Print Edition of The Observer for Tuesday, January 23, 2018

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Volume 52, Issue 63 | tuesday, january 23, 2018 ndsmcobserver.com

Luncheon honors Martin Luther King Jr. Students, community members reflect on King’s legacy, impact during annual Walk the Walk Week

By TOM NAATZ News Writer

Community members gathered Monday in the Joyce Athletic and Convocation Center for a luncheon celebrating the legacy Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Serving as a culmination of the University’s third annual Walk the Walk Week — which promotes diversity and inclusion on campus — the event featured thoughts and insights from a handful of community members.

The keynote address was a conversation between former student body president and 2017 alumnus Corey Robinson and his father, former NBA basketball player David Robinson, about

King’s impact on the world.

Ann Firth, chief of staff to University President Fr. John Jenkins, welcomed attendees to the luncheon with a description of the goal Walk the Walk Week hopes to attain.

“As you know, this luncheon and the numerous campus events planned during Walk the Walk Week … are all designed to be occasions when we come together to ref lect more deeply on who we are as a community,” Firth said. “These are also critically important opportunities to participate in the national and global conversations about diversity and inclusion.

Conversations that are as important now as see LUNCHEON PAGE 4

KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer

Hosnia Somadi, sophomore and president of the Muslim Student Association, gives the invocation at the final event of Walk the Walk Week, a luncheon in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy.

College lecture series cultivates branding

By MAEVE FILBIN News Writer

The Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative at Saint Mary’s will host a six-week series titled “Entre.

Lead. Her.,” designed to help students cultivate a personal and professional brand, develop leadership skills and learn innovative strategies

towards success. Running from Jan. 25, this program will feature guest speakers and interactive workshops addressing topics such as team building, pitch presentation, the benefits of podcasting, stress reduction, positive social impact and the importance of empathy in the business world.

Joan McClendon, the

current director of The Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI) said she initially became involved as a community member participating in the organization’s 2010 pilot program.

“I came in [to the WEI] and participated in a leadership style session, and it changed

Lecture explores economic growth, development

see LEADERS PAGE 3

Saint Mary’s introduces strawless campaign Observer Staff Report

To limit its environmental impact, Saint Mary’s will no longer offer straws in Noble Family Dining Hall, according to a College press release.

College President Jan Cervelli and seniors Carolyn Arcuri and Kristhel Torre

NEWS PAGE 3

launched this campaign in an effort to combat plastic waste, since Americans throw away an estimated 500 million plastic straws every day, the release states.

“Disposable straws are piling up in landfills and harming the environment, adding substantially to the tons of plastic waste

scene PAGE 5

discharged into the ocean and lakes every year,” Cervelli said. “If you can make a choice to skip using a plastic straw, why not?

And if you can make this one choice, maybe you can do even more.”

Director of dining services see STRAWLESS PAGE 3

viewpoint PAGE 7

ROSIE LoVOI | The Observer

Bart W. Edes, the North American representative for the Asian Development Bank (ADB), shares his experiences with ADB.

By MAX LANDER News Writer

The North American representative for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) — an institution seeking to reduce poverty in Asia and the Pacific — Bart W. Edes, spoke

nd women’s soccer PAGE 12

in Jenkins Nanovic Hall on Monday about his experience working for the ADB for the past 16 years and the lessons he has learned about economic growth, development and challenges facing some see LECTURE PAGE 3

men’s tennis PAGE 12

2

TODAY

The observer | tuesday, january 23, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

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P.O. Box 779, Notre Dame, IN 46556 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556 Editor-in-Chief Ben Allan Padanilam Joseph Managing Editor Business Manager Megan Doyle Managing Editor Jeff Liptak Katie Galioto

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sophomore Lewis Hall

senior off campus

“Chopped.”

“Hell’s Kitchen.”

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sophomore Knott Hall

freshman Cavanaugh Hall

“Hell’s Kitchen.”

“Shark Tank.”

Jules McCabe

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senior off campus

senior off campus

“The Great British Bake Off.”

“The Great British Bake Off.”

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Today’s Staff News

Sports

Martha Reilly Jordan Cockrum Maria Leontaras

Elizabeth Greason Ben Padanilam

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Corrections Monday’s edition of The Observer incorrectly stated that Notre Dame lost to Louisville in women’s basketball by 43 points. The actual deficit was 33 points. The Observer regrets this error.

KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer

The Snite Museum of Art displays Civil Rights Photography on Monday for temporary viewing as a part of Walk the Walk Week events. The photographs featured Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and critical moments of the Civil Rights Movement.

The next Five days:

Want your event included here?

Email news@ndsmcobserver.com

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Faculty Caregivers Support Group 103 Coleman-Morse noon - 1 p.m.

Open to all faculty members.

Exhibit: Modern Women’s Prints Snite Museum of Art all day Features works from a variety of cultures.

Research Seminar Special Collections 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Talk on Giovanni della Mirandola and humanism.

Ten Years Hence Lecture Series Jordan Auditorium 10:40 a.m. - 12:10 p.m.

Talk on the effect of robots on society.

Men’s and Women’s Fencing: DeCicco Duals Joyce Center all day Free to the public.

Workshop: “Writing a Strong Grant Proposal” 110 Brownson Hall 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Open to all students.

Center for Social Concerns Fair Geddes Hall 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Info about local service opportunities.

Taste of Faith Talk: “Can Christianity be cool?”

LaFortune Ballroom 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Series on life and faith.

Lecture: “Eastward Enterprises” 1030 Jenkins-Nanovic Hall 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Exploring trading.

29th Annual Student Film Festival Browning Cinema 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased online.

News

ndsmcobserver.com | tuesday, january 23, 2018 | The Observer

University to pay taxes on investment income Observer Staff Report

Under the new federal tax bill, Notre Dame will be required to pay taxes on investment earnings, according to a South Bend Tribune article published Dec. 20.

The article said the new bill, which requires certain private colleges to pay a 1.4 percent annual tax on

Lecture Continued from page 1

developing Asian countries.

The ADB, Edes said, does not work the same way many other banks do.

“We’re a bit of a mix between a commercial bank and a program like the United Nations Development Program,” Edes said. “Our overarching mission is not to make money and give the dividends to our shareholders but to fight poverty and promote inclusive, sustainable development in developing nations.”

To this end, he said the ADB is involved in financing development all across Asia in a variety of ways, from reforming education in Nepal to implementing clean energy initiatives in the Philippines to building railways in Bangladesh to constructing infrastructure for safe water in Uzbekistan.

While most of what the ADB does has to do with funding projects, its employees also conduct research on economic trends of development in Asian countries over recent years.

Leaders Continued from page 1

my life because it made me feel as a woman that I had purpose and I had meaning,” McClendon said. “We don’t always have these opportunities to meet with other women to explore who we truly are. That session really transformed me, and I am still friends with the women that I’ve connected with through the WEI.” Since her first experience seven years ago with the WEI, McClendon said her exploration of leadership has continued through her time spent as the associate director, and now project director of the WEI. As director, McClendon is responsible for scheduling events, such as the upcoming workshop series, that will help women in the Saint Mary’s and South Bend community navigate leadership roles in their personal and professional lives.

“My passion is to bring the

investment earnings, “could cost the University up to $9 million per year.”

This stipulation, the article said, applies to private colleges that enroll more than 500 students with at least $500,000 in endowment per student. According to the article, an analysis by the Chronicle of Higher Education concluded that the provision would apply to

about 27 institutions.

University spokesperson Paul Browne said in the article that the measure would most likely cost the University $6 million to $9 million per year.

According to the article, “Notre Dame would be the only university in Indiana to face a tax on its investment earnings under the federal bill.”

“In the latest estimates for 2018 for developing Asia — so not including countries such as Japan — we’re looking at about a 6.3 percent increase in gross domestic product,” Edes said.

Meanwhile, the United States achieved 2.4 percent growth over the same period, Edes said. The Asian economic sector appears to be one of the most quickly growing and developing that there is, Edes said.

“Asian countries are working in ever more integrated and cooperative ways,” he said.

When it comes to tourism, for instance, 60 percent of Chinese travelers stay inside the region, which is incredibly important to small Asian countries with large tourism industries, Edes said. The Maldives, for example, attribute 83 percent of its gross domestic product to the tourism industry, he said.

While the region is experiencing rapid economic growth and development in some areas, it is still also facing a number of challenges such as poverty, climate change — which can exacerbate monsoons, storms, mudslides and

other natural phenomena common to the region — and an aging population.

“Asia is among the most vulnerable areas of the world when it comes to climate change,” Edes said. “This could lead to a real humanitarian crisis. We are responding in part by doubling down on our investments on climate change mitigation.”

Edes said the ADB is currently committed to putting six billion dollars into countering climate change by 2020.

With longevity going up and fertility rates going down across the board in Asia, the aging population may soon create a problem in some Asian countries. Edes said. A similar trend is occurring in other countries across Asia, which could lead to economic trouble as a diminishing workforce has to work increasingly hard for a growing body of dependent citizens.

“By 2030, we will have almost 30 percent of Japan’s population at an age of 65 or older,” he said.

community of women into Saint Mary’s College and have them experience the same thing I’ve come to learn: that we are a college of amazing and incredible women,” McClendon said.

Though the WEI is open to all Saint Mary’s students and communities outside of the college, McClendon said most of the individuals involved are graduates of SPARK, a Saint Mary’s program providing that assists women who earn low wages in starting their own businesses. “Entre. Lead. Her.” will offer a chance for graduates and others to scale up their businesses and continue building a brand, McClendon said.

“Part of the series will work on creating and refining a pitch, a skill that I think all the women at Saint Mary’s College could benefit from learning,” McClendon said. “These sessions are not your typical business classes, but they will provide you with the things that are going to give you an

edge in your personal life and in your business.”

In order to make the upcoming series more accessible, McClendon said the WEI has made admission free for students and continues to offer availability to the general public. She said attendance will be capped at 40 to keep sessions personal and thorough. McClendon said she hopes each participant will walk away from this experience with a better understanding of her leadership style and the process of creating a business, for they will have had the opportunity to grow personally.

“That’s why we start these sessions by sharing Sr. Madeleva Wolff’s words on discovery,” McClendon said. “‘We promise you discovery: the discovery of yourselves, the discovery of the universe, and your place in it.’”

Contact Max Lander at mlander1@nd.edu

Contact Maeve Filbin at mfilbin01@saintmarys.edu

3

Phase II of Eddy Street Commons project begins Observer Staff Report

The University has broken ground on Phase II of Eddy Street Commons, according to a University press release published Dec. 19.

The project, which will cost $90 million and is a joint project between the University and Kite Realty, will result in 8,500 square feet of restaurant space, a new Robinson Community Learning Center, a standalone grocery store and more than 400 housing units, the press release said.

Phase I of the project, the press release said, will open in September 2018, and “the two phases represent a nearly $300 million investment in the Northeast Neighborhood,” located south of the University.

According to the release, the “mixed-use space — retail, office and apartments — is 100 percent leased, and the condos and townhomes have all been sold.”

Greg Hakanen, director of Northeast Neighborhood Redevelopment for the University, said in the release the project will benefit the neighborhood as well as Notre Dame.

“Massive steps have already been taken to revitalize and regenerate the Northeast Neighborhood for the good of not only the University but the community as well, and this is the last step,” he said. “Phase II will take the biggest existing negative in the neighborhood and turn it into a major positive.”

Phase II, the press release said, will include “two graduate-style apartment buildings and a new Robinson Community Learning Center on the east side of Eddy Street and two market-rate apartment buildings on the west side of Eddy Street.”

According to the release, the project will include space for “small, local specialty shops, small cafes or coffee shops or insurance or law offices.”

Strawless Continued from page 1

Kenneth Acosta is looking into prov iding reusable straws for purchase, according to the release. Ecofriendlier options include straws made out of glass, silicone or washable stainless-steel.

Cafes on campus w ill still

Matt Gabet, senior vice president of operational strateg y with Kite Realty, said in the press release that Phase II of the project will “complement” Phase I and the neighborhood, and he credited the University for being a “true partner.”

“Because of our partnership structure and collective determination, we were able to work through issues, solve problems and deliver the project you see today,” he said.

Hakanen echoed Gabet’s sentiments, and said Kite Realty was vital to the process of working on the project through the housing crash from 2008 to 2012.

“It was this extraordinary commitment to the project that made engaging Kite as the developer for Phase II an easy decision,” Hakanen said in the press release.

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg said in the release that the project will be a welcome addition to the community.

“Eddy Street Commons Phase II will build upon Phase I’s success in growing the South Bend economy and strengthening the city’s relationship with Notre Dame,” Buttigieg said. “Because the project pays for itself, it is a win-win for Notre Dame, local employers and the South Bend community.”

According to the press release, the Eddy Street Commons project is one piece of “a broader effort on the part of the University, city of South Bend, South Bend Heritage Foundation, Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization (NNRO) and Northeast Neighborhood Council (NENC) to improve the Northeast Neighborhood with strategic investments in education, housing and infrastructure.”

Completion of the project will conclude with Phase II, the press release said, which is estimated to occur in mid-2020.

offer straws as an option, but the move to eliminate straws from the dining hall is intended to encourage students to avoid straws.

Students are encouraged to join the movement on social media by using the hashtag # SkipTheStraw and by check out the anti-straw advocacy organization The Last Plastic Straw, the release states.

4

NEWS

The observer | tuesday, january 23, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Luncheon Continued from page 1

ever.”

After reading a quote from King emphasizing love, communit y and reconciliation, Firth said Notre Dame aims to achieve King’s v ision of an inclusive communit y.

“Dr. King is describing the kind of communit y we seek to be at Notre Dame: one that recognizes the dignit y of ever y member, welcomes each person fully, treasures their gifts as a ref lection of God, supports them and shares their struggles,” Firth said.

“As an academic communit y, we strive to explore, discuss and celebrate differences, as well as commonalities, thus enriching our grasp of truth and understanding.”

Sophomore a nd president of t he Muslim Student Associat ion, Hosnia Somadi, of fered t he invocat ion. She read t wo verses f rom Qura nic sura hs in A rabic before ex pla ining t heir sig nif ica nce. She sa id bot h verses related to just ice, pa r t icu la rly t he idea t hat a l l of huma ns, rega rdless of belief, ca n be united t hrough God. Somadi sa id she encourages t he audience to f ind peace.

“I am ver y honored to be here today. I would like to end off asking of you all to keep in mind Islam, among all faiths, is one that encompasses peace and love,” Somadi said. “And I ask of you all today to keep this peace and love in all of your hearts, for we are all the children of God.” After a pause in programming for lunch, the ceremony continued w ith a v ideo in which various members of the communit y, including students, facult y, administrators and staff, were asked, “W hat are you doing to advance Dr. King’s legacy on campus? ” In the v ideo, director of campus ministr y Fr. Pete McCormick said King’s work certainly possessed a spiritual dimension.

“He was a man who clearly had ref lected on the scriptures, a man who deeply cared about what those scriptures led him to,” McCormick said. “As a priest certainly, as someone who is tasked w ith preaching on this campus, thinking about ‘How can I bring those ver y same words to life? ’ But more practical for us all, ‘How is it that we can be inv ited into those same words, into those same texts that are so sacred, that led Dr. King to imagine a world that could be? ’”

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During another segment of the v ideo, director of admissions Bob Mundy discussed King’s legacy as it related to universities and higher education. Because he was the first in his family to attend college, Mundy said higher education is a great avenue for “social change and social opportunit y” that King helped expand access to education.

“Dr. King reminds us that that access is not always equally available” Mundy said. “An exciting part of my work at Notre Dame is I get to help students find that opportunit y … and have them come here and enjoy the benefits of a terrific education.”

The final segment of the luncheon then began as Fr. Jenkins took the stage to introduce Corey and Dav id Robinson, the t wo key note speakers. However, before he did so he took a few moments to offer his ow n remarks on King. Referring to quote from King in which the civ il rights leader warned against the dangers of “social stagnation,” Jenkins said the purpose of the luncheon involves unit y.

“It is in the spirit of resisting social stagnation that we suspend classes today and come together to ref lect on the King legacy and on the ways we continue to make progress in our communit y and in our world,” Jenkins said.

The conversat ion bet ween t he Robinsons t hen commenced, a nd Dav id Robinson sa id his fat her, who g rew up in Litt le Rock, A rka nsas in t he 1950s, had t he oppor tunit y to be a member of t he “Litt le Rock Nine,” who integ rated t he cit y’s schools, but declined t he of fer. Corey Robinson sa id Dav id’s fat her, his g ra ndfat her, a lso had t he oppor tunit y to play basketba ll at t he Universit y of A rka nsas but u lt imately decided aga inst it because of t he school’s seg regated facilit ies. Dav id Robinson sa id his mot her g rew up in seg regated Columbia, Sout h Ca rolina, a nd had to be bused ever y day to a n A f rica n A merica n school on t he ot her side of tow n.

Dav id Robinson, a graduate of the Naval Academy and communit y icon in San Antonio — where he played for the San Antonio Spurs — said he v iews grace and mercy as the most important parts of King’s legacy.

“Martin Luther King is really an icon. For me, he is the perfect picture of a man who, motivated by his faith, stepped out into the world

KATHRYNE ROBINSON | The Observer

Ann Firth, chief of staff to University President Fr. John Jenkins, introduces the luncheon with a description of the goals of Walk the Walk Week at the Joyce Athletic and Convocation Center on Monday.

and moved and made a difference,” Dav id Robinson said. “And he practiced grace and mercy. And that’s my challenge to my boys, to myself ever y day. Practice grace and mercy. Those are t wo things I think we’re having trouble w ith now in this countr y.”

Asked by his son to offer a more specific definition of both “grace” and “mercy,” Dav id Robinson said it was important to break expected behav iors in the t wo concepts.

“To me, grace … is giving kindness to people even though they don’t deser ve it,” Dav id Robinson said. “And then mercy is not punishing someone for something that they actually do deser ve.

That’s obv iously another concept that’s a challenge …

Those t wo things I think are really key.”

Dav id Robinson said the difficulties his parents faced during their upbringings paved the way for grace and mercy to become critical parts of his life grow ing up.

After Dav id Robinson related the stor y of his ow n grandfather — who worked in a post office for decades but was never promoted because of the color of his skin and who ultimately sued over the

issue — Corey Robinson ref lected on the progress that has been made over the ensuing generations.

“Within a couple generations, I went to Notre Dame and got this opportunit y,” Corey Robinson said. “It’s just an unbelievable turnaround over three generations … and I think it has to do in part w ith my parents, my grandparents, my greatgrandparents in choosing mercy and grace over hate and choosing to see the opportunit y and building that env ironment.”

Dav id Robinson said he founded a private school in San Antonio, Texas, Car ver Academy, w ith the goal of helping underpriv ileged students get into and enroll in college. Currently, after partnering w ith IDE A Public Schools, Dav id has helped open 61 charter schools across Texas. He said he recently attended an event where graduates of these schools announced where they were going to college.

He said watching the students, half of whom are first generation college students, was an “ama zing deal.”

As the talk drew to a close, Dav id evaluated the progress American societ y as a whole has made on these

issues.

“America is an ideal — we’re not even close to what we say we are, ‘the home of the free’ and ‘the land of the brave,’” Dav id said. “We’re not even close. But we’re getting there. We’re changing. We’re practicing. We’re getting better. We’re treating each other a little bit better.

Over the years, we’ve grow n up as a countr y. And we continue to grow up and we have a system that allows change.

That allows us to grow into being America, being the bastion of the world. And we have the potential to be, but we’re not who we say we are.

We have to continue to grow.

So, for me it’s all about just day by day just … practicing grace.”

Dav id closed he believes this generation has the potential to change the world.

“The world is changing so fast,” Robinson said. “You guys have an incredible access to information and opportunit y. I think your generation w ill impact this world more than all the generations past. And you have an opportunit y to do some ama zing, positive things. Or not.”

Contact Tom Naatz at tnaatz@nd.edu

5

The observer | tuesday, january 23, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

By GRACE WEISSEND Scene Writer

On Garrett Borns’ sophomore album as BØRNS, the indie pop artist sticks to what he knows. “Blue Madonna” is 12 tracks of airy, danceable, lustful pop music, and it’s exactly what one would expect from a BØRNS album in the best way.

“Faded Heart” was the first bit of “Blue Madonna” to hit the airwaves back in July. Second on the album, the track was the perfect opening single for Borns’ return — it’s relentlessly on-brand with a strippeddown sound on the verses building to an eruption of violins, grunge-y guitar and falsetto in the chorus.

In fact, the more you listen to it, the more you’re not sure if you’re listening to “Faded Heart” or “Electric Love” off his 2015 first studio album “Dopamine.”

Not that I’m complaining; Borns understands what works for him, and he’s milking it for all it’s worth.

Don’t get me wrong – “Blue Madonna” is a thoroughly enjoyable listen, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for innovative, original pop music. However, you get the sense that Borns didn’t stretch himself terribly hard since “Dopamine.”

Almost every song on “Blue Madonna” sounds pretty similar to the one before it, and the lyrics refuse to divulge anything specific or personal. The lyrics revel in classic love song cliches. It’d be borderline irritating if the music didn’t dig itself all the way under your skin and force your bones to start dancing.

By ELLEN O’BRIEN Scene Writer

Strong women are at the forefront of many awardwinning and award-worthy films this year. Mildred Hayes vehemently sought justice for her daughter in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”

Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson tirelessly asserted her teenaged individuality in — you guessed it — “Lady Bird.” Tonya Harding relentlessly declared her truth, albeit controversial, in “I, Tonya.” No less than her fellow leading ladies, Molly Bloom consistently strived to succeed in “Molly’s Game.”

“Molly’s Game,” much like these aforementioned movies, is about a complex woman. Considering that for every film that features well-rounded female roles like this, seemingly 10 more are churned out where women are painstakingly one-dimensional, this depth is especially refreshing. Jessica Chastain expertly plays Molly Bloom, a character that is based off of the real-life competitive skier who ultimately ran the world’s most exclusive poker game for 10 years. “Molly’s Game” is the true story of her path from being a skier destined for the Olympics to being arrested for alleged collusion with the Russian mob. If it weren’t a true story, I

There are, of course, exceptions to this pattern, and it’s in those moments where you can see Borns’ artistic growth. The formulaic first half of “Blue Madonna” gives way to the last seven surprise-filled tracks. “Iceberg” is stripped down and honest in a way that’s refreshing, even if it’s not the best song on the album. It’s an anxiety-driven tune anyone who’s felt like they’re in too deep too soon can relate to. “I Don’t Want U Back” features the strongest lyrics on the album. They’re the words you didn’t know you needed at those times when you see your ex out on the town after a few drinks — “I should’ve known better but the liquor got me thinking I miss ya / I should’ve taken two steps back but I wanted to kiss ya / Every time you f lash those eyes you make me reminisce ya / You’re looking fine but I’d be lying if I said I wanted you back.” The final track, “Byebye Darling,” is the most out-of-place in the best way possible, with an Elton John–like piano track anchoring the song’s sweet, heartache-y mood.

Although he’s addressing a lost love, it feels like Borns is signing off to his fans until the next album, sigh-singing “We had a good run darling now don’t you cry.”

Borns also aimed to refresh his sound through collaborations with ethereal pop queen Lana Del Rey, who is featured on the opening song “God Save Our Young Blood” and on the titular track “Blue Madonna.” Borns’ and Del Rey’s voices sound exquisite together in a musical alliance I didn’t know

I wanted until I heard it. However, while Del Rey’s contribution could have really elevated Borns’ sound and style, the two tracks feel a bit lackluster and unemotional. As pleasant as it is, this match made in pop heaven doesn’t quite live up to the hype it inspires.

The problem with “Blue Madonna” is that any BØRNS fan will get the sense that there could be more. With Borns’ vocal range, evocative sound and originality, this second album doesn’t do his abilities justice. Borns is an electric blue neon sign lighting up the quasi-mainstream pop scene — he’s still illuminating the musical landscape, but he could definitely be shining a little bit brighter, standing out a little more. I can’t wait to hear what’s next.

would have found all the drama unrealistic.

Luckily, Chastain brings some welcome lightheartedness to her character, which provides needed comic relief to the movie. Molly is seriously witty, always equipped with a clever comeback, a smart plan and, aesthetically speaking, a great outfit. Screenwriter and director Aaron Sorkin only falters by making Molly sound too scripted at some points, specifically during her early interactions with her eventual law yer, Charlie Jaffey (Idris Elba). However, Sorkin’s characterization of Molly is more than satisfactory — she’s intelligent and competitive without being cold and emotionless, a balance that is often absent in the pursuit of strong female characters by male screenwriters. From the start of the film, Chastain’s acting hints to the numerous layers that Molly is later revealed to have.

She’s undeniably nuanced, and it’s a delight to keep discovering more about her throughout the entirety of “Molly’s Game.”

Sorkin’s script delivers in all two hours and 20 minutes of “Molly’s Game,” rich with compelling dialogue and thoughtful insights. At its roots, the film is about psychology. It answers the question of just how someone ends up running a high stakes poker game with the world’s elite. This is

accomplished through Sorkin’s thoughtful storytelling. He frames the narrative in a manner that ensures the audience never gets bored. The film shifts between Molly’s early life, her time running the poker game and the period two years later when she has been arrested and is planning for trial with Jaffey. The focus on Molly’s childhood effectively establishes her competitive nature as well as her rocky relationship with her father, while the other two parts bring the excitement to drive the story forward.

If Chastain’s acclaimed performance and Sorkin’s tight script aren’t enough for you, see “Molly’s Game” for Michael Cera’s appearance as a pokersav v y movie star, or for the adorable relationship between Jaffey and his daughter. Little things such as these just add to the film’s excellence. The ending of “Molly’s Game” is satisfying, the kind of pay-off every audience hopes for in a drama with so many twists and turns. Only the final shot detracted from my movie-going experience due to an attempt at symbolism that I couldn’t quite grasp.

Still, I suppose the fact that it left me wondering is indicative of a successful movie.

Contact Grace Weissend at gweissen@nd.edu

“Blue Madonna” BØRNS Label: Interscope Records Tracks: “Faded Heart,” “I Don’t Want U Back,” “Bye-bye Darling” If you like: Banks, Bleachers, Lorde

Contact Ellen O’Brien at eobrie14@nd.edu CRISTINA INTERIANO | The Observer

6

The observer | tuesday, january 23, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

LETTERs TO THE EDITOR

Cold weather: a set of winter haikus Dominique DeMoe Graphic Designer

The sky is a sea Of grey clouds hiding the sun Please come out today Walking to class my Nose freezes from the frigid Temperature, wow.

Am I crying or Is that just the wind blowing, Snow onto my face?

It is always cold Even when we think it’s warm It is relative Forty degrees, yes!

No jacket for me today.

Better than thirty.

Summer seems to be So far away but it is Coming so I will wait For the days when I Can go outside and not have My fingers go numb.

Contact Dominique DeMoe at ddemoe@nd.edu The views and expressions of the inside column are those of the author and not necessarily of the Observer.

Jerusalem for all President Donald Trump announced Dec. 6 his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel and to move the U.S. Embassy from its current location in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This act marks a decisive break with decades of U.S. policy on the status of Jerusalem, specifically not recognizing exclusive Israeli control over the city. The United State’s official position historically reflected the unanimous consensus of the broader international community. After the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, Israel occupied East Jerusalem. Since 1967, the UN has repeatedly demanded that Israel withdraw from East Jerusalem, as well as the rest of the land Israel illegally occupies. However, Israel has continuously attempted to exert full control over the entire city of Jerusalem through the illegal expansion of settlements, the seizure and destruction of Palestinian owned homes and policies that make it challenging for Palestinians to remain in the city. According to Haaretz, a predominant Israeli newspaper, Israel has revoked more than 14,000 residential permits of Palestinians living in in East Jerusalem. Until now, the international community has been united in refusing to recognize Israel’s jurisdiction over the city.

Trump’s decision to declare Jerusalem as the capital of Israel effectively ignores that the Palestinian people, too, have a claim to Jerusalem both historically and today. There are 208,000 Palestinians currently residing in Jerusalem. Contrary to what Trump’s speech suggested, Palestinians living in occupied East Jerusalem do not live in democratic freedom, nor in equality with their Jewish counterparts. Myriads of laws and discriminatory practices deem them as second-class citizens in the State of Israel, an ethnocratic Jewish democracy.

Declaring the city as the capital of Israel legitimizes Israel’s discriminatory laws and human rights violations against Palestinians living in Jerusalem and exonerates Israel from its construction of Jewish settlements in Palestinian East Jerusalem, a practice that is illegal under international law.

In fact, even the United Nations Resolution 478 have deemed Israel’s claim that Jerusalem is the “complete and united” capital of Israel to be in violation of international law.

This has grave implications for future peace talks. The U.S. has called Palestinians to negotiate. Historically, peace talks have come with the commitment that the final status of Jerusalem would be negotiable, and now the U.S. has reneged on this basic prerequisite. While the two state solution, as many have noted, has been untenable for many years due to ongoing illegal settlement expansion in the Palestinian territories, the U.S., in unilaterally declaring Jerusalem Israel’s capital, has effectively made this option obsolete. This is one of the reasons why Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas declared earlier this year that if Trump were to proceed with his

plan, it would have a “disastrous impact on the peace process, on the two-state solution and on the stability and security of the entire region.”

Many members of our group have spent time visiting or living in Jerusalem. We have witnessed first-hand the multinational character of the city — the deep attachments Palestinians, Israelis and others have to this city on religious, cultural or historical grounds. The city is a rich mosaic in which holy sites from all three Abrahamic traditions reside in close proximity to each other and where Muslims, Jews and Christians all have historic roots. A city with such a unique religious dimension, contentious history, and complicated status cannot be understood as the exclusive capital of one modern nation, particularly when such a recognition puts vulnerable communities at risk. Jerusalem must be viewed, in its contemporary context, as a dynamic, “international” city which people of many ethnicities and religions call home, and to which many peoples have lasting historical claims.

Our statement is not a stance for an ethnic group or against another. It is a stance for justice-based peace, and against unjust occupation and oppression. We believe that Trump’s recent decisions regarding Jerusalem are an act against the principles of human rights that the United States have always claimed to value. As students in a Catholic institution, we echo Pope Francis’ urge for all nations to respect the status quo of Jerusalem. Any act that claims Jerusalem for the one people group alone is an act against justice and peace for all peoples — especially those who are most marginalized — that call this holy city home.

In peace, Student Voices for Palestine Club Kyra Blas senior Daniel Esparza senior Marie-Claire Klassen graduate student Kathleen Kollman graduate student Flora Tang senior Anna Volk senior

Step up two: the pleats We write today in support of Soren Hansen’s Jan. 22 column, “Step it up, please.”

We, too, bemoan and lament the disintegrating expectations toward dress in our university’s classrooms. Denim? Are you serious? The attire of construction workers and hooligans has no place in an intellectual setting like DeBartolo Hall.

Hansen writes that “students at Notre Dame are not trying to insult their professors or disrespect their peers with their outfit choices.” We disagree; in fact, we believe that Hansen does not go far enough in her assertions.

While it is certainly possible that students who forgo formal attire may not have the financial means to dress up on a daily basis, we believe it is a purposeful sign of disrespect toward their peers and cannot help but discount their opinions.

When one of us hears a student in flannel pajama pants discuss the intricacies of Hobbes, we can only assume that they are talking about Calvin’s furry friend from comic lore. (It should be noted that we believe classes taught by graduate students do not require formal attire, as they do not have the requisite number of Ph.Ds to

command respect.)

As a famous visionary once said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day attend a university where they will not be judged by the content of their character, but by the quality of their clothing.” To our peers who spend their time and money on respectable attire, we tip our bowler hats to you.

@ObserverViewpnt

Wilson Barrett senior Kieran Kelly senior Becket Salerno senior

The observer | tuesday, january 23, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

7

A moderate American Dream Erin Shang Brave New World

Several decades ago, a stout man stood on the steps of Lincoln Memorial, in midst of a group of priests and facing a large crowd of dreamers. His determined and inspiring voice reckoned, “I have a dream, one that’s deeply rooted in the American dream … ” Several decades later, a tall, white male sits facing cameras and reporters, recognizable by his iconic blonde hair. He puts on the politician’s smile and says, “King’s dream is our dream. It is the American Dream.”

That classic phrase “the American Dream” traversed through time, witnessed the downfall of the notion of a “trustworthy” government, leaped into the 21st century, reignited hope by a war against terrorism and now still sets off ripples of excitement within most people on this land. Over decades, it was washed over by waves of political turmoil, but it seems to still be there, though it felt somehow unreal when Trump said it.

I’ve never had personal encounters with the American Dream myself, yet there are quite a few stories that intertwined with mine.

He’s a student at Columbia University, and we met last summer in New York City. Summers in New York can sometimes get a bit hot and damp, so we were sitting in an ice cream shop. We just finished a touristy visit to MOMA, but were still in the discussion about a painting that was themed the American Dream. So he started telling me his family’s story.

“Well, I still believe in it,” he said, “because frankly, my family is living it.”

It was in the 1970s. China was in a economic quagmire and was politically paralyzed. The alternative form of “cannibalism” inflicted on people by the government drove many people hysterical. His parents were among the few that were able to escape the regime and were offered political asylum by the United States.

“America took them in, when they were in their most devastated state. It wasn’t that their hopes were shattered, but they just didn’t dare to dream anymore,” he said, and though he had never personally experienced it, the shadow of political persecution still seemed to brood over him.

Yet he was still full of hope. He said that he and his family were the survivors showcasing the victory against

suppression and despair. “That’s why I still believe in the American Dream.”

I’ve heard lots of similar stories from friends whose families immigrated to the United States in the past. The stories are similar, in a way that they are all full of hope, and are all woven together into “American Dream”.

In fact, for many foreigners like myself, after filters imposed by the internet firewalls and political correctness, “American Dream” is exactly the national ethos of the United States. Under the flashing Hollywood spotlights and driven by the engines of entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley, America is the land where all dreams could come true, and everyone could have a right to pursue happiness. The American Dream seemed distant, but special, and everyone can be a part of it.

I think we all hoped that every story could be like this one, inspiring and touching. However, this is simply not the truth, as there is always another side of the same coin.

The new immigration policies following the new presidency in November 2016 tilted the balance. Around the same day I had this discussion about the American Dream with my friend, I saw a post from a girl who was rejected of her H1B work visa application, and was updating her contacts of her most recent status.

“I know this would happen. It’s a lottery process after all,” she wrote. “It still felt weird when my immigration document was stamped on a label that reads ‘Permanent Departure’.”

It was more than nostalgia she felt when she realized that the stamp on her document marked the official end of the eight years she spent in the United States. It was a farewell to her high school and college friends, her memories, her teenage years — on a permanent basis.

She wrote, “It’s like waking up from a dream.”

Unfortunately, her story is quite reflective of the ”American Dream” in the 21st century. The executive order in January of last year halting all refugee admissions and travels from seven Muslim-majority countries seemed to have signaled everything that followed. A friend from Iran was no longer able to travel back to see his family, since he could be denied of admission when he travelled back.

H1B policy became stricter than ever. The renunciation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) further brought many people to question: Does the American Dream still exist?

But I’m not here to simply conclude in condemning the

superficiality of idealism or commenting on immigration policies with frivolous wrath. Before I give my answer to the question, I hope to first further elaborate on the second story.

The to-be-continued part of that story is actually pretty sweet. She was relocated by her firm to another country, met her Mr. Right and is living a happy life. Her American dream gradually became an obscure miniature of her early years spent in the States. It’s like an orbuculum that embodied all of her past — her struggles, her joy, her fear, her excitement, and through which she could see her younger self transitioning into who she has become today. The American Dream shaped her.

And she added something to it too. Through the course of history she became a part of the American Dream as well, like the Earth in the Milky Way — small and insignificant, but still, important and irreplaceable. For her, and for many others, the American Dream is no longer the end goal itself, but a means to another ultimate goal, a phase in her life, or a courier station, from which she sets off.

Back in the beginning of 20th century, an Italian person came to the United States and went through immigration at Ellis Island. The person said “I came to America because I heard the streets were paved with gold.”

Are the streets paved with gold? No. Are the streets still unpaved at all? Mostly, no.

With a more globalized world and the fast paced development of global economy, it is quite inevitable that the streets in the United States have already been paved, and they don’t need more workers to pave them anymore. However, going back to my earlier question of whether the American Dream still exists, I think yes, it still does. It just became more moderate as compared to its earlier state. The paved paths in fact enable us to walk on them more fearlessly into the future, to continue living, and to conquer something greater than ever.

And this is exactly the moderate American Dream.

Erin Shang seeks to find the black and white from this world of messed up palette, the polygons from monotonous lines, and passion from the shattered dreams in this brave new world we’re all living in. She is a sophomore studying finance and ACMS at Notre Dame. Erin welcomes comments of any kind, and can be reached at yshang1@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Seven words Raymond Ramirez The Crooked Path

This year marks some notable anniversaries such as the 300th birthday of the city of San Antonio, the 50th year since the debut of the film classic “2001: A Space Odyssey” and 40 years since National Lampoon’s “Animal House” (which I always assumed was a documentary) gave us John Belushi at the height of his craft. This year will also mark 40 years since the U.S. Supreme Court handed down one of its most influential First Amendment holdings in The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) v. Pacifica Foundation, the infamous “seven forbidden words” case.

The facts that led to this case are fairly straightforward: comedian George Carlin had a routine called “Filthy Words” that contained certain expletives. A Pacifica Foundation radio station in New York City, WBAI, broadcast the routine during afternoon drive time. A father complained that his son heard it and that it contained inappropriate language. The FCC sent a letter of reprimand to Pacifica for violating its rules against broadcasting indecent content. Compared to the First Amendment protections afforded to political or written expression, the FCC has substantial powers regarding the control of broadcasting, because it is so pervasive.

As rumination on the use and impact of language, Carlin’s monologue was not in itself obscene, and the Court so held, but a majority still found the speech to be indecent, since it contained words deemed by the

Court to be unsuitable for broadcast at that time of day.

Accordingly, the Court said the FCC can regulate the hours when such content could be broadcast, limiting it to times when children were unlikely to be exposed.

The FCC also was owed deference in defining indecency.

Given the explosion of cable and online viewing options, the holding seems almost quaint today, and language that goes above and beyond that litigated in Pacifica can be found on premium cable channels and the internet on a full time basis.

What was in Carlin’s presentation that was so indecent?

Fortunately, the Court included the entirety of the standup comedy routine in question in an appendix to the Opinion of the Court. This excerpt will give you a flavor of the monologue, which originated a few years prior to the Court’s decision (hence the oblique reference to the Vietnam War): “…And, uh, b----- you can say, and h--and d---, so I have to figure out which ones you couldn’t … and it came down to seven but the list is open to amendment, and in fact, has been changed, … a lot of people pointed things out to me, and I noticed some myself.”

If you are not familiar with Carlin’s routine (which was virtually memorized by my cohort of college students in the 1970s), try and come up with a list of the seven forbidden words (hint: two of them are compounds) and see how many of them you can match.

The Pacifica case came to mind recently as word came out of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that CDC officials are being told not to use seven words or phrases in documents that are to be circulated within the federal government and Congress in preparation of the

next presidential budget proposal. The seven words and phrases — “diversity,” “entitlement,” “fetus,” “transgender,” “vulnerable,” “evidence-based” and “science-based” — reportedly were communicated in verbal directives, but there has been no official denial of this proscriptive list. This action from the nation’s top public health agency is especially troubling because it is a clear attempt to limit discourse on critical health topics. It also is a naked attempt to steer health policy away from fact-based empirical studies and into the murky realm of pseudo-science and religious beliefs.

This Orwellian nightmare of shaping policy by restricting the very language that can be used in discussing, funding and making policy is truly obscene and indecent.

I caution you, as educated and informed readers, to avoid the sideshow of presidential sexual indiscretions and the bloviating about race and immigration and pay more attention to actions of officials at the agency level across the government. Attempts to limit honest, fact-based discourse cut at the sinews of our democracy and render freedom of speech yet another issue on which to take sides. To be for freedom of speech is to be for America’s constitutional democracy. There is no other side to take and still claim to be an American.

Ray Ramirez is an attorney practicing, yet never perfecting, law in Texas while waiting patiently for a MacArthur Genius Grant. You may contact him at patrayram@sbcglobal.net The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

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DAILY

The observer | tuesday, january 23, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | Will Shortz

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Looking back will do you a lot of good. Make adjustments to ensure that you don’t make the same mistake twice. Keep your life simple and stay away from temptation. Get rid of poor habits and incorporate more discipline, thought and mindfulness into your everyday routine. Protect your honor, reputation and personal information. Change should begin from within. Your numbers are 3, 14, 20, 24, 31, 36, 45.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): There is no limit to what you can do to help others. Only your own fear of failure or reluctance to do your part can keep you from setting a standard for others to follow. You can make a difference.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Listen and respond cautiously. How you present your thoughts will make a difference to the way people treat you. Reveal little about yourself but ask questions that will give you as much personal information about others as possible.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Personal gains can be made. Spend more time addressing emotional issues and making changes to the way you look. A creative pursuit will allow you to help others. Sign up to volunteer for a cause you believe in. Love has no limits.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Sit tight. Don’t follow someone eager to make a hasty decision. Explore new interests, but don’t let anyone talk you into investing time or money in something you know little about. Research will put your mind at ease.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Set your agenda and follow through. Take a physical approach to getting things done your way. Counting on others will cost you too much and not live up to your expectations. Avoid indulgent or negative people.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Refuse to let emotional spending take over. Look over your personal documents and medical concerns and sort out what needs to be updated. Don’t feel pressured to make a hasty decision. Look for alternatives to what’s being offered.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Think twice before you make a move. It’s important to fully understand the repercussions of your actions. Concentrate on personal improvements, not trying to change those around you. Say less and do more when dealing with someone you love.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Put more emphasis on what you know, not what you have or how you look. Take the initiative to protect your assets and possessions and to do things in your own unique way. Trust in your abilities.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Improve your living quarters. Pay it forward by donating items you no longer use to charities that help those in need.

There is no limit to what you can do when you make up your mind to make a difference.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Stay calm and wait to get all the facts before you make a judgment call. Pour your energy into something constructive and don’t be tempted to follow someone offering something that sounds too good to be true. Trust your intuition.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Decipher what is doable and start heading in that direction. Having a plan in place before you begin your journey will help you advance from your current position to your destination of choice.

Romance will improve your life.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You’ve got options, so before you make changes that will disrupt your life or important relationships, consider what’s best for you. Combine your knowledge and experience with your imaginative ideas and you will come up with a solid plan.

Birthday Baby: You are compassionate, eclectic and engaging. You are enticing and insightful.

WINGin’ it | BAILEE EGAN & Olivia wang

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

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Sports Authority

NCAA basketball

Sandgren’s wins also create stir Daniel O’Boyle Sports Writer

It’s natural to root for the underdog, especially in a sport you may not pay yearround attention to.

And if they’re the last American standing in their competition, well, it would seem obvious for American fans to root for their compatriot.

And if they have something else worth liking, even if it’s just a fun name, all the better.

Tennys (pronounced like the sport) Sandgren of Tennessee probably felt a lot of pressure to make it as a professional tennis player. But entering this year’s Australian Open with 96 players ranked higher than the 26-year-old, Sandgren has never had as much success as you would hope for a player with his name. His career-high ranking was 85, and he had never won a match at a Grand Slam until last year. He had made his career playing Challenger and Futures events until last year, when he finally made appearances at ATP Tour events and broke into the world’s top-100.

At this year’s first Slam, a first-round victory over Frenchman Jeremy Chardy wasn’t a huge shock, but nobody expected the winner to stand a serious chance against 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka. Yet Sandgren pulled off the straight-sets upset for his first-ever top-10 win.

After coming from a set down against Frenchman Maximilian Marterer in the third round, Sandgren then played one of the most thrilling matches of the tournament so far, losing a fourth-set tiebreaker 9-7, only to defeat No. 5 seed Dominic Thiem with a 6-3 final set.

On the surface, it looks like a fantastic underdog story.

The little-known player, who had achieved nothing at an age when many stars have already peaked made a shocking run to the quarterfinals.

Facing world No. 58 Chung Hyeon early this morning, he may even have booked a semifinal spot, potentially against Roger Federer, by the time you read this.

9

Yet a sudden rise in fame means a sudden increase in scrutiny. And the Sandgren story, while still a rare feat, becomes harder to root for when you learn a little more about Sandgren.

Sandgren never earned the prize money that allows for a professionally-curated, noncontroversial social media presence. Instead, he’s been happy to share a few of his own thoughts. And those are not always pleasant. Sandgren first drew questions for following a few notable alt-right figures on Twitter, including one user who attended the white nationalist march in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, but dismissed the idea that this means he must espouse their beliefs. However, his online activity goes beyond who he follows. In 2016, Sandgren tweeted that the “Pizzagate” theory — the belief that Hillary Clinton and DNC Chair John Podesta were linked to a pedophilia ring based out of a Washington D.C. pizza restaurant — was “sickening and the collective evidence is too much to ignore,” while he also claimed that Clinton was linked to Satanic rituals. A few follows of controversial figures could perhaps have been looked past if Sandgren presented a solid excuse, but it’s clear that Sandgren’s beliefs go much further than that. Even Sandgren’s excuse for who he followed leaves more questions than answers, describing the alt-right’s ideas as “interesting.” He may have denied a connection, but why is Sandgren so interested in the ideas of groups known for promoting racial hatred?

Sandgren’s achievements over the past week have been impressive, there’s no denying that. But with his newfound fame, Sandgren is now a potential role model to children, and has to answer for his activity online. If anything is “too much to ignore,” it’s the potentially hateful beliefs of a player who may otherwise be looked up to by many.

Contact Daniel O’Boyle at doboyle1@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Follow us on Twitter. @ObserverSports

Kentucky falls out of poll for first time since 2004 Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. — Kentucky is out of the AP Top 25 for the first time in nearly four years while another bunch of Wildcats — Villanova — maintained their hold on No. 1.

Kentucky slid out of Monday’s latest poll from No. 18 after losses to South Carolina and Florida, snapping a 30-game home winning streak for the Wildcats in Southeastern Conference play. That dropped coach John Calipari’s Wildcats out for the first time since March 2014 and snapped a 68-week stretch in the poll.

“I’m not panicked,” Calipari said Monday. “I coach at Kentucky, I always have young guys. I don’t have them this young, but they’re really young. They’re learning to trust each other. I’ve got to get them to trust each other on both sides of the ball and it just might take more time.”

The top three of Villanova, Virginia and Purdue remained the same, with the Wildcats (18-1) remaining firmly in place by collecting 63 of 65 first-place votes. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers (18-1) and the Boilermakers (19-2) have combined to win 25 straight games, 19 by double-digit margins, and split the remaining first-place votes.

Duke inched up a spot to No. 4, while Kansas jumped five spots to No. 5 after winning at West Virginia. Michigan State, West Virginia, Xavier, Cincinnati and reigning national champion North Carolina rounded out the top 10, which saw three teams — Oklahoma, Wichita State and

Texas Tech — each lose twice last week to take big tumbles.

Kentucky (14-5, 4-3 SEC) started the year at No. 5 and remained in the top 10 until Christmas Day, but the Wildcats have lost three of five overall and are 0-2 against ranked teams this year.

They also rank outside the top 25 in KenPom’s adjusted offensive and defensive national rankings through Sunday’s games. Calipari’s teams in Lexington have finished outside the top 25 in both categories only once before: the 2012-13 season that ended with 12 losses and a first-round NIT loss to Robert Morris.

Then again, the last Kentucky team to fall out of the AP poll in 2014 went from being a 10-loss disappointment to playing for the NCAA championship in the span of weeks.

Purdue’s surge The Boilermakers (8-0 Big Ten) have won 15 straight to remain at No. 3, their highest since being ranked No. 2 in March 1988. They have won three straight Big Ten games by at least 23 points for the first time in school history.

The long climb back Arizona (16-4, 6-1 Pac-12) went from ranked No. 2 to unranked in the span of a week in November after a disastrous 0-3 showing at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas, including a 25-point loss to Purdue — which started the Boilermakers’ run — in the eight-team tournament’s seventh-place game.

But the Wildcats have won

13 of 14 since and check in this week at No. 11, their highest ranking since falling out.

Top risers No. 13 Ohio State (17-4, 7-0 Big Ten) is up nine spots for the week’s biggest leap. The Buckeyes checked in at No. 22 last week for their first AP Top 25 ranking since March 2015.

UNC matched Kansas’ five-spot jump to No. 10 after beating Clemson last week at home.

Longest slides Wichita State’s first two losses in its new American Athletic Conference home had the Shockers drop 10 spots to No. 17 for the week’s biggest fall.

Two Big 12 teams also took big tumbles after two-loss weeks. Oklahoma and freshman star Trae Young fell eight spots to No. 12 after losses to Kansas State and Oklahoma State, while No. 14 Texas Tech slid six spots after losses to Texas and Iowa State.

Arizona State also fell five spots to No. 21 and has lost four of seven since a 12-0 start.

Newcomers Saint Mary’s led the newcomers at No. 16 after winning at Gonzaga in West Coast Conference play last week. The Gaels, led by Jock Landale, were ranked for three November polls before falling out but have won 14 straight.

No. 20 Florida — which reached No. 5 in December before falling out — and No. 23 Nevada both returned to the poll after being ranked earlier this season, while No. 24 Rhode Island checked in for the first time this season.

NCAA basketball | Virginia tech 80, north carolina 69

Hokies upset Tar Heels behind second-half run Associated Press

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Justin Robinson scored 19 points and Virginia Tech pulled away in the second half to beat No. 10 North Carolina 80-69 on Monday night.

Ahmed Hill added 18 points for Virginia Tech (14-6, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference).

Hill scored seven in a row to start the decisive 13-3 burst, which turned a 51-48 lead into a 64-51 advantage with just

under eight minutes remaining. Kerry Blackshear Jr. added 16 points.

Joel Berry and Luke Maye scored 23 points each for the Tar Heels (16-5, 5-3). North Carolina never got closer than eight points in the final eight minutes.

The Hokies ended the first half on a 15-2 run to lead 3932 at the break. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Berry sparked the Tar Heels early in the second half, but then Hill’s

3-pointer started his personal 7-0 run.

As the final horn sounded, fans that had been chanting “just like football” streamed onto the court.

Big picture North Carolina: The Tar Heels like to play at a fast pace, but were not as adept at getting back on defense against the Hokies, who scored numerous baskets before 10 seconds had come off the shot clock.

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Sports

The observer | tuesday, january 23, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Fencing Continued from page 12

Columbia as well as some fresh competition in Way ne State, N Y U and Penn. After starting the day w ith a pair of v ictories over NY U and Way ne State, the men’s team found itself in a close match

w ith the Quakers. Thanks to an undefeated performance by senior captain Jonah Shainberg, who went 3-0 in sabre, Notre Dame was able to snag the 14-13 v ictor y, while the women’s team won 21-6, getting 3-0 performances out of Sirico, Russo, freshman sabreur Reghan Ward and

sophomore foilist Morgan Partridge. In their second match against Columbia in as many days, it was the Lions that got the better of both Irish teams, handing the women their first loss of the season. The weekend was w rapped up w ith w ins by both teams against St. John’s, led, in particular,

by strong performances in foil, as the men went 8-1 in the event, while the women went 9-0.

The No. 1 Irish came home w ith a 13-1 record on the women’s side and 9-4 record for the men’s side as they prepare for their first event of the season as hosts this upcoming weekend at

the annual DeCicco Duals.

Competition takes place all day Saturday and Sunday, as the Irish seek to defend their No. 1 ranking, and Notre Dame w ill be right back at it the follow ing weekend when they compete in the Northwestern Duals, also taking place at the Castellan Family Fencing Center.

M Tennis Continued from page 12

in the doubles competition.

Against Kentuck y, singles w ins from Broadus, Ciamarra and Lebedev along w ith doubles v ictories from Howells/ Lebedev and Ciamarra/ Gamble gave Notre Dame the match v ictor y.

Against Cleveland State, freshmen Paul Gota and junior Nathan Griffin chipped in singles and doubles victories to help the Irish complete the weekend sweep.

Irish head coach Ryan Sachire was thrilled w ith the results his team was able to attain.

“It was a really good opening weekend for us,” Sachire said. “We played three good teams. Michigan State is obviously a Big Ten team and a Power-5 school and so to get the first w in of the season over a team like that was great. Then on Sunday, Kentuck y is a national power and a consistent top-20 level program year-in and yearout and to beat them was a great w in for our team. Then on Sunday night, Cleveland State maybe not quite on the level of Kentuck y but they are still a really good midmajor and I think they are going to w in their conference this year and go to the NCA A tournament, and to beat them was also a great w in. So, we couldn’t have asked for much better than what we started w ith this

ANN CURTIS | The Observer

Irish junior Grayson Broadus prepares to hit a backhand during Notre Dame’s 6-1 win over Michigan State on Friday at Eck Tennis Pavilion.

Broadus picked up the victory during his singles match against the Spartans, and he also won his singles match against Kentucky on Sunday.

year and we’re excited to build from here.”

Sachire also said he liked his team’s doubles play in the matches.

“I think the first thing is that we played strong doubles matches in all three matches,” Sachire said.

“Winning the doubles points all three times was ver y significant, so I think that is something that we can continue to move on going for ward. A lso the play of the bottom of our lineup.

Grayson Broadus, Richard Ciamarra, those guys did a great job against Michigan State and Kentuck y, and Richard played against Cleveland State as well.

Those two guys in particular and then the last person

I want to highlight is A lex Lebedev. He played No. 1 and w inning the matches that he did. It’s a great feeling knowing you have one of the best players in the countr y at the top of your lineup and that you’re going to be able to be competitive in ever y single duel match that you play in the No. 1 singles.”

The Irish w ill be back in action this weekend when they participate in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Austin, Texas. Notre Dame w ill play Texas on Friday.

Sachire said a main focus for this upcoming weekend’s matches w ill be transitioning from an indoor to an outdoor setting. Sachire says his team w ill travel dow n to Texas early to help them

w ith this transition.

“Our next event is this weekend,” Sachire said.

“We’re playing dow n in Texas at the Universit y of Texas, so we’re going to be outside dow n there. I think adjusting from indoor tennis to outdoor tennis, there’s a prett y big difference in the f low of the game and how the points are structured and all of that. So that is going to be a big challenge for us this week. Getting ready to play a really good Texas team on Saturday outside w ill be the main focus for us.

Transitioning from indoor to outdoor tennis and playing w ith a little more patience, maybe not going for quite as many w inners early in points, those are some of the

tendencies you have when you move back outside.

“We’re taking Monday and Tuesday off from practice to get fully healthy and rested back up. Then on Wednesday we’ll do some drills here at Notre Dame that are conducive to outdoor play like some more patience building drills. Then we’ll travel dow n to Texas Wednesday night and we’ll practice Thursday and Friday dow n in Austin in the outdoors. So we’ll be able to make the transition fine, but there’s no substitute for playing outside, so that’s why we’ll travel dow n there early and get two full days of practice before we compete.”

Contact Michael Ivey at mivey@hcc-nd.edu

ANN CURTIS | The Observer

Irish freshman Richard Ciamarra follows through after firing a serve during his singles match in Notre Dame’s 6-1 victory over Michigan State on Friday at Eck Tennis Pavilion.

Ciamara is a team-best 3-0 in dual singles matches for the Irish in the 2018 spring season, as he won his matches in all three of Notre Dame’s victories over the weekend.

Sports

ndsmcobserver.com | tuesday, january 23, 2018 | The Observer

Romagnolo

swimming & diving | ND 191, FSU 162 (M); ND 193, FSU 160 (W)

Notre Dame tops Florida State for ACC victory

Continued from page 12

second round.

“We have been ver y fortunate to have Theresa as the head coach of our women’s soccer team for the past four years,” Swarbrick said of Romagnolo’s resignation.

11

“She has been a great teacher, mentor and role model for our students. And while we would have preferred that she continue to lead our program, we understand and respect her decision and w ish her nothing but the best.”

A nationw ide search for Romagnolo’s replacement w ill commence immediately.

EMMA FARNAN | The Observer

Irish junior Tabahn Afrik competes in the 200-yard freestyle event during Notre Dame’s dual meet with Texas A&M on Oct. 14 at Rolf ’s Aquatic Center. Afrik won the 100-yard freestyle in Saturday’s win.

Observer Sports Staff

No. 22 Notre Dame earned a v ictor y over ACC foe and the No. 20 men’s and No. 25 women’s Florida State squad to remain perfect in the ACC w ith its w in Saturday.

The Irish earned their first ACC v ictor y back in October over the then-No. 7 and men’s and then-No. 9 women’s Cardinals. That w in was followed by v ictories over Georgia Tech and now Florida State, and the Irish are 3-0 against ACC opponents just three weeks away from the ACC championship. The men’s team is currently ranked fourth in the ACC w ith 812 points, while the women’s team ranks fifth in the conference w ith 803.05 points.

North Carolina State sits atop the men’s standings, while Louisv ille leads the

women.

The men’s team defeated the Seminoles 191-162, led by strong performances from senior Rob W hitacre, senior diver Joe Coumos, junior Tabahn Afrik and freshman Zach Yeadon.

W hitacre helped the Irish to three w ins, w inning the 200-yard backstroke, the 200-yard indiv idual medley and sw imming a leg of the v ictorious 400-yard medley relay. Afrik won the 100yard freest yle and swam a leg for the w inning men’s w inning 400-yard medley relay team. Yeadon continued his distance dominance w inning both the men’s 500-yard and 1,000yard freest yle races.

The women’s team, too, came out v ictorious over the Seminoles, w inning 193-160 w ith v ictories in multiple events. The women’s team was spearheaded

by freshman Lindsay Stone, senior Molly Treble, sophomores Abbie Dolan and Lauren Heller and junior A lice Treuth.

Like W hitacre, Stone was able to pull off three first place finishes, as she won the 500-meter freest yle race, the 1,000-meter freest yle and swam a leg of the 400-yard medley relay. Treble finished a close runner-up to Stone in the 1,000-yard freest yle and she also contributed a leg to the 400-yard medley relay.

Dolan and Heller took first and second in the 200-yard freest yle. Treuth won the 100-yard freest yle and contributed a leg in the 400yard medley relay.

The Irish w ill return home after a five-week road trip when they host the Shamrock Inv itational beginning Jan. 19 at Rolf’s Aquatic Center.

EMMA FARNAN | The Observer

Irish sophomore Erin Isola competes in the 1-meter dive during Notre Dame’s dual meet win over Texas A&M on Oct. 14 at Rolf ’s Aquatic Center. Isola placed third in the 1-meter dive against the Aggies.

Observer File Photo

Irish senior Brooke Broda fires a forehand during Notre Dame’s 5-2 win over Purdue on Feb. 22, 2017, at Eck Tennis Pavilion.

W Tennis Continued from page 12

Bojczuk, Caroline Dunleav y and Cameron Corse racked up a combined fall singles record of 20-7 in the fall season. Freshman Evangeline Shannon is also looking to make a splash this spring.

Changes for this season include the movement of Broda into the No. 1 singles spot and her longtime doubles partner Miller into the No. 2 spot.

Sophomore Zoe Spence is also set to compete more in singles and doubles both w ith the veterans and the freshmen. Last fall, Spence

and the three team veterans — Broda, Miller and Chong — combined for a 24-9 showing in singles competitions.

Sophomore Bess Waldram, who was injured for her freshman season, w ill also return to the doubles lineup this spring.

In terms of scheduling, the Irish w ill host 14 teams during the regular season and v isit nine, ending the regular season at home against Miami on April 22.

The Irish and the Broncos have met on 21 occasions, w ith Notre Dame leading the series 17-4. Notre Dame and Western Michigan w ill meet Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Eck Tennis Pav ilion.

Observer File Photo

Irish sophomore Zoe Spence follows through on her shot during Notre Dame’s 5-2 win over Purdue on Feb. 22, 2017, at Eck Tennis Pavilion.

12

The observer | tuesday, january 23, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

men’s Tennis | Nd 6, Michigan state 1; nd 4, kentucky 3; nd 5, cleveland state 2

Irish sweep homestand to begin spring season

By MICHAEL IVEY

Notre Dame started the 2018 regular season this weekend hosting three matches in the span of three days.

On Friday night, the Irish defeated Michigan State 6-1.

On Sunday, Notre Dame defeated Kentuck y 4-3 in the afternoon and then dow ned Cleveland State 5-2 later in the day. A ll three matches took place at the Eck Tennis Pav ilion.

Against Michigan State, Notre Dame saw singles w ins in five of its six matches, including w ins from junior A lex Lebedev, junior Grayson Broadus, sophomore Guillermo Cabrera, freshman Richard Ciamarra and freshman Tristan McCormick. The doubles teams of freshman William Howells and Lebedev and sophomore Matt Gamble and Ciamarra recorded w ins

MICHELLE MEHELAS | The Observer

Irish junior Alex Lebedev follows through on a serve during his match in Notre Dame’s 4-3 win over Kentucky on Sunday.

FEncing | St. john’s supercup; philadelphia invite

ND opens 2018 with strong wins Observer Sports Staff

In its first collegiate action since early November, Notre Dame returned to form and showed why it is the reigning national champions, having a successful weekend at both the St. John’s SuperCup on Saturday and the Philadelphia Inv itational on Sunday.

For the No. 1 Irish women, an undefeated Saturday was paired w ith a 4-1 result Sunday to w rap up the weekend’s competition while the Notre Dame men’s team, also ranked No. 1 nationally, went 2-2 on Saturday before going 4-1 on Sunday.

Both teams opened up against Columbia, whose women’s team is ranked No. 2 in the countr y, to start a fierce day of competition.

W hile the women’s team was able to escape w ith the 14-13 v ictor y, the men’s team was defeated by the same score.

Leading the way for the women were junior Amanda

Romagnolo resigns from post Observer Sports Staff

Sports Writer

see M TENNIS PAGE 10

ND WOMEN’s SOCCER

Sirico and sophomore Julia Barr y in the epee as well as junior sabreur Tara Hasset, senior sabreur Francesca Russo and junior foilist Elyssa K leiner, all of whom put up 2-1 performances.

The men saw a pair of 3-0 performances by senior sabreur Jonathan Fitzgerald and sophomore sabreur Arsenii Panteleev. As the day moved for ward, the women continued to roll, picking up w ins against Penn State, Har vard and St. John’s. The men would find similar success against the Nittany Lions and Red Storm, yet they would stumble when facing Har vard, losing to the Crimson by a score of 15-12.

The Irish were scheduled to take on Ohio State to w rap up the event, but the final match was cancelled.

On the follow ing day, the Irish traveled to Philadelphia, for rematches against St. John’s and see FENCING PAGE 10

Irish head coach Theresa Romagnolo announced her resignation after four years as head coach of the women’s soccer program.

“It is w ith my deepest gratitude that I want to thank [Universit y President] Fr. [John] Jenkins, [athletics director] Jack Swarbrick and [senior associate athletics director and women’s soccer sport administrator] Mike Harrit y for the opportunit y to work at Notre Dame,” Romagnolo said in a statement. “Notre Dame is an incredible universit y filled w ith wonderful people and I am grateful for the opportunit y I’ve had to represent this program and work alongside ama zing people.

“This has been a difficult decision for me and my family, but my personal goals are taking me dow n a different path at this time. With t wo young children, it’s best for me to step dow n as the head coach and find something

that w ill keep me more present w ith the people I care most about.”

Romagnolo finished her career at Notre Dame w ith a 51-21-13 overall record, appearing in four straight NCA A tournaments, reaching the Sweet 16 in both 2014 and 2017. In 2016, the Irish won their first-ever ACC regular season title under her super v ision. Her teams were particularly strong at home, going a combined 33-10-2 over her four seasons.

Before ser v ing as head coach at Notre Dame, Romagnolo worked as the head coach at Dartmouth for three years and assistant coach at Stanford and San Diego. She also played professionally for the San Jose CyberRays.

This past season, Notre Dame finished w ith a 107-5 record and made it to the Sweet 16 of the NC A A Tournament after upsetting No. 6 Texas A&M in the see ROMAGNOLO PAGE 11

ND woMEn’s Tennis

Notre Dame set to start season, build on last year Observer Sports Staff

Observer File Photo

Irish junior Rachel Chong hits a backhand during Notre Dame’s 5-2 victory over Purdue on Feb. 22, 2017, at Eck Tennis Pavilion.

Notre Dame w ill begin the 2018 season at home against Western Michigan on Tuesday.

The Irish w ill look to build on their successful fall season and one of its best years in recent histor y in the 201617 season.

Notre Dame finished last season w ith an 18-10 record and advanced to the second round of the NCA A tournament before falling to Ohio State.

The Irish w ill look to the experienced duo of seniors in Brooke Broda and A llison Miller to ser ve as its veteran leaders. Broda and Miller, alongside, junior Rachel Chong w ill ser ve as the three most experienced competitors for an Irish roster heav y w ith freshman.

Three of the four freshmen on the roster saw play ing time this fall season, as A lly see W TENNIS PAGE 11