Print Edition of The Observer for Wednesday, December 6, 2017 by The Observer

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Volume 52, Issue 60 | wednesday, december 6, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com

University group visits Vatican, pope Panelists reflect on experience attending overseas conference supporting nuclear disarmament By SELENA PONIO Associate News Editor

Twelve Notre Dame students and recent alumni and five faculty members traveled to the Vatican to meet the pope and attend a conference on a topic that continues to dominate headlines: nuclear weapons. “This was probably the most public and high-level event on this issue since the end of the Cold War,” Gerard Powers, director of Catholic peacebuilding studies at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, said. “After the Cold War, the Holy See was increasingly

outspoken about the immorality of the use of nuclear weapons. This is the first time that a pope condemned not only the use, but the possession of nuclear weapons.” In a panel hosted Tuesday night, the group discussed their experiences at the Vatican, as well as Pope Francis’s condemnation of nuclear weapons. For the group that traveled to the Vatican, the highlight of the visit was meeting personally with the pope, Powers said. The pope met with over 300 strangers, yet greeted each one with see POPE PAGE 4

SARAH OLSON | The Observer

Professor Michael Desch, left, and University students Mackenzie Nolan, center, and Kathleen Kollman discuss their trip to the Vatican on Tuesday. On their trip, they attended a conference on nuclear weapons.

Professors evaluate Trump foreign policy measures

ROSIE LoVOI | The Observer

Political science professor Rosemary Kelanic examines the Trump administration’s foreign policy measures Tuesday in Geddes Hall.

By ANDREW BENNIS

By NICOLE CARATAS

News Writer

Senior News Writer

Though President Trump has promised to put America first, professor of political science Rosemar y Kelanic said in reality, the current administration’s policies are closer to “Trump first” than they are to “America first.” “I think that [Trump] conf lates his personal interests

Throughout the semester, a group of Saint Mary’s students participated in class on civil discourse. In order to showcase their work, the class hosted a workshop on Tuesday focused on dialogue surrounding controversial issues. This event aimed to teach those in attendance the skills that students learned throughout the semester in a civil discourse class. Attendees engaged in small group discussions where they focused on listening to people with differing opinions and worked to prompt open and civil discussion about controversial issues. “The idea for this course came about after the election, when many students told me that they wanted more opportunities to understand people who didn’t share their political perspectives,” Megan Zwart, professor of philosophy, said. Zwart said she was looking for a politically diverse

see POLICY PAGE 3

Define American hosts educational ‘Woke Party’ By COLLEEN ZEWE News Writer

Define American, a Saint Mary’s organization dedicated to educating students about immigration and other political issues, will host a “Woke Party” on Wednesday to inform students about immigration and ways they can

NEWS PAGE 3

take action. Club president and senior Megan Uekert said the idea for a Woke Party emerged from previous club meetings. [Editor’s Note: Uekert is a former News Writer for The Observer.] “We learned from our last meeting that there are many people out there who want to

Scene PAGE 5

Class promotes civil dialogue

be a part of this cause but do not know much about immigration in the United States,” she said. “We believe that before we educate others on this issue, we must educate ourselves first. We encourage everyone who is unfamiliar with immigration see WOKE PAGE 4

viewpoint PAGE 7

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group of students for the class, and found 24 students from every political view. “There’s a true ideological difference represented here, and a high level of political engagement,” she said. “Every week in this class, I was reminded that people are more complex and interesting than we typically think. The hyper-partisan environment we live in has invested interest in making us believe that everyone who doesn’t agree with us is a one-dimensional cartoon super villain. Believe it or not, most people who disagree with us are not.” People diminish the complexity of those with differing views is because it makes the world easier to navigate, Zwart said. However, she said this is not something people should buy into. “Refusing to reduce people to your assumptions of them doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t fight valiantly for things that matter to you,” she said. “You can advocate for positions that matter see CIVIL PAGE 4

MEN’S BASKETBALL PAGE 12

TODAY

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RUNJIE PAN | The Observer

Graduate physics student Devin Whitten speaks at “The Science of Music” event in Jordan Hall on Tuesday night. The lecture explored questions regarding sound, simple harmony and the ways in which music has been captured throughout history.

The next Five days:

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Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

“Latinos, Education and the Church” Eck Visitors Center 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. The 2017 Hesburgh lecture.

Last Class Day campus-wide all day Classes will resume for spring semester Jan. 16.

Reading Day campus-wide all day No classes in session. No examinations are permitted.

Reading by Kellie Wells Hammes Bookstore 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. 2017 Richard Sullivan Prize Winner reads.

Yoga in the Galleries Snite Museum 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Class is free and open to people of all experience levels.

Brr!: An A Cappella Concert Washington Hall 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. Performance by The Undertones.

“What & When Was the Christmas Star?” DVT in Jordan Hall 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Presented by Grant Mathews.

Family FuNDays: Free Skate Compton Family Ice Arena 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Open to the public.

News

ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, december 6, 2017 | The Observer

Classics club commemorates Saturnalia feast By NATALIE WEBER Associate News Editor

W hile many students are preparing to celebrate the holidays by decorating their dorms or shopping for presents, classics club is bringing an ancient celebration to campus Thursday: Saturnalia. “Saturnalia was a Roman holiday or festival that occurred around Christmas time, and it was in celebration of the Roman god Saturn,” senior Oliv ia May, the club’s v ice president, said. “It was a lot of public festiv ities, feasting, banqueting, gift-giv ing — so some parallels w ith Christmas. “There was also this idea of an inversion of the social order, so masters and slaves would swap positions temporarily, which is kind of interesting also — masters would be ser v ing their slaves meals.” Sophomore and classics club parliamentarian Nicole Larkin said Christmas has its roots in Saturnalia.

Policy Continued from page 1

with the interests of the United States,” Kelanic said. “He doesn’t really

“Classics is sort of ingrained in our Western societ y because Christmas is sort of based on Saturnalia,” she said. “I guess you don’t really see it in minor things, but more in the general concepts of societ y.” The celebration is a fun way to de-stress before finals week, Larkin said. “It’s a fun time to be w ith friends and to just hang out and take a break from finals, especially since it’s going to be on the last day of class,” she said. “I know last year, I was in the middle of working on my final project, too, and I took a break to go.” The festiv ities w ill include refreshments, Christmas carols and a lecture about the histor y of Saturnalia, May said. “I really love the Latin Christmas carols, personally,” she said. “I always think it’s fun when we can pull in the ancient languages and apply them to our lives today. It’s hard sometimes when you study a language a lot of people call

draw a distinction bet ween what is in the national interest and what he thinks and likes and doesn’t like, and what he desires and doesn’t desire.” Kelanic was one of two Paid Advertisement

Photo courtesy of Olivia May

Students attend a Saturnalia feast hosted in 2016 to learn about ancient Roman culture. The holiday was originally celebrated in ancient Rome in honor of the god Saturn and takes place during December.

dead, and it’s people who do stuff like this that keeps it alive. I think that’s really cool.” Classics club allows students to learn about ancient cultures outside of the classroom in a fun env ironment, May said. “Our goal is to promote the ancient languages, Latin and Greek, and ancient cultures at Notre Dame,” she said.

“We do a lot of events that kind of pull in a little bit of what classics is in academic disciplines, but also more of the fun stuff.” May said these events allow students to interact w ith the classics in a more concrete way. “I think classics club tries to tie humanities in w ith what we’re learning w ith how we interact w ith each

other on campus, kind of intersecting the academic and the social,” she said. “ … Especially for disciplines that don’t necessarily have that practical application, it’s a good way to make sure we’re still kind of engaging w ith what we learn.”

professors who discussed the Trump administration’s foreign policy in a “Pizza, Pop and Politics” panel hosted by NDVotes on Tuesday evening. As to what w ill drive U.S. foreign

policy decisions under the Trump administration, Kelanic said the president‘s ego w ill be a determining factor. “The underlying logic is what is good for [Trump’s] ego at any given point in time, and how does he v iew himself ? ” she said. President Trump’s identit y as a dealmaker is also a driv ing force in his foreign policy agenda, Kelanic said. As a result of these traits, Kelanic said American foreign policy may become largely determined by President Trump’s personal relationships w ith other world leaders. “He’s likely to favor those who f latter him and disfavor those who criticize him,” she said. Michael Desch, a professor of political science and director of the International Securit y Center at Notre Dame, agreed w ith what much of Kelanic said. Foreign policy is also shaped by public opinion, especially under the current administration, Desch said, as Trump has taken advantage of a major shift in public opinion. “President Trump ran for office and was elected at a time in which the political culture of a significant fraction of the American public had changed,” Desch said. “A new sort of approach to politics in general, and foreign policy in particular, had emerged.” Desch identified this new trend in American foreign policy as “Jacksonian,” after

President Andrew Jackson. Some of the key tenets of this political philosophy are high levels of nationalism, populism and a pessimistic v iew of international politics. During a question-andanswer session, Kelanic and Desch addressed the U.S. foreign policy w ith regards to North Korea. The situation w ith North Korea might not allow Trump to be as aggressive as he may w ish he could be, Desch said. “The president ver y clearly came into office thinking that what he wanted was a militar y solution to the North Korean nuclear program because diplomacy had clearly failed,” Desch said. But as it became clear to Trump that any militar y option in North Korea would have severe repercussions, he seems to have settled for continued pursuit of diplomatic solutions, Desch said. Desch also addressed American foreign policy w ith regards to the situation in Israel and Palestine. Trump’s v iew of himself as a dealmaker may prov ide him w ith the necessar y motivation to pursue a deal between Palestine and Israel — a deal which many have deemed to be almost impossible to achieve, Desch said. “You say [it’s] too big a deal to Trump, and it’s like waving the red f lag in front of the bull,” he said.

Contact Natalie Weber at nweber@nd.edu

Contact Andrew Bennis at abennis@nd.edu

NEWS

The observer | wednesday, december 6, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com

Woke Continued from page 1

Photo courtesy of Notre Dame

Junior Monica Montgomery shakes the pope’s hand while on a trip to the Vatican. Montgomery joined 11 other University students, alumni and five faculty members in attending a conference hosted by the pope.

Pope Continued from page 1

so much energy it seemed as though he was greeting the first, Powers added. Chris Haw, a doctoral student in theology at the Kroc Institute, echoed Pope Francis’s message in support of nuclear disarmament and said the conference helped him solidify his stance. “Even with what we have … one of the overarching themes is that they are sapping our world of resources and that they are now increasingly destabilizing us,” Haw said. “We need to come to grips that they are increasingly destabilizing international diplomacy.” The use of nuclear weapons was utopian, shortsighted and irrational, Haw said. “Deterrence is building on sand, increasingly building on sand,” he said. “Lasting peace is built by vigilant diplomatic efforts and human development.” Haw said in one sense “the multi-national chorus of peacebuilders was even more thrilling than meeting the pope.” “We’re all connected in that whether we destroy or safeguard nature, our fear or our courage, all of these things affect our brothers and sisters,” he said. “We’re living amidst a moral emergency for which we are all co-responsible. We in the nuclear countries live in a haze of moral deprivation and logic distortion. If we don’t change, things won’t

Civil Continued from page 1

to you, and you can listen to people who disagree with you along the way. It’s tempting to believe that listening to someone who disagrees with you is effectively endorsing their position, but it isn’t. “The belief that we automatically compromise our own value just by listening to someone else’s is poisonous. If ideological purity is incompatible with hearing someone out, if the fear of being wrong makes us incapable of testing our own views for inconsistencies,

change.” Political science professor Michael Desch challenged Haw’s stance. “In general, it was a terrific couple of days. And the high point of the audience with the Holy Father is something I know I’ll never forget,” Desch said. “In terms of the concrete message of the conference, I came away not convinced.” Desch said nuclear deterrence is not a theory of nuclear use, but rather a theory of its purposive non-use. “Deterrence is not nuclear use, and we shouldn’t forget that,” he said. “The position of the Church … wrongly assumes that counter-value or population targeting has been a part of U.S. nuclear strategy for most of the Cold War. On that score they’re fundamentally wrong.” There has been significant nuclear drawdown since the Cold War, Desch said. “There’s still plenty of nuclear power out there, but the idea that nothing has changed is very hard to sustain,” he said. “We now have nine nuclear powers. This is a bad thing in one sense, but in another sense we could have a world, and we expected a world of 50 nuclear powers back in the days of proliferation studies. At least five states have walked back from pretty serious nuclear programs.” Desch said he is a realist and thinks it is idealistic to believe a world without nuclear weapons could become reality.

if fear of conflict makes us shy away from transformative engagements, then we have capitulated to those who have an interest in further dividing us. Frankly … in that case, we’re probably doomed as a species.” Students who took the class shared their reflections on the course before the attendees took part in their own civil discussions. Senior Rachel Pennington said the class made her more comfortable discussing controversial issues and looking at all sides of an argument. “It has also made me step back and broadly reevaluate the issues we discuss in class,”

“I was very unpersuaded by the integral nuclear disarmament view that everything is connected,” he said. “It seems to me hard to sustain the argument that if there weren’t nuclear weapons that huge amounts of money … that if we cut this out we would be spending a lot of money on other worthy causes, particularly the elimination of poverty. The bottom line for me is we ought to be careful what we wish for.” Junior political science and Arabic major Mackenzie Nolan said the discussion with nuclear weapons does not just stop at deterrence. What is necessary now, she said, is education. “We were lucky enough to go to this conference, and I think it’s our responsibility now to bring it back to campus,” Nolan said. “We all have different backgrounds, so I think understanding those backgrounds will help improve discourse.” Graduate student at the Keough School of Global Affairs Kathleen Kollman said students should be educated on the gravity of the threat of nuclear weapons. “Unfortunately we don’t have the luxury of focusing only on those issues. The issue of nuclear weapons stands in our way,” she said. “What it took for me to care was a wakeup call from reality that the threat from nuclear weapons is far from over.” Contact Selena Ponio at sponio@nd.edu

she said. “As college students, we’re so wrapped up in our classes that we fail to notice what is going on in the news or events that are currently affecting society. I think this class is important because it keeps people in the loop about issues going on around them, and it supports skills for civil dialogue.” First year Katie Williams said prior to the class, she struggled to find a way to discuss controversies without letting emotions getting in the way. “This class gave the opportunity to talk with a more diverse group than I’ve ever known,”

processes to come and join us for the hour-long showing.” Those who attend the party will learn more about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy and how immigration impacts lives, Uekert said. “Students will get informed about how incredibly difficult it is to become an American citizen, especially if you were brought here as a child,” she said. “They will also learn about the struggles of being an undocumented American.” The event will include a showing of the documentary “Documented.” The film’s director, Jose Vargas, spoke at the College last semester about immigration and is the founder of the national Define American organization. “We selected this documentary because it is a documentary about a personal story and struggle with the U.S. immigration system,” Uekert said. The documentary shows Vargas’ own personal journey as an undocumented American. Due to his immigration status, he was unable to visit his mother for over 20 years, Define American member Teresa Brickey said. “When DACA was passed, [Vargas] didn’t qualify,” Brickey said. “The documentary isn’t about him finding asylum or legal documentation, but instead how different groups have formed to be advocates for immigrants and undocumented immigrants.” The documentary also looks at how parents of immigrant children reacted to DACA. “Even when DACA was passed, the documentary showed a meeting of parents of Dreamers,“ Brickey said. “They were happy for them, but it was bittersweet because they couldn’t get documented.” Uekert, who is also a member of the Student Diversity Board, said she became involved with Define American due to her personal passion for immigration advocacy.

she said. “Even though the class was only two and a half hours, the discussions we had spilled over into my friend groups to the point where we’d be talking about issues I never thought we’d be able to in a civil way, where we’d get to some sort of common ground without looking to change each other’s opinions.” First year Lia Acri said discussing controversial issues did not automatically become easier after learning the skills in this class. “Many times in both small and large group discussion, I felt uncomfortable due to views that I do not agree with

“Define American is important to me because it questions American identity and promotes education of topics surrounding immigration — a topic that there are a lot of myths about,” she said. Uekert said students have a responsibility to educate themselves. This will help them to support other students and friends who are facing challenges as a result of their family’s immigration status. “If we are going to be here and be inclusive and lift up our fellow Belles and Americans and create a strong society, we have to accept everyone here as equally American and as equally accepted,” she said. “I think students should also know what DACA is because it impacts many fellow students and is commonly misunderstood.” All people have the same wants and needs, and nobody is less of a person because of their citizenship status, Uekert said. “Am I more deserving of American citizenship than an undocumented American? We want the same things in life, right? Why do I get these opportunities because I happen to be born here?” she said. “America is the only home most DACA recipients know, as they came here so young. Imagine the stress of finals and school with the added stress of being deported from your home and your country.” Ultimately, Uekert said one of the most important responsibilities of documented students is to educate themselves. This can help them avoid making offensive or insensitive remarks, she said. “Being informed is so important because I hear so many people say, ‘Why don’t they get in line?’” she said. “There is no line. Or even calling someone an ‘illegal’ because they committed a civil offense. We don’t call drunk drivers illegals. Calling a person illegal is dehumanizing.” The Woke Party will take place Wednesday at 10 p.m. in Spes Unica Hall. Contact Colleen Zewe at czewe01@saintmarys.edu

and felt hesitant to express my own views,” she said. “Throughout the course, this discomfort acted as a way of informing me how to present my own opinions thoughtfully. I had to think about the underlying causes of being uncomfortable. Whether it stems from insecurity about the origins of my beliefs or past failure in respectful dialogue, I’ve learned that some issues are inherently uncomfortable to discuss, so we should be even more inclined to discuss them.” Contact Nicole Caratas at ncaratas01@saintmarys.edu

The observer | wednesday, december 6, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com

CRISTINA INTERIANO | The Observer

The observer | wednesday, december 6, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

Emails from a missionary Natalie Weber Associate News Editor

After high school, several of the students in my graduating class left our hometown to become Mormon missionaries. I didn’t think much of it at the time, as none of my close friends were planning to serve on missions immediately after high school. Then, this summer, my friend, Seth, submitted his paperwork to serve a mission and received a call to Madagascar. When my other friends and I said goodbye in August, we knew that would be the last time we would see him until the two years of his mission were complete. Rules regarding communication are strict for missionaries: they may only call home on Christmas and Mother’s Day. During the rest of the year, they are allowed to communicate with friends and family solely via email. At first, using emails to keep in touch with my friend seemed strange to me. Though I always looked forward to hearing from Seth, I never knew how to respond. He sent out weekly updates to family and friends, and didn’t always have time to reply to everyone individually. Not knowing if I would receive a reply, writing a lengthy email to him in response felt one-sided to me. I was used to the back and forth of texting and Snapchat, not the long monologues of occasional emails. Yet, over time, I came to appreciate this form of communication. It allowed for storytelling in a way that texting did not. I found that when I did text friends from home, the conversations sometimes became stilted and stuck in the mundane realm of small talk. Through emails, however, I was able to relate stories about everything from classes, to my time in choir or working in the office at The Observer. When I heard from Seth, I enjoyed reading his anecdotes about learning Malagasy — the language of Madagascar — and his experiences at the Missionary Training Center. Writing emails also offered a nice change of pace from other forms of communication. Though it did not offer the instant gratification of texting, I grew to anticipate an email from Seth each week. While I am grateful for other forms of communication, I have also enjoyed keeping in touch with my friend through email. I would not give up texting, Skype or phone calls; however, I have also appreciated the chance to relearn the art of letter writing. It has forced me to slow down, ref lect upon my week and move beyond basic forms of small talk. Through this experience, I have come to realize that keeping in touch with friends is not just about how often you talk, but also about the quality of your conversations when you do. Contact Natalie Weber at nweber@nd.edu The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Why we need net neutrality PPshhhkkkkkkrrrrk akingkakingkakingshc hchchchchchch-ding-ding-ding.This is the annoying sound of dial-up internet from the late ’90s and early 2000s when people used AOL as their main connection to the internet. It was also during this time that there were no restrictions on the powers of an internet service provider like AOL. And because of that, AOL was able to prevent messages with derogatory sentiments about AOL or its subsidiaries from being received. In the new land of the internet, they were king and could dictate the internet and what its users saw. If they wanted, AOL could have blocked users from viewing sites that did not align with their company or that promoted their competitors. This and a lot more is what is possible if we allow for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to repeal net neutrality. The internet has made so much progress pushing innovation in technology forward and allowing for freedom of speech and expression — so why would we want to take steps back to the late ‘90s, the time of internet speeds that would make downloading a song a day-long process and streaming video unheard of? We believe that a stand needs to be taken in protecting net neutrality because it protects our rights to freedom of speech, promotes innovation — through internet companies like Netf lix — and keeps internet pricing fair, among many other important reasons. First of all, we cannot let net neutrality be repealed because it protects our freedom of speech. America was founded on the fundamental right of its citizens to speak freely and have unrestricted opinions. If we let the FCC repeal net neutrality, this fundamental right would be violated. Without net neutrality, companies like Comcast and Verizon would be able to censor out whatever content they provide if it didn’t match up with their beliefs. What makes the internet revolutionary is the ability of users to create news and culture on websites such as Reddit. Censoring these posts would be a direct violation of our rights. Secondly, net neutrality should be kept because it promotes innovation through the internet with interesting and new companies like Netf lix, Facebook and Reddit. Net neutrality is what allows small business owners, startups and entrepreneurs — who rely on the open internet — to launch their businesses,advertise their products and services, create markets and reach customers. With net neutrality, there wouldn’t be a hurdle a company would have to jump over just to start its business. It evens out the playing field at the very beginning and gives every idea a chance to get big. The huge companies we have

today such as Facebook and Google, both internetbased, may not have become what they are now if net neutrality was not in place. If small companies had to pay more for bandwidth and traffic lanes to compete with already established companies with more resources, world-changing ideas could possibly have been choked out by the big established companies because of this uneven playing field. The third reason is that net neutrality keeps internet pricing fair and low. For example, in Portugal — where there is no Net Neutrality — the internet has been separated into packages. You need to pay a certain amount to get access to messaging applications and pay a separate amount to get access to email services. This makes internet extremely costly. Imagine having to pay your internet provider just to use Netf lix, in addition to the fee paid to Netf lix itself. The company would lose multiple customers due to the increased cost. For Netf lix, this may not be a problem because of its popularity — but for smaller companies trying to make sales over the internet, this extra cost to users could be detrimental to their businesses. Not only would small businesses be unhappy; basically all consumers would be unhappy as well. No one wants to pay extra money to use something like the internet, which has been free and open to the public for almost as long as we remember. It would also just create another way to separate upper and lower classes though internet pricing. We need net neutrality to keep the internet open and cheap to all. Net neutrality is needed to protect our freedom of speech, promote innovation and keep internet prices low. Without net neutrality, we would be losing so many things — from our basic rights to our ability to buy Netf lix. Net neutrality is necessary to keep the American public happy and productive and to progress as a nation. Repealing it would be like going back in time. The public has been supporting and continues to support net neutrality, and the government needs to listen and step back from taking away our rights to the internet. Alex Mukasyan senior Paul Lee senior Borah Chong senior Dec. 2

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The observer | wednesday, december 6, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com

Is political correctness correct? Show Some Skin The Cost of Silence

Often, what comes before assertion is evasion. In the past few years, I have gradually learned to avoid making controversial claims along racial, religious and gendered lines, to name a few. This tendency to self-censor my thoughts and not be part of dialogue makes me increasingly uncritical in a society that champions free thinking and expression. I recently realized that my silence is simply a way to avoid an entanglement with the concept of political correctness. Nowadays, being politically correct has been increasingly equated with being of a higher morality, and thus to digress from what political correctness dictates can cause either inner guilt or outer blame. Yet, should we avoid talking about something because it might be considered politically incorrect? According to the Oxford Dictionar y, political correctness is “the avoidance of forms of expression or action that might be perceived to exclude or marginalize groups of people who are socially discriminated against.” By this definition, politically incorrect speech and conduct has a potential to offend, even if it does not aim to attack. Arguably, political correctness is an obstacle to fruitful discourse. The irony is that, if someone

is considerate enough to be bound by political correctness, this person perhaps does not intend to be verbally or behaviorally abusive. However, people who aim to hurt often disregard political correctness altogether. Therefore, the types of speech obstructed by political correctness are likely to be ones that are genuine and could yield healthy conversations. However, this is not the only way that political correctness creates problems. In many other situations, this concept is manipulated, resulting in equally concerning effects. For example, one time as I was talking to a friend, he commented: “I’m not being racist, but [a racial group] are really not smart.” “That sounds really racist,” I smoldered with indignation. “You’re just being politically correct.” He spat out this sentence to dismiss my disagreement. This friend is not the only person who turned “political correctness” into a shield to defend his morally reprehensible remark. Responses like “you say it to be on the ‘correct’ side” or “you’re just being politically correct” create an illusion that my dissents reveal little truth and are solely driven by the goal of being on the moral high ground. But his remark was not only politically incorrect, it was also blatantly offensive. Political correctness, by definition, is wellintentioned. To avoid excluding or marginalizing certain groups of people is to be attentive to these

people’s feelings and to respect their dignity. To decr y such humanitarian consideration and derogate this concept, however, is perhaps to find an excuse for not being attentive and respectful. Until today, I still could not decide whether or not political correctness is correct. On one hand, many of us are overly restricted by it and censor our opinions. On the other hand, this concept is downplayed to give way to unacceptable statements and behaviors. However, no matter how political correctness is manipulated to deviate from its definition in dictionaries, its intentions to be attentive and respectful should be respected. W hat we need to do is to strike a balance between expressing ourselves truthfully and considering the good intentions embedded in the definition of political correctness. Yizhi Hu is a junior studying political science and Japanese. She welcomes all comments (or complaints) and can be reached at yhu3@nd.edu Show Some Skin is a student-run initiative committed to giving voice to unspoken narratives about identity and difference. Using the art of storytelling as a catalyst for positive social change across campus, we seek to make Notre Dame a more open and welcoming place for all. If you are interested in breaking the silence and getting involved with Show Some Skin, email nreifenb@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Insurance coverage for birth control There has been quite a bit of turmoil recently over the University’s willingness to give insurance coverage for our female students on birth control. The University has recently second guessed its willingness to continue providing coverage and, even though they decided to continue the insurance, there have still been heated arguments about many different aspects of the ordeal, ranging from sexism to religious freedom. Of all things said, we cannot dispute the fact that the University has every right to withdraw their part in giving our students access to contraception based on its Catholic principles; however, they shouldn’t if they want to uphold the University’s commitment to accepting and welcoming everyone’s beliefs, even over issues that contradict with church doctrine. I love my Notre Dame family and the Catholic foundation of the school provides a certain richness of tradition that I couldn’t get any where else. I’m not Catholic, but I’ll still join in at mass and try to follow along with Catholic prayer for the sake of family and community. However, there’s a limit as to how much Catholicism can be implemented as far as what students can and can’t do or what they all have equal access to without going against the University’s claim of respect and tolerance for all views. The University webpage states: “We therefore believe a variety of beliefs and opinions are indispensable to provoking debate, ensuring a diversity of perspectives, promoting scholarship

and building community; we believe in the pursuit and sharing of truth for its own sake; we believe in sustaining a dialogue between faith and reason across disciplines and in the multitude of discussions, debates and inquiries that take place at the University.” Although this is a Catholic institution, students need the freedom to make decisions about things like contraception without enforced Catholic inf luence. Students need the freedom to apply faith and reason to their lifestyle decisions independent of University beliefs. Many students (some Catholic students included) take advantage of contraceptives to prevent untimely pregnancies. Much money, research and time has been put into the creation of contraceptives, which, in this world, provide women a way to reach equality with men in the workforce. It’s hard to become a rich, powerful boss-lady when you end up pregnant before finishing your schooling. The fact that many women, especially those with a medical career track, have a long road of schooling ahead makes the necessity for contraception even greater unless they want to be lonely cat ladies. This is a personal lifestyle choice, and it isn’t the University’s place to limit access to it by taking away financial coverage. One could argue the University isn’t banning the use of contraceptives and has a right to take no part in student access to it, and they would be correct. However, for many female students, forking out money from

their own pockets every month for birth control isn’t an option. This creates a privilege gap between those with money and those without. The views of the University shouldn’t be used to directly inf luence the lifestyle choices of the student body, and they shouldn’t be able to prevent underprivileged students continued access to the product. Along with the idea that the University should uphold its commitment to acceptance of all views, I would like to point out a more pressing issue on campus that should probably hold a bigger spotlight than a responsible female adult’s personal business. Lately, we’ve had a couple sexual assaults on campus, despite all our efforts to prevent it. If we have students running around raping each other, why is contraception the issue of choice? Sure, we have the GreeNDot program and a Moreau class to tell us that rape is bad. But if we need all of that as a society to know not to use another human being like that, I think we all need a bit of religious reform that goes way past the use of contraceptives. It is important to focus on what’s truly important on campus and maintain the freedom and diversity of beliefs that the University claims to want to uphold.

Vanessa Davis freshman Nov. 27

DAILY

The observer | wednesday, december 6, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | Will Shortz

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Look for unusual opportunities to improve your health, financial and emotional future. Taking care of important business and putting an end to what hasn’t been working for you in the past will point you in the right direction. Don’t trust anyone but yourself, and base your plans on the research you do personally. This is the time to recoup what you’ve lost. Your numbers are 5, 15, 23, 29, 32, 35, 44. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Emotions will rise to the surface. Before you say something, make sure you hRefuse to let anyone put unreasonable demands on you. Time is precious and it’s important that you use whatever skills and knowledge you have to the best of your ability. Embrace change and make the most out of what transpires. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): What you do for others will shape the way you are treated and how much you can accomplish. Look for new ways to improve relationships and professional situations. Put some muscle behind your plans and forge ahead. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Romance is on the rise and will improve your personal life. How well you get along with your peers will determine the opportunities that unfold. Being a team player will encourage colleagues to support you and rivals to back down. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Get involved in activities and events that your friends are indulging in, and you will find common purposes that will bring you closer together. Good ideas stem from using your imagination and sharing with others. Personal growth is encouraged. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Tidy up any loose ends that might affect your tax status. Getting everything in order will give you the freedom to enjoy the holiday season. Travel plans can be made and long-term goals set. Keep your personal matters a secret. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Travel, communication and helping others will give you insight into what you want to do next or how you want to live the rest of your life. Inner growth will lead to personal changes that offer less stress and better relationships. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t mix emotions with business. You have to stay alert and ready to take on new Be careful how you handle personal situations. Don’t let what’s happening at home affect your responsibilities at work. An interesting job opportunity should be considered. Don’t miss out because someone is making emotional demands. Do what’s best for you. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Look for ways to cut your costs at home or to do away with expenses you can live without. Be creative and you’ll come up with better and more cost-efficient ways to maintain your current lifestyle without jeopardizing your bank account. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t divulge secret information or get involved with anyone who could taint your reputation. Be firm in your convictions and steady in the way you handle relationships. Change should begin within to ensure that you are standing on solid ground emotionally. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Emotions will mount and trouble will surface if you are too open about what you have been doing. Be innovative and use your imagination and intuition to ensure that you only reveal what’s necessary. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t go overboard and you will achieve the success you desire. Keeping a steady pace and avoiding overspending, overreacting or overdoing will help to balance and stabilize your life. Moderation and positive change are up to you. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Develop your ideas and you’ll find a way to make them happen. Let your emotions be the propeller that pushes you to turn something small into something big. Refuse to let criticism or outside demands stifle your plans. Birthday Baby: You are original, helpful and empathetic. You are sensitive and willful.

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Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

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sports

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Sports Authority

winter olympics

Giants need Eli back right now Elizabeth Greason Sports Editor

Believe what you want about the Giants, but if Eli Manning had started Sunday’s matchup against the Raiders, Ben McAdoo would not be searching the classifieds for a job today. As my colleague Ben Padanilam wrote in his column last week, McAdoo and the Giants absolutely botched the handling of Manning’s benching — and now that McAdoo has gotten the boot, the Giants’ future finally has the chance to improve. As Giants owner John Mara said in his press conference Monday, this season was “the perfect storm,” as four of the team’s star receivers went down with injuries, including Odell Beckham Jr., who was expected to be one of the league’s leaders. But benching Eli — who had previously started 210 consecutive games for the Giants, the second-most of anyone in the NFL — was the straw that broke the camel’s back, it seems. McAdoo was objectively bad at his job. He lost games, he lost players’ respect — quick ly — and he made one of the worst decisions I have ever seen in benching Manning in favor of Geno Smith. He deser ved to be fired. And Mara did just that, cleaning house Monday and sending general manager Jerr y Reese packing as well. However, the most important result of Monday’s turmoil for the Giants is the revelation that Manning’s one-week hiatus from his starting job is over. W hile there are no guarantees at the moment, Manning said in a W FAN radio inter view that he spoke with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who will take over the interim head coaching role, and told him he wanted to start Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, that he wants to lead the team to victory in its final four games. And Manning should start Sunday. With Manning

under center, McAdoo and Reese gone and Spagnuolo as the interim head coach, the Giants have the chance to turn over a new leaf. And while they may not win out or even win at all to finish the season, Eli Manning is what the Giants need right now. Eli Manning can remind fans and the Giants where the team came from — he is the heart and soul of the franchise. There’s a reason benching him blew up in McAdoo’s face so badly: It’s because there are few players so beloved as Eli Manning. There’s a reason a group of former players are planning on standing on the sidelines this week wearing Manning’s No. 10 jersey in solidarity with last week’s mishandling. If you want to get fans back on board with a 2-10 season, starting Manning is the way to do it. Manning has been the face of the franchise for over a decade. He’s led the team to two Super Bowls, over arguably one of the most menacing and most talented teams in league history in Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. And he hadn’t missed a start since his rookie season. Until Ben McAdoo got involved. Manning is the stalwart the Giants need in the time of turmoil. While the injuryridden squad may not have the talent to take down the Cowboys this weekend even with Eli back at the helm, it needs the calm, cool and collected Manning to lead them through the mess management has made of this season. At nearly 37 years old, Manning is still the future of the New York Giants. They need to write last week’s starting fiasco off as another in the long list of McAdoo errors and make it an unfortunate blip on the radar of Manning’s long, successful career. So, Giants fans, as long as we’ve got Eli, everything is going to be OK. Contact Elizabeth Greason at egreason@nd.edu. The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

In wake of doping scheme, Russia sanctioned by IOC Associated Press

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Russian athletes will be allowed to stand on the medal podium at the Winter Olympics — just not with their anthem playing or their nation’s flag rising above them. The International Olympic Committee barred Russia and its sports leaders from the upcoming games in South Korea after its lead investigator concluded members of the Russian government concocted a doping scheme at the 2014 Sochi Games that “caused unprecedented damage to Olympism and to sports.” Not welcome in Pyeongchang next year will be any sign of the Russian Olympic Committee or any member of its sports ministry, which was responsible for what investigators concluded was a top-to-bottom scheme of “manipulation and cheating” to ensure Russians could dope at the Olympics on their home turf and not get caught. The IOC punishment did leave room for many Russians to compete under the name “Olympic Athlete from Russia” or OAR. They would have to pass drug tests to prove they were clean and also did not benefit from the Sochi scheme. If they win, the Olympic flag would be raised and the Olympic anthem played to honor their victories. That is, if Russian President Vladimir Putin allows them to go to the Feb. 9-25 games. He previously has said it would be

humiliating for Russia to compete without its national symbols. Alexander Zhukov, the Russian Olympic Committee president who also was suspended from his IOC membership, told TV reporters in Lausanne that one key was preserving the name “Russia” in the team name. “They’ll be called Russian athletes and not some kind of neutrals ... that’s very important,” Zhukov said. If it was a victory to have the word “Russia” in the team name and invite some Russian athletes to compete, it came at a cost. The IOC also suspended the Russian Olympic Committee until at least the start of the closing ceremony in South Korea. In an embarrassment for Russia’s hosting of the 2018 World Cup, the IOC also banned Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko from the Olympics for life. Mutko heads the organizing committee of soccer’s next World Cup. As sports minister in 2014, he was deeply implicated in the Sochi doping plot by two IOC commissions and a World Anti-Doping Agency investigation. The IOC also imposed a fine of $15 million on the Russian Olympic Committee to pay for its two investigations into the case and toward future antidoping work. The sanctions could be challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Any Russian athlete hoping to earn invitations to

Pyeongchang will have to come through a stricter-thanusual testing regime and not have a doping violation on their record. The IOC also will bar Russian officials who were team leaders at Sochi, and coaches or medial staff who have been linked to doping athletes. Russia has repeatedly refused to accept that a statesponsored doping program existed. Such denials helped ensure bans on its track federation and anti-doping agency have not been lifted. Instead, Russia blames Grigory Rodchenkov, the former director of Moscow and Sochi testing laboratories, as a rogue employee. It wants the scientist extradited from the United States, where he is a protected witness. The executive board reached its decision Tuesday after a scheduled 4½-hour debate. The report by IOC-appointed investigator Samuel Schmid, the former president of Switzerland who was asked to verify an “institutional conspiracy,” included a 50page sworn affidavit from Rodchenkov, who was also a key witness for McLaren and an IOC disciplinary commission. The chairman of that disciplinary panel, Swiss lawyer Denis Oswald, reported about prosecuting Russian athletes implicated in cheating at Sochi. By Monday, 25 Russians had been disqualified from the Sochi Games and banned from the Olympics for life, and 11 medals were stripped. One Russian was cleared.

ncaa football

Tigers fill All-ACC team, Richt nets coach of the year Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. — Topranked Clemson once again dominated the Associated Press All-Atlantic Coast Conference teams released Tuesday. The league-champion Tigers placed six players on the first team, led by offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt — one of eight unanimous selections from the panel of 14 sports writers who cover the conference.

Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson was the unanimous pick as the offensive player of the year while Boston College running back A.J. Dillon was unanimously selected as the newcomer of the year. Miami coach Mark Richt was chosen as the coach of the year after leading the Hurricanes to the Coastal Division title and their first appearance in the ACC championship game. North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb is the

defensive player of the year. Clemson earned its third straight berth in the College Football Playoff a day after beating Miami 38-3 in the ACC title game . Jackson, Dillon and Chubb also were unanimous selections to the first team along with N.C. State running back Nyheim Hines, Syracuse receiver Steve Ishmael and two players from Virginia — linebacker Micah Kiser and safety Quin Blanding.

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Sports

The observer | wednesday, december 6, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com

ANNIE SMIERCIAK | The Observer

Irish senior forward Martinas Geben steps up to the free-throw line during Notre Dame’s 80-77 loss to Ball State on Tuesday at Purcell Pavilion. Geben made all four of his free-throw attempts during the game.

Irish sophomore guard T.J. Gibbs dribbles the ball during Notre Dame’s 80-77 loss to Ball State on Tuesday at Purcell Pavilion.

Everett

trouble throughout the last week and a half. For example, the Irish once again started slowly on the offensive side of the ball, trailed at halftime and had to dig themselves out of a hole in the second half. Halfway through the first half, the Irish only had 13 points, and they went into the locker room trailing 34-29. This isn’t a healthy trend, especially when it continues to appear against teams like St. Francis Brooklyn, and it should be a large concern for Brey and his staff. I know the recipe of “second-half comeback” somehow ended up working out against Wichita State, but it clearly failed against Michigan State, allowed St. Francis Brooklyn to hang around Sunday and it failed the Irish on Tuesday.

Continued from page 12

loss. Ball State is better than people realize. In his postgame press conference after Sunday’s 71-53 over St. Francis Brooklyn, Irish head coach Mike Brey noted as much when he said the Irish would prepare for Ball State as if it were NC State. And for good reason — the Cardinals only lost by one point at Dayton in early November and headed into Purcell Pavilion on a threegame winning streak, including 93-85 win on the road against Indiana State on Nov. 25, defeating a good Sycamores team that handed Indiana a loss early in the year. Playing in an in-state

W Bball Continued from page 12

Michigan State’s was a onesided affair, with Connecticut’s 34-point winning margin perhaps flattering the Spartans, who trailed by 44 midway through the fourth quarter. The Spartans were tested against another ACC opponent last week in Miami, but were defeated 67-57 after shooting 21-54 from the field and 6-14 from the line, before narrowly avoiding an upset in a 65-62 win over Western Michigan. Although the team’s scoring has slowed down considerably, the Spartans still bring the 21stranked offense in the nation, thanks to the team’s depth of capable scorers. While no one Michigan State player averages more than redshirt senior guard Branndais Agee’s 11.6 points per game, 11 different players have averaged at least five points, in stark contrast with Notre Dame, where only five healthy players and the injured Vaughn have reached that mark. McGraw said she was impressed with how the team has adapted since last year, when senior forward Tori Jankoska carried the Spartan offense with 22.6 points per game. “They’re a different team than last year,” McGraw said. “Last year, they had one great player, one go-to player in Tori Jankoska who was responsible for a lot of

game with a large Ball State contingent in the stands, coupled with the fact that it was a midweek game the week before finals, and it’s easy to see how the various factors came together to create a perfect trap game for the Irish. The Irish fell into the trap, and while that hurts, they almost pulled themselves out of it. After senior guard Matt Farrell hit a 3-pointer with 24 seconds left to tie the game at 77 apiece, many believed the Irish would find a way to pull out the win, just as they had against Wichita State in the Maui Invitational finale. Column ideas regarding phrases like “gritty win,” “veteran squad pulls through” and “Irish prove once again they can win the close game” flashed through my

their scoring. Now they don’t have that player but they’re still putting up points — they’re all putting up points now. There’s a lot of good players, and it’s going to be tough to deal with them all.” The largest success this season so far for the Spartans, however, has been on the glass, with the team ranked 7th in the nation in rebounding margin at plus14.6, despite a minus-18 margin against the Huskies. Much like the team’s scoring, team efforts have provided the Spartans’ success, with every player on the roster averaging under six rebounds per game but 10 averaging at least 2.5. Although McGraw stressed the team aspect of the Spartans, one individual of note will be senior forward Taya Reimer. Reimer started for the Irish as a freshman and averaging 10.4 points per game, while ranking second on the team in both blocks and rebounds, but early in her sophomore season she left the team and chose to transfer to East Lansing. In her first year for the Spartans she earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors and she has averaged 10.2 points per game this season despite an injury that caused her to miss two contests. The Irish and the Spartans will tip off at 7 p.m. Wednesday night at Purcell Pavilion. Contact Daniel O’Boyle at doboyle1@nd.edu

mind. Then, Ball State junior guard Tayler Persons — who had a tremendous game with 24 points to lead the Cardinals — sized up junior guard Rex Pflueger in the final seconds and drained a 3-pointer in the defender’s face from the left-wing with less than two seconds left. Ballgame. But look, losing to Ball State in early December isn’t Armageddon. This team is still figuring out its identity and what its strengths are on both ends of the court. This loss stings, but it can be a good teaching point for Brey and the Irish. They’ll bounce back. However, what is concerning is that the Irish exhibited the same flaws that have gotten them in

So overall, while Notre Dame’s home loss to Ball State was shocking and unexpected, we should recognize that this was seen by the players and coaches as a much more competitive matchup than the fans probably saw it. While that didn’t change the outcome, it does help us understand how and why it happened. It’s early in the season, and unexpected upsets and surprising losses like this happen all the time. The Irish just have to make sure it doesn’t become a habit. Contact Joe Everett at jeveret4@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

EDDIE GRIESDIECK | The Observer

Irish freshman forward Danielle Patterson prepares to shoot a free throw during Notre Dame’s 121-65 victory over Mount St. Mary’s on Nov. 11 at Purcell Pavilion. Patterson is averaging 9.7 minutes per game.

Sports

M Bball Continued from page 12

happy about, but we’ve still got to search for it — search for our identity on that end of the floor, continue to fight and continue to defend even if we’re not hitting shots,” Irish senior forward Bonzie Colson said after Tuesday’s game of the team’s slow start. “We didn’t come out with enough energy at first,” Irish senior guard Matt Farrell said.

ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, december 6, 2017 | The Observer

“Dug ourselves a hole, and we’ve got to stop doing that.” After shooting just 37.9 percent in the first half of the season’s other loss last Thursday, the Irish (7-2) got off to an even slower start Tuesday against the Cardinals (5-4), shooting just 37 percent from the floor and seeing themselves head into the locker room with a deficit for just the third time this season — this time down 34-29 to Ball State. “It’s tough seeing the ball almost go in and coming out

a lot of the time,” Farrell said. “It’s tough, it’s frustrating. It is what it is, though — that’s basketball.” In fact, the Irish trailed for the final 12:01 of the first half and once again struggled to connect from the 3-point line — something the team also struggled with in Sunday’s win over St. Francis Brooklyn — shooting just 2-of-10 from beyond the arc. But the deficit never grew larger than eight, as Notre Dame’s defense held Ball State’s offense to just 38.7

ANNIE SMIERCIAK | The Observer

Irish senior guard Matt Farrell looks to pass during Notre Dame’s 80-77 loss to Ball State on Tuesday at Purcell Pavilion. Farrell added eight assists during the game to his season total of 45, a team-high mark. Paid Advertisement

percent from the floor, forcing eight turnovers and coming up with five steals to keep the game within reach for the second half. “It’s one of those games where our defense is good enough in the first half, but we’re not very good offensively, and we missed some open looks,” Irish head coach Mike Brey said. “We probably were feeling it a little bit — you get some expectations on you and you play a little tight, and I thought we did at times, so that was kind of new territory, but I can’t put my finger on us offensively, but we’ve got to figure it out.” So, when the second half got underway, Notre Dame looked to do what it couldn’t against the Spartans (8-1) last week — come out strong, put the first half behind it and come away with the victory. And, for a while, it seemed like the Irish would do just that. Within the first 3:26 of the second half, Notre Dame went on a 15-6 run to turn its 34-29 deficit into a 44-40 lead. Colson had five of those 15 points, while junior guard Rex Pflueger had eight — and together, they had Notre Dame believing it would be able to overcome yet another poor first half. But it did not. Ball State would respond with a 3-pointer. Then a steal. Then a jumper. Then another stop and layup. Suddenly, just over two minutes after taking their first lead of the game since the 13-minute mark of the first half, Notre Dame found itself trailing yet again, down 47-44. From there, it would be a battle, with each team taking its own swing. The two teams traded baskets for a stretch, trading the lead three times to bring it to a 50-49 game at the 12:37 mark with the Irish ahead. But the Cardinals then fired their first punch, going on an

18-8 run over the next 5:35, as Persons would score seven points himself to fuel the run and give Ball State a 67-58 lead with 6:45 left. And Notre Dame would respond. Over the next 6:09, Notre Dame would go on a 19-10 run of its own, as Farrell would score 12 of his 14 points in the game during that stretch, including a 3 that tied the game at 77. But it was in that last 21 seconds that Ball State delivered the knockout blow. For, despite strong defense by Pflueger, Persons would hit one final 3 — giving him 24 points on the night — to send the crowd at Purcell home quietly. “This is the first time we’ve taken a big punch and a disappointing loss,” Brey said after the game. “The loss [to Michigan State on the road], we could feel that one coming for a while and we know they’re a heck of a team, but this is the first time we’ve really been smacked. So I’m very interested to see our demeanor.” And the demeanor seemed to be a quiet, critical one. For Farrell and Colson, the loss served as a reality check on where the team is at this point and what needs to improve going forward. “We’re having trouble finding the rhythm offensively,” Farrell said. “We’ve got to get back to playing Notre Dame basketball and getting in a good flow. I like our fight — we’ll obviously fight until the end every time. But [Persons] hit a big shot, they played well, we missed a lot of free throws, we didn’t execute on certain times and we’ve got to get back to the way we usually play.” “It’s a reality check of who we are, and we’ve been praised, so it’s good to get knocked down and continue to grow,” Colson said. “We’re still searching for who we are, and there’s nothing wrong with that. We’ll continue to work, get better and continue to battle on both sides.” And as they look ahead, the Irish — particularly their senior leaders — will use this experience to help steer the team as it grows and continues to develop. “It’s rough, but it’s just a game,” Colson said. “We learn from it. As captains, we have to keep everybody together — we will do that — and continue to grow and keep our heads high. It’s a tough one to handle, but we’ll continue to grow and learn about who we are on both sides of the floor and get back to work [Wednesday].” But when they look back on the game Wednesday heading into practice, the loss will serve as a reminder of how much work is yet to be done, Farrell said. “We’re not there yet,” Farrell said. “It’s a long year, but we’re not there yet.” Contact Ben Padanilam at bpadanil@nd.edu

The observer | wednesday, december 6, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com

men’s basketball | Ball state 80, ND 77

Irish fall to Ball State in stunning upset Despite troubling loss, Notre Dame shouldn’t panic

Slow start, missed shots costly for ND By BEN PADANILAM

Joe Everett

Editor-in-Chief

Sports Writer

Quiet. That was the nature of the Irish player’s lounge following No. 9 Notre Dame’s 80-77 loss to Ball State on Tuesday. It was the reaction of Irish fans in Purcell Pavilion after the realization of Cardinals junior guard Tayler Persons’ game-winning 3-point shot sunk in. And it was the best way to describe the Irish scoring attack in the first half, as it struggled to find its rhythm in the first half of yet another midweek game. Although it wasn’t against the Michigan State defense in a road environment this time around, it cost them just as dearly, as it resulted in Notre Dame finding itself on the end of one of the season’s most surprising losses. “It’s not something to be see M BBALL PAGE 11

ANNIE SMIERCIAk | The Observer

Irish senior forward Bonzie Colson, back, pulls down a rebound during Notre Dame’s 80-77 loss to Ball State on Tuesday at Purcell Pavilion. Colson scored a team-high 26 points to add to his season total of 176.

“Bad loss.” That was the general reaction on Twitter after No. 9 Notre Dame was upset by a score of 80-77 at the hands of Ball State, and it’s not a false one. Objectively, Tuesday’s loss inside Purcell Pavilion is now a medium-sized blemish on Notre Dame’s resume. The Cardinals (5-4) came to South Bend with a 1-4 road record on the year and a 0-9 record in the all-time series against the Irish (7-2). No longer. Tuesday night’s win over Notre Dame was Ball State’s first win over a nationally ranked opponent for the first time since it downed No. 4 UCLA 91-73 more than 16 years ago. So yes, this was a shocking win for the Cardinals, and a bad loss for the Irish. Yet, it was an understandable see EVERETT PAGE 10

ND WOmen’s basketball

Squad looks to bounce back against Spartans By DANIEL O’BOYLE Sports Writer

After seven consecutive games on the road, No. 3 Notre Dame finally returns to Purcell Pavilion, hoping to bounce back from its first loss of the season. On Sunday, the Irish (7-1) led No. 1 Connecticut by as many as 12 points in the first half and by a score of 68-58 with less than eight minutes remaining, but the Huskies came back to win the game 80-71 to end an Irish road trip that also included wins over No. 5 South Carolina, No. 16 South Florida, No. 19 Oregon State and No. 24 Michigan. Now, the Irish will hope to get back to winning ways when they host Michigan State. Irish head coach Muffet McGraw said she believes her team has learned a great deal from the road trip and is happy to return home. “It’s so great to be back here,” McGraw said. “I can’t wait to get back out there in front of our fans. I think we learned a lot over this trip, a lot about our poise in adverse situations. I think we overcame a lot of adversity. To be able to play so

many ranked teams and play pretty well, I thought there were a lot of good things to take from that.” Although the Irish struggled late against the Huskies, McGraw emphasized that she did not believe her team, depleted by three season-ending ACL tears to senior forward Brianna Turner, senior guard Mychal Johnson and freshman center Mikayla Vaughn and coming off the difficult road trip, suffered due to stamina issues. “I don’t think stamina really came into it,” McGraw said. “In a game like that, nobody’s tired until after it ends. We took some bad shots, we didn’t box out properly a few times and then gave them some second-chance opportunities, I think it was mostly those things.” The Spartans (5-2) began the season on a roll, winning their opening four games, scoring at least 95 points in each contest and receiving votes in the AP Poll. Yet, like the Irish, they suffered their first loss of the season to the top-ranked Huskies. Unlike Notre Dame’s defeat, see W BBALL PAGE 10

EDDIE GRIESEDIECK | The Observer

Irish sophomore guard Jackie Young defends her opponent during Notre Dame’s 121-65 victory over Mount St. Mary’s on Nov. 11 at Purcell Pavilion. So far this season, Young has 127 points and 65 rebounds.