The independent
To uncover
newspaper serving
the truth
Notre Dame and
and report
Saint Mary’s
it accurately
Volume 52, Issue 56 | thursday, november 30, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
Students debate kneeling for flag, anthem BridgeND event contributes to conversation on merits of NFL protests, symbolism of American flag By KELLI SMITH News Writer
BridgeND sponsored a student debate on the notion of kneeling for the American flag Wednesday in the Montgomery auditorium of the LaFortune Student Center. Titled “Reflections on the Flag,” the hour-long event was centered on a movement that garnered national attention when former National Football League (NFL) quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeled during the national anthem in 2016 to peacefully protest racial injustice in America. The student debate featured junior Matt Marsland, who argued against kneeling for the American flag, and senior Geralyn Smith, who took a pro-kneeling stance. President of BridgeND, junior Christian McGrew, said the topic
was chosen as the organization’s annual debate to contribute to the broader conversation about what the flag stands for and why people are kneeling in the first place. “Football is something that touches the consciousness of Americans from all different colors and creeds, especially here at Notre Dame where it is typically a uniter,” McGrew said. “These events have served to divide people instead of being a source of national unification, so I think these questions demand to be answered.” Marsland and Smith each gave a 10 to 15 minute presentation of their respective viewpoints. After the initial presentation, both were given a chance to respond to each other before answering questions see DEBATE PAGE 4
KELLI SMITH | The Observer
Junior Matt Marsland, left, and senior Geralyn Smith, right, explain their opinions on the significance of the American flag and NFL kneeling protests at a BridgeND event as junior Kylie Ruscheinski moderates.
Band hosts open house to increase recruitment By MARY STEURER News Writer
Before coming to Notre Dame, assistant band director Justin McManus said he thought working for the Band of the Fighting Irish was one of the “wonder” jobs. Now the band’s assistant director, McManus said belonging to the organization has been
an experience unlike any other. “It’s unique because you get a different appreciation for [Notre Dame],” he said. In order to share this experience with current students, as well as provide them with a chance to learn more about the program, the Notre Dame Band will be hosting an open house Thursday at 5 p.m. in the Ricci Band Rehearsal Hall. The event
will give students a chance to familiarize themselves with the opportunities the band offers as well as talk to current band members. McManus, who first proposed the open house, said the event was developed to improve the program’s recruitment of nonfreshmen. The band has no see BAND PAGE 4
College students complete national writing challenge By ERIN GRIMES News Writer
Saint Mary’s students Mary Brophy and Dalanie Beach, a senior and a sophomore respectively, took part in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) this November. As the month draws to a close, the two students said that the
month had been a positive experience. “It was good,” Brophy said. “It was extremely busy because I had to put three separate pieces together to get my final total instead of just writing one like I normally do.” Beach said her NaNoWriMo was similarly successful. “My month went really well,”
scene PAGE 5
Beach said. “I actually managed to stay ahead, which I think is mostly due to what I chose to write about.” Both Brophy and Beach said for them the most challenging part of the month was finding the time to write. “I have three classes a day, see WRITING PAGE 4
viewpoint PAGE 7
Community discusses Main Building murals By NATALIE WEBER Associate News Editor
The Native American Student Association of Notre Dame (NASAND) hosted a town hall Tuesday to discuss the representation of Native Americans in Luigi Gregori’s murals depicting the life of Christopher Columbus located in the Main Building. NASAND vice president, senior Armani Vaniko Porter, and professor of art history Michael Schreffler reflected on the significance of the murals and answered questions from audience members. Schreffler said art historians would not expect 19th-century paintings to be historically accurate representations of the subjects they portray. “It would be like sort of expecting a Hollywood film to be accurate,” Schreffler said of the murals. “What’s interesting about them certainly is the
nd w basketball PAGE 12
relationship between the story that is being told but at the same time, the attitudes of the people who hired the painter and the attitudes of the painter.” The murals draw a parallel between the life of Columbus and the founding of the University, Schreffler said, and some of the paintings include figures from the University. “In some ways it parallels the story of the University of Notre Dame as it’s conveyed, for instance, on the University website, which is also sort of an against-all-odds story — financial struggles in this undertaking, hard winters,” Schreffler said. “There were other barriers as well — the fire of 1879 [in] the administration building. So that’s how I see it. The purpose, I would say, is to construct an identity or participate in constructing an identity for the see MURALS PAGE 4
men’s basketball PAGE 12
2
TODAY
The observer | thursday, november 30, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com
Have a question you want answered? Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com
If you could take any author out for coffee, who would it be?
P.O. Box 779, Notre Dame, IN 46556 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556 Editor-in-Chief Ben Allan Padanilam Joseph Managing Editor Business Manager Megan Doyle Managing Editor Jeff Liptak Katie Galioto Asst. Managing Editor: Andrew Owens Asst. Managing Editor: Marek Editor: Sam Stryker Mazurek Asst. Managing News Editor: Rachel Editor: John Cameron O’Grady Asst. Managing News Editor: Megan Editor: KristenValley Durbin Viewpoint Editor: Meghan Thomassen Sports News Editor: Courtney Editor: Chris Allen Becker Viewpoint Scene Editor: Mary KevinFreeman Noonan Saint Mary’s Sports Editor: Elizabeth Editor: Jillian Barwick Greason Photo Scene Editor: Suzanna Editor: Adam Ramos Pratt Saint Graphics Mary’s Editor: Martha Editor: BrandonReilly Keelean Multimedia Photo Editor: Chris Editor: Sarah Collins O’Connor Advertising Graphics Manager: Monica Editor: Lauren Weldon McCormack Advertising Ad Design Manager: Molly Manager: Sara Hilstrom McCarthy Controller: Advertising Manager: Alexandra Peter Woo Pucillo Systems Ad Design Administrator: Manager: Madison William Heineman Riehle
Katie Portman
Gunnar Davison
Farley Hall senior
Keenan Hall junior
“Ta-Nehisi Coates.”
“Ernest Hemingway.”
McKenna Cassidy
Katharine Janes
Pasquerilla East Hall sophomore
off campus senior
“Saint Paul.”
“Michelle Alexander.”
Jack Ferguson
Jordan Isner
Office Manager & General Info
Ph: (574) 631-7471 Fax: (574) 631-6927 Advertising
(574) 631-6900 ads@ndsmcobserver.com Editor-in-Chief
(574) 631-4542 bpadanil@nd.edu ajoseph2@nd.edu
Fisher Hall sophomore
Managing Editor
(574) 631-4542 kgalioto@nd.edu mdoyle11@nd.edu Assistant Managing Editors
Zahm House sophomore
“C.S. Lewis.”
(574) 631-4541 mmazurek@nd.edu aowens2@nd.edu sstryke1@nd.edu mvalley@nd.edu rogrady@nd.edu,
“Dr. Seuss.”
Business Office
(574) 631-5313 News Desk
(574) 631-5323 news@ndsmcobserver.com obsnews.nd@gmail.com Viewpoint Desk
(574) 631-5303 viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com obsviewpoint@gmail.com Sports Desk
(574) 631-4543 sports@ndsmcobserver.com observersports@gmail.com Scene Desk
(574) 631-4540 scene@ndsmcobserver.com Observer.Scene.Editor@gmail.com Saint Mary’s Desk
jbarwi01@saintmarys.edu mreilly01@saintmarys.edu Photo Desk
(574) 631-8767 obsphoto@gmail.com photo@ndsmcobserver.com Systems & Web Administrators
(574) 631-8839 Policies TheThe Observer Observer is the is the independent, independent, daily daily newspaper 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. The news is reported as accurately and objectively as possible. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the majority of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Assistant Managing Editors and department editors. Commentaries, letters and columns present the views of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer. Viewpoint space is available to all readers. The free expression of all opinions through letters is encouraged. Letters to the Editor must be signed and must include contact information. Questions regarding Observer policies should be directed to Editor-in-Chief Ben Allan Padanilam. Joseph. Post Office Information The Observer (USPS 599 2-4000) is published Monday through Friday except during exam and vacation periods. A subscription to The Observer is $130 for one academic year; $75 for one semester. The Observer is published at: 024 South Dining Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-0779 Periodical postage paid at Notre Dame and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER Send address corrections to: The Observer P.O. Box 779 024 South Dining hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-077 The Observer is a member of the Associated Press. All reproduction rights are reserved.
Today’s Staff News
Sports
Tom Naatz Jordan Cockrum Sofie Madden
Joe Everett Marek Mazurek
Graphics
Scene
Cristina Interiano
Charlie Kenney
Photo
Viewpoint
Chris Collins
Sarah Hynds
Corrections The Observer regards itself as a professional publication and strives for the highest standards of journalism at all times. We do, however, recognize that we will make mistakes. If we have made a mistake, please contact us at (574) 631-4541 so we can correct our error.
CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer
Junior Class Council hosts an event raising funds for the Movember Foundation on Wednesday at Fieldhouse Mall. The group awarded prizes to individuals with the best facial hair and featured free goods from Beaver’s Donuts food truck.
The next Five days:
Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Madrasa Discourses Panel Hesburgh Center 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. Discussion on science and religion.
Third Coast Percussion Leighton Concert Hall 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Multimedia performance.
Holiday Gift Auction Robinson Community Learning Center 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Tickets available for fundraising event.
Men’s Basketball vs. St. Francis Purcell Pavilion 2 p.m. The Irish take on St. Francis Brooklyn.
Stress Relievers LaFortune Student Center 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Student Government offers free snacks.
New Faces Exhibition O’Shaughnessy Hall 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Art from first-year MFA students displayed with reception.
EXALT Adoration Moreau Seminary 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. All invited for praise, worship music and reconciliation.
20 Seasons of Love Washington Hall 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. A show produced by the Pasquerilla East Musical Company.
Advent Lessons and Carols Basilica of the Sacred Heart 7:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. All are welcome.
Las Posadas Grotto 9 p.m. Reflect on Mary and Joseph’s journey before Jesus’ birth.
News
ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, november 30, 2017 | The Observer
3
student SENATE
Senators discuss campus dining updates By MARY BERNARD News Writer
Campus Dining representatives presented to student senate Wednesday regarding the continuing changes to the campus dining experience. Chris Abayasinghe, the senior director of Campus Dining, announced the dining options that will open in the new Duncan Student Center in January. The restaurants in the student center will be Haggerty Cafe, featuring Intelligentsia coffee, Freshens smoothies and crepes, the Modern Market, offering artisan pizzas and farm-to-fork food and Star Ginger, serving Vietnamese, Thai and Southeast Asian food. The hours of operation will vary restaurant to restaurant with late night weekend hours offered by Haggerty Cafe and Star Ginger. “We want to live in the space,” Abayasinghe said. “While I’m saying that these are the hours and ideas that we’re floating around, this isn’t etched in
stone. This can change.” Director of student dining Scott Kachmarik updated the group on past and upcoming changes to the dining halls. “I am hearing a lot of excitement about the new restaurants that are going in,” Kachmarik said. “I’m trying to make sure that we understand that the dining halls could become a destination restaurant as well.” Kachmarik explained that the changes that have been implemented this semester, such as the increase in flex points, the option to enter the dining hall multiple times in one mealtime and the five complementary RSVP meals, have all been a result of past student feedback. “You see some of the things that we’ve done in North Dining Hall, with the booths and the different seating arrangements,” Kachmarik said. “We want it to be a place where you can come and feel comfortable, but at the same time we’re also working on the issue of speed. We’ve made some changes that, if you need
to be able to run in and run out, we can get that going as well.” Kachmarik said he has heard negative feedback about the substitution of the Marketplace for Grab and Go at North Dining Hall this semester. Campus dining introduced the Marketplace based on previous student feedback questioning the value proposition of meal swipes used at Grab and Go. “However, as we look ahead to next semester, we heard you,” Kachmarik said. “We’re going to be offering some type of a Grab and Go in the North Dining Hall Marketplace. What we’re planning on doing is having many of the items that are in the South Dining Hall Grab and Go. We’ll have those labeled in a cooler and will allow you to get your seven points and allow you to get that with your meal tap.” Further upcoming changes include beginning to use the video boards in North Dining Hall to display nutrition facts, extending dining hall hours on days at the end of breaks to account for
later returns to campus and offering hot breakfast beginning at 8 a.m. on the weekend before finals. Abayasinghe hopes to improve the sustainability of the dining operations. “Our vision for how we want to look at food is to look at it in a really holistic fashion,” Abayasinghe said. “We want to make sure that the options we provide you are nutritious and healthy, that they’re environmentally sustainable, that they also align very closely with the social and ethical values that I hold for myself and my team and, naturally, it has to be delicious, it has to be culinary-relevant and have cultural appeal.” Campus Dining directors are currently working on a plan to provide students with re-useable to-go containers, a program which they plan to pilot at the Marketplace, and are discussing applying a “sin” tax to disposable containers, Abayasinghe said. Both North and South Dining
Hall now use a red running man icon to denote food options that nutritionists have confirmed to be healthy. “We worked with Student Affairs and we worked with the athletic department about developing a menu that increases your ability to perform at a high level,” Kachmarik said. However, with the many changes to Campus Dining this semester, there seems to be a lack of knowledge about the meal plans and hours of operation among the student body, Claire Saltzman, the Ryan Hall senator, said. In response, Kachmarik acknowledged that Campus Dining needs to improve in this regard. “That’s something I think we need to work on,” Kachmarik said. “We’re doing a better job of telling our story, but I also think we’re not doing a very good job of telling what you need to know.” Contact Mary Bernard at mbernar5@nd.edu
One-act plays examine mental health issues By CLAIRE RAFFORD News Writer
The Student Players, one of Notre Dame’s student-run acting groups, are presenting their fall production, consisting of three short, one-act plays. The show, “Even in Pieces: A OneAct Festival,” will focus on the issue of mental health, with the goal of increasing awareness of these issues at Notre Dame. Junior Alex Daugherty is the director of “Asylum,” a play that chronicles the stories of patients in a state-run mental institution. Though all the patients are in the same physical space, Daugherty said there is very little actual interaction between the characters. (Editor’s Note: Alex Daugherty is a Scene writer for The Observer) “There are clear connections between the stories, echoes between different characters,” Daugherty said. “I did try to
incorporate some non-verbal interactions, but they don’t have conversations the way that you would expect from a show.” Daugherty said he hoped “Asylum” would help dispel stereotypes about mental illness. “It is easier to think that mental illness is a sign of weakness than simply an illness,” Daugherty said. ”These people are strong people that are just sick.” Graduate student Al Olszewski is the director of “4 A.M.,” which takes a look at the lives of people, specifically young adults, who are all awake at 4 a.m. The show addresses themes of depression, anxiety and loneliness. “It’s got this overall theme of loneliness and how empty the world is at 4 a.m., but it also provides a light at the end of the tunnel for everybody who feels lonely,” Olszewski said. Olszewski said “4 A.M.” is especially relatable to the
audience, because the themes are universal. “With regards to mental health, not all of it has to be diagnosed,” Olszewski said. “I think everyone can relate with feeling alone and isolated. I hope people see that in the characters, empathize with it and feel okay with being alone every once in a while, and reach out to other people especially.” Samuel Jackson, a sophomore, is directing “The Other Room,” in which two classmates, Lily and Austin, meet and develop a relationship. It is quickly revealed that Austin has autism.
However, the show is unique in that it gives insight into the inner workings of Austin’s mind. “The audience has access to the ‘other room,’ located upstage, in which there are four characters who represent the internal dialogue of Austin’s mind,” Jackson said. “You have the audience understanding why Austin makes his choices, while also understanding why Lily makes her choices, as Lily usually represents the person who is ‘mentally stable.’” Jackson said that the insight that the audience has into Austin’s choices can increase
understanding and empathy for people who have autism and other mental health issues. “You don’t really know what people are going through,” Jackson said. “There are many cases of untreated mental illness in America, and I think this show does a nice job of developing that empathy … by showing the interaction between two people who don’t really understand each other but get to know each other through communication.” Contact Claire Rafford at crafford@nd.edu
Paid Advertisement
Photo courtesy of Albert Olszewski
The Student Players rehearse for “Even in Pieces: A One-Act Festival,” which features three one-act plays that explore mental health issues with the goal of increasing campus understanding and awareness.
4
NEWS
The observer | thursday, november 30, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
Debate Continued from page 1
from junior moderator Kylie Ruscheinski, and the audience. Marsland said he “absolutely agrees” with the cause Kaepernick is advocating through his kneeling during the national anthem. The main conversation, he said, is how the flag has become connected to the ideas of democracy, liberty and justice, and whether or not it is “tactically intelligent” to protest the flag considering those ideals. “By questioning the place of the flag, by calling the flag itself and the national symbols into question, it might undermine or diminish the legitimacy of those values themselves,” Marsland said. “… By kneeling, the flag is not necessarily a legitimate sphere for protest because the flag represents those ideals that we should be striving for.” Considering the majority of Americans view the flag as a symbol of liberty and justice, Marsland said, it would become very easy for the “enemies of justice” to claim the flag as their own and paint “the real patriots” as traitors if the flag becomes a sphere of protest. “The flag should be kept free of protest [and] free of political debate precisely because the flag should be a weapon for justice,” Marsland said. “It should be a weapon for equality, not a symbol to be taken by those who want to drag this country back into the days of slavery and oppression. The flag should be a symbol of justice.” Smith outlined the history of racial injustices against African Americans, and said NFL players,
more than any other people, have a direct obligation to speak up about the issue since the NFL attracts so much public attention. “This is the same flag that people salute, then put on their hoods and perform unforgivable acts,” Smith said. “So yes, I respect the flag, I love the flag and I still pledge allegiance to the flag. But I will not reprimand someone for not doing the same.” Smith said the moment a person’s beliefs infringe on her rights is where the problem arises. Because the flag acts as protection for some, she said it’s time to tell people the flag may not be as impenetrable as they think and they can’t wear it as their bulletproof vest any longer. “We do want to make people uncomfortable,” Smith said. “I think that’s what important — it’s important to make people feel uncomfortable because, otherwise, change doesn’t happen. Growth happens when you cannot move — when you’re uncomfortable.” Smith said NFL organizations are so afraid of losing advertising revenue that they are willing to silence their players on an issue that most people wouldn’t acknowledge exists behind closed doors. “The fact of the matter is that anyone who wants to take the flag and use this example of justice as their own is going to do it,” Smith said. “History has shown us that we cannot stop the same men who rode in their hoods. They brandished that flag. If we haven’t been able to do anything about it, even now in 2017, then maybe we just have to change our tactics.” Contact Kelli Smith at ksmith67@nd.edu
Writing Continued from page 1
I was in the play [Once a Belle], work and other extracurricular things so just finding time,” Beach said. “Often, I was racing the clock to midnight, trying to get my word count in.” Brophy agreed that her busy schedule made the month more difficult. “I think it was finding time to work on my novel because normally I don’t worry too much about finding time but because I was taking so many credits this semester I actually I had to search for time to write which was frustrating,” Brophy said. The opportunity to revise
Band Continued from page 1
trouble recruiting students who are new to campus but struggles to draw in upperclassmen and graduate students, he said. Many students interested in band are hesitant to join freshman year because they’re concerned about the time commitment and would rather focus their energy on adjusting to college life, McManus said. “Then they think they just can’t join after freshman year,” he said. McManus said he hopes the open house will both help to dispel this assumption and provide students with the information they need to get involved. The open house will commence
an earlier draft of her work was a highlight of the experience, Brophy said. “I think it would be finishing the first section of my [senior composition] and revising it to the point where I liked it ... normally you are just writing out anything you can, just getting words on the pages,“ Brophy said. “But actually having the opportunity to ... completely rewrite the thing I was working to the point where it’s actually good was an unusual surprise.” Beach said focusing on the plot of her story, as opposed to the characters, was an interesting part of writing this year. “Normally ... I’ll think of a character I want to write about, which is what I did last year, and the plot just came as I was going,” Beach
said. “This time I started with the plot and the characters came as I was going. It was cool to see that reversal happen.” This year, Brophy said she learned that NaNoWriMo is the act of writing and not necessarily completing a project. “In years past I haven’t taken as many credits or wasn’t even in college yet, so I had time,” she said. “[This year has been] a good reminder that I don’t have to win every year; I definitely push myself to hit that 50,000 word count but I was really close to not getting there so I think I learned it’s okay to not finish NaNoWriMo, as long as I am doing some writing.”
with a brief overview of the program, which will include a description of the different types of bands and ensembles it offers as well as their respective time commitments and skill requirements, McManus said. In addition, the event will have 17 different instruments available for students to try and there will also be a tour of the band facilities. Junior MacKenzie Cavanagh and senior Brynn Alexander, the two band ambassador coordinators, will join McManus to provide a student perspective on joining the band. Alexander said she hopes the event will provide students with a “fun way to get to know the band and see if it’s a good fit.” Students do not need to be well-versed in an instrument to
join, McManus said. The band program provides a place for all students, from beginners to longtime experts, he said. For example, several bands are better suited for beginners, such as the basketball band and hockey band, Cavanagh said. After becoming well-acquainted with an instrument, students can audition for programs requiring more skill, such as the marching band, she said. Cavanagh said the band is eager to work with individuals of all skill sets and accomodates each individual in their specific needs. “Everyone is very welcoming,” she said. “Everyone is very supportive.”
Paid Advertisement
Murals Continued from page 1
University.” Porter said, however, that the murals send a symbolic message of oppression. The paintings’ portrayals of Native Americans is an example of this message. “I actually took my first visit to Notre Dame after being accepted,” he said. “I remember just walking down the halls and not really having a lot of words at first. One of the first things that came out to me when I first saw it was just how strong the power differential is in every single one of these paintings. The fact that that is so heavily emphasized is the thing that stood out the most to me.” For Porter, the murals reflect a tendency to ignore differences in students’ cultural backgrounds. “In our fervor to make the Notre Dame community, we inadvertently homogenize and we strip away that which makes us unique or that which makes us culturally unique,” Porter said. “And that is something that is inherently oppressive to those who are of minority populations.” During the question and answer session, Julie Dye, a member of the Pokagon band of Potawatomi Indians in Indiana who attended the town hall, said the murals portray a stereotype of Native Americans that is often promulgated in schools.
“We have a problem in this country with education from kindergarten on up … and we need to correct that,” Dye said. “This would be a good start. And by removing these murals, I’m not asking to destroy them, but remove them and put them somewhere else. Because if you just put a plaque up, you’re missing out because the visual impact of art is a big part.” Carla Getz, who is also a member of Pokagon band, said she is also frustrated with the representation of Native Americans in the murals. “According to all the murals and the statues, we all look like alike. We didn’t. We don’t look alike,” Getz said. “We don’t dress alike. We have things that are indigenous to our own culture, to our own tribe, and that’s all being forgotten.” Though Porter said he believes the murals should be taken down, he said others within NASAND fear that removing the murals would erase the “true history” of Notre Dame’s relationship with Native Americans. “We have groups that may wish to keep them up, but to have a strong and decisive explanation of what occurred … an addressing of what has occurred, what is our true history,” Porter said. “We have to come to grips with that, regardless of how embarrassing or dirty it might be or look to the administration.” Contact Natalie Weber at nweber@nd.edu
Contact Erin Grimes at egrimes01@saintmarys.edu
Contact Mary Steurer at msteure1@nd.edu
5
The observer | thursday, november 30, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
By ADRIAN MARK LORE Associate Scene Editor
Bjork’s highly-anticipated “Utopia” follows the Icelandic singer’s heartbreaking 2015 record “Vulnicura,” which documents the emotional fallout of her divorce from multimedia artist Matthew Barney. In stark contrast with the darker themes of her previous record — supplemented with apocalyptic production by Arca and the Haxan Cloak, ringing over an entourage of funerary strings — “Utopia” captures Bjork’s emotional resurrection, shifting location from cavernous aural landscapes to a bright personal Eden, expressed in the language of copious flutes and sampled bird calls. The radically expressive lyricism of “Vulnicura” makes a return, but undergoes an emotional transmutation she succinctly captures on lead single “The Gate,” confessing: “My healed chest wound / Transformed into a gate / Where I receive love from / Where I give love from.” Excessive discussion of Bjork’s past work might seem irrelevant, but it’s impossible to fully understand “Utopia” — and its function in Bjork’s discography — outside the context of her previous records. For one, the elation she captures with return collaborator Arca naturally follows the same pain that inspired “Vulnicura.” In fact, periods of euphoria are known to commonly follow long bouts of depression. This euphoria, which centers around Bjork’s renewed capacity to love, bursts most aggressively on “Arisen My Senses,” the record’s opening — and perhaps best — track. The singer herself calls the multilayered melody “a constellation in the sky ... it’s like five
By NICK OTTONE Scene Writer
Expansive, empty mansions sprawl across the Southern California landscape, housing moody teenagers squabbling with their parents. An unspoken tragic backstory clouds the sight of our six main characters. We see them shuffle through meaningless high school days, far from each other and the happiness they once shared. Can they mend bonds broken, or will they remain distant versions of their former selves? Oh, also, their parents are evil, the teens might possess superpowers and everyone, good and evil, uses Lyft. Hulu’s new series “Runaways” follows six teenagers as they discover their parent’s evil society and their own superpowers. Two years after his friend Amy’s unexpected suicide, Alex Wilder (Rhenzy Feliz) strives to reunite the group, which includes cult-obsessed Karolina (Virginia Gardner), feminist Gert (Ariela Barer), lacrosse all-star Chase (Gregg Sulkin), goth Nico (Lyrica Okano) and orphan Molly (Allegra Acosta). Once they discover their parent’s charity meetings are a front for a malevolent cabal, the six seek to uncover the truth, while simultaneously discovering their own superpowers. Meanwhile, their parents endeavor to complete a sacrifice, maintain the secrecy of their activities and strengthen their marriages. If this description seems overstuffed, that’s because it is. “Runaways” hits the ground sprinting, introducing the six teenagers and five sets of parents in the first episode alone while rarely slowing to catch its breath. Series creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, alumni of “The O.C.” and
melodies.” Above it, a series of fleeting lyrics floats above her body, swirling in a hurricane of gossamer: “Just that kiss / Was all there is / Every cell in my body / Lined up for you.” Much of what’s new on “Utopia,” though, isn’t altogether new. Bjork endlessly celebrates her fruitful artistic relationship with Arca, but the producer’s work is naturally visceral and dark — not a particularly great match for Bjork’s newly bright and weightless approach to the record’s arrangements, especially since Arca’s production on “Utopia” isn’t radically different from his work on “Vulnicura.” The result is perfectly viable, but clouds the record’s professed themes. Even the natural fixations of “Utopia” are familiar; they follow Bjork’s fascinations with the universe and biology on “Biophilia” (2011), though on “Utopia” they find her sampling exotic birdsongs from Iceland, Venezuela and other regions of the world. The flute arrangements complement these sounds, and swell to stunning heights on tracks like “Saint.” The album art, too, stresses the flute’s symbiosis with natural “voices,” featuring two holes on Bjork’s neck above the holes of her flute. But though the organic aesthetic felt is insufficiently executed on “Biophilia’s” production, many elements on “Utopia” feel simply gratuitous — directionless, indeed, as though the record itself were drifting in the wind. This makes it cohesive, to be sure. That’s probably why “Utopia” has been compared with “Vespertine” (2001), a heavily electronic record whose sonic palette was consistently imbued with frosty features. But whereas “Vespertine” was stuffed with memorable melodies
that set each track apart, “Utopia” wanders into trappings that recall “Biophilia” but have roots as far back as “Medulla” (2004): On the eponymous track “Utopia,” the lush soundscape doesn’t justify the flute’s semi-random chirping, nor that Bjork’s vocal melody seems as though largely improvised. Sure, it’s agreeable in the moment, but by the track’s end it’s unclear what has been accomplished. And on “Courtship,” we are subjected to another lap of the same digressions. Of course, Bjork doesn’t need to make another pop album. “Vulnicura” is easily her most challenging record and also among her best, but its themes of heartbreak were rigorously developed and sonically distinguished. “Utopia,” however, largely dawdles in birdsong and flute symphonies that, though gorgeous at times and relevant in theory, aren’t sufficiently developed. As a result, her lush follow-up record of post-heartbreak euphoria remains more compelling on paper than in practice.
“Gossip Girl,” paint with the broadest of brushes and invest their characters with vague and foreboding dialogue, which ultimately leaves viewers more confused than intrigued. Through the first four episodes, the series spools through very little plot yet feels utterly exhausting due to the never-ending stream of stolen glances, affairs and melodramatic declarations of emotion. Despite this relative lack of plot, its countless subplots are so unwieldy that the characters frequently resemble narrative pawns. “Runaways” simply does not possess characters with consistent emotions or motivations. However, the creators’ familiarity with teen soap opera structures and banter lends standalone scenes a wonderfully nervous, adolescent energy, jolting the series from its more portentous rhythms in unexpected spots. The casting of all eleven main cast members is near perfect and disciplined acting from all of them keeps the series grounded. Allegra Acosta as Molly and Ariela Barer as Gert, however, are early standouts, forging a sweet sisterly bond and stealing scenes with their radically emotive vulnerability. The parents also inject a wildcard quality to the series, interrupting its teenage storylines with uneven plots of marital struggles and morally conflicted scheming. Schwartz and Stephanie find a fascinating wrinkle in inherently strained parent-child relationships, and this tension ultimately drives much of the series’ well-earned suspense. Unpredictable sparks fly in scenes primarily concerned with one-on-one relationships, and singular scenes of heroic feats pulse with wonder and wit. Already, a few plot threads have matured into characterdriven interpersonal conflicts, shrinking the overblown lifeand-death stakes to more manageable and relatable stories.
“Runaways” has the potential to make the jump from good to great, but only if it realizes how ponderous its scheming and mystery is and instead focuses on the wonderfully joyful moments of superpowers and the hidden alchemy of relationships. However, the series cannot realize this potential if it does not move forward. “Runaways” remains weirdly stuck between moving far too quickly with its character building and progressing far too slowly with the rest of its plot. The title implies some form of escape, presumably for the teenagers, but the series only raises this possibility once or twice. Maybe this promised future event will energize the series. Given some time, “Runaways” could blossom into an engrossing teen soap opera with exhilarating action interludes. But, much like its teenage heroes clumsily learning new skills, it’s not quite there yet.
Contact Adrian Mark Lore at lore.1@nd.edu
“Utopia” Bjork Label: One Little Indian Track: “Arisen My Sense” If you like: Arca, Bird Calls, Satyrs
Contact Nick Ottone at nottone@nd.edu
“Runaways” Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage Cast: Rhenzy Feliz, Virginia Gardener, Gregg Sulkin Service/Channel: Hulu If you like: The O.C., Gossip Girl, Sky High
CRISTINA INTERIANO | The Observer
6
The observer | Thursday, november 30, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
Inside Column
A drama-free Thanksgiving Charlotte Edmonds News Writer
I, like many, am a survivor of Thanksgiving 2016. That fateful holiday, which just celebrated it’s one year anniversary, left many with their own harrowing stories and some dreading that same reunion this past week. Those from a relatively like-minded or small family might be confused by this nightmare I speak of but almost anyone with a large or argumentative family knows exactly what I’m talking about — the first test of familial bond following the extremely divisive Presidential election. I’d heard the warnings on the radio before the election had even taken place, we discussed it as an immediate family and agreed to avoid any contentious topics but I was greatly unprepared for what was about to go down. My family dynamic is uniquely close. My parents grew up a block away from each other as family friends. After they got married and moved back to Oklahoma City they ultimately settled in the house my mom grew up in allowing my grandparents to stay with us. In addition to living with one set of grandparents, my paternal grandparents lived in the house that my dad grew up in around the corner and a majority of my 27 cousins live within 10 minutes of us. It’s not uncommon to have a combined holiday celebration with both sides of my family. Needless to say, we spend a lot of time together. The thing about close families is they know how to fight and you have to be tough to survive. The other thing is there everything is everyone’s business It’s no secret within our family how divided we are on political issues. Although most of my family is primarily Catholic, it’s evident we all have our own interpretations of Catholicism and its application to politics. Some, like my family, have placed more priority in the social justice arm of the Church. Whereas some of my cousins are more conservative in their practice of Catholicism and place more emphasis on the traditional arm of the Church. Now back to that fateful day. It began as a typical Thanksgiving — NFL football, ham and tamales (we have turkey but it’s kind of a formality for us) and lots of laughter. We had nearly made it through the day without any significant tension. My 23-year-old cousin made a comment on why he couldn’t understand the rising anger of working class white population, effectively Donald Trump’s constituency. This slowly evolved from a discussion to a debate and ultimately a fight as more family members took sides on a myriad of issues. By the time I decided to head out, people were definitely getting heated but it had remained relatively civil. I would later come to find out from my siblings that stayed that the night ended in multiple people in tears and several slammed doors, a fight for the ages. Everyone made peace but the damage had been done. Fast forward to this past week. As we all traveled in from our various cities there wasn’t a soul who didn’t remember how the last year had ended. However, this year was relatively drama-free. A few slights here and there but nothing out of the ordinary. The tears were saved for Saturday night as we watch what was left of Notre Dame’s playoff dream all but crash and burn in three minutes and 38 seconds. Which has left me wondering — what changed? Was it the PTSD we were all left with from the year before? Were we less passionate or even regretful about our various positions? Was it Notre Dame football’s success following that disastrous 4-8 season? I think we all came to an unspoken conclusion that as more and more relatives have moved away to college or started a family of their own it’s a waste to spend the rare time we have together fighting. I don’t foresee my family ever becoming the poster family for every lifetime movie. If anything, I’m grateful for how much my family disagrees. I firmly believe it’s made me a tougher yet more considerate person because ultimately I have to honor their perspectives. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, thank you Notre Dame Football for giving my family something to talk about — the real hero of Thanksgiving 2017. Contact Charlotte Edmonds at cedmond3@nd.edu The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
LETTERs TO THE EDITOR
Overpriced student tickets There has been a recent outcry at Notre Dame about a lack of attendance and spirit within the student section at football games. According to CBS Sports, this problem is also apparent at many other football schools. For example, for the 2016 football season, Missouri, Stanford, Maryland and USC all noted a decrease in attendance larger than 9 percent from the previous football season. This is an important issue for these school’s football programs, because football, especially at Notre Dame, is strongly centered around community. Fans play a part in the actual game, because larger football attendances help to both boost the excitement and enjoyment of the game experience as well as create a home field advantage through noise and hype. To help increase their student attendance, Notre Dame should decrease the price for the student season tickets or, at least offer an alternative cheaper ticket with farther away seating. Either of these options would allow for more people to purchase tickets and enjoy the football games Seeing as football is an integral part to the Notre Dame community, decreasing the price of student tickets or offering a cheaper seating alternative would help make student tickets less of a financial stress and more attractive to the larger student body. With Notre Dame’s average cost of attendance for the 2017-2018 school year at $69,395, the need to charge fairly expensive prices for student tickets seems
unnecessary and taxing for the student body. The implementation of a change to student ticket pricing is very reasonable and feasible when noting the amount of money Notre Dame has recently spent to improve the atmosphere and student experience within the stadium. These improvements can be seen by Notre Dame introducing the “33 Trucking” hats, replacing the old wooden benches and adding the video board to the stadium. These efforts show that Notre Dame is aware of this issue and is working out solutions to help increase and maintain student attendance. So, seeing the large amounts of money Notre Dame has already put into improving the game day experience, lowering the price of student tickets should not have too much of a financial impact. I believe Notre Dame has currently noticed the need and their ability to help improve the student experience and attendance at football games. While their current improvements and solutions to the student game day experience are appreciated and enjoyable, Notre Dame has missed the simpler solution of offering cheaper student season tickets. Notre Dame is fully capable of enacting this change, and through it they can help improve both attendance and the student experience of game day. Thomas Lynch freshman Nov. 28
Stop recycling so much Being from the great city of Austin, Texas, I’ve had the rules of recycling burned into my brain by people left and right. I’m not going to lie, I’ve recycled things I should not have out of ignorance before — but, in a city that was devoted to sustainability, I have since grown out of that ignorance and learned how the whole blue bin thing works. When I see people throwing all their week’s waste into the recycling and saying, “It’s just a lot easier for me this way,” I recognize that there’s more to be learned on the subject. On a campus committed to incredible green initiatives here and abroad, you’d expect to see students doing this one simple thing right. However, there are things that both the University and students can do better. The University needs to update its recycling posters that say, “Recycle almost everything,” which includes a list of things that cannot be recycled. In addition, students need to stop using the recycling bin like it’s a second trash can. If I ever tell someone that you can’t recycle something like styrofoam, they try to trump my argument with an appeal to the authority
of those official, misinforming posters. Let’s be clear, styrofoam can physically be recycled, but there are drawbacks. Because of this, that packing material, coffee cup or whatever styrofoam you use, belongs in the trash can. Pizza boxes pose another confusing situation. Notre Dame’s “Game Day Be Green” website says you can recycle “clean pizza boxes,” but let’s be real, that is a mythical creature on par with unicorns. The oils in the grease-soaked cardboard prevent the water-based recycling process from working. Nevertheless, I’ll see the blue bins filled with dozens of pizza boxes every weekend. It’s not that difficult to put them in the trash can, they are literally inches away. I wish I could tell you that Notre Dame currently has clear answers for other recycling questions you have, but for now, I’d suggest that you educate yourself with outside resources like WM, and stop recycling so much that can’t be recycled. Ellis Riojas freshman Nov. 28
Follow us on Twitter. @ObserverViewpnt
The observer | thursday, november 30, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
7
The Bible is a movie — who’s playing who? David played by Jamie Foxx
Davis Gonsalves Deep Thoughts from a Deep Dude
Imagine that whatever studio decides to undertake making the Bible into a full motion picture has an unlimited budget. We can select any actor by throwing as much money at them and invoking their less than Biblical virtue of greed. You’ll notice this cast is male heavy, but don’t blame me, blame years of misogyny. Here are my picks:
Adam played by Ryan Gosling To be honest with you, I don’t see how Gosling plays the first human better than anyone else, but I very much want to imagine that I, of all people, could be descended from Ryan Gosling. No one else having that bone structure? That’s an original sin.
David was a musician, a leader and generally just a pretty hardcore dude. He brings that swagger to Israel, and I could totally see him lusting for a woman but also feeling bad about it. I understand that David vs. Goliath doesn’t seem as crazy anymore with young Jamie Foxx slinging some heat, but everything else seems to work well.
This really makes too much sense that I almost didn’t include it. Arnold with long hair won Mr. Universe and strongest man competitions. Without long hair he made movies like “Kindergarten Cop.” Also, do you see that body?
Noah played by Eddie Murphy
Job played by Michael Cera
Dr. Dolittle is the perfect man to play this role, and I also like to think he brings the zany side out of Noah. Bonus here is that Sarah Jessica Parker could play one of the horses, Jack Black could play a Pug and Jamie Hyneman from Mythbusters could play a walrus.
Abraham played by Brad Pitt
This “Superbad” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” actor has a lot of hate thrown away. He’s the guy in your friend group everyone loves to make fun of unnecessarily. This fits perfectly in for Job, who God was a jerk to for no real reason yet we still respect Him for it. That’s the kind of good old-fashioned bullying Michael Cera can take and express.
Abraham had a lot of people descend from him, and now, so does Brad Pitt.
Mary played Meryl Streep
Moses killed a guy when he was younger and I’m almost positive Mark has too. Do you trust Mark Wahlberg with directions? I wouldn’t and that’s why I totally see him getting lost in the desert for 40 years.
Who better to play the rock of the Church than The Rock? I know it might be a stretch, but you have to think that if The Rock was evangelizing, people would be intimidated to listen while also converting with his beautiful smile. This is going to be a box office hit and a recruitment film apparently.
Lazarus played by Matthew McConaughey Talk about a comeback. There aren’t many details about Lazarus, but if there is anyone in Hollywood who knows how to revive a career from the dead it’s this actor who went from “Failure to Launch” to “Interstellar.”
Elijah played by Shia LaBeouf
Similar to the above, I also want to be descended from her, and tell me their children would not be stunning. We are all children of Lively and Gosling here.
Moses played Mark Wahlberg
Peter played by Dwayne Johnson
Samson played by Arnold Schwarzenegger
Elijah was for sure on the crazier side of things. He ruthlessly made fun of Baal priests, fasted in the desert and ran away from a woman who was trying to kill him. These events have all most likely happened to Shia LeBouf. He would have intimate knowledge on how to act crazy since he himself is crazy.
Eve played by Blake Lively
so I’m leaving it up to this expert.
I know what you may be thinking, “But Mary was only 14 when she had Jesus!” Well, you are also forgetting that Mary would be like 47 when Jesus died. Also, do you not trust Meryl Streep to nail any role she’s thrown in, whether it’s a 14-year-old or not? All I’m saying is that I don’t know how Mary should be played
Jesus played by Christian Bale He’s the hero we need, not the one we deserve. He sacrifices for his people and has an influential father. Does this describe Christ or does it describe Batman? I know Christian Bale nailed one role, I don’t see why he can’t do it again. This time, though, when Jesus starts flipping tables in the Temple, things will get a lot grittier. This movie has a star-studded cast but I’m worried it will be too cliche (spoiler: Jesus comes back!). I’ve left out a good amount of characters, possibly because there would be too much ego in one set or because this article is about at the length I’m allowed to write. Either way, I hope you enjoyed it, and send me suggestions on what characters should be played by who. Davis is junior in Dunne Hall, a lover of “La La Land,” hater of hummus, king of calves, thinker of theology, sorcerer of schemes and orator of The Observer. You can contact him at dgonsalv@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Play my game: a call to be uncomfortable James Weitzel Diversity Council
Table games: there are a lot. While we were young, we sometimes struggled to fully learn the games our family and friends already mastered. For me at least, there was a level of confusion and a little bit of discomfort as a 4-year-old trying to understand Monopoly. But among this confusion, there was a willingness to play and a drive to be included. As I grew older and made new friends I learned new games: “Pusoy dos” was not just difficult to understand, but an absolute blast to play (especially once I knew what I was doing). Of course, I did not learn this game overnight. It took some effort, some time, and a whole lot of patience. College: we already play games we know how to play. We conditioned ourselves after those first awkward weeks of freshman year to avoid looking like a novice, possibly out of embarrassment? Especially if we pride ourselves with knowing what we are doing, or if we want to keep that facade of having our lives together. This facade can easily be broken when faced with a simple unknown: an unknown situation, unknown interaction, an unknown card game
that could’ve been fun to play. To learn something new, a genuine humility is needed. Yes, someone can employ the common tactic “fake it until you make it,” and avoid that level of novitiate with those around, but to truly get to understand a game, one must accept a level of beginner. One must not be afraid to ask questions, and maybe even feel uncomfortable at first. Along with avoiding discomfort, some of us have lost that drive for the new game, the new interaction, new people — we have a place to be included, why put ourselves in another position of discomfort? One of the ways we learn is through making honest mistakes, by asking “obvious” questions we don’t know the answer to and by being uncomfortable or vulnerable. We stop growing when we stop facing the new. We have our bubble: our immediate friend group. Most the time we stick around people who we can easily relate to, whether that be people in our major, or our dorm or of the same ethnicity as us. We have a niche, so why bother to move? Why bother to venture out of our comfort zone? Why learn a new game? I could say something cliche like, “You’ll never know if you never try.” You might end up hating the game, or maybe even dislike the people who are playing. But I am going to say something even more
cliche: We should play because we are all one family. I know we keep hearing all of this stuff about building the Notre Dame community, but with communities, people have that choice to leave. A family doesn’t get to choose its members (there are a lot of people I would’ve excluded here if I could). In families there are arguments, disagreements, a feud here and there, but the main point of one is to be there for support and to foster growth. I am stuck with you all, and you all are stuck with me, so maybe take some of your precious time, and get to know me. Be vulnerable with one another: play my game. As a family, we grow together, but that means we need to get out of our comfort zones every once in awhile. 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.
Submit a Letter to the Editor: Email viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com
8
Sports
The observer | thursday, november 30, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
Crossword | Will Shortz
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Give less time and thought to what outsiders think or do and more to those you live with. Positive changes will transpire if you work closely with those in agreement with your plans. Step up and take a leadership position and you will be able to rally the type of help you need to reach your goals. Your numbers are 9, 13, 23, 31, 38, 46, 48. ARIES (March 21-April 19): You’ll be eager to resolve issues that arise. Before making a move, question your motives. It’s important to make choices based on knowledge and experience instead of assumptions. Offer passion and desire, not frustration and anger. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t let your emotions distract you from taking care of your responsibilities. Anger may fester, but letting it take over will make you look bad in front of your peers. Stick to facts and remain calm. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Change the way you handle your money and your relationships. You have plenty to gain if you form a partnership with someone who has as much to offer as you. Love and romance are encouraged and will enliven your personal life. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Someone will confuse you by making unpredictable moves. Listen carefully and ask questions if you feel uncertain about what’s expected of you. Partnerships will be difficult if you don’t take responsibility for your actions. LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): An unexpected change to where or how you live will turn out surprisingly well. Let your intelligence be your barometer when dealing with unpredictable people. You stand to gain from someone else’s lack of knowledge. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Home improvements and making changes to your personal finances, contracts or medical issues should be your priority. An unexpected change will influence how you live. Don’t pass up an opportunity because of someone else’s interference. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Nurture important relationships. Do your best to keep the peace and offer sound advice. Your ability to see things clearly will give you an edge when dealing with people who may try to undermine you. Strive to make positive changes. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Stay focused on work responsibilities or changing your vocation. Set up interviews and meetings or update your resume. Opportunity will present itself if you offer the skills you enjoy using the most. Look for unique ways to present what you have to offer. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Let your emotions guide you in a direction that will satisfy both personal and professional goals. Consider what it will take to advance, and do your best to implement the changes necessary to put your plans into motion. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It’s best to avoid any sort of dispute. Listen to complaints, but don’t get into an argument if you don’t have to. Concentrate on what you know you can do to improve your life and your position. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Call in favors. Don’t let a personal matter interfere with your success. Put more thought into ways you can lower your overhead and make your money stretch further. Make alterations at home that will result in greater efficiency. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Don’t let the changes going on around you cause confusion. Ask questions and gather facts while you continue to take care of your responsibilities. If you do a good job, it will lead to greater opportunity and security. Birthday Baby: You are entertaining, debonair and thoughtful. You are courageous and popular. Don’t be afraid to take chances, but listen to those your trust for advice.
Wingin’ it | bailey egan & Bailee egan
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
Work Area
Make checks payable to and mail to:
Published Monday through Friday, The Observer is a vital source of information on people and events in the Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s Community. Join the more than 13,000 readers who have found The Observer an indispensable link to the two campuses. Please complete the accompanying form and mail it today to receive The Observer in your home.
The Observer P.O. Box 779 Notre Dame, IN 46556
Enclosed is $130 for one academic year Enclosed is $75 for one semester Name Address City State Zip
sports
ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, november 30, 2017 | The Observer
Hockey
Sports Authority
Casualties of the coaching carousel Marek Mazurek Assistant Managing Editor
Over the weekend, millions of Americans saved money through Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. Two notable Americans who didn’t get a good deal though were Ray Anderson and Scott Woodward. Anderson is the athletic director at Arizona State and Woodward holds the same position at Texas A&M, and both programs recently fired their head coaches in the past week and ended up paying a combined $22.7 million in buyout fees. Kevin Sumlin is owed $10.4 million within 60 days, while Todd Graham will be collecting the last of his $12.3 million in 2021. Clearly I should get into the coaching gig, where being fired gets me millions of dollars. But that’s not the point of this column. The point is that $12 million is a lot of money to pay someone to not coach for your school. Obviously, sometimes things don’t work out and a change in leadership is needed in order for a program to get back to its established record of success. But zeroing in on Arizona State and Texas A&M (since they payed the most in buyouts), were the firings of Graham and Sumlin worth it? Graham and Sumlin each led their squads to 7-5 records — certainly not amazing years, but with bowl wins, 8-5 is a mark a lot of schools (Florida, Tennessee) would kill for. Going back, Graham had two down years in 2015 and 2016, going 5-7 and 6-7 respectively, but he also had an 8-5 mark in his first year as head coach in 2012, before winning 10 games in 2013 and 2014. Sumlin was no slouch either. He never lost seven games in a season and has wins in the Cotton Bowl over Oklahoma and the Chick-fil-A Bowl. But the numbers that really stand out are the records of Arizona State and Texas A&M before Graham and Sumlin came in. Both coaches inherited periods of drought when they started with their respective schools in 2012. For instance, the Sun Devils went 6-6 and 6-7 in 2010 and 2011. The Aggies went 4-8 and 6-7 in 2008 and 2009. These aren’t schools with long and storied traditions of
9
excellence. Arizona State has never won a national championship and Texas A&M can claim just one AP title in 1939. These aren’t schools that should be firing coaches with proven records of winning. Sumlin and Graham had resumes that matched up extremely well with many “powerhouse” programs. LSU hasn’t challenged Alabama in the SEC. Neither has Florida, Tennessee or anyone other than Auburn. Does Scott Woodward really think the best way to dethrone the kings is to spin the coaching roulette wheel and hope someone else works? Or would letting Sumlin continue to build up a recruiting base in Texas and giving him another shot at the SEC’s top dogs be a better path? Sumlin has proven he can recruit top players and turn them into NFL-ready prospects, so why throw that away? Newsflash: Jimbo Fisher isn’t leaving Florida State. It’s understandable to part ways with a coach if something isn’t clicking between the coach and university administration or maybe the coach isn’t upholding a program’s culture. But that’s not the case here. Ray Anderson himself said that the decision to fire Graham was due to on-field failure. “The athletic department, university and community expect [Arizona State] to compete on the field for Pac-12 titles, be competitively consistent and qualify to participate in major bowl games on a regular basis,” Anderson said in a release. That’s a mind-boggling quote to me, considering Arizona State never has consistently competed for a Pac-12 title. And if that is the program’s goal, then why fire the one person who’s shown he can get them there, at least for a season or two? But the coaching carousel spins on and new coaches will soon take up residency in Tempe, Arizona, and College Station, Texas. Hopefully Woodward and Anderson learn their lesson about what their programs truly are. But if I had to bet, they won’t learn their lessons, and in five years, someone will have to write this same column again. 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.
Continued from page 12
Bjork and current-junior forward Andrew Oglevie, whose overtime goal against UMassLowell sent the Irish to the Frozen Four. But after being named captain for the season, the senior and Toronto native has stepped up in a huge way offensively. Evans currently leads all college hockey with 25 points, aided in large part by a nation-leading 19 assists, as well as a nation-leading 229 faceoff wins. As the principal facilitator for the Irish offensively, Evans has been a force to be reckoned with and has helped bring a balanced look to the Irish in front of the net, dishing to veterans like Oglevie but also bringing new faces like freshman forward Colin Theisen up to speed. But perhaps even more impressive has been the play of Notre Dame’s net-minder. Morris came into the year locked in a battle for the starting job with freshman goaltender Dylan St. Cyr, and neither could emerge as a clear frontrunner for the position through the first six games of the season. In the fourth series of the year, Irish head coach Jeff Jackson started St. Cyr in the first game against old rivals Nebraska-Omaha, but after the freshman gave up five goals in two periods, Jackson turned to Morris for a crack at it. While the Irish ended up losing the game 6-4, Morris stopped all five shots he faced in the third period, and when Notre Dame played the Mavericks the following night, it was Morris who started in net, and eventually won the contest 5-4.
ANN CURTIS | The Observer
Irish senior forward Jake Evans makes a turn during Notre Dame’s 5-3 win over Penn State on Nov. 10 at Compton Family Ice Arena.
Eight games later, and Morris has emerged as a star in the making for the Irish. After the Irish gave up four or more goals in four of their eight games to start the year, Morris and Notre Dame have yet to give up four goals in the past eight games. The sophomore has been a dominant force in net during the current win streak, currently leading the country with a .952 save percentage and a .917 win percentage, while ranked second with 11 wins and a 1.62 goals-against average. Morris also won his third straight Big Ten First Star of the Week on Tuesday, becoming the first player in conference history to earn the honor in three consecutive weeks. With such dominant play on both ends, it’s no surprise that the Irish are on their
hottest run since 2009, when Notre Dame rattled off 10 straight wins. But with football season still in session and both Irish basketball programs off to tremendous starts, it’s easy to see why attendance has been well under capacity in Compton Family Ice Arena. But it’s time to stop sleeping on the Irish. With last year’s Frozen Four experience under its belt and new faces stepping into big shoes, there’s no reason why this year can’t be the year for Notre Dame to finally capture that elusive title. Contact Tobias Hoonhout at thoonhou@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
MACKENZI MARINOVICH | The Observer
Senior Irish goalkeeper Cale Morris positions himself to make a save during Notre Dame’s 5-4 victory over Nebraska-Omaha on Oct. 27 at Compton Family Ice Arena. Morris had 27 saves in the game. The Observer accepts classifieds every business day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Notre Dame office, 024 South Dining Hall. Deadline for next-day classifieds is 3 p.m. All classifieds must be prepaid. The charge is 5 cents per character per day, including all spaces. The Observer reserves the right to edit all classifieds for content without issuing refunds.
10
Sports
The observer | thursday, november 30, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
W Bball Continued from page 12
[Katelynn Flaherty], she’s a great player, great scorer. We needed a lot of help. We needed great team defense, great awareness. I thought we did a really good job on her. [Junior guard Marina Mabrey] got a couple of fouls, put Jackie Young on her. Everybody had a turn guarding her, at some point. I thought we did a pretty good job but, I was disappointed, [Hallie Thome], really hurt us. I thought our inside defense was weak today.” With Flaherty unable to score consistently, the Wolverines turned to Thome for offense. The junior put up 24 points for Michigan on 8-of-16 shooting. Thome also went 8-of-10 from the freethrow stripe. Michigan (4-2) kept it close at the half with the Irish up 43-34 after two periods. However, the Irish came out of the locker room and registered a fast start in the third quarter to pull away from the Wolverines. McGraw added that the second half was better, offensively, for the Irish, than the first. “Yes, I thought we had a really nice stretch to start the third quarter,” McGraw said. “We got some breakaway layups, we got on a little bit of a run, I thought that was good, and then continued to
M Bball Continued from page 12
marks it’s first time amongst the nation’s top-five teams since 2011, and the team believes the poll position is a blessing as far as recognition for its performance so far, but also serves as motivation going forward. “It’s just a great motivator for us,” senior forward Bonzie Colson said Tuesday. “We’re staying humble and hungry at all times, but we’re just excited for that acknowledgment and
do that. I thought the second half, we were a little better on offense.” Notre Dame got most of its offensive production from its starting five, as the Irish bench put up only 10 points. However, graduate student guard Lili Thompson played 29 minutes for McGraw, chipping in five points. Notre Dame held the Wolverine bench to just six points on the night. Notre Dame also out-rebounded Michigan, racking up 42 rebounds to just 28 for the Wolverines. Young led the Irish with 14 boards, picking up a double-double with 18 points as well, and junior forward Jessica Shepherd, senior forward Kathryn Westbeld and Mabrey each chipped in six. Notre Dame will end its lengthly road trip in a marquee matchup against rival and No. 1 UConn. UConn defeated Notre Dame last year at Purcell Pavilion 72-61. The Irish have not beat the Huskies since 2012, with the Huskies knocking off McGraw’s squad in the 2013 Final Four and the 2014 national championship game. McGraw downplayed the significance of the game moving forward. “It’s another game, early in the year, to see where we are,” she said. Contact Charlie Ortega Guifarro at cortegag@nd.edu
Irish junior guard Arike Ogunbowale dribbles the ball during Notre Dame’s 121-65 victory over Mount St. Mary’s on Nov. 11 at Purcell Pavilion. Ogunbowale scored 32 points Wednesday versus the Wolverines.
just going to keep playing Notre Dame basketball.” And that motivation will be key, as the Spartans (5-1) represent the toughest test the Irish have faced so far this season, at least on paper. After a losing to No. 1 Duke on Nov. 14, the Spartans have won every game they have played since by at least 18 points, including a 6345 victory over then-No. 9 North Carolina on Sunday in which the Spartans held the Tar Heels (5-1) to just 24.6 percent from the floor and 1-for-18 from 3 — both the lowest marks in North
Carolina history. Looking ahead to that test, Brey said he believes the preparation for Notre Dame will be similar to its preparation for its final game in the Maui Invitational, though with a twist. “In a way, it’s a little bit similar to the Wichita State preparation, but I think they’re Wichita State on steroids,” Brey said. “They’re barreling downhill on you in their offense, and they’re all over the backboard. And then they guard the heck out of you in the half court. That is what
EDDIE GRIESEDIECK | The Observer
ZACHARY YIM | The Observer
Irish senior guard Matt Farrell looks for a passing lane during Notre Dame’s 105-66 victory over Chicago State on Nov. 16 at Purcell Pavilion. Farrell is averaging 17.5 points this season in addition to 4.3 assists.
we faced out there in Maui last Wednesday.” The biggest challenges Notre Dame will face, according to Brey, fall on the defensive end, however. In particular, the speed and size of Michigan State’s front court will be perhaps the most challenging matchup the Irish defense has seen so far this season. “The biggest fear, especially early in the game, is transition defense,” Brey said Tuesday. “They really get down the floor quick. We have not been tested in our transition [defense] … they run more on makes than they do on misses — big guys really sprinting the floor, and they’ve got fresh big guys in there all the time. “And then rebounding the ball — can we keep it to oneand-done? We were able to do that against some athletic ability with LSU and Wichita State, so I’m encouraged, but it’ll be a heck of a challenge with all the size that they have.” And on the other end of the court, the Irish will hope to play closer to their second-half performance — in which they shot 58 percent from the floor — than that of the first half — in which they shot just under 41 percent — against the Shockers in Maui. “Offensively, we had a hard time figuring out what to do offensively against a great defensive team in Wichita State in the first half — how do we get into a
better flow offensively? Because that can certainly help your defense if we’re flowing a little bit better on the offensive end,” Brey said. In order to avoid getting off to that slow shooting start, the Irish will look to be more selective with their use of ball screens and look to avoid becoming stagnant when off the ball, senior guard Matt Farrell said. “We’ve got to mix [our ball screens] up a little bit, flatten the defense, move them around a little bit and then sprint to a ball screen and see how that goes,” Farrell said. “We’ve just got to move better and talk better, but our defense is going to be big down there.” But despite the challenges the Spartans pose, the Irish will head to the Breslin Center for Thursday’s 7 p.m. tipoff with plenty of confidence in their ability to win on the road — something they had even before taking the Maui crown. “There’s a confidence playing away from our building, starting with the DePaul win,” Brey said. “[Maui] was a good thing to do and have to get through tough stuff on the road right away. We played well away from our building, and this atmosphere will be as good as any one that we’ve played in. … It’s a great test of our road demeanor up there.” Contact Ben Padanilam at bpadanil@nd.edu
Paid Advertisement
12
The observer | Thursday, november 30, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com
nd woMen’s basketball | ND 83, Michigan 63
Notre Dame blows by Michigan in Ann Arbor By CHARLIE ORTEGA GUIFARRO Sports Writer
The No. 3 Irish defeated No. 22 Michigan on Wednesday evening, 83-63. The game was part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and marked the sixth away win of the season for the Irish, currently the best such mark in the country. Junior guard Arike Ogunbowale had a big game, tying her career-high of 32 points on 13-20 shooting. Ogunbowale had 20 first-half points, garnering praise from head coach Muffet McGraw. “[Arike Ogunbowale], amazing, just an amazing game. She shot the ball so well, efficiently, made some huge threes at the end of the shot clock,” McGraw said. “We were struggling offensively, and she just carried us, pretty much through the entire first half.” McGraw said the team looked exhausted during the game, a result of being shorthanded and a lot of travel, especially with their seventh straight away game, against UConn, coming up. “We were really really tired, we really looked tired at
practice — we looked tired in the game — so, I thought to find the adrenaline to get us through that game I thought was a great effort,” McGraw said. “After losing [freshman center] Mikayla Vaughn — not having another player on the bench — depth is short so, really pleased. [The UConn game will] be our seventh game in a row on the road. It’s tough, it’s challenging — mentally challenging when you got a short bench — especially challenging, you really rely on your veterans.” The Irish (7-0) were effective in containing Michigan’s senior guard Katelynn Flaherty, who ranks second in the nation in points per game with 25.8, but only managed to score 13 against Notre Dame. It was the first time all year Flaherty scored less than 20 points and McGraw said that the key to that defensive scheme was having a total team effort although, also noting that the Irish did a poor job in containing Michigan’s junior center Hallie Thome in the paint. “I thought [team effort] was the key to the game,” McGraw said. “We had to shut down see W BBALL PAGE 10
EDDIE GRIESEDIECK | The Observer
Irish junior guard Arike Ogunbowale directs the Irish offense during Notre Dame’s 121-65 victory over Mount St. Mary’s on Nov. 11 at Purcell Pavilion. Ogunbowale scored 32 points in Wednesday’s win.
men’s basketball
HOckey
Irish prepare for top-five matchup versus Spartans By BEN PADANILAM
Tobias Hoonhout
Editor-in-Chief
After a comeback win over then-No. 6 Wichita State to cap off an undefeated run to the Maui Invitational title, the Irish find themselves ranked amongst the nation’s best teams in the latest AP poll. But that ranking will be immediately put to the test, as No. 5 Notre Dame will travel to East Lansing, Michigan, to take on No. 3 Michigan State at the Breslin Center. And it’s a challenge the Irish (6-0) are looking forward to. “I think it’s great to be challenged, there’s no question about it,” Irish head coach Mike Brey said Tuesday. “Our old guys, veteran group — they want to play big games. Doesn’t get much bigger than this against a great opponent. … I have a feeling we’ll be really focused.” Notre Dame’s No. 5 ranking see M BBALL PAGE 10
Evans, Morris lead surging ND Associate Sports Editor
SARAH OLSON | The Observer
Irish senior forward Bonzie Colson dribbles the ball during Notre Dame’s 88-62 win over Mount St. Mary’s on Nov. 13.
For all of Notre Dame’s success last season, highlighted by the incredible run to the program’s third Frozen Four in program history this past spring, there were a lot of question marks surrounding the program heading into the season. Not only did the No. 4 Irish (12-3-1, 6-0-0 Big Ten) head into uncharted territory as the team began its first season in the Big Ten, but Notre Dame lost arguably its two best players last season in forward Anders Bjork and goalie Cal Petersen, who both left for the NHL. The departure of the juniors left a gaping hole both at the front end — where Bjork led the Irish in goals, assists and points — as well as in net, where Petersen started all 40 games on the year and 90 consecutive for the Irish over the last three seasons, the fourth-longest streak in NCAA history.
But Notre Dame has stepped up to the challenge. After a relatively slow start to the year saw the team open with a 4-3-1 record and only one sweep of Alabama-Huntsville in the season opener, the Irish have rattled off four straight sweeps and nine straight wins, becoming the first team in Big Ten history to start the season with a 6-0 record, and currently hold the longest active win streak in the country. The key? The program has found new talent in senior forward Jake Evans and sophomore goalie Cale Morris to replace the lost stars from last year. Ann Curtis | The Observer Irish senior forward and captain Jake Evans pursues the puck during Notre Dame’s 5-3 win over Penn State on Nov. 10 at Compton Family Ice Arena. While Evans finished second on the team in points last season, much of his production was overshadowed the heroics of see HOCKEY PAGE 9