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Volume 56, Issue 18 | MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Gateway cohort reacts to housing update Students respond to unprecedented lack of on-campus housing for 2022-23 academic year By LIAM PRICE News Writer
On Friday morning, Notre Dame’s office of residential life informed students in the 2021-2022 cohort of the Holy Cross Gateway Program that housing will be unavailable for them and all other transfers for the 2022-2023 academic year. Each year, the College hosts around 75 first-year students as part of the Gateway Program. As long as they maintain a 3.5 GPA in their first year at Holy Cross, the students transfer to Notre Dame at the start of their sophomore year. Though Gateway students had
been offered housing in past years, this year’s students will be the first to be fully denied housing in the nine years of the program. This decision comes after a spike in yield rates — the percent of accepted students who choose to enroll after being accepted — for Notre Dame’s class of 2025. “Increased yields in first year student enrollment over the past several years effectively eliminate this possibility for Fall 2022,” the office’s email said. The year’s yield rate, 58%, was Notre Dame’s secondlargest ever, according to senior vice president for enrollment Don Bishop. Further, the email encouraged
students to begin the search for offcampus housing immediately. In an email to The Observer on Sunday, University spokesperson Dennis Brown said the announcement was made early to give students adequate time to make other arrangements. “The letter was sent last week in order to give students as much time as possible to make off-campus housing arrangements,” Brown wrote. Gateway students, after being offered admission to the program in their application portal, are told that housing is not guaranteed for them when they transfer to Notre Dame. However, many Gateway
students, like Claudia O’Sullivan, did not anticipate housing to be an issue. “In the spring when they were telling us about the whole housing situation, it seemed much more guaranteed than I think it actually was,” O’Sullivan said. “It would’ve changed a lot of people’s decisions, and it’s a pretty big decision.” But despite her disappointment, O’Sullivan is still holding out hope. Also a member of Gateway’s ninth cohort, Daniel Schrage was upset about the lack of transparency on the issue from the administration. “I felt like they kind of backstabbed us because they told us
we had the chance to live on ND’s campus for three years, then they just took that out from under us,” he said. Ryan Miklus said he thinks this outcome was the product of Notre Dame’s own miscalculations. Madeline Murphy said she was upset that the University’s threeyear on-campus requirement exacerbates the shortages of housing space on campus. Dr. Kate Pastore, a parent of Gateway student Grace Kayastha, echoed Murphy’s sentiments. “My daughter and her classmates
see GATEWAY PAGE 3
Protests near South Bend debates police campus highlight officers in schools climate change
By ISA SHEIKH News Writer
At the Sept. 20 meeting of the South Bend Community Schools Corporation (SBCSC), the school board discussed a drive-in movie at Washington High School, districtwide professional learning and a dual language immersion grant. Not on the agenda, however — the presence of armed police officers in South Bend schools, also known as school resource officers (SROs). Because of a 2012 contract between the St. Joseph County Police and South Bend Police Department, there are four officers in South Bend schools. The district annually spends approximately half a million dollars on that contract, advocates say. The police allege differently, saying in a press release that the “average split-reimbursement for our SRO’s has been between $290,000-$330,000 when we had six SROs in the schools, we now have only four,” and that SBSC only pays half. Advocates and community members who had assembled to speak on that issue got their chance to talk an hour and five minutes in, when the Board heard comments from the public on items that weren’t on the agenda.
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“It was definitely a little tense,” Noemi Toroczkai said. “But it was tense for a good reason.” Toroczkai, a Fulbright Scholar from Granger currently working as a Fulbright application advisor at Notre Dame, was there along with groups such as the South Bend NAACP, the South Bend chapter of Black Lives Matter and the Michiana Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. As an anthropology student at the University, Toroczkai grew interested in the racial problems in South Bend schools, hearing anecdotes and experiences in the 2020 summer protests following the police killing of George Floyd. For advocates seeking to have the SBSC discontinue their contract with the police departments, the issue of armed officers in schools is just the tip of the iceberg, according to Indiana University South Bend (IUSB) labor studies professor Paul Mishler. Mishler, whose department at IUSB is a sister department to the Higgins Labor Program at Notre Dame, has been an activist since the Vietnam War era. He helped organize the coordinated presence at the school board meeting, and subsequent protests on the issue. To Mishler, police presence has problems outside of just school
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campuses. “Part of the experience of black people in America is the police as an occupying force in their communities,” he said. Advocates like Mishler argue that SROs came into existence in places such as South Bend following desegregation efforts, as white families grew uncomfortable and advocated for armed presences on campus. During the meeting, of the public commenters who came to the podium to offer thoughts on SROs, only one woman was speaking in favor of them, arguing that SROs keep the community safe. Mishler and Toroczkai argue that SROs don’t make schools safer, but the presence of an armed police officer does the exact opposite. But police officers argue they have been in schools for decades, building connections and interacting with South Bend students in a positive way. “It takes a special person to interact with kids,” St. Joseph County Sheriff William Redmond told the South Bend Tribune. “I’m not just going to put someone in schools who’s aggressive, who’s just going to arrest everybody. I want our officers to engage with see POLICE PAGE 4
VIEWPOINT PAGE 7
CLAIRE LYONS | The Observer
Jackson Glynn and other Notre Dame students line up along Angela Blvd. to advocate for action against climate change. By MAGGIE EASTLAND Associate News Writer
Around 30 Notre Dame students, professors and members of the South Bend community gathered at the corner of Angela Blvd. and Eddy St. on Friday to advocate for environmental policies in the fight against climate change. “We’re trying to light a little fire here in our corner of the world,” sociology professor and organizer Christian Smith said. The protest took place as
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Democrats in Washington D.C. try to pass extensive climate legislation along with various social safety net programs in the Build Back Better bill. Smith said widespread policy to fight climate change, such as a tax on carbon emissions and efforts to stop cutting and burning the Amazon rainforest, must come together as soon as possible to avoid climate disaster. Protestors carried neon posters with various see CLIMATE PAGE 3
FOOTBALL PAGE 12
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The observer | MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
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The Band of the Fighting Irish plays the Alma Mater in Notre Dame Stadium after this weekend’s 24-13 loss to the Cincinnati Bearcats. This was Notre Dame’s first at-home loss since their 20-19 defeat to the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2017 home opener.
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Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Mass on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi Basilica of the Sacred Heart 5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. All are welcome.
The Big Draw: The Snite Sketches Snite Museum of Art 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Come sketch your favorite art pieces.
Russian Language Table Decio Hall 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Practice language skills with games.
A Celebration of Belonging Rice Commons 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Opening of new LGBTQ center.
Recess: Gratitude Journals South Quad 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. Take a break with McWell.
ISSLP Info Session Geddes Hall, McNeill Library 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Summer service opportunities.
“Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor” Geddes Hall 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Lecture on poverty and climate change.
An Exploration of Marian Art Rice Commons 6 p.m. Come see new pieces of art depicting Mary.
Artful Yoga Snite Museum of Art 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Evening yoga class at the museum. Registration required.
Notre Dame Symphony Orchestra Leighton Concert Hall 8:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Celebrating 250 years of Beethoven.
News
Climate Continued from page 1
messages, many with blunt, straightforward messaging. Sophomore Jackson Glynn held a sign that red “Collective change or collective death,” written in bright red and green writing. “It sounds dramatic, but if we wait until later, it’ll be too late,” Glynn said. Other posters read, “The Earth is God’s to love, not ours to destroy,” “Major systemic change now,” “Mass extinction is happening now,” “Fossil billionaires must pay” and “Your home is on fire.” The peaceful attitude of the protestors stood in contrast to their messages on paper. Despite her nervous attitude toward protests, sociology graduate student Jennifer Dudley brought her twoyear-old son Luke to the protest because she knew there would be no shouting or placing blame on individuals. “He doesn’t understand yet that the earth is on fire,” Dudley said. “But hopefully someday when he does, he’ll know his mom was trying to do something about it.” As Dudley expected, the protest remained peaceful. With the goal of catching the attention of rush-hour commuters, participants spread out near the crosswalk just before 5 p.m. and quietly held their signs. Protestors were met with positive reactions. Many people driving through the intersection honked in approval, gave a thumbs up or rolled down their windows to cheer in support of the protestors’ cause. One student biking through the intersection even stopped to tell protestors about her promising studies on green hydrogen. Protestors in attendance
ndsmcobserver.com | MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2021 | The ObserveR
represented a variety of different climate change passions. Tom Kavanagh, part of the Notre Dame class of 1977, said he believes the University needs to lead the climate change charge within the faith community. Michael Rotolo, a sociology graduate student, said he is concerned about emissions and interested in how people pass on their moral views concerning climate change to their children. With the return of selfserve options in the dining halls, sophomore Mack Pittman said she would like to see the University work on decreasing food waste by spreading awareness among students. Pittman is working on the food waste problem as a member of GreenND, a University club promoting sustainability and environmental consciousness. The University recently announced a plan for carbon neutrality by 2050. However, some protesters said Notre Dame should do more to combat climate change. “It’s too little, too late. I’m not criticizing, but it’s just not enough,” Smith said. “We can’t just view it as an ND thing. It’s a global phenomenon.” Smith handed out informational f lyers to those supporting his cause. The f lyers featured tips for addressing climate change on the national, state and individual levels. The sheet encouraged people to share their climate concerns with state and federal lawmakers as well as with family and friends while reducing their personal carbon footprint. Contact Maggie Eastland at meastlan@nd.edu
St. Francis Week celebrated By GRACIE EPPLER News Writer
This week, a number of events will be held around campus in honor of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi and to raise awareness about climate change. While the Feast of St. Francis is usually commemorated by a special mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, this year’s Mass is just the starting point. Working hand-in-hand with Notre Dame’s Forum for the 2021-2022 academic year “Care for our Common Home,” the Office of Sustainability, the Center for Social Concerns, the sustainability studies program, Notre Dame International, Campus Ministry, student government and Campus Dining have prepared for a week devoted to making our world cleaner and healthier. Campus Ministry’s associate director of liturgy Kate Barrett said she is excited that so many different departments and organizations across campus have come together to put on these events. “We’ve been meeting since July and are working really hard to make the next seven days possible,” Barrett said. “Our three main focuses of the week are prayer, education and action.” These themes are all visible throughout the week’s planned events. Sunday kicked off the week with a film on St. Francis in the DeBartolo Center for the Performing Arts and a blessing of the pets event. On Monday, sustainability and spirituality will intersect at the Mass of St. Francis, which acknowledges St. Francis’ love for the environment and calls students to
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participate in prayer and reflection, Barrett said. “As Christians, we are called to recognize the special place of all living things,” Barrett said. “The Church has taught how important it is that we are all members of the community, and that this community extends beyond just humans. It’s the community of the whole earth.” Caitlin Jacobs, a program manager in the Office of Sustainability, said she believes that this time dedicated to St. Francis offers something for everyone to take part in, not just those that are religious. “We have a full week of activities and events,” Jacobs said. “This time is an opportunity to learn about the intersection of sustainability with other issues. We’ve really tried to set it up in a way where there’s something for everyone.” Events during St. Francis Week are not just for those on campus, but for members of the Notre Dame community around the world who can tune in to many events via livestream. On Tuesday, a talk called “Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor” will be hosted in Geddes Hall and streamed online. The talk will connect the week’s mission to Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si” in which he exhorts citizens of the earth to take care of their common home. Many others agree that “Laudato Si” is vital for the message of the week, as well as for the world. Dr. Philip Sakimoto, the director of the sustainability minor, believes the encyclical can be used as an outline for sustainable living. Contact Gracie Eppler at geppler@nd.edu
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Gateway Continued from page 1
have been counting the days until they can live on campus, while there are juniors who want to live off campus and are not being allowed,” Pastore said. Pastore also expressed disappointment in Notre Dame for not looking for more solutions. Murphy said she is also frustrated because she feels as if Gateway students are being treated as inferior to “traditional” Notre Dame students. “It hurts when they tell us we are valued at Notre Dame; it is beyond evident that we are not,” she said. “I am highly considering transferring.” Another common sentiment is that with a full cohort having been denied housing in their sophomore year, the Gateway Program will be far less appealing to future classes. “It will tank Gateway, potentially tanking Holy Cross financially,” first-year Liam Redmond said. “I feel betrayed. I feel like I was misled by Holy Cross, but I was definitely more frustrated with Notre Dame.” Others, however, are not as upset. Gateway student Jack Szatkowski said he felt prepared for the decision and explained that the possibility of not having housing did not hinder his decision to enroll in the program. “It’s not what I signed up for, but the school has been pretty transparent with us, saying there’s a good chance we don’t get housing,” he said. “I didn’t come to Notre Dame to have housing. I came to Notre Dame to go to Notre Dame.” First-year Liam Linnen also was not bothered with the prospect of living off-campus. “I was honestly fine with it; I kind of prepared for it,” he said. “There’s no parietals, either. You can do whatever you want whenever you want.” Since the Friday announcement, Gateway students have been receiving many words of encouragement. Aurelia Wishart, the new coordinator of Gateway Program, sent an email to students commending their strength. “I’m sorry this happened to you,” she said. “The positivity and resilience of your cohort is astounding to me.” Wishart also shared words from a member of the 20202021 Gateway cohort, Alyssa Wilgenbusch, who was assigned to live in Fischer Graduate Hall this year after dorm space was filled up. “I totally know how you are feeling,” Wilgenbusch said. “It can be very hard knowing that you will not be a part of the ‘normal’ Notre Dame experience. However, I would encourage you that you can still feel like a full member of the Notre Dame family.” A longer version of this story can be found online. Contact Liam Price at lprice3@nd.edu
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NEWS
The observer | MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
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Police Continued from page 1
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kids and show them they’re human as well.” Mishler doesn’t disagree that the officers may be good people who make a positive impact. “I’ve met some of these cops, and they really are concerned,” Mishler said. “They really do want to help kids. But it’s not about their individual characters. If they want to do that more than carry a gun, resign from the police force, go become a social worker, go become a teacher. But don’t bring your guns into school where you can terrorize young people. That doesn’t help.” He and other speakers at the meeting consistently proposed spending funds on social workers, counselors and other support staff in other to help students, rather than maintain the contract with the police. For activists, the idea of a schoolto-prison pipeline is embodied by SROs. As Mishler argues, “The police academy teaches to subdue and correct and arrest.” Speakers during the meeting outlined anecdotes and examples of how this might happen. They argued that SROs often step beyond official policy that dictates they only handle criminal activity. For now, Superintendent Todd Cummings has said the SBCSC administration is working to prepare a new contract, which will be presented to the board with a recommendation to continue or end the program at a future meeting. Mishler is not holding his breath, however, saying that the city’s opposition to an SRO review board signals that South Bend’s politicians want to maintain a close relationship with the police. Toroczkai is slightly more hopeful, citing a member of the board who spoke out in solidarity with the advocates. Until the board comes to this vote, activists will continue pressing this issue. The police will seek to renew their contract, on the grounds that they “[have] proudly served our schools for more than 35 years.” The SBPD and SJCP maintain they have “mentored thousands of children, helped with life and career paths, created groups that help build self-esteem, coached sports, and built lasting and trusting relationships while helping to keep our schools safe.” Mishler sees this as an opportunity for Notre Dame students to step out of the campus bubble and become involved with the South Bend community. “I think Notre Dame is a hard place for students to kind of connect with the community but we are finding some really wonderful Notre Dame students,” he said. “A lot of [ND students] have had very serious moral education. The group of kids that I’m meeting from Notre Dame now are much more engaged than they have been for a long time.” A longer version of this story can be found online. Contact Isa Sheikh at isheikh@nd.edu
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The observer | MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
By MARCELLE COUTO Scene Writer
In 2019, researchers at the University of Bristol found seven handwritten fragments of the “Estoire de Merlin” (The Merlin Story) hidden within their library’s archives. Following the publication of the new book, readers can better understand what makes this discovery so important. This rare work — which was lurking inside an unrelated book from the 15th century, making its discovery even more of a surprise — contains details of the Arthurian legend that were both previously unheard and different from the conventional story. “We are all very excited to discover more,” Leah Tether of the International Arthurian Society told the BBC. According to The Guardian, the texts were written in Old French and tell the story of a battle at Trebes, during which Merlin is said to have inspired and motivated King Arthur’s troops. King Arthur was a British leader who, according to medieval stories and chivalric romances, led the defense of Great Britain against Saxon invaders in the late fifth and early sixth centuries. The details of Arthurian stories are mostly composed of literary legends, and their proximity to historical reality is a matter of academic debate among contemporary historians. There are subtle but significant differences between this new version of the legend and those already known. Among
By RACHEL HARTMANN Scene Writer
Imagine this: You’re sitting in a subway car, contemplating your life, and a man approaches you with a proposition. Would you be willing to play a game with him for money? If you win, you win the money, but if he wins, he gets to slap you across the face (and not lightly). In this situation, most of us would say no because we all know stranger danger is real, but not Seong Gi-Hun (Lee Jung-jae). Seong Gi-Hun — the main character of Netflix’s new show “Squid Game”— is not able to turn away money, so he plays the game. After getting slapped repeatedly, GiHun finally wins and accepts the cash along with a simple card marked with three symbols on one side (a circle, a triangle and a square) and a phone number on the other. Seong Gi-Hun had no idea, but this one little card would change his life forever. “Squid Game” is a viciously violent, binge-worthy show that seems to have captured the attention of legions of fans; it is the first Korean drama to hit No. 1 on both the U.S. and U.K. Netflix charts. “Squid Game” starts by introducing Gi-Hun, who is in massive debt because he has gambled all his money away. Gi-Hun’s elderly mother works to support him and his daughter, even housing the latter. Due to all of this debt, collectors are after him either for their money or for his kidney — whichever he has when they find him. With this ever-looming danger on the horizon, his daughter planning to move away and his mother in the hospital with untreated diabetes, he calls the number on the card and ends up in the game. Gi-Hun joins as
them is the fact that in this copy, Merlin gives instructions to those who will lead each of the four divisions of Arthur’s forces, and the people responsible for each division are different than in the original version of the narrative. Some characters, too, are greatly altered. Additionally, Arthur’s enemy King Claudas is wounded in the thigh during the battle in most versions of the story; the new manuscripts do not explain the origin of the wound in detail. According to The Guardian, we may be facing a different interpretation of this excerpt, because injuries in areas above the knee are often used as metaphors for impotence or castration. Furthermore, the romantic encounter between Merlin and Viviane, also known as the Lady of the Lake, is “slightly toned-down” in this version, Tether told the Guardian. The “new” fragments are somewhat damaged, which is part of the reason why their analysis has taken two years. But this lengthy process seems to have been worth it, as experts have finally revealed the significance of this achievement. In July 2021, a British team of researchers from Bristol University and Durham University published the book “The Bristol Merlin: Revealing the Secrets of a Medieval Fragment,” which addresses the findings of their intriguing study. The team analyzed the documents with the help of multispectral imaging technology, which takes photographs using different electromagnetic wavelengths.
The fragments were determined to be a part of a significant collection of manuscripts titled the Vulgate Cycle (also known as the Lancelot-Grail Cycle). Individuals in northern or northeastern France penned the text between 1250 and 1275 — this means it was transcribed to parchment shortly after the Vulgate Cycle emerged. Two scribes wrote the legend using carbon-based ink and soot rather than the most common dye of the period, one made from a grain of the species terminalia chebula. Infrared light captured this by making the second type of pigment lighter. From the margin note in English stating “my God” and an analysis of the author’s handwriting, medieval historians at Bristol concluded that the pages were brought to England about 80 years after they were written. By 1520, it seems, the pages were scrapped in a bookshop, and so they became binding materials for a French philosophy text. Most of the Arthurian manuscripts “were composed after 1275, so this is an especially early example,” Tether explained. “These fragments of the story of Merlin are a wonderfully exciting find, which may have implications for the study not just of this text but also of other related and later texts that have shaped our modern understanding of the Arthurian legend.”
the game’s 456th contestant then meets Player 001, an older man named Oh Il-nam (O Young-Soo) with a terminal brain tumor. He also comes across a childhood friend, Cho Sang-Woo (Park Hae-soo), a greedy banker in debt, Kang Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon), a defector from North Korea who wants to put her family back together and Abdul Ali (Anupam Tripathi), a foreign worker from Pakistan who enters the game to support his family after being denied payment by his boss. None of the players know what they will be doing — until, that is, men with masks on their faces wearing pink jumpsuits come inside displaying machine guns. Forced by guns pointed at them, the participants sign a contract declaring that they will play the games regardless of what may happen. Once the games have begun, the only way to stop them is through a vote. With this having been established, the first game begins. Though it is innocuously titled “Grandma’s Footsteps,” this children’s game (also known as “red light, green light”) turns out to be deadly: Every time a character missteps or moves, the giant child robot at the end of the field senses it, and they are shot. Soon, bodies pile high around the area as participants try to escape, run and get away. The simple child’s play becomes a bloody competition with incredibly high stakes. Once the last surviving players return to the main room, a giant clear pig descends from the ceiling and is filled with money. It turns out that every contestant’s life was worth money — in the end, the winner will go home with $38 million. This revelation is incentive enough that when they vote on whether to end the game or not, the money is enough for the participants to vote “no” to end
the game. This horrifically bloody game is about survival, friendship and the lengths people go to survive and get out of debt. The contestants, it is suggested, keep playing despite the threat of death because their lives out of the game are no better than the brutality inside the game. The show makes viewers wonder whether they would sacrifice their own best friends for survival and to what lengths they would go to survive, ultimately mounting a critique of wealth inequality in South Korea. “Squid Game” is fast-paced, engaging and thrilling from the first episode to the last. With twists and turns, the audience is left binge-watching the show as they seek to reach the gut-wrenching climax and ending. It is a brilliant show with touching relationships, real-life issues and heartbreaking moments. To those who like thrilling performances: watch “Squid Game,” and you will not be disappointed!
Contact Marcelle Couto at mcuoto@nd.edu
Contact Rachel Hartmann at rhartma4@nd.edu
“Squid Game” Director(s): Hwang Dong-hyuk Starring: Lee Jung-Jae, Park Hae-soo, Jung Ho-yeon If you like: “Parasite,” “Lost,” “Sweet Home,” “Alice In Borderland”
DOUGLAS ABELL | The Observer
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The observer | monday, october 4, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Inside Column
A reflection on finding my voice Lexi Kilcoin Scene Writer
“The only thing I have to offer is my voice.” I often say this in the context of worship groups I am a part of where everyone seems to be able to play three instruments, read music and sing all the while. Literally the only thing I can offer are my measly vocal chords. New York Times bestselling author Jacqueline Woodson was the keynote speaker at Saint Mary’s Christian Culture Lecture this past Thursday. Her reflections on her experiences as an author the last 30 plus years and they made me reflect on my time as an amateur writer the past thirteen years — it’s nothing in comparison to Woodson’s expertise, but seven year old me has certainly made some progress. As she spoke about what inspires her to write — her family, her life experiences and her own sanity were among the top motivators — I thought about what inspires me. It brought me back the time our MacBook sat in its own special room and I would sit, eyes wide with excitement as my small nine-year-old hands would fly across the keyboard. I remember the first “novel” I attempted. It was something about a princess who met a witch and for some reason all they ate were granola bars. It made no sense, but it was a start. I think I never gave it an ending for two reasons. One, because I had never had any formal experience on how to even finish a novel (not that formal experience is needed, but it helps), but two, because neither of my characters were me. Neither of my characters were based on anything but fiction. I envy writers who are able to create marvelous fantasies in their minds — think JK Rowling or Rick Riordan. I am simply unable to write pure fiction. Woodson shared a similar experience in that she explained all of her characters had a little bit of her in them. I wondered if every award-winning author felt the same way. Unfortunately, I don’t have the ability to ask Rowling or Riordan if this rings true for them as well, but I feel that it might. I know for me, writing from my life works out better than from something I have never experienced. I thought about what does inspire me, though. If it’s not witches, princesses and granola bars, then what does motivate me to sit down in front of my computer now and write about writing? I thought about the times I would be scared to tell my parents something, especially if I got in trouble, and instead of saying it to them, I would write it down on paper in the form of a letter. Writing has been able to give a voice to words I cannot say out loud. Woodson stressed encouraging youth writing and youth creativity. If my parents had never encouraged me to keep writing, to keep sharing those words I couldn’t find the courage to say out loud, I wonder what would’ve happened. Now, I write because I have the privilege to do so. I write because it’s important. I write because words matter. I write because I don’t have a choice. If we as a society don’t write, don’t record, we will have no history, no remembrance. I encourage you to write so that you can find your voice too, so that you can find the courage to share your truth with the world. You can contact Lexi at akilcoin01@saintmarys.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
E-scooter etiquette “Notre Dame Student Killed On E-scooter” That is one headline I never want to read, but unless some e-scooter or e-skateboarder riders change their driv ing habits, I fear we w ill read that someday. Last spring, I was teaching in Jordan Auditorium when, just before class, a masked-up student came to the front of the class w ith a ver y bloody face and injured arm. He explained he needed to go to St. Liam’s and a friend would take him there after being hit by a hit and run driver who ran a stop sign. Since then, I have seen several close calls w ith e-scooters. Just Thursday, I saw a student almost get nailed by a speeding escooter who was probably running late for a class or practice. If they had collided, it would have been a disaster. Disturbingly, the sight of escooters zipping in and out of walkers, non-motorized skateboarders, bike riders and people just chatting on a sidewalk is grow ing exponentially. Sprink le in the hundreds of students texting on phones w ith ear pods drow ning out ever y thing but music, obliv ious to the danger that lurks outside their heads. With no helmets and no padding, e-scooters seem to assume that ever yone w ill make way for their speeding needs. Unless changes occur, a campus fatalit y awaits. Electric scooters arrived here in the U.S. in 2017. It has been estimated by “The Conversation” as of April 15 of this year that at least 30 people have been killed riding e-scooters w ith 80% of those deaths involv ing cars. By 2019, e-scooter rides had soared to more than 88 million. Based on personal obser vations since then on the Notre Dame campus, my guess is that number has soared considerably.
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The e-scooter is here to stay, for sure, but w ith 500-watt scooters such as the Inokim OXO being advertised to reach speeds as high as 40 miles per hour and few regulations, disaster awaits. Based on personal obser vations, that speed is being reached by scores of e-scooters on our campus sidewalks ever y day. The e-skateboarders pose similar threats. With skateboards like Meeko capable of reaching speeds up to 35 miles an hour, these new means of transportation pose dangers as well. With tight class schedules and other time pressures, I get that the e-scooter and e-skateboard are an env ironmentally friendly and convenient mode of transportation. But, if you w ill indulge this senior citizen, I have five tips for a safer e-scooter/e-skateboard experience for all: 1. Wear a helmet please … If you have a collision, broken bones heal, but fractured skulls not so easily. 2. Assume that ever y walker, rider or vehicle is not going to y ield to you. 3. Stop riding on sidewalks please. The e-scooter is ver y quiet and people can’t hear you coming. 4. Keep your speed to no more than 20 MPH on campus. 5. Get a headlight for night riding. Potholes and concrete cracks can take you dow n quick ly. Too many times, better protective measures are not taken until a serious accident occurs. With better adherence to safet y measures w ith e-scooters and e-skateboards, let’s not wait until we have to read an avoidable tragic headline. Chris Stevens associate teaching professor Oct. 1
The observer | monday, october 4, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
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Who owns the world, part two Trevor Lwere On the Other Hand
In my previous column I wrote on “W ho owns the world?,” I concluded that article by suggesting that we have a duty to put an end to a zero-sum ordering of world affairs. I also stated that this takes on greater significance for those of us who find ourselves on the periphery of this system. Finally, I also suggested that it will require us to engage this system on its own terms, and on its ruins build a new dispensation based on mutual respect and a commitment to collective prosperity as opposed to parochialism and all forms of chauvinism. Engaging the present system on its terms means being willing to mobilize and organize revolutionary violence. For some, this is tantamount to becoming the devil we seek to slay. This week, I would like to further explain why engaging this system on its own terms is the only way out for Africa in particular. Those who superintend the rigged global system in defense of their way of life, do so deliberately at the expense of others’ freedom and especially that of oppressed peoples. The task therefore is to be free and independent i.e., to be “at home” in the world not on terms dictated by others. Real freedom consists in having control over one’s life. Even a servile consciousness recognizes the importance of life as the location of consciousness. Indeed, sometimes a servile consciousness gives itself into bondage to preserve its life and, by extension, itself as a self-consciousness. In other words, servile consciousness realizes that in fact, consciousness is contingent upon having life. A paradox arises, however: If consciousness is contingent upon having life, then self-consciousness cannot claim to be free
if the life where it is located is at the mercy of another consciousness i.e., the master. As such, to be free, self-consciousness ought to reclaim control over its life by putting an end to being dominated. Therefore, a freedom-seeking servile consciousness must seek real freedom by attempting to put an end to its domination by another self-consciousness and reclaim control over its life as this is the only way for it to be “at home” in the world. To do this, it must bring its essence as a self-sufficient being to bear on the dominating self-consciousness i.e., the master. It can bring its self-sufficiency to bear on the master by either engaging in a trial by death to force the master to recognize its self-sufficiency or building up sufficient coercive capacity to threaten the master’s life and thereby force the master to renegotiate their relationship. Without breaking free from this bondage, without taking its life back from being at the mercy of the master, without impressing upon the master its self-sufficiency, a dominated self-consciousness can never be ‘at home’ in the world. This is the predicament facing contemporary Africa. The state of Africans in post-colonial Africa is akin to the state of a servile consciousness. Africans have knowledge of their essence as self-sufficient beings but are unable to effectively externalize it in the physical world owing to continued imperial and neocolonial domination. The end of formal colonialism in Africa brought Africans nominal rather than real independence as the departing colonial masters manipulated the transition to self-rule through installing puppet regimes that were not keen to bring about a fundamental transformation of the dependent relations. This manipulation was also aided by the vulnerability of the newly independent African states which lacked
legitimacy and were dependent on their former colonial masters for financial largesse. As such, today the former colonial masters continue to wield significant inf luence over the political, social and economic affairs of most if not all African states, thereby rendering independence nominal rather than real. Nominal independence presents a dialectical contradiction for Africans: they are free yet unable to externalize their freedom i.e., to assert their essence as a self-sufficient people. Africa’s independence revolution remains unfinished. Surely, Africa cannot resign itself to domination. So, what is the way out of this predicament? In my view, Africans must actively intervene in the world to bring their self-sufficiency to bear on those who seek to continue to dominate and exploit them. As earlier stated, Africans can assert their self-sufficiency either by re-engaging in the trial by death or building up sufficient capacity to force negotiations with the master. More precisely, for Africans to obtain real independence, they must assert their self-sufficiency either by undertaking violence to force imperial and neocolonial forces to acknowledge their essentiality as self-sufficient beings or by building up sufficient coercive capacity to force imperial powers to the negotiating table for a reconfiguration of their relationship which in its present form hinders the ability of Africans to be “at home” in the world. Such capacity can take the form of nuclear power. Trevor Lwere is a senior from Kampala, Uganda studying economics and global affairs with a minor in PPE. He is currently studying abroad at SOAS University of London. He is a dee-jay in his free time and can be reached at tlwere@nd.edu or @LwereTrevor on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Make every voice count If you were perpetually consigned to choose between stale pancakes or runny scrambled eggs each morning, would you not develop an aversion towards breakfast? For avid followers of international affairs, 2021 has been a terrific year for observing and learning about the ways things are done differently, as voters in countless countries scattered across the globe have had the opportunity to exercise their franchise. A general conclusion: the more diverse the menu of options, the more people want to get involved and participate. Political parties in the United States are fairly big-tent, and force people with strikingly different perspectives on the issues onto the same boat. In a multiparty context closer to what most European countries have, it would be hard to imagine someone like Joe Manchin and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez rooting for the same party, as well as a Phil Scott and Donald Trump running under the same ticket. The more black and white American politics become, the more and more people will be pushed by the hyper partisan fringes into the fringes of electoral participation. Although completely unrealistic, imagining our domestic context in another country’s circumstances allows us to imagine an America where you can truly vote for your convictions, rather than being forced to prioritize your beliefs and settle for what’s offered. Last November, the United States boasted its highest turnout election in over a century, yet the nation still lags behind other countries with strong democratic traditions by several percentage points. The Nordic countries, regarded by many as bastions of democracy, regularly see more than three-quarters of their voting age population stroll
to the booths on polling day, and have increasingly stronger rates of political participation than their transatlantic counterparts. A myriad of reasons tend to be named when attempting to explain why the United States consistently fails to turn out at the ballot box, but most explanations I have come across tend to shift the blame on the voters rather than the deep f laws built into the political system that silently crush the political aspirations of many. Is it safe to say that two political parties are able to accurately represent the views of over 300 million people in an ever growing, ever diverse, ever tumultuous nation? The hyper polarized nature of America’s contemporary political landscape has forced America’s federal politicians into two opposing camps, with supporters expected to cheer on them with the same fervor and blind devotion you can only reasonably expect from a football fan who’s hopelessly devoted to their team no matter the odds or circumstances. Last week, voters in Germany went to the polls to elect a new parliament, and had the privilege of being able to choose from seven distinct political parties, each catering to a different subset of voters ranging from the hard left to the hard right, with enough options to heartily satisfy a moderate’s palate. The nature of Germany’s political system encourages cooperation and coalition building, something completely foreign to the eyes of most American observers. Preliminary reports indicate that three fourths of German voters turned out to participate; evidently they’re doing something better than us. All throughout Europe, countries where coalition governments are the norm and not the exception enjoy higher rates of political engagement on behalf of their citizenry,
and that is something we should all aspire to emulate. When more voices rise above the fray and make themselves heard, democratic governments will have clearer understandings of what the citizenry wants. American politicians from some pockets of the country are confident they can embrace positions detrimental to the greater good and never face competitive elections; the lack of similar circumstances across the Atlantic completely shifts the way politicians respond to pleas from their voters. Although overhauling the American political system to something that ref lects the will of the people more proportionally, therefore giving those who feel disenfranchised a platform to make their voices heard is simply any political scientist’s pipe dream, the lessons observing systems that do can teach American society a valuable lesson. Shifting from adversarial viewpoints and embracing the necessity of compromise does not just enable functionality, but works to solidify a harmonious coexistence, strengthen the country’s unity and emboldens the national identity. A brighter future for America does not rest on whether you like the person sitting behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, but instead depends on developing a collective sense of maturity where we all understand the backbone of America’s prosperity relies on working with the Other and not trudging down a path alone. Europe might be called the Old World, but their politics can definitely teach us something new. Pablo Lacayo junior Sept. 27
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The observer | MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Football
Sports Authority
Wild Card and ALDS Predictions John Kalemkieran Sports Writer
I’m sure whoever once said that the MLB season is a marathon, not a sprint had good intentions. But that person clearly never witnessed the mayhem that has been the last two weeks of baseball. From two 105+ win teams racing to avoid a winner-takes-all wild card game to the enticing potential for a five-way (!!) tie for the AL wild card, the end of this regular season can be described with only one word: chaos. Although the results of the final day of the regular season didn’t give us the opportunity to see any game 163’s, fantastic 9th-inning heroics cemented the AL wild-card game as yet another round of the greatest rivalry in baseball. Starting there, let’s get into wild-card and ALDS predictions.
AL Wild Card: New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox Two teams riding high will clash in Fenway in what, for one, will be the culmination of weeks of fighting to stay alive. For the other, it will be frustration and disappointment in the post-game clubhouse. Though Boston has been hot as of late, my Yankees have been hotter. With Gerrit Cole on the bump and Bronxie working magic from the dugout, the Bronx Bombers will get yet another shot to down their nemesis from Tampa Bay in this postseason. Yankees advance.
NL Wild Card: St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers Speaking of hot teams, no one had a better month of September than the Cardinals, who rode a 17-game winning streak to earn the right to play in LA against what many consider to be the MLB’s best team. The pitching matchup — 37 year old Max Scherzer vs. 40 year old Adam Wainwright — feels like a throwback to 2013, but both have been nothing short of dominant this season, even at their advanced ages. I’ll be pulling for St. Louis to continue their miraculous run, but the fire-power of the Dodgers lineup will win them this game and keep their World Series dreams alive. Dodgers advance.
ALDS: Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros With all the attention focused on the wild card races, these two teams that locked up their divisions weeks ago have been momentarily forgotten. That will change quickly, as
I expect this to be the closest and most fiercely contested series in the divisional round. Along with MLB fans everywhere, I’ll be rooting for the White Sox to stick it to the Astros (if I don’t see trash cans in the bleachers at Guaranteed Rate Field I’ll be very disappointed). Houston all but coasted through the AL West again, but I see Chicago as the most complete team in the AL. White Sox in 5.
ALDS: New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays The Yankees will be hungry for revenge, as Tampa Bay has dominated them in both the regular and postseason for several years running. Kevin Cash and his staff have done an admirable job, as usual, managing their talented stables (I mean, bullpen) but one thing jumps out about this Rays team: a clear lack of starting pitching. Ryan Yarbrough and Shane McClanahan can only get this team so far against the ever-dangerous Bronx Bombers. Yankees in 4.
NLDS: Atlanta Braves vs. Milwaukee Brewers The NL East was supposed to be the most competitive division in baseball this season, but ultimately the Braves were able to weather the storm better than their competitors to steal the division with just 88 wins. Atlanta still boasts a solid club, but missing their ace (Mike Soroka) and their MVP candidate (Ronald Acuña Jr.) will finally catch up to them. The Brewers, meanwhile, have the nastiest trio of starting pitchers in the league and a lineup that can put up runs when necessary. Brewers in 4.
NLDS: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants Last but not least, a final showdown between NL West foes. A referendum on talent versus heart, on money versus grit. The Giants have been the best story in baseball this season, managing to wrest both the season series and, most impressively, the division away from the Dodgers’ vice-grip. A ragtag team of old players deemed “washed-up” by the experts, I desperately want to see the Giants take down Goliath. Although it seems like a long-shot, San Francisco has been beating the odds all season. Let’s see it continue. Giants in 5. Contact John Kalemkieran at jkalem@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
the end of the first quarter. The ball went back and forth bet ween the Irish and the Bearcats until a Buchner pass was picked off by DeShaw n Pace while the quarterback was getting hit. This placed the Bearcats in the red zone, and subsequently punched in a touchdow n to make it 7-0. The Bearcats would hold throughout the duration of the game. According to Kelly, however, neither Coan nor Buchner can be solely blamed for the shak y first t wo quarters. “Jack looked really good at times,” said Kelly. “It’s hard to put much on Jack other than the interception. He’s dealing w ith pressure in the pocket too. We know what we like about Buchner and I think there were some new looks today that were first-timers.” The Bearcats added t wo more scores in the first half, capitalizing on Notre Dame’s three turnovers and other missteps to bring the score to 17-0. Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder was noticeably heating up as he made a series of completed passes and fired up the Cincinnati offense. For the Irish, Coan was eventually sw itched back as quarterback, w ith sophomore Drew Py ne still yet to be seen in on the action. At the end of the half, it was clear that a change needed to be made in order for Notre Dame to move the chains and add more v italit y to the game. Cincinnati fans began chanting “Let’s Go Bearcats” - a moment Ridder said “sounded like a home game.” At this moment, Irish fans seemed to be outnumbered in spirit, even in their ow n stadium. As the Irish marched back onto the field after halftime to tr y and change the narrative, Drew Py ne was placed in at quarterback. This was a decision Kelly hoped would instill a fresh sense of confidence on the field. “We got behind and felt like we needed to make a change and have a spark there and that’s why we went w ith Drew in the second half,” Kelly said. “We needed to shift course quick ly and we did.” Irish fans hoped Py ne
would shake things up as he did during his debut at Soldier Field against Wisconsin a week prior. He got to work quick ly and showed mobilit y resembling that of Ian Book, someone Py ne partially credited for his success. “Ian led me this way. He always dragged me along, stay ing at practices until 9 or 10 p.m. I am thankful for him and I’ll always be grateful. No matter what the circumstances are for the rest of my life. I’ll always be ready.” In the last few minutes of the third quarter, graduate student linebacker Drew W hite was able to scoop up a Cincinnati fumble and make a 28-yard return. This set up running back Ky ren Williams to score and make it 17-7 for Notre Dame. The Irish had some points on the board and seemed to come back to life in the second half. The Irish fanbase was rev italized as well, as cheers from the student section and the popular “tarps off” tradition emerged in the fourth quarter. A 32-yard touchdow n pass from Py ne to senior w ide receiver Braden Lenzy resulted in an Irish touchdow n, but Doerer missed the extra point. The score was now 17-13, w ith the Irish trailing the Bearcats by less than a touchdow n. It was still anyone’s game until Ridder decided it was not. One nice pass by Ridder after another put Cincinnati in the position to score, and w ith a 6-yard touchdow n run by the quarterback, the game was now 24-13. “He played one hell of a game today,” Irish junior defensive lineman Isaiah Foskey said, “They were just the better team today.” With five minutes left in the game, it was too late for the Irish to make a comeback. Improved performance in the back half of the game wasn’t enough for Notre Dame to preser ve the w in streak and make it 5-0 on the season. Irish fans, clad in green, began to leave the stands in shock before time was even called. A devastating loss no doubt, players went back to the locker room feeling defeated. “Ever yone is just hurting right now,” said Foskey. “It sucks to lose, and it sucks to lose at home and lose our streak.” Nevertheless, it was time
for the Irish to move for ward and have some much-needed discussions especially in terms of the quarterback situation. “Clearly we can’t continue dow n this road of who’s the f lavor of the week here,” Kelly said. “We are going to have to sit dow n and figure this out and which direction we want to go. It doesn’t give us the kind of continuit y and consistency that we need.” Though he acknowledged the need for consistency and continuit y w ithin the positions, Kelly was still unable to commit to putting one of the three players at the permanent quarterback position. Despite this uncertaint y and underly ing competition, the quarterbacks appeared to feel a sense of camaraderie and trust among one another. “There’s no controversy bet ween us,” Py ne said. “W hoever is on the field we all have each other’s backs. We are always keeping a positive attitude.” Cincinnati truly proved themselves today by coming out w ith a w in during their first top-10, regular season matchup in program histor y. The last team to beat the Irish at home (Georgia) went on to make it to the national championship. Nevertheless, though the Irish are dow n, they are not out. W hite knows what needs to be done in order for the team to regroup and focus on their next game. “It’s the 24-hour rule, same as a w in,” W hite said. “We’ve had a lot of w ins and we are back into work. We are going to be dow n for the next 24 hours; we are going to be watching film and not feeling good about it. But, coming in Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday we are going to be ready. We can’t let one game define the rest of our season. We need to continue to battle and come back.” The Irish w ill find themselves w ith another fight next week as they head to Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech at 7:30 p.m. This is Notre Dame’s first true road game since the season opener, and it w ill prove whether this home defeat makes or breaks their season. Contact Madeline Ladd at mladd@nd.edu
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What a sight, what a sight when the light came on / Proved me right, proved me right when you proved them wrong / And in this perfect weather / It’s like we don’t remember / The rain we thought would last forever and ever /
And there you’ll stand, ten feet tall / I will say, I knew it all along / Your eyes’ wider than distance / This life’s sweeter than fiction / There you’ll stand, next to me / all at once, the rest is history / Your eyes’ wider than distance
DAILY
ndsmcobserver.com | MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2021 | The Observer
Crossword | Will Shortz
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Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Speak up, do your best and be honest with yourself. Use your imagination to be the one to bring about change. Refuse to let others take over or stand in your way. Embrace life, and make adjustments that will help you overcome challenges that affect productivity and the ability to reach your goal. You can surpass your expectations if you try. Your numbers are 6, 10, 19, 27, 34, 38, 47. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Live up to your expectations, get organized and do the work yourself. A chance to make a difference is within reach. Start the process, and you will attract people who are an asset. Keep your plans simple, and you will excel. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You can have fun without going overboard. Set a limit when it comes to expenditures, consumption and how much you try to fit into your itinerary. You will avoid complaints and physical setbacks. Balance and integrity are encouraged, and romance is favored. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Do your research and listen to your heart. Expect someone to feed you false information that can lead to health risks or an ill-advised investment. Take responsibility and make decisions that have been well-thought-out and verified. CANCER ( June 21-July 22): Take your time. Pay attention to detail and sensitive issues. Be a good listener, and keep your thoughts to yourself. Summarize what you discover before you put your plans in motion. Home improvements will bring you closer to someone you love. LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Change begins with you, so don’t follow someone’s lead. Consider what you want and how to go about getting your way. Discuss your plans with someone you love and respect, and you’ll feel better about moving ahead with your goals. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Put your energy where it will do some good. Avoid an argument with a friend or relative. Refrain from trying to shape others. Do what suits you best, love who you are and love others for what they have to offer. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Line up what you have planned for the day, and follow that path. Don’t stop because someone takes a different route or doesn’t see things your way. Be true to yourself and carry on until you reach your destination. Keep life simple. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’ll require patience and an open mind when dealing with friends and relatives. Pressure tactics will work against you, but compliments and encouragement will help you convince others to consider the suggestions you offer. Romance is on the rise. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Remain calm, regardless of what others do. Pay attention to what’s important to you, and offer an honest assessment of what you feel is taking place. An unnecessary change will hold you back. Make the most with what’s available. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Anger will set in if you let someone take advantage of you. Document what others do and say, and prepare to challenge anything you feel isn’t fair or worth your while. Trust your instincts and pursue your goals. Romance is encouraged. AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Feeling passionate about what you take on will give you the boost required to do a remarkable job. Letting others take advantage of you will cause stress. Know when to say no. Do what makes you happy. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Sign up for classes geared toward physical fitness, improving your image or meeting like-minded people. Be realistic, but don’t lose sight of your dreams. Make adjustments that accommodate your plans. Romance is encouraged. Birthday Baby: You are expressive, challenging and direct. You are influential and productive.
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
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Sports
The observer | MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Thomas Continued from page 12
P y ne hit senior receiver Kev in Austin for 15 yards and then sophomore tight end Michael Mayer for 17. A fter 50 yards of offense brought the Irish to the Cincinnati 30, they inexplicably went for a 4th and 5 rather than attempt a 47-yard field goa l - si x yards short of k icker Jonathan Doerer’s career-long. A lthough no points were scored on the drive, the Irish offense instantly looked more dy namic. A turnover forced by the Irish defense gave Notre Dame a short field on the ensuing drive, and P y ne punched it in from 38 yards out. A 16-yard pass to Mayer and an impressive 11-yard scramble
sparked the drive. A fter the t wo teams traded punts, P y ne would lead the Irish on their only successful extended drive. In eight plays, the sophomore threw for 73 yards, capping an 80-yard drive w ith a beautiful 32-yard strike to senior receiver Braden Lenz y. A ll-in-a ll, P y ne’s numbers didn’t drop any jaws, 9-22 for 143 yards - but the Irish offense averaged nearly t wo full yards more per play. They gained 144 yards on 39 plays in the first ha lf - and 197 on 35 snaps in the latter t wo quarters. A lso notable was P y ne averaging 1.3 yards more per attempt despite five fewer completions. His abilit y to read the field and extend plays, combined w ith a w illingness to let it rip and trust his receivers gave the Irish
offense a more dy namic feel. Against a Cincinnati team averaging 9.3 yards per pass attempt and torching the Irish w ith some big plays, more explosive counterpunches would have been desirable. Brian Kelly has done some great things as the head coach at Notre Dame. 106 w ins, ma k ing him the a ll-time Notre Dame record holder, is impressive. That being said, Kelly has repeatedly failed to adjust to the modern era of footba ll in a way that can keep Notre Dame competitive. The latest example was seen in this game - offensively, Kelly was simply unprepared. His mindset has long been ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fi x it’. Never mind if the ‘it’ is your offense, and even if it’s not broken, it’s hanging on by a thread.
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The Irish are averaging 20 points per game offensively over their last three contests. They a lso scored just 17 points in the first three quarters against Toledo. It was clear to ever yone that the offense was struggling, and it was abundantly clear that P y ne energized the offense in a way that Coan couldn’t. Kelly’s answer for starting the elder slinger on Saturday? “Jack didn’t do any thing to lose his job.” Rea lly? Could you be any less proactive as a coach - any less f lex ible? Maybe Coan didn’t ma ke any outlandish mista kes. But he led the Irish to the red zone just nine times in four games - rank ing 123rd in the nation. He was a borderline statue behind a struggling offensive line, leading
to extra sacks and the abilit y for opposing lines to hone in on the running backs. P y ne was confident, poised, and in control during his relief appearance against Wisconsin. He came in against Cincinnati and again was a sparkplug. He’s learning, yes, but Kelly’s stubborn refusa l to look beyond the present cost the Irish a v ictor y. Cincinnati was ver y impressive - but give P y ne the reins for the whole game? It could ver y well have been a different result. A nd while Kelly admitted that the Irish needed to ‘figure out’ the quarterback situation, citing a lack of continuit y for the offense, it’s not exactly the sign of a great coach that ma kes that rea lization after a bruta l top-10 loss at home. Quite simply, Brian Kelly cost the Irish this game. He didn’t have the offense prepared, and he didn’t put the best players on the field from the onset. Drew P y ne and Tyler Buchner in whichever order - are the quarterbacks of the future. A nd P y ne is the quarterback that gives the Irish the best chance to w in. W hile the playoff dream is a lmost certainly quashed by this result, Notre Dame can still play for their first major bowl w in in decades. P y ne is the people’s quarterback in South Bend, and if he’s not under center from the get-go next week at Virginia Tech, it’s an embarrassing look for the program. Kelly may have 106 w ins. He brought the Irish back to nationa l relevance. But now that they’re on the brink of being truly elite, his stubborn practices are beginning to negatively affect Notre Dame. On offense, a ll over the field but particularly at receiver, Notre Dame features underdeveloped ta lent because Kelly refused to play them early in their careers. Is the future going to repeat itself w ith an average, immobile quarterback usurping the snaps from t wo more ta lented quarterbacks who hold the keys to the program in their hands? It’s time to recognize the future when it comes to you. Play Drew P y ne. Contact Aidan Thomas at athoma28@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Sports
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men’s Soccer
FOOTBALL
Irish squad downs Cavaliers 2-1 Observer Sports Staff
Friday night, Notre Dame men’s soccer took down another ACC opponent at home, beating Virginia 2-1 to stay unbeaten at Alumni Stadium in conference games. Senior midfielder Mohamed Omar got the scoring started early for the Irish. He rose above the Cavalier defense on a corner kick to head home the opening goal in the 22nd minute. The Irish would then experience some struggles in front of the net. Despite several prime chances to put the game away with a second goal throughout the rest of the first half and the opening stages of the second, the Irish struggled to find the razor-sharp edge needed to net a second goal. Most notably, Omar received a pass directly in front of the face of goal in the 52nd minute, but opted to try for another pass instead of slotting the ball away the first time. The subsequent shot from senior forward Jack Lynn was blocked away by the Cavaliers. 10 minutes later, though, Notre Dame, who outshot Virginia 16-4 on the night, would finally break through, as Lynn got his goal with a nice curled effort on
it from the edge of the box. Virginia would slot home a consolation goal in the final minute of the match, but would fail to muster a second goal in the subsequent scramble to equalize. The win marks the second victory over the Cavaliers in two years for Notre Dame, who before last season had not beaten Virginia since the fall of 2015. Such a stat is both a marker of Notre Dame’s status as a team that can compete within the ranks of the ACC’s top half as well as Virginia’s fall from grace—two seasons ago the Cavaliers were a penalty kick away from a national championship and were all but invincible against any of the ACC’s non-elite soccer schools. The Mastodons are 3-5-1 on the season, and like the Trine Thunder, whom the Irish played before Virginia last week, don’t seem to be (at least on paper) at a comparable level with the Irish. Redshirt junior forward Keith Larson should lead the Purdue-Fort Wayne attack, having scored three goals in just 632 minutes this season. Notre Dame looks to a midweek clash with Purdue-Fort Wayne on Tuesday at Alumni Stadium.
Irish home win streak snapped in 24-13 loss By Madeline Ladd Sports Writer
ERIN FENNESSY | The Observer
Irish sophomore tight end Michael Mayer falls just short of a catch in Notre Dame’s 24-13 home loss on Saturday to Cincinnati.
It was a new experience in South Bend this Saturday for Irish fans when No. 9 Notre Dame brutally fell to No. 7 Cincinnati 24-13 at home. This marked Notre Dame’s first home game loss since 2017, resetting a 26-win clock and demonstrating the Irish’s dire need for continuity on both sides of the ball. “We didn’t take care of the basics today,” Head Coach Brian Kelly said. “We didn’t coach very well today and we didn’t play very well today. Cincinnati was the better football team today.” After the Bearcats won the coin toss and deferred, the Irish started off play with graduate transfer Jack Coan at quarterback. Notre Dame’s first drive stalled when a Coan pass was intercepted by Ahmad Gardner on the Cincinnati 1-yard line. Coan was eventually replaced by freshman Tyler Buchner at see FOOTBALL PAGE 8
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Thomas: This loss is definitively on the infuriatingly inflexible Brian Kelly Aidan Thomas Sports Writer
Over the first few weeks of the Notre Dame footba ll season, Irish fans were led to believe that of the three quarterbacks competing for play ing time, freshman Tyler Buchner was the dua l-threat w ith elite athleticism. Of transfer Jack Coan and sophomore Drew P y ne, the narrative was that the pair were ver y similar quarterbacks, w ith the former Wisconsin signa l-ca ller hav ing the desired experience to ta ke over at the helm. However, when Coan went dow n w ith an injur y against the Badgers last week, P y ne took over. A nd it was immediately clear that P y ne is a better fit in this Notre Dame offense. The sophomore who plays w ith what Kelly ca lls a
“swagger” was 6-8 w ith a touchdow n pass in leading a comeback v ictor y. His escape abilit y behind a sha k y offensive line was notable. Yet throughout the week, in press conferences and depth chart releases, head coach Brian Kelly touted Coan as the starter. A nd, sans t wo first-ha lf series w ith Buchner, Coan did ta ke a ll the offensive snaps on Saturday against No. 7 Cincinnati. The results were nothing short of horrific; Coan was 14-22 for 114 yards w ith a red-zone interception. At ha lftime, the Irish trailed 17-0. At the brea k, the Irish made an ev ident ly needed quarterback change. Immediately, the more elusive and mobile P y ne impressed w ith a series of throws and runs. see THOMAS PAGE 10
ERIN FENNESSY | The Observer
Irish senior linebacker Drew White scoops up a fumble recovery before the Irish fell to the Cincinnati Bearcats 24-13 at home on Saturday. This loss snapped Notre Dame’s 26-game home win streak.