyone to make these events work,” she said. “ … I think everyone needs to talk, not just the brown or black people. It’s important that everyone’s here.” Race Relations Week started on Friday, Sept. 20 and will run through Friday, Sept. 27. Other events included a lecture on Friday with Central Park Five member Dr. Yusef Salaam, a discussion on race and mental health and a variety of film and documentary viewings. Contact Alexandra Muck at amuck@nd.edu
4
The observer | thursday, september 26, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Fire
“I’m excited about the next steps. There’s so much more to learn and so much more you can do through the fire ser v ice other than the basic level training, so I’m excited about those opportunities.” Women now represent about 11% of the Department’s personnel, according to the release. “I’m 42 years old. I never thought my dream would come true, and it has,” Woolverton said. The NDFD is the oldest universit y fire department in the United States. The Department prov ides emergency fire and medical ser v ices, as well as public education and inspection and maintenance ser v ices. According to the NDFD website, they receive approx imately 1,500 calls a year from the Notre Dame, Saint Mar y’s and Holy Cross communities.
Continued from page 1
NDFD, said in the release Shibata and Woolverton earned their opportunities and are both qualified for the job. “I’m ver y proud of Notre Dame Fire Department,” Harrison said. “I’m proud of its past, I’m ver y proud of the present, and I’m ver y optimistic about the future. It’s a good place. It’s a good ser v ice. And I think Christi and Michelle are going to be good representatives of this fire department as we move into the future.” Other women ser ve parttime on an on-call basis w ith NDFD, the release said, but Shibata and Woolverton are the first women to ser ve w ith the department full-time. “It’s been awesome,” Shibata said in the release.
Totter Continued from page 1
Students working on the event attempt to involve all members of the Notre Dame community. The money Howard fundraises comes from student donations on the day of the event, from both online donations and from selling succulents on South Quad. Anyone interested in donating can give to the cause on the Student Shop ND website. There will also be other forms of entertainment on Thursday night, Leach said. “This year we are having a bouncy house on Thursday as well,” she said. Leach explained that all of the money Howard raises from the event this year will benefit a community in Ecuador. “In the past the money has gone to build wells or develop water systems for schools,” she said. “We have worked with Engineers without Borders in the past and that’s also who we’re working with this year — the Notre Dame chapter. They are going to be traveling to San Pedro de Suma, Ecuador, to build a water chlorination system, specifically for a school in the region.” Sophomore Catherine Connell
Library Continued from page 1
through all stages of the writing process,” she said. “[Students] can come to us with anything — even just a vague idea of what to write about. We just want to support writers and show that writing isn’t always painful.” Beyond supportive services for students, the library also aims to engage students in fun activities. Strong said the library is marking Banned Books Week this week by asking people to submit titles of their favorite banned book. The library also has several events planned for later in the semester.
said she participated last year after noticing the presence of a seesaw on the quad. “I saw a teeter totter on South Quad, so some friends and I went to see what was going on,” she said. “We ended up riding the totter and buying succulents. It was a fun opportunity to break from studying and also help a good cause.” Alix Basden, a Howard sophomore who said she will be riding the totter at midnight, said the event helps the dorm grow in community. “Howard is the single most intentional community I have ever been a part of,” she said. “It is a strong sisterhood. [With Totter], we create an international community and partnership.” For instance, last year Basden shared her totter shift with someone she didn’t know particularly well at the time. Now, that situation has changed. “It’s pure fun to be out on that seesaw,” Basden said. “Last year, I did the 1 a.m. shift. I went to the Totter with a girl I wasn’t that close with at the time, and we rode the Totter for 30 minutes together. Now she’s my roommate.” Contact Jackson Oxler at joxler@nd.edu “We have a trivia event coming up in November,” Strong said. “We’re putting it on for the entire school.” As the library’s social media intern, Strong works to organize a contest each semester. For the fall semester, the contest will have a Halloween theme. With events such as these, Strong said the library aims to reach out to students and make sure they know what services are available to them. “There’s been this big push for the first 100 days of school to make sure the freshmen are comfortable,” Strong said. Contact Sara Schlecht at sschlecht01@saintmarys.edu
NEWS
Church Continued from page 1
commentary nor follow-up questions from the audience made any mention of the archbishop’s controversial history with Church reform. Over the years, Lori has earned a reputation as an opponent of transparency, drawing criticism as recently as this summer for his investigation of former bishop of Wheeling-Charleston Michael Bransfield.
Issue fatigue has also stalled progress in fighting the crisis, McChesney said. “We can’t let our tiredness, our sadness, overtake our passion for continuing to work on these issues,” she said. The lethargic pace at which the Church adopts reforms is likely to continue, she added. “I think that the Church will continue to be slow to reform,” McChesney said. “… Sadly, that is the way the Church works.”
A steep learning curve Accountability for grand jury report
the
Steinfels, who earlier this year wrote a critique of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report for Commonweal Magazine, opened by sharing his belief that the problem of clergy sex abuse today is overexaggerated. He referenced data from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice that indicate a general decline in abuse since the mid-20th century. “Anyone who obscures this dramatic decline, as I think the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report did, is simply not telling the truth,” he said. Steinfels said the report distorts the reality of the crisis by showing it through the lens of prosecutors, giving the impression that it runs deeper than research suggests. “The shock and misinformation created by the Pennsylvania Report brought home to me the need for a real history of the sex abuse scandal,” he said. “The dominant narrative has been overwhelmingly shaped by lawsuits to obtain some recompense for survivor victims.”
A multi-faceted approach to addressing abuse After the Archdiocese of Boston sex abuse scandal in 2002, McChesney was hired to help establish the Office of Child Protection for the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB). Drawing from her experience working with the FBI and USCCB, McChesney emphasized the importance of accountability to the healing of abuse survivors. “It is so critical to the men and women who have been abused to know that someone is responsible,” she said. McChesney also highlighted the need for better screening in seminaries. “Selection is more important than formation,” she said. “… If you have selected the wrong person to go in the seminary … that person is never going to become a healthy cleric,” she said. While many point fingers at the Church for being slow to reform, McChesney said law enforcement also dropped the ball in investigating abuse allegations — particularly after the Boston scandal. “I always wondered, where is the law enforcement response?” she said. “… Who missed that lesson, and why?”
In order to bring about effective change, it is essential to put policies into practice, Lori said. “It’s one thing to have policies and procedures in place,” Lori said. “It’s another thing to live them. It’s another thing to draw out from them, the moral values, the moral imperative to address this in the way that God only knows it deserves to be addressed.” In his introduction, Lori made passing reference to his investigation of former bishop of Wheelings-Charleston, Bransfield. “I did not do [the investigation] perfectly,” he said. “What I’m happy to report, however, is that the allegations were taken seriously. They were investigated by experts — lay experts — none of whom were in the employment of the Church in any way. … It was not perfect, it was rough, bumpy, rocky, but at least shows it can work.” The archbishop did not make mention of the harsh criticisms the investigation drew — a June 5 article from the Washington Post found Lori had cut from his investigation report to the Vatican the names of 11 high-ranking clergymen who received cash gifts from Bransfield, including his own. This is not the only time Lori has been the subject of controversy. He was also criticized for his handling of abuse cases in Bridgeport, and is attributed with helping narrow the scope of the Dallas Charter to apply only to priests and deacons — omitting bishops. As the Catholic Church confronts its abuse crisis, bishops face several learning curves, Lori said. “I don’t think any of the learning curves have been as steep as discovering, learning, struggling to deal in some adequate way with the ugly specter of child abuse,” he said. Cruz offered a counterpoint to this reflection during the question and answer session, emphasizing that these “learning curves” must not serve as an excuse for inaction. “We can’t wait for bishops to finish their learning curve,” he said. “Survivors need us now.”
Karadima, the Vatican did not believe him. It wasn’t until his allegations were found credible that the Pope apologized and invited him to the Vatican. Cruz said he remained in the Catholic Church despite abuse because he “wasn’t going to let the bad ones win.” He offered encouragement to survivors, saying there were resources for healing, no matter one’s age or gender. “Know that if you have been abused, if you have gone through that trauma, there are people who are going to be there to help you,” Cruz said. He said he initially thought having Francis on his side would break the cycle of abuse in the Church. “The stroke of a pen, it passes a law and this will end — that’s what I thought,” he said. “I went to the Vatican. I saw what happens, and trust me: no pen, no nothing can switch or change this attitude.” Cruz accused bishops of weaponizing the abuse crisis against Pope Francis, and using it to promote an agenda of “elitism.” “[Their] way of hurting Francis is by hurting him with the abuse crisis,” he said. “But that’s not what they care about. They’ll drop victims as soon as they pass their agenda.” Despite bishops’ conversations with the Pope, they continue to cover up sex abuse, Cruz said. “Nobody holds them accountable, and that needs to stop,” he added.
A continuing conversation
Bishops and the Church’s culture of protection
Allen said he received about 18 follow-up questions for panelists. He introduced a faculty member and two students, each of whom presented a question. Then, panelists addressed two questions submitted online. Topics ranged from the role of the laity in addressing the crisis to advice for young Catholics, but none touched on Lori’s past. As Allen concluded the panel, he encouraged audience members to stay engaged and participate in additional upcoming discussions about the abuse crisis. “This is not the end of our conversation,” he said. “[It’s] nearly the beginning.” The Observer spoke with Terry McKiernan, president of online database Bishop Accountability, after the panel. While he said he thought the event offered strong commentary on the crisis, he underlined the need for settings more conducive to back-and-forth dialogue. “I really hope that Notre Dame will create other opportunities where real conversation can happen — especially among the student body and to the student body teachers about this,” he said.
Cruz, a survivor of abuse in Chile, has long advocated for survivors. When he first came forward with allegations against former Chilean priest Fernando
Contact Mary Steurer at msteure1@nd.edu and Natalie Weber atw nweber@nd.edu
5
The observer | thursday, september 26, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
By RYAN ISRAEL Scene Writer
As the one and only “Game of Thrones” wound down on HBO, the premium cable channel churned out a slate of new shows and new seasons in an effort to maintain momentum. The acclaimed drama “Big Little Lies” returned for its second season in June, and new dramas “Euphoria,” led by Zendaya, and “Watchmen,” based off the dystopian superhero comic books and film, arrived over the summer as well. However, HBO’s biggest hit came in the form of the powerful drama miniseries “Chernobyl,” which took home the Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series on Sunday. The miniseries creates an intense historical drama which combines the political conflict characteristic of “Game of Thrones” with the factual power of a chilling documentary. “Chernobyl” tells the story of the immediate aftermath of the nuclear explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Northern Soviet Ukraine. The event carries significant historical weight — a cautionary tale about the use of nuclear power, the larger question of the nuclear arms race and a representation of the powers at play in 1980s Soviet Russia. By shifting focus between closed-room, high-level debates between party officials and scientists and the immediate effects of the radiation on the common people, the miniseries emphasizes the powerful consequences the structure of a society can have on the lives of individuals. The utter horror and chaos of the explosion and the drastic potential consequences of the radiation are
By COLLEEN FISCHER Scene Writer
I love vinyl. Maybe that makes me basic or a try-hard, but I don’t care. I stole my turntable and stereo from my aunt’s attic and put on the record what I thought looked the coolest, because high school freshman Colleen did not know any good music yet — she was still playing the Jonas Brothers on repeat (I guess not much has changed). So I put on Donald Fagen’s “The Nightfly” and fell in love. I liked how you could watch it spin and see it play, and I loved how tangible it was. I asked for the “Hamilton” soundtrack on vinyl for my birthday that spring which is very cringey. Don’t get me wrong, I was listening to good music eventually. I learned how to find music that was made to play on vinyl. It taught me to read about records, to find out the importance of where things were recorded and who was in the room. I began to recognize producers’ names and laughed at musicians’ jokes on the back.
well represented. Meanwhile, the web of lies and strategic decision-making used to conceal the potential fallout and growing fears runs throughout. In terms of historical accuracy, the miniseries takes liberties to ensure maximum entertainment. Ulana (Emily Watson) is a crusading nuclear physicist who emerges as a powerful character fighting for the people in the second episode; however, no such historical figure exists, as the character represents the hundreds of dedicated scientists who came together to try and stop Chernobyl from getting worse and to raise awareness about the true fallout. Additionally, all dialogue in the show is in English, a feature which makes the show more accessible yet slightly removes the event from its true context. Nonetheless, it’s gripping historical fiction. If the show tries to get across any message, it’s that, obviously, Soviet socialism isn’t great. It’s painted as the primary culprit for the lies, shady political tactics and downright atrocities surrounding the Chernobyl catastrophe. However, the show makes Soviet socialism look pretty darn convincing. In episode one, an elderly leader of the city of Pripyat, the city closest and most prone to the harmful radiation, points to a bronze image of Vladimir I. Lenin before delivering a rousing speech to the nuclear plant managers and local politicians about the role of the “apparatus of the State” and the importance of “faith in Soviet Socialism.” “When the people ask questions that are not in their own best interest, they should simply be told to keep their minds on their labor and leave matters of the State to the State,” he stoically states. After he concludes his order to seal off the city and contain the spread of “misinformation” with
an inspiring message to his comrades — “This is our moment to shine” — he’s met with a standing ovation from the room. It’s like if Herb Brooks was trying to encourage a group of politicians to carry the torch of the Soviet State by lying to their own people rather than encourage a bunch of young and rowdy American hockey players to carry the torch of American freedom by winning a game of puck — really powerful Cold War history. In the most riveting scene of episode two, a government official calls upon three facility workers to take up a suicide mission in an effort to prevent another explosion at the plant. “You’ll do it because it must be done. You’ll do it because no one else can,” he tells a crowd of skeptical laborers. “This is what has always set our people apart, a thousand years of sacrifice in our veins.” By the end of the speech, even I was ready to suit up and go in to the nuclear waste, because as they say, “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” (“It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.”).
Not so long after that I bought my first comedy album. It was an album released in the mid- to late-60s and was called “Lyndon Johnson’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” It was a reference to the Beatles album and shared most of the same artwork, but the faces of the musicians were replaced with serial killer-esque magazine cutouts of politicians. In a world full of visual comedy, now 16-year-old Colleen loved this unique way of consuming comedy. The album’s concept simply takes radio interview clips out of context. It was hilarious. They made fun of the number of children Bobby Kennedy had with Bobby Kennedy’s own voice. It not only didn’t need any visuals, it was better without them. That would have hindered the album; the dramatic cuts in footage would let the viewer know they weren’t part of the same art piece. Instead, the comedian’s questions and the radio clips melted into each other. I then started collecting random comedy albums — anything from John Mulaney and Patton Oswalt’s modern comedy to Nichols and May, the comedians who inspired them (I actually have two copies of that one
because someone gifted me one). Now I didn’t see John Mulaney swinging the microphone cord around as he thought, but I did hear his pauses as if they were rests before an epic beat drop. The jokes hit harder and were funnier. I bought for a dollar Vaughn Meader’s “The First Family,” which is a John F. Kennedy impersonation record, and flipped between it and historical recordings of the former president’s speeches trying to tell the difference. I put it on and laughed at the same jokes over and over. It was well worth the money. There is something special about comedy without picture. It is almost as if it is in its purest form. Without visuals, it keeps the secrets between you and the comedian, making it seem as if they’re jokes between friends while at a movie or in class. It brings the comedian into the room with you. Listening to music on vinyl has taught me to listen to the pauses and to hear the silences. Listening to comedy on vinyl hasn’t taught me much besides how to laugh my butt off.
Contact Ryan Israel at risrael1@nd.edu
“Chernobyl” Starring: Jared Harris, Jessie Buckley, Stellan Skarsgard Favorite episodes: “Please Remain Calm,” “Vichnaya Pamya” If you like: “Game of Thrones,” “Show Me a Hero” Where to watch: HBO
Contact Colleen Fischer at cfischer01@saintmarys.edu CRISTINA INTERIANO | The Observer
6
The observer | thursday, September 26, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Power of the purse
Inside Column
From the Notre Dame music scene Mike Donovan Scene Editor
Lights (red, blue) f licker-f lashed over the fence, waving an aggressive hello to (a) the night sky and (b) the hundreds of students gathered within its perimeter. It was the noise — some fuzzy, some funky, some fishy, all of it loud — that drew the lights to our compound, and it was the noise (the officer said, annoyed) that suspended our little soiree. “So be it,” we told the officer (who seemed upset at our reluctance to be upset). “Aren’t you upset?” he asked. “No,” we replied, suppressing grins. “It’s no sin to whip up a wee bit of noise pollution,” we told ourselves. “It’s no sin. It’s revolution.” We started — some time back — loud, fast and less-than-agreeable: noisy, hold the core. We’d heard Will and Courtney — Molly, Paul and Lou — whose sounds would hold us Tiger Trapped (gutter-bound) eyes trained on starry moods. We’re ideologues, we’re misfits, we — you, me, the bourgeoise — said without a shock. We’ve started something interesting, some analogue to rock. So, uncoupled from sound logic, adherent to fuzz-box warfare, we — sons and daughters of Adam (Ramos) — pledged fealty to all the odds, ends, nooks and crannies Our Lady never cared to explore. Outside stadium walls, underneath sticky f loorboards, overhead by houses next door, we made efforts earning — one … two … er, a few — unwelcome knocks on the door (“Oh, hi officer! Is something the matter?”) Too loud? Too fast? Are we? Are you? A bore! “This is the Minneapolis Police,” a friend of his once said. “The party is over.” “If you all just grab your stuff and leave, there won’t be any hassle.” And we did. One after another, up and left, we followed, “Kid’s don’t follow!” blaring within our hearts, sighs and sirens occupying our ears. No… not here … not now … maybe next time… maybe next year … but not here … not now, but… We started something. Cracked it open. What of the cops? The cops don’t care! We told ourselves, pretending. We’ve started something and we can’t finish. The end, for us, is near. We need more, we need it now. The kids want s--to hear. Caterwauls or whispers, songs of love or fear. Rhyme them if you want to, but it’s not strictly necessarily from a creative standpoint. You can really do whatever, but … Do something. Write a song or write a poem. Find something you’d like to say. Start a band or go it solo. Find a friend who wants to play. Host a show or throw a thing or go see one if you can. Don’t sit around daydreaming, wanting us to understand. You’re better off to share it. We’re down to lend a hand because… …now we’ve found a rhythm, and… We don’t want it to end. Contact Mike Donovan at mdonov10@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Julianna Conley In My Own Words
For as long as I can remember, my least favorite word has been “purse.” Forget “impregnation” or “seepage,” it was always “purse” that sent me over the edge. Even today, like an insecure man insistent on calling his soft-bodied briefcase a “satchel,” I refer to my dusty pink crossbody purse as my “bag” at all times. People always seem surprised when I choose “purse” as my object of scorn. There seems to be an unspoken understanding that folks avoid saying “moist” or collectively cringe at the word “ointment,” but “purse” should be fairly inoffensive. It has no gross implications, no associated bodily f luids, but to me it always represented something equally horrif ying: the frivolity of femininity. I have to call my purse a “bag,” because like the tote-carrying man insecure in his masculinity, I am a tote-carrying girl insecure in her femininity. Admitting it’s a purse means admitting I’m the kind of girl who carries a purse. The kind of girl who acts as the mean queen bee in the young adult novel, the airhead who is wellversed in lip gloss instead of calculus in the Disney Channel Original Movie. Growing up, I gave my Barbies “respectable” occupations like “car mechanic” or “inventor.” In elementary school, I played pretend on the playground. My best friend and I would run around under the aliases “Sam” (short for Samantha) and “Chris” (short for Christine) and fight crime. Our archenemies were always named Clarissa or Tiffany. They wore lipstick and liked boys and were generally despicable. But looking back, I now wonder, what did these “girly girls” do to earn the ire of my wonder women? W hy was wearing makeup a crime? W hy does liking the color pink signif y a loss of morals and intelligence? At the time, I thought I was a feminist, but I’m beginning to realize that what I thought was being empowered was actually just not being feminine. Early on, I learned that the hyper-feminine characters in movies were the antagonists. In “Hannah Montana,” the villains, Ashley and Amber, were mean, vapid and one-dimensional. They wore sparkly belts and frequently reapplied their lip gloss. On “Modern Family,” I watched sisters Alex and Haley Dunphy grow up. One of them refused to wear dresses and got straight A’s in school. The other went shopping and failed tests. Time and time again, the stupid girl, the bully, the shallow prom queen displays more traditionally feminine traits, while the sympathetic hero acts “down to earth,” forgoing makeup or shopping to crusade for the underprivileged. These shows associate traditional femininity with a lack of depth. They insinuate that respectability and “girliness” are mutually exclusive. And I’ve been insecure ever since. I enjoy wearing eye shadow on occasion, but I still ask my little sister if she can tell I’m wearing makeup every time I put on more than just my mascara. W hen traveling to school this year, I kept apologizing to my roommate, begging her not to judge my frivolity in packing two full suitcases full of clothes. I used to take off my nail polish every fall before school started because I was afraid of the assumptions my teachers would make about me. In middle school, I always listed “Remember the Titans” as my favorite movie because I thought the truth, “Cinderella Story,” would make me sound shallow or stupid. I was embarrassed to be associated with anything too girly, for fear it might
brand me as silly. Time and time again our world has taught girls that we can, in fact, be powerful, as long as we don’t act too feminine. We can run for president, as long as we wear pantsuits, not dresses. We can be the smartest person in our family, as long as we’re not interested in fashion, too. We can do anything we want to do, as long as we do it the way men do. But I wonder, if women are capable of becoming anything they choose, why can’t they choose to be feminine? I applaud parents who let their daughters play with LEGOs! But, I ask, are we just as driven to motivate our sons to play dress up? I am overjoyed when I see a young female fan of Lord of the Rings! But, I ask, why aren’t more people excited when they see a young male making his way through the Nancy Drew series? (I realize that Nancy Drew is not equivalent with LoTR in complexity. W hy aren’t there higher level female-driven series?) I love hearing about more women joining the STEM fields! W hy don’t I get newsletters praising men for joining humanities? I am so proud of my engineer-bound girl friends! W hy isn’t there the same respect for a man becoming an elementary school teacher? Go women! Yay empowerment! Now we can finally be like men! I am so excited by the burgeoning scope of women’s role in society, but I worry this expansion is less progressive than we think. I worry that in “empowering” women to rise up and take men’s roles, we reinforce the idea that women’s current contributions are inferior. That empowerment is simply synonymous with making more masculine. That in a world where a girl can be anything, she ought to be a man, because that’s the position worth the most respect. Of course, many women have rejected that they must choose between traditional femininity and power. Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez refuses to take off her signature red lipstick and gold hoop earrings, explaining, “Sonia Sotomayor … was advised to wear neutral-colored nail polish to her confirmation hearings to avoid scrutiny. She kept her red.” Irish head basketball coach Muffet McGraw wins national championships in green scarves, leather skirts, and leopard print dresses. Nancy Pelosi is both Speaker of the House and a proud mother and grandmother. Karlie Kloss is a renowned fashion model, coder and baker. Megan Rapinoe played on the World Cup-winning US women’s soccer team while sporting pink hair. As we break down gender roles and note a departure from traditional femininity, from domesticity, from “frivolity,” I ask: W hat exactly makes traditional femininity so frivolous? W hat is so inherently silly about loving a good romantic comedy? W hy must caring for my appearance be mutually exclusive with caring for my mind? W hy am I automatically less intelligent, less destined for greatness, if, as a child, I preferred helping in the kitchen to helping mow the lawn? W hat is it about being a woman that is so repulsive, I must abandon all overt traces in order to be sensible? Have women been relegated to these pursuits because the activity was less respected, or are these fields less respected because women do them? After all, if we can only respect women to the extent they resemble men, we’re not really respecting them at all. Julianna Conley loves cereal, her home state of California and the em dash. A sophomore in Pasquerilla East, if Julianna can’t be found picnicking on North Quad, she can be reached for comment at jconley4@nd.edu. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The observer | thursday, September 26, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
7
Burning cathedrals Sophia Sheehy BridgeND
One in three species of birds live in the Amazon rainforest. One in every 10 species known to mankind can be found there. For the last 55 million years, the Amazon has been home to some of the most beautiful scenery on the face of the planet. And as of this year, the Amazon is also the site of 43,000 forest fires. Like any piece of land that large, the forest naturally catches on fire from time to time. The last few years, however, have seen unprecedented burn rates. Much of this is caused by poor regulation, Brazilian economic despair and the rise of populism. Loggers and farmers have long had an interest in clearing the forest, but recently, drastically looser environmental regulations, combined with an economic slump, has pushed many into illegal lumberjacking. Loggers will uproot and chop down trees to sell lumber, then set the area ablaze. Once it is clear, they will illegally sell land — which they have no right to claim in the first place — to farmers and ranchers. This year is particularly bad, with more than double the fires as last year clearing a space nearly the size of Delaware. Part of this is thanks to the newly-elected Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a populist who has slashed the anti-deforestation budget and made it easier for illegal loggers to operate. He argues that Brazil’s economy is unfairly held back by environmental overregulation. He has taken the ensuing international disgust as a badge of pride, chastising Europe for not allowing Brazil to practice sovereignty over its own resources, and crowning himself a bulwark against newage colonialism. Some might argue that to regulate the preservation of the Amazon requires way too much bureaucratic
government intervention and necessarily means abating the logging industry. Some would say that Bolsonaro is simply doing what is best for a people struggling to stay afloat. If capitalism lends itself to exploitation, so be it. But recognition of exploitation is necessary in a free economy. Even the most steadfast capitalists will admit that some goods are inherently public and cannot be privatized. If I buy a private fireworks show for my family on the fourth of July, other people who did not pay will be able to view and enjoy it. If my local lake is the main food supply for my region and I overfish until there are not enough to reproduce, I have, in a moment of greed, hurt my community’s ability to survive forever. In a free economy, there are free riders and exploiters whose abuses both need to be curbed. The tragedy of the commons is a problem that needs to be fixed through government intervention. As overbearing and inefficient as bureaucracy can be, it is sometimes the only way to ensure that the free market is a fair market. This is undoubtedly not the first time you have heard that proper resource maintenance reaches beyond the scope of their respective countries. Moreover, this is hopefully not the first time you have heard the argument that basic regulation is economically wise in the long run. There is a larger point beyond basic economics, though. How the world has responded to the fires in Brazil reveals a great deal about how we view tragedy. When fire nearly destroyed the Cathedral of Notre Dame earlier this year, many, including this University, were quick to contribute to the restoration of such an important historical and cultural site. The world was reminded of the value of 800 years of effort in building and maintaining a sacred place worthy of God’s presence. Yet even the finest masonry is horribly inept at glorifying God in comparison to the humblest forest. The tallest spire cannot inspire nearly the same awe as the smallest
tree. Every sculpture and every structure can only hope to mimic the fearful symmetry of God’s creation. There is no greater cathedral nor place of higher sanctity than that which has been carved by the hand of God. When our own feeble attempts at mastery crumble, we demand their reconstruction. There are surely reasons to mourn the destruction of the Notre Dame Cathedral, but beyond the preservation of culture and history is the almost selfish desire to uphold what man can do. What we can create. What divinely ordained human ingenuity can masterfully build. In itself, the unanimous and loud objection to the loss of an emblem of human creativity is not so insulting. But when followed by our silence in the midst of losing the Amazon – an emblem of infinite creativity and ultimate beauty – desire to preserve man-made cultural and historical icons takes on a new significance. Desperately reconstructing what humanity wrought while our silence tacitly encourages the destruction of what God wrought is self-idolatry. When the Notre Dame of France burned, the world put aside geopolitical differences and economic considerations to fortify what was left of a shared inheritance before it was too late. Yet, as we celebrate this successful salvation of human achievement, we watch the most hallowed and sacred of all churches burns to ashes. If only we protested the burning of all the world’s cathedrals with the same vigor and determination. Sophia Sheehy is a junior from Cavanaugh. She is the co-President of BridgeND, a multi-partisan political club committed to bridging the partisan divide through respectful and productive discourse. It meets on Mondays at 5 p.m. in the McNeill Room of LaFortune Student Center to learn about and discuss current political issues, and can be reached at bridgend@ nd.edu or on Twitter @bridge_ND.
Letter to the editor
Transgender medicine and the treatment of children A panel entitled “Transgender Medicine and Children: What are the Facts?” will explore the issue of medical treatments for children with gender dysphoria Thursday at 7 p.m. in Carey Auditorium in Hesburgh Library. The panel will feature Dr. Paul Hruz, professor of pediatrics and endocrinology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and Dr. Michelle Cretella, a general pediatrician and the Executive Director of the American College of Pediatricians. Dr. Hruz and Dr. Cretella will speak one hour, and a question and answer session will follow at the panel sponsored by Students for Child-Oriented Policy. Children are experiencing gender dysphoria and seeking medical treatments at a skyrocketing rate. Some doctors utilize new treatments that take an affirmative approach to gender dysphoria, supporting transitions through medications and surgeries. Other medical professionals reject medication and surgery, noting that the majority of cases of gender dysphoria resolve on their own or through counseling by the end of puberty. Some clinicians in the UK, for example, have challenged the affirmative approach, as have clinicians in the U.S. While there are disagreements as to the best path of treatment, we recognize that everyone wishes to do right by children. In the United Kingdom, the number of children treated for gender dysphoria — a condition where a person “experiences discomfort or distress because there’s a mismatch between their biological sex and gender identity” according to the National Health Institute — increased 4,000% between 2009 and 2017. There are similar increases in the U.S., which now has over 45 pediatric gender programs following the affirmative approach. What medical treatments are these children receiving? Under the affirmative approach, children who experience gender dysphoria are prescribed puberty-blocking drugs at the onset of puberty. These drugs suppress the production of testosterone or estrogen, therefore
preventing the changes that normally occur during puberty. After several years on puberty blockers, a child might be prescribed cross-sex hormones around age 16. These hormones trigger the development of secondary-sex characteristics of the desired sex, like breasts, facial hair and muscular structure. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) protocols encourage waiting for gender reassignment surgery until after a patient reaches the age of majority in their countries, though doctors increasingly perform chest surgeries (double mastectomies) earlier, even on children as young as 13. Proponents of the affirmative treatment approach for children argue the transition will relieve the stress of gender dysphoria. They argue puberty-blockers make a transition easier because secondary sex characteristics — such as a deep voice and an Adam’s apple — have developed to a lesser extent. In particular, proponents support the affirmative approach as a means to decrease the high rate of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts among transgender teens. Critics of this approach argue the treatments, which are not approved by the FDA for these purposes, have not been adequately studied. They raise concerns about the unintended side effects of widespread off-label drug doses that bring about significant physical alterations. Critics dispute whether transitioning actually decreases the high suicide rate of those with gender dysphoria. The case against the affirmative approach is compounded by the fact that gender dysphoria resolves in the majority (~80%) of children by the end of puberty. Moreover, many who are against the affirmative approach point out that people cannot change their biological sex — hormones and surgery modify the body’s external appearance and the function of body parts. They
argue altering puberty and removing healthy body parts is never warranted to alleviate gender dysphoria. This is the position taken by Students for Child-Oriented Policy. This event will focus on analyzing medical studies. Dr. Hruz and Dr. Cretella will explain the available data on the effects of puberty-blocking drugs, cross-sex hormones and mastectomies on children. Dr. Cretella will also detail normal gender development in children from a medical perspective. Everyone is welcome to attend this event and engage respectfully with Dr. Hruz and Dr. Cretella. We extend an invitation in particular to students who are pre-med and professors concentrating in a scientific field. The event is intended to provoke intellectual discussion that utilizes scientific information. You may disagree with the medical conclusions reached by Dr. Cretella and Dr. Hruz — that hormone-blockers and cross-sex hormones should not be used to treat gender dysphoria in children — but please come and ask a question, as a scientific debate will enable all of us to gain in knowledge and direction. There is no intention to inflict anxiety on any member of the Notre Dame family through this lecture on an admittedly controversial topic. But we believe the most harmful thing for an academic community is to censor arguments on issues that matter. Thousands of children are receiving these drugs, and the medical debate matters to them and to the kids who will come after them. We need to be free to discuss the treatment of children so we can proceed forward as a society in the manner that best protects them. Ellie Gardey students for child-oriented policy co-president, junior Sept. 22
8
Classifieds
The observer | thursday, september 26, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Crossword | Will Shortz
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Look at the possibilities, and take care of unfinished business. Having the information readily available and the freedom to spend time following a path that excites you should be your priorities. It’s time to concentrate on what you want, regardless of what someone else wants. Standing up and speaking your mind will stop anyone who tries to meddle in your affairs. Your numbers are 3, 10, 16, 25, 33, 35, 49. ARIES (March 21-April 19): A day trip, the pursuit of knowledge or taking time to get to know someone better will have an impact on your day as well as on a decision you have to make. Love and romance are featured. Share your feelings. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take a break; visit a place that you find inspiring or rejuvenating. Removing yourself from a situation will help give you a new perspective on life and what’s best for you. You can’t satisfy everyone, so please yourself. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You’ll attract a lot of attention with your charm, knowledge and positive attitude. Be aware that your flirtatious ways will make some people angry and confuse others. Try not to be misleading. Be frank about the way you feel. CANCER ( June 21-July 22): You can choose to get things done on time, or you can make a fuss and end up working late. The more you accomplish, the more respect and help you will be offered. Take better care of your possessions and your health. LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): You can be lively and fun to be with and still avoid being excessive. Make plans with someone who enjoys the same things you do, and you can split the costs. Maintaining equality will ensure that you build a lasting friendship. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Factor in emotions when dealing with others. Being receptive to complaints as well as suggestions will make a difference. Don’t feel you have to stand alone. Take the initiative to work in conjunction with others, but keep your finances separate. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): An adjustment to your living arrangements will help ease stress. It’s up to you to call the shots and to put an end to things you don’t like. Self-improvement should be your first concern. Romance is featured. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Look at change logically, but be prepared to do things your way. A unique approach will attract interest and support from someone who has the influence to help you reach your goal. Don’t mix business with pleasure. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t worry about what others do. Focus on your own plans and how you intend to get ahead. A partnership with someone who shares your sentiments will help you accomplish your goals. Romance is on the rise. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Listen to what’s being said, but don’t reveal your position. Wait to see what everyone else is going to do before you make a move. A joint venture isn’t likely to turn out as anticipated. Update documents and contracts before they lapse. AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Look over documents and consider what you have to work with before you take on a job that could be a conflict of interest. Don’t share secret information or passwords. Concentrate on personal gains and self-improvement. Romance is in the stars. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Share your insight, but don’t offer to do too much for people trying to push a heavy workload your way. Be explicit when asking for something or giving directions to avoid being blamed for being inconsistent or misleading. Birthday Baby: You are trendy, amicable and diplomatic. You are curious and broad-minded.
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
Follow us on Twitter. @ObserverSports Work Area
Make checks payable to and mail to: The Observer P.O. Box 779 Notre Dame, IN 46556
Published Monday through Friday, The Observer is a vital source of information on people and events in the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross Communities. Join the more than 13,000 readers who have found The Observer an indispensable link to the three campuses. Please complete the accompanying form and mail it today to receive The Observer in your home.
Enclosed is $130 for one academic year Enclosed is $75 for one semester Name Address City State Zip
DAILY
ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, september 26, 2019 | The Observer
Ryan
Sports Authority
Why I support perpetual losers Colin Capece Sports Writer
This could be the most backwards thing you read all week, but I’m going to write this column anyway. On Tuesday, my colleague Hayden Adams provided justification for being a bandwagon sports fan. While I understand his point of view and very much respect his opinion, I’m here to tell you that Hayden is flat out wrong, and I will instead attempt to justify being a fan of losing franchises. I can think of no better time to craft this piece than on the night my beloved New York Mets were officially eliminated from playoff contention. Every year on this night, I reflect o-n why I continue to root for New York’s losing teams as opposed to its winning ones. The Mets haven’t won a World Series since my dad was in college more than 30 years ago, the Jets have been trotting out mediocre quarterbacks for as long as I can remember, and I need a VHS tape to watch highlights of the last time the Knicks and the Islanders contended for championships. Why you ask, would I root for these awful teams when the vastly more successful Yankees, Giants, Nets and Rangers are waiting across town? As I look back on my last 18 years of professional sports misery, I can honestly say that I would not be the man I am today if I did not root for perpetual losers, and there are so many valuable lessons that can be learned from enduring through hopelessness and despair. The obvious one, of course, is learning to deal with defeat. We have all experienced times when life beats us down and things don’t go our way, and we have to figure out how to pick ourselves up and move on. Those who root for bad teams have a lot of experience in this regard. For me, sports affiliations have proven to be a training ground for perseverance, and watching my teams lose on a consistent basis has helped me move past much more difficult issues in my life. I also believe that rooting for bad teams can help people learn to laugh at themselves. There have been seasons where my teams have been so bad that their play on the field proved to be a source of comedy. Instead of being angry, I couldn’t control my laughter when Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez ran into
his lineman’s backside on that fateful Thanksgiving night, or when Geno Smith threw interceptions on three consecutive pass attempts against the Bills (Why they let him throw the ball again after two straight interceptions is beyond me). Nobody likes it when people take themselves too seriously, and rooting for bad teams is a great way to learn humility. When you support losing franchises, you begin to adopt the attitude that life could be a heck of a lot worse, and I don’t think that’s such a bad mentality to have. When you root for bad teams, you also learn to appreciate the moment. Bad sports teams can teach people how to forget about the past, but also not look too far into the future. Returning to the Mets, this team has an uncanny ability to give their faithful a glimmer of hope before ripping their hearts out and crushing them into pieces. I can recall a game this past season where the our bullpen took a sevenrun lead into the bottom of the ninth before it evaporated into thin air. Losing teams can teach people that success is fleeting. My fandom has taught me to always be grateful for what I have and what I have accomplished. Finally, supporting perpetual losers can help others learn the value of faith in trying times. In order to preserve my sanity as a Mets, Jets, Knicks and Islanders fan, optimism has really been the only option. This lesson has certainly translated to my personal life. When my dad and my brother spent time ill in the hospital, I drew upon this faith that I learned as a New York sports fan to get me and my family through these difficult times. One thing I can say about fans of losing teams is that we will fight with our teams until the bitter end. However, this struggle is what makes any limited success taste so much sweeter. I was on cloud nine when the Jets beat the Patriots in Foxborough in the AFC Divisional round of the playoffs in 2010, or when the Mets reached the World Series in 2015. Life can be a great deal of fun when your pain and suffering finally flips on its head. So there you have it. Call me crazy, but I am proud to call myself a loser. Contact Colin Capece at ccapece@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Continued from page 12
and the rest is histor y. “I played f lag football in high school when we’d have turkey bowl games and started play ing for the dorm because my cousin was on the team,” she said. A lthough Ryan won the championship last year, the odds might be stacked against them this season. Ryan’s former quarterback and w ide receiver graduated last year and the backup quarterback recently had surger y done. A long w ith these players, the Wildcats also has to replace some players from the offensive and defensive lines. Since f lag football is not a contact sport, one would assume that injuries are unlikely, but McCarter has had her fair share of rough opponents. “I got a concussion t wo years ago during a game,” she said. “I was running w ith the ball and I turned around at a weird angle, and there was another girl standing right beside me. I did not see a defender, and my head collided w ith hers and hit the ground. I got a concussion, and she also broke her arm.” Her sister forced her into an ambulance, and her mother was not happy. They asked her to stop play ing, but McCarter’s love for the sport could not hold her back from the game.
Ryan has a long-standing rivalr y w ith neighboring Welsh Family Hall, which lasted long before they played each other in the f lag football championship last year. “Welsh Fam’s always been our biggest opponent,” McCarter said. “I have always had a hard time playing against them, but we beat them in the stadium last year.” Ryan Hall’s success on the field last year was a combination of skill, camaraderie, understanding and coordination. They are equally determined this year. “We would really like to bring the intensit y and success that we had last year,” she said. “On the field, we were prett y good. I am hoping to bring some of that back, even though we have a lot of the team to replace. But I am optimistic.” McCarter praised the skills of one of the Wildcats’ returning players. “[Senior] Libby Cresap is definitely a player to watch out for,” McCarter said. “Last year she brought the intensit y and never let a single ball past her.” Intramural sports are meant to encourage communit y and inclusion. Given the purpose of “dorm sports,” it could seem odd that Ryan Hall hold tr youts for f lag football, which would mean cutting players that do not meet the desired expectations. McCarter said that
9
tr youts ser ve to enhance competitiveness. “There has to be [tr youts] because there is a ma x imum amount of players you can have on a team,” she said. “I think it should be like this because it maintains competition. If you don’t have the time or zeal to play then there’s always the B Team.” Tr youts for Ryan’s team are held in a systematic manner. The players can tr y out for any position they want, and the coaches decide who w ill make it to the A Team depending on the requirement of the positions that need to be filled. No one is denied the opportunit y to play, just to be on the A Team. Ryan lost to Welsh Family in the season opener Sunday, w ith a final score of 7-6. Despite the early loss, Ryan Hall is optimistic for the f lag football season. They play some of the toughest teams w ith the Chaos of Cavanaugh Hall, The W hirlw inds of Welsh Family Hall and the Shamrocks of McGlinn Hall all in their league. Their next game is this Sunday against the Shamrocks of McGlinn Hall and the regular season comes to an end at the end of October so the Wildcats have plent y of time to w in. Contact Ahana Sood at asood1@nd.edu
ANN CURTIS | The Observer
A Ryan Hall team captain holds a football in a set position while wearing her team shirt during their Championship photoshoot in November of 2018 before their win over Welsh Family Hall. The Observer accepts classifieds every business day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Notre Dame office, 024 South Dining Hall. Deadline for next-day classifieds is 3 p.m. All classifieds must be prepaid. The charge is 5 cents per character per day, including all spaces. The Observer reserves the right to edit all classifieds for content without issuing refunds.
10
Sports
The observer | thursday, september 26, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
ANN CURTIS | The Observer
ANN CURTIS | The Observer
Following his touchdown grab to put the Irish up 7-0 at the start of the second quarter during last Saturday’s Georgia game, tight end Cole Kmet and his teammates celebrate in the end zone.
Kmet Continued from page 12
end zone who rose to rip the ball out of the air. He acknowledged that he had to “stay positive and keep working and wait for [his] opportunit y.” W hile Kmet had a successful night, the team was ultimately unable to secure the w in. In their practice Tuesday, Kmet said the captains led w ith a mantra that stayed w ith him coming off that loss Saturday. “We’re on to Virginia now,” he said. “That was the thing, you know, we’re on to Virginia. That’s our opponent this week, and we had a great practice today for Virginia, and we’re getting ready to go for this weekend.” Head coach Brian Kelly told them they were going to have to bounce back this week and upon hearing that, there was only one idea that ran through Kmet’s head: “Let’s get to work. Gotta put your head dow n and get to work.” Upon practicing and getting ready for this week’s game, Kmet conceded that Virginia has their strengths. “Their defense is really good — they lead the nation in sacks,” he said. “They’ve got a good [defensive]-line, good linebackers.” However, Kmet has full faith in himself and his Irish teammates as they tr y to rebound from last week w ith a w in over the Cavaliers. “The goal is to w in a national championship, and that starts w ith beating Virginia this week,” he said. “[We’ll] take it day by day, week by week, and the rest w ill take care of itself.” Contact Mannion McGinley at mmcginl3@nd.edu
Irish junior tight end Cole Kmet secures a pass from Ian Book during Notre Dame’s 23-17 loss on Saturday in Sanford Stadium.
Paid Advertisement
Sports
M Golf Continued from page 12
undulation. There are a lot more hills in Pittsburgh; coming here it is a little bit easier because it is flat, but it is the same type of grass — it’s bent grass,” he said. “Being familiar with that has really helped me to acclimate here. Playing in big tournaments like the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Junior just tells me I know I can compete with every collegiate player out here — everyone in the nation — so it just gives me the confidence I need to help the team out and help us produce wins.” When asked about some of his most memorable moments out on the course throughout his golfing career, Jackson provided some personal achievements of which he is most proud. “At Inverness this summer, I was in match play at the U.S. Junior and I was on number 18 and I chipped in to win, which was really cool,” he said. “There were multiple times this year where I came from behind to secure a spot in a tournament or I won a qualifier. Then I really focused on winning just to give myself motivation to just make the cut. “One time in a match play tournament, two or three years ago, I chipped in from on the
ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, september 26, 2019 | The Observer
cart path, which was pretty crazy. I’ve had four holes-in-one, but none of them were within the last three years. … Obviously the U.S. [Amateur] run was really special. I was playing guys that were Big 12 champions, SEC champions and I just managed to beat them in match play, which was really, really cool. An alumnus of Franklin Regional High School, Jackson graduated with the Highest Honor Roll with Distinction and was a National Honor Society student, and all the while was a four-year letter winner in baseball as well as golf. Jackson, a pitcher in high school, compared the similarities between the two sports that seem to wildly contradict each other in terms of technique and form. “I can compare pitching to golf, and it is actually probably more similar, in that as a pitcher, you are completely in control of what is going to happen … you control where the ball is going to go and what your thoughts are before you throw the ball,” he said. “[In golf and baseball], that is the most important thing. If you are thinking about your target and thinking about what you need to think about, which is positive thoughts, you are going to dominate whatever you are going to do. It was a good transition for me because [in] the Pittsburgh winters I couldn’t
11
golf much, and then I’d go out in the spring and play baseball and it got me back into winning, determined mentality to really go out there and try to win and do the best I can. If something bad happened, somebody hit a home run off me, so be it, but I was going to do everything I could to throw the ball exactly where I wanted to, and that translated to golf very well.” With an accomplished golf career already in his back pocket, Jackson spoke on the goals he set coming into his first collegiate season. “I didn’t have that many distinct goals. I wanted to win a college tournament this year. If it works out, it works out,” he said. “I had a fourth at Conway Farms [at the Windon Memorial Classic hosted by Northwestern], which was pretty good. I haven’t been playing my best golf, but you can’t expect every week to have your best stuff. My goal was just to help out the team a lot, help the team win. We’ve won two so far, it looks like we’ve got a good chance at the next two tournaments this fall to get the win. But I’m just looking to get better every day, just trying to take it easy on myself, not really think about the future and stay in the present.” Photo Courtesy of Josh Bates
Contact Jimmy Ward at wward@hcc-nd.edu Paid Advertisement
Irish freshman golfer Palmer Jackson completes his swing with an iron during a practice on Sept. 5 at Warren Golf Course.
12
The observer | thursday, september 26, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
FOOTBALL
Kmet discusses return to play following injury, team’s mentality ahead of Virginia By MANNION McGINLEY Sports Writer
Irish junior tight end Cole Kmet jumps in the air to catch a pass from senior quarterback Ian Book and gain key yardage for Notre Dame in their game against Georgia at Sanford Stadium on Saturday.
The week after his return to the field from a broken collarbone, junior tight end Cole Kmet spoke with the media after practice Tuesday. After being out for about five weeks, he said he was unsure of his ability to return the way he did. “It felt good, honestly, to get back on the football field,” he said. “I didn’t know how my conditioning would hold up and all that stuff, but I just went with it, and when you’re in the game — in the moment — you just kind of keep going.” That’s exactly what he did, and when the Georgia week showed up, he was ready. “When I got my X-ray, they said I should be cleared by Georgia, so that was the goal date from the beginning,” he said. “They gave me five to eight weeks, and I was on the lower end, so I guess I’m a
WOMEN’S INTERHALL FLAG FOOTBALL | RYAN HALL
MEN’s Golf
ANN CURTIS | The Observer
Ryan looks to defend flag football championship
By JIMMY WARD
Sports Writer
Sports Writer
It is bright and sunny in South Bend, and campus is hy ped up about football season. The residents of Ryan Hall, however, have a slightly different focus. They are excited about the upcoming f lag football games and have already started practicing. As the 2018 women’s f lag football champions, they held their first tr youts on Sept. 18. With a team of four coaches and one captain, the Wildcats’ tr youts for the A Team began w ith a spirit of communit y as the entire team huddled together in a circle w ith Fiona McCarter leading the pack as captain. The off-campus senior is heading the team in her fourth year play ing f lag football. McCarter, a w ide receiver, started play ing on Ryan’s team because her cousin pushed her into it,
Nearing a month into his first collegiate season, freshman Palmer Jackson has proven to be a worthwhile addition to the Notre Dame men’s golf squad. Jackson had already made his mark with a terrific high school golf career. He was the first golfer in history to win the CR Miller Match Play three times, first winning the tournament in 2015 at the age of 14, becoming the youngest champion in the event’s history, more recently in 2017 and once more this past summer. These victories helped Jackson qualify for the 2018 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach, in addition to several other big tournaments. He competed in the 2018 Junior PGA Championship, where he finished 23rd, and the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur. At the 2019 Memorial AJGA at Ohio State’s Scarlet Course, he dominated the rest of the field with a final score of +2, while posting round scores of 72-73 and closing out the third
see RYAN PAGE 9
Members of Ryan Hall’s A team holds up their trophy in celebration of their 2018 championship win over Welsh Fam.
see KMET PAGE 12
Palmer Jackson makes impact
By AHANA SOOD
Photo Courtesy of Ellen Geyer
quick healer.” The Lake Barrington, Illinois, native wasted no time getting back in the action on his first play on the field. “I knew the first play I was going in, the coach told me, ‘We’re going to get you going,’ and usually with him, if you make a play he’s going to come back to you,” Kmet said. That’s exactly what happened. He totalled nine receptions — the most for an Irish tight end in a game since 1977 — for 108 yards and his first career touchdown and was named John Mackey Award tight end of the week. Kmet definitely stepped up to the plate, not at all timid despite his recent “quick” healing. In the opening minutes of the second quarter in Sanford Stadium, senior quarterback Ian Book took the snap and rolled out to his left on 4th down, finding Kmet in the
and final round with his best score of the week, a 70. Don’t let the +2 deceive you though, as Jackson was able to birdie nine of the 54 holes he played at one of the most storied courses in college golf and ranked the Golf Channel’s top rated college course from a coaches’ poll in 2009. The Scarlet Course was designed by world-renowned course architect Alister MacKenzie and was completed in 1938. It most recently received renovations by Jack Nicklaus in 2006. Throughout the tournament Jackson never posted anything worse than a bogey on his worst holes. Despite his young age, Jackson makes up for it with consistent and steady play on the course. A Pittsburgh native, Jackson spoke on how his experiences at top-tier courses across the nation have prepared him for play at the collegiate level. “Courses in the midwest are a little bit different than Pittsburgh, especially the see M GOLF PAGE 11