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Volume 52, Issue 63 | thursday, january 18, 2018 ndsmcobserver.com
Students participate in Urban Plunge ND students attend seminar, examine challenges facing marginalized groups in US cities over break By TOM NAATZ News Writer
Over winter break, many Notre Dame students participated in the Urban Plunge through the Center for Social Concerns (CSC). The Urban Plunge is a three-day program in which students immerse themselves in the challenges facing marginalized people in cities across the country. Most students participate in programs either in or near their hometowns. Melissa Marley Bonnichsen, the CSC’s social concerns seminars director, described the Urban Plunge as a “101” for students. “We usually have students that have either a good amount of service in high school or have had the opposite, maybe nothing,” Marley Bonnichsen said.
“And they are looking to do something very positive over break or try out this program.” The goals of the Urban Plunge are twofold, Marley Bonnichsen said. The first, she said, is to encourage students to engage with the challenges facing their local communities. “The assumption is that either they are very familiar with services offered to people on the margins there, or this might be the first time they have considered what poverty looks like in their backyard,” Marley Bonnichsen said. Marley Bonnichsen explained that the second objective aims to educate participants on the role the Church plays in combating poverty. “How do faith based see URBAN PAGE 4
Photo courtesy of Cecilia Hall
Students who traveled to St. Louis as part of the Urban Plunge program over winter break connected with local community members. The program allows students to engage with people in low-income areas.
Saint Mary’s seniors start to teach in classrooms By GINA TWARDOSZ Associate Saint Mary’s Editor
Senior education majors at Saint Mary’s are beginning their transition into student teaching this week. The students will begin teaching at local elementary and secondary schools and will work on their portfolios, lesson plans and testing. Maeve Sullivan is an elementary education major with a minor in mild intervention which, she said, consists of “helping
students who have mild cognitive or physical disabilities.” “Education is becoming more inclusive to those who are cognitively and physically disabled, and mild intervention is why I got into education,” she said. “Indiana has mild, moderate and severe categories of [educational] intervention.” Samantha Allen said she has always wanted to be a teacher and is glad to be teaching kindergarten this semester. “I really enjoy having students
learn how to tie their shoes,” she said. “It’s such a small thing that people don’t realize they learned at one point, and the students feel so overwhelmed at the beginning — to the point of tears — and it’s so sad but a little bit funny. I teach them the steps, and then we go over the steps each time — shoes come untied every five minutes, so there’s always a learning opportunity. It’s truly the joy of my day. They see TEACH PAGE 4
Notre Dame Chorale performs, tours Northeast By ANDREW CAMERON News Writer
The Notre Dame Chorale went on an eight-day domestic tour over winter break, performing seven concerts throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and
news PAGE 2
Connecticut. Of the club’s 65 members, 52 singers went on the tour, senior and tour commissioner Jennifer Richardson said. She also said the concerts featured a wide range of musical genres — from renaissance to Christmas carols
scene PAGE 5
to folk music — and the tour served as an important opportunity for members of the club to get to know each other. “We make sure they stay with different people every night, see CHORALE PAGE 4
Viewpoint PAGE 7
University agrees to settle lawsuit Notre Dame reached an agreement to resolve a lawsuit filed by an unnamed student alleging he was unjustly dismissed from University less than a month before his graduation, according to a status report filed Nov. 10. With the agreement having been reached, the case was subsequently dismissed, according to a court document filed Dec. 27. The lawsuit, filed in April of 2017, alleged Notre Dame mishandled the Title IX case involving the unnamed student — referred to as John Doe in court documents — and conducted an investigation full of “procedural flaws, lack of due process and inherent gender bias, designed to ensure that male students accused of any type of sexual misconduct or harassment — concepts that do not apply to John’s conduct — are found responsible.” The Title IX investigation was launched as a result of a complaint by Doe’s ex-girlfriend, referred to as Jane Roe in court documents. The lawsuit alleged Doe underwent “a
difficult moment in his life when he was experiencing episodic depression including suicidal ideation, and was clearly in need of mental health resources and formative remedies.” According to the lawsuit, Roe perceived Doe’s repeated texts reaching out for support at that time as harassment and dating violence, and the University subsequently deemed his conduct to be sexual harassment. The University then launched an investigation, which ultimately resulted in Doe’s dismissal. The agreement reached between Doe and the University, according to a status report filed Oct. 6, was contingent upon “resolution of certain related disputes between Jane Roe and John Doe, one of which may need University consent.” Then, according to the Nov. 10 status report, Roe and Doe “reached a resolution, including the University as needed” and Doe requested “the Court maintain the temporary stay to facilitate ongoing efforts to finally resolve this and related matters and to submit an appropriate stipulation to dismiss.”
Hockey PAGE 12
ND W Basketball PAGE 12
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Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. Pray for March for Life participants.
L.A. Theatre Works: “The Mountaintop” Leighton Concert Hall 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Part of annual MLK Week celebration.
Dance Performance by UZIMA! Leighton Concert Hall 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Lead by Kelly Morgan and James Riley ’94.
Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Additional mass starts at 11:45 a.m.
MLK Celebration Luncheon Joyce Center 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Event is free but ticketed.
Spring 2018 Social Concerns Seminars McNeill Library 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Information session for spring seminars.
Hockey vs. Wisconsin Compton Ice Arena 7:35 p.m. The Irish take on the Badgers.
Exhibit: Modern Women’s Prints Snite Museum of Art all day Styles from different cultural traditions.
Exhibition: “Money Worries” Snite Museum of Art all day Examines people’s perception of money.
Civil Rights Photography (Part of Walk the Walk Week) Snite Museum of Art 1:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. Open to the public.
SMC students create new course By SYDNEY DOYLE News Writer
A new, one-credit course at Saint Mar y’s, Adulting 101, aims to help students generate and practice important life skills in order to be productive and confident adults — both in the workplace and in society. Terri Russ, associate professor of communications, dance and theater, said she decided to start the course after a group of students helped her come up with the idea and some of the curriculum last year in response to a question regarding how to negotiate a salar y raise. “We started talking about that and why it’s important to always negotiate your salar y and why it’s not a skill we learn because it’s so pivotal,” she said. “And then the conversation kind of developed into other really important life skills that we don’t know a lot about. And then from that we saw a need.” Recently, Russ said, she noticed a lack of training for women in terms of life skills they will need after graduating from college, and her students saw it as well. As a group
project, she said, they came up with ideas for a training and preparation course for the College to offer. “The class put together a proposal that Saint Mar y’s College should offer a class on ‘adulting,’” Russ said. “At first it was a joke — that was our shorthand way of referring to it — and then we decided that we should go with that title because it really does communicate [what] we’re tr ying to get out.” The class decided the specifics of the course and its objectives, Russ said. A group of five students in the class then volunteered to present the ideas they had collaborated on to College President Jan Cer velli so the course might become a reality, she said. “So we invited President Cer velli to class, and they pitched the idea to the president and she committed to it on the spot, and so here we are,” Russ said. A lthough she is not sure what to expect from the new course, senior Grace O’Connor said she is excited to step out of her comfort zone and learn something meaningful. “The course description seemed
really interesting, and I felt like the content would help with my life development after graduation,” O’Connor said. “Hopefully, after finishing this course, I’ll be able to deal with real-world adult issues that I haven’t had to deal with while in college.” Russ said the class will deal with issues such as finding a job, finding an apartment or a doctor and networking. She said each week there will be a different real-life topic at hand, and she hopes the group discussions will end up helping her students prepare to leave college. Adulting 101, Russ said, will allow students to make mistakes in the classroom instead of out in the real world. “As a college we do a really great job of helping students transition into Saint Mar y’s, so this is a way to help students transition out,” she said. “So I think it’s just about walking out of the class and having a solid foundation of basic sur vival skills.” Contact Sydney Doyle at sdoyle01@saintmarys.edu
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Urban Continued from page 1
organizations, and-or nonfaith based organizations that have that intentionalit y, how is that working? How are they responding? W hat does that look like on the ground? ” she said. The plunges are organized around cities, and Marley Bonnichsen said because engaging locally is a large emphasis, many programs are centered around places where there is a large population of Notre Dame students. Several of the plunges are closely associated with Notre Dame alumni clubs, while others are more centered on independent groups, she said. This winter, there were around 30 Urban Plunge programs offered. Cities with active Notre Dame Clubs tend to have the largest programs, Marley Bonnichsen said, including Chicago, Los Angeles and Cincinnati. Many of the issues students examine relate to economic conditions, such as housing and homelessness. However, Marley Bonnichsen said, sometimes sites look at other issues that can affect economic conditions. “The variance is wide. Last year in Atlanta, they looked at incarceration,” she said. “They not only talked about poverty, but in their immersion, they also ended up seeing what was going on at the local jail. We will also have food justice issues. One of the Boston sites looks at … access
Chorale Continued from page 1
so you’re not w ith the same people all week,” Richardson said. “That’s how you meet all the people in the club when you have such a big club of 50 people.” The club organized sleeping arrangements for each night w ith local families, many of which were families of Chorale alumni, Richardson said.
Teach Continued from page 1
know I’m the teacher who will call them out on their shoe-tying.” Allen said most students began teaching Tuesday. “I have eight full weeks in a general classroom and then seven weeks in an Englishas-a-second-language classroom,” she said. Although she initially came to Saint Mary’s to be a nursing major, Sullivan said she easily made the switch to education, as the two have similar philosophies. “Nursing and education
Photo courtesy of Cecilia Hall
One of the locations the five students who toured and worked in The Ville in St. Louis over break visited was the headquarters of Bridge of Hope Ministries, a local organization which offers personal and educational assistance to community members.
to food, what it means to have food deserts, etc.” Urban Plunge also involves academic credit for the spring semester. Marley Bonnichsen said students participate in a seminar before they leave for break to prepare for their immersion and participate in several follow-up sessions when they return. “Because students are coming from all over the place, but for many of them this might be a new thing, it’s really important that students don’t go into a situation thinking they know the answers or bring in a lot of criticism or judgement,” she said. “So we do some educating around the experience of immersion … and understanding what it means to have a connection to people.” Ultimately, participants
will spend approximately three days living in the community they are serving, sharing in its experiences and hardships. Sophomore Cecilia Hall participated in a program in St. Louis over break. She and four other students spent time touring and working in The Ville, a historically AfricanAmerican neighborhood in St. Louis, she said. “Looking back, this Urban Plunge experience was very impactful for me,” Hall said in an email. “Growing up in a small town, I was sheltered from many of the problems that those who live in inner city neighborhoods like The Ville in St. Louis face on a daily basis.” Hall particularly emphasized the importance of
trying to understand the community’s problems while also stressing the connection to Catholic teaching. “Rather than trying to come into an impoverished neighborhood like this one and fix all of its problems, it was important and very impactful for us to go and meet people to hear their stories and simply to be with them,” she said. “One of the themes of Catholic Social Teaching is ‘Option for the Poor and Vulnerable,’ and I believe that we were able to carry this out by simply being with the community for the short time that we were there in St. Louis.” On the whole, Marley Bonnichsen said there are four major aims of the program: giving students a sense of the “reality” of the situation
in their hometown, helping students reach a better understanding of the struggles of people suffering on the margins, introducing students to the people responding to such challenges and helping students develop into “active citizens.” “The program ref lects the essence of Notre Dame students. Notre Dame students deeply want to do great things for others. They want to serve,” Marley Bonnichsen said. “That’s the spirit we get the students into the program with. … We’ve seen a lot of great change in students launching from that one moment. It’s a great gift we are really privileged to offer.”
“This year was special because at one of the stops, one of the former chorale members who’s now an alumni planned the whole thing,” she said. “She was super excited and told us all her stories from when she was a member of the club, and she gave us all these laminated copies of a song they used to sing to each other.” Junior and tour commissioner Jarissa Sabal said the club raised around $12,500 from the tour through
donations and merchandise sales. “We do a domestic tour every winter as a way to raise money for chorale,” she said. “We’re doing an international tour to Ireland at the end of the year, so most of the money is going to subsidize that.” The club, which only goes on international tours ever y four years, has prev iously v isited Austria, Italy and the Czech Republic, according to its website. This year’s Ireland trip is planned
for May 18 — the day after Commencement. Overall, Sabal described the tour as a “ver y positive experience.” “I think it’s the best way that we get to know each other and that people mix w ith other students who they might not sit by or talk to normally,” she said. “And obv iously, it makes a lot of money for us. It’s a really weird, but fun, way to meet alumni because we stay w ith local families ever y night.”
Richardson said the club, which welcomes Saint Mar y’s and Holy Cross students in addition to Notre Dame students, is a unique program at the Universit y. “We’re the only mixed singing ensemble that doesn’t sing at Mass — we only sing at concerts,” Richardson said. “So we’re kind of like the glee club, but we also have girls.”
really bring in people who serve others and want to make a difference in the lives of others,” she said. “I’m Catholic, so serving others has been a huge driving force for me.” Education majors have regular assessments that consist of testing and teaching lessons to the students, Allen said. “We have to do an assessment cycle where we have to give a pretest and then teach a lesson and then give another test until we give them a final test,” she said. “That’s the minimum requirement.” Saint Mary’s has given Sullivan the opportunity to encounter real-life experiences as a teacher, she said.
“Saint Mary’s has put me in so many different types of schools with different types of students and in different areas of South Bend,” she said. “They’ve really allowed us to come into contact with some of the things we’ll see as teachers.” Allen said the College expects the best from its education majors. “Saint Mary’s is very extensive about what they require of education majors in order to best prepare us,” she said. “In the moment, it seems very overwhelming, but they’re so supportive and encouraging. They want the best for you, and they expect
the best from you.” Sullivan is worried her penchant for perfection will cause her to overestimate and exhaust herself, she said. “I’m a perfectionist, so a fear of mine is knowing you can only do so much on your end as a teacher,” she said. “One has to understand that there is human limitation — there’s only so much you can do as a teacher. You have to teach and they have to learn, and that child’s future is literally in your hands.” Allen said she hopes those who want to become teachers are passionate about teaching and are not just teaching as a backup plan.
“I think people who feel a passion towards education and lifelong learning are people who would really benefit from going into education,” she said. “I hope that people teach from a place of love and not from a place of desperation.” Sullivan said her goal for the semester is to get to know her class personally and academically. “I’ve gotten all the tools from Saint Mary’s, so I’m excited to see what I can do and also surprise myself a little, too,” she said.
Contact Tom Naatz at tnaatz@nd.edu
Contact Andrew Cameron at acamero2@nd.edu
Contact Gina Twardosz at gtwardosz01@saintmarys.edu
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Inside Column
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Advice from an elf Gina Twardosz Associate Saint Mary’s Editor
Spring semester is here and as we all start our classes and re-acquaint ourselves with our friends and roommates, the inevitable question arises: “What did you do over winter break?” Some people went on vacation to a sunny beach or took time to visit distant relatives. Me? I was an elf. Yes, I was a professional Christmas elf for two long weeks and it was the best and worst experience of my life. Many parents forcefully took pictures of me with their children, which begs the question: How many suburban, middle class homes am I now featured in? It was intimidating to listen to all the different things kids wanted. I had no concept of most of the popular toys, and frankly, that made me feel very old and sad. Many children wanted iPhones and one child had the audacity to ask for a trip to Paris –– you and me both, kid. I was tasked with the difficult job of taking the ‘official’ Santa picture and my biggest problem was A) getting the child to stop crying long enough to look like they won’t be emotionally scarred by this interaction in the future and B) actually look at me and at the camera. I found most of the children who cried when tasked with meeting the Santa Clause were older children. Most babies did not cry because they really had no idea what was even happening. Here’s a tip, if you want a baby to look at you, just magically produce a ‘Polar Express’ style silver bell from your pocket and ring it over and over and over. Those babies will look at you and the bell like it’s the second coming of Christ. Their eyes would get wide, a little drool would seep out of their mouths and, although they wouldn’t smile, their faces would look fairly neutral and then I would snap the picture. It was the best I could do under the circumstances. There is no better feeling, though, than being the only person to get a child to stop crying. The biggest compliment I received was from a man who called my boss and said that his daughter had never before smiled in a picture with Santa and that the elf –– with all her bell ringing, funny faces and jumping jacks –– had gotten his daughter to smile. I, being that elf, was very flattered to hear this. The most significant part of my experience was getting to meet the man who was playing Santa. He had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer and had decided to become Santa in order to spread joy and make children smile before his time was up. It was such a selfless thing to do and has really inspired me to do better in 2018. As we begin the new year, let’s all try to spread joy and put ourselves out there. Even if it means we have to don obnoxious red and green Christmas tights, it costs us nothing and to some, it means everything.
Open letter to Fr. John Jenkins To the Notre Dame community and the national pro-life movement: Late last semester, the University of Notre Dame decided to continue its involvement in the distribution of abortifacients and contraceptives through the University’s health insurance plan, after there was no longer any legal necessity to do so. With the March for Life approaching, we, the Executive Board of the Notre Dame Chapter of University Faculty for Life (UFL), want to make clear that there are many Notre Dame faculty, staff and students who oppose these policies that facilitate the destruction of human life, and who are committed to the holistic teachings of the Church on the sanctity of all human life. Therefore, below we make public a letter we delivered to Fr. Jenkins on Nov. 29, 2017 regarding the Notre Dame health insurance plan. Some of us met with Fr. Jenkins in December, and he listened respectfully to our concerns as well as the concerns of other faculty and staff present at the meeting. However, the problematic policies have not yet been corrected. We hope and pray that Fr. Jenkins and the Notre Dame Board of Trustees will soon restore life-affirming policies that are consistent with the Catholic mission of Notre Dame. Sincerely, Executive Board ND Chapter of UFL
•
In court filings, the University made several statements about the need to “avoid facilitation or affiliation with objectionable products” particularly because of “its mission as an educator of youth.” Are you concerned that the University’s witness to students is damaged by its decision to now voluntarily affiliate itself with objectionable products –– not only the University’s witness in regard to sexual morality, but also in regard to truthfulness and integrity?
•
In court filings, the University asserted that the insurance coverage required under the Mandate included “abortion-inducing products.” However, University statements about the new coverage do not mention abortion-inducing products. Have abortion-inducing products been removed from the new coverage? (Update: After writing this letter, we were able to confirm that abortion-inducing products are included in the coverage. The products covered are the same as those required under the HHS mandate.)
•
What entities are bearing the costs of the new coverage? Why would Meritain and OptumRx “advise that they will now continue to provide contraceptives to plan members at no charge,” as the University stated in a Nov. 7 askHR email? Meritain and OptumRX are two distinct companies. Is it a coincidence that, without any University prompting, both companies advised that they would continue covering contraceptives just days after the University announced that the coverage would not continue?
•
Will this year’s rule change for Flexible Spending Accounts allow Notre Dame employees to be reimbursed for sterilizations (male or female), abortifacients or contraceptives? Why was the wording in the plan document changed from that of prior years?
Nov. 29, 2017 Dear Fr. Jenkins, We write as the Executive Board of the Notre Dame Chapter of University Faculty for Life to seek clarification about several issues related to contraceptive coverage and Flexible Spending Accounts recently announced by the University. As we related in our letter to you on Oct. 24, we were elated that Notre Dame was eligible for an exemption from the HHS mandate and that it could end its connection with the distribution of contraceptives and abortifacients. It came as a great shock to receive notice on Nov. 7 that Notre Dame employees would still have free access to these services, which are contrary to the Catholic Church’s understanding of human flourishing. What is more, University communications have left much unsaid and caused manifest confusion about the changes that will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2018. We would like to meet with you to discuss these developments and to get clarification. The following are among the issues we would like to discuss: •
• Contact Gina Twardosz at gtwardosz01@saintmarys.edu The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
account unless she grants them permission. Are these details true? (Update: After writing this letter, we were able to confirm that these details are true.)
Please let us know whether it is possible to meet with you about these very important matters. If a meeting is not possible, we would appreciate written responses. Yours in Notre Dame, Executive Board ND Chapter of UFL
The University asserted in court that “Notre Dame believes its participation in the U.S. Government Mandate would cause scandal and therefore Notre Dame cannot comply with the Mandate consistent with its religious beliefs.” Does the new arrangement with Meritain/OptumRx differ from the old arrangement? Are there features of the new arrangement that mitigate or eliminate the scandal caused by the old arrangement? Based on phone calls with OptumRx, our understanding is that daughters of all ages are automatically enrolled in the contraceptive and abortifacient coverage, and that parents cannot close the accounts. Moreover, our understanding is that, once the girl turns 13, her parents cannot view her contraceptives
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Martijn Cremers president Jeffrey Burks vice president Madeline Bradley secretary-treasurer Gabriel Reynolds executive board member David Solomon executive board member Jan. 16
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An opportunity for Korea Jordan Ryan Words of WisDome
North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong-un, have been the subject of some of President Trump’s most memorable tweets. Trump has called the North Korean leader a “short and fat” and a “madman,” and in keeping with what may be his favorite pastime, labeled Kim “Rocket Man.” Not to be outdone, Kim has publicly referred to the President as an “old lunatic,” a “loser” and a “psychopath.” In what may be one of his most famous tweets, Trump continued the schoolyard insults by describing his “nuclear button” as being “much bigger” and “more powerful” than that of the North Korean leader. While the bombastic battle between the leaders of two nuclear-armed nations may be great fodder for late night comedians, it has done little to advance the goal of a stabilized Korean Peninsula. Thankfully, in what may ultimately prove to be the proverbial first step in a long and difficult journey, representatives of North and South Korea met last week for the first time in two years. The talks between Representatives of the divided nation were held in the demilitarized zone in what has become known as the “Peace House” located in the Panmunjom truce village. The discussions focused on North Korea’s role in the Winter Olympics to be held in South Korea’s Pyeongchang next month. Both sides reported the talks as positive. As a result of those talks, North Korea has been invited to bring a delegation of athletes, performing arts group and its press contingent to the games. The South has proposed that Korean athletes from both nations march together in the opening
ceremony of the Olympics. In what may have seemed to be the impossible only weeks ago, North and South Korea have agreed to field a joint women’s hockey team at the games. The Olympics will quickly come and go. However, this diplomatic opportunity must not be squandered. North and South Korea have signaled a significant reduction in tensions between the two nations. The joint closing statement issued at the conclusion of the round of discussions remarkably read, “South and North Korea have decided to make joint efforts for the unity of the people and reconciliation by establishing an environment for peace and easing military tensions on the Korean Peninsula.” The United States has an obligation to help continue the positive momentum created by this opportunity. Since he took office, Trump, perhaps justifiably, has taken a very hard line stance against North Korea. Aside from the somewhat juvenile taunts, the President has imposed broad sanctions on virtually every aspect of the North Korean economy. Given Kim’s irresponsible testing of ICBMs and even nuclear arms, such sanctions may well be the only available reaction short of direct military intervention. However, the effects of such sanctions are open to question. John Delury, a professor at Yonsei University’s Graduate School of International Studies in South Korea, believes that North Korea has over time grown so accustomed to adapting to sanctions that their leadership is less phased by the economic pressure. In fact, such moves may be pushing North Korea closer to China. Professor Delury believes, “North Korea is used to sanctions and isolation. It doesn’t get them to do what we want them to do.” Experts also seem to agree that
the imposition of more severe sanctions, even with the support of China, could be counterproductive in that North Korea may feel that its hand is being forced to take military action as its only available option. We remain a great distance from a unified Korea. Nonetheless, there is some reason to have optimism. A “hot line: between the leaders of the two nations, long disabled, has been reestablished. Discussions are underway to take steps to avoid accidental conflict. Trump has assured South Korean President Moon Jae-in that he would be willing to engage in direct talks between the United States and North Korea “at the appropriate time, under the right circumstances.” Those circumstances may well be upon us. The false alert in Hawaii on Jan. 13 should serve as a stark reminder of what could actually happen if North Korea should launch a missile attack against the United States or its allies. Though we are a long way from denuclearization of Korea, the first step may have been taken towards that ultimate goal. The Trump Administration needs to make every effort to keep moving in the right direction towards that goal, and in any event, must do nothing that could lead us two steps backwards. Perhaps the most recent news reports coming out of the Korean peninsula will prove to be more positive than the taunts and rants that filled the news in 2017. Senior Jordan Ryan, a Pittsburgher formerly of Lyons Hall, studies political science, peace studies and constitutional studies. She welcomes any inquiries, comments or political memes to jryan15@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Proud to be an American? Griffin Cannon BridgeND
I used to find it amusing over the past year to watch as airport gift shops change their merchandise. Of course, the classics remain: Empire State Building key chains, star spangled T-shirts, and mini Statues of Liberty. A few new items have popped up since the 2016 campaign. The “Make America Great Again” hats and Trump campaign memorabilia are now featured front and center so international tourists can bring back some authentic American artifacts. I no longer find it amusing. This break I visited a little road on the border between upstate New York and Canada. A short drive from the nearest town, this little dirt road with low houses on either side is bisected by a small ditch that forms the northern border. On the other side, a few feet back, the road starts back up; same houses, same dirt, only this time in Canada. In the past year, nearly 17,000 individuals have illegally crossed the border from the United States into Quebec in order to seek asylum at illegal border crossing points like the one I saw. The vast majority of these people were Haitian refugees whose lives were torn apart in the 2010
earthquake. Others come from Syria and Yemen, and all feel that they can no longer stay in the United States. They are refugees, fleeing first natural disaster and war, and now us. I stayed no longer than a few minutes and saw no one. There were tracks in the snow however, where the taxis had turned around after dropping off passengers and then the thin wheels of suitcases headed north. There were footprints too. Some of men and women and some of their small children. Part of me wished someone would have come by and I could have talked to them. I wished that I could explain to them that there is more to us than it would seem. We are more than this. The United States that put a man on the moon still exists. The United States that sculpted the liberal international order from the ashes of the Second World War still exists. The land of opportunity, the home of the American dream all of this still exists. But that’s not what these people saw. These people came here, hoping to make a better life in this country and unlike the generations of immigrants and refugees before them, they didn’t see an America worth adopting. They saw a scared and angry country and they wanted out. Those thin tire tracks were those of individuals, often whole families, running away from us. That quiet little road with the wheel marks and
the footprints made me ashamed to be an American. When I was flying back to school at the end of break, I flew through Newark. It was early in the morning and as we were landing I was able to make out the Statue of Liberty through the glare of the rising sun. I could only see it for the briefest moment before it was lost between the buildings of Manhattan, but for that moment I was struck by how small it looked, how insignificant. The great symbols of our nation only mean something if we make them mean something. If we are to be the type of country we claim to be — open, hopeful and confident — then we must live it every day. I’m not sure what that looks like, but I know that whatever we’re doing now certainly isn’t enough. Griffin Cannon is a junior studying political science from South Burlington, Vermont. The viewpoints expressed in this column are those of the individual and not necessarily those of BridgeND as an organization. BridgeND is a bipartisan student political organization that brings together people from all across the ideological spectrum to discuss public policy issues of national importance. They meet Monday nights in the McNeil Room of LaFortune from 6–7 p.m. They can be reached at bridgend@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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The observer | thursday, January 18, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com
Crossword | Will Shortz
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Sit tight and wait for the right moment to make your move. Timing will be everything this year, and if you are too quick to act, you will be forced to begin again. Stay focused, dedicated and free from what others prompt you to do. Strategy, common sense and willpower will help you reach your goals in a timely fashion. Your numbers are 6, 9, 15, 27, 29, 36, 40. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Keep your life simple and avoid getting into a dispute with someone over money or matters that aren’t that consequential. Strive for perfection, personal growth, better health and greater happiness. Accept the inevitable and work with what you’ve got. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Tuck your emotions away where they cannot be detected. It’s important to display a poker face if you want to navigate your way into a prime position. No matter what or who you are dealing with, control will be an issue. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Search for information that will help you bypass trouble with authority figures. Get a clear vision of your financial status before you make a donation or commit to taking on an additional expense. Personal improvements are in your best interest. CANCER ( June 21-July 22): Generosity or miscalculating the cost of a repair or other expenses that unexpectedly crop up will leave you short. Monitor your spending carefully to ensure that you don’t miss an important payment. Proper diet and fitness should be a priority. LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Relationships should be handled carefully. Emotions will swell up if you make too many changes without discussing your plans with anyone who will be affected by the choices you make. Avoid indulgent behavior as well as emotional manipulation. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Attend a networking event or seminar that will offer different points of view. Gathering information will help you determine what’s best for you. Don’t let anyone persuade you into making a snap decision when money is involved. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Let past experiences lead the way. Consider what you can do to keep an important relationship healthy. Outside meddling or interference should be eliminated quickly to avoid making a mistake. Share your feelings and find out where you stand. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t feel you have to act impulsively in order to keep someone’s interest. Do your own thing and don’t worry about what others think. Go ahead and do things differently. Your uniqueness will draw interest and help you excel. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Reevaluate the past and how you have taken care of your interests and your health. Consider what you can do to make improvements without going into debt. Change is only good if it doesn’t throw other aspects of your life in jeopardy. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Slow down and pick and choose carefully when dealing with partners, friends or relatives. Refuse to be railroaded into something that doesn’t meet your standards or isn’t of interest to you. Love and happiness should be your top priorities. AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Think twice before you take action. Find out exactly what’s going on before you call out someone who may or may not be the problem. Observe and moderate situations to avoid complaints as well as making a regrettable mistake. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Look at the big picture when it comes to your overall health, personal finances and commitments. Practicality and common sense are best put into play to avoid being persuaded to get involved in something you may regret later. Birthday Baby: You are charming, gracious and kind. You are outgoing and sensitive.
WINGin’ it | OLIVIA WANG & BAILEE EGAN
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
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ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, january 18, 2018 | The Observer
Sports Authority
NCAA men’s basketball | SMU 83, Wichita State 78
NCAA should protect recruits Marek Mazurek Assistant Managing Editor
Every so often, the NCAA takes two steps forward in improving conditions for student athletes. But just as often it takes one step back. And that’s exactly what happened with the well-intentioned early signing period for football recruiting. For the first time this year, the NCAA introduced an early signing period wherein football recruits could choose to sign a letter of intent from Dec. 20–22, instead of waiting for National Signing Day in early February. The goal was to give recruits who were confident in their commitment a chance to sign and thereby eliminate the calls and drama of the month leading up to National Signing Day and for the recruit to enjoy the last few months of their senior season hassle-free. And for some recruits, that has been the case, and that’s great. But for many others, the early signing period has caused a good deal of trouble. The dates of the early signing period (Dec. 20–22) comes right after the regular season finishes and before most bowl games and that’s part of the problem right there. Because at the same time, the coaching carousel is whirling as head coaches and coordinators are fired or leave for better offers. A few teams made these changes before the early signing period in order to have an established leader recruits can identify before they sign on the dotted line. And while it’s problematic that the recruits have very little time to get to know the new coach or coordinator before the early signing period, it beats the alternative. That alternative: Recruits sign during the early signing period, only to have coaches and coordinators leave or get fired after the recruits have signed letters of intent. That exact situation happened this year at Arizona, Alabama, Notre Dame and LSU. If you tally up every school where a position coach left, the list would go on for three pages. It’s extremely unfair to recruits to sign a letter of intent during the early signing period — or on National Signing day — only to have the main coach that recruited them or the main coach who will run the recruit’s position group pack up and leave while that recruit has to stay. Some will say “Well, if a recruit is worried about a coach leaving or if he isn’t sure, then he should wait until the February deadline to sign.”
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That is true, the recruit can exercise the option to wait. However, multiple head coaches — including Irish head coach Brian Kelly — have said that if a verbally committed player doesn’t sign during the early signing period, the school will not view them as committed and will continue to recruit that position. In other words, schools and coaches are telling recruits, “Sign during the early period, or we’ll recruit other guys who could take your place.” If you’re an 18-year-old recruit and you have coaches pressuring you and you’re unsure of the whole landscape, signing early can seem like the safer option, right up until that coach who was pressuring you leaves for more money or prestige. That’s why the NCAA should change a few things about the early signing period. First, recruits who sign early should be allowed out of their letters of intent in the case of a coordinator or head coach leaving or being fired after the early signing period. This would truly make the commitment go both ways. It would be great for recruits because they would be given flexibility should a major change within a program occur, but it’s also good for coaches, because schools will be less likely to fire coaches if they risk losing a significant number of recruits. Under this proposed rule, almost all coaching changes would happen in the weeks immediately after the regular season, and while this would be chaotic to say the least, at least recruits would know exactly who they’re signing up to play for before they do it. If the NCAA deems that change to be too radical, it should at the very least let players transfer without having to sit out a year if they signed a letter of intent before their coordinator or coach left or was fired. The NCAA already does this in cases where a school is facing a postseason ban, so why shouldn’t it do it for schools who broke implicit promises to recruits? There are many fans out there who get mad when a recruit goes back on a verbal commitment, and it’s understandable to a degree. A commitment from a recruit should mean something. But it also shouldn’t be hard to understand that commitments work both ways and that the NCAA shouldn’t punish 18-year-old kids for the decisions of coaches. Contact Marek Mazurek at mmazurek@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Milton leads Mustangs to victory over Wichita State Associated Press
WICHITA, Kan. — SMU coach Tim Jankovich said his Mustangs would have to be “near perfect” to have a chance against No. 7 Wichita State. Shake Milton gave Jankovich that and more. “Might have been better than perfect,” Jankovich said. Milton scored a career-high 33 points on 11-of-14 shooting to lead the Mustangs to an 83-78 victory, snapping the Shockers’ 27-game winning streak at Koch Arena on Wednesday night. “I don’t know how you play better than that,” Jankovich said. “Shake controlled the game, not just scoring in bunches. He had control of everything.” SMU (13-6, 3-3 American Athletic Conference) had lost three straight, not winning since Dec. 31. Wichita State (153, 5-1) had won 67 of 68 at Koch Arena. “I think we need to be desperate every game right now,” said Milton, who was 5 of 6 from beyond the arc. “But knowing it
would be an environment like this, that the fans would be crazy, was motivation.” Jahmal McMurray scored 16 points for the Mustangs, who shot 63.8 percent. Ethan Chargois had 12 points, and Ben Emelogu added 10. Landry Shamet led the Shockers with 20 points and 10 assists, and Shaquille Morris scored 17. Darral Willis scored 12 points off the bench, and Conner Frankamp added 11. Wichita State rallied after trailing 70-57 with 4:33 remaining to make it a one-possession game twice in the final minute. Like much of the game, the Mustangs made shots when it mattered. “In the end, they really had tremendous playmakers that made great plays,” Shockers coach Gregg Marshall said. “They kept throwing dagger, dagger, dagger. We would get it down to four or three, and they would hit another big shot.” The Mustangs rarely use a zone defense, but Jankovich had them employ one the entire game. They also had
personnel issues to overcome. Jarrey Foster, the Mustangs’ second-leading scorer, did not return after getting injured less than six minutes into the game. By the 10-minute mark of the second half, Emelogu and Chargois each had four fouls. SMU found a way to hang on with some stellar individual plays. Each team had 30 field goals, but the Mustangs had just 10 assists — 14 fewer than Wichita State. “I thought our execution was excellent,” Jankovich said. Marshall gave credit to a “better game plan.” “They tried to score early and, if not, they held the ball and ran clock,” Marshall said. “And with the zone, they wanted to shorten the game. And it worked.”
Big picture SMU: The Mustangs could turn their season on this victory, and it will go down as a signature performance for Milton. Wichita State: The Shockers suffered their first conference loss with a rare lackluster show from their defense.
NCAA men’s basketball | Alabama 76, auburn 71
Alabama pulls off upset, takes down No. 17 Auburn Associated Press
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — John Petty scored 27 points, Dazon Ingram added 16, and short-handed Alabama defeated No. 17 Auburn 76-71 on Wednesday night. Alabama played without its starting point guard and leading scorer, Collin Sexton, who sat out with an abdominal injury. But Petty more than made up for the loss. The freshman guard made eight of 13 3-point attempts and helped the Crimson Tide (12-6, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) surge ahead of Auburn with a 15-5 run in the second half. It wasn’t always easy for Alabama. Coach Avery Johnson’s team struggled to take care of the basketball without its primary ball handler. The Crimson Tide turned the ball over 12 times in the first half, just two shy of its average per game this season. On defense, it was Auburn guards Jared Harper and Mustapha Heron who forced
the turnovers, generating four steals. Despite the sloppy play, Alabama’s 3-point shooting helped hide some of the mistakes. Petty, who took Sexton’s place in the starting lineup, knocked down three of his 3-point baskets in the first half to help Alabama keep the game close. Auburn (16-2, 4-1) was the better of the teams in the first half from long range, sinking seven of 15 shots from behind the arc, including a fader from Chuma Okeke at the first-half buzzer that gave the Tigers a three-point advantage into halftime. Another freshman contributing to Alabama’s secondhalf rally was Herbert Jones, who picked up his second foul of the game with eight minutes remaining in the first half, but returned to fill the stat sheet on both ends. The forward had seven rebounds, four steals, and four assists to go along with his 11 points. He scored the most crucial basket of the game, stopping
the bleeding while extending Alabama’s lead to five in the final minute. Trailing by 10 with just under four minutes remaining, the Tigers were able to cut Alabama’s lead to two by holding the Crimson Tide to 11 points down that stretch. Bryce Brown scored a teamhigh 12 points for the Tigers.
Big picture Alabama: Moves to 4-2 in the conference with its first win over Auburn in the last four tries. Auburn: Remains the top team in the SEC despite the loss. The Tigers will have another chance against the Crimson Tide at home in February.
Up next Alabama: will play its second straight conference home game against Mississippi State on Saturday. Auburn: returns home to play Georgia on Saturday before hitting the road again next week.
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W Bball Continued from page 12
the 2015-16 season, w inning each of its first 15 games, its longest w in streak since the 2010-11 season. That w in streak came to an end in overtime at Texas A&M, w ith the Aggies w inning 79-76, but the Volunteers bounced back to beat defending national champions No. 10 South Carolina 86-70. This game marks the third in a four-game stretch of ranked matchups for the Volunteers, who w ill face national runners-up No. 3 Mississippi State on Sunday. The Volunteers have five different players averaging 10 or more points per game this season, led by senior forward Jaime Nared and redshirt-senior center Mercedes Russell, who both average more than 17 points per game and appeared alongside Notre Dame’s junior guard Arike Ogunbowale on the 25-player Wooden Award midseason watch list. McGraw said Russell and Nared are extremely talented players, but she believes the Volunteers have enough different options to ensure Notre Dame can’t focus all their attention on the t wo leading scorers. “They’re really athletic, they’re long, they can block shots, they’re a great defensive team, they can score,” McGraw said. “You
Hockey Continued from page 12
a regular basis, and they all play to their strengths.” The Irish boast one of the strongest blue lines in college hockey, but sophomore goaltender Cale Morris has been often been busy in the crease. Morris has won each of his last four starts despite facing over 30 shots in each of the four contests, including 34 and 39 shot tests from Wisconsin in that time. Gross believes that Morris has been a critical part of the team’s success to date. “He does a really good job of communicating. The trust that we’ve built w ith him, you know what you’re going to get out of him now,” Gross said. “He’s just been extremely steady. If we just tr y and limit their good opportunities we know he’ll stop their bad shots.” The Irish w ill head to Chicago on Saturday to skate on the United Center ice and prepare for their neutral site game w ith the Badgers on Sunday. The Irish w ill return
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really can’t lay off anyone, they’re all capable scorers. Mercedes Russell can do it inside; Jaime Nared is the one who beat us last year, she’s capable of hav ing 30, so really ever yone on their team is a threat.” Defensively, Tennessee has proven to be one of the top teams in the nation, holding opponents to a field goal percentage of just 34.8, the 14th-best mark in the nation, and a 3-point percentage of just 25.1. The Volunteers have also proven dominant on the boards, ranked fifth in the nation in rebound margin and fourth in rebounds per game, w ith both Nared and Russell averaging more than eight rebounds per game and w ith freshman for ward Rennia Dav is not far behind w ith 7.8. Despite the proven talent the Volunteers bring, Ogunbowale, Notre Dame’s leading scorer this season, said she does not believe the Irish need another matchup w ith a top opponent to prove where they stand. “I think we only need us for show ing where we’re at, no matter who we’re play ing, so I’m not really focusing on the opponent, just how we play,” Ogunbowale said. The Irish and the Volunteers w ill meet at Purcell Pav ilion on Thursday at 7 p.m. Contact Daniel O’Boyle at doboyle1@nd.edu
to the site of the Frozen Four last year, where the team was eliminated by the eventual champion Denver Pioneers, 6-1. Jackson believes that the env ironment there w ill be different than the one the Irish played in back in the Frozen Four. “If we have 10,000 people there that would be great. The Frozen Four, that building was full so it w ill be a little bit less of a factor,” Jackson said. “It’ll be good for our guys. We skated there last week and w ill get another chance to skate there on Saturday for a short period of time. I think it’s good for our guys to get experience playing in that kind of env ironment. It does prepare you for the Frozen Four if you make it there or even Regionals. It’s good for their development to play in an intimidating building.” The Irish w ill take on the Badgers at Compton Ice Arena at 7:35 p.m. Friday and then again at 3 p.m. on Sunday at the United Center. Contact Jack Concannon at jconcan2@nd.edu
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The observer | thursday, january 18, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com
ND WOmen’s basketball
ND, Tennessee meet for top-10 matchup By Daniel o’boyle Sports Writer
eddie griesedieck | The Observer
Irish junior guard Marina Mabrey scans the lane during Notre Dame’s 121-65 win over Mount St. Mary’s on Nov. 11 at Purcell Pavilion. Mabrey currently leads the team in assists and steals this season.
Two of the most successful programs in women’s basketball history will face off Thursday, as No. 5 Notre Dame hosts No. 6 Tennessee at Purcell Pavilion. For the Irish (16-2, 5-1 ACC), the game will be a chance for Irish head coach Muffet McGraw’s squad to test itself again against top-10 opposition, after last week’s 100-67 capitulation at Louisville, the last time the Irish faced a ranked opponent. The game will also mark the first ranked matchup at home for Notre Dame this season, with the Irish having faced most of their highest-rated opponents on the road or at neutral sites so far. McGraw said she’s happy to finally have a big game in front of a home crowd to give her team some extra motivation when they face adversity. “It’s always great to be at home because our fans really motivate us, they inspire us when we really need it,” McGraw said. “They know when to stand when we need them and we’re going to need
them for 40 minutes in this game.” The series between the Irish and the Volunteers (16-1, 4-1 SEC) has been dominated by streaks. First, the Volunteers controlled the matchup, winning each of their first 20 games against Notre Dame. In 2011, the Irish finally ended that streak and earned their first-ever victory over Tennessee, starting a streak of six-consecutive wins. Last year, that streak was snapped when the Volunteers overcame a 15-point deficit to beat the Irish, 71-69. The eight-time national champion Volunteers were the sport’s dominant force between the mid-1980s and the end of the 2000s, but struggled to live up to their usual standards during the previous two seasons — head coach Holly Warlick’s fourth and fifth in charge — setting the two highest marks in program history for losses in a season with 14 and 12. However, this year saw Tennessee return to a top-10 ranking for the first time since early in see W BBALL PAGE 11
HOCKEY
Irish set to face Badgers at home, in Chicago By jack concannon Sports Writer
This Friday, No. 1 Notre Dame w ill play host to No. 18 Wisconsin in a Big Ten matchup, followed by a Sunday rematch of the two squads at the United Center in Chicago. The Badgers (11-11-3, 5-7-2 Big Ten) w ill be looking for revenge from the two losses the Irish (18-3-1, 12-0-0) handed them in December, while the red-hot Irish are looking to keep up their momentum. The Irish are on a 15-game w in streak, hav ing won all 12 of their Big Ten games to date en route to top of the national standings. Senior defenseman Jordan Gross believes the team has remained dialed in, and has blocked out any temptations to get complacent while riding the w inning streak. “Coach [Jeff Jackson] has done a really good job of emphasizing that we can’t be satisfied,” Gross said. “We’ve had a good start, but it won’t mean any thing if we don’t keep getting better ever y
day.” The Irish w ill look to continue to work on their stif ling defense, which is what makes them such a tough team to play against — the Irish have not surrendered more than two goals in a game since Nov. 10. Jackson believes the team’s depth and experience on the blue line has helped it turn into a menacing group. “Our defensive depth is really strong. That’s been one of the strengths of our team,” Jackson said. “Hav ing older defenseman like Jordan Gross and [junior defenseman] Dennis Gilbert, and I think [junior defenseman] Bobby Nardella has grow n a lot this year. With the experience some of the younger guys have gotten, we’ve been dressing seven defenseman regularly and we tr y to dress them all. We’ve tried to divv y up the ice time, which keeps them all involved in the game. We have four guys on the power play and four guys on the penalt y kill on see HOCKEY PAGE 11
ANN CURTIS | The Observer
Irish sophomore forward Cam Morrison skates up the ice during Notre Dame’s 5-3 victory over Penn State on Nov. 10 at Compton Family Ice Arena. The top-ranked Irish have won 15 straight games.