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Volume 52, Issue 98 | tuesday, march 20, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Campus weighs in on new policy Sister to Office of Housing considers feedback from rectors, students on housing changes receive medal

By NATALIE WEBER News Editor

Following the announcement of a new housing policy in the fall that students are to live on campus for six semesters, many students began to examine their residential life experience and express concerns. In order to address some of the issues raised, the Office of Residential Life has been working with student and rectors to consider a potential waiver process and improve other aspects of dorm life. Margaret Morgan, director of residential life, said the Office of Housing’s most recent initiatives have focused on student input. “I think we’ve really taken a posture of listening and trying to hear the student experience to figure out what’s important to students and then think through

ways that we can continue to make the student experience in the residence halls better,” she said. Throughout this process, the Office of Housing has met with several student groups to examine ways to improve the dorm experience, most recently to explore the possibility of a waiver system exempting students from the six semester housing policy. While some students said they would prefer to meet with an administrator to discuss their reasons for wanting to move off campus, others are concerned that this process would force students to relive traumatic experiences. Morgan said administrators hope to take all of these responses into account and develop the most “student-friendly” waiver system possible. “I think what I have heard

Students travel to learn, serve over spring break

MADISON RIEHLE | The Observer

JED students tour the offices of the Houston Chronicle. The students also helped rebuild a home destroyed by Hurricane Harvey. By KARA MIECZNIKOWSKI News Writer

Many college students travel for spring break, but not all do so for the sake of vacationing. This past week, numerous Notre Dame students partook in Universitysponsored travel to towns and cities across the nation, experiencing firsthand the ideas and issues students are usually limited to learning about in a classroom

NEWS PAGE 2

setting. Among these service and academic trips are the Center for Social Concerns’ Appalachia Seminars. These seminars, which couple classroom learning with a service trip to a location in the Appalachia region, allow students to address social issues in context while serving a community in need. Sophomore Colleen see SERVICE PAGE 4

SCENE PAGE 5

mostly from [students] is this desire to protect students’ stories, to help continue to hold them sacred — to really feel like it’s not a cumbersome process so that a student doesn’t have to go through a lot of paperwork or jump through a lot of hoops to make this request, but also really respects where a student is coming from,” Morgan said. “ … And I think what we have said too is our commitment is to really honor each person.” The Office of Housing has been gathering feedback to examine other aspects of residential life, in particular the consistency of protocols amongst the various dorms. To this end, Morgan and Fr. Matt Kuczora — rector of Dunne Hall — chaired a committee of rectors and members of the Office of Housing. In addition to his work on the committee, Kuczora also conducted a survey

amongst rectors. These initiatives revealed differences between certain dorm policies, results Kuczora said he sometimes found surprising. “Something I didn’t expect too from some of that response was that there are differences [in policies], like the way that dances run across the board,” Kuczora said. “That was a really interesting thing and I didn’t really know because I don’t go to a lot of other halls’ dances.” Though there is a common conception that men and women’s dorms operate differently, these varying policies do not always manifest themselves along gendered lines, Kuczora said. “A lot of the results we’ve gotten initially haven’t been defined along ‘women’s halls do x and

Notre Dame will award Sister Norma Pimentel — head of the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley — the 2018 Laetare Medal, the University announced in a press release Sunday. Each year, Notre Dame awards the Laetare Medal to an American Catholic “whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the Church and enriched the heritage of humanity.” According to the release, both of Pimentel’s parents immigrated from Mexico to the United

see HOUSING PAGE 4

see LAETARE PAGE 4

Observer Staff Report

Senior-led panel explores gender, race and activism By IMAN OMAR News Writer

On March 8, three Saint Mary’s seniors spoke on a panel entitled “Black Women’s Activist: Living and Learning from Audre Lorde” panel at the Niles Public Library in Michigan. The panel, which featured seniors Taylor Thomas, Nina Steele and Alexandria Shambery, was organized in honor of Women’s History Month. Thomas said in an email that the trio previously discussed Audre Lorde on a panel in the fall semester of 2017. “All of us are very passionate about gender and women’s studies,” she said. “To be completely honest, Nina and I, on pulling up to the Niles Library, were extremely nervous and skeptical about the talk. Niles appears to be a predominantly white area. Plus, the library was very open, and patrons could walk by and hear what we were saying and that made us nervous. Not many people in our current political climate are open to

VIEWPOINT PAGE 6

listening to people discuss black activism and critiques of white academia.” Despite her initial reservations, Thomas said the audience was welcoming and encouraging. She said their insights were welcomed and some audience members shared stories of their own. “I was very surprised by the willingness of these women to listen to what I had to say,” she said. “It was a very inspiring experience listening to these older women and their experiences in the 1960’s and watching the generations now go through similar situations that they had to endure. They asked us questions that made us feel like they truly believed that our ideas could change the world.” In her speech, Thomas encouraged people and institutions to study the work of Audre Lorde. “She stuck up for what she believed in and that was a powerful thing,” Thomas said. “Her words and poetry help implement change not just in hearts,

but in classrooms as well. Simply discussing an Audre Lorde poem [on] predominantly white campuses can help expose students to subjects they may have never had to confront: police brutality, sexuality, classism. This is crucial because anti-blackness has always been seen in higher education.” Thomas believes it is important to discuss women’s history, especially that of black women because they are underrepresented in the American political and social sphere. She said that as a black student she feels that Saint Mary’s should do more to include and represent black voices on campus. “I want to see more black presence on this campus,” she said. “I want more black women. More black music. More black history and not just in February. I want more black food — properly cooked and seasoned. I need Saint Mary’s to start reflecting that if they want to claim ‘diversity’ and ‘inclusivity.’”

ND W BASKETBALL PAGE 12

HOCKEY PAGE 12

see ACTIVISM PAGE 4

TODAY

The observer | tuesday, march 20, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com

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What’s the best meal you can cook?

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

Sarah Guinan

George Timmins

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Junior Zahm House

“Vegetable soup.”

“Easy Mac.”

Maggie Gentine

Leah Capuano

Senior Howard Hall

Freshman Badin Hall

“Brussel sprouts.”

“Cheesecake.”

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Emma Ferdinandi

Rob De La Espriella

Managing Editor

Freshman Badin Hall

Junior Dillon Hall

“Twice baked biscotti.”

“Chicken Parm.”

Editor-in-Chief Courtney Becker Managing Editor Tobias Hoonhout

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Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Pizza, Pop & Politics Geddes Hall 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Special edition for voter registration training.

Exhibition: “Slow Looking” Snite Museum of Art 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Examines art through meditation.

Lecture: “The HalfLife of Bureaucratic Objectivity” Jenkins Nanovic Hall 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Open to public.

Óscar Romero Memorial Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 5:15 p.m. All are welcome.

Lecture: “Torture and Eucharist” Hesburgh Center 3:00 p.m. Keynote of Romero Days Conference

Yoga Class in Italian Smith Center Studio 1 5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. Free class by Tiziana Serafini in Duncan Student Center

“Stories of Grace” Geddes Hall Chapel 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. An evening of prayer and reflection. All are welcome.

Illustrated Lecture: “Becoming Agnes Martin” Annenberg Auditorium 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Open to public.

Spring Concert: Notre Dame Glee Club Leighton Concert Hall 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $3-$6.

Run Forrest Run 5/10 K campus-wide 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Supports the Gary Sinise Foundation

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Professor explores Irish traditions

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By CECE BIAGINI News Writer

St. Patrick’s Day carries many different meanings. For the Irish, it is the Catholic feast day of Ireland’s patron saint and a day for honoring Irish heritage. For IrishAmericans, St. Patrick’s Day has become a celebration of Irish-American identity. And at Notre Dame—a school with the Irish leprechaun as a mascot—St. Patrick’s Day holds special significance. Deborah Rotman, an anthropology professor and director of Notre Dame’s Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement (CUSE), has conducted research on the Irish-immigrant experience in the U.S. “The history of Notre Dame and Saint Patrick’s Day actually goes back to our founding as an institution,” Rotman said. Although Fr. Edward Sorin was French, four of the seven monks who founded the University were Irish. While building the Notre Dame campus in 1842, Sorin had to address growing anti-immigrant sentiment toward Irish immigrants in South Bend. Rotman said Sorin made a point to integrate the Irish into the Notre Dame community. He established Sorinsville, a neighborhood around campus where the Irish-Catholic immigrants would reside. “Sorinsville may seem like a form of

residential segregation, but Fr. Sorin’s intent was to stabilize the workforce for the University and help these immigrants create new lives for themselves in South Bend,” she said. Despite his work with the Irish, Sorin banned the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day at Notre Dame, a decision that was justified for security reasons, Rotman said. “Most people do not know that Sorin’s decision to forbid celebration on St. Patrick’s Day was grounded in his belief that the anti-immigrant sentiment of the time was a public-safety issue,” she said. “In other words, Sorin was not trying to scorn the Irish or evade a day of festivities; he was really just trying to to protect the Notre Dame community from potential social conflict.” By the time of Sorin’s death, Rotman said the negative sentiment toward IrishCatholics “shifted” to other immigrant groups, and Americans began to embrace the Irish much more. As a result, St. Patrick’s Day at Notre Dame involved a variety of activities. Every year, a Mass commemorated the feast of St. Patrick, the band played Irish sacred music in front of the Dome, and students recited Irish poems to one another for entertainment. Classes were cancelled for university-wide concerts, banquets, football games, plays and parades. By the early 2000s, Notre Dame students

had established a variety of traditions for St. Patrick’s Day. Some students attended the feast day Mass which features Notre Dame Folk Choir’s collection of Irish sacred music. Students dressed for class in green garb and make-shift “bands” paraded through academic buildings playing the bagpipes. Many of the dorms on campus hosted cookouts or give out Irish paraphernalia, and the dining halls offered Irish cuisine in the form of potato dishes and cabbage. 2018 marks another year of a spring break St. Patrick’s Day. In fact, there have only been a handful of years in which St. Patrick’s Day has actually taken place when students were on-campus. Rotman dispelled the notion that the administration manipulates the dates of spring break to prevent a rowdy, on-campus celebration of the holiday. She noted that by rule spring break must begin the Saturday after the 39th class day. “I do not believe the administration purposely schedules spring break to avoid St. Patrick’s Day,” Rotman said. “I think the scheduling ultimately comes down to the timing of Christmas and Easter break, and they have to follow the registrar’s spring semester calendar rules too”. Contact Cece Biagini at cbiagini@nd.edu

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Service Continued from page 1

Ballantyne participated in a trip to West Virginia over spring break. The group spent the week working on a non-profit farm, helping with home repairs in the local community, and learning more about the area’s needs. “The trip is really about integrating learning and service, particularly in the view of Catholic social teaching,” she said. “While we’re serving, we’re also learning more about the community itself, and becoming more aware and sympathetic of their needs.” The students’ interaction with the surrounding community is also a central component of the experience. “My favorite part was getting to meet the homeowners and volunteers from the different service organizations we worked with…

just being able to build that sense of community with them,” Ballantyne said. Sophomore Jen Lies, who attended an Appalachia Seminar in eastern Kentucky, also noted the importance of connecting with the community she was serving. “The trip really impacted me through all the people I met and stories I heard. Both the people living in the region and the other volunteers showed a lot of love and passion,” she said. “I met AmeriCorps volunteers that were in the area long-term, and it was inspiring to see the calling they feel for it. It made me think about how I’m going to serve with my own vocation in the future.” Another university-led trip, sponsored by the John W. Gallivan Program in Journalism, Ethics and Democracy (JED), allowed students to travel to Houston, Texas. The inaugural “Covering America” class

allowed students to learn — beyond a textbook — how to cover national stories ethically and with empathy. Students reported on stories of their choice, toured the Houston Chronicle,” and helped rebuild a home damaged by Hurricane Harvey. Gretchen Hopkirk, a sophomore journalism student, said the trip to Texas exposed her to new experiences. “It was really cool to meet people from such a different background. The interviews I did allowed me to step into someone else’s world, whether it was their home or the behind-the-scenes of an event I’d never experienced before,” she said. “The trip allowed me to experience a lot of different lives through my career. It really strengthened my desire to go into journalism.” Contact Kara Miecznikowski at kmieczni@nd.edu

Activism Continued from page 1

In the concluding statements of her speech, Thomas said that Audre Lorde and black activism remind us that despite recent societal strides, there is still much progress to be made. “I believe it is important for us to continue fighting for what is right, but we will become the monster that we are fighting against if we aren’t addressing those same demons within ourselves,” she said. Steele said in an email that for her, the panel was a positive occasion. “I feel that every time people are able to come together and speak about the injustices in our world, everyone involved learns something and this causes a shift in thinking,” she said. “Whether the shift is big or small, it makes a difference, and to me, that

difference is of utmost value. We should always be listening to those who are oppressed, and not [let] privileged voices tell the stories and experiences of the individuals who they marginalize.” Steele said that she was inspired by the stories of women in the audience. She said that she believes that for any major change in society to occur, dialogue is necessary. “The audience’s reaction somewhat shocked me because I was expecting more negative responses, but everyone in the room [was] happy with our speeches,” she said. “Many of the audience members shared their own experiences, and that was the best part of my night. We need people to come together so that we can see actual progress in the world and on our campus.” Contact Iman Omar at iomar01@saintmarys.edu

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Laetare Continued from page 1

States and she spent much of her childhood traveling between the two countries. After completing her final vows and entering the Missionaries of Jesus, she worked closely with immigrants, who were often brought to the sisters’ convent. Pimentel said this experience shaped her understanding of her faith in concrete ways. “Scripture comes to life and our faith becomes flesh,” she said in the release. “It is not until you find yourself in front of the face of the immigrant child or mother that you will understand this. It is

Housing Continued from page 1

men’s halls do y,’” he said. “There are some men’s halls that do the ‘x’ and some women’s halls who do the ‘y.’ That was surprising too, to have this really good data that it’s not that cut and dry, like is often the narrative.” By gathering information on these policies, Morgan said, the Office of Housing hopes to identify the “hallmarks” of residential life: consistent expectations and resources each student can anticipate while living in a dorm. “ … It’s more saying ‘What can we guarantee that every student on a baseline experience and absolutely have available to them and absolutely go through the halls having?’” Morgan said. The Office of Housing will continue to gather feedback throughout the rest of the semester, through four different student “listening sessions” as well as Friday office hours with the directors of residential life. Morgan said she would encourage students to come to these meetings and voice their concerns with administrators. “I think a big part of this that we’ve realized is students don’t often know that we’re listening,” Morgan said. “So talk to your rectors, talk to the directors of

a moment of realizing we are all one human family.” Since 2008, Pimentel has directed charitable programs for the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, including “emergency food and shelter, housing assistance, clinical counseling and pregnancy care to all four counties in the Rio Grande Valley.” University President Fr. John Jenkins said Pimentel has lived out the call to recognize Christ in the marginalized through her work with refugees and migrants. “Jesus said, ‘when I was a stranger, you invited me in.’ Sister Norma Pimentel has given her life to welcoming Christ in the

immigrant and refugee,” Jenkins said in the release. “In awarding her the Laetare Medal, Notre Dame celebrates her witness of seeking and generously serving Christ in the most vulnerable.” Pimentel said in the release that she was grateful to receive the 2018 Laetare Medal. “I am truly honored to receive this award,” she said. “This year’s Laetare Medal brings forth the cries of the suffering for the world to hear. I would like to thank the University of Notre Dame for this recognition and for being a voice for immigrants in our midst.” Pimentel will be awarded the medal on May 20 at commencement.

residential life, talk to members of the office of housing operations... We want to know and we want to hear things because if we don’t know — and I think this is a part of it too — if people just decide to move off campus because they’re frustrated and never tell us why,

then we can’t make it better. So we’re here. We’re listening. We care. Take us up on it and tell us so we can really dive in and see what’s going on.” Contact Natalie Weber at nweber@nd.edu Paid Advertisement

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By OWEN LANE Scene Writer

In 2018, the definition of music continues to expand. Even hip-hop music, once the edgiest genre of music and considered abrasive and threatening to middleclass American values, has become the dominant popular musical genre, complete with an endless queue of traditionalists complaining about the genre’s unpleasant new direction. So, what can a rock band even do to grab your attention in 2018? I’m sure Kim Deal and the rest of The Breeders found themselves asking that question multiple times while recording “All Nerve.” As many alternative-rock fans will know, The Breeders’ front-woman Kim Deal played bass for Pixies and had a notoriously rocky relationship with front-man Black Francis. After the release of Pixies’ now-classic record “Doolittle,” Kim Deal formed The Breeders with fellow female musicians from the Boston area. Eventually, Deal’s identical twin sister Kelley would join the group (even though, at first, she famously did not know how to play the guitar) and The Breeders became an alternative rock band whose clout rivaled that of Pixies. The group’s record production became spotty and infrequent in the 2000s, eventually leading to a nine year recording hiatus from 2009 until now. On the new “All Nerve” The Breeders do not seem to aim for anything new, but rather retain the crisp punch of their ’90s rock and roll sound.

By CHARLIE KENNEY Scene Writer

Alex Garland’s (“Ex Machina”) latest film “Annihilation” is one of the most promising but ultimately one of the most disappointing science fiction films of the last decade. “Annihilation” isn’t disappointing in its lack of excitement — indeed it’s at times a voraciously entertaining film. Rather, the film disappoints in its inability to achieve what it could have achieved. These shortcomings could, of course, be attributed to the fact that “Annihilation” is an adaptation of a novel; yet far too many less exciting books have been adapted successfully for that to be a satisfactory excuse. “Annihilation” is centered around a ‘shimmer’ that has appeared on the coast of a semi-dystopian United States. This ‘shimmer’ acts as a prism of sorts and refracts, not just light, but also DNA and genomes, thereby causing animals and plants to take on each other’s traits — humans grow sprout plants and f lowers take on the shape of humans. Although this prism effect seems more like a scientific marvel than a catastrophe, the government has sent multiple parties in and none have returned. The film centers on a party that includes Natalie Portman, and their journey into the ever-growing ‘shimmer.’ It’s a movie that contains scientific concepts and ideas that beg for fantastic cinematic experiences,

On “All Nerve,” The Breeders continue to nail those same aspects of their sound that made their music great from the start. Think of the iconic bass riff in their ’90s hit “Cannonball” — equally effective bass riffs can be detected in almost every track on “All Nerve.” The production decisions here are some of the album’s strongest qualities. Particularly, the band emphasized Kim Deal’s entrancing vocals more than usual on most of the album’s tracks. Some songs, like “MetaGoth”, combine The Breeders’ typical alt-rock sound with dreamy, droning guitars. On the track, these guitar sounds, combined with a pulsating bass riff, create a delightfully unique noise. The album features only one guest appearance, but it’s certainly a potent one. Contemporary female rock heroin Courtney Barnett drops in on the orchestra-inspired rock-epic tune “Howl at the Summit.” “Spacewoman,” the longest song on the album at 4:22, manages to blurt out bursts of emotion through cryptic lyrics about baseball stadiums and beach balls. Deal opens the song cooing, “Spacewoman, how lonely does it feel?” This track manages to sound both tranquil and suspenseful, while Deal conveys the mysterious lyrics that have the power to grip a curious listener for an entire album. The Breeders allow themselves to sound most maximalist and grand on “Dawn: Making an Effort.” Backing vocals harmonize behind Deal’s fascinating lyrics, while the bass drum pounds with a steady intensity. The track is an ecstatic outing

complete with reverberating guitars that make The Breeders sound like a grandiose, punk-rock version of Beach House. There’s something to be said about an aging band that can still manage to make better and more interesting musical work with a traditional four-piece group than most bands can do with an overflowing studio. If you enjoy rock, The Breeders are simply never to be ignored. Much like the music of The Breeders of the ’90s and Pixies before them, “All Nerve” is a testament to the overwhelming potential of simplicity. The Breeders understand that music should never sacrifice feeling in pursuit of some sort of idealized musical statement. Simply stated, these women (and man) understand how to make compelling music, and that will never go out of style.

and that at times bears fruit. The film contains mystery, action, scientific intrigue and drama components all at once. The problem, however, is that none of these elements come in the right doses or at the right times. Characters seem to fall out of the plot for no reason, scientific phenomena that beg to be explored are left hanging and the suspense the film contains is f leeting at the very least. The major problem and shortcoming of “Annihilation,” however is not its individual elements, but rather the bigger picture — its plot. In saying plot, I am not implying that the ideas the movie is based around are boring or uninviting, but rather the way they are crafted into a narrative is where its dullness and lack of excitement come from. The plot doesn’t focus on a voyage into the unknown, exploration of unknown science or the fight for survival, but rather the crux of the plot is Natalie Portman’s characters fight to find and save her husband who had gone into the ‘shimmer’ months earlier. In taking on this tinge, the film makes precisely the wrong things interesting. With concepts as unique, as approachable and as exciting as those contained in “Annihilation,” the focus should not be on a relationship between a wife and her husband but rather on the science and the violence it brings with it. In addition to this, the ending of “Annihilation” instead of answering any questions, asks a thousand

more. The ending comes with some finality, but for the most part delves into existentialism and eccentricity. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing — “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “Chinatown” are loved for their ambiguous endings. But “Annihilation” doesn’t do ambiguity right. It overcompensates, backtracks and ends up walking all over itself. In acknowledging the shortcomings of “Annihilation,” is not to say that it is a fruitless endeavor. Alex Garland is a director with immense talent and potential to make incredibly, unique science-fiction films. Natalie Portman is a grossly underappreciated actress who should be gives roles with significance akin to that of hers in “Annihilation.” And the special effects of “Annihilation” were stunningly real and convincing. In making the film, Alex Garland’s name has become more household, Natalie Portman has shown that women can take on leading roles as effectively as men in action films and the cinematographers who made the film as beautiful as it is were able to artfully showcase their work. It’s not a film that will likely take home much hardware come next fall and winter, and rightfully so, but it’s a film that does some good. It does good for the genre of science fiction, for the role of females in typically male-dominated roles and for bright upand-coming filmmakers.

Contact Owen Lane at olane@nd.edu

“All Nerve” The Breeders Label: 4AD Tracks: “MetaGoth” “Howl at the Summit” “Dawn: Making an Effort” If you like: Pixie, Queens of the Stone Age, Batfangs, Guided By Voices

Contact Charlie Kenney at ckenney4@nd.edu CRISTINA INTERIANO | The Observer

The observer | tuesday, march 20, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

A call for better phone service Jordan Cockrum Saint Mary’s Editor

Warning: I’m going to spend the next 450 words complaining. I talk to my mom more or less every day when I’m at school. If I have the spare time, I like to update my mom on my day and get an update on the way things are going with her, my dad and my sisters at home. Because I speak to my mom almost daily and my friends from home about weekly, I often talk on the phone at different locations across campus. The other day, I was speaking to my mom while entering the Angela Athletic and Wellness Complex to pick up a healthy meal from Murphy’s Cafe. As I entered the building, my mom repeatedly called out, “Jordan? Are you still there?” This is just one example of a situation that I am subjected to quite often. In some parts of my current dorm, Le Mans, I lose cellular service and end up needing to call my mom back. In some parts of the Student Center, and specifically the Cyber Cafe, I lose my cellular service as well. It is immensely frustrating to be in the middle of a conversation, and suddenly have the person on the other line lose what you are saying. This has not always been the case. In my previous two years at Saint Mary’s, I have had satisfactory cellular service. I could make calls and enter different buildings across campus without the risk of losing my call. While I will admit I have very limited working knowledge of the way that cellular service is arranged, and the difference between carriers, I feel that this is a problem that needs to be corrected. Although my personal experience is limited to AT&T particularly, I still think the fact that there was a drop in coverage deserves attention. When residing away from home, it is important to be able to communicate with people at home. In addition, the need to make calls in general — even to places on campus — makes the need for cellular service vital. I have even experienced issues with campus offices, such as the Health and Wellness Center, picking up on my end of the line. No longer do I want dropped calls without notice. Students of all cellular service carriers deserve the respect of having an uninterrupted phone call with family and friends. I do not have a clear solution for this problem, but the problem should be addressed nonetheless. Saint Mary’s, AT&T, Apple, whoever has the ability to change our cell coverage for the better: please do something. I don’t know how much longer I can go on repeating what I had already said prefaced by “can you hear me now?” Contact Jordan Cockrum at jcockrum01@saintmarys.edu The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily of The Observer.

Register your right On March 7th, 1965, approx imately 600 people peacefully marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Their goal: expand the franchise to African-Americans across the South and fight unconstitutional barriers to the ballot box through nonv iolent protest. The marchers, however, were met w ith hate and v iolence, billy clubs and tear gas. Through adversit y, they resisted injustice, their efforts culminating in the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the expansion of voting rights to African-Americans across the countr y. In Indiana today, we are once against called to resist. Our constitutional right to vote is under assault, and new barriers to the ballot box are being erected. Since November 8th, 2016, Indiana Secretar y of State Connie Lawson has removed 485,321 voters from Indiana’s registration roles, over ten percent of voters statew ide. Violating the National Voter Registration Act and stepping over count y voter clerks, Lawson’s voter purge targeted those who had not responded to postcards and not voted in the last t wo elections. W hile the presumption is that purged voters have moved or changed their names, we have to ask: how many people were merely not pay ing attention? How many citizens missed the mailing, or never received it? How many voters w ill show up on election day to discover that their voter registration has been invalidated? In St. Joseph count y alone, 27,888 voters, almost 15 percent of the count y’s registered voters, were removed from the rolls. And, the voters who were affected live disproportionately in communities of color. The right to vote is an inherent one to American citizens, not one that must be continually used to maintain. In a state that boasted the lowest voter turnout in the nation in 2014, we should be fighting to expand enfranchisement, not perpetuate the purging of rights of our most targeted communities. This purge was part of a systemic, Republican led, movement to prevent Hoosiers from exercising their right to vote. In April of 2017, Secretar y Lawson and the Indiana State Legislature passed

SB 442. It authorizes the state to purge people off of the voter rolls using the Kansas Crosscheck program, a system which has been show n to be incorrect 99 percent of the time. Under the law, Indiana counties can now cancel voter registrations after the Crosscheck program — which has been decried by voting scholars and faces multiple lawsuits — determines a voter has moved, and counties are also no longer obligated to send the requisite w ritten confirmation or wait the t wo general elections before acting. By remov ing voters from the rolls w ithout prov iding the required notice, response opportunit y and waiting period and by utilizing a fraudulent program in a manner that is not uniform, reasonable and nondiscriminator y, SB 442 is in blatant v iolation of the National Voter Registration Act. This is not merely a conversation on the law. It is a fundamental challenge to the most simple civ ic right of hundreds of thousands of Indiana citizens. Voting, especially for marginalized communities, has never been easy, but it is clear that we are w itnessing a histor y of disenfranchisement repeat itself. If we do not push back, more and more Hoosiers w ill lose their right to vote. In response to these attacks on our democracy, Register Your Right St. Joseph Count y was established. Our goal is to re-register the 28,000 people who were purged in St. Joseph Count y through a communit y-w ide canvassing effort on March 24-25th. To get involved, first, attend the on-campus voter registration training event on March 20th in the Geddes Coffee House, and then, sign up to re-register voters. Re-registration is the first step in creating political consequences for abridging the right that “no American, true to our principles, can deny.” The right to vote.

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What’s your power word? Show Some Skin The Cost of Silence

Growing up, we are repeatedly told we can be anything we want to be. We’re told to dream big — the world is ours. Little kids are encouraged to aspire to be astronauts, princesses, the next president. But at some point, in between childhood and emerging adulthood, we are hit with a spheroid of misery, skepticism, distrust, agony, fear and adversity. It’s a spheroid because it’s not perfect enough to be a ball and it’s not perfect because that spheroid is life. It is the harsh reality in which we live, the society that suffers in silence but whose agony echoes in the eyes of those who have put on a façade for the incoming generation, the eyes of which still express hope. So what do we do when we have lost that innocence, our last glimpse of hope? Are we supposed to tell those who still believe in humanity and civilization that life is not a shade of perfect pink? Should we explain how instead it is a mucky gray? Or should we let them confront that veracity on their own? Is it our responsibility as knowers of the truth to inform our fellow citizens of what is to come? No. The answer is no. Who are we to destroy the optimistic state of mind which every one of us attempts to hold on to for as long as we can? We do not destroy this trust which others have instilled in our society, but instead help build it. We are

obliged to make our world a better place for those who come after us. We do this with power. Today, power is seen as something that an individual either possesses or doesn’t. It is seen as something that leads to genocides, dictatorships and corruption. I refuse to believe power is strictly a bad thing. The reality is that we all have power in different forms. Knowledge is power, our voices are power, our beliefs, zeal, passions, connections, resources and backgrounds are all power. If we change our mindset of power as only coming from money, then we can create a better place. Cosmopolitan — it all comes down to cosmopolitanism. The reason why our world is suffering now is because we do not understand each other. This disparity leaves us vulnerable for abusers of power to pit us against each other. Because they understand how power works, they use it against us who still don’t, so we never come to learn our capacity — individually and as humanity. When we learn to understand and appreciate every one of our brothers and sisters in their specificity, then we weaken the hold which demagogues have on us. So I encourage you to do two things: Find your power word. We all have a word/ phrase/saying that gives us strength. It is the motto with which we live. It could even be the same saying which inspired us as children to dream of becoming the next Albert Einstein. Whatever it is, find it and hold on to it. Seek and share understanding. Be the person who is open to learning about different cultures,

traditions, religions, political beliefs and most importantly the struggles with which every one of us suffers. And on the other hand, also be the person who is willing to share. How can we expect others to understand us if we do not help them to do just that? “Lucha,” a Spanish word meaning “Fight,” that is my power word. Fight for what you’ve learned, for what you hope. Fight for what you believe and fight for your brothers and sisters, especially when they haven’t found their power just yet. Stand up for those who don’t have the strength or hope to do so. I plead you to be their voice. Lucha for our fellow DACA and TPS holders, undocumented neighbors, for sexual assault survivors, people with mental and physical abilities, for our friends who the system wrongly continues to harm. Fight for whoever and whatever your heart compels you to, so long as you fight. Because if you don’t, then who will? Odalis Gonzalez is a freshman. She can be reached at ogonzal3@nd.edu. Show Some Skin is a student-run initiative committed to giving voice to unspoken narratives about identity and difference. Using the art of storytelling as a catalyst for positive social change across campus, we seek to make Notre Dame a more open and welcoming place for all. If you are interested in breaking the silence and getting involved with Show Some Skin, email nreifenb@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

The best slice of pizza Patrick McKelvey In Moderation

I’ve been obsessed with finding the best slice of pizza in the country for as long as I can remember. I grew up on the Jersey Shore, just a short ferry ride from New York. Over the years, I’ve been to every famous pizza place — good and bad — across the City and North Jersey. Long before Dave Portnoy and his one bite revolution, I was rating every slice that came in my vicinity. I had my list of personal favorites, but I could not definitively say I had found the best slice in America. So, during break, I decided to settle the score once and for all. I visited a like-minded pizza friend at Fordham University, and we went to our three favorite places in New York: Di Fara, Joe’s and John’s. We’d been to dozens of others before, but these were the three icons from which we would choose. After this day, we said, we would finally have the answer to our question. We first went to Di Fara. Though easily missed from the outside, hard at work in the restaurant’s interior is Domenico De Marco, the king of New York City pizza. Dom has made every single pie in the Brooklyn eatery since the 1960s, earning over 50 years of experience, and burning himself so badly he can now pull pies out of an 800 degree oven with his bare hands. He moves slower than

he once did, but the same effort that earned him his rightful place in New York pizza lore remains. It took forty minutes to get a single slice. And it was worth every second. Next was Joe’s Pizza in Greenwich Village. There’s no famous proprietor here. There’s no lauded list of high-quality artisanal ingredients. Joe’s, however, remains an iconic institution. It is perhaps the quintessential New York City slice. Greasy, crispy and delicious, no trip downtown is complete without a late night stop at Joe’s. The experience (and the pizza) isn’t nearly as polished as that of Di Fara — but for my money, it was just as good. Finally, we arrived at our old staple. John’s of Bleecker Street is one of the City’s most famous establishments. Its wood-panel walls have the carved names of countless other pizza connoisseurs; its brick coal-fire stands proudly in the back of the restaurant at nearly 100 years old. We sat down to what was certainly my favorite slice of the day — but was it, objectively, the best? I couldn’t say. In fact, I was less sure than I ever was of what the best pizza in New York was. I walked back onto the ferry (some leftover John’s in a box) dejected. But then I got lucky. In an unmistakably strong Queens accent, the man in the row behind me asked “Is that John’s in the West Village? ” “Yeah,” I replied, “do you want a slice? ”

The man sat next to me. He told me that John’s had been a major part of his childhood. He told me stories about how it had been there since the 20s. I couldn’t believe my luck. If anyone could help me pick the best pizza in New York, I thought it would be this guy. But he didn’t bite when I asked. He swallowed some crust and shook his head. “That’s like asking what the best religion is. They’re all good. Maybe for different reasons, but they’re all good.” He’s right. I realized I probably shouldn’t be taking pizza this seriously (not that I plan on stopping). I realized this didn’t have to be a contest. It wasn’t about ovens or owners or icons. It wasn’t about Italy vs. New York vs. Chicago deep dish. Sometimes you need a high quality, Neapolitan style slice. Sometimes Rocco’s in downtown South Bend does the trick. I didn’t have to make this competitive anymore. The best slice — in New York or any where else — is whichever one I’m eating right now. Patrick McKelvey splits his time between being a college sophomore and a grumpy old man. A New Jersey native and American Studies major, he is interested in a legal career after graduating Notre Dame. If you can’t find him at the movies, he can be reached for comment at pmckelve@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

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The observer | tuesday, march 20, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | Will Shortz

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Look for an opening. If you continue to bang on doors that are closed, it will be difficult to let go of the past. Look for something positive and you’ll find a way to put your attributes to good use and achieve a goal that is satisfying as well as helpful. With acceptance comes change, and with change comes new beginnings. Your numbers are 8, 15, 22, 26, 34, 47, 49. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Go about getting what you want in a progressive but realistic manner and you will ward off opposition and disagreements. Being willing to compromise and work with instead of against others will provide you with consistency and timely successes. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Refuse to stand by silently when you can make a difference. Let your experience and knowledge help you determine the best course of action. Own a piece of the future by being a participant in life, love and maintaining peace. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Look for new ways to put your skills to good use. Relying on others to help or to do something for you is a waste of time. Look on the bright side when dealing with loved ones, commitment and pursuing your dreams. CANCER ( June 21-July 22): Don’t mistake someone’s help as a nice gesture. You’ll be expected to do something in return if you accept such generosity. Do what you can on your own, and be willing to pay for anything over and above. LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Make changes for the right reason. If you want to improve your life, that’s one thing, but altering your life to avoid someone you don’t like won’t solve the problem. Face unsavory matters and put them behind you. Be a leader. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Smile, be social and you’ll gain the confidence of others. Getting a better understanding of the people you deal with daily will help you show more compassion as well as offer better solutions to those you want to see excel. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Take it slow and steady. You won’t find it easy to get along with partners, family or anyone who holds assets with you. Stick to whatever jobs you are given and say little until you have a fair solution to offer. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Pull together and work alongside people trying to reach the same objective. There is power in numbers, and if you really want to make a difference and bring about change, unite and make an impact. Engage in truth, equality and unification. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Do your part and you’ll have no problem. However, if you shirk responsibility or avoid emotional situations that are in question, someone will expect you to voice your opinion. Keep the peace but don’t lie to sidestep controversy. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The broader picture will give you better insight into what’s going on and who you should be in alliance with. Know your capabilities, and don’t give in to someone pushing you to conform to offers that are unrealistic. AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Remembering the past will help you ward off a dilemma. Only consider a joint venture that shows legitimate promise to pay off. Offering to help others is a nice gesture, but make sure you get something in return. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A positive move will encourage you to save as well as to renegotiate your position in your personal and professional life. Knowing what you want will be half the battle. Once you recognize your calling, things will begin to happen. Birthday Baby: You are opportunistic, helpful and persistent. You are progressive and ambitious.

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UConn’s big win is shameful Elizabeth Greason Assistant Managing Editor

I’m annoyed. I was planning on writing this column on Tiger Woods and how, over the past two weeks, he’s made golf relevant once again. How he, after four back surgeries, has already recorded the fastest swing speed on tour this season. How everyone, no matter how much they hated him at his best or even if they were competing against him, was rooting for him to win. But then No. 1-seed UConn played No. 16-seed St. Francis (Pa.) in the first round of the women’s NCA A tournament Saturday and put up 55 points in the first 10-minute quarter — 94 points in the first half — ultimately resulting in a 14052 blowout. So, while I would love to laud the fact that Tiger has looked really, really good, I instead feel obligated to point out why this game was such a problem. I’m all for convincing wins. Start your stars, come out guns blazing and play your hearts out until the game is out of reach. But then let up. A lot. Clear your bench gradually. Slow the pace of the game significantly. I understand that it is difficult, as a coach, to tell your players not to try to win by as much as physically possible. That it’s hard to tell them not to take every open 3 they see or drive down the court for a wide-open layup in a breakaway play, especially once your backups have been rotated in. But it needs to be done. But this is where Huskies coach Geno Auriemma has failed. He has won 11 national championships with Connecticut; but along the way, he has instilled a cutthroat culture in his squad. UConn is not new to blowouts, but an 88-point win in the NCA A tournament was unheard of and uncalled for. It is one thing to embarrass your opponent during the regular season. I am never a fan of running up the score, but at least in November it serves the purpose of helping to solidify a ranking. In March, however, the rankings are set in stone. They no longer matter. It is team against team. Loser goes home. Losing is consequence enough. There is no need to send a team home — especially a team that had to truly earn its way into the tournament, for whom just appearing in the tournament was a big deal — beaten and bruised. But that is exactly what Auriemma and Connecticut

did. Granted, Auriemma started subbing in the first quarter with a 20-point lead and eventually cleared his bench. However, his stars Kia Nurse and Katie Lou Samuelson both played well over half the game, while Gabby Williams racked up 22 minutes. There was no need for that. Those three could have sat with 10 minutes apiece under their belts. And while the Huskies definitely eased off the gas in the second half after scoring 94 points in the first, the lead continued to grow. This being said, the Huskies are an infinitely superior basketball team to the Red Flash. There was little they could do at times to prevent the margin from growing without being disrespectful. But it never should have been that large to begin with. Auriemma strolled into his postgame press conference with a sense of pride. He should have had his tail between his legs. “The fact that we generally don’t lose to teams that aren’t as talented as us, I shouldn’t apologize for that,” Auriemma said after the game. “That’s not my fault that we play well regardless of whether we play teams that are in the top-five in the country or [No. 305]. I could care less. If I played all my players 30 minutes every single night, we would have scores like this every night.” Everyone is aware that Connecticut’s loss to Mississippi State in the Final Four last year was likely a f luke. A massive win over a 16-seed in the first round does nothing to re-solidif y its status as the only real presence in women’s basketball. However, what bothers me most about the win has been the public’s response to it. For the most part, the responses have been ‘Wow, look what UConn just did’ and ‘Connecticut just put up 55 points in a quarter.’ And they are warranted because Connecticut is one of the best sports dynasties of all time. But at the same time, this running up of the score, especially during March Madness, should be frowned upon more readily. In my mind, UConn’s 14052 win over 16th-seeded St. Francis (Pa). is not one the Huskies should celebrate. It is nothing short of disgraceful. Contact Elizabeth Greason at egreason@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Continued from page 12

four they hit for the entirety of the game, finishing a mere 4-for-22 from beyond the arc in the game. They would also finish with 12 turnovers in the contest and 20 personal fouls. And that was just the insult to the injury that crept its way back into Notre Dame’s season in the third quarter of Saturday’s game after rearing its head for 15 games early this season. Colson, who finished the game with 16 points and nine rebounds, would spend most of the last quarter of his collegiate career on the bench with ice wrapped around the very left foot he fractured back in January. “My foot kind of went inward a little bit, and actually felt a little worse than when it did in practice the first time [when I initially broke it],” Colson said. “Just got to get another X-ray soon, figure out what it is and deal with it and go from there.” But fortunately for him, he would be able to make one last appearance with Farrell, senior forward Martinas Geben and graduate student forward Austin Torres on the f loor for the final 35 seconds of action. And according to Brey, it was because he put himself in — something Brey said he

has never had happen in his coaching career. “He put himself in. I told him I didn’t think it was a good idea, he walked right by and goes, ‘I’m going in,’” Brey said. “I go, ‘Go ahead. Go on in.’ That’s great, he got one more hand and that was awesome. He put himself in the game there.” “I just wanted to be out there,” Colson said. “This place means a lot to me. … Just wanted to be out there on the court, just embracing with my brothers. We’ve had an unbelievable season, we’ve had unbelievable careers … so just wanted to be out there and soak in the last moments I have out there playing in this arena.” Of course, the season didn’t end exactly how the Irish had hoped — a secondround exit in the NIT in a game in which they never led, trailing from the first basket onward and by as many as 14 points. Yet, for Farrell, it doesn’t tarnish what his time at Notre Dame has meant to him. “It’s tough. It sucks. It was going to end someday,” Farrell said. “Obviously, we didn’t like the way we played tonight. … Coming in here and talking to all the guys, it’s kind of surreal. It ends really fast. “But looking back on everything, won’t take anything back. Don’t regret anything at all. It’s been a

blessing for me. It’s been the best four years of my life for sure, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Love these guys, and I love this place.” And Farrell’s feelings were very much echoed by Geben and Colson as they ref lected on the end of their careers donning the blue and gold. “The past four years could be summarized with a lot of growth from me. I was able to grow this year and grow into the athlete and competitor that this team needed,” Geben said. “Disappointing with all that’s happened that we haven’t been able to end the season the way we wanted to, but I think we’re leaving a great legacy behind.” “I’ve been blessed,” Colson said. “ … This place has meant everything to me. Gaining relationships with my teammates each year, the locker room conversations, the team meals, the playing 2K in the locker room — all those things are just something that I’m going to miss. “It’s more than a game. This is brotherhood. … We’re going to stay in touch and we’re going to stay together, and I feel that. It’s been a special year, and I’m thankful and blessed to be here. It’s a place I’ll never forget.” Contact Ben Padanilam at bpadanil@nd.edu

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Irish senior Bonzie Colson surveys the court in Notre Dame’s 73-63 loss to Penn State on Mar. 17 at the Purcell Pavilion. Colson scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds in his final game for the Irish. 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.

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distance of campus (Corby Blvd) Will consider room and board in exchange for help with house and child care Grad students welcome Text or call 574-273-9845. Oh don’t you save me from hangin’ on. I tell myself what we had is gone, snd after all that I put ya through, I get knocked out like I never knew. It

kept me real til’ I’m moving on, but you can’t leave feeling like you did no wrong. It’s a shame I can’t get it together now - it’s a shame we can’t get it together now ‘cause I’m aching but I fell right in when you gave me up. Those golden days snuck away from us. Lately I’ve been close but I’m up to trouble. Those golden days keep you hanging on.

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Hockey Continued from page 12

in the second half how really good the conference is. It was that way in the first half, too, we were just really fortunate to get bounces and win games that some nights we didn’t deserve to win. A lot of that had to do with our goaltending in [sophomore] Cale Morris, but we won through those games, and I think it toughened us up.

Padanilam Continued from page 12

ninth consecutive season. The story of Notre Dame’s injuries this season has been well documented: four key players all lost to torn ACLs. And a fifth was seemingly lost when Westbeld was forced to sit the first half of Sunday’s win with a sprained ankle. Yet the Irish continue to overcome. They won at least a share of the ACC regular season title for the fifth consecutive season. They clinched a top seed in the NCAA tournament. And now, they have made yet another Sweet 16. And it’s easy to get caught up in that narrative — the one in which just having one more player come back from injury makes all the difference — and forget just how difficult it is to accomplish what this program has achieved this year. Consider this: Beyond their three starters, the Irish do not have a single guard on scholarship coming off the bench. Or this: When the Irish took the court Sunday, with Westbeld expected to be sidelined, they only had six scholarship players available to take the court. And despite that, Notre Dame won its second round game against one of the country’s best 32 teams by 26 points, making it look easy. But it’s not that easy. You only have to look at the other team the women share Purcell Pavilion with to see how quickly injuries can ruin a season. Having covered them all season, I know how much of a toll the injury to Bonzie Colson took on the men’s program. Without their best player for 15 games, they fought their hearts out but still came up short of the NCAA tournament. So you would think the women playing without their best player all season would have slipped up more than they did. Muffet McGraw is deserving of every accolade a coach can receive for her job this season. Despite the lack of depth to her rotation, her team still competes and executes as though it were playing with the full availability of its bench. You only need to look at the hustle stats in Sunday’s game to see that: 19 offensive

“January and February may have hurt is in some ways, but it may have helped us realize we have to play a different style — we have to play better without the puck, and we can’t just rely on our goaltender. And it’s harder to score goals this time of year. I think that the break, the bye week, as much as I was concerned about the competitive aspect of it, it might have been a real good thing for us mentally to reset. ... I’m good where we are. At least we’re

going into the tournament with a little bit of confidence.” In the end, Jackson said joining the Big Ten was a significant positive for the Irish this season. ”Going into the Big Ten was a positive because people know Ohio State, people know Penn State and plus, we’re playing a single game as opposed to a best of three, where it’s hard to fill a building three straight nights during the playoffs,“ Jackson said. ”I like the best of

three in a lot of ways, but people are not going to come to three straight games in most cases. Only the die-hards will come to three straight games. So, the single game worked in our favor being at home obviously. I might not feel that way a year from now, but for me, I think it created a great environment. It’s so much better than playing in a big building that’s half full or less than half full. “So kudos to the people that made that decision in the Big Paid Advertisement

rebounds, 27 second chance points, 12 fastbreak points and an average possession time of just 15 seconds. All of that with just one scholarship player on the bench in the first half and two available in the second half. That alone was impressive. That alone deserves praise. The women have lofty expectations every season, and it’s taken for granted when they meet those expectations and treated as a failure if they come up short. But not this season. With all the adversity they have faced, they didn’t fall apart. They’re right where they have been any other year. Even though it’s not like any other year. So regardless of what happens come the daunting challenge of Texas A&M in the Sweet 16 round and beyond that, chalk this season up as a success. Because they’ve somehow managed to meet the expectations they probably never should have been saddled with in the first place this season. Contact Ben Padanilam at bpadanil@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. Paid Advertisement

Ten. I know the coaches were involved in that, too, but I think the playoff structure has led to making it an exciting game [Saturday], and a big part of that was the crowd.” The Irish will begin their journey to the NCAA championship this Friday at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The puck will drop at 3 p.m. Contact Connor Mulvena at cmulvena@nd.edu

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W Bball Continued from page 12

and were finding open lanes through the middle of the Irish defense for easy layups — a defense that looked gassed with only six scholarship players and a walk-on anchoring it. But when Westbeld joined her team on the court for the second half, the Irish looked completely rejuvenated and re-energized. Thirteen offensive rebounds. Nineteen second-chance points. Zero 3-point field goals given up on just five Wildcat tries from deep. Nineteen minutes and 21 seconds in the lead. Zero seconds trailing. And a plus/minus of 30 in the 16 minutes Westbeld was on the court. Suddenly, a 45-45 game at half was a 94-64 cushion when the senior forward walked off the court with 4:02 left to a standing ovation from the crowd at Purcell Pavilion. “She did a great job of coming in and affecting the game,” Wildcats head coach Harry Perretta said of Westbeld’s impact. “It just made a difference in the game. They were able to play a little smaller. … Once they started playing smaller, we couldn’t get the ball by them anymore. “ … I think it was a spark by her, but I think it was a spark by their whole team, too. I think their whole team notched it up a little bit, and we had a tough time responding to that.” “She was in a boot before the game,” Irish head coach Muffet McGraw said of Westbeld. “To be able to come out, I thought it was just a really motivating and inspiring moment for the team.” And it was a moment the Irish certainly needed, though they weren’t even sure it would ever happen. Though Westbeld said her sprain wasn’t as severe as the one that sidelined her last year, both McGraw and the senior said it wasn’t until moments before Westbeld took the court at the half that they knew she was going to be able to play at all. “The trainer told me before the game that she thought [Westbeld] might be able to play the second half. They were going to keep working on it and see how she looked at halftime,” McGraw said. “So we were very excited that she was able to get back into the game and change the course of the game. With her on the floor, we’re just a very different team.” “I obviously didn’t know if I was going to play at all this game, so I really was just trying to get into it as much as I can,” Westbeld said. “I honestly couldn’t sit still in my chair,

I was on the edge of my seat the whole first half. … Honestly, I was just really happy that I got to get back on the court for my last time.” And though Westbeld’s return to the floor proved to be the momentum-shifting point of the game, she only scored two points and grabbed six rebounds in her 16 minutes. Her presence, however, opened things up for the rest of her teammates, who had big games themselves. Junior forward Jessica Shepard led the way for the Irish, scoring 25 points on 10of-12 shooting and grabbing 10 rebounds for her fourthconsecutive double-double. “Jess was unstoppable inside,” McGraw said of Shepard’s performance. “Our gameplan was to go inside, and she did everything we needed her to do.” “We couldn’t compete with their post players. … We were almost conceding her 1820 [points] in the [triangle and two defense],” Perretta said his team’s gameplan for Shepard. “We were trying to stop their 3s. … We couldn’t stop them from making 2s, we couldn’t stop them from making foul shots.” And not too far behind Shepard were junior guard Arike Ogunbowale and sophomore guard Jackie Young, each of whom scored 24 points for the Irish, while junior guard Marina Mabrey added 15 to round out the double-digit scorers for the Irish. But the biggest impact Westbeld had was on the defensive side of the ball, McGraw said. “It really came down to communication. Kat’s a great communicator,” she said. “We made a lot of mistakes in communication in the first half. They were wide open. We decided not to help and not to rotate when they had dribble penetration so we could just stay out on the 3-point line. We didn’t think they could make enough 2s to beat us.” And when Westbeld came off the court at Purcell Pavilion for one final time in her career, she shared a hug with McGraw. It was a moment of happiness, knowing her team would be advancing to the Sweet 16 for the ninthconsecutive season — this time with a Saturday matchup against No. 4-seed Texas A&M in Spokane, Washington — and a moment of celebration. “It was an emotional moment. I think neither one of us could speak at that time,” McGraw said. “We were both just obviously feeling the same thing — just so happy [and] grateful that she played four years here. “ … I think that was just a great moment to celebrate each other.” Contact Ben Padanilam at bpadanil@nd.edu

The observer | tuesday, march 20, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Nd Women’s Basketball | ND 98, Villanova 72

Another season, another Sweet 16 Westbeld leads second half charge to propel Irish win

Notre Dame’s season should not be taken for granted

By BEN PADANILAM

Ben Padanilam

Sports Editor

When the Irish went into the halftime locker room, it seemed as though the injuries had finally caught up to them. But when they came out of the locker room, something was different. And when they took the court for the third quarter, that something became clear: Senior forward Kathryn Westbeld was taking the court for the Irish. In a season defined by injuries for the Irish (31-3, 15-1 ACC), Westbeld’s ankle sprain suffered in Notre Dame’s first-round win Friday had seemed to be the last straw. The Spokane region’s top seed was tied at the half with ninth-seeded Villanova, only because sophomore guard and walk-on Kaitlin Cole had managed to come away with an offensive rebound and put it back in at the buzzer. The Wildcats (23-9, 12-6 Big East) had hit 10 of their 15 tries from 3 see W BBALL PAGE 11

MICHELLE MEHELAS | The Observer

Irish senior forward Kathryn Westbeld directs the offense during Notre Dame’s 98-72 win over Villanova on Sunday. The Irish outscored the Wildcats by 30 points while Westbeld was on the court.

ND claims Big Ten title in overtime win versus OSU Sports Writer

After earning the Big Ten regular season title, No. 2 Notre Dame defeated No. 5 Ohio State in overtime to win the Big Ten championship Saturday night. The Irish (25-9-2, 17-6-1 Big Ten) got off to an uncharacteristically hot start in the first period. Roughly four minutes after the puck dropped, senior forward Bo Brauer slotted his fifth goal of the season thanks to the assist from senior forward and captain Jake Evans and junior defenseman Bobby Nardella. Ten minutes later, after Ohio State (24-9-5, 148-2) was called for cross-checking, freshman defenseman Matt Hellickson scored his third goal of the season on the powerplay to put the Irish ahead 2-0. With the worst lead in hockey, the Irish looked vulnerable in the second period, as the momentum shifted in Ohio State’s favor. Six minutes into the period, Buckeyes junior forward Brendon Kearney scored his fifth goal of the season to cut the Notre Dame lead to one. The Irish managed to fend off the offensive efforts of the Buckeyes for the remainder of

see PADANILAM PAGE 10

men’s basketball | Penn State 73, ND 63

Hockey | ND 3, Ohio state 2

By CONNOR MULVENA

It’s easy to get caught up in the narrative Sunday’s game offered. In the first half, top-seeded Notre Dame found itself in a battle with ninth-seeded Villanova, entering the locker room in the midst of a tie game. But coming out of the locker room, senior forward Kathryn Westbeld did her best Willis Reed impression — look it up if you don’t know — and by the halfway point of the fourth quarter, the Irish (31-3, 15-1 ACC) found themselves up 30 on their way to a 9872 victory over the Wildcats (23-9, 12-6 Big East) in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Could anything be more representative of this season for this team? Somehow, someway, the Irish overcome injuries once again to make the Sweet 16 for a

the period, but Ohio State would bounce back quickly. One minute into the final period, sophomore defenseman Matt Miller scored his seventh goal of the season for the Buckeyes to tie the game with a championship on the line. The Irish appeared to regain some of that momentum as the period went on, but they could not capitalize on their scoring opportunities that came in the final two minutes. With that, the Big Ten title game went into overtime. After eight minutes of back and forth, the Irish managed to end the game as sophomore forward Cam Morrison slotted a wrist shot from the left side off the assist from Evans and junior defenseman Dennis Gilbert. It was Morrison’s eighth goal of the season, and it handed the trophy to Notre Dame. After the game, Irish head coach Jeff Jackson commented on the importance of regaining momentum heading into overtime and the importance of momentum in general late in the season. “Well, just like every game at this time of the year, momentum dictates everything” Jackson said. “We had momentum in the

early part of the game, they had momentum in the middle part of the game and we found a way to get it back at the end of the game and then in overtime. Our team has been resilient all year long. We’ve had to play from two goals down and we’ve had to play from two goals up, and a two goal lead is the worst lead in hockey, and it showed up again [Saturday night]. But we were able to recuperate and get our feet back underneath us. If I could bottle that first period and do it for 60 minutes, that would be ideal going into the NCAA tournament.” Although a bigger stage lies ahead for the Irish in the NCAA tournament, Jackson and his squad are thrilled with their Big Ten championship win, especially considering the high level of play in the conference this season. Jackson lauded the team’s resilience throughout the season and said he is confident heading into the tournament. “Well, the conference was really tough,” Jackson said. “I mean, we had a good run in the middle of the year which really propelled us to the top. But we found out see HOCKEY PAGE 11

Squad’s NIT run ends with defeat By BEN PADANILAM Sports Editor

Not even St. Patrick’s Day could bring some luck to the Irish on Saturday. For the last few years of its success, Notre Dame has built its program into one that can shoot from beyond the arc, pass the ball around the court and take care of the basketball at a relatively elite level. So it only seems fitting that those three characteristics would elude the top-seeded Irish (21-15, 8-10 ACC) against the fourth-seeded Nittany Lions on Saturday. As a result, the Irish would lose 73-63, bringing a season in which nothing seemed to bounce Notre Dame’s way to an appropriately early end in the NIT. In the first half of their second round contest with Penn State (2313, 9-9 Big Ten), the Irish had as many turnovers as field goals — shooting a meager 7-of-28 from the floor — and assisted on only three of those baskets. And for just the 10th time in head coach Mike Brey’s 18 seasons at Notre Dame, the Irish went without a 3-point field goal in the period, missing all seven of their attempts

from behind the NIT’s extended 3-point line. Brey credited Penn State’s length and athleticism, particularly in the way they defended senior guard Matt Farrell, who finished 0-for-3 in the half and 1-for-9 for the game from beyond the arc. “I think you have to give Penn State a lot of credit. I thought they were really good and defended us really well,” Brey said. “ … We just couldn’t get into any offensive rhythm, and I think Penn State is the one to give credit to, I thought they were really good defensively.” “ … They’ve got great length and size. They switch a lot of stuff with athletic guys, they’re an athletic group. The size of their perimeter players really gave us problems, especially Matt. They’re doubling and there’s a lot of length around him. People have come after him and taken him away, and they did a very good job tonight of taking him away.” The Irish would eventually knock down one from deep when senior forward Bonzie Colson connected with 2:25 left in the third quarter, but it would be one of the four they hit for the entirety of the game, finishing a mere see M BBALL PAGE 9