Print Edition of The Observer for Monday, September 16, 2019

Page 1

The independent

To uncover

newspaper serving

the truth

Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s

and report

and holy cross

it accurately

Volume 54, Issue 15 | monday, september 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Pokagon reflect on history with ND Tribe discusses role in Notre Dame’s founding, present-day relationship with University By MARIAH RUSH Associate News Editor

For many Notre Dame students, the city of South Bend is simply known as the area surrounding the University. But, the general region of South Bend is also known as Zenba Odan — or “Ribbon Town” — to the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. This past spring, a land acknowledgment resolution was passed by the student senate, largely prompted by the Native American Students Association of Notre Dame (NASAND), yet the University still does not formally acknowledge the tribe’s

major role in Notre Dame’s founding. The land acknowledgment resolution was proposed to be read at all major Notre Dame events in order to recognize the Potawatomi land the University sits on. Marcus Winchester, the director of the language and culture department of the Pokagon Band, said many people who are affiliated with the University do not realize that the Potawatomi invited Fr. Stephen Badin to the area that is now Notre Dame. “I think it would be a huge milestone if the University would acknowledge that we’re the ones that welcomed

Fr. Badin and requested his presence,” Winchester said. “And then when Fr. Badin left, Fr. Sorin was the one who came in and replaced him. So you know, that institution wouldn’t be there if Leopold [Pokagon] had requested someone else.” The Pokagon Natives have been in this area longer than Notre Dame itself, and have a history in the area dating back to the 1830s, years before Notre Dame was initially settled. Blaire Topash-Caldwell, an archivist for the Pokagon Band, said in an email that the 1830s were a stressful time for tribes in the Great

Lakes region. “Many villages were cut off from trade, left out of major policy decisions and forcibly removed from their home lands to foreign environments [in the] West,” Topash-Caldwell said. “Many native people died en route or starved once they reached their reservations. During this time, Leopold Pokagon was very politically active in treaty negotiations and forging important political relationships in order to protect his people.” In July of 1830, Leopold Pokagon journeyed from southeast Michigan to Detroit to ask Fr. Gabriel Richard to

send a Catholic priest to oversee the failing Carey Mission in Niles, Michigan. But, Issac McCoy, the pastor of the failing mission, refused to allow Leopold and newcomer Badin to succeed the Mission in Niles. So, they decided to start a brand new mission in one of Leopold’s villages — this village was in present-day South Bend. A year later, Badin built a chapel and the mission was thriving, Topash-Caldwell said. “In 1834, Fr. Badin donated over 500 acres of this land to the Diocese of Vincennes, and see POKAGON PAGE 3

Paul Ryan speaks Expo showcases energy on evidence-based research, job opportunities policymaking By CATE VON DOHLEN News Writer

The Sustainability Expo, organized by faculty and staff, will take place Monday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. to engage students in informational, research and job opportunities in sustainability, energy and environmental areas both on and off-campus. The expo concludes Notre Dame’s

Anna Mason | The Observer

Paul Ryan, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, discusses the merits of using data and research to write effective policies. By TOM NAATZ Notre Dame News Editor

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan spoke at a moderated discussion hosted by the Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy about evidence-based policymaking in a Friday lecture at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. The Wisconsin Republican, who was speaker from 2015 to 2018 and will

news PAGE 3

serve as a guest lecturer at Notre Dame for the 2019-2020 academic year, argued that a more robust means of collecting data could improve the efficiency and efficacy of Federal programs. “In lay terms, it means what it sounds like. We now, in this day and age of data and analytics, have the capability of actually studying programs — whether government see RYAN PAGE 4

scene PAGE 5

Energy Week. Rachel Novick, director of the Sustainability minor and co-organizer of the event, said the expo is an event for all types of students. “Sustainability is a multidisciplinary field,” Novick said. “Students come from a lot of different perspectives, so the expo is really designed to address a variety of different interests and means.”

Participants include research groups on campus, Notre Dame centers and academic disciplines, as well as local and national companies working in the sustainability and environmental areas. Barbara Villarosa, co-organizer of the expo, said it was originally started to help students find opportunities for see EXPO PAGE 4

SMC career fair connects students, employers By MaEVE FILBIN Saint Mary’s News Editor

Saint Mary’s will host its annual Career and Internship Fair on Monday, providing students from the tri-campus community the opportunity to explore internship, job and post-graduate service options. Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) Teaching Fellows, 1st Source Bank, Caterpillar Inc., South Bend Schools, the Peace

viewpoint PAGE 6

Corps and other employers will be present. Stacie Jeffirs, director of the Career Crossings Office at the College, said all students are invited to attend the fair, but sophomores, juniors and seniors are especially encouraged to attend. “The main purpose of the Saint Mary’s Career and Internship Fair is to connect students to opportunities with employers, organizations

Men’s Soccer PAGE 12

and some graduate opportunities,” Jeffirs said in an email. There will be 47 organizations represented at the fair, Jeffirs said, with employers from various spheres of industry, including finance, information technology, healthcare, education, nonprofits, communications and other areas. see FAIR PAGE 3

Volleyball PAGE 12


2

TODAY

The observer | MONDAY, september 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com

Have a question you want answered? Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com

What’s the best part about fall?

P.O. Box 779, Notre Dame, IN 46556 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556 Editor-in-Chief Kelli Smith Managing Editor Charlotte Edmonds

Asst. Managing Editor: Maria Leontaras Asst. Managing Editor: Mary Steurer Asst. Managing Editor: Natalie Weber

Notre Dame News Editor: Tom Naatz Saint Mary’s News Editor: Maeve Filbin Viewpoint Editor: Evelyn Stein Sports Editor: Connor Mulvena Scene Editor: Mike Donovan Photo Editor: Anna Mason Graphics Editor: Diane Park Social Media Editor: Mary Bernard Advertising Manager: Landry Kempf Ad Design Manager: Ruby Le Systems Administrator: Mike Dugan

Ryan Smith

Maggie O’Brien

junior Morrissey Manor

sophomore McGlinn Hall

“Nice Weather.”

“Football.”

Josh Horn

Anna Gregory

senior Fisher Hall

sophomore McGlinn Hall

“Home football games.”

“Apple picking.”

Josh Brooks

Robbie Schaefer

junior Morrissey Manor

junior Morrissey Manor

“Fencing season.”

“Not needing a coat.”

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 ksmith67@nd.edu Managing Editor

(574) 631-4542 cedmond3@nd.edu Assistant Managing Editors

(574) 631-4541 mleontaras01@saintmarys.edu, msteure1@nd.edu, nweber@nd.edu Business Office

(574) 631-5313 Notre Dame News Desk

(574) 631-5323 news@ndsmcobserver.com Saint Mary’s News Desk

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

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

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

(574) 631-4540 scene@ndsmcobserver.com Photo Desk

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

webmaster@ndsmcobserver.com Policies The Observer is the independent, daily newspaper published in print and online by the students of the University of Notre Dame du Lac, Saint Mary’s College and Holy Cross 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 Kelli Smith. 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.

Today’s Staff News

Sports

Mariah Rush Ciara Hopkinson Genevieve Redsten

Connor Mulvena Stephen Hannon

Graphics

Charlie Kenney

ANNA MASON| The Observer

Leprechaun Samuel Jackson runs with the Notre Dame flag after an Irish touchdown. The Irish landed a decisive victory against the Lobos on Saturday, with Notre Dame scoring 66 points to New Mexico’s 14. It was the first home football game of the season.

The next Five days:

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

Scene

Nicole Simon

Viewpoint

Photo

Evan McKenna

Anna Mason

Corrections The Observer regards itself as a professional publication and strives for the highest standards of journalism at all times. We do, however, recognize that we will make mistakes. If we have made a mistake, please contact us at (574) 631-4541 so we can correct our error.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Sustainability Expo Jordan Hall of Science 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Career development opportunity open to all students.

2019 Constitution Day Lecture Jenkins and Nanovic Halls, Room 1030 12:30 p.m. Open to the public.

Free Flu Vaccines Stepan Center 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Available to students, faculty, staff and eligible family.

“Too Bad We’re Not Capitalists” 214 Riley Hall 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Closing reception for printmaking exhibition.

“What’s Peace Got to Do With It?” Auditorium, Hesburgh Center for Int. Studies 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Panel discussion.

A Conversation with Mike Schur Washington Hall 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. “Can television make us better people?”

Fall Career Fair Joyce Center Fieldhouse 4 p.m. Attire for fair is business casual.

Philosophy Talk 140 DeBartolo Hall 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. “Beauty in Thomas Aquinas and James Joyce.”

Film: “Night School” Browning Cinema, DPAC 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Free tickets available for pick-up at 6 p.m.

Concert: Leslie Odom Jr. DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Tickets online.


News

ndsmcobserver.com | monday, september 16, 2019 | The Observer

3

Panel debates new visions of conservatism By CHRISTOPHER PARKER News Writer

Notre Dame’s Constitutional Studies department hosted a debate between conservative voices in the Jenkins-Nanovic Hall Forum on Friday. The debaters in the event, “What is Conservatism in the Age of Trump?” have argued before — in print and in person — representing different schools of conservative thought. First to speak was David French, senior writer at National Review. French mainly focused on America’s founders during his opening statement, citing Thomas Jefferson and John Adams in his vision for conservatism. He spoke of a “non-delegable duty of the government of the United States of America

Fair Continued from page 1

“[The fair] will be set up in a traditional fair format with organization booths/tables and students will be able to visit with the organizations they are interested in,” Jeffirs said. Approximately 30% of the 47 organizations attending the fair currently employ alumnae or will have a Saint Mary’s alumna present, Jeffirs said. “The presence of alumnae at the Saint Mary’s Career and Internship Fair speaks to the sisterhood of our extensive community,” Jeffirs said. “Employers who recruit at Saint Mary’s tell us time and time again that they return to the College because of our alumnae and they want to recruit more Saint Mary’s women to join their team. Because of their strong connection to the community even beyond graduation, alumnae love helping students gain access to opportunities by not only recruiting at Saint Mary’s but also mentoring students. Alumnae are our best recruiting advocates and most valuable resources for the College.” To prepare for the fair, Jeffirs said students should polish their resume and print physical copies to distribute to organizations. Students should also practice what they will say upon approaching potential employers at the fair, and plan on following up with them afterwards, Jeffirs said. Students should also prepare an “elevator pitch,” a short introduction of their strengths and the value they can contribute to an organization. “When attending career fairs, you want to consider your ‘pitch’ to be more of a conversation with employers,” Jeffirs said. “You approach an employer, provide a firm handshake and greet them. Brief ly introduce yourself with your name, major, class

to protect liberty.” “I think it is a time in our country to rediscover the wisdom of the founders,” he said. French advocated for smaller government with more autonomy. He said this will ease some problems of the current political atmosphere. “One of [the conservative movement’s] most urgent projects is to diffuse negative polarization,” French said. “What do you do about the fact that there’s differing communities in the United States with strongly different view about how the government should run? One of the things you do is let them govern themselves.” Next, Sohrab Ahmari, the Iranian-American op-ed editor of the New York Post, debated French’s points about

year and institution. Then, before ‘pitching’ yourself, tell them why you came to the fair to visit with them.” The Future Business Leaders of Saint Mary’s, a new club created to empower students with the skills needed for success outside the classroom, partnered with the Career Crossings Office to host a career fair and resume review last Tuesday. Junior and social outreach chair, Claire Kavanaugh, said the club was created to provide insight into internships, careers and other post-graduate pursuits, tailored by students, for students. “I feel like there’s a lot of things that us as students can offer that Career Crossing can’t because they’re not current students, whereas we have the experience … from a student point of view,” Kavanaugh said. “We’re doing lots of networking things and getting Saint Mary’s alumnae to come and do talks on campus.” As a Future Business Leaders board member, Kavanaugh said students should remember that the career fair is a valuable resource. “You’re interviewing the company as much as they’re interviewing you,” she said. “So make sure you’re not just diving into something, make sure you’re asking the right questions like, ‘What’s the work atmosphere like? What’s the day-to-day look like? How can you move up in the company?’” Kavanaugh said students from all grade levels can benefit from attending the Career Fair. “The earlier you start, the better, because then the more prepared you are for when it’s actually time to settle down … when you actually have to get a job,” she said. “It’s always good to be ahead.” Contact Maeve Filbin at

mfilbin01@saintmarys.edu

a hands-off government. He spoke of “the desire to renegotiate some elements of the conservative program.” He said that the movement should take action against what they perceive as immoral or dangerous for society, rather than providing more liberty. “When I see certain events where children are interacting with licentious behavior, I don’t see that as the blessings of liberty that our founders had in mind,” Ahmari said. He criticized French’s strain of conservatism as reactionary, not proactive, and said it fails to offer a “vision of the good” the way left-wing movements do. He cited Drew Brees and Mario Lopez, both recently criticized in the news, as examples of attacks from the left about

morality. “The battleground has shifted and ‘consensus conservatism’ has not kept up,” he said. Last to speak was the DenglerDykema Distinguished Professor of Government at Claremont McKenna College, Charles Kesler. In his comments, Kesler said “in some ways, what the Trump administration has been pursuing is a return to the Republican norm.” “There’s never been a president like Donald Trump, for good or ill, but the situation conservatives find themselves in is not so unprecedented. The situation resembles that of the 1950’s,” he said. Kesler said this old Republican norm included economic protectionism, tight

but fair immigration, lower taxes, a proactive judiciary and a foreign policy that pursues national interests without “exporting democracy.” He said that though Trump’s leadership style will not last beyond his administration, the changes in policy will. After this, the event switched to question-and-answer form. Vincent Phillip Muñoz, director of Constitutional Studies, asked the first two questions about the nature of the political “crisis” in the country, and whether the solution was more or less government control. Student volunteers were also given time to ask questions directly to the panelists.

Pokagon

Fr. Sorin.” From then on, Winchester said Notre Dame and the Pokagon maintained fairly good relations — that is, until the 1990s. “There’s always been a pretty respectful relationship between the tribe and Notre Dame,” Winchester said. “A long time ago, anytime any of our families needed anything, we could go to the school and they would help us out — whether it was food or clothing, or whatever it might have been. … I think relationships kind of went sour in the ’90s because there were some Potawatomi particular — that Hannahville Potawatomi from up North and Upper Peninsula, Michigan — tried to bring a lawsuit against the institution about land claims, so that kind of soured things.” As for the present day, Notre Dame professors will often host Potawatomi leaders in order to ensure students become more educated on the tribe’s history in the area. However, aside from this and the land acknowledgment, Native American students don’t have many resources or support on campus, Marcus Winchester-Jones, a Pokagon student and the current treasurer of NASAND, said. Winchester-Jones was the president of NASAND for the 2018-2019 school year, and the group, made up of many of the Native students on campus, has advocated for the removal of the Columbus murals, a land acknowledgment, a Native Studies major and even more resources for Native students. “I would like to see more support, and maybe some native traditions on campus,” Winchester-Jones, a junior and the cousin of Marcus Winchester, said. “I know, back in the day, there was a powwow celebration that they did on campus. We could start to bring that back with the help of administration. I think that it would be huge, just

because this was native land back in the day. … It could be better to help develop and strengthen those bonds.” In an effort to maintain the use of the native language of the Potawatomi people, Neshnabémowen, the Tribal Historic Preservation Office employs fluent speakers that have launched an online dictionary. The tribe also has several initiatives in place to keep the culture and language alive. “We also have a Cultural Activities Coordinator who’s organizing regalia-making classes, sugar bush camp and several other programs,” Topah-Caldwell said. “We have two team members who work with youth — everything from after-school programs, culture camp, and mentoring the Youth Council.” Although the tribe is based in Dowagiac, Michigan — about 45 minutes north of Notre Dame — the presence of the tribe can be seen in South Bend, from the street names and businesses to the Four Winds field. “Obviously, we have the casino on the southwest side of town, and we also have the Four Winds Fields. But that doesn’t belong to us, you pretty much pay to have your name on that with a contract,” Winchester said. Winchester-Jones said he would also like to see more Native Americans on campus, but it is difficult to persuade native communities to send their children to Notre Dame. “I would like to see more natives on campus,” he said. “It’s tough to get people to come to where there’s not a lot of people like them. But if there’s more effort shown and more effort communicated to those that are already on campus that they’re trying, that would be very, very nice to hear. Because I don’t hear much of it.”

Continued from page 1

in 1842 this land was given to Fr. Badin’s successor under a condition that a college would be built there. That successor was Fr. Sorin and that college is Notre Dame,” he said. Winchester said Native Americans in the area often tried to negotiate with Americans instead of fighting or resisting. This approach would eventually lead to the creation of Notre Dame. “The United States wanted Potawatomi land, and they would go into these treaties with our leaders,” Winchester said. “What our leaders did, rather than try to fight or resist the Americans, was decide that we would try to have influence over American expansion rather than resist it. So, one of the ways that they did that was in treaty negotiations with the United States government. They would request things like log cabins, livestock and they also requested a missionary.” This missionary became the failed mission in Niles that ultimately led to the creation of a brand new mission in South Bend. However, the Treaty of Chicago in 1833 by the U.S. government aimed to give the Pokagon’s land away to Americans. “When Leopold went to the Treaty of Chicago in 1833, he discovered that treaty was intended to sign away the last of the Potawatomi land in Michigan and Indiana,” Winchester said. “Leopold used the successful mission that he had established with Fr. Badin as a justification for why our group of Potawatomi shouldn’t be moved out west. The United States government agreed that it was a very successful mission, and there was no need for us to be removed. Fr. Badin left, and had a few replacements come in, but his long-term replacement was

Contact Christopher Parker at cparke22@nd.edu

Contact Mariah Rush at mrush@nd.edu


4

NEWS

The observer | monday, september 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Expo Continued from page 1

research on campus but has grown since then. Since 2010, students have had a growing interest in sustainability and environmental studies, so the event has expanded to include other types of opportunities, such as internships or even full-time jobs, Villarosa explained. “We had to broaden the program, and we thought it was a great opportunity to team up with Career Development and include employers who might already be on campus for the career fair to come to our program, so students in a smaller environment have a greater opportunity to chat with them and discuss potential internships and even job opportunities,” Villarosa said. Novick also highlighted opportunity for attendees to connect with companies and organizations that are hiring in the field of sustainability at the expo. “I think that’s one of the things that our students are most excited about — the opportunity to explore how sustainability can be integrated into a career,” Novick said. “It’s not a traditional discipline but it is a really fastgrowing field.” Marathon Capital, which specializes in investing in renewable energy, is one of the companies which will be present at the expo. Novick said an alumnus of the sustainability minor who works at the company was hired by Marathon Capital because of his combined background in finance and sustainability. “It’s a great example of a job in which he’s been able to put his sustainability education to work right away, so he’s excited to come back and share that with our students,” Novick said. Inovateus Solar, a national solar builder and developer with headquarters located in South Bend, will also have an exhibit at the expo. “They have an excellent partnership with Notre Dame. They have been here multiple times to give talks and be a part of several of our events, especially during Energy Week. We’re delighted to have them join us,” Villarosa said. “They have internship programs. I’m sure there will be job opportunities as well.” In years past, the Sustainability Expo was held in the winter in tandem with the winter career fair. However, Novick said organizers are expecting the biggest turnout at the event yet, as it hopefully serves as a more timely resource for students in the fall rather than during the winter. Contact Cate Von Dohlen at cvondohl@nd.edu

Ryan Continued from page 1

or non-government programs — to measure their effectiveness,” Ryan said. “Evidence-based policy basically means looking at the evidence of whether or not you are achieving an intended goal, or not. Track that evidence, and then change the conduct of your program … in order to, based on evidence, facts, data and figures, achieve your goal.” Ryan said his interest in this subject was piqued in the aftermath of the 2012 presidential election, in which he served as Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s vice-presidential running mate. He said his travels across America— coupled with his previous work for former Congressman Jack Kemp — left him with a sense that the Republican Party needed “fresh” ideas about fighting poverty. He said data about Federal anti-poverty programs was difficult to come by and decided to change that reality in a bipartisan manner. “I went to a buddy of mine — I wanted to make this bipartisan — a [Democratic] senator from Washington state, Patty Murray,” he said. “She and I had just done a big budget deal the year before…and I asked her to do this commission with me, because this should be bipartisan. “This has nothing to do with right or left, liberal or conservative, but just with what works, what’s data, what’s evidence, how to actually prove outcomes and things like that. We proceeded to put together this wonderful commission. We took the results from the commission … and put it into a bill. We passed that bill into law in December.” Discussing why statistical data about Federal programs was so hard to access, Ryan said bureaucracy and the status quo were the primary obstacles in making the data available to

policymakers. “It’s a classic ‘twentieth century bureaucracy wasn’t ready for the twenty first century,’” Ryan said. “Science and data analytics have moved so far, and government is way behind the times. In 2013, I conducted a study in the Budget Committee. I wanted to understand all the Federal government does in the area of fighting poverty. “I thought it was a pretty simple question to ask. No one knew the answer to this question. … It took us a year, an entire committee. We found out that there were about 92 Federal programs that qualify as poverty fighting programs, spending a little over $800 billion a year. About 1% of them — 1% — we measured whether they were effective or not. That gave me the impetus to say, ‘We have got to get the federal government up to speed here.’” Furthermore, Ryan said since the launch of the federal government’s so-called “war on poverty” 50 years ago, few people had been interested in measuring the programs in terms of their success of lifting people out of poverty. “Our onus, our mantra was — and Patty would agree with me on this — rather than measuring success in the war on poverty … based on effort, or input — how many programs do we have, how much money are we spending on them, how many people are on the programs — how about we do this novel thing and measure success in the War on Poverty based on outcomes? On results? Are we actually getting people out of poverty? Is it working?” Ryan said. “Because what had happened over this fifty-year period is the poverty rates basically stayed the same.” Regarding examples of evidence-based policymaking’s success, Ryan cited a prenatal motherhood support program aimed at helping expectant and new mothers living in poverty

care for their children by sending nurses into these women’s homes and teaching them how to care for children. “It’s a program we call MICV — Mother and Infant Children Visitation program — and George Bush created this as president as a pilot project,” Ryan said. “Barack Obama put in permanent law in the Affordable Care Act. Under my speakership, we made it permanent and reauthorized it, and Donald Trump signed it into law. “Here is a Bush-created program that Obama took from a pilot and made it an authorized program and then Trump expanded it. Why is that? … We used great data to figure out that it was extremely effective. The data told a story, the effectiveness told a story, and it was bipartisan.” Using data to determine a program’s effectiveness can take some of the partisan rancor out of debates regarding a program’s utility, Ryan said. “You can get rid of ideological fights, you can get rid of partisan fights, you can get rid of funding fights when you have unassailable evidence to be able to make the case and achieve a social good,” Ryan said. “Those few pockets of success stories is what we were able to point to and say ‘Why don’t we do this with the rest of the Federal government?’” At the conclusion of the moderated discussion, Ryan took questions from students. The questions covered a range of topics, including health care and the United States’ polarized political culture. Senior Sheila Gregory, copresident of College Democrats, challenged Ryan over his role in attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Gregory said Ryan had not lived up to his own self-set standards when it came to the use of evidence in policymaking. “In 2009, you said that, ‘I don’t think we should pass bills

Paid Advertisement

that we haven’t read and that we don’t know what they cost,’” Gregory said. “Yet the American Health Care Act of 2017, which passed the House while you were speaker, was called to a vote before the Congressional Budget Office could analyze its costs and effects. Furthermore, many representatives from your party admitted to not having read the full bill. Why did you change your mind when it came to the passage of your own health care legislation, and when is it ever appropriate to pass major legislation without a CBO score?” Ryan responded that his handling of the bill was consistent with the standards he had laid out. “I didn’t change my mind, did read the bill, did know the bill, helped write the bill and had continuous scores from the CBO all along. We had been scoring the same policy as CBO for months,” he said. “Their final score came out the same way as their preliminary score, based on their last preliminary score. We knew where we were with CBO all along. We would call CBO and they would tell us, ‘We just can’t give you an official letter yet, but here’s what it is.’ So we knew what the cost effects were, and we knew exactly what was in the bill.” At the close of Ryan’s answer, Gregory criticized the effects of the bill that Ryan had just referenced. “And the effects were 23 million people who would be uninsured, thank you so much,” Gregory said as she left the microphone. In response, Ryan asked Gregory if she was a member of the College Democrats. “Head of the College Democrats, right?” Ryan asked Gregory as she walked away. “This ain’t my first rodeo.” Contact Tom Naatz at tnaatz@nd.edu


The observer | monday, september 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

5

NICOLE SIMON | The Observer


6

The observer | Monday, september 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The Black Sheep in the room Evan McKenna Viewpoint Copy Editor

Forget football Saturdays and Catholic guilt — the true Notre Dame experience has been right at our fingertips all this time. The Black Sheep Notre Dame’s social media team, unaffiliated with but absolutely representative of the Notre Dame student body, successfully sums up life on campus with the help of some hot takes and relatable content. However, while their depictions of student life may be the Notre Dame experience for some, is it truly the Notre Dame experience that we wish to broadcast to those outside of the Notre Dame bubble? For those unfamiliar with the subject in question, Black Sheep is “the nation’s fastest growing college media and marketing company,” made up of dozens of editorial branches that are led and localized in various campus settings across the country. The company recognizes and takes full advantage of the close-quarters connectivity present across individual college campuses — each branch of their social media team draws students in with a form of humor that is personalized to their student body’s shared identity and social scene. The Notre Dame branch of Black Sheep is no different, sharing content that only Notre Dame students could understand — posts by Domers, for Domers! Posts where you can tag your best friend Katie from Chicago and joke about how that was totally you at Zahm last night! But these posts might just be relatable for all the wrong reasons. When Black Sheep’s social media managers aren’t cracking jokes about the South Bend permacloud or Notre Dame football, their social media presence boils down to oneliners about two primary subjects — skipping class and drinking en masse. Many posts feed off of the universal urges of unproductivity common amongst college students: “One thing I’ve learned over the past few days while preparing for finals is how conducive lofted beds are for hiding in your room and binge watching Netflix.” The proverbial “R.I.P. my GPA” jokes also make frequent appearances, revealing a worrisome chain of events that these accounts only seem to catalyze. The Black Sheep allows students to find comfort and relatability in academic irresponsibility, and then — once these problematic attitudes yield their respective results — also provides a platform for students to bond over their poor performance. Misery does love company, but the company that these accounts provide may very well spiral into a dangerous sort of academic complacency. Other posts attempt to normalize and make humor out of inappropriate alcohol consumption, like one tweet reading, “Oops I opened a box of wine instead of my textbooks.” These tweets may seem lighthearted at first — what’s so bad about finding humor in shared bad decisions? The incessant repetition of these bad decisions, however, is where toxic behavior finds its source, and the Black Sheep’s social media team seems to find endless humor in the act of messing up, regretting it and repeating everything a few days later.

These jokes function similarly to the aforementioned promotions of procrastination — Black Sheep eases your guilt about closing a bar down when you should be studying, and the next morning — once these problematic behaviors yield their results — Black Sheep is there again to add some humor to your hangover as you stumble to your exam, convincing you that this sort of behavior is acceptable because their meme about it got three retweets. This capitalization of mob mentality in order to normalize self-destructive behavior — intentional or not — is dangerous and blatantly manipulative. That being said, I absolutely acknowledge that these accounts’ posts are not the core cause of these behaviors — the existence of these problematic mentalities is a product of a much larger and complicated culture — and no one follows the Black Sheep’s social media accounts for the sole purpose of calibrating their moral compass. Still, I can’t help but imagine a fictional student who practices everything that these accounts preach: “Hi, I’m the physical manifestation of the Notre Dame Black Sheep Twitter account! I have a 1.2 GPA and no liver!” For the off-campus Notre Dame fanatics that learn everything they know about the University through social media — parents, prospective students, your youth pastor from back home — this fictitious figure might just become their idea of the stereotypical Notre Dame student. My goal here is not to condemn those who engage in these behaviors, those who enjoy the Black Sheep’s tweets or even the Black Sheep itself — rather, I suggest that we reconsider the ways in which we frame our public image as a University, and that we rethink our rhetoric when it comes to joking about academic irresponsibility and other self-destructive behaviors. Many students will continue in their behaviors regardless of what their campuses’ accounts are tweeting about, but we must understand that whether these social media outlets are officially affiliated or not, their jokes travel far beyond the universities they intend to humor. Upon reaching this understanding, perhaps we could begin chipping away at these toxic mentalities that seem to plague college campuses across the country. But before we tackle these far-reaching issues, we must first address the ways in which our society belittles the issues’ symptoms — portraying and promoting bad decisions under the guise of humor, utilizing mob mentality to normalize adverse behavior, popularizing platforms that reinforce said mob mentality. I will continue to follow the Notre Dame Black Sheep social media accounts — I’ll admit that many of their posts are undeniably hilarious. I just hope that in the future, I’ll see less tweets about inebriation and irresponsibility and more like this: “Just walked by a hot priest????” Now that is a Notre Dame experience I can get behind. Contact Evan McKenna at emckenn2@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Follow us on Twitter: @ObserverViewpnt

No words When people ask me how my summer was, I still cannot physically describe many of the moments and experiences that I had. Yes, it was an amazing opportunity where I was pushed beyond my comfort zone to learn more about the world that I live in, but I can’t really explain more than that — much of what I experienced needs more than just words. It’s difficult. It’s difficult because I saw injustices that I couldn’t even have imagined existing, it’s difficult because I battled cultural differences and made assumptions that were wrong and it’s difficult because in no way did I have the skill set or the appropriate amount of time to truly make a lasting impact on the community that I was helping. How do I put into words my teaching experience? How do I put into words the embarrassing cultural differences that I failed to adjust to at first? How do I put into words the heartbreak of leaving a community I felt acclimated to? How do I put into words hearing about other students’ experiences and not knowing what to say to help them and comfort them through their reentry periods? How do I put into words how much I miss my site partner who helped me through some of the more challenging times of my life? I am an ISSLP returnee. I have so much I want to talk about and so much I want to change about what I saw in my eight weeks in a rural Ghanaian village this summer, but it would not do the people in Ghana justice to make this article about my struggles and how I have been battling with how much luckier I am than many of the other young adults of the world. So, with that being said, I want to share the life story of one of the young boys I met, in hopes of giving him a little bit of justice and sharing with you what his life is like, as it is way more interesting than mine. I do not have his permission to be sharing this with you, so I am going to use a surname and hope that he does not mind. Furthermore, I could not confirm much of the information about his life, but I am telling a typical story of a child of the village. Oliver is a little boy of the Ghanaian village where I spent my summer, born into a family where the father is a farmer and the mother is not around (for reasons not disclosed to me). He is the youngest of five children, an adorable child who was very quiet when my site partner and I met him the second day of our stay, but loud and boisterous when he warmed up to us by the end of our stay. He wears broken sandals and tattered clothes, and often would just sit and watch us from afar. When he plays, he has bones of steel — he could fall or run into an object without ever getting hurt. He is a smart child and goes to school every day at the nearest village school. Yet, he most likely will not go to college nor leave the village for a significant period of time. Because he has older siblings and the entire family is only supported by a farmer’s salary, he does not get enough nutrition because money for food is scarce. He will most likely follow in the footsteps of his father and have a hard life. Yet, when I met him, he was a happy and innocent child who did not know the world beyond the village areas he sees on a daily basis. He does not yet know about how there are people all over the world who are better off than him and few who are worse off. Although this is an oversimplified version of the lives of Oliver and the other children of the village, it highlights that much of what we are blessed with is due to our circumstances at birth. Because I was born in a hospital, my life already had a different trajectory than Oliver’s; because I was born with a normal birth weight, my life already had a different trajectory than Oliver’s; and because I was born in the U.S., my life already had a different trajectory than Oliver’s. This is the reality of the world, and through spelling it out for you, I hope to show you that it’s important to consciously realize that we all are lucky to be here at Notre Dame — there are people out there who don’t even know enough about their world to wish that they were us. Yes, I may be struggling with my words in explaining my outside of the classroom experience of this past summer, but I can say that I am beyond blessed to get to share it with others and hope for change. I cannot wait to continue my life’s journey of trying to explain the events of my life and make life a little better for all those I meet. Beyond the cheesiness of what my life may look like now, I ask you to consider applying to do an ISSLP. I promise that you’ll love your experience outside of the classroom! Applications are due Nov. 3 at 11:59 p.m. If you would like to donate to the cause that we supported while there in Ghana, please visit: https://de.gofundme.com/f/send-adaklu-youth-to-university Jill Stachowski junior Sep. 26


The observer | monday, September 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

7

Kavanaugh in the Court Vince Mallett Politcally Ambidextrous

Fourteen months ago, President Donald Trump nominated then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, pending Senate confirmation. One year ago today, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford came forward with sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh. Those accusations sparked an intense national debate surrounding a nomination already widely expected to change the trajectory of the federal judiciary. Around the globe, the nation and our campus, people heavily debated the salience of decades-old allegations, the responsibility of those in power to combat institutionalized power dynamics and the requirements of character expected for lifetime appointments to the federal judiciary. As everyone who was embroiled in this controversy knows, Judge Kavanaugh became Justice Kavanaugh on Oct. 6, 2018. Since then, he has participated in over sixty argued cases at the Supreme Court, on top of controversial decisions surrounding the Trump administration, the death penalty, abortion and other issues which have arisen outside of the usual argument-decision framework. (These come up more often these days because the administration commonly bypasses the usual procedure.) However, I want to focus on the cases which do follow the usual pattern: a certiorari grant, oral argument, months of deliberation and writing and the release of one or more opinions. What role does Justice Kavanaugh play amongst his peers? Is he the ultra-conservative that many on the left fear him to be? Is he too close with Chief Justice John Roberts, who many on the right fear to be a ‘secret liberal’ due to his votes on the Affordable Care Act?

Obviously, the answer is more nuanced. I believe the addition of Justice Kavanaugh shifts the balance of the Court ‘to the right’, but I also believe the consequences of that shift are not as drastic as many might imagine. This qualification is due to both the way ideological differences play out at the Court and the way in which certain Justices’ legal methodologies affect their voting patterns. The assertion that Kavanaugh brings the Court rightward is largely uncontroversial but is important to demonstrate nonetheless. This can be done perhaps no better than through discussing partisan gerrymandering, a topic which has plagued the Court for years. In the 2004 case Vieth v. Jubelirer, Justice Anthony Kennedy decided not to side with his four fellow ‘conservative’ Justices to declare partisan gerrymandering claims nonjusticiable. Kavanaugh, who replaced Kennedy, provided the fifth vote to do so in last term’s Rucho v. Common Cause. That means claims of unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering will no longer be addressed by the federal government, putting a burden on Congress or state governments to tackle the issue. However, the Court’s rightward shift does not necessarily mean traditionally ‘conservative’ policy outcomes are the only ones we will see in the coming years. Most of the work the Supreme Court does is technical, dealing with topics and issues which anyone who isn’t a legal scholar won’t recognize. I’m willing to say that the majority of the Court’s work is done on influential cases of which the media will report nearly nothing. These cases are affected by Justice Kavanaugh’s presence on the Court, of course, but usually aren’t strongly affected by the perceived partisan shift that he brought. That shift, too, isn’t so simply ‘towards the right’ — it envelops his own personal legal opinions and methodologies. Each Justice on the Court brings something

unique to the deliberation, and Kavanaugh’s impact, while not yet wide in scope, is certainly felt. Let’s take Apple Inc. v. Pepper as an example. That case was brought about by Apple consumers who wished to sue the company for monopolization based on their control of the App Store. Apple argued that the consumers could not sue because they were not “direct purchasers” of Apple’s product — instead, they simply paid the individual app owners and Apple provided the marketplace. The decision in this case came down to a 5-4 vote, with Justice Kavanaugh voting with the perceived ‘liberal’ Justices and the other four ‘conservatives’ dissenting. Kavanaugh actually wrote the majority opinion for the case, with his fellow Trump nominee Justice Neil Gorsuch penning the dissent.Even in such cases as these, which have a possible political angle (the ‘large corporation’ v. the ‘little guy’), Justices frequently ‘flip sides’ or vote in unexpected patterns due to personal reasoning. All of this is not to say that partisan interests never appear to infect the Court’s activity. Many readers will have heard of the aforementioned partisan gerrymandering decision and the Court’s ruling regarding a citizenship question on the census. Both of those cases came down to one vote, and both were along traditional partisan lines. What I instead intend is to say is that the Supreme Court is not simply a machine for Republican Party political outcomes because of Justice Kavanaugh’s presence. It is a much more complex and interesting institution than that. Vince Mallett is a junior at Notre Dame majoring in philosophy with a minor in constitutional studies. He is proud to hail from Carroll Hall and northern New Jersey. Vince can be reached at vmallett@nd.edu or @vince_mallett on Twitter.

Liberalism’s Colosseum Brennan Buhr God, Notre Dame, Country

On St. Ignatius of Antioch, martyred for his faith in the second century, remains one of the most compelling witnesses to the truth of Christ in Church history. Although very few biographical details are known about this great saint, Ignatius wrote a series of letters to various local churches in the eastern Mediterranean region describing the physical and spiritual sufferings he bore as Roman soldiers dragged him from Antioch to his inevitable execution in Rome. Anyone who is even minimally interested in early Christianity ought to read these letters; in fact, Professor John Cavadini regularly assigns them at the beginning of his beloved upper-level theology course, Christian Traditions I. In an unparalleled display of heart-wrenching prose, Ignatius maintains a hopeful tone in the face of impending death, reminding his fellow Christians that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is the essential feature of their faith — in short, Christ died in the flesh to redeem fleshly humanity from its sins.Ignatius affirms that he must imitate Christ’s death through his own martyrdom in the teeth of wild beasts let loose upon his flesh by the imperial regime. He even exhorts to Christians in Rome that they must not stand in the way of his execution, for all his earthly loves have been “crucified.” His only remaining desires are “the bread of God, the heavenly bread, the bread of life, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, the Son of God… and the drink, namely His blood, which is incorruptible love and eternal life.” What can Ignatius’ harrowing yet awe-inspiring martyrdom teach contemporary Christians in our chaotic and deeply secularized Western world? David French — whose Friday discussion with Sohrab Ahmari and Charles Kesler at JenkinsNanovic Halls was strangely devoid of the incendiary contestation which many (including myself) had expected — would likely say that Ignatius’ suffering has little to nothing to do with this present condition. French made the fairly obvious point that “the Colosseum” no longer poses a physical threat to practicing Christians. Simply put, no Christians in modern liberal societies like the United States are being thrown to the beasts or burned at the stake. In fact, the supposed “censorship” of Christian views in the public square is actually the fault of contemporary Christians themselves (Drew Brees apparently fits into this

category) who lack the courage to defend their faith in the marketplace of ideas against the heretical doctrines of progressive liberalism. Our enemies (if French would even go so far as to admit that term) are not persecuting us. Rather, it is our own lack of courage which has stifled and continues to inhibit the essential goal sought by Catholics and Protestants alike: the faithful, unabashed and public practice of Christianity. Strictly speaking, French is correct that the particular persecutions which early Christian martyrs like Ignatius suffered at the hands of the state are no longer operative in modern liberal society. Of course, violence against Christians remains an ongoing reality, but this reality does not extend far beyond the deserts of the Middle East and various parts of Africa. The “blessings of liberty” which the liberal American founding conferred upon our nation’s citizens have ensured that the tyranny of the state over the body is virtually eliminated. What French fails to consider, however, is the nature of modern liberal democratic tyranny which has decisively shifted compared to past ages in origin and effect, yet which retains an ever-present but often subconscious grip on the soul. Though I am sure he has read Alexis de Tocqueville’s prophetic work “Democracy in America,” French seems to ignore the keen Tocquevillian insight that this uniquely modern tyranny is imposed by popular opinion (not the state) over the mind (not the body). In volume II, part II, chapter 7 of “Democracy in America,” Tocqueville writes that the princes of old “materialized violence” in the body, whereas “the democratic republics of today have made violence as entirely intellectual as the human will that it wants to constrain.” Modern tyranny “leaves the body alone and goes right to the soul.” In such a society, minority voices are legally free to spread their gospels in the marketplace of ideas with as much courage as they can muster. However, this “useless” proceduralism cannot save them from their fellow citizens, who will spurn them, deny them employment or status in elite circles, and thereby render them outcasts in the midst of a country they once thought home. The modern liberal says, “Go in peace; I spare your life, but I leave you a life worse than death.” Indeed, this situation aptly describes the contemporary crisis of conservatism. French’s exhortation that the state, not liberal philosophy, is the problem and that “a more courageous right” can genuinely counteract the totalizing force of modern progressivism fails to grapple with the reality that souls rather than bodies are deteriorating in the present age. Although

we live in a time of unprecedented material well-being — a point which liberal-conservatives like Jonah Goldberg incessantly cite as evidence for liberalism’s inherent goodness — it cannot be denied that the West is experiencing a profound decline in spiritual health. Thanks to the addictive ease of smartphones and social media, life may be far more comfortable than ever before, but it has also become less meaningful since, as Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn succinctly put it, “men have forgotten God.” French seems to be more concerned that Americans have forgotten about the Enlightenment, insofar as the 18th century American founding was fundamentally an Enlightenment project. French himself may not have forgotten God, but his argument that Christians simply need a space within the marketplace of ideas neglects the promise of a society thoroughly shaped by Christian love and truth. Where does St. Ignatius of Antioch fit into this context? Ignatius reminds us that the only life worth living is a life dedicated to Christ, whatever suffering that may entail. Christian conservatives cannot simply write off the idea that “the Colosseum” is no longer relevant in the contemporary context, for liberalism’s reign over the mind provides the often-subconscious forum for Christian persecution in the souls of Western men and women today. We must take back the public square with the same Christian vigor that Ignatius demonstrated on his death march to Rome. In my last column, I argued that French’s quest to negotiate a compromise with progressive liberalism was hopelessly naïve; progressives have been going right to the soul for quite some time. I maintain this point even more strongly after listening to French’s conversation-dominating arguments this past Friday. Originalist jurisprudence coupled with platitudinous pleas for “more courage” are insufficient remedies to the soul-crushing specter of liberalism. Rather, Christians must recall the witness of martyrs like St. Ignatius of Antioch if we desire to fulfill our call to bring the gospel of salvation to all peoples, especially those who have turned away from the faith in the modern West. Brennan Buhr is a senior Juggerknott from Albany, NY who studies theology, political science (but really, just theory) and history. He loves drinking cold glasses of skim milk and eating salad for dessert when he is not consuming “the living bread that came down from heaven” (Jn 6:51) at the Basilica. He can be reached at bbuhr@nd.edu or @BuhrBrennan on Twitter.


8

DAILY

The observer | monday, september 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | Will Shortz

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Make changes for the right reasons this year. If you overreact or let your emotions take over, you will miss an opportunity. Focus on your goals, not what others are doing. Learn from experience and observation. A steady pace forward will lead to a concrete step in the right direction. Make every move count, and nurture relationships. Your numbers are 3, 10, 17, 22, 28, 37, 42. ARIES (March 21-April 19): A break is encouraged. Take time out to assess your current situation, and consider what you can do to make your life better. Expand your interests and friendships; it will lead to new ideas and plans. Romance is favored. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t let someone ruin your day. Follow your gut, and head in the direction that suits your needs. Learn as you go, gain experience and press on to ensure you make the most of your time. Keep personal information a secret. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Know the routine, and get things done before someone complains. The more time you have to focus on your needs, the better equipped you will be to head in a direction that excites you. Socializing and romance should be priorities. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Aggressive behavior won’t help you get your way. Listen to complaints, and make adjustments that will appease those who question your motives or decisions. Getting along will be the route to personal victory. Less fuss, less to clean up. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Learn as you go. A day trip, seminar or retreat will open your mind to a host of new ideas that can shape how you move forward intellectually, romantically or financially. Associate with people who share your vision. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Participate in gatherings that are conducive to discovery. The information you gather will help you make a wise decision regarding your future. Congregate with people who share your goals, beliefs and objectives. Avoid making emotional decisions and impulsive purchases. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Use charm if you want to ask for help. Spending time with a friend or relative who infringes on your privacy or monopolizes your time should be limited. Take care of responsibilities, and move on to something you enjoy. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): If change is what you want, do something about it. All talk and no action will lead to a lack of self-respect. Put a plan in place, and follow through. Call on individuals who owe you a favor to pitch in and help. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Distance yourself from individuals who tempt you with expensive or indulgent pastimes. Protect your possessions, reputation and physical well-being. Walk away from discord and risk. Personal improvement and romance are encouraged. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): An emotional incident can be debilitating if not appropriately handled. Look at your options, and make a positive step toward personal changes that promote happiness, security and peace of mind. Walk away from manipulative individuals. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Look for a good investment. Use your skills, knowledge and experience to bring in extra cash. How you handle your money and your overhead will determine what you can afford. A partnership with someone interesting looks promising. Romance is favored. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Don’t spend to impress someone. Stick to a budget, be honest about the way you feel and address issues that you think need to be adjusted. What you do for others will determine what you get in return. Birthday Baby: You are thoughtful, generous and caring. You are determined and spirited.

sorin elementary | ian salzman

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, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross communities. 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 | monday, september 16, 2019 | The Observer

W Soccer

Sports Authority

Handling tanking with Gold Plan Jack Concannon Sports Writer

The NHL, NBA and MLB have all had tanking problems. Teams sought to lose as many games as they could once they were eliminated from playoff contention, gaining the opportunity to draft the next Zion Williamson or Jack Hughes in the process. This process is painstaking for fans and players alike, and causes rebuilding teams to struggle selling tickets. Sometimes fans that go actively support their team’s opponent, knowing that it is not in their long-term interest to win. Watching fans celebrate their own team’s losses is gross and not what sports should be about. The MLB has done nothing to reform the issue, and the NHL and NBA use a lottery to award the top selections. Both of these plans have failed. While we all dislike tanking, I would argue the NBA is an even worse place now than it would be without a lottery. The 33-win Pelicans leapfrogging the lowly Bulls, Suns and Cavaliers teams that were in far more desperate need of Zion Williamson’s services than they were, for no reason other than the order in which ping pong balls were pulled, is absurd and not a good remedy to the problem. We need a system that gives the worst teams the best chance to get the best young players and encourages teams to win their late season games. Thanks to Adam Gold, a data analyst focused on sports, we have the plan we need. Aptly named the Gold Plan, it was originally conceived with hockey in mind, but there is no reason why it cannot extend to basketball and baseball as well. The plan is simple: instead of ranking non-playoff teams in reverse order of the standings, rank the teams based on how many wins they earn after they are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. The most wins post-elimination earns you the number-one selection. This is a great plan for a few reasons. The first is that teams now earn higher draft picks by winning, providing an incentive for players to keep playing hard and fans to continue to buy tickets and watch games on television even after their team has been knocked out. Being eliminated no longer ends your season, it just changes your desired outcome from winning the title to earning the top pick. If the goal is to make teams win games for a better pick, why not just play an end-of-season consolation tournament, and award the winner the top pick in the draft? This would be bad because it would make it impossible for the league’s worst teams to ever pick first, as the 17-win Knicks would

struggle mightily in defeating the 39-win Kings in a series to earn that top pick. As a result, the draft would fail to give the worst teams the best young talent, eliminating the entire point of the draft. Enter a second key reason the Gold Plan works: it gives the worst teams an advantage over average teams that just missed the playoffs in securing the top pick. This is because teams that are eliminated earlier in the season will have more games post-elimination to accumulate wins. Last season, the Montreal Canadiens were in playoff contention until the final day of the regular season. Under the Gold Plan, they would have zero wins and would pick 16th, last out of all non-playoff teams. By contrast, the Ottawa Senators were eliminated on March 9, giving them a full month to collect wins. Imagine how exciting that would make the end of the regular season. Determination of playoff seeding is somewhat interesting, but it would not even hold a candle to the excitement of a Suns-versus-Bulls late season matchup with Zion Williamson on the line. The same goes for baseball and hockey: late season matchups that were once meaningless would become critical to long-term rebuilding. One counter point is that this would greatly mitigate the impact of the trade deadline. Currently teams out of contention part with their veterans on expiring contracts to recoup draft picks and gain assets that will help in the future. The implementation of the Gold Plan would add a new emphasis on late season wins, even for teams with no title to play for. While I enjoy the hot stove of the trade deadline, this is a small price to pay to end tanking and adds a new exciting reason to watch sports when your team would usually have nothing left to play for. Trade deadline moves are currently an important aspect of roster construction, but teams and general managers would adapt quickly, and within just a few years, the fun of the trade deadline would be a faint memory in comparison to the fargreater excitement the Gold Plan would bring. This plan prevents tanking, adds a new reason to watch bad teams that struggle to fill their stadium, and gives the worst teams the best chance of earning the top picks. It is an essentially flawless alternative to our current system we would all be better off with. Contact Jack Concannon at jconcan2@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

net early, scoring within the first 10 minutes of its last two matches, it was the Irish who experienced a dream start yesterday. Nearly ten minutes in, sophomore midfielder Luisa Delgado curled a left footed shot inside the near post to put the Irish in front early. After receiving a pass from junior midfielder Sammi Fisher, Delgado beat her defender on the right flank by faking right and cutting back to her left before unleashing her majestic strike past the outstretched left hand of Iowa goalkeeper Claire Graves. Five minutes later however, trouble began brewing for the Irish. The Hawkeyes responded quickly, as defender Hannah Drkulec headed home a corner taken by midfielder Natalie Winters to even the score at one. Drkulec made a sweeping run from the top of the 18 yard box to the back post, where she elevated above three Irish defenders for a free header. Just 30 seconds later, Iowa took the lead on a goal by midfielder Josie Durr that appeared to result from a miscommunication by the Irish defense. Norman explained that some players pushed up the field on a fifty-fifty ball while others stayed, leaving space in the middle of the field for striker Devin Burns to collect the loose ball and play a through pass to the right foot

of Durr, who then poked the ball over the right shoulder of oncoming sophomore Irish sophomore goalkeeper Mattie Interian. Set pieces, and specifically Drkulec, again haunted the Irish less than ten minutes later, as the defender scored her second corner-kick goal of the game from Winters to make it 3-1 Hawkeyes. Drkulec made nearly the same run to the back post that she had earlier and again found herself uncontested as she snapped a header past the diving Interian. “Any time you give up set piece goals, it’s more of a controllable thing and that’s frustrating,” Norman said. Notre Dame did begin to claw its way back later in the first half, as substitute freshman forward Kiki Van Zanten and sophomore forward Olivia Wingate came on and injected some life into the Irish. With thirteen minutes to go in the first half, Van Zanten’s pressure high up the pitch forced a turnover by the Iowa back line. The freshman striker won the ball and played a pass to the left foot of sophomore striker Wingate, who was dragged down in the box by midfielder Hailey Rydberg. After the referee awarded a penalty kick from the spot to the Irish, junior midfielder Sammi Fisher beat Graves to the bottom left corner to bring Notre Dame within one. With less than two minutes remaining before halftime, Wingate and Van Zanten

9

again connected inside the 18 yard box, but Graves made an incredible kick save on Van Zanten’s strike from 10 yards away to preserve the Hawkeye lead before the break. In the second half, the Hawkeyes tightened up their formation, dropping all 10 players behind the ball looking to protect their one goal advantage. Notre Dame’s best chance of the second half came with 10 minutes left in the game. A cross from the right wing found its way through the box but was saved by Wingate on the end-line, who played the ball back to a wide open Fisher on the six yard line. Graves was headed in the wrong direction, but Fisher couldn’t connect cleanly, and her strike flew wide to the left. Iowa was able to clear away a corner kick in the final minute to hang on and hand the Irish their second straight loss. “There’s just not a lot of space, and you have to rely on getting balls into dangerous areas when a team is packing it in like that,” Norman said. “We just have to do a better job of being more aggressive and decisive in the box when we get crosses in like we did in that second half.” The Irish will look to bounce back this Friday when they open conference play on the road against No. 20 Clemson. Kickoff is at 5:00 p.m. on ACC Network Extra. Contact Colin Capece at ccapece@nd.edu

Allison thornton | The Observer

Irish junior forward Sammi Fisher tries to evade a defender during Notre Dame’s 3-2 loss against Iowa on Sunday at Alumni Stadium. Fisher brought the Irish within one with a 32nd-minute goal. 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 | monday, september 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Kelly Continued from page 12

the Georgia game looming. “There were two runs [by New Mexico] that we just didn’t like the overall team defensive support. It just wasn’t one guy, you know, we gave up two big runs. Against Louisville it was just poor execution and some option things and zone reads,” Kelly said. “We cleaned that up, I think our guys did a much better job of executing the plan. I think what we were disappointed with was just some poor defensive structure where the ball got outside the defense.” Kelly said the team would need to be careful not to repeat these mistakes with Georgia. “That can’t happen against anybody,” he said. “It can’t happen against Georgia because, obviously, those plays are going for touchdowns. So, that’s attention to detail stuff and you know you can’t have it against anybody. So, I think our guys will learn from it and know that each and every play against a team like Georgia, if you’re not on it, all 11 players playing together, playing great run defense, a guy like [junior running back D’Andre] Swift’s gonna take it to the endzone.” While Kelly is concerned about how his team will fare against the Bulldogs, he was pleased with the way his team stepped up against New Mexico, specifically the play of senior wide receiver Javon McKinley. “He’s a really good blocker, he made a couple of really good blocks. He’s physical, one of the stronger guys that we have. In terms of what [director of football performance Matt] Balis would talk about in the weight room, he’s at the top of all the categories,” Kelly said. “So you got a physical presence, a guy that can go up and get the football. “So, he brings all of those intangibles: big, physical presence out there that can come down and block a safety. So, he’s earned his opportunity to get significant playing time. So, he helps in the running game, he helps in, obviously, the one-on-one matchups, and he’ll be a significant part of what we do moving forward.” Another way McKinley helps is in taking a load off of graduate student wide receiver Chris Finke, who has seen increased responsibilities with injuries to junior tight end Cole Kmet and junior wide receiver Michael Young. “We’ve moved him around a little bit. He’s had to play some X receiver a little bit. He’s had to be a mentor for a lot of young players,” Kelly said. “He’s had to get out on the perimeter and do some different things and block. “So, a little bit more pressure on him, but … we’ve

got Javon McKinley who’s emerged where we can put Chase [Claypool] out there. [Finke] certainly loves having Chase next to him cause he picks up a lot of the dirty work for him. So what really has helped is the emergence of Javon McKinley because now you can f lip Chase back out there and it gives us great f lexibility now with the group of receivers.” In terms of the injuries to Young and Kmet, as well as to sophomore running back Jahmir Smith, Kelly is optimistic about their timetables for return. “The only one that won’t be ready to play is Michael Young. He’ll be a week behind. We’re hopeful that [Kmet and Smith] would be ready to play,” he said. “We’ll get more information on Cole tomorrow, but we’re very encouraged that we’re going to see the things that we need to see for him to be cleared to play. “Jahmir was walking around today. We’ll get him moving, running on Monday, so we’re moving in the right direction there, we’re hopeful there. So, Michael would be the only one, he’s about a week away. He will be involved in all of our activities this week but we won’t clear him until the following week.” In any case, the focus now shifts to No. 3 Georgia, and Kelly said his team is antsy to face the Bulldogs on their turf. “They’re excited. … They’re excited about the challenge that’s in front of them, and I don’t think they can underestimate the fact that this is a game that they’ve been excited [for],” Kelly said. “It’s been on the schedule and one that they’ve been waiting for, so they’re ready to go.” While their anticipation is through the roof, Kelly says the Irish realize the severity of the task at hand. “They knew that they had to take care of business against New Mexico and that they had to play better from when they played against Louisville. I think they did that. They showed the kind of improvement necessary in week 1 to week 2 with a bye week there,” he said. “But, make no mistake about it, they understand the caliber of play that is gonna be needed against Georgia.” However, Kelly says that his guys came to Notre Dame in the first place because they love this kind of opportunity. “It’s a lot of the reason why they want to come to Notre Dame, it’s like being on Broadway. It’s a Broadway show,” Kelly said. “You’re on stage every game you play. It’s on national TV, they know all of their games are broadcast on NBC or CBS or ESPN or ABC. So they know they’re in that spotlight and they choose to come to Notre Dame because they want that. They relish that opportunity. … So, they don’t see it as pressure,

they see it as a privilege, and they really enjoy it.” Kelly said that the kind of environment surrounding this game is what makes it so great. “When you have Georgia, the No. 3-ranked team in the country, it’s national television, it’s [College] Gameday,

all the eyes are on you, that’s why you play these games,” he said. “So the guys are pretty excited about it.” Notre Dame will kickoff against Georgia on Saturday at 8 p.m. Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu

ANNA masoN | The Observer

Irish sophomore quarterback Phil Jurkovec scans the field for a receiver during Notre Dame’s 66-14 win over New Mexico on Saturday. Paid Advertisement

Volleyball Continued from page 12

Notre Dame stepped up and landed a series of tough hits to which the Norse were unable to respond, giving the Irish a 22-25 win and the lead in the match. In the final set of the matchup, neither team relented, eventually tying things up at 24. Graduate student middle blocker Kristen Baer gave the Irish a onepoint lead until a service error handed Notre Dame a 27-25 win for the day. In the final showdown for Notre Dame, the Irish met Ball State to cap off the weekend. For the third time that weekend, the Irish dropped their opening set by at least six points, despite four kills by Bent. In the second set, things looked to remain close at first before the Irish took over, claiming a 18-10 lead and eventually ending with a nine-point win. In the final two sets of play, the Cardinals kept things close, before the Irish finished in the final plays, ending with a 25-22 and 26-24 win. Bent was a key contributor in the win over Ball State, recording a team-high 16 kills. The Irish will return to Purcell Pavilion on Wednesday to host Michigan at 7 p.m. before traveling to Ann Arbor to face the Wolverines on the road on Sunday.


Sports

M Soccer Continued from page 12

surprising given how Clemson piled on the pressure early, especially by pressing the Irish high up the field and throwing numbers forward. The first chance for the Tigers came from a set play off a corner. Sophomore star Robbie Robinson found himself unmarked on the top of the 18 with barely two minutes on the clock, but he put his shot just over the crossbar of Notre Dame senior goalkeeper Duncan Turnbull. The Irish would not be as fortunate when the Clemson sophomore received the ball about twenty-five yards from goal towards the near touchline. Though seemingly closed down by about six men, Robinson managed to wriggle his way through all of them, concluding his incredible mazy run through the Irish penalty area with a finish across his body that trickled inside Turnbull’s left post. Just six minutes in, Notre Dame was trailing for the first time this season. A key talking point in the game was the absence of senior center-back Senan Farrelly due to injury, but Riley refused to pinpoint missing his senior leader as a key factor in the loss and discounted the impact of Clemson’s frantic press on the actual outcome of the game.

ndsmcobserver.com | monday, september 16, 2019 | The Observer

“I think we’ve got good guys that can step up,” he said. “I think anytime you lose someone that’s been playing [lots of ] minutes you don’t want that. But at the same time, I don’t think that was [the reason for the loss]. I think on the night too many […] guys individually had less than their optimal performance. And I think that when teams are pressing you and you’re not sharp, it kind of compounds the problem at times. I think Clemson put us under pressure. I think we played through it well at times but at other times they cause[d] us some problems, but their goals actually didn’t come from that.” One of Notre Dame’s three captains and the team’s career leader in assists, graduate student defender Felicien Dumas, started the game as Farrelly’s replacement at center-back. As the first half progressed, however, Riley moved him back into a more advanced position. “[Dumas] is naturally one of the guys that plays wider,” Riley said. “But when Senan picked up an injury, he’s also given us minutes there. So we did that for a little bit and then shifted things.” As Dumas again occupied his more natural position as a marauding right-back and found himself in more forward positions, the Irish eventually gained a foothold in the game. Dumas, the team’s set-piece specialist,

would provide the equalizer. On a free kick near the far touchline, Dumas curled in a superb delivery that Mohamed Omar rose up to head home. Omar would actually fail to make contact, but his attempt kept Clemson keeper George Marks rooted to his line in the center of the goal. Marks could only watch as Dumas’ ball took one hop before nestling into his side-netting. The last 20 minutes of the first half became increasingly stretched as both sides looked to gain the advantage before half-time, but it would be Clemson who struck right before the interval and silenced the Alumni Stadium crowd with another stunning individual goal. Following a Tiger corner, a second deep cross launched into the Irish box was only partially cleared and fell to Clemson’s leading scorer, Kimarni Smith. The sophomore from Nottingham, England measured his volley to perfection, giving Turnbull absolutely no chance from just over 12 yards out. With barely two minutes played in the second half, Smith completed his brace and resumed the Clemson onslaught. Notre Dame defender Townsend Meyer struggled to deal with a thunderous clearance by the Tiger defense that seemingly carried in the air for an eternity, allowing Smith to sneak inbehind the Irish junior and

Junya kanemitsu | The Observer

Irish freshman defender Mohammad Abualnadi looks down the field to pass during Notre Dame’s 4-0 loss against Clemson at Alumni Stadium on Friday.

slot home his seventh goal of the season. The third unanswered goal for Clemson was scored just after the hour mark following some brilliant combination play. Tiger midfielders Tanner Dietrich and Phillip Mayaka played a one-two at the top of the Irish penalty area, and Dietrich found himself behind the Irish back line before smashing home his first goal of the year from just six yards. While Riley was unhappy with the defending on the fourth goal, he felt his squad was generally unlucky on the night. “[For] the first goal, we clear it off their player and it randomly goes in the net,” he said. “The next one [is a] little bit f luky, but we clear the ball [and] it happens to drop right to the guy… Can’t criticize officials, but a guy [is] 10 yards offside on the third goal. So I do think things bounced their way. I think they were good. But … the fourth goal, I think that was clearly defending. Poor defending.” Sophomore forward Jack Lynn answered just a minute later for Notre Dame, however, with an early candidate for goal-of-the season. The sophomore, who surpassed his freshman year tally with his fourth goal of the campaign, picked up the ball near the halfway line and drove at the Clemson back line before unleashing a fantastic drive that smacked the underside of the

11

crossbar before heading in. Lynn’s blast would be one of the few bright spots for the Irish attack in a choppy second half. Amidst three yellow cards and a litany of fouls from both sides, the Irish struggled to create late on and actually ended up being out-possessed by the Tigers, who were happy to keep the ball and see the clock wind down. Riley, however, was not concerned with his team’s ability to create opportunities in the future. “I think that’s always about performing on the night,” he said. It’s not that you can or can’t do it. It’s about doing it on the night … it’s playing more of the game in their half. But I think a lot of it’s just down to, you know, we weren’t as sharp as we should have been tonight.” It does not get any easier for the Irish, who travel down to Bloomington on Tuesday to face No. 4 Indiana, who knocked Notre Dame out of the NCA A tournament at the quarterfinal stage last year. Riley was confident his team will bounce back from Friday’s defeat, however. “You’ve got to turn (the loss) into something that propels us forward, and I think we will,” he said. “We’re good at doing that.” Kickoff on Tuesday versus Indiana is scheduled for 7 p.m. Contact Greg McKenna at gmckenn2@nd.edu

Junya kanemitsu | The Observer

Irish junior Aiden McFadden dribbles the ball during Notre Dame’s 4-0 loss to Clemson on Friday at Alumni Stadium. McFadden has scored two goals so far this season.


12

The observer | monday, september 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

nd women’s soccer | iowa 3, nd 2

ND football

Kelly talks New Mexico, Georgia By HAYDEN ADAMS Associate Sports Editor

No. 7 Notre Dame’s head coach Brian Kelly fielded questions regarding his team’s play against New Mexico and the upcoming matchup against Georgia in Athens during a teleconference Sunday. In terms of the New Mexico game, Kelly was proud of the inexperienced players who contributed to the win. “There’s a lot of young players that are wanting their opportunity,” he said. “And we’ve sold them, ‘You’re going to get your chance here, and when we call your number you’ve gotta step up and make a play,’ and we saw a lot of young guys doing it, and some older guys. [Senior wide receiver] Chase Claypool had an incredible day. [Senior wide receiver] Javon McKinley, he’s been with us a while, had a great day. “So, we know that we’ve

Notre Dame gives up 3 quick goals in loss to Iowa

got some guys that can make plays, and now, after this game, it allows us now to kinda put the pieces together as to how we want this offense to continue to move forward, knowing that we’ve got guys that have the confidence to go out there and make plays.” Still, Kelly believes that there are corrections that need to be made with a top-10 matchup days away. “Well, we can’t give up big play runs, obviously. We’ve gotta be better there, certainly. [We have to] play the ball in the air better,” Kelly said of what his team can improve upon. “But we did a lot of good things, you know, eight [tackles for loss], three takeaways. But we can’t give up the big play runs. And then, offensively, more efficient on third down. Those are probably the two big takeaways right now. He emphasized the necessity of solid run defense with see KELLY PAGE 10

By COLIN CAPECE Sports Writer

allison thornton | The Observer

Irish junior forward Eva Hurm dribbles down the field during Notre Dame’s 3-2 victory over Iowa on Sunday at Alumni Stadium.

Irish drop first match of season against Tigers By GREG McKENNA

ND takes two of three in matchup Observer Sports Staff

Sports Writer

see M SOCCER PAGE 11

see W SOCCER PAGE 9

nd volleyball

nd men’s soccer | clemson 4, nd 0

A raucous crowd of over 1,000 was treated to several sensational goals by both No. 10 Notre Dame and No.13 Clemson at Alumni Stadium on Friday night, but ultimately, the Fighting Irish (3-1-0) fell to Clemson (7-0-0) by a score of 4-2 in an enthralling first conference clash of the season for both sides. Notre Dame head coach Chad Riley remained confident and composed following the loss, but he regretted how Clemson dominated the contest’s early stages. “I think we weren’t great tonight,” he said. “I think a lot of that can be credit to Clemson. I thought they were good on the night. … I just didn’t feel like we started with the right level of intensity. And… that’s the biggest disappointment for me.” Riley’s frustration with his team’s start was not

The Fighting Irish back line has played outstandingly during the early stages of this season, but it was their defense that let them down in a 3-2 loss against Iowa yesterday, Notre Dame’s (6-2) first at Alumni Stadium this year. Notre Dame dominated the time of possession for much of the game, but it was a 10 minute stretch in the first half in which the Hawkeyes scored three straight goals that ultimately sunk the Irish. “We had some missteps on defense today that provided [Iowa] with some great opportunities,” head coach Nate Norman said after the game. “Anytime you give up three goals early against a good team, it’s going to be hard to get back into the game.” While Iowa has recently been the team finding the back of the

Junya kanemitsu | The Observer

Irish freshman midfielder Ethan O’Brian controls the ball during Notre Dame’s 4-0 loss to Clemson at Alumni Stadium on Friday.

Notre Dame travelled to Highland Heights, Kentucky this weekend in a three-game series that saw it take on Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Ball State. Looking to build on their momentum from a top-25 win over Purdue earlier in the week, the Irish fell to Cincinnati early but bounced back and claimed wins over both the Norse and the Cardinals. The Irish got off to a strong start Friday against the Bearcats, claiming a 3-1 lead, but things quickly settled down as both teams proceeded to exchange points. Five errors in the middle of the match found the Irish down 13-8 as they attempted to keep things close. The Bearcats continued to extend their lead with the Irish, never coming within more than three points and eventually dropping the first set of the weekend. The scripts seemed to switch in the following set as the match remained close throughout the first half of play before the Irish took over. With a one-point lead

in the middle of the set, freshmen outside hitter Caroline Meuth and sophomore right side hitter Sydney Bent and sophomore outside hitter Charley Neigo all contributing a total of five kills to give the Irish and 1825 win. Notre Dame dropped both of the next two sets 25-20 as they were unable to close things out down the stretch. While the Bearcats connected on some key hits, the Irish were also hurt by a series of service and assist errors, totally 18 to Cincinnati’s 12. Returning to action the next day, Notre Dame looked ready to drop its second-straight match after losing its first set 25-19 to Northern Kentucky. The second set proved the Irish were in for a tough match as things remained tied up 17-17. However, Meuth once again stepped up, rattling off a trio of kills to give the Irish a necessary cushion and claim a five-point set win. The third set followed the same trend, with neither team able to completely separate until the front line for see VOLLEYBALL PAGE 10


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.