Print Edition of The Observer for Wednesday, February 21, 2018

The independent

To uncover

newspaper serving

the truth

Notre Dame and

and report

Saint Mary’s

it accurately

Volume 52, Issue 87 | wednesday, february 21, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Nuns discuss vocations, roles on campus Sisters serving as faculty, residential staff reflect on callings, ministry experience at Notre Dame

By LUCY LYNCH News Writer

Several nuns living and working at Notre Dame gathered to share stories of their vocations and ministry experiences in a panel discussion Tuesday night. The panel, held in Coleman-Morse Hall and co-hosted by Campus Ministry and the Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism, was moderated

by Cushwa Center director Kathleen Cummings.

Amongst the Sisters present were rectors, professors and associate deans at Notre Dame.

The panel included Sister Ann Astell, professor of theology, Sister Kathleen Cannon, associate dean in the College of Science, Sister Mary Donnelly,

rector of Flaherty Hall, Sister Mary Jane Hahner, rector of Pasquerilla West Hall, Sister Mary Catherine Hilkert, professor of theology, Sister Mary Lynch, rector of McGlinn Hall and Sister Susan Sisko, rector of Badin Hall.

Before the sisters were introduced, Cummings explained why the Cushwa Center and Campus Ministry elected to form this panel event.

Cummings said that not much is known about the lives of sisters, as a 2015 study conducted by the Conrad Hilton Foundation indicated.

“Catholic Sisters, while highly respected, remain a mystery to most Americans,” Cummings said, referring the study results. see SISTERS PAGE 4

CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer

A panel of nuns share stories of their vocational and ministerial experience Tuesday night. The panel was co-hosted by Campus Ministry and the Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism.

University to host Human Development Conference

By CHARLOTTE EDMONDS News Writer

The Kellogg Institute for International Studies will be hosting the 10th annual Human Development Conference this Friday and Saturday

in the Hesburgh Center for International Studies. Titled “Decades of Development: Contextualizing the Past and Visualizing the Future,” co– chairs senior Tommy Emmet and senior Abigail Midlige said they are looking forward

to incorporating elements of past years‘ conferences and former leaders in the conference.

“We’ve invited some of the past chairs, some of which see CONFERENCE PAGE 4

FTT to perform comedy exploring racism, identity

By SERENA ZACHARIAS News Writer

To kick off the spring semester, the Notre Dame Film, Television and Theatre (FTT) department will perform Karen Zacarias’ comedy “Native Gardens.” The play will be directed by FTT Director of Theatre, Kevin Dreyer and will run from Feb. 22 to Mar. 4 in the Philbin Studio Theater in see PLAY PAGE 4

news PAGE 3

Photo courtesy of Kevin Dreyer

Maria Amenabar Farias, left, and R. Tyrel London, right, rehearse in preparation for the Feb. 22 debut of the play “Native Gardens.”

ScenE PAGE 5

viewpoint PAGE 6

College students speak with Cervelli at forum

By SYDNEY DOYLE News Writer

Saint Mary’s community members got the opportunity to speak with Saint Mary’s President Jan Cervelli at an event titled Tuesday Tea with President Cervelli hosted by the Saint Mary’s Student Government Association (SGA). The gathering was an open forum where all students had the opportunity to talk one-on-one with Cervelli.

Student body president senior Bailey Oppman said this event was successful because President Cervelli was open and excited to be speaking with students.

“We know that President Cervelli is super open to dialogue and getting to know the students,” Oppman said.

“So really it was just a way for the President and the students to get to know each other more.”

softball PAGE 12

Oppman said the casual setting of the event was a key benefit because it created a sense of closeness, not only between classmates but with Cervelli. She said the hope was that students could simply enjoy conversation and refreshments, as well as become more familiar with Saint Mary’s as an institution by personally speaking with the president.

“The main purpose of this was just to have an open forum and a place for students to come and have a chance to meet the president of their college and have fun in a more informal way,” Oppman said.

The event was publicized through social media with the promise of free Saint Mary’s monogram coffee mugs given out to the first 100 students in attendance.

Student body vice president see TEA PAGE 3

swimming PAGE 12

2

TODAY

The observer | wednesday, february 21, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com

Have a question you want answered?

Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com

What is your favorite rainy day activity?

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

Jake Rinear

Bethany Kokotajlo

sophomore Keough Hall

senior Cavanaugh Hall

“Watching a good movie.”

“Forgetting my umbrella.”

Megumi Inoue

Matthew Fabian

sophomore Lyons Hall

senior Alumni Hall

“Napping.”

“Splashing through puddles.”

(574) 631-4542 bpadanil@nd.edu

Caroline Reidy

Benjamin Bernhard

Managing Editor

sophomore Lyons Hall

sophomore O’Neill Hall

“Sleeping.”

“Getting prescriptions filled.”

Editor-in-Chief Ben Padanilam Managing Editor Katie Galioto

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

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

Office Manager & General Info

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

(574) 631-6900 ads@ndsmcobserver.com Editor-in-Chief

(574) 631-4542 kgalioto@nd.edu Assistant Managing Editors

(574) 631-4541 mmazurek@nd.edu, rogrady@nd.edu, mvalley@nd.edu Business Office

(574) 631-5313 News Desk

(574) 631-5323 news@ndsmcobserver.com Viewpoint Desk

(574) 631-5303 viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com Sports Desk

(574) 631-4543 sports@ndsmcobserver.com Scene Desk

(574) 631-4540 scene@ndsmcobserver.com Saint Mary’s Desk

mreilly01@saintmarys.edu Photo Desk

(574) 631-8767 photo@ndsmcobserver.com Systems & Web Administrators

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

The news is reported as accurately and objectively as possible. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the majority of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Assistant Managing Editors and department editors.

Commentaries, letters and columns present the views of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Viewpoint space is available to all readers. The free expression of all opinions through letters is encouraged.

Letters to the Editor must be signed and must include contact information.

Questions regarding Observer policies should be directed to Editor-in-Chief Ben Padanilam.

Post Office Information The Observer (USPS 599 2-4000) is published Monday through Friday except during exam and vacation periods.

A subscription to The Observer is $130 for one academic year; $75 for one semester.

The Observer is published at: 024 South Dining Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-0779 Periodical postage paid at Notre Dame and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER Send address corrections to: The Observer P.O. Box 779 024 South Dining hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-077 The Observer is a member of the Associated Press.

All reproduction rights are reserved.

Today’s Staff News

Sports

Tom Naatz Jordan Cockrum Lucy Lynch

Lucas Masin-Moyer Ben Padanilam Mary Bernard

Graphics

Scene

Claire Kopischke

Brian Boylen

Photo

Viewpoint

Chris Collins

Evy Stein

Corrections An error in Tuesday’s paper stated that Ben Bernhard defeated Michael Feijoo in the quarterfinals of Bengal Bouts.

Michael Feijoo won the fight. The Observer regrets this error.

ANN CURTIS | The Observer

Sophomore Brandon Hardy is named Fan of the Game at Monday night’s men’s basketball matchup versus Miami. Fan of the Game is announced during halftime of Notre Dame home games; the winner receives a signed basketball.

The next Five days:

Want your event included here?

Email news@ndsmcobserver.com

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Exhibit: Modern Women’s Prints Snite Museum of Art all day Selected prints by female artists.

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

Discussion with author Francisco Goldman.

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

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

Musical performance spanning genres.

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

Includes classical and American fiddle tunes.

Kamikiri: Papercutting Performance Hesburgh Center 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Open to the public.

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

The Irish take on the Hokies.

Hockey vs. Michigan State Compton Family Arena 7:35 p.m.

The Irish take on the Spartans.

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

Comedy written by Karen Zacarias.

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

The Irish take on the Wolfpack.

News

ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, february 21, 2018 | The Observer

3

Saint Mary’s to host poverty simulation

By GINA TWARDOSZ Associate Saint Mary’s Editor

Saint Mary’s will host a poverty simulation Wednesday afternoon in the Rice Commons.

The event, sponsored by the Justice Studies Department, is intended to help students better empathize with those in poverty.

Senior Veronika Hanks is in charge of the event. She said in an email that the Poverty Simulation is an immersive experience that will allow students to understand the struggles of poverty.

“A poverty simulation is an interactive immersion that sensitizes participants to the experience of poverty,” she

Paid Advertisement

Paid Advertisement

said. “During the hour-long simulation, students will take on the identity of a person in poverty. When I recently participated in a poverty simulation at the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Cincinnati, the identities that were given to me and the other participants were based on real people the Center had helped.”

Hanks said the hour–long simulation will feature interactive stations representing the daily complications people in poverty face in their lives.

“For one hour, participants attempt to live for one month in poverty,” she said.

“Different tables and stations are set up around the space that represent the bank, the doctor’s office, family services, child care facilities, temp [temporary staffing] agencies and other institutions that the poor interact with in their daily lives. Participants must find a way to pay their rent, take care of their children and deal with any and all obstacles that are assigned to their persona. In the process, participants become better able to understand the plight of the poor.”

Hanks’ interest in poverty simulations led her to apply for a Dooley Grant to obtain funding for the Saint Mary’s simulation.

Professor Andrew Pierce

said Dooley Grants aim to fund “student designed and managed projects” that will promote justice and action at Saint Mary’s.

“The Katharine Terry Dooley grants are designed to fund innovative projects

by Saint Mary’s College students which address issues of peace and justice, incorporate awareness and action and involve the broader campus community,“ he said.

For Hanks, the emphasis Saint Mary’s puts on justice in its curriculum inspired her to bring a poverty simulation to the school.

“Service and social justice are key components to a Saint Mary’s College education,” she said. “Saint Mary’s students, of all backgrounds and majors, participate in an impressive amount of service work by national standards. Many of us also take advantage of the wide variety of courses offered at Saint Mary’s that address social justice issues, and many of us display a dedication to the poor through their service work and career aspirations. Many students are also well–educated in the plight of those in poverty, as many at Saint Mary’s have themselves experienced it.”

Poverty simulations can help students to better understand the experience of those in poverty, Hanks said.

“No matter how much one may have studied how society might better help the poor, it can be hard for one to truly sympathize with them if they

have not themselves experienced poverty,” she said. “By putting students in the shoes of a person in poverty, even for a mere hour, a poverty simulation helps students better understand the emotional experience of poverty.”

A poverty simulation is different than other methods of studying poverty in that it is immersive, Hanks said.

“Unlike academic approaches to studying poverty, where the poor can be objectified as a field of study, and service work, where a relationship of servitude can keep one separated from the poor even as they aid them, a poverty simulation asks participants to assume the plight of the poor,” she said. “In this way, it forces [participants] to engage with poverty in a way that other avenues do not.”

Hanks said the poverty simulation will be an important experience for all participants, but especially those studying nursing, social work and education.

“Saint Mary’s sends a lot of women into fields that inevitably involve active engagement with Americans in poverty,” she said. “A poverty simulation could only help these women better perform their jobs, as it will equip them with greater empathy for the poor.”

Editor’s note: Veronika Hanks is a former news writer for The Observer.

Tea

president.”

Students at the event said that they were excited about the free coffee mugs and the food but they also said they were excited to see Cervelli at such an informal event. In addition to the excitement at the prospect of speaking with the president, students were also excited to pet her dog.

Cervelli said she is happy she can be part of an event that allows students to relax and get in touch with the Saint Mary’s community.

“Tea is a little different,” Cervelli said. “You guys are really busy right now, I’m sure, so it’s nice to have a little break.”

Cervelli said these events and the opportunity to interact with students are her favorite parts of being president.

“I think any opportunity to spend time with students just relaxing one–on–one and talking is what this job is all about,” Cervelli said. “There is no better thing for me to be doing, and I learn so much from all of you.”

Continued from page 1

Lydia Lorenc said the idea for the coffee mugs brought attention to the event and encouraged attendance, however she said people stayed because of the unique opportunity the forum provided.

“It was a really good incentive,” Lorenc said. “I think people get really excited to talk to president Cervelli as well because not many people get the opportunity to on a regular basis. So any time she is available to talk we know that people will really enjoy it.”

Oppman said it is important for SGA to continue to host events similar to this one. She said she hopes there will be more such events in the next couple of months.

“I think we want to try to continue this tradition throughout the years,” Oppman said. “I know as we advise the incoming student body president and vice president, we want to see if we can figure out another open forum event with the

Contact Gina Twardosz at gtwardosz01@saintmarys.edu

Contact Sydney Doyle at sdoyle01@saintmarys.edu

4

NEWS

The observer | wednesday, february 21, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Conference Continued from page 1

are in development, some of which aren’t, to participate in this year’s conference,” Emmet said.

Midlige said the conference will be focused on a retrospective look at the progress of development as well as how development will continue to evolve in the future.

Ray Offenheiser, director of the Notre Dame Initiative for Global Development, will serve as the conference’s keynote speaker.

Offenheiser performed this role at the inaugural conference a decade ago.

The conference, unique for

Play Continued from page 1

the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.

“Native Gardens” tells the story of a Latinx couple and a white couple feuding over the fence marking the boundary between their backyards and explores a variety of current social and political issues.

“The barrier exists between two backyards as opposed to between two nations, but the polarities between the two couples are set up in virtually every way that’s possible,” Dreyer said. “There are flashpoints throughout, and they eventually culminate into a border war.”

First year master of arts student George Azarate, who plays Pablo, one of the lead characters, said the play addresses questions of intersectionality and identity.

“There are these two ideas of how others see you and how you see yourself and realizing that your reality might not be

Sisters Continued from page 1

The panel aimed to debunk the common stereotypes and media representation of sisters in having the nuns relate their life experiences.

The sisters began by introducing themselves and giving a brief history of their personal congregation. The women also shared the story of their vocation. Some sisters felt the calling to a life of ministry at a young age. Astell said she knew as young as 8– years–old, when she received her first communion, that she would live a holy life. Similarly, Cannon’s vocation was influenced by her school teachers, who were sisters.

“Somehow I knew that this wasn’t just teaching, it was somehow making the world a better place,” Astell said. “So I began to grow into this identity.”

Others, including Hahner and Donnelly, said they received their calling later in life. For instance, Hahner began her career working in a tax office, while Donnelly initially worked in a

it’s exclusive undergraduate focus, provides a platform for students from across the country to share and integrate their research with students from a variety of disciplines.

“It’s a conference by undergraduates, for undergraduates,” Emmet said. “We’re involved in every level of the planning.”

Midlige said the conference is meant to encourage participants to consider their own futures in the field of international development.

“We’re really trying to ask our participants how they can play an effective role in the direction of development in the future,” Midlige said.

Emmet noted some universities have strong relationships

with the conference but this year he and Midlige emphasized reaching out to universities and programs with less–established connections to the conference. Of the 55 expected presenters, 33 are non– Notre Dame students from other schools including Rice, Harvard, Morehouse College, the University of Chicago and George Washington University.

Following the keynote address, the majority of the conference will consist of 15 various panels featuring three presenters each as well as a Notre Dame faculty member or previous conference co-chair serving as a moderator. At past conferences there have been several group projects presented but

this year all projects were conducted individually.

“Research topics range from healthcare to economics to migration to many other disciplines. People from the audience ask questions and then a faculty moderator will provide insight and relate the three different research projects,” Midlige said.

Emmet and Midlige both got involved with the conference their sophomore year and served as co–chairs of the conference’s liaison committee last year. They were selected as co– chairs last April and have been planning ever since. Midlige said they both spent this past summer conducting field work as International Development

minors and had to Skype each other from Uganda, where Midlige was working, to Sierra Leone, where Emmet was working, to discuss the conference theme and logistics. As co– chairs they oversee a team of 20 members within five committees that include logistics, marketing and photo exhibition.

Emmet and Midlige said they are most excited for the live concert starring the Chicago Afrobeat Project in the Jenkins–Nanovic foyer. This event is open to the public and will follow the closing ceremony for conference presenters on Saturday evening.

everyone else’s reality,” Azarate said.

Sophomore Maria Amenabar Farias, who plays Pablo’s wife Tania, said the play looks at racial and cultural divides and the importance of frequently addressing these issues.

“No one is ever a hundred percent right or wrong,” Amenabar Farias said. “It’s about having that discussion about what racism is and what is or is not okay to say. It’s about how words affect people and actions affect people, and it’s about recognizing privilege which is a real thing that exists.”

Azarate said although the show is a comedy, the plot also explores where people fit in social structures.

“It’s lighthearted and it’s funny, but it’s also very profound,” Azarate said. “In this back–and–forth dialogue there are so many layers to this play, and for my character, his relationship with his wife and then his relationship with a neighbor shapes who he is.”

“Native Gardens” was chosen by the FTT department as part of a deliberate effort to showcase diverse shows and casts.

“We have been very consciously for a number of years now trying to make sure that in our season selection process we look very carefully at representation of underrepresented voices,” Dreyer said.

Although the FTT department has a longstanding policy of casting roles in such a way that a performer’s race does not affect an individual’s consideration for a role, the department wants their shows to resonate more with minority groups by choosing shows with written-in diverse characters, Dreyer said.

In striving for better representation in the theater, Dreyer

said FTT is also committed to presenting work from diverse playwrights.

“For a long time we were the theater of dead white guys; that’s the tradition around here.

You look to the classics and the things that are tried and true, which happens across a lot of the departments,” Dreyer said.

“There’s room for dead white guys, but there’s room for everybody else as well.”

Dreyer, Azarate and Amenabar Farias all hope “Native Gardens” will help audience members recognize their own flaws, but even more, the importance of recognizing those shortcomings.

“I want the audience to laugh at themselves and the people around them. I want them to recognize we all have our quirks

and we all have our own perspectives,” Dreyer said. “But as long as we only look at our own perspectives, we are going to wind up in arguments like the people in the show.”

Amenabar Farias said she believes theater ultimately helps people open their minds and consider a variety of issues.

“We introduce an audience to a new world which makes people think,” Amenabar Farias said.

“There’s some magic in theater, you feel like you’re there and the fact that anything can go wrong at any point makes it very organic. I just think that’s beautiful, and it’s something people should come and experience.”

toy store. Despite their first jobs, the sisters realized they could no longer ignore their vocation.

“There’s this mosquito, and you’re like ‘Get off me,’ but it’s God,” Sisko said.

That one mosquito eventually becomes a swarm, she said.

“To get rid of this swarm, I realized I should do what this vocation director suggested and visit the congregation,” Sisko said.

Despite their different paths to the sisterhood, each panelist expressed their gratitude for their time at Notre Dame and their time working at the university.

“I knew of the rector position, I loved the school and I wanted to get to get back to campus ministry on a college campus,” Sisko said. “I decided I needed to come home to Notre Dame.”

Donnelly said she was thankful for her experience as rector of Flaherty Hall.

“There’s something special about college students,” she said. “There’s something in all of you that feeds my spirit.”

Contact Lucy Lynch at llynch1@nd.edu

Paid Advertisement

Contact Charlotte Edmonds at cedmond3@nd.edu

Contact Serena Zacharias at szachari@nd.edu

The observer | wednesday, february 21, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

5

CLAIRE KOPISCHKE | The Observer

6

The observer | Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Introductions Natalie Weber Associate News Editor

About a month ago I was talking with one of the R As in my dorm when she mentioned a bucket list her professor had given her. One of the items on the list, she said, was to introduce yourself to someone new every day.

Intrigued by this idea, I decided to give it a try. W hile I thought I would have to go out of my way to achieve this goal, I was surprised to find that this was rarely the case. For one, simply writing for The Observer has allowed me to meet a variety of people. However, even outside of my work at the newspaper, I found I crossed paths with a person I had never met almost every day. W hen standing in line at the dining hall, I would chat with those around me. I began to talk to classmates whom I didn’t know. And I simply made an effort to reach out to more people.

I had always wondered how a few of my friends seemed to know nearly everyone at Notre Dame. Yet, as I began to introduce myself to a different person each day, I noticed how easy it was to get to know more people on campus. An introvert with an aversion to small talk, I realized I had a tendency to hang back and simply observe, rather than trying to engage with those I didn’t know. I began to wonder how many opportunities I had missed to meet interesting and unique people through my reticence.

W hile this experiment has not turned me into an extrovert, nor did I expect it to do so, it has helped me to overcome this tendency.

Some of these interactions have been relatively brief and I realize many of those I meet may remain acquaintances. Still, other interactions have led to longer conversations. By getting into the habit of introducing myself to others on a daily basis, I hope to eventually develop a few new friendships. Beyond this, it is simply nice to recognize more faces as I walk to class, which makes the campus community feel a little more like home.

At the same time I began to introduce myself to someone different each day, I also began to better appreciate my close friendships. I would like to try to meet as many people as possible; however, I also want to ensure that I get to know others beyond a surface level. Ultimately, I would rather have a few friends who I know really well, rather than only a wide circle of acquaintances.

Even so, I hope that in meeting a new person each day, I will be able to not only to broaden my circle of acquaintances, but also cultivate a few long-lasting friendships.

Contact Natalie Weber at nweber@nd.edu The views and expressions of the inside column are those of the author and not necessarily of the Observer.

The real criminals In the past few decades, our country has faced the revival of a social phenomenon with Draconian precedence: nativism. President Donald Trump and his $ 70 billion wall and “Muslim ban” are only symptoms of a disease that has plagued America for centuries. From the Know-Nothing Party in 1855 to the Tea Party offshoot of the Republican National Convention, our country has witnessed this threat of xenophobia time and again.

Today, however, it is more common to see these nativist sentiments in disguised mantras toward, specifically, “illegal immigrants.” One of the mantras more commonly articulated is that these undocumented immigrants “broke the law” by coming to the United States. In all technicality, immigrants that arrive and remain in the United States outside of official immigration avenues are, by definition, law breakers. Although, I must say, entering the United States illegally in fact prompts a civil trial (i.e. the government doesn’t have to pay for a public defender.)

So, yes, it is illegal. No, by definition, “illegal immigration” is not criminal.

The statement, as true as it is, shows a distorted set of priorities in the minds of prescribers to the policies of border crackdown.

Before diving too far into this idea, it is important to identify the history behind the term “illegal immigration.” Truthfully, “illegal immigration” was never even identified until the late 19th century. It is generally true that for something to be illegal there has to be a law prohibiting it. There were no laws limiting immigration in the United States until the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

At that point, the US government deemed that “it shall not be lawful for any Chinese laborer to come [to the United States].” This act was passed in response to the propagation of white identity backlash politics.

This unprecedented illegality of immigration drastically expanded under the 1924 Immigration Act which established immigration quotas (almost entirely excluding African and South American nations while simultaneously favoring Europeans). This act was also passed in response to the propagation of white identity backlash politics.

Until 1882, all immigration to the United States was legal. Until 1924, all immigration to the United States (excepting for Asian emigrants) was legal.

As American citizens, we accept that many of our laws are created to prohibit immorality and foster a desirable society. There is nothing inherently immoral about immigration. This is made obvious by the fact that immigration law didn’t even exist for the first century of our country’s history. Immigration only gains an immoral connotation when it is defined as illegal. And, as the history of our country suggests, immigration is only defined as illegal when policy makers are politically motivated to do so (always in response to white backlash).

Now that the blemished history of the American “illegal immigration” situation has been made clear, we can focus on the issue at hand: American immigration policy and its subsequent institutionalization of criminality.

The early 2000s saw a spike in unauthorized migration from the U.S.-Mexico border. Apprehensions along the border, according to Pew Research, made their way up to close to 1.7 million in 2000. In reaction to the influx of migrants coming through the Southern border, funding toward border security increased under both Bush and Obama’s administrations.

These measures under Obama and Bush did, in fact, stem the flow of “illegal immigration.” Apprehensions began to drastically drop at the US-Mexico border. 2015 saw 188,000 apprehensions on the border — a nearly 90% decrease since 2000. So, what’s the issue? It seems that the crackdown at the border has done its job. It seems that we’ve managed to stem the flow of migration and could eventually prevent it altogether.

That impression is false.

“Illegal immigration” is here to stay. People are still and will continue attempting to cross the border through nontraditional methods. This often means migrants are forced to trek across hellish deserts with very little food and water. These policies at the border have forced migrants to take dangerous routes and the numbers show the implications of such danger. The death rate for unauthorized immigrants through the southern border (raw deaths compared to apprehensions) has skyrocketed since 2000.

This is directly related to the increase in border security. The correlation shows that increasing funding and resources to Customs and Border Protection with the intent to restrict unauthorized migration causes an influx of migrant death. Because of this, the United States is complicit in murder and, at the very least, negligent manslaughter.

It is clear that the United States has prioritized the enforcement of its arbitrarily fabricated immigration laws over the enforcement of universally accepted standards of conduct (i.e. the international prohibition of knowingly causing death of other human beings).

This prioritization of nativism over human dignity is even manifested in further illegal networks of income that accompany more secretive border immigration.

These migrants generally can’t just walk across the border. They rely on smuggling organizations composed of both American and Mexican citizens to successfully get across the border. These smuggling networks further institutionalize extortion, blackmail, rape, sex trafficking and other forms of forced labor (slavery). The fate of these immigrants is in the hands of “coyotes” (border smugglers). Countless tragic stories outline what happens when these coyotes run into clientele shortage and subsequently income shortage: they extort, they hold people hostage, they rape, they prostitute immigrants, they act as pimps. These are the crimes that come with increased security at the southern border. This is the cost of stemming the flow of “illegal immigration.”

If proponents of an “America First,” closed border policy truly believe in the rule of law, then they must be able to defend the prioritization of arbitrary immigration law over laws maintaining basic human dignity.

From where I stand, these “America First” supporters are not advocates for the rule of law but rather advocates for nativist sentiment. From where I stand, these conservatives are complicit in and actively advocating for murder, extortion, blackmail, rape, sex trafficking and slavery.

From where I stand, these closed border advocates are some of the worst offenders of human rights violations.

From where I stand, these conservatives are the real criminals.

Join the conversation.

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

Drew Lischke sophomore Feb. 14

The observer | Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

7

Study abroad as described by rankings Davis Gonsalves The Highest Ranking Column According to Me

I said to myself when I agreed to write my column from abroad that I would not actually write about being abroad.

How many times do you need to hear how Europeans don’t eat until midnight, how much fun you can have while still staying in a hostel or that capitalism is a farce because a small Nordic nation the size of a major metropolitan area in the U.S. with a third of the diversity can do away with it even though they have their own issues they sweep under the rug but we don’t hear about that because it doesn’t fit with our narrative? That last one might have been a little more specific. I conceded though since I felt there were too many things I found funny about this experience to not talk about, and I will do so by the only way I know how — through rankings: Danish words: 1. Stroget (pronounced strauw) 2. Smorrebrod (pronounced smera-BRUED) 3. Hej-Hej (pronounced hi-hi) 4. Aeggekage (pronounced AY-ga-kay) 5. Naeh (pronounced na Nay-ee) Danish is actually a nonsensical language that I believe derived from people trying to talk while swallowing milk.

The first word, Stroget, is a major shopping street that is literally pronounced by making a “shhh” sound followed by the sound of you dry heaving. Similarly this is kind of how you pronounce Smorrebrod which is an open face sandwich often coated with eggs, mayonnaise, shrimp and butter. It’s slightly better than you think. I find that aeggekage (an omelette) and Hej-Hej (coincidentally meaning goodbye) just sound funny because it’s like if a little kid were told to name things for a new language. I concluded with Naeh because it gives a slight twist to our so often used nah even though it’s the same meaning but with more sass.

Best cliches I’ve heard: 1. “Dare to Discover” 2. “Europe is your classroom”

3. “Maybe a potato, shrimp, mayonnaise, butter and egg sandwich isn’t for me” 4. “Go beyond your comfort zone” So the third one may be out of place but I really wanted to put this quote somewhere that I actually overheard due to its accuracy. I placed “Dare to Discover” first because it makes it sound like I’m being peer pressured to have fun instead of inevitably ending up bored if left to my own devices. “Europe is your classroom” is a nice quote to help people rationalize skipping all their Friday and Monday classes to travel so I slide that one in the No. 2 slot. “Go beyond your comfort zone” is simply lazy and a cliche of a cliche at this point. That’s why I have it below a description of a sandwich.

Types of weather: 1. Depressing This is the best and worst weather because it is the only weather. It is not as cold or windy as South Bend so I can’t complain too much though. Grey skies, full hearts, can’t lose.

Things Danes hate: 1. Bright Colors 2. Biking too slow 3. Walking in the Bike Lane 4. Not Locking your Bike 5. Eye Contact The Danish economy is very dependent on the bicycle.

I have a theory that without following specific biking customs, the Danes would spontaneously combust with a bike bell sound whistling into the distance. Or so you would think by their impatience with a foreigner trying to learn how to ride a bike in a city with all diagonal streets and no street signs. Bright colors is a funny one because originally it caught me off-guard, but when I look at pictures from abroad so far, I notice how I have only been wearing black or dark blue — I am fully immersed since I dared to discover. Lastly, Danes truly hate eye contact, smiling, personal questions or anything else that might be viewed as approachable from Americans. They are very friendly, but you have to almost scare them to start a conversation which

puts this quirk last.

Times I tell Danes the U.S. is the only country to go to the moon: 1. My RA who thought our country was uncivilized until I mentioned this nugget 2. A random group of young Danish men who thought America was no longer a power because we elected Trump 3. When I was meeting my visiting host family and I saw the moon on the train ride back Warning, I may or may not have been intoxicated for some of these instances. The top-ranked spot was particularly eventful because I felt it rallied my American house around our patriotism, resulting in a sort of Copenhagen Tea Party, if you will, against the oppressive RA Ben. The Danish men at the bar thought my point on space travel was funny but you could tell beneath their eyes they were scared knowing I come from a country that dominates the only object in the sky they could see. The train instance is last because I felt I needed to mention my country’s achievement on the train to a Dane who I had never spoken to, and I might have come off as condescending. Surprising, right? Worse still, she was actually German but studied in Denmark so she could claim her scientists are the only reason we had a space program in the first place. All around, I took a loss on the last one but really gave this country the what-for with the first two.

I truly love being abroad though. Copenhagen is much more than the chewing tobacco named after it, and I love seeing daily how Danes are intimidated simply by me speaking at an above threshold level. Anyways, great city, great people but great material to rank.

Davis loves to rank people, places, things, ideas and sometimes even verbs. His current junior year places third among years, his neuroscience major places seventh, and his theology major ranks third among all majors. Contact him at dgonsalv@nd.edu to be placed first in his heart.

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Uncharted water Gabriel Niforatos The Road Less Traveled

I’m going to tell you a story about a Greek fisherman’s cap.

A hat that wasn’t old enough to be a relic but old enough that I forget where it came from exactly. A hat that smelled like Old Spice cologne and shaving cream. A hat whose every crease and hint of stain I had memorized. A hat I wore almost single day for a period of months when I was younger.

The hat belonged to my grandfather. By every standard, my grandfather was a short man, but he was so strong you almost couldn’t tell. He’d fill up any room he was in with his stocky frame and personality, speaking English in his thick Greek accent interspersed with his native language. In years past, he had fought the Nazis in North Africa. He showed me cigarette scars on his forearms from where they tortured him. He had fled Greece years back, escaping civil war and family betrayal to start again in America. It took time, but at one time he owned three restaurants. He would take my father and uncle when they were kids to the Chicago marketplace at four in the morning to buy supplies for his diners.

Small, black round buttons with anchors on them lined the brim of the hat. I liked to think you could smell the ocean breeze if you concentrated hard enough, putting my nose in just the right spot and imagining myself on the bow of a great ship crossing the Atlantic. My grandfather bought the hat in the Greece when he visited for the first time after coming to America. This was his second trip across the Atlantic.

My grandfather didn’t talk much of his first passage, but I can just imagine what it was like. Sailing into Ellis Island, seeing the New Colossus, striding through security and confidently stepping into a foreign land ready to start again.

Except these weren’t the stories he told me. In fact, he never made it through security. On an icy winter’s day that would normally be forgotten in the wrinkles of time, my grandfather jumped overboard and swam to America.

Illegally. In the folds and wrinkles of the hat, you can see piers, snowflakes, hunger and back alleys of those first months in a land that spoke a strange language. With all of today’s questions of illegal immigration, it’s vital to realize that America was in part founded by immigrants. For many, like my grandfather, immigration is about dreaming and going for a better future. My father, my brothers, my sisters would never be here if he hadn’t had the courage to jump ship and believe he could start something out of nothing.

Years later, my grandfather fell sick with pneumonia. He was still a ferocious man but he had grown old and constant trips to the doctor’s office were becoming routine for him.

It was nothing. This was a man who fought Nazis, endured torture, swam to the Eastern shore. Every sickness and any sign of frailty were quickly overcome by the man I saw as the Colossus of Rhodes. I knew he would get better. He always did. One phone call early in the morning shattered that belief. I was still a child and couldn’t fully comprehend what the world would be like without him in it. In the days after his death, one of the hardest things to adjust to was that life continued exactly like it had before. There were no earthquakes, no catastrophic changes to the way we lived life.

Sepia, sometimes black and white, photograph memories of him haunted me. “I never got to say goodbye,” I’d tell myself. “I never got to say goodbye.” It angered me that life went on as it had beforwwe. I wanted people to remember the short yet incredibly strong man with a personality that extended across all the isles of Greece. He died in Chicago; I was in New Mexico. He didn’t die alone I told myself. He couldn’t have. And that was when we got it in the mail from my grandmother. My grandfather’s black fisherman’s hat, wrapped in white paper.

In the threads of that old hat you could the scars of war, the threads of betrayal and warfare and the compromise of those he trusted most in his life. You could see tenacity; shards of ice from the frosty Atlantic from when he jumped the side of a ship with the courage to start anew in a land

that wasn’t ready for him. You could see national pride and you’d probably laugh at the time he said that he’d get rid of any part of him that wasn’t fully Greek. He worshipped Alexander the Great and furiously denied the fact that the ancient ruler might not have been Greek after all. In the lining of that hat was laughter, pain, confidence, strength, anger and a softness afforded by time.

I no longer wear my grandfather’s fisherman hat. The comforting scents of Old Spice and shaving cream have long disappeared. The familiar map of stains and marks were washed away, and now they are replaced by new landscapes of dust. The hat sits on a bookshelf back in New Mexico, miles away from me as I sit writing these words. But in reality, he’s not that far. I realize this now.

One hat could never contain the spirit underneath its brim. I think of him whenever I cross the oceans that life presents me. He lives in the threads, buttons and weaves of my life, when I take tests, find myself in dark alleys and face challenges. He’s there. I swear. You just have to look deep enough. The man who sometimes felt like war came with him to America. The man who laughed like mahogany in between sentences of Greek I wish I understood. The man who showed me what it was like to jump into riptides.

I sometimes wonder what he’d say to me now. He’d put his hand on my shoulder, give it a squeeze. Say something in Greek to me with that mischievous gleam in his eyes, and then softly turn down the street. He’d stop for a second before he turned the corner and give one of his smiles softened by time. Then he’d disappear on his way to another place, Greek fisherman’s cap on his head.

Gabriel Niforatos is a freshman who is double majoring in economics and political science. When he’s not at school he is busy hiking and running in the New Mexico mountain range. His email is gniforat@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

8

DAILY

The observer | wednesday, february 21, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | Will Shortz

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Expand your horizons and open your mind to trying new things. Take greater interest in others as well as in your personal affairs.

Look for clear-cut ways to get the most for the least. Avoiding excessive behavior and people who tend to lead you in the wrong direction will help you maintain a lifestyle that is comfortable and fun. Your numbers are 2, 10, 21, 29, 34, 38, 44.

ARIES (March 21-April 19):Emotional issues will surface if you can’t find common ground or an ability to compromise when dealing with others.

Inconsistency and outbursts will only make matters worse. Keep the peace and think twice before you say something regrettable.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Make changes at home or at work for the right reasons. Don’t let emotions take over or motivate you to head in a direction that may not be suitable over the long term. Intelligence and research will be your tickets to success.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): If someone is acting erratically, back away instead of tagging along. Concentrate on what’s best for you and what you want to pursue. An honest assessment of your current situation will help you make a wise choice.

CANCER ( June 21-July 22): Rethink your lifestyle and the way you handle your money. Building a healthy nest egg will ease your stress. A physical approach to your responsibilities will help you impress others and gain access to a higher position.

LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Keep busy. Exercise, rigorous activities, taking action and making your dreams come true should be on your agenda. It’s up to you to take control if you want to get ahead or make your life better.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Offering to help others is fine, but don’t let anyone take advantage of you. Make clear what you are able to contribute before you get started. Avoid excessive people or temptation. Overdoing it will lead to regret.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Get active and fit. Do your best to get rid of bad habits or frivolous behavior. Make wise choices that will encourage you to keep moving and to do the best job possible, and you’ll avoid complaints and criticism.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A business trip or meeting will encourage success. Discuss your ideas and plans and you’ll be given interesting choices. Walk away from anyone who shows signs of inconsistency or unpredictability. Align yourself with stable individuals.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Let the past guide you. A legal or financial experience will save you from a similar fate. Recall what happened and make adjustments to ensure you don’t lose this time around. Don’t hesitate to say “no.”

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Partnerships will need to be handled with the utmost care. If someone appears to be the least bit erratic or inconsistent, it may be best to keep your distance. Trust in facts and only spend what is readily available to you.

AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Make a stress-free environment your priority.

Live frugally and question your relationships with people who tend to be indulgent. Stay focused on what’s important to you and what will bring you the greatest stability.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Speak from the heart and be open about the way you feel and what you want. Walk away from situations that are casting a shadow on your life or your ability to get ahead. Don’t let anyone stand in your way.

Birthday Baby: You are sensitive, intuitive and caring. You are charismatic and outgoing.

WINGin’ it | BAILEE EGAN & Olivia wang

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

Work Area

Make checks payable to and mail to: The Observer P.O. Box 779 Notre Dame, IN 46556

Published Monday through Friday, The Observer is a vital source of information on people and events in the Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s Community.

Join the more than 13,000 readers who have found The Observer an indispensable link to the two campuses. Please complete the accompanying form and mail it today to receive The Observer in your home.

Enclosed is $130 for one academic year Enclosed is $75 for one semester Name Address City State Zip

sports

ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, february 21, 2018 | The Observer

ND Women’s tennis | ND 4, Indiana 3; ND 7, Wright State 0

Sports Authority

NBA playoffs need revision Lucas Masin-Moyer Sports Writer

During the past week, NBA commissioner Adam Silver toyed with the idea of reinventing the NBA’s playoff system.

The proposal’s central tennent is taking away seeding based on conference — where the teams with the first through eighth ranked records make the playoffs from each conference — to a system where the teams with the 16 best records, regardless of conference, would make the playoffs and be seeded accordingly.

Silver’s proposal seems to be a reaction to the Western Conference’s consistently better overall records in the last 10 or so years, where many teams from the West were excluded from the playoffs despite having better records than playoff teams in the East — during the 201314 season, for example, the 38-win Atlanta Hawks made the playoffs while the 48-win Phoenix Suns, who had the same record as the thirdseeded Toronto Raptors in the East, missed the playoffs.

But this proposal, especially in an era of increased parity between the conferences, doesn’t get to the heart of what is really wrong with the NBA’s bloated playoff system — there are simply too many teams.

I think both Commissioner Silver and I would agree the playoffs ought to be more competitive, but the playoffs don’t lack competitiveness because the teams are unfairly distributed. Rather too many teams participate and the lower-seeded teams are often not able to put up a fight against their higherseeded opponents In the last 10 years, only two No. 8 seeds have knocked off No.1 seeds — the Memphis Grizzlies in 2011, who took down the San Antonio Spurs, and the Philadelphia 76ers in 2012, who beat a Derrick Rose-less Chicago Bulls team.

These games are often foregone conclusions because the real parity in the NBA doesn’t

9

exist between conferences, but rather between the best teams in the league and everyone else.

In the last 10 years, only one team which wasn’t seeded No. 1 through No. 4 has made the Conference finals, the fifth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in the 2013 playoffs.

The typical argument for including more teams in the playoffs is that it gives more teams a shot at the championship because they underperformed for various reasons and in a lot of other sports, this proves to be successful. With the NHL — who have recently had a Stanley Cup Champion (the Los Angeles Kings in 2012) and finalist (the Edmonton Oilers in 2006) — who started the playoffs as a No. 8 seed.

But this doesn’t happen in the NBA in the era of superteams who, by luck in the draft or careful maneuvering in free-agency, are able to consolidate talent in the league.

If the NBA wants to improve the quality of its playoffs, whose unnecessary games have led to careercrippling injuries as they did for Rose, it should consider cutting the number of teams in the playoffs down to eight — four from each conference.

This system, which keeps the conference system intact, making sure teams don’t have to jet across the country for every playoff game, and ensures a more competitive playoffs and a more important regular season. No longer will a sub-.500 team be able to stumble into the playoffs only to put added miles on a team who almost certainly will not lose.

If the NBA truly wants to reform its playoffs to ensure the highest level of competition in the playoffs, it ought to cut out all the filler teams that populate bracket every year and have its best teams shine brightest in consistently competitive matchups.

Irish sweep opponents in doubleheader

By CHARLIE ORTEGA GUIFARRO Sports Writer

Notre Dame beat Indiana and Wright State in a doubleheader on Sunday, w ith 4-3 and 7-0 v ictories respectively.

The Irish snapped a t wogame losing streak after recently dropping matches away at Louisv ille and Ohio State.

T he f i rst match, aga i nst t he Ind ia na Hoosiers, ended i n t h r i l l i ng fa sh ion a s t he match ca me dow n to t he w i re. Ind ia na had ta ken t he doubles poi nt a f ter a decisive 6-4 w i n at t he No. 2 doubles spot.

In si ng les compet it ion, t h ree matches ca me dow n to t h ree set s a nd Not re Da me went up 3-2 a f ter f resh ma n A l ly Bojcz u k’s w i n. Sen ior Brooke Broda however, wa s u nable to cl i nch t he v ictor y a f ter fa l l i ng i n t h ree set s.

The match came dow n to freshman Cameron Corse versus Indiana senior X iwei Cai. Corse fell behind 1-5 in the third set and was one game away from losing the match for the Irish. The freshman responded by w inning six straight games for a 7-5

v ictor y, clinching the 4-3 w in for the Irish. Irish head coach Jay Louderback said he was happy w ith Corse’s comeback performance.

“We needed that, we lost a couple of close matches — our last t wo on the road,” he said. “[The team] had a chance to come home and play a good Indiana team, we knew it was going to be tight. Cameron Corse, as a freshman, came back from 5-1 dow n,” he said. “She shows, [that] no matter what the score is you keep play ing, don’t give up. She was in such a hole but was unbelievably positive the whole time, even though she was dow n 5-1, and came back.”

The match against Wright State was much more manageable for the Irish as they swept the doubles and singles competitions. The doubleheader called for a long day of tennis but Louderback said the team’s preparation paid off.

“We knew coming in that the first one [against Indiana] was going to be a long one,” he said. “We were just prepared knowing that we were going to have to turn around and play another match right

after wards. We have three different times this year where we play t wo matches in a day and it gets long but, it’s just something we have to do to get enough matches in. I felt like we’re in good shape, our [athletes] have worked hard and [are] in good shape. In the summer you play tournaments where you play t wo [matches] in a day so, the [players] are used to this.”

Louderback said new changes made in practice have started to show results.

“We felt like we’ve just not played big points well — in tight situations — we just haven’t played well and come through,” he said.

“In practice, this week, we made things where they meant a lot more so our [players] were under pressure more in practice, and we felt like that really carried over into our match today.”

The Irish w ill return to the court Saturday for another home doubleheader against ACC rival Pittsburgh and Bowling Green.

Contact Charlie Ortega Guifarro at cortegag@nd.edu

Contact Lucas Masin-Moyer at lmasinmo@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Follow us on Twitter. @ObserverSports

Observer File Photo

Senior Brooke Broda hits the ball in a match against Purdue on Feb. 22, 2017 at the Eck Tennis Center. Broda lost in Notre Dame’s earlier match Sunday against Indiana in three sets.

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

10

Sports

The observer | wednesday, february 21, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

EMMA FARNAN | The Observer

Irish sophomore Carolyn Kammeyer competes in the 100-yard butterfly during Notre Dame’s dual meet with Texas A&M on Oct. 14.

Swimming Continued from page 12

third place.

Litzinger spoke highly of the freshmen showing in arguably one of the highest profile competitions of their careers.

“Having Carly Quast make the ‘A’ Final in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke, Lindsay Stone in the ‘A’ final of the 1,650-yard freestyle and Kelly Straub make the finals of the tower diving event was big for our program,” he said.

Staub’s qualification in tower diving was particularly notable considering Rolf’s Aquatic Center, the Notre

Dame diving facility, doesn’t have a platform tower. This inconvenience makes it so the team to schedule occasional training trips to nearby universities.

Shifting his focus to the upcoming men’s swim meet, Litzinger said this past week provided his athletes with plenty of rest before dialing them into their pace work and getting them excited to race.

“We have some team goals as well as individual goals,” he said. “It’s important that we focus on racing for each other and performing like we have all season.”

Once the men’s swimming competition concludes this Saturday the Irish will

turn their eyes on the NCAA championship.

Litzinger said qualifying is a complex, two step process between the two specialties but he is confident that both teams will be well-represented.

“To qualify as a swimmer you have to be within the top 38 swimmers in the country,” he said. “For the women you have to consider the fact that there are still more conference meets and time trials to come this weekend.”

Litzinger said the team can expect the invitations to the championship should be released sometime next week.

The diving team will travel to Columbus, Ohio, to compete in the Zone Championship meet on March 8. They will advance to the NCAA championship based on those results.

Following zone qualification and formal invitations to divers and swimmers, qualifying members of the women’s team will return to Columbus for the third time this season for the NCAA championship, beginning March 14. The men’s national championship will be held the next weekend in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Contact Charlotte Edmonds at cedmond3@nd.edu Paid Advertisement

Track Continued from page 12

distance events, from a national level,” he said. “They’ll be running against some of the best times in the country, at least on paper.”

Carlson projected Notre Dame’s distance medley relay team — made up of graduate student Jacob Dumford, junior Edward Cheatham, graduate student Elijah Silva, and freshman Yared Nuguse — to fall within the top two at the championships. The relay broke a school record last weekend, a performance that won Nuguse ACC Player of the Week honors.

Currently ranked sixth in the country, the team is projected to advance to nationals.

Carlson said he was optimistic about Notre Dame’s chances in other distance events “Dumford and [Nuguse] should definitely make the final [of the mile], and they’re both trying to score in that,” he said.“ ... Elijah [Silva]...will be trying to make the final in the 800-meters. The whole men’s distance team is miles ahead of where it was a year ago or two years ago. It’s kind of exciting to see them all progress in the right direction.”

Sophomore sprinter Troy Pride Jr. will be leading a group

of talented Irish sprinters at the meet, and junior high jumper Matt Birzer will be looking to continue his remarkable success during the regular season.

The Irish women are also gearing up for the championships this weekend. Associate head coach Matt Sparks said high expectations for the distance medley, made up of junior Kelly Hart and seniors Payton Miller, Samantha Murray and Jessica Harris. The team is currently placed 11th nationally, and Sparks said he is hoping that another strong performance this weekend will be enough to guarantee qualification and potentially win the conference.

“We won the [Distance Medley Relay at the ACCs] last year, so we’d like to defend our title with a very similar lineup,” he said. “Whenever you anchor Jessica Harris, good things should happen, so we’re excited about that event.”

Sparks said Murray and Hart are in good position to advance to the 800-meter finals and score some points.

The meet will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Clemson Indoor Track and Field Complex, and will continue through Saturday afternoon.

Contact Peter Baltes at pbaltes@nd.edu

Sports

ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, february 21, 2018 | The Observer

ANN CURTIS | The Observer

Irish freshman right-hander Alexis Holloway delivers a pitch during Notre Dame’s home scrimmage with Loyola on Oct. 10.

Softball Continued from page 12

game.

In addition to turning double play up the middle of the field on defense, Marino and Reed have been leading the Irish offensively for the first two weeks of the season.

Both players are batting over .400 and are first and second on the team in RBIs, hits and home runs.

“They’ve been the consistency in the lineup,” Gumpf said of the duo. “They’ve been the ones who have come up in big opportunities and done a great job with that.

Consistency and that’s what we’re looking for. If we can get a lineup of nine and have six of them be really consistent, then we’re going to be in really good shape. That’s

what we’re trying to figure out now, who’s going to be consistent and those two have done a really good job these first two weeks.”

On the mound, freshman pitcher Alexis Holloway has made her mark in helping the Irish to victory. Holloway pitched the pivotal final 3.2 innings against Minnesota in the close win, as well as a complete game shutout against the Golden Gophers and two innings against Michigan in a 4-3 win on Sunday.

Holloway leads the team in innings pitched and sports a 4-2 record on the year. Gumpf said Holloway has been up to the tough task set in front of her thus far.

“I think the best is still yet to come for her and it just takes time,” Gumpf said of the freshman pitcher. “We Paid Advertisement

threw her into the wolves and told her to sink or swim and she’s treading water and I think she’s getting better every time she gets out there and she’ll continue to improve when she keeps building the confidence.”

The Irish swept their two games on Sunday to close out the weekend with a 3-1 record.

The wins over Minnesota and Michigan propelled the Irish to the No. 25 spot in this week’s AP rankings.

But there is no rest for the weary, as Notre Dame will yet again travel to a warm location this weekend to take on nationally ranked competition in Cathedral City, California. There, the Irish face No. 12 Auburn, No. 6 Texas A&M and No. 1 Washington.

To get some wins against tough opponents, Gumpf said the key for her team is to remain confident and build off last weekend’s results.

“One thing we talked about as a team is when you let doubt set in, you play like you have doubt,” Gumpf said. “When you play with confidence and say, ‘you know what? Let it happen.’

Anything can happen. I think we match up with some of these teams really well.”

The Irish start play in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Thursday at 1 p.m. against Auburn.

Contact Marek Mazurek at mmazurek@nd.edu

11

FENCING | USA Fencing junior olympics

Competitors shine at Junior Olympics Observer Sports Staff

The No. 1 women’s and No. 2 men’s fencing teams got another weekend off before the ACC championships this Saturday. However, 12 athletes did travel to Memphis, Tennessee, to participate in the USA Fencing Junior Olympics, a non-collegiate competition for fencers under 20 years old.

Athletes competed on an individual level and were not representatives of Notre Dame with some choosing to represent their high school club programs. The results of this dual have no bearing on the teams’ standing on the collegiate level, with the dual meant to provide younger fencers with more experience.

Friday began with freshman Reghan Ward taking ninth place in the junior women’s sabre and freshmen Joseph Marino and Matthew Tichacek finishing 30th and 35th in the junior men’s foil, respectively.

The Irish athletes continued their run of success on Saturday as freshman Stephen Ewart clinched the junior men’s epee victory.

Sophomore Zachary Cheng also competed, tying for 97th out of over 300 athletes.

Freshman Dasha Yefremenko rounded out the weekend with a eigth place finish in

Norman Continued from page 12

Prior to being named head coach, Norman spent one year as an assistant coach at Notre Dame.

“Being named head coach at your alma mater, especially at a place that did so much for me, is certainly a dream come true,” Norman said in a statement. “It’s always been my dream job to come back and coach here, and I’m so humbled and excited to have this opportunity to serve this program, serve these players and serve this school.

It’s a wonderful platform to be able to make a huge impact and also be impacted by others. This program has a tremendous tradition and history of success, and I look forward to finding new ways to engage all those who have been a part of that elite level of achievement.

“I want to thank [University President] Fr. John Jenkins, [director of athletics] Jack Swarbrick, [senior associate athletics director] Mike

the junior women’s epee.

The junior women’s foil was the dual with the largest representation by Notre Dame athletes with all five finishing in the top 120. Sophomore Samantha Viqueira won the event followed by a seventh place finish from classmate Morgan Partridge.

The Junior Olympics wrapped on Monday with freshman Ben Scholl’s 47th place finish in the junior men’s sabre.

In addition to the 12 Notre Dame athletes, two incoming commits were also present in Memphis. Kara Linder, of Chandler, Ariziona, was the runner-up in the junior women’s sabre while Miriam Grady, of Broomfield, Colorado, finished 20th in the junior women’s epee.

The Irish will look to focus on the ACC championship, which will be their first competition since Feb. 4, due to the Duke duals being cancelled due to inclement weather on Feb. 10. The conference championship will be held in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on Feb. 24.

Of those participants at the USA Fencing Junior Olympics, Ward, Ewart, Yefremenko, Viqueira and Partridge will be competing this weekend as well. The selections for the conference championships are based on rankings of collegiate competitions only.

Harrity, [former men’s head coach] Bobby Clark and Theresa Romagnolo for everything they have done for me and giving me the opportunity to be the head coach of our women’s soccer program.”

Before returning to Notre Dame, Norman spent one season as the head coach at Liberty University, guiding the Flames to a 14-8 record, as well as a Big South tournament title. Before coaching at Liberty, Norman spent four seasons at the helm at Western Michigan, where the Broncos recorded a 44-27-14 record under his tutelage.

“It is a testament to the strength of our women’s soccer program that after conducting a national search for a head coach we concluded that the best candidate is already a member of the program,” Swarbrick said of Norman. “Nate Norman is a talented coach with a history of success, but even more importantly he will be a great mentor to our students because he embodies the values of our University.”

12

The observer | wednesday, february 21, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

ND Softball

ND wOMEN’S SOCCER

Irish grab trio of ranked victories

By MAREK MAZUREK Assistant Managing Editor

Notre Dame gained momentum last weekend as the Irish won three out of four games in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in Tallahassee, Florida.

The Irish entered the weekend w ith a 3-2 record after their first tournament in California, w ith their two losses coming in the final two games of that competition.

Against then-No. 20 Michigan on Saturday, the Irish looked like they hadn’t recovered from the prev ious two defeats, as the Wolverines (5-4) shutout the Irish 6-0.

But for the rest of the weekend, things went Notre Dame’s way, as the Irish turned a corner to w in their next three games against ranked Big Ten squads.

“I think it showed a lot of character on our team,” Irish head coach Deanna Gumpf said.

“Especially because our first weekend wasn’t easy and it was prett y rough. We didn’t play as well as we could have and we let

a couple things slip away out of our fingers. I felt like that first game [versus Michigan] was mirroring our first week and after that, we made a decision to just play the game and not let uncontrollable things and distractions get in our way.”

After the first loss to Michigan, the Irish went on to beat then-No. 14 Minnesota in t wo straight games, 6-5 and 3-0.

In Saturday evening’s 6-5 nail-biter, the Irish jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to a pair of throw ing errors by the Golden Gophers (54). Minnesota took a 3-2 lead, but sophomore catcher Madison Heide belted a bases-loaded double in the bottom of the fourth inning to put the Irish up 4-3.

Going into the game’s final inning, the Irish were up 6-3, and the Golden Gophers mounted a comeback to make it 6-5. But a double play ball set up by senior shortstop Morgan Reed and sophomore second baseman Katie Marino stopped the rally and closed out the see SOFTBALL PAGE 11

Observer Sports Staff

EMMA FARNAN | The Observer

Irish senior shortstop Morgan Reed, left, awaits the throw in a pickle during Notre Dame’s scrimmage against UAH on Oct. 7.

Track & field

Nate Norman w ill take over as the fifth head coach in women’s soccer program histor y, the Universit y announced Tuesday. He w ill fill the shoes of Theresa Romagnolo, who resigned in Januar y.

Norman graduated from Notre Dame in 2007 — a former midfielder for the the Irish — and helped Notre Dame w in the Big East regular season title in 2004 and reach the NCA A quarterfinals in 2006. He was the college roommate and teammate of newly-named men’s soccer head coach Chad Riley.

Norman and his w ife Rachel, who his the assistant director of sports nutrition for Notre Dame athletics, also welcomed their first child, daughter Kinsley, on Saturday. see NORMAN PAGE 11

Swimming & Diving

Notre Dame set for indoor ACC championships

Squad takes fifth place at ACCs

By PETER BALTES

By CHARLOTTE EDMONDS

Sports Writer

Sports Writer

The Irish recently finished up a successful regular season and have begun preparation for competition at the conference level.

From Thursday through Sunday, several athletes from Notre Dame w ill be competing at the ACC indoor track and field championships in Clemson, South Carolina. The Irish w ill be seeking to perform their best and earn as many NCA A qualif y ing spots as possible.

On the men’s side, Notre Dame has multiple athletes in position to make an impact in the distance events.

Irish assistant coach Sean Carlson said the competition in these races should help push the Irish athletes to success.

“The conference is ver y deep and strong in the

The first half of the ACC championship — featuring women’s sw imming and men’s and women’s div ing — w rapped up in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Saturday after four days of competition.

The No. 19 Notre Dame women finished fifth, 11.5 points behind fourth place North Carolina, w ith five team records being set by sw immers.

Meanwhile, the men’s sw imming team, who w ill begin competition Wednesday, w ill be looking to build on their div ing teammates accomplishments this past weekend — most notably senior Joe Cuomos’ second and fourth place finish in the 1-meter and 3-meter dives.

Despite falling short of their goal to finish in the top four, head coach Mike Litzinger said he’s proud

see TRACK PAGE 10

New coach named

EMMA FARNAN | The Observer

Irish graduate student Elijah Silva races in the 800-meter sprint during the Meyo Invitational on Feb. 3 at Loftus Sports Complex.

of the women’s team’s performance.

“The pundits picked us to finish eigth but we knew we were better than that,” he said.

The fifth place finish is also the highest ever for the women at the ACC championship since joining the conference prior to the 20132014 season.

Freshman Lindsay Stone’s fifth place 1,650-yard freest yle and her seventh place 500-yard freest yle, sophomore Abbie Dolan’s time of 48.36 seconds in the 100yard freest yle, and junior Nicole Smith’s performance in the preliminar y round of the 200-yard butterf ly were all program records in addition to the 400-yard freest yle relay team, who took home fourth place.

The highest relay finish for the team was the 200-yard freest yle who took home see SWIMMING PAGE 10