Print Edition of The Observer for Thursday, December 7, 2017 by The Observer

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Volume 52, Issue 61 | thursday, december 7, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com

Professor discusses Latino education Luis Ricardo Fraga delivers Hesburgh Lecture regarding demographics of American Catholic schools By MEGAN VALLEY Assistant Managing Editor

Latinos now comprise 35 percent of all Catholics living in the United States; for practicing Catholics under 30, Latinos comprise 52 percent. Yet, only 15–17 percent of all students enrolled in Catholic schools are Latino. Luis Ricardo Fraga, director of the Institute for Latino Studies, addressed this low enrollment of Latino students in Catholic schools and explained the importance of the Latino and Catholic communities for predicting American demographic trends in his Wednesday night lecture, part of the 2017 Hesburgh Lecture series. “Those of us in positions of responsibility and in positions

of influence — voters, all of us who are Catholic, who are citizens of the country, who are residents of this country — we have a chance to decide what kind of legacy we want to leave subsequent generations,” Fraga said. Fraga said the Latino community in America is not just growing, but also dispersing throughout the country into less-concentrated areas. “What we see is a dispersion across the entire country [of Latinos],” he said. “Fifty-two percent of students in [Goshen, Indiana] are Latino. … This changing demographic is not just a growth in population, but a geographical dispersion.” Nationwide, Fraga said the percentage of the population see LECTURE PAGE 3

College to host annual holiday fundraiser By GINA TWARDOSZ Associate Saint Mary’s Editor

Every December, the Lillie O’Grady Center at Saint Mary’s hosts the Sisters of the Holy Cross Christmas Bazaar, a holiday marketplace which sells handmade gifts. The proceeds of the bazaar benefit the Sisters of the Holy Cross. The 2017 Christmas bazaar will take place Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sr. Rose Goodrow, director of development, said in an email that “the bazaar has a long history for the Sisters,” as there is even a record of the bazaar occurring in the early 1950s. She said the proceeds from the Bazaar are “split in half,” with the money divided evenly to support the Ministry with the Poor and the other half lending support to the Sisters Retirement Fund. Sr. Jeanette Fettig, Goodrow’s

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predecessor as the director of development, said the Christmas bazaar is popular with community members and students. “Always, in the first two hours, we have mobs of people — everyone is respectful of one another, however,” she said. “We have a lot of people from the community, some from South Bend, Holy Cross Village and a lot of Notre Dame students. The students love the cards and campus photos.” Fettig said the bazaar is well received because it is reminiscent of a traditional Christmas bazaar that many of the visitors are familiar with. “I had a man come up to me and say, ‘You know, this is a real old-fashioned Christmas bazaar,’” she said. Because the bazaar benefits the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Fettig said those who patronize see BAZAAR PAGE 3

VIEWPOINT PAGE 5

CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer

Director of Institute for Latino Studies Luis Fraga speaks at Eck Center Auditorium on Wednesday. Fraga explored the reasons Latino students are underrepresented in Catholic educational institutions.

Saint Mary’s staff offers study advice for finals By MAEVE FILBIN News Writer

With finals week fast approaching, students are preparing for a barrage of long nights, last minute cram sessions, impulsive snacking and accidental fasting. Anxiety will settle over campus like a thick fog, turning even the most prepared students into stressinduced zombies. Even though finals season is stressful, Diane Fox, the director of the Office for Student Success at Saint Mary’s, and Heather Abbott, a counselor from the Saint Mary’s Health and Counseling Center, said there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Abbott said stress is not only an appropriate response to finals week, but a fact of life. She said that stress — when managed correctly — can be channeled into something healthy and useful. “To deal effectively with stress, we need to develop an array of coping skills. Coping depends on a balance between

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acceptance and action, of letting go and taking control,” Abbott said in an email. “There are also a variety of daily choice techniques which one can employ in order to engage more effectively with stressors.” Such methods, Abbott described, include time management and planning, deep breathing, self-talk, visualization of success, self-care and affirmations, a healthy balance of distraction and focus, reframing, catharsis and social support from friends and family. “Sometimes, a good cry or a good laugh can be a simple answer to stress,” Abbott said. Fox acknowledged the end of the semester warrants some celebration, but advised against partying on the Thursday and Friday night before finals week. “I like to equate final exams to the Super Bowl — you don’t want to blow it at the end, get arrested and not be able to participate in the Super Bowl,” Fox said. “This is when you want to be at your utmost mental, physical and spiritual best.”

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In order to reach peak condition, Fox said, students need to reach a comfortable level of confidence before entering their final exams. “Confidence is uppermost in importance,” Fox said. “In order to be confident, you first have to take a step backwards and believe in your preparation, and this requires time management. You don’t want to cram.” In order to make the most of the remaining days before finals, Fox suggested students alternate study spots while preparing for each subject — a trick that narrows down the mental-recall process. She also reminded students to start each study session with a specific, reasonable goal in mind and to include some sort of practice testing within that objective. “You will have the satisfaction of knowing your work is done, and you will have a form of feedback. I want students to know what they know before they see FINALS PAGE 3

HOCKEY PAGE 12

TODAY

The observer | thursday, december 7, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com

Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com

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What are your Christmas break plans?

P.O. Box 779, Notre Dame, IN 46556 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556 Editor-in-Chief Ben Padanilam Managing Editor Katie Galioto

Asst. Managing Editor: Marek Mazurek Asst. Managing Editor: Rachel O’Grady Asst. Managing Editor: Megan Valley News Editor: Courtney Becker Viewpoint Editor: Mary Freeman Sports Editor: Elizabeth Greason Scene Editor: Adam Ramos Saint Mary’s Editor: Martha Reilly Photo Editor: Chris Collins Graphics Editor: Lauren Weldon Advertising Manager: Molly McCarthy Advertising Manager: Alexandra Pucillo Ad Design Manager: Madison Riehle

Office Manager & General Info

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

Paola Bocock

Rachel Davis

senior off campus

“Going home and seeing my cat, Gatsby.”

“I’m going to New Zealand.”

Will Hanley

Karina Malkovsky

freshman Stanford Hall

sophomore Cavanaugh Hall

“Spending time with my family and reuniting with old friends.”

“Napping and Netflixing.”

Phil Criswell

Victor Luna

senior Dillon Hall

“Beating up my younger cousins in snowball fights.”

“Enjoy some snow with my dog.”

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CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer

Sophomores Mickey Parks, left, and Daniel Guobadia, right, take a photo with Saint Mary’s economics and business professor James Rogers during Snapshots with Santa, an event held in the Dooley Room of LaFortune Student Center on Wednesday.

The next Five days:

Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

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.

Folk Choir Audtions Coleman Morse Center all day Auditions on the third floor of CoMo.

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.

Final Exams campus-wide all day Finals begin on Monday and end on Friday.

News

ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, december 7, 2017 | The Observer

student SENATE

Blais delivers State of Student Union address By MARY BERNARD News Writer

Student body president Becca Blais gave her State of the Student Union address at student senate’s Wednesday night meeting. Blais talked about the many accomplishments of the Student Union thus far in her term.

Finals Continued from page 1

go into the final because that will give them confidence,” Fox said. “If you haven’t studied or if you haven’t prepared, you’re afraid of what you don’t know, and then you second guess yourself and make silly mistakes.” Fox also stressed the importance of maintaining good eating habits in the days leading up to finals and suggested a breakfast loaded with protein on the morning of the exam, as well as a shower to wake up the senses. “Your brain is a muscle that needs to be fed,” Fox said. “You’re doing marathon sessions with finals.” In addition to healthy eating and adequate rest, Fox recommended relaxation in various forms of physical

“Your work in the Student Union has culminated in nearly 100 different policy and programming initiatives, with more to come,” Blais said. Blais cited a few, mentioning changes made during the summer to University Health Services, the introduction of LimeBike, the Flick on

exercise, such as a brisk walk around campus or a short workout. Abbott also suggested regular study breaks for movement, progressive muscle relaxation and stretching. On exam day, Fox said students should bring a water bottle and take sips periodically throughout the two hours of testing. She also said they should also come equipped with trail mix — a sustaining snack — and a peppermint for a quick hit of natural energy and mental clarity. “These strategies don’t take the place of studying, of course,” Fox said. “Methodic, careful studying will give you not only knowledge, but the confidence that you need in order to go into your final and do well.” Contact Maeve Filbin at mfilbin01@saintmarys.edu Paid Advertisement

the Field event, support for DACA and undocumented students, initiatives related to Notre Dame-South Bend relations and GreeNDot training for both Student Union members and varsity athletes. “W here are we now? Last senate of the semester, 250 days down, 115 to go in this

term,” Blais said. Even though only 75 days will remain in her term after winter break, Blais hopes the accomplishments of the Student Union will continue. “It is never too late to tr y something new and engage in these roles in creative ways,” Blais said. “We will not slow down, we will not keep pace,

but we will strive beyond in our service this spring.” Finally, Blais echoed the sentiment with which she began the address. “If people aren’t calling us crazy, then we aren’t doing enough,” Blais said.

Bazaar

bazaar had previously interacted with the Sisters somewhere in their personal lives,” she said. “They also know the Sisters will continue to serve the poor as well as support their retired sisters.” Even though Fettig is no longer the director of the event, she has maintained her involvement. “I spend the whole year pricing everything. … All those price tags are written by my pen,” she said. The Christmas bazaar is run, in part, by volunteers. Volunteer Mary Blume said she

got involved in the bazaar because she loves Saint Mary’s, where her granddaughter is a student. “My granddaughter is a senior at Saint Mary’s, so I love to support Saint Mary’s and everyone in the community,” she said. Volunteer Sally Tobin said she volunteers because she wants to give back to the Sisters. “The Sisters do so much,” she said. “We like to give back.”

demographic change. “The future of the country in terms of race and ethnicity is already there for the next generation,” he said. “The future reality is the reality of my children and, hopefully, my grandchildren. … Ninety-four percent of Latinos under the age of 18 [are American citizens]. The future of this community is here and is as American — under current law — as one can be.” Fraga noted that while the Latino population has a high percentage of members who find it important to maintain their ethnic identity — measured through the maintenance of Spanish-language skills — across generations, there is also a huge emphasis on integrating into American society. “Ninety-four percent of the first generation said it’s extremely important to learn English,” he said. “This community wants to both integrate and remain distinct.” While the Latino community is changing, Fraga said the “enrollment gap” in Catholic schools remains. “Only 5 percent of all Latino youth in the country are enrolled in Catholic schools,” he said. “There are a lot of challenges. A lot of Latino families — even if they’re Catholic — don’t know about Catholic schools, and don’t know about the possibilities afforded by Catholic schools.” Part of this unfamiliarity owes to the fact that Latinos come from countries where it is not assumed that many parishes have a school associated with them, Fraga said. In addition to financial difficulties and a lack of Latino

teachers, board members and administrators, there is a problem with increasing Latino enrollment because schools are not being “welcoming.” “We had a number of Latino parents who told us that when they called their local parish schools, the first question they were asked was ‘Do you have papers? We only enroll students who are here legally,’” he said. “Is that consistent with Catholic doctrine? Is that consistent with the messages we’re getting from Pope Francis? Is that consistent with the message we’re getting from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops? Is that consistent … with the message of welcoming all to our churches? ... The welcoming that Latino families often receive, oftentimes, is fundamentally problematic and more concerted efforts need to be made to show respect.” Fraga said that even though the Church may not be known for being on the “forefront of social change,” the changing demographics offer it a unique challenge. “What does it mean to be Catholic in a changing Church and a changing country? … We’re coming together,” he said. “Maybe not us, specifically, but our children and our grandchildren — they’re coming together,” he said. “ … Divine providence has put us in this position, not by chance, but to see if we’re up to the challenge of building an intercultural community based on the most soulful practices of the Gospel.”

Continued from page 1

the event develop a special connection with the Sisters. “Some of the items are made by the Sisters, and all the proceeds go to the Sisters of the Holy Cross,” she said. “Everyone who comes [is considered] a friend of the Sisters.” Goodrow said many who visit the bazaar have faith the money spent will be put to good use. “Many of the people who come to purchase items at the

Lecture Continued from page 1

that identifies itself as “white” is decreasing, with the rapidly growing Latino population contributing largely to the

Contact Mary Bernard at mbernar5@nd.edu

Contact Gina Twardosz at gtwardosz01@saintmarys.edu

Contact Megan Valley at mvalley@nd.edu

The observer | thursday, december 7, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

Large numbers

The future of religious liberty

Emma Farnan Photographer

Eddie Damstra Dinner Table Talks

W hat is the largest finite number that you can think of ? Maybe some of you will know what a googol is, which is 10^100 so basically a one with 100 zeros after it. Some may even have heard of a googolplex which is 10^googol. Yes this is a huge number but it can be conceived of still, at least how many digits it has can be conceived. But what if I told you that even this is tiny? So, basically there is a number called “Graham’s Number” that is so large, it is genuinely impossible to describe how many digits it even has. It once held the record for the largest number ever used in a mathematical proof, but I can explain how to build it. First, we need a new notation, so we will use a ↑ as this notation. This basically will say how many times to raise something to a power. So 3↑3 is 3^3 = 27 and 3↑↑3 is 3↑(3↑3) so 3^27 which is over 7.6 trillion. Another way to say this is having a “tower” of threes that is three tall because it would be 3^3^3. Now 7.6 trillion might already be hard to imagine, but let’s do it again. 3↑↑↑3 would be 3↑↑(3↑↑3). So now we have three raised to the third power 7.6 trillion times. Now, our tower is 7.6 trillion threes tall (remember that a tower only three tall is that 7.6 trillion). At this point, it would be easy to say that we should stop because we are so beyond what people can think of realistically. Unfortunately, we haven’t even remotely approached Graham’s Number — and by remotely, I don’t mean that we are half way there. I mean that we haven’t even really started on our journey yet. At this point, we have pointed out how unimaginably much larger each arrow makes the number, remembering 3↑3 is 27 and 3↑↑3 is 7.6 trillion. So one more step, 3↑↑↑↑3? Huge! The height of this tower of threes has the equivalent to a tower of 7.6 trillion threes as the number of threes in it. And this is the real starting point of Graham’s Number, because we will define 3↑↑↑↑3 as equal to g₁. Now, you see how we described it as g₁? W hat would g₂ be? Interestingly, that would be 3↑↑↑ … ↑↑↑3 where there are g₁ arrows. I am not saying there are g₁ threes in the tower, I am saying that there are gı arrows. Do this again, and g₃ is 3↑↑↑ … ↑↑↑3 with g₂ arrows. I cannot stress how unbelievably gargantuan these numbers are. It is impossible to even attempt to describe how many digits there are. The number of atoms in the observable universe is only something like (3↑↑3) raised to the sixth power, and we were far beyond this with simply 3↑↑↑3. Back to Graham’s Number. Remember g₃? Continue that same process of creating a number higher of “g” until you get to g₆₄, and you have finally reached Graham’s Number. At this point, Graham’s Number seems like it may as well be infinite. W hen counting to infinity, we usually just go one, two, three, … ∞. But alas, Graham’s Number is farther from infinity than one is from Graham’s Number. By definition, even g with the subscript of Graham’s Number is smaller than infinity. So, next time you think about “infinity,” think about how large finite numbers can get and know infinity is honestly unimaginably further away than that. Contact Emma Farnan at efarnan@nd.edu The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments in the controversial case of Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The case will determine whether a bakery owner has the right to refuse to provide a wedding cake to a gay couple. This case will result in one of the most important Supreme Court decisions in recent history. We will soon discover if the Supreme Court will uphold one of the most fundamental of all constitutional rights: the right to exercise one’s religion. This case is not about the legality of discrimination against gay people, despite being posed as such by some. This case does not involve a baker refusing to sell a gay person a birthday cake or a blueberry muffin. In examples such as these, where a baker refuses service to an individual simply on the basis of the individual’s sexual orientation, it is rather apparent that the baker would be engaged in unjustifiable discrimination. While it may seem that the case being brought to the Supreme Court is analogous to the above examples of discrimination, it is vital to highlight the core difference between such discriminatory cases and the case currently being litigated at the highest court in the land. This case does not involve a baker refusing service to gay individuals simply on the account of their sexual orientation. Rather, this case involves a baker refusing to offer his product to go towards a gay wedding. In this case, the baker is objecting to the gay wedding, not the gay individuals. The bakery owner, Jack Phillips, objects to a gay wedding because his Christian faith tells him that marriage is between one man and one woman. Some people argue that making the aforementioned distinction between refusing service based on sexual orientation and refusing service based on religious objections to a gay wedding ceremony is splitting hairs. However, the distinction is not contrived or insignificant, but rather provably legitimate and substantial. In this case, the bakery owner offered to sell the gay couple any other baked good. He simply said he was unable to sell a gay wedding cake without violating the teachings of his religion on marriage and sexual activity. Thus, since the only deterrence to Phillips’ willingness to serve the couple was the fact that his product would go towards a gay wedding, it is obvious that the gay wedding itself is the very subject of his objection. I do not expect the Supreme Court or the American populace at large to agree with the moral and religious beliefs of the bakery owner. It is undeniably true that selling a wedding cake to a gay couple would not violate the religious conscience of many people, even

many Christians. However, the important reality is that there is a sect of the population, of which this bakery owner belongs to, whom hold fervent religious views that would lead to feelings of religious betrayal if they were to have their products included in a gay wedding ceremony. One of the most frequent responses to the argument I have posited above is to suggest that utilizing the bakery owner’s first amendment right to abide by his Christian faith could be extended to defend atrocities such as the refusal to offer services to an interracial wedding. This response even appeared in Tuesday’s arguments in front of the Supreme Court. However, this argument has no validity because there is no reasonable religious objection to interracial marriage. One cannot claim an action to be an exercise of one’s religion if the action one is committing is entirely unreasonable and not legitimately tied to one’s religion. In other words, a Christian bakery owner would be unjustified in refusing service to an interracial wedding because there is no reasonable Christian objection to interracial marriage. The objection to provide services to an interracial wedding could only be explained as rooted in bigotry and racism, both of which should not be protected. Interracial marriage and homosexual marriage are fundamentally different and hold fundamentally different footings in religion and society. Unlike interracial marriage, there are explicit and legitimate objections to homosexual marriage within Christianity, and nearly every other major religion for that matter. The words “reasonable” and “legitimate” certainly possess a degree of subjectivity, but the very nature of judicial proceedings is grounded in dealing with rather subjective notions. With that said, I hope that the jurisprudence utilized in this Supreme Court case will correctly identify the bakery owner’s objection to making a gay wedding cake as reasonable and legitimate in the context of freedom of religion. The Supreme Court should rule in favor of the Christian bakery owner. Every American should possess the right to reasonably abide by their legitimate religious convictions. Stripping Americans of this right is stripping individuals of the most fundamental of all constitutional rights and sets a dangerous path towards broad infringement on civil liberties. Eddie is a junior majoring in economics and political science, with a minor in constitutional studies. He plans on attending law school after his time as an undergraduate at Notre Dame. He can be reached at edamstra@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

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LETTERs TO THE EDITOR

LimeBike etiquette A bike was one of the top items on my list of things to bring to college. It’s not that I mind walking, I just hate how long walking takes and knew that having a bike would be much more efficient. What I didn’t know was that the availability of bikes on campus would be far and wide due to the LimeBikes that have swept Notre Dame’s campus. While these LimeBikes do come in handy when in a pinch — I’ll admit, I’ve ridden a LimeBike from point A to where my bike was parked at the library so that I could ride my own bike back to my dorm — they have also become quite irritating to me. First of all, these bikes are every where. The “lime” green color pervades the campus. But the main problem is LimeBike users leave the bikes anywhere they want, whether it be standing,

leaning or sometimes even lying on the ground. They can be found in the middle of the sidewalk, outside of building entrances, behind other parked bikes in a bike rack and even up in trees. In fact, the carelessness that riders sometimes use when abandoning their bikes can actually be quite dangerous to other bikers or pedestrians. Several instances have occurred where I have been riding my own bike or running with my team and have had to swerve onto the grass to avoid crashing into a LimeBike that is parked across a sidewalk. The other thing I find frustrating about LimeBikes almost contradicts my first frustration: when they are parked in a bike rack. These bikes lock to themselves, which is one of the reasons they can be ridden anywhere and dropped off at

any point. Therefore, they do not need to be parked in a bike rack. They are simply taking up a spot for a bike, such as mine, that actually needs to be locked to something. And because of the back tire being locked, LimeBikes are impossible to move unless I pick up the entire bike and carry it away. It seems as if students forgo all common sense when using LimeBikes. I implore my fellow LimeBikers of Notre Dame to take care of these convenient modes of transportation, because if they continue to be taken advantage of, these omnipresent bikes may disappear as fast they came. Claudia Magnussen freshman Dec. 5

Vatican nuclear disarmament This month in Vatican City, Rome, I was honored to meet Pope Francis and hear him deliver a powerful, historic message. He spoke in the context of a conference on the challenge of nuclear disarmament, with United Nations ambassadors, Nobel laureates, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) representatives and many other scholars and experts. Yes, in person, the pope had that reputed kindness and glow about him. But, on this occasion at least, he spoke with unflinching gravity, visibly bearing a burden of our global tensions and conflicts. In this historic event, he issued a formal, unequivocal condemnation of the sheer possession of nuclear weapons. Even having them is morally depraved. They create “nothing but a false sense of security. They cannot constitute the basis for peaceful coexistence.” In the past, popes and bishops have condemned the use of nukes as intrinsically evil — insofar as they indiscriminately target non-combatants (see “Pacem in Terris” or “The Challenge of Peace”). Under such moral convictions — shared by many other faiths and civil society movements around the globe — many nations have attended to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) for decades. Crucial to this treaty was Article VI, which requires good faith negotiations on nuclear and general disarmament. But diplomatic efforts have grown complacent, the move toward disarmament has plateaued and the arms race is even re-escalating. As for the Church’s teaching, it had ceded a limited acceptance: Nukes may be at best a temporary deterrent on the way to disarmament. But most experts would argue that the nuclear nations, while paying lip service towards such goals, have always regarded their arsenals as permanent policy. This is evident in that nuclear nations have only reduced stockpiles from unimaginable apocalypse to imaginable apocalypse. Meanwhile, the world is moving from the relative “stability” of the bipolar U.S.–Russia tension into a multi-polar world lusting to imitate the nuclear powers. This increases fear, which then further erodes diplomacy in a vicious cycle. We have all thus reverted to the muddy thinking that nuclear deterrence is a cogent, lasting security strategy. Thus, the pope’s amplification: No, even having nuclear weapons is a moral abomination. No more “deterrence” equivocations. We need to move from a “temporary ethic of deterrence” to an unequivocal renunciation of their possession and begin disarming now. We must, of course, arrange how to do so prudentially — but beware, such details turn into excuses. Real, lasting peace must be established through “integral nuclear disarmament:” rigorous application of international treaties, diplomacy, mutual respect, norms and human development. Nukes are not only sapping the world of resources; they are now increasingly destabilizing. They are not the gold standard of security but a dangerous golden calf of mythology.

This historic papal declaration has a context. The Vatican conference was a follow-up on several recent United Nations gatherings and a landmark U.N. vote this last July, overwhelmingly rejecting nuclear weapons. This is called the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (or the Ban Treaty). 122 countries voted for it, while the nuclear nations boycotted it. The deputy secretary of NATO, Rose Gottemoeller, argued the Ban Treaty goes too fast and risks overturning the NPT’s gains. While I appreciate her candor and her invitation to continued dialogue with NATO, she did not make a compelling case of exactly how the Ban Treaty invites trouble. I did not hear any exit from the cyclic logic of security-through-instability-isolationand-threat. I took no consolation in her championing that, after the world’s reduction from tens of thousands of nukes, we now only have less than five thousand nukes actively pointed at each other. But the Ban Treaty’s signers argued, in respectful friction with NATO, that the treaty advances the disarmament already agreed to in the NPT and that nuclear nations are failing to uphold. The Mexican U.N. ambassador used the metaphor of a puzzle to defend the Ban Treaty. The 122 signing countries are the easier pieces; they are placing the edge pieces of the puzzle to create the boundary. This stigmatizes nukes, setting the frame for the other nations to fill in their disarmament pieces. Or, as the Nobel laureate of “ICAN,” Dr. Beatrice Fihn, argued, such ambitious agreements have successfully pressured the weapons possessors in the past. We have already seen this mostly succeed in biological and chemical weapons bans. If you listen to the crackling voice of a Nagasaki survivor’s account, as we did, you cannot fail to grasp the nuclear horror. Speaking as an observer, the most powerful elements of the conference were not simply in being able to shake hands and share a smile with the pope, but these five other themes: 1.) We must begin by disarming our hearts. From within comes our violence. We must disarm our fear, which takes cover under the claim to self-defense. We must dig to a deeper foundation to where proactive love speaks reason into our fear. All parties in conflicts are tempted to operate out of a sense of existential threat, which becomes a self-fulfilling, dangerous escalation. In the Vatican halls, we heard Buddhists, Christians and Muslims all voice this concern for disarming our hearts as the font of action. 2.) The pope, along with the vast majority of nations, are clearly declaring what true “realism” is. Do the math, think long term and see how the constant risk and threat of nuclear terror, spending trillions on moral abominations and contaminating our earth — and thinking this will create security — is utopian, dreamy, irrational, short-sighted and idealistic. Lasting peace is built by vigilant diplomatic efforts and human development (on poverty, jobs, energy, sustainability, etc.). This is very difficult work, but it is the realistic way to

build. Deterrence is building on sand. 3.) The possibility of international cooperation is infectious in a room with the pope, passionate ambassadors from around the world and civil servants. In one sense, the multi-national chorus of courageous peace builders was even more thrilling than meeting the pope. For this conference was a scene of escalation in reverse — where we imitate one another’s courage and resolve, not their fears. This helped me see how our nuclear threat today is more the outcome of a diplomatic vacuum of complacency, which is then filled by a contagious fear. The higher realism is dead serious about this contagion and that this must be counteracted by the contagion of dialogue and mutual respect. Our current crises — symbolized in the irresponsible chest thumping between two adults in North Korea and the U.S. and a sad record of drawing down our diplomacy there years ago — are only inviting us into the contagious trance of fear. 4.) “Everything is connected” was a continued theme. The vast trillions spent on nukes is theft from the poor and our children — as Bishop Robert McElroy declared. Our destruction or safeguarding of nature; our personal and national spending on waste or beneficence; our fear or courage — they all affect our brothers and sisters near and far. 5.) The pope’s historic condemnation of nuke possession should strike us firmly, as we are living amidst a moral emergency for which we are all co-responsible. Our tax dollars, our votes, our psyches are all wrapped up in this. The analogous dilemma of living in a country with extermination camps comes to mind. The determination and focus of the Nobel laureate, Jody Williams, was telling. When we clapped at her introduction, she urgently waved it off: “No clapping, it’s a waste of time. ... Civil society can, must and will shape our future. It is insane that citizens do not rise up to call this insane.” Seeing the pope in person offered a vision of a transcendent but fleshed-out love without fear. He had a fresh air of joy combined with a resolute seriousness. But it is up to all of us to not leave this to the pope or laureates. Call reps, get public, join groups, donate, read up, change your life, repent and believe the good news. Do something. Thankfully, Sen. Bob Corker hosted a congressional discussion on the authority for launching nukes. Join the firm witness of the pope, the vast majority of nations and civil society movements that are leading us out of our moral quagmire into a better world. Contemplate what the pope’s unequivocal condemnation means: We in the nuclear countries live in a haze of moral depravation and logicdistortion. If we do not change things, things will not change. Chris Haw graduate student Nov. 23

The observer | thursday, december 7, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com

CRISTINA INTERIANO | The Observer

DAILY

The observer | thursday, december 7, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | Will Shortz

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Keep track of your spending this year. A mistake in calculations could leave you falling short. Stay focused on the best way to handle situations stemming from the past. Do your best to clean your slate of the buildup that accumulated due to too many burdens and poor choices. Much can be accomplished if you configure a plan and stick to it. Your numbers are 6, 14, 25, 28, 33, 42, 49. ARIES (March 21-April 19): An important relationship will suffer if you get into an emotional spat. Turn a blind eye to the flaws you see in someone and reflect more on your own. Personal awareness and growth will bring you better results. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Make positive changes at home or to the way you live. Taking charge of your investments and life goals will help you make wiser choices with regard to how you earn, handle and spend your money. Don’t be fooled by get-rich-quick schemes. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Self-improvement is featured along with relationships. If you make a unique offer, you will pique someone’s interest, but before doing so, make sure you can produce what you promise. A faulty plan will make you appear unreliable. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Put your time and energy into handling your financial affairs, boosting your income and working toward advancement. Update your resume and check the online job market, or try applying your skills and qualifications more diversely. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): It’s best to be secretive until you know exactly where you stand. Whether dealing with friends, colleagues or the powers that be, listen carefully and formulate exactly what you want and need to move forward. Personal gains look promising. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Refuse to let anyone answer for you or take over your responsibilities. Make your own decisions, be innovative in the way you handle others, and stay secretive about your future plans. Preparation will be the key to success. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Stay focused on doing a better job of making changes to the way you handle your responsibilities. Short trips will lead to new ideas and possibilities. A business or personal partnership will help improve your current situation. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A business trip or event will offer you new information that could help you reinvent how you use your skills and qualifications. The people you encounter will spark your imagination. Don’t take risks that can lead to injury. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): ETake action and do your best to resolve issues or concerns you have. Helping others physically will bring about change and turn you into a lifesaver. The rewards will be greater than anticipated. Personal improvements are encouraged. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Pressure will build and conversations will turn into arguments if you aren’t careful in choosing the right words to express your feelings. Listen carefully and be prepared to back away from a no-win situation. Secrets are best kept for now. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Emotional spending will lead to added stress. Refuse to let your anger prevail. Use your intelligence, and allow your ability to make a difference rise to the surface. If you love what you do, you will do a good job. Romance is highlighted. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A situation is likely to become explosive if you have overspent or signed a document that binds you to a commitment you can’t fulfill. Tread carefully when dealing with situations that can be costly financially, emotionally and physically. Birthday Baby: You are helpful, appealing and friendly. You are energetic and imaginative.

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Sports

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Sports Authority

Palmeiro shouldn’t get comeback Ryan Kolakowski Sports Writer

No, Rafael Palmeiro, you are not making a comeback to the big leagues. Really, Major League Baseball is doing just fine without you. Ken Rosenthal, an MLB on Fox reporter and senior writer for The Athletic, reported on Wednesday that Palmeiro hopes to make a return to the big leagues. Palmeiro is now 53 years old and has been out of Major League Baseball for 12 years. Palmeiro — a La Habana, Cuba, native — last played baseball at the major league level in 2005. Despite the solid production that the 40-year-old had for over 20 seasons for the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles, his career ended unceremoniously. Sure, Palmeiro had some great statistics and great accomplishments. After being selected as an AllAmerican at Mississippi State University, he crafted a long and productive Major League career. He was selected to four All-Star games, earned three gold gloves and was awarded two silver sluggers. He racked up 569 home runs and maintained a .288 batting average throughout his career. Shortly after collecting hit number 3,000, a major milestone for professional baseball players, Palmeiro tested positive for Stanozolol, an anabolic steroid. Palmeiro was suspended for the positive test, and his appeal to the suspension was denied. “I have never intentionally used steroids. Never. Ever. Period,” Palmeiro said in a released statement. Jose Canseco, a known steroid user, claimed Palmeiro also used steroids during his career. Canseco and Palmeiro were teammates on the Texas Rangers. Palmeiro is a product of the Steroid Era, and Major League Baseball must do everything it can to distance itself from that stain on its

timeline. Forget whether or not Palmeiro, at 53 years old, is even physically capable of making a comeback. Regardless of his health and ability to play, Palmeiro should not return to Major League Baseball. There are many reasons why Palmeiro may want to return. A return may offer an opportunity for Palmeiro to clear his name. He may still be able to perform at a high level and earn a spot on a Major League ball club. It seems unlikely for a 53-yearold to perform on the grandest stage in baseball, but Julio Franco played until he was 49 in 2007. None of that matters, though. Major League Baseball teams will hardly be lining up for Palmeiro’s services, nor should they. The initial steroid ban in Major League baseball was implemented in 1991, and punishment for steroid use has grown stricter since then. Today, a firsttime offender is suspended 80 games for steroid use. A second offense comes with a 162-game suspension, an entire season. Following a third offense, a player will be banned from Major League Baseball. Former New York Met Jenrry Mejía is the only player to be banned from baseball for use of performance-enhancing drugs. It is clear the league has changed its stance on steroids since Palmeiro played a dozen years ago. His accomplishments are tarnished by the failed drug test of 2005, and he has no business playing in a league that is still recovering from the steroid era. Palmeiro might want a return to Major League Baseball, but that doesn’t mean baseball should take the aging and tainted slugger. Contact Ryan Kolakowski at rkolakow@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

ANN CURTIS | The Observer

Irish senior forward Jake Evans watches the puck during Notre Dame’s 1-0 win to Penn State on Nov. 11 at Compton Family Ice Arena. Evans leads the team with 28 points and 21 assists this season.

Hockey Continued from page 12

save percentage (.955), is tied for first in wins (13) and was awarded the HCA Player of the Month award on Wednesday after posting a perfect 8-0-0 record in November. With all of that in mind, Jackson said he was proud of the sophomore’s excellence thus far. “He’s in the zone, and he’s making the game look easy,” Jackson said. “And that’s a trait that I didn’t see in junior hockey. He reminds me of Cal Peterson, in his voice and in his confidence right now. You see it in his positioning, you see it in his rebound control. And, frankly he’s got a pretty good defense in front of him, which is helping, because the few times a game where he does give up a rebound, he’s got a good defensive corps that’s doing a great job. So, I think that’s giving him confidence, but he’s very calm out there. “The one thing I’m surprised by, more than anything, is his willingness to handle the puck, which I didn’t see a lot of in junior hockey. ... I can’t say how happy I am for him, because last year he paid his dues. He sat behind Cal Peterson, and now he’s getting rewarded for that.” But the strong Irish face quite a difficult test this weekend in the Badgers (10-7-2, 4-3-1), who sit 12th in the nation. Notre Dame will also face this test on the road, it’s second straight road series. “This will be our biggest challenge on the road, for sure,” Jackson said. “This is a really talented hockey team that we’re playing this weekend.

Ohio State was a good test, obviously, but this will be the biggest test for us on the road by far. And it’s on the Olympic sheet, so fast team, bigger ice — that’s going to definitely change things a little bit.” However, the Irish have an experienced team this year with seven seniors, many of whom have taken considerable leadership positions on the team. Jackson is hopeful these leaders will help the rest of the team remain composed in the high-intensity environment the team will experience this weekend, as the team will need to find a way to get it done on the big stage. “We have a more experienced team this year than we have had,” Jackson said. “Now, the one thing that last year’s team dealt with was playing in the big venues, in the big environment. Frankly, that’s going to happen this weekend. When we play at Wisconsin, it’s going to be a big venue environment. We’re intentionally going to play Wisconsin at the United Center to get that off of our backs later in the season. When we go to Minnesota, or Penn State, those are intimidating venues. We have got to find a way to perform in those types of situations.” Having achieved so much already this season, the Irish are playing with a target on their backs, and Jackson said he and his the squad have not forgot that with the start to the year they’ve had. “People love to hate Notre Dame, and they want to beat Notre Dame, and the fact that we’re doing well makes it even more magnified,” Jackson said. “But I think we’re somewhat accustomed to having a target

on our back. That’s where we get everybody’s game. But some nights, we’re not ready for that. “The second half is going to be much more challenging. I don’t even want to think about it right now, having to go back to Penn State or back to Minnesota. But that’s what this team is going to have to be prepared for. … We’re in a great place right now, but we just have to continue to be better.” And despite the early success, the Irish remain focused on preparing for the end of the season and the playoffs. Jackson emphasized the need for growth in order to be prepared later on in the season. “We’ve been fortunate that we’ve done as well as we have,” Jackson said. “There have been nights that I haven’t felt great about, but we won. You try to keep that away from your team because you want to be positive, you want to encourage them. They’re doing great as far as the record goes, but I’m one of those guys who wants more. I want us to be prepared for the end of the season. “In order for us to be a great team, we’re going to have to possess the puck more, we’re going to have to have a better power play and we’re going to have to be more consistent on face offs — that’s always been a strength of ours, but in the last three or four weeks, we’ve dropped off for whatever reason. There’s a lot of room for growth from this team, and going into the second half, there are going to be definite areas that we want to make growth and improvement in.” Contact Connor Mulvena at cmulvena@nd.edu

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W Bball

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with just under a minute left to set up an Irish run. Notre Dame came out in the fourth quarter and closed out the game, going on a 10-2 run to start the period and effectively put the game out of reach. Shepard finished the game with 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting while also adding two rebounds and three steals. Shepard attributed her success to just following the game plan and thanked her teammates for the playmaking. “Coming in and playing a Big Ten team — a team I’m familiar with — Coach put a big emphasis on making sure we got the ball inside, just because I have a one-on-one in there. The guards did a great job of passing it in, and it just comes down to finishing, which has really been a focus,” Shepard said. Young finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, and graduate student guard Lili Thompson had 12 points and nine rebounds on 4-of5 shooting from the f loor. Freshman forward Danielle Patterson played 10 minutes, nine of which came in the second half, and finished with four points. The Irish were able to contain Michigan State’s two

leading scorers, freshman forward Sidney Cooks and senior guard Branndais Agee to just two and zero points, respectively. The Spartans still found some offense through junior center Jenna Allen and senior guard Lexi Gussert, who each hit three 3-pointers. Allen had a game-high 28 points on 10-for-18 shooting, and Gussert added 11 points. Notre Dame outrebounded Michigan State, 44-34, despite both teams getting 11 offensive boards. While both teams finished practically identical in assists and turnovers, the difference in the scoreboard came from the free-throw line: Notre Dame went 28-for-35 from the charity stripe, and Michigan State went 12-for-17. Before the game, the University honored McGraw for her induction into the Naismith Hall of Fame this past fall. McGraw has held her position for 31 straight years and coached her 1,000th game this past weekend. Ogunbowale was proud of her coach and appreciated the fact she gets the opportunity to learn from the best. “It’s just an honor to be able play under her and be coached by her every day, to get her wisdom and experience,” she said. Contact Charlie Ortega Guifarro at cortegag@nd.edu

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ANNA MASON | The Observer

Irish junior forward Jessica Shepard looks to attack the basket during Notre Dame’s 90-59 win over the Spartans on Wednesday.

The observer | Thursday, december 7, 2017 | ndsmcobserver.com

ND WOmen’s basketball | ND 90, MSU 59

Irish rout Spartans, show resolve after UConn By Charlie ortega guifarro Sports Writer

Coming off their first loss of the season on the road against top-ranked UConn, the No. 3 Irish bounced back Wednesday evening at Purcell Pavilion, beating Michigan State 90-59. Junior guard Arike Ogunbowale led the Irish with 23 points on a night in which head coach Muffet McGraw was honored for her induction into the Naismith Hall of Fame. The Irish (8-1) started the game strong, going on an 11-0 run — with six coming from junior forward Jessica Shepard — before the Spartans (5-3) finally scored with 7:16 left in the opening quarter. Notre Dame continued to attack the Spartan defense, however, as Ogunbowale found holes in the defense for easy layups to put the Irish up 21-6. But in the final two minutes, the Irish cooled down offensively, and the quarter closed with Notre Dame up 23-9. In the second quarter, the Irish defense was dominant, making up for eight first-half turnovers of their own by

limiting the Spartans to two baskets and seven points in the period and 16 points in the half. Notre Dame forced 11 turnovers in the half, held Michigan State to a 19 percent field-goal percentage on 6-for-32 shooting and didn’t give up a point over the final six minutes. With the defense forcing stop after stop, the Irish offense went off on a 16-0 run to end the first half and propel the team to a 47-16 lead heading into the locker room. The Spartans came out of halftime in a full court press, trying to force turnovers to get back into the game. The plan worked well initially, as Notre Dame turned the ball over four times within the first two minutes, and Michigan State jumped out on a 10-2 run. The Spartans outscored the Irish 25-18 in the quarter and held them to 6-for-19 shooting, but as the momentum seemed to be going Michigan State’s way, Irish sophomore guard Jackie Young got a huge block on Spartans sophomore guard Taryn McCutcheon see W BBALL PAGE 11

ANNA MASON | The Observer

Irish junior guard Arike Ogunbowale dribbles down the lane against a Spartans defender during Notre Dame’s 90-59 win over Michigan State on Wednesday. Ogunbowale scored 23 points in the game.

HOCKEY

ND hopes to extend win streak at Wisconsin By CONNOR MULVENA Sports Writer

MACKENZI MARINOVICH | The Observer

Irish senior defenseman Jordan Gross moves the puck during Notre Dame’s 6-4 loss to Nebraska Omaha on Oct. 26 at Compton Family Ice Arena. The team has since gone on an 11-game win streak.

No. 4 Notre Dame will head to Madison, Wisconsin, this weekend to take on the No. 12 Badgers at the Kohl Center. The teams will meet for the first time since 2007, when Wisconsin defeated Notre Dame 4-1. The Irish (14-3-1, 8-0-0 Big Ten) head into their final series of the calendar year with an 11-game winning streak, not only the longest active streak in the country, but also the longest streak in the program’s Division I history. Nevertheless, head coach Jeff Jackson and his squad are very aware of the various areas of improvement which still need to be addressed. “I addressed it with our guys before the game on Saturday. We can’t be focused on how many games we’ve won in a row,” Jackson said. “We have to understand that there are still parts of our game that have to get better. Possession game has to improve, our power-play has to improve. It’s not like we are on all cylinders right now. We’re relying a lot on our defense and

our goaltender, and when push comes to shove, we’re not going to win all the time with that. It’ll help us win, no question. But we need to possess the puck more. ”It all starts on our own end. I thought we were much better coming out of our own end on Saturday [against Michigan State]. I addressed it with them, and they had a little response on Saturday, but we still only scored one goal. I think we have to start seeing a little bit more puck possession.” But the Irish still have a lot of be proud of this season — as of now, they sit atop the Big Ten and at No. 4 in the nation. Senior captain Jake Evans currently leads the nation in scoring and assists, with 28 points on seven goals and 21 assists. Senior defenseman Jordan Gross, leading the strong defensive corps of the Irish, is tied for second in scoring among defensemen nationally. Sophomore goaltender Cale Morris, who has played masterfully over the course of the season, ranks first in the country in see HOCKEY PAGE 9