The independent
To uncover
newspaper serving
the truth
Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s
and report
and holy cross
it accurately
Volume 54, Issue 61 | tuesday, december 10, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
SCC hosts interview about housing policy Associate VP of Residential Life discusses ‘differentiation’ policy with sophomore class president By GENEVIEVE REDSTEN News Writer
W hen Notre Dame alumni meet each other, associate vice president of Residential Life Heather Rakoczy Russell said their first question is not “W hat did you study? ” or “W hen did you graduate? ” but “W here did you live? ” Notre Dame’s residence halls, she said, are a defining feature of the undergraduate experience. Even after students move off campus, many return to their former residence halls to share in the hall community. But this past April, the Division of Student Affairs announced in a campus-wide
email that off-campus students could lose access to residence hall programming, such as dances and interhall sports. Administrators called this policy “differentiation.” Many students, who staged protests and circulated petitions, called it “exclusion.” On Monday evening, Rakoczy Russell held a meeting to answer questions about the proposed policy from the sophomore class — the first class to be impacted by these proposed changes. “As you may know, I received 5,000 signatures and a protest on God Quad last spring, which — while see HOUSING PAGE 3
GENEVIEVE REDSTEN | The Observer
Sophomore class president Jordan Theriault, right, sits with associate vice president of Residential Life Heather Rakoczy Russell to discuss the controversy surrounding the senior “differentiation” policy.
Man charged with Students consult for non-profits through SCNO voyeurism after incident in Zahm
By CHRISTOPHER PARKER News Writer
Going on its fourth year connecting Notre Dame students to local charity work, the University’s chapter of Students Consulting for Nonprofit Organizations (SCNO) met Tuesday night to present this semester’s projects. SCNO is a group that
seeks to elevate nonprofits by “empowering talented students with knowledge, training and hands-on consulting experience,” according to the club’s website. President senior Alex Muck said nonprofits partner with SCNO through several different outlets. (Editor’s Note: Muck is a news writer at The Observer) In the past, the club sought
out projects through connections on campus such as the club’s faculty advisor, professor Mike Manner, or the Center for Social Concerns. Recently, however, local nonprofits themselves have reached out. “One partner that we’re hopefully working with next semester actually found us at see NON-PROFIT PAGE 4
College panel explores stress management By CALLIE PATRICK News Writer
With exam week quickly approaching, Saint Mary’s students took to the Dalloway’s clubhouse for a panel on stress management sponsored by the Student Government Association (SGA). “As far as we understand tonight, the basic idea is that
we’re here for you,” said panelist and Saint Mary’s life coaching consultant Becky Lindstrom. “We’re here to answer your questions, especially if you’re a first year and have never been through exams.” The panel opened with Lindstrom addressing that stress is normal, a part of life, a part of transition and a part of change.
“Actually, any time you take on a new job, if you want to get married, if you want to have children, if you want to travel internationally, go abroad for a semester, these are all very fantastic, exciting things that we want in our lives and they’re also things that are going to bring us stress,” she said. Lindstrom notes that there see STRESS PAGE 4
NEWS PAGE 3
SCENE PAGE 5
VIEWPOINT PAGE 7
By NATALIE WEBER Assistant Managing Editor
A 21-year-old man was charged with voyeurism Nov. 21 for allegedly pointing his cell phone camera at a student in a Zahm House bathroom stall, according to court documents obtained by The Observer. The man was previously enrolled at the University and has been identified as Benjamine Wears. On Sept. 22, around 3 p.m., a student told Zahm rector Robert Francis that while using a first f loor restroom in Zahm, he saw the person in the stall next to him holding a cell phone near his ankles with the camera application open. According to the probable cause affidavit, the cell phone was “pointed into [the student’s] stall under the divider between the two stalls” and the student could see the camera application and images on the screen. Thinking a friend was
ND M Basketball PAGE 12
trying to prank him, the student yelled “what the [expletive]” but the person did not leave the stall. The student waited until the occupant left the stall and eventually saw a man with black shoes and a green backpack with a plastic bottle exit and “bolt” out of the bathroom without washing his hands, court documents said. The student chased after the man but didn’t catch him, and later that day reported the incident to the Zahm rector, according to court documents. A police report was filed that afternoon. The next weekend, the student saw the suspect, “who identified himself eventually as Benjamine Wears by both name and by ND ID card,” according to the probable cause affidavit. Police on Oct. 4 interviewed Wears, who said several times he had not been at Zahm. see VOYEURISM PAGE 4
FOOTBALL PAGE 12
2
TODAY
The observer | tuesday, december 10, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com
Have a question you want answered? Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com
What is your favorite dessert?
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: Allison Thornton Graphics Editor: Diane Park Social Media Editor: Mary Bernard Advertising Manager: Landry Kempf Ad Design Manager: Ruby Le Systems Administrator: Stephen Hannon
Raquel Falk
Daniela De Ciantis
graduate student off campus
graduate student Flaherty Hall
“The Sahara.”
“Tiramisu.”
Grace Carroll
Andie Villalon
graduate student Walsh Hall
freshman McGlinn Hall
“My mom’s apple crisp.”
“Ice cream.”
Margaret McMahon
Ziyu Zeng
graduate student off campus
sophomore Flaherty Hall
“Grace’s cinnamon crumb coffee cake.”
“Cheesecake.”
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
Today’s Staff News
Sports
Andrew Cameron Renee Pierson Trinity Reilly
Jimmy Ward Hayden Adams
Graphics
Scene
Claire Kopischke
Charlie Kenney
Photo
Viewpoint
Hannah Huelskamp
Katie Harmeyer
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.
HANNAH HUELSKAMP | The Observer
The Department of Art, Art History and Design opened “New Faces” on Dec. 5. The exhibition, which is held in 214 Riley Hall and is open to the public, features work by first-year MFA students in Studio Art and Design. It will be open until Jan. 17.
The next Five days:
Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Lecture: School Choice in Chile Hesburgh Center 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. Emiliana Vegas will discuss key reforms.
Pottery Sale Ceramics Studio, 122 Riley Hall 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Only cash and checks will be accepted.
Artful Yoga Snite Museum of Art 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Capacity is limited. All skill levels are welcome.
Study at the Snite Snite Museum of Art 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Galleries open to students as a quiet study space.
Glee Club Christmas Concerts Leighton Concert Hall 2:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Tickets available online.
Information Session on CSC Seminars Geddes Hall 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Learn more about Spring 2020 seminars.
“Leveraging LinkedIn” Room 158, Mendoza College of Business 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Training workshop.
Last Class Day campus-wide all day Last day of classes for the fall semester before final exams.
“The Christmas Star” DVT in Jordan Hall of Science 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Free, ticketed lecture on astrophysics.
“New Faces” 214 Riley Hall all day Exhibit featuring work by first-year MFA students.
News
ndsmcobserver.com | tuesday, december 10, 2019 | The Observer
3
Fellowship offers SMC students opportunities By MARTA ANTONETTI News Writer
In the 2020-2021 school year, the Katharine Terr y Dooley Fellowship w ill be offered to undergraduate students at Saint Mar y’s. The fellowship is designed to help strengthen students’ relationships to the core ideas of social justice not only in their communit y, but in the world beyond. Applications for the upcoming year are now open and w ill close on Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. The Katharine Terry Dooley Social Justice Fellowship program will bring together a small group of students
Housing Continued from page 1
compelling and interesting — was a bit of curiosit y to me, because people were protesting against something that hadn’t been established yet,” she said. “So where do we go from here? I thought the first [step] was to get you correct information.” By offering incentives to on-campus students, and by differentiating the rights and priv ileges of on- and offcampus students, Rakoczy Russell said the Universit y hopes to encourage more students to stay on campus all four years. Ideally, she said they want to raise the portion of seniors liv ing on campus from 34% to 50% . Rakoczy Russell said she wants to propose a policy to other administrators regarding the differentiation policy by March 1. But before she drafts a final proposal, she said she wants to have an open dialogue w ith the campus communit y, weighing the concerns of the student body.
Shifting privileges for off-campus students Rakoczy Russell said in the past nine years, many new housing developments have cropped up around campus. With this new housing, she said, came landlords who aggressively targeted underclassmen, telling students they needed to sign a lease for off-campus senior housing far in advance. That effort by landlords, Rakoczy Russell said, led many more seniors to move off campus. With so many seniors moving off campus, Rakoczy Russell said men’s dorms needed more
chosen to be fellows to receive training in social justice leadership and community organizing. The fellows will then design a social justice project related to an issue or issues they find particularly pressing. Fellows will receive a $500 stipend as well as two academic credits across the two semesters of the fellowship year. It provides resources to fellows seeking to pursue the values set forth by the fund. Saint Mar y’s philosophy professor Andrew Pierce talked about the program’s goals and purpose in an email. “The goal of the program
is to train a small group of students in justice leadership and organizing, who w ill then use their newly developed skills to address social justice issues here on campus or in the local communit y,” Pierce said. The program does not aim to benefit only the students who participate, but also the communit y at large. “The program strives to deepen the College’s commitment to justice, and to honor the intended purpose of the Katharine T. Dooley fund, which aims to prov ide a moral and intellectual context for the critical examination of the root
causes of societal problems, and to develop creative and thoughtful responses to those concerns,” Pierce said. Applicants can apply through a Google form which w ill be emailed to all of Saint Mar y’s. The application requests an unofficial transcript, a personal statement and a statement of ideas. A letter of recommendation is required later in the application process, but only the name and contact information of the intended recommender is required for the initial application. In addition to financial and educational incentives to pursue the grant, Pierce
said the program also offers nonmaterial ones, such as knowledge, experience and validation. “In addition to the stipend and credits, participation in a social justice leadership program like this w ill be a highly desirable and valuable experience for students from a variet y of fields who w ish to apply their education, skills and talents to making a difference in the world,” Pierce said. “In a world rife w ith injustice, leadership of this sort is desperately needed.”
participants for interhall sports — so they began recruiting off-campus students. “As you can imagine,” she said, “human nature being what it is, when one hall does that, another hall says, ‘Well, we want to have a team, too, and we want to be as competitive, so we’re going to do the same thing.’” Later, she said, many women’s rectors began allow ing off-campus students to attend hall dances. Over time, she said more dorms shifted their culture, welcoming off-campus students into on-campus programming. Yet this shift wasn’t consistent across the board, she said. Over the past several years, as Universit y administrators spoke w ith residence hall staff and students, Rakoczy Russell said they discovered different dorms had different policies for off-campus students. The differentiation policy, she said, was designed in part to standardize those policies across the different residence halls. In an inter v iew after the meeting, president of the Sophomore Class Council Jordan Theriault agreed that many students seem confused about what priv ileges off-campus seniors have in their former residence halls. Despite this confusion, however, he said most students don’t want to push off-campus residents out of the dorm communities. “I don’t think anyone really wants a differentiation between on- and off-campus,” he said.
on-campus programming when she was a student. Nevertheless, she added, offcampus students and alumni still felt connected to their former residence halls. “I think there’s decades of ev idence that there’s something special that happens in the formation in residence halls, and that’s not tied to whether or not you can participate in on-campus activ ities as an off-campus student,” she said. “Because we never did and we still loved our communities.” Rakoczy Russell said the Universit y wants to differentiate the on- and off-campus experiences because “there’s something different” about liv ing in a residence hall day in and day out, “for all that’s good and all that’s bad.” “W hen something happens in the life of a friend — a great joy or a great sorrow — and you’re there by his or her side, that’s different than somebody who lives off campus,” she said. The question administrators are considering, Rakoczy Russell said, is whether to implement a “hard” or “soft” differentiation. With a “soft” differentiation policy, “off-campus students would still have different rights and priv ileges,” she said, but they could “still participate in the day-to-day life of the communit y.” Rakoczy Russell said she’s spoken to students who find it unfair that off-campus students can still use the facilities in their former residence hall or attend hall programming. Others, she said, want off-campus students to be fully welcome in the hall communit y. Going for ward, Rakoczy Russell said she’ll be open to feedback from the student
body, especially first-years and sophomores, who w ill be impacted by these changes. That feedback, she said, w ill help administrators decide how “hard” the differentiation w ill be. “You’ll be the ones who can tell us what that would look like,” she said.
had considered developing on-campus, apartment-st yle housing for upperclassmen. “That’s one of the things I feel a lot of people are looking for nowadays,” he said. “Life hits us all really quick once we get out of college.” Rakoczy Russell said the Universit y has, in fact, considered developing more independent, on-campus housing options. But the Universit y’s top priorit y, she said, is to keep 50% of students liv ing in the residence halls through their senior year. “I think we’re ver y open to your good idea and others like that — but not instead of first attracting back the 50% of seniors in the residence halls,” she said, “because we’re afraid if we fail to do that, we’re jeopardizing what’s special about our [housing] model.”
Why differentiate? Rakoczy Russell, who is a Notre Dame alumna, said off-campus students weren’t allowed to participate in
Write News.
Email us at news@ndsmcobserver.com
‘We don’t have the ability to protect you there’ With more students liv ing off campus, Rakoczy Russell said, many off-campus houses have become unofficially affiliated w ith on-campus residence halls. Away from the super v ision of hall staff, she said, those off-campus houses host parties that facilitate binge drinking and lead to instances of sexual misconduct and assault. During Welcome Weekend, she said many first-year students are initiated into their residence hall communities at these off-campus parties. “We don’t have the abilit y to protect you there,” she said. “We don’t like that some students might perceive that those houses are in some way formally affiliated w ith us.” Given these safet y concerns, Rakoczy Russell said Universit y administrators want to encourage more students to stay on campus.
‘Life hits us all pretty quick once we get out of college’ Junior Curt Gouldin, president of Dillon Hall, attended the meeting and expressed his concerns about the differentiation policy. Gouldin said many seniors want to live more independently in preparation for life after graduation. He asked Rakoczy Russell whether the administration
Contact Marta Antonetti at mantonetti01@saintmarys.edu
Preparing for March 1 Theriault said the Sophomore Class Council w ill circulate a sur vey to the class of 2022, soliciting feedback about the proposed differentiation. Rakoczy Russell said she w ill rely on student feedback to guide her decision. Ultimately, Rakoczy Russell said the differentiation policy w ill ref lect Notre Dame’s attitudes about communit y and identit y. “At the heart of this conversation, is the question: W hat is communit y? ” she said. “W hat do we mean by communit y? Is communit y bound by a building? Is bound by an identit y? Is it bound by sharing life day in and day out, 24/7? Is it bound by something else? ” Contact Genevieve Redsten at gredsten@nd.edu
4
NEWS
The observer | tuesday, december 10, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Non-profit Continued from page 1
the [Student Activities Office] Activities fair,” Muck said. Students involved in the club form small teams and focus their efforts towards one nonprofit’s indiv idualized needs. Junior Kieran O’Neill joined the club last year as a team member. This semester, he stepped into the role of group leader. “We have a team of about five other students, and we’re working w ith ‘Ready to Grow,’” O’Neill said. “… They’re a small nonprofit that is working towards ensuring that all children in St. Joseph Count y, from birth until eight years old, can thrive. They focus on early learning, health and wellness and family support.” O’Neill said his team assists ‘Ready to Grow’ in securing funding from donors, which ranges a local social entrepreneurship startup called Invanti as well as large corporate sponsors such as Meijer. “We are working w ith them to focus on the development of an institutional membership program, by identif y ing
Voyeurism Continued from page 1
When asked why he tried to swipe into Zahm in August, even though his card wasn’t able to open the door, Wears said he was testing to see if his ID really wouldn’t work on the dormitories, court documents said. When asked about a similar incident that happened in the Hesburgh Library, Wears said he was not responsible for the incident. After executing a search warrant for Wears’ phone and searching it, the Notre Dame Police Department did not find any v ideos of the inside of the bathrooms. However, the location data of the phone was consistent w ith Zahm House around the time of the incident, according to the court documents, and the phone’s data shows the camera application was open at a time consistent w ith the student’s description of events. According to the probable cause affidav it, the location data for Wears’ phone was consistent w ith
potential partners, partnership plans and establishing them as a desirable partner,” O’Neill said. Bridget Callaghan, a senior and co-vice president of human resources, said in an email larger club meetings like Tuesday’s bring together all of these individual teams. “We have full club meetings about once a month where we either discuss the projects the teams are working on or we have a professor or club alumni talk to the group about different consulting projects or general career advice,” Callaghan said. SCNO groups take on new projects w ith different nonprofits each semester. Muck said the club w ill expand from five projects to six this upcoming semester. Club members indicate their interest in certain nonprofit categories and then receive an assignment to one of the club’s partners for that semester. O’Neill said a critical part of the process is matching the right nonprofit w ith the right team to generate a working relationship. “They assign team leaders to different clients based on preference or experience or some mixture of the t wo,”
the librar y around the time of the other incident, and the location data shows he left the librar y a few minutes after the time of the incident. Data from Wears’ phone allegedly shows he had v isited websites where men were unknow ingly recorded in bathrooms, according to court documents. However, there is no ev idence he ever uploaded any v ideos to the sites. Wears faces one charge of voyeurism and had his initial hearing on Dec. 3., Jessica McBrier, the St. Joseph Count y prosecutor’s office spokesperson, said. Wears’ attorney, Michael Tuszy nski, did not return a request for comment by the time of publication. Universit y spokesperson Dennis Brow n prov ided a statement on the alleged incident on behalf of Notre Dame. “The student is not enrolled at the Universit y, and local authorities are addressing the matter,” Brow n said. Contact Natalie Weber at nweber@nd.edu
ALEX MUCK | The Observer
At the final meeting of the semester, SCNO students give final presentations for their projects. During the previous two weeks they had been delivering these presentations to their clients, local non-profits.
he said. “Probably one of the most important things about the club is just getting people who are engaged. There have been times in the past where the partner, the client, hasn’t been fully engaged.” The main goal of SCNO,
Callaghan said, is to help facilitate even more good. “These nonprofits often don’t have the time or resources to look at the big picture and find ways to become even more impactful,” Callaghan said. “The goal of
each team is to provide an outside perspective to these organizations, identify issues or areas for improvement and provide potential solutions.”
Stress
your stress and reducing your stress, especially in the wake of approaching exams. “We can talk about managing it because that’s totally possible. Reducing it, short of hiding under a rock for the rest of your life, is not necessarily easy to do,” Lindstrom said. “But there is one thing that you can do to reduce your stress and that is, as much as possible, be right here, right now. Don’t be a year ago where you’re kicking yourself about what you should have, could have, would have done, right? That doesn’t help. Don’t be a week or a month or a year ahead thinking about all the potential bad things that could happen if you don’t take care of this right now, cause that also doesn’t necessarily help. What’s going to help you the most in reducing your stress and helping you feel a little more ability to control it is to be very aware of the stories you’re telling yourself and when you’re going into the past or way out into the future.” Fellow panelists and Saint Mary’s students shared their stress reduction and management skills with the audience. “I basically do two major things that help me manage or reduce my stress. The first
thing, I actually got into this year is meditation. So, every night before bed, I use this app called ‘Headspace.’” senior Jessie Snyder said. “Then another thing that I really try to focus on is doing self-care routines at night.” This was followed by senior Haley Mitchell, who said nature was a big part of her de-stressing, whether that be taking walks to the lake or down the nature trail on campus. Junior Kelsey O’Connor and first-year student in the audience Morgan Puglisi shared that their approach to stress management was to make lists and attend to their planners. “I would say definitely todo list is something that helps me,” Puglisi said. “Just map out like, ‘OK, these are the things I need to do.’ Sometimes I’m like, ‘I need to do this this and this,’ and I stress my own self out. Just making a list and saying, ‘OK, one step at a time. I’m going to start with this and then I’m going to go to that.’ That really helps me make everything into a structure. When our minds go crazy, it’s nice to have that structure.”
Continued from page 1
are different kinds of stress and there are different ways of thinking about stress. “The stress that you experience when you are getting ready to take that test, that in some ways is good for you. Especially when you are actually going in to take the test because when we feel stressed it changes our body and it actually gives us more oxygen flow to our brains so we can think quicker,” she said. “It just in general sharpens our senses and makes you perform better. That’s how stress can actually be an advantage to you in situations where it makes sense that you would feel stressed.” Her biggest takeaway for students, she said, would be to know that this perspective shift alone can help reduce stress. “When you realize it’s natural to feel stressed out and it’s actually something that can benefit you when you know how to harness it, that makes you feel more in control,” she said. Lindstrom also said there is a difference between managing
Contact Christopher Parker at cparke22@nd.edu
Contact Callie Patrick at cpatrick01@saintmarys.edu
Follow us on social media: Facebook Twitter fb.com/ndsmcobserver @NDSMCObserver
The observer | tuesday, december 10, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
5
CLAIRE KOPISCHKE | The Observer
6 Inside Column
Real life pitch perfect Kerry Schneeman Illustrator
Last year, I came to Notre Dame so excited to audition for Harmonia, the only all-female a cappella group on campus. Two of my older sisters were members, and I had watched them perform for years with the dream of being able to follow in their footsteps. I soon found out that very few people shared this excitement. In fact, most people don’t even know of Harmonia. You see, Notre Dame has never been known for their arts programs. When you hear about this University, you usually think football or academics. That is why I am writing this today, to shed some much-needed light on the overlooked a cappella scene on campus. I didn’t really have any idea what to expect from Harmonia outside of the singing part. It was not long, however, before I found out Harmonia was so much more than just singing. Weekly rehearsals involved not just practicing our songs, but also bonding with every member of the group. People would check in with each other and get life updates. Every personal milestone was celebrated. Every person felt valued. It felt like I had gained 14 big sisters, without whom my freshman year would have been very different. I had people I could go to for advice or just to chat if I needed someone. Harmonia made my transition into college so much easier, especially considering the fact that I am now living several states away from my actual family. Now, a year later, I cannot even imagine my life without this group. Each week brings us all closer together and each newly added member is just another part of our growing family. Another amazing and overlooked aspect of the a cappella scene is the fact that there are so many groups and every group is so different. The intermingling between groups sometimes really makes me feel like I am living in the “Pitch Perfect” universe. I never would have thought that I would have participated in an actual riff off, but it turned out to be one of the highlights of my year. We — as in the members of these groups — all share a bond: our unashamed, even if it might be dorky, love for a cappella. Whether it means watching each other’s performances or staging joint concerts, we have created a sense of community and belonging between us all. So next time you see a poster in O’Shag for an a cappella concert, I suggest you consider attending to see what all the fuss I have been making is about. You will not regret it. Contact Kerry at kschneem@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The observer | Tuesday, December 10, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
A fight for all of us Dear Savanna Morgan and other members of End Hate at ND — We Notre Dame faculty and staff members are outraged by the sexist, racist and homophobic abuse you and other students have suffered, and continue to suffer, from far too many of your fellow students. We stand by you in urging Notre Dame administrators responsible for residential life to change policies that put women, people of color, LGBTQ+ and other marginalized students at risk daily of physical and emotional harm. We believe Notre Dame administrators should intensify their efforts to hold perpetrators of such hate accountable for violating the standards of conduct stipulated in du Lac. The University should also hold accountable those who witnessed what happened and yet did nothing to intervene. We pledge to “call it out when we see it,” and we urge everyone to do the same. We agree that, in light of recent events, long-standing traditions
like parietals should be analyzed and reconsidered. We promise to help change Notre Dame’s culture not only through our own critical reflection, but by ensuring that those who are marginalized are powerfully represented in our courses and other ND activities. We support your demand that the University build stronger relationships with the Pokagon and Potawatomi people, both to work towards justice and because this relationship could be profoundly educational for our students. We speak up about these matters as we bear witness to the growing disconnect between the institutions of ND student life and the University’s academic mission. The burden of changing Notre Dame’s campus culture is not yours alone to bear. If we are all ND, then this is a fight for all of us. Justice, equality, inclusion and respect are what we fight for. #EndHate@ND. In solidarity,
Christopher Abram English
Neil Chase Hesburgh Libraries
Anne Garcia-Romero Film, Television and Theatre
F. Asís Martínez Jerez Accountancy
Pedro A. Aguilera-Mellado Romance Languages and Literatures
Meredith Chesson Anthropology and Gender Studies
Korey Garibaldi American Studies
Felicia Johnson O’Brien Center for Social Concerns
Zyg Baranski Romance Languages and Literatures
Tarryn Chun Film, Television and Theatre
Johannes Göransson Creative Writing and English
CJ Jones German and Russian Languages and Literatures
Katrina Barron Mathematics Kevin Barry ND Learning Christine Becker Film, Television and Theatre Gail Bederman History and Gender Studies Jennifer Betz Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies Pamela Blair Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies Alessia Blad Romance Languages and Literatures Patricia Blanchette Philosophy Susan D. Blum Anthropology Catherine E. Bolten Anthropology and Peace Studies Katie Boyle Romance Languages and Literatures Lindsey Breitwieser Gender Studies
Aedín Clements Hesburgh Libraries Philippe Collon Physics
Karen Graubart History, Gender Studies and Romance Languages and Literatures Barbara Green English and Gender Studies
Essaka Joshua College of Arts and Letters Sarah Joswick Records Management Anton Juan Film, Television and Theatre
Erin B. Corcoran Kroc Institute for Internatonal Peace Studies
Perin Gürel American Studies
Fred Dallmayr Philosophy and Political Science
Talisha Haltiwanger Morrison University Writing Center
Noreen Deane-Moran English
Darlene Hampton College of Arts and Letters
Encarnación Juárez-Almendros Romance Languages and Literatures
E. Jane Doering Teachers as Scholars Program
Susan Cannon Harris English and Irish Studies
Michael Kackman Film, Television and Theatre
William Collins Donahue German and Russian Languages and Literatures
Marius B. Hauknes Art, Art History and Design
Michelle Karnes English
Hannah Heinzekehr Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies
Asher Kaufman History, Peace Studies and Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies
Margaret Doody English Kevin Dreyer Film, Television and Theatre
Ben A. Heller Romance Languages and Literatures
John Duffy English and University Writing Program
Peter Holland Film, Television and Theatre
Amitava Krishna Dutt Political Science
Coleen Hoover Creative Writing Program
Stephen M. Fallon Program of Liberal Studies and English
Romana Huk English Scott Jackson Shakespeare at Notre Dame
Pam Butler Gender Studies
Juan Flores Ramirez Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies
Mariana Candido History, Gender Studies and Africana Studies
Claudia Francis Hesburgh Program in Public Service
Debra Javeline Political Science
Linnie Caye Gender Studies
Agustin Fuentes Anthropology
Lionel M. Jensen East Asian Languages
Katie Jarvis History
Samantha Juárez Notre Dame International
Mary Celeste Kearney Film, Television and Theatre and Gender Studies Eve Kelly Center for University Advising Tara Kenjockety Chemistry Physics Library Sandra Klein Kresge Law Library Janet Kourany Philosophy and Gender Studies Dec. 9 To view the complete list of the 132 authors who have signed this letter, visit ndsmcobserver.com
The observer | Tuesday, December 10, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
7
Dear freshman self Gabriel Niforatos The Road Less Traveled
Dear freshman self, Junior self here. It’s the end of another semester, and I thought I would write you during the quiet-of-the-storm period right before finals (don’t worry about how I’m writing this letter to you. It’s a wrinkle in time, timey whimey kind of thing. I don’t clearly understand it, and you will definitely not. I was never good at physics). I figured I would write you to let you know how you’ve been and to give you some words of advice. No, no. Resist your urge to rip this letter to pieces after reading that last sentence. Apart from your shock that your future self is writing to you, you are probably wondering why your junior self is writing to you. Turn off Supernatural for a second and listen. As you are starting your freshman journey, I know you simultaneously worry about having too many interests and not having a single burning passion to pursue with all your heart. To that, I’m going to tell you something you’ve heard a million times by now, and something that you can’t stand. But it’s true: Don’t worry about it, you’ll figure it out. Take it from a reliable source this time. But I refuse to tell you what happens. You need uncertainty and the journey; this is part of how you will “figure” it out. Fresh out of high school economics, you will think that production-possibility frontiers and declining marginal utility are the best things you’ve ever heard. I’m not going to say whether or not you stick with economics (spoiler alert: you don’t), but stay in those classes because you’ll meet some of your best friends in them. You will go on to experiment with multiple majors, even adding a film
major at one point. You’ve always been interested in screenwriting, and you’ll see this as your opportunity to write the next Inception. I can picture you laughing when I tell you that this major will last all of one week. But your interest in films and other worlds will never die. You’ll feel a small bit of regret that you decided not to pursue biology, but government and political science have always been your first love and the pillow talk with them never gets old. You will travel to D.C., and despite the bittersweet nature of politics in our country right now, you will feel right at home when you are surrounded by politics and people who love to debate. It is probably against some unspoken rule to tell you what classes you’ll take, but I can’t help myself. Freshman literature seminar with Louis MacKenzie (do not forget the capital ‘K’), Writing and Rhetoric with Erin McLaughlin, Biology with Anjuli Datta, political theory with Ernesto Verdeja. These are just some of the classes that will literally change the way you see the world. I imagine everyone is telling you right now that college is not like anything you have ever experienced and will change you fundamentally. I know that you have always been excited about college, but you have not yet fully prepared yourself to leave the wild, passionate state of New Mexico. I also know that you like to try to figure things out by yourself, that you are excited and hesitant about college because you want to make sure that it is your own unique experience. To that, I want to remind you it’s OK to lean on others when the lighthouse goes dark, and there will be times when it feels like the light is flickering. That’s OK. Embrace these moments because feeling water in your lungs is the only way you can discover what keeps you afloat.
You will find that what “they” said was right all along. College will be the best experience of your life so far, but it won’t necessarily be for the reasons that you thought it would be. College is made through the little moments — moments like running through down-pouring rain with your friends to catch a SUB movie; getting the buffalo chicken wrap with close friends at Reckers (rest in peace) in the week before finals; waiting for eight hours to stand at the very front of some of your favorite music artists’ concerts; the great battles waged on the night of the first snowfall; the conversations that you have had with cleaning ladies, janitors and dinner staff. You have always had an appreciation for these tiny, photograph-montage moments. But, through the course of college, you will realize even more deeply that the best times of life are composed of a collage of these monumental, passingly “insignificant” moments. You will write and write and write. Words will pick up the waxy pieces from your sun-scorched wings and take you from dark places and dark times. I know that you are enamored with figuring out and dreaming of the way that the world works, and writing is the ship you will sail to explore these worlds. Oh, and one more thing. Listen to your parents and let them get you a winter coat and boots. You’ll need them. Gabriel Niforatos is a junior majoring in political science with a minor in the Hesburgh Program in Public Service. He is passionate about giving a voice to the disenfranchised and writing is the muse he is persistently chasing. He can be found at gniforat@nd.edu or @g_niforatos on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
My fight for fair wages from The Observer Danny McMaster You’re Welcome for My Opinion
As many of you may or may not know from reading my previous columns, which you probably only read due to misleading titles that make it seem like what I write is important, this is my first semester writing for The Observer. It’s been a good one, and I believe that in my time here I have been able to get to the bottom of a lot of major conspiracies, protect the administration and am now a thought leader on campus. I’ve learned a lot about The Observer this semester. I’ve learned that takes are about quality and not quantity. Look, if you want to blow up in The Observer, less is more. Fifteen decently provocative articles might get you an angry email, but one perfectly crafted, nonresearched hot take can get you multiple response columns, and that’s what we do this for, folks. Most importantly, however, I’ve learned that for writing what I write, I am a hero. Now, after hours of tireless work chasing down leads, staring blankly into the walls of the Dome hoping for inspiration and countless seconds of editing my own columns, I feel that I have done my job. My columns have reached tens, and maybe even tens of tens. After all of this hard work, I’ve been surprised that The Observer never asked me to log my hours or set up a direct deposit account to make their columnist payments effortless and automated. Eventually, when they did not ask me to do this, I laughed as I realized that their antiquated payments system must be taking ages processing my check, printing it out and hand mailing it to my home address off-campus. As a STEM major myself,* I laughed at the dinosauric system that was holding up this process and thought to myself that I could probably find the time to update it for them. I thought better of it when I looked at my busy Observer schedule consisting of making sacrificial offerings to the various revenue-generating deities around campus and burning incense in search for good omens from the wisdom of the endowment.
As the semester progressed, however, I began to become nervous that I wasn’t being paid at all. I was worried that my hard work tirelessly educating campus on the correct opinions on everything, and why those who disagreed with me were evil, was going unappreciated. My time spent spinning the soft clicks of a keyboard into lukewarm takes of prosaic gold to be immortalized forever was all for naught. This sent me into a spiral, wondering if The Observer, the institution that I had previously trusted with my heart and my soul, was really some sort of great lie. Then, hope. The applications for the Observer’s spring columnists came out. Still suspicious, I emailed my editor about the wages I was owed, and she promised me a 20% raise for the spring semester. I was being paid after all! I rested easy that night, knowing that my wages would be coming, sooner or later. Then, as quickly as my hope came back, it faded as the fall fades into the deep snows of winter. Days passed. Weeks. And still nothing. I decided that I needed to research this as I had researched my previous columns. My faith in the administration of The Observer was shaken, so I knew that I couldn’t simply go to The Observer office in depths of South Dining Hall, where I could be easily locked away forever for my treasons, so I went all around campus in search of answers. The library. The Stepan Center. The Coleman-Morse Center. Grace Hall (might’ve been Flanner, not entirely sure), the outside of Caroline’s dorm I can no longer swipe into (call me back, please!). It was only after I returned to the library that I started to happen upon my answer. I thought about 20%. I thought about what I might currently be getting paid an hour. Six dollars? Eight dollars? My fair value of $85 an hour? What if I was currently being paid $0? This lead was hot. I returned to the library several times over the next weeks until I made a terrible discovery. Twenty percent of $0 is still $0 (source – I’m a STEM major). I had been hustled. Scammed. Bamboozled. Hoodwinked. Lead astray. Played for a fool.
After all of the hard work, countless hours, tears, bloodshed and war crimes I had committed in the name of a better newspaper, I didn’t have a dollar to show for it. All this time I had been focusing on covering Notre Dame’s administration, when really I should have been making sure that my own house was in order. I looked up to a golden tower, when my eyes should have been trained on the dungeon below, where a group of criminals took advantage of the columnists who toiled day in and day out. These criminals stole the school mandated $8 an hour and spread none of the wealth to those whose labor formed the very backbone of their institution. Therefore, I now address you directly, you cruel draconian overlords of The Observer. I have a demand for myself and all of my fellow columnists: Fair wages for honest work. I send you the following invoice for all of the work I have done for the past semester: FALL SEMESTER: Wage: $8/hr Hours Worked: About 30 minutes per column x six columns, so three? Total: $24 SPRING SEMESTER: Wag: $9.6/hr (raise!) Hours Worked: Probably still three Total: $29! You have 24 hours. *Yes, I’m a Mendoza STEM major. Which is probably a better joke than anything I’ve written in The Observer so far. Is this upsetting to you, as I graduate a STEM major with three credits of Astronomy instead of Gen Chem? That’s such a shame, I feel terrible. **If you don’t see my columns next semester, it’s probably because of this column and similar things. And you know what, I’m OK with that. Die a hero, right? Danny McMaster is a senior business analytics major and has never once been wrong in his entire life. He can be reached at dmcmaste@nd.edu or @DanMcMaster14 on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
8
Classifieds
The observer | tuesday, december 10, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Crossword | Caleb Madison
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Take time to rethink some of your expenditures and decisions, and strategize how to make improvements that will bring you greater stability personally, emotionally and financially. Take an ambitious leap forward, and aim to eliminate debt and find peace of mind in living a simpler lifestyle with less clutter, temptation and wasted time. Make wise decisions and changes. Your numbers are 6, 8, 19, 25, 31, 43, 48. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Listen, digest what you hear and say little until you feel confident moving forward. Patience is a virtue, no matter what others may say. Taking time to observe and to consider the outcome of whatever move you decide on will help you avoid making a mistake. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Personal gain is doable. An update to the way you look will lead to compliments and positive suggestions. A chance to spend time with someone who makes you laugh and puts you at ease will enhance your emotional well-being. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Know what you are up against before you get started. Handle money matters, health issues and contracts carefully but in a timely manner. Don’t leave something for tomorrow that needs to be done today. Don’t trust anyone else to look out for your interests. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Put your energy to good use. Concentrate on what you want to accomplish. Stop worrying and start doing. Don’t fight change; whatever you are dreading will turn out better than anticipated. A relationship will improve if you make a slight adjustment. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Think matters through before you make a physical change. If you are too quick to act, you will upset someone, and it will change the dynamics of your relationship. Slow down; take time to relax or do something you enjoy. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Look over your options, talk to someone you trust and prepare to make a change that will encourage better relationships with your peers, children or partner. A day trip, interview or presentation is favored. Romance is on the rise. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Keep an open mind as well as a tight budget when it comes to home improvements or joint money ventures. Too much of anything will end up working against you. Refuse to let anyone emotionally manipulate you or take you for granted. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Voice how you feel and what you want to happen. Bottling up your feelings will cause you greater pain. The truth will get you a lot further ahead when it comes to getting what you want. Share your vision, how you plan to achieve your goal and what your intentions are. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Refuse to be pushed in a direction that is costly or more likely to benefit someone else. Stand your grund and hold true to your beliefs. Practicality will be in your best interest. Look at the big picture moving forward, and find a way to simplify your life. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In the spirit of giving, take others into consideration this holiday. Make changes at home that will please all those who reside there or visit. Putting in a little extra effort to add to your comfort and joy over the festive season will get you in the spirit. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t divulge a surprise you’ve been planning, even if someone causes you grief. Use intelligence, and you’ll discover an innovative way to keep the peace. A change regarding how you earn your living will turn out better than anticipated. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Get together with someone you have worked with in the past, and a new opportunity will come your way. Listen carefully, ask questions and gather facts. Put in the time, and you’ll reap the rewards. Update your appearance. Birthday Baby: You are brave, enthusiastic and passionate. You are industrious and secretive.
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Follow us on Twitter. @ObserverSports
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 three 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
DAILY
ndsmcobserver.com | tuesday, december 10, 2019 | The Observer
Sports Authority
ND Volleyball | UCLA 3, nd 0
Stop College Football’s bowl game mediocrity Aidan Thomas Sports Writer
Bowl games. Wow, there’s a lot I would like to say on the topic, so my challenge here is limiting myself to about 1,000 words on how much I hate the bowl system. Here’s to hoping I can control my ranting in this top five list of things I would change about how the system currently works (assuming we are sticking with a four-team playoff as of now).
Restrict the bids Seventy-eight of 130 FBS teams made a bowl game this year. That’s not special. It is the ultimate reward of mediocrity. Playoffs and postseason games should be for the top teams, but it’s becoming harder to miss a bowl game than to make one. Dec. 20 will mark the first bowl game and it is … *checks notes* ... a battle between Buffalo and Charlotte at 2 p.m. You’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone not from those schools watching the game. It’s a game between two mediocre teams who are being rewarded for mediocre seasons. Headliners will make Charlotte’s bid a feel-good story. At 6-6, they are in a bowl for the first time ever, but college football isn’t a place for cute stories. If you want to cheer on an underdog like Memphis in their New Year’s Six Bowl Game, go ahead; however, this logic of giving middling teams something to shoot for just doesn’t fit the nature of the competitive sport. To give another example, look at Boston College or Florida State. These are two prominent ACC programs — nobody really considers them your classic underdog story. BC continues to make bowl games via 6-6 or 7-5 records, much like Florida State, who makes their second bowl in three years, both times with a .500 record. While the six win threshold offers hope to some smaller programs, it also fills up meaningless bowl games with under-achieving Power Five schools, something very few people want to watch. Make the restrictions eight wins, and you’ll get way better games. If you truly want every team to have a shot, then make it based on conference — the top six teams in Power Five conferences and the top four in Group of Five conferences. You’d still
9
have 25 bowl games, and the games would be of higher quality. Bowl games already mean extremely little, so the least the NCA A can do is stop rewarding mediocre football teams.
Get rid of Conference and Group of Five requirements This is targeted towards the New Year’s Six Bowl Games. The New Year’s Six (NY6) is generally considered the next best thing for non-playoff teams, the elite matchups of teams that just missed the selective cut for the semifinals. But conference requirements are ruining these games. One specific example is the Orange Bowl, which sees the Florida Gators (an elite 10-2 team) take on the Virginia Cavaliers, a team which barely finished the season ranked and is sitting at 9-4 with losses to Miami and Louisville. To top it off, they just lost by 45 points to Clemson. They’re not worthy of a New Year’s Six Game, but they get it because of a random conference requirement. The same also goes from the Group of Five requirements; the game becomes a nightmare for one team and a dream for the other. Elite bowl games should feature two highly ranked powerhouses. No disrespect to Memphis, but nobody wants to play them because there is little to gain and everything to lose in that matchup. Memphis is 11-1, but they’re ranked 17th in the country — their resume doesn’t support a top six bowl game, so don’t put them in one. Rankings mean little when these requirements must be filled. W hen No. 11 Utah and No. 12 Auburn are left out of the NY6 in favor of Memphis and Virginia, one questions how meaningful even the elite bowl games are?
Offer incentives Bowl games will become even more boring if teams’ superstars continue to drop out. Even outside the NY6 games, there’s plenty of elite prospects in these bowl games, many who will not participate due to injury risk. One prime game I’m looking forward to is Alabama versus Michigan, but that juicy matchup could be spoiled if multiple stars elect to stay on the sideline. If the NCA A wants these games to be marketable and enjoyable, they need to find a way to incentivize players into playing a game that has no actual
Irish fall to UCLA in NCAA tourney
meaning.
Observer Staff Report
More equal matchups
The Notre Dame women’s volleyball team saw their season come to an end Friday night in Madison, Wisconsin, after falling in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to the UCLA Bruins. The Irish (19-10, 12-6 ACC) finished fifth in the ACC this year and made their return to the postseason after making the tournament in 2017, their first berth at the time since 2012, and missing the postseason last season with a 16-12, 10-8 ACC record. The Bruins (19-11, 13-7 Pac-12) finished in fourth place in the Pac-12. The Bruins controlled the contest from the outset, building a 12-7 lead in the first set to force a Notre Dame timeout. This did little to stall UCLA’s momentum, however, as the Bruins gained an 18-11 lead and snuffed out an Irish run to take the first set 25-16. In the second set, the Irish began to assert themselves. A kill by sophomore right-side hitter Sydney Bent helped Notre Dame establish an early 4-1 lead, but UCLA quickly rallied to knot the score at 5-5. The set remained competitive as the teams battled to another draw at 12-12. They then traded one-point leads until a 5-0 run broke the set open to give UCLA a 19-15 advantage, which they carried to a 25-19 match win, giving them a commanding 2-0 lead in the contest and putting the Irish on the brink of elimination. The third set began as competitively as the second set with the teams reaching a tie at 9-9. Though the Bruins would go up 13-10, Notre Dame would not go quietly;
No. 15 Notre Dame vs. a 7-5 Iowa State team? No. 11 Utah versus a 7-5 Texas squad? Air Force, ranked 25th with a 10-2 record, taking on Washington State (6-6)? These matchups make no sense. The higher ranked teams deserve better matchups, which will encourage more players to play in bowl games. Would you blame Irish star senior wide receiver Chase Claypool if he sits out a meaningless game versus a mediocre Big 12 team? Or Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley for deciding not to risk injury against a team surviving on brand name? The CFP committee should be in charge of more than just the NY6, because some of the matchups that are being selected are unappealing for fans and disrespectful to elite teams. Give good teams good games and don’t rely on brand name to sell their appeal.
Flip the schedule Finally, no team should be playing once the College Football Playoff starts. Wyoming, Georgia State, Western Kentucky, Illinois and Arizona State are just a few of the teams that will get to play after two of the top four teams are eliminated. It’s not a major deal, and this doesn’t affect the quality of the actual games, but in my opinion, the top four teams should be the last four teams standing. Once I’ve watched Clemson engage in a clash of titans with Ohio State, I don’t want to see Louisville and Mississippi State playing each other two days later. Much of the playoff appeal in every sport is the ongoing tension, with every game having so much at stake. Throwing in pointless bowl games between the semifinals and finals kills this tension. I want the last three games of the year to be between the best four teams in the country. End of story.
freshman and sophomore outside hitters Caroline Meuth and Charley Niego recording consecutive kills to cut the margin to 16-14 in favor of UCLA. The Bruins never broke away as they did in the previous two sets, but they still managed a 5-3 run to gain a 21-17 advantage. They would hold on for a 25-20 set win to close out the match with a clean sweep. UCLA outplayed the Irish in the box score, besting them 10-3 in blocks, 53-46 in digs and 47-32 in both kills and assists. For Notre Dame, Meuth was the only player to record double-digit kills with 11, while Niego and Bent recorded nine and six, respectively. Sophomore setter Zoe Nunez posted 29 assists and junior libero Madison Cruzado posted 18 digs, while Niego contributed 13 digs of her own. Irish head coach Mike Johnson said his team has room to grow from this game. “I believe there’s a very bright future ahead for this program,” Johnson said. “The truth is, this is a very young team and it’s new territory for a lot of us. That’s something we’re going to learn from and we’re going to be better from it in the future. So I’m proud of our kids, we did a lot of good things this season. I hope our seniors know just how thankful we are for them and I hope they know they’re always a part of this team and a part of this program. Of course I wish we had played better but I still believe this does not define us and it does not define our program moving forward.” The game against UCLA represented the 20th NCAA tournament berth for Notre Dame in program history.
Alright, my rant is over — for now. The bowl game system is absolutely ridiculous, and it gets more meaningless every year. Make bowl games a reward again, and give fans and players the matchups they want. Contact Aidan Thomas at athoma28@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
EMMA FARNAN | The Observer
Irish sophomore outside hitter Charley Niego goes for the kill during Notre Dame’s 3-1 win over Syracuse on Nov. 17 .
10
Sports
The observer | tuesday, december 10, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Kelly Continued from page 12
out. Explosive on offense. I think they set a school record for points and touchdowns and total offense this year. We know what we’re getting.” Kelly discussed his familiarity with Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock. “Outstanding football coach — great background, very successful,” Kelly said. “Yeah, very much aware of the system and structure that he wants to run defensively. Does a great job. He’s been very consistent with the kind of defensive philosophy. He can play three down, four down, drop eight. He’s got a little bit of everything defensively that he can employ. He does a great job of utilizing the personnel. If he loses a lot of guys, he can come back the next year with young players and keep the scheme simple.” An interesting dynamic in this matchup is Notre Dame’s pass defense against Iowa State’s passing attack. The Irish are third in the nation in passing yards allowed per game (163.7), fourth in yards per pass attempt allowed (5.74) and eighth in passing yards allowed per completion. Iowa State is ninth in the nation in passing yards per game with 318.3. Purdy himself is 19th in the FBS in passing touchdowns with 27, fifth in passing yards per game with 313.3 and fourth with 3760 total on the season. “I think we forced the ball out of the quarterback’s hands very well,” Kelly said. “Our pass-rush has been very consistent. I think when you look at those things, they have many components. The second component is the way that we’re structured defensively. We’re a top-down defense in that we’re going to keep the ball in front of us. I think we
do a pretty good job with our safeties, making sure that they’re staying over the top. I think we do a really good job of tackling. Tackling is important. Limiting those yards after catches, I think we’ve been really, really good at that.” One area that has plagued the Irish down the stretch has been their lackluster running game, evidenced by senior quarterback Ian Book leading the Irish in rushing in four straight games, starting with a 21-20 win over Virginia Tech and culminating with a 40-7 victory over Boston College. Kelly explained why the team has struggled on the ground. “Remember, we have two very good offensive linemen that have been out for most of the year,” he said. “We’re still in the middle of the pack in the country. We’re probably doing as well as we can, given the circumstances. We ran the ball when we wanted to run the ball this year — that’s a big deal. When we needed to run clocks out, when we needed to run the football, we ran it when we wanted to. That’s the mark of a good running game. Do we want to be more consistent? Absolutely. Do we want to have bigger opportunities in the running game with explosive plays? We certainly do. But some of that was an injury to [junior running back Jafar Armstrong, who] we thought would be a little bit more explosive, and he looked a little bit better against Stanford. So I think those things are coming together for us.” Whereas the Irish honed in on working with their starters in anticipation of their Cotton Bowl matchup against Clemson, Kelly said they would use the time ahead of the Camping World Bowl to evaluate and work with their players to build a solid foundation for next season. “I just think from our perspective, the young receivers need to continue to get some
ANNIE SMIERCIAK | The Observer
Irish sophomore wide receiver Braden Lenzy runs with the ball during Notre Dame’s 45-24 win over Stanford on Nov. 30 at Stanford Stadium. Lenzy is currently fifth on the team in receiving yards with 247.
work,” Kelly said. “I think when you’re talking about our defensive backs, some of the young defensive backs, guys that have not played a lot, continue to get work for them. You’re looking at — in particular — the position areas where there’s going to be younger players needed to step in next year. We’ll craft and articulate areas where, for example, a senior won’t play his position but we’ll put a young guy in that position and see how he handles himself with some other veterans around him.” The team’s strategy involves not putting “a whole bunch of young guys” in the game immediately, Kelly asserted. “We’ll have a day where [senior receiver] Chase Claypool is not playing, but maybe [sophomore wide receiver] Kevin Austin is in there with [graduate student slot receiver] Chris Finke and
[sophomore wide receiver] Braden Lenzy,” Kelly said. “Or we’ll have one of the younger freshmen D-linemen in there. That’s kind of how we like to put them out there to evaluate where they are in the program.” While the Irish suffered a blowout loss to Michigan that dashed their College Football Playoff hopes in late October, they finished the season emphatically with five wins, four of them by at least 21 points. Even so, sitting at 10-2, the Irish haven’t made any headway in the playoff rankings since falling to No. 15 after the loss to Michigan. Kelly addressed his team’s motivation facing a 7-5 Iowa State team in a non-New Years’ Six Bowl. “I think it’s like anything else, you want to finish on a win,” Kelly said. “I don’t know if 11 has any magical number to it other than the
consistency of performance for our players. We’ve won 10 or more games over the last three years. We want to just continue that, as I mentioned earlier, standard of play. Again, 11 wins is certainly an outstanding football season. We want to finish on a great note. But we won’t be defined by any one game in particular.” When all is said and done, Kelly said he’s glad his players get another opportunity to take the field together — especially for the guys leaving after this season. “Again, I think more than anything else, it’s getting one more chance for these guys to play with their brothers and enjoy the game, enjoy the opportunity to be in Orlando [as] part of the Camping World Bowl,” Kelly said.
M Bball
will be Brey’s 799th standing next to the Irish bench. The Irish showed that their bench is not very deep against Boston College. Coach Brey is having to utilize every player on his roster in order to keep his team in range of competition. The wound of losing sophomore, Robby Carmody for the season is still fresh. There is much to see in regards to if and how this Notre Dame team will be resilient in the face of adversity. In the post game press conference against Boston College, Brey expressed that the senior leaders on the team are going to have to step up and lead against Detroit Mercy. The game is expected to be intense. The Irish men are eager to regain dominance of their home court. Tip off is scheduled for 7: 00pm at the Purcell Pav ilion.
Continued from page 12
ALLISON THORNTON | The Observer
Irish sophomore guard Robby Carmody puts up a shot during Notre Dame’s 64-62 win over Toledo on Nov. 21. Carmody is out for the season after tearing his ACL during Notre Dame’s 72-51 loss to No. 4 Maryland.
occasions. Additionally, the Irish center is tied for fifth in the country with six doubledoubles this season alone. Also in the Irish men’s arsenal for this game is a consistent defensive performance, both home and way this season. Notre Dame basketball is recognizable for its clean defense. Currently, the team is ranked third in the country in personal fouls per game. The team is averaging 12.1 per game, third only to the reigning national champions, Virginia and Weber State. This game also marks a milestone in Coach Brey’s Irish coaching career, as it puts him one game closer to the 800 game milemarker. The game against Detroit Mercy
Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu
Sports
Brey Continued from page 12
But lo and behold what happened the next year. The Irish went 32-6 behind the play of senior guard Jerian Grant and senior and sophomore guards Pat Connaughton and Demetrius Jackson as the team racked up 30 wins for the first time since 1908-09. That team lost to a thenundefeated Kentucky team that went 38-1 on the season by only two points in the elite eight. The next year, despite its losses, Notre Dame still managed to defeat the No. 1 ranked (depending on which poll you looked at) North Carolina at Purcell Pavilion and make it back to the Sweet Sixteen, thanks to a huge game-winning tip-in from then sophomore forward Rex Pflueger against Stephen F. Austin. 2017 held a lot of promise for the Irish, with point guard Matt Farrell and forwards Bonzie Colson and Martinas Geben all seniors. Guard T.J. Gibbs was also a junior on that team and Pflueger needn’t do anything more but focus on his defense. That team had an amazing comeback victory against then-No. 6 Wichita State in the Maui Invitational Championship, with Farrell getting an improbable clutch steal, Geben sinking the game-winning free throws and Pflueger clinching it with a steal on the Shockers’ final possession. Then it all went downhill. The Irish rose to No. 5 in the polls but lost to Michigan State in East Lansing by 20, a score that was lopsided thanks to some garbage time threes, but disappointing nonetheless. Then they lost at home to Ball State and in the Crossroads classic after
ndsmcobserver.com | tuesday, december 10, 2019 | The Observer
blowing their own huge lead against Indiana. But it would get worse. Colson broke his foot and Farrell soon sprained his ankle, knocking Notre Dame’s best players out of the rotation for a five-game stretch. Gibbs would play admirably in their absence, essentially never sitting, but then-sophomore forward John Mooney had yet to develop into the All-ACC caliber player he is now, and the team suffered for it. Farrell’s return helped, but the Irish would then lose freshman guard D.J. Harvey to a leg injury. From that point, it was clear Notre Dame wasn’t equipped to delve deeply into their bench, despite the potential offered by Mooney and fellow sophomore forwards Elijah Burns and Nik Djogo. The game of the season for Djogo came against North Carolina in Purcell where the unranked Irish nearly upset them, but a potential game-winning layup by Gibbs cruelly rolled out of the rim at the buzzer. There were so many close calls it hurt, but Colson had a fitting return for senior night against Pittsburgh to prepare himself for when the Irish took on No. 1 Virginia in Charlottesville, where they came up just short. Then the ACC tournament came around, and the Irish showed the magic they had in Maui as they overcame the biggest deficit in school history to defeat Virginia Tech in the second round of the ACC Tournament and keep their NCAA tourney hopes alive. But it was for naught as the exhausted Irish fell to Duke the following night and lost their spot in the tournament to Davidson, who won their conference championship in upset fashion. Despite the disappointing 2017-18 season, it was understandable to a
11
ALLISON THORNTON | The Observer
Irish graduate student forward Rex Pflueger rises for a shot during Notre Dame’s 64-62 win over Toledo on Nov. 21. Pflueger mised the majority of last seaosn after tearing his ACL in Notre Dame’s win over Purdue.
degree. There were so many injuries that it just couldn’t be helped, especially considering how close Notre Dame was to making the tournament. The following season was expected to be somewhat of a lull, but there was promise as Brey brought in his most highly-touted recruiting class yet with four top-100 players. Then reality, and injuries, struck again. Then-freshman guard Robby Carmody was lost for the season after suffering a torn labrum, Pflueger was gone after tearing his ACL, UConn transfer forward Juwan Durham was in and out with ankle issues and Gibbs was sidelined briefly with illness, causing Brey to burn the
ALLISON THORNTON | The Observer
Irish senior guard T.J. Gibbs looks to beat his defender during Notre Dame’s 64-62 win over Toledo on Nov. 21. Gibbs has shot only 33% from the field this season and went 0-11 during their loss to No. 4 Maryland.
redshirt he planned to use on then-freshman forward Chris Doherty. The 2018-19 season turned out to be a rebuilding year, with the Irish finishing dead last in the ACC at 3-15 in the conference and with a 14-19 overall record. They only managed to scrounge their three conference wins and one ACC tournament win over the other bottom feeders of the conference: Boston College and Georgia Tech. Now comes the 2019-20 season, full of promise that the Irish can reassert themselves as a steady basketball team in a relatively easy ACC with their entire roster back from last season. But now it’s becoming clear that something is amiss. After losing the season opener to North Carolina, a mostly competitive game before freshman guard Cole Anthony went off for the Tar Heels, the Irish managed to win six straight at home, which would be impressive if it weren’t against such inferior competition. The only top-100 opponent the Irish played was Toledo, and they narrowly edged them out. Now they’ve gotten blown out by No. 4 Maryland and lost at home to Boston College, the one team whose number they truly had. I don’t know what it is, but something’s wrong. Carmody went down again for the season after tearing his ACL against the Terrapins, and Brey said that before and after that game he was disconnected from his team, calling it one of his worst weeks of coaching. That’s a cause for concern. Considering this team is made to play Brey’s style of
basketball — which calls for relaxation, confidence and shooting ability — it’s very worrisome that this team, which lacks athleticism and a go-to scorer, struggles to shoot the ball so mightily (around 30%) and seems incredibly tight and doubtful when playing. Though it’s nice that the team returned almost everyone from last year’s roster, it certainly doesn’t help the Irish failed to get any recruits for this year, and the one’s they’ve signed for next season are fine, but not the type of elite players like Harvey (who transferred after last season) was and others in previous seasons. Of course there are limitations when it comes to Notre Dame’s ability to recruit at the highest level, but at least they’ve been able to hang their hat on player development, something they are also coming up very short on. It’s time for Brey to prove why he’s been heralded as one of the top coaches in the nation and labelled as “the loosest coach in America.” He needs to reimplement the brand of basketball that so much fun to watch and led to so much success. At a certain point, you start running out of excuses, and while injuries are certainly acceptable ones, the continual lack of quality players to step in is not as defensible. I believe in Brey, but he’s running out of time. Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
12
The observer | tuesday, december 10, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
nd men’s basketball
Irish look to regroup against Detroit Mercy Observer Staff Report
After falling to Boston College at home, the Notre Dame men’s basketball team is rally ing to compete against Detroit Mercy on Tuesday, December 10th. The Irish are coming into the game w ith a 6-3 overall record and an 0-2 record in the ACC. Hopefully a game against a long time rival w ill motivate the men to recover from a two-game losing streak (losses to Mar yland and Boston College). This is the 54th time that the Irish face off against the Detroit Mercy Titans, in a rivalr y more than 100 years old. The first game bet ween these two opponents was played on Notre Dame’s campus in 1912. The Irish were v ictorious in the first meeting against the Titans. Since then, Notre Dame leads the series 41-12. Only four of Notre Dame’s losses have come at home and the Irish are looking to, once again, protect this house on Tuesday. The Irish won the last time
that the team’s met, on Nov. 14, 2011. Many players have come and gone from Notre Dame’s roster since then. Mike Brey is preparing to matchup against Detroit Mercy w ith a new, young squad. Detroit Mercy’s Head Coach, Mike Dav is took over at the start of the 2018-2019 season. Before coaching the Titans, Coach Dav is was the head coach for the Universit y of Indiana Hoosiers and the Universit y of A labama at Birmingham. Notre Dame Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Mike Brey squared up against Dav is team on five occasions– four times against the Hoosiers and once against the UAB Blazers. Heading into this game, the Irish have a lot to boast about. Notre Dame senior, John Mooney leads the nation in rebounds w ith an average of 13.5 per game. This season, Mooney has accumulated highs of 16 and 18 rebounds on multiple
ALLISON THORNTON | The Observer
see M BBALL PAGE 10
Irish senior forward John Mooney puts up a layup during Notre Dame’s 64-62 overtime win over Toledo on Nov. 21. Mooney is currently the leading rebounder in college basketball, posting 13.5 rebounds per game.
nd men’s basketball
Football
Kelly talks Iowa State, youth development By HAYDEN ADAMS
Hayden Adams
Associate Sports Editor
Irish football head coach Brian Kelly held a press conference Sunday after Notre Dame’s matchup w ith Iowa State in the Camping World Bowl was announced. Kelly gave his initial analysis of Iowa State, and commented on play ing a team from the Big-12 — something the Irish haven’t done since play ing Texas in 2016. “I mean, they’re all good,” Kelly said. “Obv iously the reputation is well-earned. This is a really good football team that could easily be 11-1. They’ve got an outstanding [sophomore] quarterback in Brock Purdy. I haven’t watched them on film. We don’t have any crossover games w ith them. We played Ok lahoma, obv iously, in the Big 12, so we have a great understanding of the caliber of football that they play week in and week see KELLY PAGE 10
Brey, Irish at turning point Associate Sports Editor
ANNIE SMIERCIAK | The Observer
Irish senior wide receiver Chase Claypool runs downfield during Notre Dame’s win over Stanford on Nov. 30 at Stanford Stadium.
The ball is up in the air, and as it reaches the apex of its trajector y and comes dow n toward the rim, there’s a small glimmer of hope that it may actually go through the net. Watching on T V, the broadcast v iew makes the ball look right on target, until it passes in front of the rim from the v iewer’s perspective; enough power, not enough accuracy. The comeback bid comes up short for the Notre Dame men’s basketball team as sophomore guard Dane Goodw in misses a halfcourt heave as time expires and the Irish fall to Boston College 73-72. It was the end of a 13-game w inning streak against the Eagles. It was the first loss to Boston College since 2005 and the first w in for BC in Purcell Pav ilion since 1997. It ended a sixgame home w inning streak
for the Irish (6-3) to open the season. It also represents an inf lection point for the Notre Dame men’s basketball program. Head coach Mike Brey has had his fair share of ups and dow ns w ith the Notre Dame basketball program, but it was OK for a while. He wasn’t taking over for Digger Phelps, who led the Irish to their only Final Four appearance in program histor y in 1978 (and ended UCL A’s 88-game w inning streak, no big deal). He took over for Matt Dohert y, who went 2215 in his lone season at the helm of the Irish. Beginning his tenure w ith the Irish while they were still in the Big East, Brey led his team to either the NCA A or NIT tournament ever y season from 2000-01 to 201213. Then upon joining the ACC in the 2013-14 season, the team hit a new low, going only 15-17 and 6-10 in the conference. see BREY PAGE 11