Print Edition of The Observer for Thursday, February 22, 2018

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To uncover

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Notre Dame and

and report

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it accurately

Volume 52, Issue 88 | thursday, february 22, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

SGA hopefuls discuss political platforms Saint Mary’s student government tickets present campaigns, share goals with campus community

By NICOLE CARATAS Senior News Writer

The three tickets for Saint Mary’s Student Government Association (SGA) president and vice president presented their platforms to the College community Wednesday evening.

Juniors Madeleine Corcoran and Kathy Ogden’s platform focused on ways to help Saint Mary’s students grow during their time at the College.

“Our platform is specifically designed to help students discover themselves best,” Ogden, who is running for vice president, said. “We plan to do this through a mentorship program with alumnae from Saint Mary’s and current [first years].”

Ogden said the ticket plans to invite the Sisters of the Holy Cross to Mass with the students, and to extend an invitation to a priest from the Brothers of the Holy Cross to say Mass at the College. They also plan to include a day of service in the South Bend community, Ogden said.

“We hope to extend the Saint Mary’s campus to the Holy Cross, tri-campus and South Bend communities, and ultimately lead Saint Mary’s students to the discovery of the universe,” she said.

The ticket also focused on healthy living, which Ogden said she and Corcoran plan to promote by “offering additional workout classes to see SPEECHES PAGE 3

DIANE PARK | The Observer

Monologue performances share Notre Dame stories

By SELENA PONIO News Writer

This weekend, monologues that present a wide range of lived experiences, issues and raw emotions will be brought to stage with one promise to their authors: anonymity.

These monologues, written

by members of the Notre Dame community, will be performed onstage at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center as part of the student production “Show Some Skin.” According to its website, the show “strives to be a catalyst for the campus community’s discovery and

appreciation of Notre Dame’s true diversity.”

“It could be your roommate’s story. It could be the person you sit next to in class,” Natasha Reifenberg, senior and executive producer, said. “The anonymity see DIVERSITY PAGE 4

Anthropology project analyzes toxic chemicals

By EVAN DaCOSTA News Writer

Saint Mary’s students may be regularly exposed to toxic chemicals, according to a research project by senior Malia Hosoi-Gallucci.

Shower curtains currently installed in Saint Mary’s dorms are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which has been shown to give off a variety of volatile organic compounds and toxic chemicals.

Hosoi-Gallucci, a global studies

news PAGE 3

major, conducted the project for an anthropology class titled “Water, Culture and Sustainability,” taught by assistant professor of global studies Laura Elder. After learning about the toxicity of PVC, Hosoi-Gallucci decided to research the situation at Saint Mary’s regarding the school’s use of PVC shower curtains.

She discovered PVC curtains were in wide use in the College’s dorms, despite the fact that vinyl chloride has been classified by the

scene PAGE 5

EPA as a Group A human carcinogen. However, the EPA — and all other federal agencies — does not have the authority to regulate the use of PVC plastics inside private homes.

Hosoi-Gallucci said she alerted the administration, which was unaware that the shower curtains contained PVC. Benjamin Bowman, director of Saint Mary’s facilities, said in an email see TOXIC PAGE 4

viewpoint PAGE 6

Celebrity activist stands against sexual assault

By MOLLY CHEN News Writer

Actress, global youth advocate and Girl Up Champion Monique Coleman spoke Wednesday in the LaFortune Ballroom about standing up against sexual assault.

Best known for her role as Taylor McKessie in “High School Musical,” Coleman has used her platform to make a difference, working with Unicef, the U.S. Agency for International Development and Girl Up, a United Nations foundation that raises awareness and engages girls to empower each other and take a stand.

Discussing several issues involving sexual assault with the audience, Coleman repeatedly reminded them of their responsibility to create change and her belief in their ability to do it.

“There are so many issues plaguing our world, and you

ND W Basketball PAGE 12

are capable of solving those issues,” Coleman said. “I know what’s possible when young people are awakened to their potential.”

Coleman presented “Distortion,” a film she starred in and co-produced, which explored the ways sexual assault can distort the perceptions individuals have of themselves. She acknowledged that media is very inf luential, although “not always in the right ways.” One student asked what future content-creators can do to take action against rape culture in media.

“Know that hav ing integrit y and standing for what you believe is a longer road, and it’s far more challenging,” Coleman said. “Speak your truth, always, and let your truth evolve. Figure out what your non-negotiables are, see COLEMAN PAGE 4

Hockey PAGE 12

2

TODAY

The observer | thursday, february 22, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com

Have a question you want answered?

Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com

What do you miss from first semester?

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

Brittani West

Emily Apakian

sophomore Howard Hall

sophomore Welsh Family Hall

“My ‘Foundations of Theology’ class.”

“Having theology every Monday and Wednesday.”

Meg O’Brien

Annie Han

sophomore Pasquerilla East Hall

sophomore Welsh Family Hall

“I miss going to ultimate frisbee tournaments on the weekends.”

“Music Theory I.”

(574) 631-4542 bpadanil@nd.edu

Gonzalo Silva

Beatty Smith

Managing Editor

freshman Fisher Hall

junior Howard Hall

“Twenty-four–hour Reckers.”

“Film class.”

Editor-in-Chief Ben Padanilam Managing Editor Katie Galioto

Asst. Managing Editor: Marek Mazurek Asst. Managing Editor: Rachel O’Grady Asst. Managing Editor: Megan Valley News Editor: Viewpoint Editor: Sports Editor: Scene Editor: Saint Mary’s Editor: Photo Editor: Graphics Editor: Advertising Manager: Advertising Manager: Ad Design Manager:

Courtney Becker Mary Freeman Elizabeth Greason Adam Ramos Martha Reilly Chris Collins Lauren Weldon Molly McCarthy Alexandra Pucillo Madison Riehle

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Ph: (574) 631-7471 Fax: (574) 631-6927 Advertising

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(574) 631-8839 Policies The Observer is the independent, daily newspaper published in print and online by the students of the University of Notre Dame du Lac and Saint Mary’s College. Editorial content, including advertisements, is not governed by policies of the administration of either institution. The Observer reserves the right to refuse advertisements based on content.

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Today’s Staff News

Sports

Courtney Becker Gina Twardosz Stephanie Snyder

Lucas Masin-Moyer Ben Padanilam

Graphics

Scene

Diane Park

Mike Donovan

Photo

Viewpoint

Zachary Yim

Monica Coundouriotis

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EVAN DaCOSTA | The Observer

Lucas Morel, professor of politics and head of the politics department at Washington and Lee University, speaks in Corbett Family Hall on Wednesday night. Morel discussed the lessons of civil rights author Ralph Ellison’s ethical leadership in civic society.

The next Five days:

Want your event included here?

Email news@ndsmcobserver.com

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Lecture: “The Art of Political Murder” Hesburgh Center 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Discussion with author Francisco Goldman.

Silent Retreat Moreau Seminary all day Retreat focused on silent prayer and reflection.

Performance: Seraphic Fire Leighton Concert Hall 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Musical performance spanning genres.

Violin Concert: Tricia and Taylor Leighton Concert Hall 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Includes classical and American fiddle tunes.

Information Session: MercyWorks Geddes Hall 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Full-time postgraduate service opportunities.

Women’s Basketball vs. Virginia Tech Purcell Pavilion 7 p.m.

The Irish take on the Hokies.

Hockey vs. Michigan State Compton Family Arena 7:30 p.m.

The Irish take on the Spartans.

Theatre: “Native Gardens” Philbin Studio Theatre 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Tickets available to the public online.

Women’s Basketball vs. NC State Purcell Pavilion 2 p.m.

The Irish take on the Wolfpack.

Reading by Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi Hammes Bookstore 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Open to the public.

Author of “Fra Keeler.”

News

ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, february 22, 2018 | The Observer

3

SENATE

Group proposes new constitution, position

By MARY BERNARD News Writer

Student senate passed motions proposing a new constitution and creating a secretary position in club coordination council Wednesday.

The order proposing the new Constitution of the Undergraduate Student Body will not affect the way senate operates.

Sophomore William Huffman, senator for Stanford Hall, asked junior parliamentarian Colin Brankin about how the new constitution will affect the running of senate.

“Like actual, practical [changes]?”

Brankin said. “Nothing. Not really anything.”

The changes in the new constitution have been

Speeches Continued from page 1

accommodate students’ busy schedules.”

In addition, Corcoran said the ticket hopes to expand healthy food options.

“In order to reach peak academic performance and overall well being, students must live a healthy lifestyle,” Corcoran said. “By improving the food options and hours in Spes [Cafe] and Cyber Cafe, students will be able to live a healthier life and eat more regularly even on busy days.”

Corcoran said she and Ogden hope to decrease the number of all-campus emails while increasing student attendance at campus events by initiating an email newsletter.

“This email will contain all

passed over the course of the year, including a provision to make quorum a consistent 2/3 among all of student government and changes to formatting throughout the constitution.

“The problem with the old constitution is that a lot is kind of jumbled up,” Brankin said. “Now … there’s consistency so you can easily read the constitution. And a lot of the archaic language is cleared up to make more sense.”

The new constitution passed with one opposition and one abstention.

The proxy for O’Neill Hall, freshman Jake Marcionette, was the only vote against its passage. Marcionette was filling in for junior O’Neill senator Sebastian Lopez.

Eduardo Luna, sophomore senator from Knott Hall, abstained from the vote.

After the order passed, Luna asked for clarification about the function of the “power of the purse” as stated in the constitution.

Brankin, senior Judicial Council president Matt Ross and senior student body vice president Sibonay Shewit explained how the budget is allocated.

“There’s a section of the Committee on the Budget whose responsibility it is to approve the allocation [of the budget],” Ross said.

“Each branch has a representative,” Brankin said. “All the leaders of the organizations are there to approve these budgets. That’s how it’s been, always.”

Luna asked if senate has a budget.

“Yeah,” Shewit said. “That’s how we pay for Jimmy John’s and apparel.”

Luna then yielded his time, saying he was “just keeping you guys in check.”

Senior and Club Coordination Council president King Fok presented a proposition to create the position of club coordination council secretary.

“Right now there’s no secretary and the controller’s been taking the minutes, but that’s been really difficult,” Fok said. “He’s supposed to be managing all of the clubs’ finances.”

The order passed with one opposition and no abstentions.

Marcionette was again

the only opposition. He said Lopez, O’Neill Hall’s usual senator, did not instruct him to oppose every order.

Sophomore Breen-Phillips Hall senator Eve Takazawa announced that there will be a presentation to the student senate by an administrator March 21 regarding the housing policy.

“They’re working on a waiver system and they’ve had discussions with the student advisory board so far,” Takazawa said.

The senators spent the rest of the meeting in committee time. Student senate meets every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Notre Dame Room of LaFortune Student Center.

the events on campus for the following week, including everything from academic and campus ministry events to workout classes,” Corcoran said. “This will … put everything in one place. It will also help clubs communicate and collaborate to create a bigger impact on our campus and greater community.”

Juniors Teresa Brickey and Mar Y Selva Albarran, who are running for president and vice president respectively, emphasize building diversity at the College with their platform.

“You have heard the word ‘diversity’ multiple times,” Brickey said. “It is more than just race, it is more than just class, it is more than just political thought. It is all of these things and more. As your representatives, we want to

support club initiatives and events who identify who you are as a Saint Mary’s woman.”

The ticket wants to increase meetings with multicultural leadership representatives on campus, Brickey said.

“We want to further meet with leaders every month regarding issues they face and how SGA can further help progress their clubs,” she said.

Brickey said she wants to increase interaction with the greater South Bend community and to improve service in the area.

“There is a high rate of homelessness in South Bend, there’s a high rate of domestic violence and sex trafficking,” she said. “It is our responsibility as students to tackle these issues while in school, to be in communion with the people surrounding our schools

because through this, we learn who we are as women, we gain confidence and we learn how to have intercultural relationships.”

The ticket also plans to increase initiatives to help students, including additional GreeNDot trainings and having a counselor on call so students have access to mental health resources during evenings and weekends, Brickey said. She also said she wants to increase healthy options both in the on-campus cafes and in the dining hall.

“Students should have access to mental health resources in order to live a healthier lifestyle, in order to be sustained here at Saint Mary’s,” she said. “We also want to talk to Kenneth Acosta to lower [prices] in Cyber [Cafe], especially for healthier options.

A burger should not cost less than a salad.”

Brickey also said the ticket hopes to expand Munch Money options on Eddy Street, but said it is still investigating the possibility of this and will not promise new options.

Juniors Anna Mullek and Ashlyn Maes focused their platform on increasing opportunities available to Saint Mary’s students.

Maes, who is running for vice president, said the ticket stresses sustainability on campus.

“We would like to increase campus involvement in the community gardens and to introduce hand dryers,” she said.

The ticket also wants to increase SGA meetings with administration, Maes said, and to increase involvement with BAVO. Mullek said she and Maes want to increase awareness of campus events.

“Saint Mary’s offers so many events, workshops and speakers,” Mullek said. “Since reminders tend to get lost in our email, we want to initiate the use of Google Calendar in order to share campus activities. Students will be able to select specific calendars they would like to receive notifications from.”

Mullek also said the ticket is seeking to increase the amount of service the College completes in the South Bend community.

“We want to begin providing semi-annual meals to the families at the Ronald McDonald House at Memorial Hospital,” she said.

Students can vote in the elections Thursday on OrgSync, and graduating seniors remain eligible to vote.

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Contact Mary Bernard at mbernar5@nd.edu

Contact Nicole Caratas at ncaratas01@saintmarys.edu

4

NEWS

The observer | thursday, february 22, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Coleman Continued from page 1

and what your bottom line is, and always measure things up against that.”

Several students asked questions addressing issues on Notre Dame’s campus specifically. One student expressed concerns with parietals making students hesitate leaving dangerous situations for fear of repercussions.

“You know what you want; what would make you feel safe; what would make you feel protected,” Coleman responded.

“It isn’t my place to impose what I think should happen …

Diversity Continued from page 1

aspect is what allows for empathy in ways that other avenues don’t because it could be anyone. It could be someone extremely close to you that has never shared this with you.”

This year’s “Show Some Skin” production is called “Try Us,” titled so as to invite writers to “share the parts of themselves that they feared nobody would understand,” according to the event’s Facebook page. Reifenberg said demand has grown exponentially since her freshman year, when there were about 30 writing submissions.

This year, she said, there were 100 submissions and a record number of 75 students who auditioned to perform the monologues on stage. Tickets sold out within hours, and Friday’s performance sold out in 30 minutes.

“We go beyond the sanitized diversity and inclusion platform that Notre Dame provides institutionally,” Reifenberg said. “Reading

Toxic Continued from page 1

statement that the College is now looking into new curtain options.

“At the last Going Green Committee meeting, Malia HosoiGallucci shared her research on plastics and their impact on human health with the audience,” he said. “Members of the committee indicated that they should further explore alternative shower curtain options and my team has been working on this.

“At Saint Mary’s, we educate and empower our students to address problems, seek solutions and make a difference in their communities. We are proud of Malia putting her research to action, and as a College, we are committed to a safe, sustainable solution. Currently, we are working with our supplier to identify a sustainable and durable replacement curtain.”

A study by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice’s PVC

but I will say it’s important for you to find your voices … it’s terrifying to talk about these things … but you have the right to feel safe and the right to be protected.”

Another student asked Coleman for suggestions on how to navigate addressing concerns with an administration that is conservative and male-dominant.

“We cannot expect that things don’t come at a price, or that things won’t be a struggle,” she said. “It isn’t simple, but you can’t look at the oppositions or the obstacles and not see them as part of the problem. They’re there so that we can see what’s wrong. None of this is easy. If

it was easy, this wouldn’t be happening.”

From an audience that was almost entirely female, one male student voiced his disappointment in the number of men attending the lecture, prompting Coleman to encourage him to spread awareness about these issues among men.

“It’s important to add your voice and create what we want to see,” Coleman responded. “ … Instead of being disappointed, the next time you see something pop up, invite the guys, and-or go home and tell them.”

Junior George Timmins said he was grateful for the discussion and the audience’s response to it.

“I’m really happy people liked it. I’m happy that she called that [sexual assault] is an issue that affects everyone — all races, all genders,” he said. “This is not a female college problem; it’s an everyone problem.”

Senior Samantha Ricciuti said she believes discussions such as this one are vital.

“It’s important to be more open about these situations and call the perpetrators exactly what they are — sexual assaulters and rapists,” she said.

“We can take the power back by speaking the truth.”

This power can only be attained if those on campus act on Coleman’s advice, sophomore

Haley Mitchell said.

“You have to practice what you preach,” she said. “It’s important to get involved and participate in what we do have.”

Coleman said she has faith that people working together at Notre Dame can make a true difference at the University.

“I believe that you can be, not only heard, but that you can impact radical change on this campus,” Coleman said. “But you have to be brave enough to do it, and you can’t do it alone.

Each of us has a purpose. Be active — an activist for the long haul.”

through the monologues this year made me cry, and it made me ref lect on how people give so much to us knowing that they’re never going to get any recognition for writing this incredible piece of writing.

And it’s because they believe in the show’s mission, and we wouldn’t have a show without people trusting us.”

Reifenberg first heard of the student-led production as a prospective student in high school touring Notre Dame. It was the same weekend “Show Some Skin” was showing, and she spoke to student leaders who raved about the production, she said.

“I voiced some concerns about coming to Notre Dame as a student who was not conservative or Catholic, and they all said ‘Show Some Skin’ was this incredible platform to give voice to marginalized issues,” Reifenberg said.

Before she knew it, Reifenberg was auditioning as a freshman with no prior theatre experience.

“It was definitely intimidating, but you have so much adrenaline running through you,” she said. “I also believe

that storytelling is what has the power to change hearts and minds. Not arguments.”

Senior Liam Kenney, an actor for this year’s show, said he loved the show from watching it the previous year and was convinced to audition after recalling how much he enjoyed his speech and debate club in high school.

“People aren’t performing characters in this show,” he said. “In a sense, they’re embodying real people instead of a typical theatre show.”

Kenney said he is performing a monologue about a gay man struggling with Catholicism and his sexuality, and that it took lots of practice, reading lines carefully and speaking to people who had similar experiences to be able to deliver it genuinely.

He said he thinks anyone can benefit from seeing the show, especially those who may not be as exposed to the themes it presents.

“From my perspective as a straight white male, I am the most common Notre Dame student, and in my circles I don’t get to see those experiences,” Kenney said. “It

opened my eyes that this is such a domestic issue. This happens at Notre Dame and people at Notre Dame have experienced a wide variety of injustice or uncomfortable situations.”

Kenney said the reason the actors become nervous before they perform their monologues is because they want to ensure they do justice to the original writer. He said he worries about forgetting a line that the author may have thought vital to the piece and feels a greater sense of responsibility due to the personal gravity of the content.

“Every person’s concern was, ‘How do I give 100 percent of myself to this piece, how do I fully express the sentiment that this person is trying to convey?’” he said.

The show has expanded its impact beyond its three days on stage, Reifenberg said. She said the cast has done 75 class visits where they have performed monologues, done thematic performances on sexual assault, incorporated monologues from incarcerated people and done resource panels.

They are also partnering with

Indiana University South Bend students to put on a community show at the South Bend Civic Theatre on April 7.

“My faith has been restored in this campus because of the reaction to the show,” Reifenberg said. “I’ve poured so many hours into this and I’ve been able to see so many people grow and transform, and I’ve seen myself grow and transform.”

Reifenberg said it is impossible to fully buy into the community aspect of Notre Dame without giving voice to the marginalized parts of the community, and that’s exactly what “Show Some Skin” strives to do.

“We have so few spaces to talk about these issues that have been weaponized politically in human terms and what is at stake for the people who are suffering the most from our inability to go beyond the surface,” she said.

“It’s a way to take a magnifying glass to campus to make visible things that you never saw before.”

Contact Molly Chen at mchen5@nd.edu

Contact Selena Ponio at sponio@nd.edu

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Campaign showed that PVC curtains give off 10 different volatile organic compounds which, when inhaled, can cause health issues such as cataracts, nervous system depression, liver and kidney damage, narcotic effects, eye irritation, potential damage to fetuses and hematological disorders. “[These plastics] are not good for showers — especially for people who like to take hot showers,” Hosoi-Gallucci said.

According to the EPA, inhalation of vinyl chloride fumes has been shown to increase the risks of a rare form of cancer, known as angiosarcoma. That “new car smell” people love is a result of these toxic fumes, Hosoi-Gallucci added.

“New car smell is actually really bad because it’s off-gassing really bad chemicals,” she said.

Notre Dame Building Services, when asked if the shower curtains at the University are the same as the curtains in use at Saint Mary’s, said in an email: “We’ve confirmed with Building Services

that shower curtains used in the Notre Dame residence halls are made of 100 percent vinyl and do not include polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material.”

Hosoi-Gallucci said the safest alternative to PVC curtains is hemp curtains, because “hemp is mildew and bacteria resistant” and doesn’t off-gas toxic chemicals. However, hemp shower curtains are significantly more expensive than the PVC variants — around $70 each, HosoiGallucci said — and the cost of replacing every shower curtain at Saint Mary’s could be substantial. “[The administration] is definitely open to change. But again, the price is a factor, so they’re kind of like ‘maybe not,’” she said.

Hosoi-Gallucci said she hopes that through her efforts working with the administration on this issue, more students will become aware of the situation and push for a healthier change.

Contact Evan DaCosta at edacosta@nd.edu

5

The observer | thursday, february 22, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

By NICHOLAS OTTONE Scene Writer

Across the current landscape of film, “Black Panther” is unique. Even on the surface, a superhero movie with a majority-black cast set in Africa that demolishes box office records is a rarity. Yet, “Black Panther” exceeds these superficial markers.

It is a cinematic event under sky-high expectations that emerges exhilarating, smart and powerful.

“Black Panther” is an explicitly political fable about colonialism and oppression filtered through a blockbuster lens, expertly delivered by one of the most exciting directors currently working.

“Black Panther” begins with an animated prologue, explaining the mythical origins of the story’s setting, the fictional African nation of Wakanda — a tenuous alliance of tribes ruled by a king known as the Black Panther. Thanks to a supply of the earth’s strongest metal, Wakanda evaded colonialism and hides from the rest of the world, disguised as a third-world nation. The narrative begins with T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) assuming the throne vacated by his deceased father, “rescuing” his spy ex-lover Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) — with help from Okoye (Danai Gurira) — and using gadgets made by his genius sister Shuri (Letitia Wright). Elsewhere, a thieving gang comprised of Ulysses Klaue (a scene-chewing Andy Serkis) and Erik “Killmonger” Stevens (Michael B. Jordan, transcendent) tries to escape detection of Wakandan forces.

The premise might seem complicated and heav y,

By CARLOS DE LOERA Scene Writer

Growing up, I liked waking up early on Saturday mornings to watch VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown.

To an eight-year-old version of myself, this program was the hub of my music world. 2004 proved to be a very impressionable year for me with this program. This was the year that Maroon Five came out with “This Love” and “She Will Be Loved,” Hoobastank (remember them?) released the embarrassingly catchy “The Reason” and Jet (whatever happened to them?) kicked out “Are You Gonna Be My Girl? ” But, in 2004, three videos really stuck with me.

The first one was Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You” because it was a great song that introduced me to the lovely sounds of R&B (a younger version of me had a big crush on Alicia Keys that still carries on to present-day). The other two were videos for “Take Me Out” and “This Fire” by Scottish indie band Franz Ferdinand. These videos stood out because of their visual prowess and a sound much unlike anything else I had heard before. I was particularly taken by the guitar work on these two songs.

W hile not amazingly intricate, it did manage to

and that is partially true. The screenplay saddles the film’s first act with a mighty amount of exposition, mostly in service of later reversals and themes. The plot itself follows the standard Marvel beats, and the film sags when leaning into these formulaic plot points. Furthermore, some of the obligatory action scenes count among the film’s weaker parts. Poorly rendered special effects diminish the dramatic import of a final fight, which feels like a video game cut-scene.

Ultimately, however, these nitpicks don’t matter because “Black Panther” is still an immense achievement. The cast alone is astounding, attracting talented black actors for every role, no matter how small. Letitia Wright, a clear highlight, emerges as a magnetically hilarious presence through her performance as Shuri, a genius and prankster. Nyong’o and Gurira craft characters with defined perspectives and personalities.

The driven and confident female warriors in this film nearly would have stolen the show if it were not for Jordan’s charismatic swagger — the most compelling superhero villain since Heath Ledger’s Joker. Lush production design and vivid costumes complement stunningly colorful images to build the expansive world of Wakanda, which proves integral to the story’s concern over the fictional nation’s destiny. The film’s stakes rely on the audience caring for its characters and its world. With this important, oft-neglected objective, director Ryan Coogler wildly succeeds.

But Coogler is not content to rest on his laurels.

“Black Panther” is more than plot, characters and

action. “Black Panther” is driven by ideas. The effects of colonialism and oppression on children of the African diaspora and Atlantic slave trade echo through the film’s mournful passages. Flashbacks to Oakland, California, in 1992 reveal the central ideological struggle at the heart of “Black Panther:” If Wakanda possessed this technolog y and wealth, why did they not help their black brothers and sisters across the globe? Killmonger, ostensibly the film’s antagonist, strives to distribute Wakandan weaponry to overthrow global oppression, while many in Wakanda favor a policy of isolationism.

This dynamic expertly subverts audience expectations and challenges ideolog y with nuance.

In addition, the film smartly engages with the concept of Pan-Africanism, a movement that connects the struggles of people of African descent across the globe to the plights of their ancestors.

Both T’Challa and Killmonger lose their fathers, much like the children of the African Diaspora, cut off from their ancestral land. People of African descent seek their roots back to Africa, searching for international solidarity against the horrors of today. “Black Panther” threads these ideas through its characters and becomes unlike anything previous — an explicitly political piece of art created by black artists under the sturdiest brand in entertainment and directed toward a wide audience.

Stunning in its ambition and execution, “Black Panther” is an astonishing film that everyone needs to see.

catch my ear. Watching lead singer and guitarist Alex Kapranos strum on his black Telecaster made me think: “That looks cool, I want to play guitar.”

I eventually did get a guitar, and I still play to this day. And so I will forever be thankful to Franz Ferdinand for, in part, inspiring me to take on something that has made my life significantly better. It is for this reason that it pains me to say that I did not very much like Franz Ferdinand’s latest release, “Always Ascending.”

The album opens up with the titular track “Always Ascending,” which sets a good tone for the album. It has a lot of the elements of a classic Franz Ferdinand song: four on the f loor drum beat, pulsing bass line, sleek guitar riffs, and somewhat nonsensical lyrics — everything a boy could want from a band. But the second song, “Lazy Boy,” felt, like most of the other songs on this album, lazy. Gone are the days of my wide-eye wonder and in are the days of my closed-eye sleepiness. Songs like “The Academy Award” and “Slow Don’t Kill Me Slow” seem to drag on for much too long as Kapranos’ vampiric voice sucks the interest out of my ears.

On the track “Feel the Love Go,” I could hear traces of the sound that I used to enjoy so much, but it feels a bit over-produced and overly synthy. W hat

made this band great for me was the controlled rawness of their work, which the new album lacks.

That said, there are a couple songs on the album that I did enjoy outside of the opening track.

“Paper Cages” and “Finally” have some catchy riffs, abstractly captivating themes and compelling piano parts. I don’t know if I have merely grown out of Franz Ferdinand’s music or if they have grown out of my musical likings, but, either way, this album left me wanting more and hoping for the Franz Ferdinand of old. Listen to their debut album instead.

Contact Nicholas Ottone at nottone@nd.edu

Contact Carlos De Loera at cdeloera@nd.edu

“Always Ascending” Franz Ferdinand Label: Domino Tracks: “Paper Cages” If you like: Arctic Monkeys, Blur, The Bravery, The Strokes

DIANE PARK | The Observer

6

The observer | thursday, february 22, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Self-care vs. stress relief

Chick-fil-‘Nay’

Jordan Cockrum News Writer

This week has been one of the most over whelming of my academic career.

W hen sitting dow n to w rite my inside column, I had been toy ing w ith several ideas as to what topic to explore. W hile detailing the amount of stress and responsibilities I have to a friend, I decided to use my inside column to share a bit of what I need right now: ways to allow for self-care even in the midst of a hectic and seemingly unending schedule.

Lately, there’s been a focus on self-care in the media, which is great — it is so important to take care of oneself, and to shed a light on the fact that sometimes in order to feel OK we need to put an emphasis on ourselves. However, it also seems that this general v iew of self-care tends to consist of taking a long bath, a long nap or putting on a rela x ing face mask and lounging around.

These are great ways to care for oneself or to show oneself a little bit more love, but in the end these are not always the most conducive ways to feeling better and pushing past the feelings of over whelming stress and an x iet y in our day-to-day lives. Sometimes there is no time to take a nap, or no means in which to take a bath at school or a feeling that no amount of clay face masks can fix.

In these moments, it’s important to acknowledge other ways of taking care of oneself during difficult or stressful times. W hile I am by no means an expert, these are a few of the alternatives that I find helpful in my ow n life.

In the absence of adequate time to rest, even just giv ing myself five or 10 minutes to sit dow n and close my eyes can be refreshing enough to continue to carr y out my day.

At times, just a simple dinner w ith a friend or trip to the g y m can be enough to feel ready to tack le the day.

Not all need quiet or rela x ing time to recharge, and a short break can y ield more efficient work after wards.

Eat a good meal. In times of stress, I have obser ved that there tend to be two t y pes of people: those that stress-eat, and those that find stress makes them lose their appetite. I tend to fall in the second group of people, but giv ing yourself the fuel to continue through your day is v ital.

Personally, one of my most tried-and-true stress relievers is creating schedules and to-do lists. I feel immensely more capable of conquering whatever task is at hand when I have outlined which days and what times I w ill be working on specific projects.

W hen looking at a long list of responsibilities, it can seem quite over whelming; but spread out at specific inter vals and over several days, it feels a lot more manageable.

Contact Jordan Cockrum at jcockrum01@saintmarys.edu The views and expressions of the inside column are those of the author and not necessarily of the Observer.

I have some sad news for you, ND. Chickfil-A is not coming to Notre Dame and probably won’t be for the foreseeable future.

The sentiment is clear: Students at this university want a Chick-fil-A on campus. Maybe it’s the heavenly original chicken sandwich.

Or maybe, it’s the eight-count nuggets meal with fries, Chick-fil-A sauce and a medium lemonade that keep us coming back for more.

And let’s not forget the pure despair that occurs when you want to satiate your Chick-fil-A craving, only to remember that it’s a Sunday.

The desire for a Chick-fil-A on campus has been made clear to numerous student government administrations. W hen asked about the progress of this idea via Facebook, on Nov. 30, 2017, the current student body president, Becca Blais, promised that Chickfil-A was “coming to stadium concessions in 2018.” After contacting Campus Dining and the program manager for Duncan Student Center, those claims were shown to be false.

Additionally, a current ticket for student body president and vice president, Alex Kruszewski and Julia Dunbar, is claiming that they can bring a Chick-fil-A to Eddy Street. Because of my research and involvement with this issue, I can tell you that this is not going to happen by the fall of 2018 as is stated on their platform (although two weeks ago in a Facebook video, they were saying 2020).

Because of my SIBC marketing project last year, I had the unique opportunity to address Notre Dame students’ interest in bringing a Chick-fil-A to campus. As some of you might remember, last Halloween, Chick-fil-A brought a food truck to campus and handed out free sandwiches and gift cards. This event was a part of my team’s idea to host a “Chick-or-Treat” themed event. We collected extensive feedback from students to gauge the success of our event and how they felt about bringing a Chick-fil-A to campus.

With the enthusiastic and positive feedback that we received, along with our personal passion for our project, we contacted members of Campus Dining about potential spaces open in LaFortune Student Center and the soon-tobe-completed Duncan Student Center. Chris Abayasinghe, who serves at the director of Campus Dining, stated the following in response to our inquiries: “Thanks for reaching out on your business project. Our business model does not include contracting out retail restaurant space on campus. … We did explore the option of adding a Chick-fil-A on campus and after vetting the concept with our student affairs partners, we arrived at the conclusion the concept did not fit in our current portfolio of restaurants. Instead, we placed Smashburger in LaFortune.”

Given that there was no opportunity for a

Chick-fil-A to be brought to campus, which was confirmed by coordinators of Campus Dining, we pivoted our focus to the prospects of bringing a Chick-fil-A to Eddy Street Commons. I personally reached out the leasing manager of Eddy Street, Andrew Hasbrook, regarding available space for a potential Chick-fil-A. He expressed genuine interest in and excitement for the idea. Because of the limited space on Eddy Street, however, he said that installing a Chick-fil-A could possibly be considered during Phase II of Eddy Street development.

Motivated by the good news, our group traveled down to Atlanta and pitched our proposal to Matt Sullivan, senior representative of real estate licensing for Chick-fil-A, and his team.

Our presentation focused on the fact that Chick-fil-A could continue to lead the way in restaurant design innovation at Eddy Street Commons by fulfilling the student desire for a convenient, fresh and affordable dining option. Additionally, we emphasized that, despite not being on campus, Eddy Street was an extension of Notre Dame and would give Chick-fil-A unprecedented business during game days, as well as a steady and loyal customer f low from hungry, chicken-loving college students.

Although Matt and his team were appreciative of the thought and effort we put into our project, his company was dead set on only venturing directly onto campus. Matt was rather perplexed that, regardless of the positive student feedback we had received, the University was refusing to bring his company to campus. He expressed frustration in the fact that he had been lobbying to get a Chickfil-A at Notre Dame for the past 15 years; however, he was unwilling to even consider venturing into Eddy Street Commons (Phase I or II). He would only agree to have a restaurant directly on our campus.

On Feb. 6, I touched base with Andrew, the leasing manager of Eddy Street. He confirmed to me that there had still been no traction or interest in Chick-fil-A being a part of Phase II of Eddy Street due to the differences between the University and Chick-fil-A. I know everyone wants Chick-fil-A, but, unfortunately, the University and the company cannot compromise on plans. Simply put, this decision is not within the control of students and cannot, even remotely, be inf luenced by student government or “clout.” Even though we’d love the alternative — having Chick-fil-A on Eddy Street — at the end of the day, it is a strategic business venture that Chick-fil-A is not interested in making.

Join the conversation.

Submit a Letter to the Editor: Email viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com

Briana Tucker junior Feb. 21

The observer | thursday, february 22, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

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The Observer endorses Mullek-Maes The Observer Editorial Board interviewed the three tickets running for Saint Mary’s student body president and vice president — juniors Madeleine Corcoran and Kathy Ogden; Teresa Brickey and Mar Y Selva Albarran Hernandez; and Anna Mullek and Ashlyn Maes — on Tuesday evening. After considering the candidates’ responses to questions concerning their ambitions, qualifications and proposals, The Observer has chosen to endorse Mullek and Maes.

The ticket’s past involvement in Student Government Association (SGA) — particularly with the Big Belle, Little Belle program and the division of social concerns — has equipped it with the knowledge necessary to pursue pragmatic goals and the potential to achieve viable change. Several of their goals, such as introducing hand dryers in Le Mans Hall, ref lect the thoughtfulness and attention to detail that should be expected of student representatives. This particular sustainability initiative may be gradually integrated throughout the entire campus, but planning to start with one of the most frequented buildings demonstrates a concrete and believable plan of action.

Mullek and Maes also rely on a practical approach in their mission to extend two meal swipes a week to Murphy’s Cafe. The pair demonstrated intricate knowledge of the costs involved in such an exchange and once again showcased their willingness to start small — with two swipes a week — instead of demanding that all meal swipes should automatically transfer. They also clearly outlined the benefits of this plan to both students and the College, indicating a level of feasibility in implementing it.

Though these objectives may enhance life on campus, the platform fails to address some more pressing concerns — such as mental health, sexual assault and a lack of inclusion at the College — with the same degree of attention and consideration. When asked what they perceived to be the biggest issue aff licting Saint Mary’s, Mullek and Maes hesitated before giving a fairly broad answer.

This signals that initiatives regarding more serious topics warrant further development if they seek to make Saint Mary’s a safe and welcoming community. Leaders of the student body should possess an

acute awareness of not only areas in which the institution could be improved, but also of pertinent threats to safety and well-being.

With that being said, the ticket’s plan to install more blue safety lights on campus — beginning with the dimly-lit gravel parking lot — reveals its willingness to take practical steps in combating the major issues it does recognize. Mullek and Maes expressed their desire to collaborate with Notre Dame student government in bringing this goal to fruition, establishing their knowledge of ways in which the University and the College can work together. The ticket also hopes to strengthen the tri-campus community by promoting wellness initiatives capable of engaging Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross, such as the Sister Sprint — a run through the Nature Trail.

Mullek and Maes offer concrete plans that distinguish them from their competitors, as Brickey and Albarran Hernandez possess more of a broad-scale vision for the College. While this ticket’s initiatives such as decreasing the price of a class ring and seeking more Munch Money options on Eddy Street would likely please the Saint Mary’s community, both seem less than feasible and lack the believable action proposal of the aims outlined in the Mullek-Maes ticket. During their interview, Brickey and Albarran Hernandez emphasized their desire to foster an inclusive atmosphere in which all community members feel welcome and safe, but this vague, admirable ambition is not backed by concrete platform goals. Though Brickey and Albarran’s perspectives as students without SGA experience could bring fresh views to the table, The Observer has chosen to endorse candidates whose proven experience within SGA seems to inform their decision-making process.

Corcoran and Ogden pose a number of goals that would be attainable if supported by a definite series of steps, but there seemed to be a lack of research and actionable plans, especially concerning the implementation of a wireless printing system and the improvement of Wi-Fi in dorms.

Without the presentation of original strategies, we are hesitant to believe the ticket can achieve its proposed goals. The ticket emphasized its reliance on student perspectives, even vowing to increase SGA accessibility by moving office hours to a central location, such as the dining hall, and to create a suggestion box in which students could place complaints or ideas for improvement. While

listening to student voices and gathering feedback should certainly inf luence leadership, Corcoran and Ogden did not establish any realistic way to translate those conversations to administrators and enact change.

One goal that appeared on each of the three tickets was increasing communication and collaboration between leaders and groups on campus.

Mullek and Maes stood out due to their concrete understanding of how to execute this improvement. The pair argues that collaboration was limited in years past and, with that knowledge, was able to identify specific ways in which SGA can increase their interactions with student organizations.

Mullek and Maes hope to ease the transition for first-year students through a continuation of projects already in place and an introduction of new methods. The Big Belle, Little Belle mentorship program — of which Maes served as co-chair — will maintain its mission of promoting bonding among students, while class-specific events will foster unity and sisterhood within various grades.

The pair’s understanding of the need for leaders to delegate seems only natural given their past experience on SGA, as Mullek and Maes have both served on committees and observed how to set and reach goals regarding those specific departments.

Quick to admit that neither possesses technologyrelated skills, the pair will look to appoint a technology chair who can update the Belle Mobile app to include a feature that tracks Blinkie — the van that transports Saint Mary’s students around campus and to and from Notre Dame.

Their main priority, however, involves initiating a Google Calendar to notify community members of campus activities, since adequate publicity of events and lectures is often lacking on campus.

This platform point seems necessary given the College’s success at hosting distinguished guests, so documenting upcoming campus happenings in one place would benefit not only the students, but also the visitors who want sufficient attendance at their talks or performances.

Despite the ticket’s failure to address some important topics, such as diversity, their several well-planned areas for advancement offer proof of Mullek and Maes’ ability to work toward enhancing the College community. Though the philosophy of starting small may not generate rapid change, it encourages step-by-step progression and a believable, gradual route to improvement.

The unspoken word Diversity Council Vaishali Nayak

Words hold a strange power over us.

The spoken ones openly question and validate our values, our attitudes and our opinions. They’re also ever-changing, with open debates constantly molding it into something current, something new. It is the unspoken word, however, that holds the most sway. It is what causes a woman in the workplace to wear the pantsuit instead of the dress, a minority to change the way she does her hair, an immigrant to change the way he talks, the bystander to look the other way, among many others.

The unspoken word often is set in its ways. There is no specific time when the unspoken word is born, but it is rumored to come to life in a person’s minds when he or she is introduced to the status quo and the norms that exist. While attempts have been made to trace their origins by tracing that of the norms, it did not yield any concrete results due to their varied origins. For example, the origin of the norm that a working mother’s commitment is ambivalent goes back more than a 100 years, when women were first legally

allowed equal employment and motherhood was considered to be a woman’s sole occupation.

Then there are norms that are relatively recent — you are supposed to pretend not to notice some things like socioeconomic status and the color of someone’s skin and the implications that holds over their life. Talking about that automatically makes you overly sensitive.

As more norms governing different religions, cultures, races and classes are examined, it becomes more than clear that varied time points exist for most of them, and no lead can be found to the origin of the unspoken word. The only commonality through it all is that the unspoken word has been pervasive also in time.

Similarly, it is infamously equally opportunistic — no place is immune to it; it exists in homes, in communities, on college campuses, in the workplace and in public spaces.

While the unspoken word is powerful enough to conform people to its will, there is one thing that it is not immune to: being turned into the spoken word. This conversion occurs when it becomes acceptable for the unspoken word to be debated not only by the minority in hushed whispers, but by the majority. Exhibit A: An unspoken word that existed in everyone’s minds and that has been unchanged for almost 230 years

— the inexplicable right of Americans to bear arms — is now being openly challenged and questioned by the masses, almost pushing it to the brink of change.

While becoming the spoken word is no guarantee of change, it allows for a hope for change — which is rare, yet potent. While the masses are an essential reagent for this change, our personal battles against them are just as vital. So the next time you justify something by “because it has always been this way,” I implore you to not only stop and question why, but also ask others the same. And during your debates, if you listen close enough, you may just hear the sound of thoughts set in stone changing.

Contact Vaishali Nayak at vnayak@nd.edu The Diversity Council of Notre Dame advocates for awareness, understanding and acceptance on issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and other intersectional identities in the Notre Dame community. The viewpoints expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Diversity Council, but are the individual opinions of the author.

You can contact Diversity Council at diversnd@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

8

daily

The observer | Thursday, february 22, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | Will Shortz

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Added discipline will help you achieve your goals. Develop your ideas and set your plans in motion. Opportunities will unfold if you put your heart and soul into what you want to achieve. Help will be offered, and collaborating with someone new will open up doors that encourage you to expand your interests and reach for the stars. Your numbers are 6, 13, 20, 29, 32, 35, 44.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Concentrate on your responsibilities on whatever job you are given. Doing the best you can with the least amount of conflict or interference should be your intent. Work quietly on your own and do the best you can.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Explore new possibilities. Be willing to learn and to try new things. Work in unison with those who have something unique to offer. Partnerships will help you advance. Share your plans with someone you love. Talks will encourage you to make a decision.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Take your time. Trying to make personal or professional changes without doing enough research will backfire. A problem within a personal relationship will cause anger. Don’t jump to conclusions or act out when the facts aren’t verified.

CANCER ( June 21-July 22): You’ll gain support and win favors if you share your thoughts and feelings. Being open and honest will help you gain respect and appeal to the people you want to deal with more at work and in your personal life.

LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Look over money matters and take care of your responsibilities. Keep your plans moderate and your spending within your means. Complaints should be taken seriously. Use your energy to improve your health and physical strength. Don’t let anger take over.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Partnerships are highlighted. Whether you are engaging in a business or personal relationship, you will gain help from any joint venture you embark upon. Imagination coupled with reality will promote success. Romance will improve your life.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Plans to bring about changes that will make your life less demanding should be put into play. Don’t expect everyone to agree with you, but make it clear that what you are doing is the best decision for you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Opportunity will knock. Don’t miss a chance to collaborate with someone who can show you the way or introduce you to people who can. Engaging in creative endeavors with others will pay off.

Romance is in the stars.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Dig in and get things done. The busier you are, the less interference you’ll encounter. Don’t spend money on travel or people looking for a handout. Refuse to let someone from your past disrupt your reputation or future prospects.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You can make positive changes at home if you use your intelligence, innovation and physical ability to get things done. Greater stability will develop if you plan your actions and make your moves to please someone you love.

AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Discipline will be required when dealing with temptation. Don’t fall into someone else’s bad habits. Being smart with your money will help you avoid being caught in a no-win situation.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Strive to go above and beyond expectations.

Opportunities will be offered, and your prompt acceptance will give you a chance to show how creative and forthcoming you can be. Partnerships look promising, and romance is highlighted.

Birthday Baby: You are engaging, imaginative and popular. You are determined and reliable.

WINGin’ it | BAILEE EGAN & Olivia wang

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

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sports

ndsmcobserver.com | THURSDAY, february 22, 2018 | The Observer

9

Sports Authority

Michigan should receive 2013 title Mia Berry Sports Writer

The Louisville Cardinals deserved to have their 2013 National Championship vacated. From revelations of “StripperGate” to an FBI investigation over smuggling money to recruits, NCAA sanctions against Louisville are justified and long overdue. The NCAA sent a clear message to the Cardinals, former coach Rick Pitino and the rest of the NCAA — cheaters never win.

Stripping Louisville of their national championship is a first time an NCAA basketball team has been stripped of their title.

It’s also the first time since the 2008 Memphis Tigers lead by then-freshman Derrick Rose, that a team in the national championship had to vacate their season. The Rose-led Tigers were only runner-ups, so vacating their season didn’t leave as many opening ended questions as the Cardinals’ vacancy does, but it leaves the question — who is the national champion?

Historically with vacations, the NCAA just declares that season’s champion as vacant. A recent example being the USC Trojans 2004 national championship after their victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2005 Orange Bowl. Later sanctions against the team for improper benefits caused the Trojans to vacate their title. Once again the questions: Who is the national champion? What about the runner-up?

Awarding athletes championships in the event of vacations or disqualifications isn’t a new concept, as the Olympic Committee has been doing it for decades to maintain the integrity of their organization. The Olympic committee has a track record of stripping medals then re-awarding medals to reflect the new standings. A notable example being sprinter Marion Jones, who was stripped of five Olympic medals after admitting to using steroids.

Jones’ 200-meter medal was revoked, and they awarded runner-up Bahamian Pauline Davis-Thompson the gold medal, bronze was moved up to silver and the fourth-place finisher was moved to bronze. For the Olympic Committee, awarding new champions takes years to fully complete due to the involvement of multiple countries, but the NCAA has the luxury of only having to choose between two teams. Renaming a new champion is simple. If one team is disqualified or given sanctions then the other team should be named the victor by default.

With that logic, instead of vacating the national championship, the NCAA should set a precedent and crown the Michigan

Wolverines as the 2013 National Champions. They deserve it.

Michigan head coach John Beilein managed to lead an underclassmen team to the national championship. For a team that’s not traditionally a basketball powerhouse, Michigan’s ability to accomplish a feat like this is remarkable. Especially, since its last national championship run was in 1991 with NBA Hall of Fame hopefuls Jalen Rose, Chris Webber and Juwan Howard. Michigan does have a history of incurring NCAA sanctions under Steve Fisher, but as of now there aren’t any accusations of improper benefits, talk of sanctions or FBI probes against Beilein or the 2013 Michigan Wolverines team, so why not reward the honest team in the championship?

Although the Wolverines did lose against the Cardinals it’s not like they weren’t worthy competitors. The Wolverines fought through Kansas, Florida and Syracuse to reach the finals and they could’ve beaten the Cardinals. Traveling back in time, had a couple of questionable calls down the stretch had gone in favor of Michigan, including Trey Burke’s infamous seemingly clean block on Louisville’s Peyton Siva that was called a foul, the national champion would be different. There wouldn’t be a conversation at all had Michigan won because the honest team according to NCAA standards won. Since the wrong team did win, the NCAA has an opportunity to rectify the problem by naming the Wolverines the 2013 national champion.

Other than the issue of precedent, the NCAA has no reason not to name the Wolverines as national champions.

Even if the NCAA elects not to officially etch Michigan’s name into the history books, the Wolverines should self-crown themselves national champions.

Self-proclaimed national championships aren’t uncommon in college sports. The Princeton Tigers have claimed 28 national championships in football, both Notre Dame and Alabama claim the football national championship in 1973 and more recently, UCF claimed a national title after going 13-0 despite not playing in the national championship game. Despite not having an official NCAA banner raised in the Crisler Center, or having the large gaudy championship rings, the Michigan Wolverines are rightfully the 2013 NCAA National Champions.

Contact Mia Berry at mberry1@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

MICHELLE MEHELAS | The Observer

Irish senior outfielder Jake Johnson swings at a pitch during Notre Dame’s 5-4 win over Duke on April 28 at Frank Eck Stadium. Johnson had one hit in four trips to the plate in the victory.

Baseball Continued from page 12

followed by Incarnate Word and Purdue on Saturday. Notre Dame began their season at this tournament last year, going 1-3 on the road. Coming off of the solid start this past weekend, Aoki said he is hoping his team can reverse their fortunes from last year.

“I think that’s really important, but I think that we have to pump the brakes in a really big way,” he said. “This is only the first weekend of 14, and so many different things can happen throughout the course of the season. It’s way better than being [1-8] to start the year last season, for certain. I think that one of the things I was

proud of last year was that we battled ourselves back into it in spite of a number of injuries that put guys like [former seniors] Scott Tully and Kyle Fiala on the shelf for the whole season, and there’s so many things that can happen.

It’s nice to get off to a good start, but at the end of the day we’ve got 52 more of these games that count against our record.”

If the team is to continue to succeed, they will need to work together as a cohesive unit moving forward, something Aoki believes they have in them with strong leadership that strikes him as eerily similar to the group of players he coached just a few years ago in 2015.

“We have some older kids with maybe a little something to prove

and I think that the older guys like Jake Johnson, Scott Tully, Charlie Vorsheck, even Alex Kerschner, guys who have played a lot who are in that junior class. … I just continue to get the sense from them that it’s so important to them for the team to do well,” he said. “I think that’s really similar to the seniors and older kids we had on the 2015 team, that they care legitimately more about the team than their own personal agendas.”

Play in the Alamo Irish Classic will start at 4 p.m. this Thursday when the Irish and the Bilikens square off at Nelson Wolff Stadium.

Contact Alex Bender at abender@nd.edu

Observer File Photo

Irish senior right-hander Charlie Vorsheck delivers a pitch during Notre Dame’s 8-3 win over Toledo on April 12 at Frank Eck Stadium. Vorsheck pitched 1 1/3 innings and struck out three in the victory.

The Observer accepts classifieds every business day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Notre Dame office, 024 South Dining Hall. Deadline for next-day classifieds is 3 p.m. All classifieds must be prepaid. The charge is 5 cents per character per day, including all spaces. The Observer reserves the right to edit all classifieds for content without issuing refunds.

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Sports

The observer | thursday, february 22, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Men’s tennis

Irish set to host ranked foes over weekend Observer Sports Staff

After dropping three consecutive matches at the ITA National Team Indoor Championship this past weekend, the No. 17 Irish look to regain steam with a matchup at home against No. 12 Michigan this Friday.

Despite beginning their season with seven straight victories, the Irish have recently fallen to North Carolina, Florida and Duke, all ranked opponents. The Wolverines’ appearance in South Bend marks the beginning of a three-match home stretch for the Irish.

After facing Michigan, Notre Dame will carry the momentum into this coming weekend with a doubleheader against No. 3 Ohio State and Toledo on Sunday. This stretch of ranked opponents presents a gauntlet for the previously rolling Irish team.

This Michigan team boasts strong wins on their resume, including decisive ones over California and South Carolina.

Furthermore, they played No. 6 North Carolina tightly, unlike Notre Dame who lost 4-0 in their matchup with UNC. Play will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday between the Irish and Wolverines at the Eck Tennis Pavilion.

MICHELLE MEHELAS | The Observer

Irish junior Alex Lebedev hits a forehand during Notre Dame’s 4-3 win over Kentucky on Jan. 21 at Eck Tennis Pavilion. Lebedev won his singles match against the Wildcats in straight sets, and he sits at a 12-6 record overall in singles play this season — including 5-4 in ranked matches.

SARAH OLSON | The Observer

Irish junior guard Marina Mabrey attempts a layup during Notre Dame’s 94-62 win over North Carolina on Feb. 1 at Purcell Pavilion.

W Bball Continued from page 12

against Pittsburgh, who post a 10-17 record this season.

However, the first priority for the Irish will be taking care of their own business against the Hokies before facing North Carolina State on Sunday. Irish head coach Muffet McGraw said her team tries to avoid thinking of certain games as crucial to securing key goals like a top seed.

“At the start of the year we set goals, but then we never talk about them again until the end of the year,” McGraw said. “We

set goals at the start of the season, but we never think, ‘We’ve got to win this game to get first place, we’ve got to win this game to get a No. 1 seed.’ We never talk about any of that.”

The Hokies (17-10, 6-8 ACC) received a lone vote in the AP Poll at the start of 2018 after a strong out-of-conference performance. However, the team struggled to continue their momentum against an ACC schedule, with junior point guard Chanette Hicks’ decision to leave the team indefinitely making it even more difficult for them to return to early-season form. Yet despite not being able to match

their out-of-conference success, Virginia Tech has already achieved its most conference wins since a 6-8 record in 200607 and is one win away from its most since 2003-04, hoping to also reach its first NCAA Tournament since 2005, missing out last year despite holding the No. 15 ranking in mid-January thanks to a string of 11 consecutive losses before one win and a loss to Clemson in the ACC Tournament.

Like the Irish, the Hokies are led by a junior guard who has been one of the top offensive players in the ACC this season. While Arike Ogunbowale sits second in the ACC in scoring with 20.1 points per game, Virginia Tech’s Taylor Emory sits in fifth with 18.0. Despite the loss of Hicks and the team’s struggles in conference play, Emory has been a success offensively for Virginia Tech, averaging 19.9 points per game in conference on a .476 shooting percentage and has averaged more than 23 points per game and made more than half of her shots in games without Hicks, while taking on an increased facilitating role with an average of three assists per game. Regan Magarity has also been a threat for the Hokies, ranking second in the team in points and first in rebounds and blocks, while possessing an ability to stretch the floor with 28 three-pointers this season.

For the Irish, the game comes after an 89-55 victory over Boston College that saw careerhighs for graduate student forward Kristina Nelson in both points and assists, scoring 16, dishing out seven assists without a turnover and adding eight rebounds.

“I trust [Nelson],” McGraw said. “She comes in, she always gives us a lift at times when we need it because she always knows exactly what to do. She knows exactly what we’re supposed to do and she has great energy. She’ll take a charge,

she’ll rebound, she’ll do a lot of good things, she always knows how to guard people inside.

And now she’s scoring too, and passing with seven assists and no turnovers, that’s point guard numbers. I’m really, really pleased with what she’s doing. She’s given us a lift all year long and she just continues to get better.”

The Irish will face the Hokies at 7 p.m. Thursday at Purcell Pavilion.

Contact Daniel O’Boyle at doboyle1@nd.edu

SARAH OLSON | The Observer

Irish graduate student forward Kristina Nelson possesses the ball in the high post and looks to pass during Notre Dame’s win Feb. 1.

Sports

ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, february 22, 2018 | The Observer

Hockey Continued from page 12

ANN CURTIS | The Observer

Irish sophomore forward Cam Morrison awaits a pass in front of the net during Notre Dame’s 5-1 loss to Ohio State on Feb. 10 at Compton Family Ice Arena. Morrison scored the team’s lone goal in the game.

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too, so that is something we have to find a solution to.

There is only so much you can do when you have teams with three of four guys in shot lanes, so you have to be a little more patient, you have to use more fakes and false information a little bit to dish pucks off to the sides of the net at times, so it makes it difficult and everybody has elevated their game in the second half which makes it even that much more challenging.

“Michigan is a much better team than they were the first time we saw them, especially in goal, but they’re better defensively. It’s been like that the whole second half. We’re running into teams that first of all see us with a target on our backs, and secondly they’re all playing for playoff positioning, so it’s made

11

it more challenging for us.

Hopefully it makes us better for the playoffs.”

Senior captain Jake Evans said the team has been working on scoring drills during practice this week.

“We’re definitely working on that, focusing on winning battles in front of the net, focusing on just creating more chances and being a little smarter with the puck sometimes because I think the past two weekends we’ve been struggling to score,” he said. “We’ve just been throwing pucks away and not focusing on making the smart play. Just getting back to that and things are looking good this week and guys are really focusing on that, so it’s looking good.”

Despite Michigan State’s record, Jackson said he believes this series will be a tough one and said his team has to play with a little desperation.

“We have to go into this series with the same mindset,” he said. “We have to be prepared to play a team that right now they’re playing desperate for a different reason.

They’re developing their culture there with the new coach and, frankly, they’re also playing much better than the first time we saw them too.

They knocked off Ohio State two weeks ago at Ohio State, they beat Penn State this past weekend and they gave Michigan two tough games, one of which they tied and lost the shootout.

“They’re playing better hockey. For a coach, it takes time to instill your system and get your culture together. My very first year here, we were a much better team during the second half of that year playing with pride and confidence at the end of that year, and that’s basically what I see with them. They also have a heck of a first line, and that makes it that much more challenging.”

Jackson said the biggest difference he has seen over the course of the second half of the season is an improvement in the opponents’ goaltending.

“It started right away with Wisconsin, we lost that second game in Chicago when [Jack] Berry stood on his head.

Then we played Minnesota and that young guy they brought in, [Mat] Robson, he’s made a big difference on their team,” Jackson said.

“I think the same thing applies with Michigan and Lavigne and Ohio State as well. I think the goaltending in the second half has been much better in our conference and that’s where in the first half we might’ve had an advantage, and that is part of why we are having a more challenging time of scoring goals.”

Contact Michael Ivey at mivey@hcc-nd.edu

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The observer | thursday, february 22, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

HOCKEY

Notre Dame set for regular-season finale

By MICHAEL IVEY Sports Writer

No. 5 Notre Dame w ill take on Michigan State in their final regular-season series this Friday and Saturday at Compton Family Ice Arena.

Notre Dame (22-8-2, 165-1) fell four spots in the rankings after being swept in their two-game series against Michigan last weekend. The Irish lost 4-2 on Friday night at the Compton Family Ice Arena and dropped a close 1-0 match to the Wolverines in Ann Arbor on Sunday.

Junior for ward Joe Weg werth and junior defenseman Bobby Nardella each scored goals during Notre Dame’s loss on Friday.

Sophomore goaltender Cale Morris made 32 saves on 36 shots on Friday and 36 saves on 37 shots on Sunday.

Notre Dame has already w rapped up the Big Ten regular season title. After this weekend, the Irish w ill have a bye to the semifinal round of the Big Ten Tournament, which they w ill host on March 10.

Michigan State (11-19-2,

5-15-2) is in last place in the conference standings.

These two teams faced each other earlier in the season when Notre Dame traveled to East Lansing for a weekend series against Michigan State on Dec. 1-2.

The Irish won the games by 3-1 and 2-0 scores, respectively.

Notre Dame head coach Jeff Jackson said his team has been tr y ing to solve the scoring issues that have been plaguing the team the past three games. “[We’re] just tr y ing to get more traffic to the net and tr y ing to work on more scoring stuff because that has been our biggest weakness over the last three games,” Jackson said. “We haven’t scored a five-on-five goal.”

Jackson said part of that problem has been his team’s w illingness to pass the puck instead of shooting it.

“We’re tr y ing to get all of our guys to shoot the puck more frank ly because we have a tendency to pass the puck,” he said. “We’ve been getting a lot of shots blocked see HOCKEY PAGE 11

ANN CURTIS | The Observer

Irish junior forward Andrew Oglevie surveys the ice and looks to pass the puck during Notre Dame’s 5-1 loss to Ohio State on Feb. 10 at Compton Family Ice Arena. Oglevie tallied an assist in the loss.

nd WOMEN’s basketball

Baseball

Irish look to keep pace in ACC race against Hokies

ND heads south for yearly tourney

By DANIEL O’BOYLE

By ALEX BENDER

Sports Writer

Sports Writer

In an unfamiliar position as the regular season w inds dow n, Notre Dame finds control for the top seed of the ACC tournament still out of its hands as the they face Virginia Tech on Thursday.

The Irish are tied at the top of the conference standings w ith Louisv ille, as both teams hold 13-1 conference records, but because of the Cardinals’ 100-67 rout over the Irish in Januar y, Louisv ille holds the headto-head tiebreaker.

If the Irish are to secure the top seed and an outright ACC regular-season title for the fifth consecutive season, they w ill need to hope for Louisv ille to lose, either against a Virginia team that started conference play strong at 8-1 but has now lost four of its last five games, or

SARAH OLSON | The Observer

see W BBALL PAGE 10

Irish sophomore guard Jackie Young drives down the lane for a layup during Notre Dame’s 94-62 win over North Carolina on Feb. 1.

This Thursday, Notre Dame Baseball w ill head to San Antonio to kick off the 20th annual A lamo Irish Classic.

Heading into the tournament, the Irish are coming off of a solid start to their season as they went 2-1 this past weekend in a series against No. 9 LSU. Follow ing a close loss by a score of 7-6 in the first game of the series, Notre Dame came back to beat the Tigers in the follow ing t wo games to w rap up the action, w inning 10-5 on Saturday and 11-3 on Sunday. Head coach Mik Aoki said he was impressed w ith his team’s abilit y to bounce back after the tough loss Friday.

“I don’t think we necessarily made a big deal of it, obv iously it was a difficult loss to absorb after having played as well as we did

and I think really we played prett y well the entire game,” he said. “We talk all the time about just being able to control what we can control, and I thought that in the areas that we really tr y to pay attention to in the game, that we controlled those things and did a really good job w ith them. We talked about how we knew stuff like this was going to come, and that hopefully the culture and the character of this team would shine through, and that w in or lose, that we would bounce back and just get right back to play ing the ver y best baseball that our team is capable of. Had we won or had we lost, I felt that we did that on Saturday and Sunday, so I was pleased w ith the whole way the kids responded.”

Action w ill kick off Thursday for the Irish when they take on Saint Louis see BASEBALL PAGE 9