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Volume 53, Issue 64 | tuesday, december 4, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com
Taskforce gathers, processes feedback Group dedicated to examining sexual abuse scandal gives update after campus listening sessions By NATALIE WEBER News Editor
From Nov. 1 through Nov. 16, Notre Dame’s Campus Engagement Task Force hosted a series of listening sessions to gather the community’s input on the sexual abuse crisis facing the Catholic Church. The task force also collected anonymous responses through a feedback form through Nov. 16. Jennifer Mason McAward, co-chair of the task force and director of the Center for Civil and Human Rights, said the group was convened to gather thoughts and consider future actions in relation to the crisis. “We had two facilitators who handled each session so
there was continuity in leadership and at each session we asked three general questions,” Mason McAward said. “The first was what people’s ref lections were on the sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church. The second question was how Notre Dame might respond educationally, administratively and pastorally. And then the third question related to how Notre Dame might proceed in terms of research and scholarship.” Fr. Gerry Olinger, the vice president of mission engagement and church affairs and the other co-chair of the task force, said during listening sessions, members of the community expressed a consistent frustration with the Catholic Church’s handling of the sex abuse scandals.
“Certainly we heard the frustration, the anger that exists on campus and I think throughout a couple pieces: one was certainly about the abuse that happened and certainly real concern for the victims of sexual abuse,” Olinger said. “But we also began to hear as well, the same anger, frustration, expressed around the leaders of the Church who either perpetrated that abuse and or failed to act in the face of that abuse. A very clear desire from campus was the church to take strong action moving forward.” Community members addressed their concerns and recommendations to both the University and the Catholic Church as a whole, Olinger said.
College appoints new general counsel Observer Staff Report
Nancy Nekvasil, the Interim President of Saint Mary’s College, has appointed attorney Martha “Marty” McCampbell to serve as the College’s general counsel effective Dec. 4, according to a press release. “[McCampbell] has a strong record of success throughout her
diverse legal career,” Nekvasil said in the release. “With significant higher-education experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge about the industry that will make her a valuable addition to our leadership team.” Since June 7, the College has been searching for a new general counsel. Former College general counsel Cristal Brisco
“I think both the responses and certainly the recommendations were directed both at the Church and at Notre Dame,” he said. “I think we’re, again, really in the midst of absorbing all of that, processing all of the responses to both the reactions as well as to the recommendations, but I think we did see both.” When asked what recommendations community members had for Notre Dame, Olinger said the task force was processing the responses from the listening sessions and anonymous online feedback forms which community members could complete. “I think at this point, we’re processing all the feedback and as a task force, really
kind of thinking about how we want to formulate specific recommendations,” Olinger said. “So I think that’s really the work that’s happening right now and that will be forthcoming.” At each listening session, the task force had two discussion facilitators and two recorders, who took notes on the conversations. “The week of Thanksgiving … the task force really was immersed in reviewing all the data that was provided through the listening sessions and the online forms summarizing those [responses],” Olinger said. “We asked everyone to submit a summary by [Nov. 26] and then on Tuesday, we met with see TASKFORCE PAGE 4
Club hosts Santa event for charity
was appointed as magistrate for the St. Joseph Circuit Court and began serving in that role since July 16, according to a June press release. McCampbell most recently worked as deputy Title IX coordinator and director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Indiana see COUNSEL PAGE 4 EMMA FARNAN | The Observer
Belles Against Violence Office outlines strategy By HANNAH THOMAS News Writer
Saint Mary’s College students are working to spread the word about the Belles Against Violence Office, or BAVO. Sophomores Audrina Massey and Kate Hill are both members of the organization, and said they are seeking to create a safer
NEWS PAGE 3
environment at Saint Mary’s. Hill is an ally under the “subcategory” of BAVO known as Green Dot. “As an ally we make sure … that we are made available to those people to let them know that we are confidential sources they can come and talk to,” Hill said. Massey is on the Student Advisory Committee, or SAC,
SCENE PAGE 5
and also works on the Green Dot committee. Massey explained all of the committees come together to work on their common mission. “Each committee has their own events but work together to really put on events and spread awareness and education about see BAVO PAGE 4
VIEWPOINT PAGE 7
Students have their photo taken with Professor André Venter, who is dressed as Santa Claus, in support of St. Jude Children’s Hospital. By MARIA PAUL RANGEL News Writer
As Christmas approaches, sightings of Santa Claus become more frequent. Santa, in his characteristic bright red suit and white beard, makes frequent appearances around malls, toy stores, parks and other public places. Members of the South Bend community were able to have their photo taken with Santa at Irish Fighting for St. Jude’s annual event, Snapshots with Santa, which took place on Monday
ND M BASKETBALL PAGE 12
night at the Dahnke Ballroom. For the price of $5, participants were able to take a snapshot with their favorite Santa, who was brought to life by different Notre Dame campus celebrities, including several athletes and professors, as well as decorate cookies and write cards for the patients. The event benefits pediatric cancer research and treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This year, Irish Fighting for St. Jude managed to enlist the help see SANTA PAGE 4
TRACK AND FIELD PAGE 12
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TODAY
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Corrections An article in Wednesday’s edition of The Observer incorrectly stated that Follett owns the Notre Dame Bookstore. Follett is a third party that operates the bookstore on behalf of the University. The Observer regrets this error.
ANN CURTIS | The Observer
Psychiatrist Mark Komrad, ethicist-in-residence for Sheppard Pratt Health System, presented a lecture titled “Physician Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia for People with Psychiatric Disorders: An Emerging Ethical Crisis” in the Eck Visitor Center on Monday.
The next Five days:
Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Annual Pottery Sale 122 Riley Hall 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Come see and enjoy student art for purchase.
Pizza, Pop & Politics Coffee House, Geddes Hall 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Discussion with Matthew E.K. Hall.
Trivia Night 217 DeBartolo Hall 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. $5 to participate. Funds go towards Project Restauracion.
Study Days at the Snite Museum of Art Snite Museum of Art 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Use the galleries as quiet study spaces.
Notre Dame Glee Club and Symphony Orchestra Christmas Concert Leighton Concert Hall 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Lecture: “Jerusalem: Where Faith and Geopolitics Meet” Hesburgh Center for International Studies 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Student Chamber Music Recital LaBar Performance Hall, O’Neill Hall of Music 7 p.m.
Artful Yoga Snite Museum of Art 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Practice meditative yoga in the presence of art.
President’s Christmas Reception Main Building 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. All University faculty and staff are invited.
Film: “American Gigolo” (1980) Browning Cinema 3 p.m. $4 for students and $6 faculty/staff.
News
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STUDENT SENATE
Campus Dining presents new options to group By CLAIRE RAFFORD News Writer
In their last meeting of the fall semester, Notre Dame’s student senate heard a presentation from Campus Dining about new on-campus retail locations and discussed recent Observer articles regarding the porn filter. Senior director of Campus Dining Chris Abayasinghe and director of retail dining Luigi Alberganti led the presentation, where they announced the addition of two new retail dining locations on campus: Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh in Hesburgh Center, and Pizza Pi — in place of Reckers — in South Dining Hall. Alberganti emphasized the influence of student well-being in their decisions. “My mission is to make sure
that we bring the concepts that we think will have an impact on campus life,” Alberganti said. Alberganti said Garbanzo would replace the Au Bon Pain Catering currently located in Hesburgh Center. Garbanzo, a Mediterranean-influenced restaurant, will offer fresh foods for vegans, vegetarians and omnivores alike. “This can be a snack or it can be a full meal,” Alberganti said. Alberganti said Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh is expected to open in February of 2019. He also discussed the opening of a new eatery to replace Reckers behind South Dining Hall. “We heard from students that the late-night places were something that we needed to improve on,” Alberganti said.
Pizza Pi will offer a variety of menu items, including pizzas, baked pasta, salad, smoothies and desserts. In addition, the restaurant will have a bar serving local beer and wine options for students who are 21 and older. “Our intention is to provide a very responsible approach to serving wine and beer on this campus,” Alberganti said. However, Alberganti said though students will be able to use flex points to purchase food at Pizza Pi, they cannot use them to buy beer and wine. The timeline for the project is to have the establishment finished by May 2019, with periodic updates provided by student government and Campus Dining until the restaurant’s completion. After Campus Dining’s presentation, members of the
senate engaged in a discussion about the porn filter controversy on Notre Dame’s campus, mainly in regards to the Letter to the Editor published in The Observer — “The men of Notre Dame request a porn filter” — in which members of the Notre Dame community advocated for blocking access to pornography websites. The original letter has led to various responses, both in agreement and opposition to the filter. Junior and Sorin College senator Mark Spretnjak brought up the issue, saying it was an issue being discussed throughout campus but had yet to be debated by the senate. “This is something that a lot of people around campus have been talking about and it hasn’t been brought up here, and a lot of people have asked
me to bring it up at Senate just so we can talk about it,” he said. Senior and diversity council president Alyssa Ngo said the movement has been spearheaded by the group Students for Child-Oriented Policy, or SCOP. “The specifics of their proposal are they had the top 25 porn websites, whatever they are measured to be, and that’s what they want to ban,” Ngo said. “So your question, how do we ban porn, that’s how.” Senior and student body vice president Corey Gayheart said the Senate can and may look into the issue, but this is a common debate at Notre Dame. “It tends to happen each year at some point,” he said. Contact Claire Rafford at crafford@nd.edu
Tech platform contest to help environment By ALEXANDRA MUCK News Writer
For students who are looking for an easy way to help the environment, UCapture offers a way to do just that while shopping online. The free greentech platform has enlisted campus ambassador and junior Brielle Jaglowski to further its goals and has partnered with GreeND to offer a dorm competition for the month of December. According to the organization’s website, UCapture is a startup that offsets carbon when users shop online. Jaglowski said users can sign up online and then get an email with a link to download
a browser extension. Then, whenever the users shop online at one of UCapture’s over 5,000 retail partners such as Target, American Eagle and Groupon, part of the proceeds go to environmental projects ranging from reforestation projects to methane capture projects. “Once you have it, you literally don’t have to do any work,” Jaglowski said. “It just automatically activates itself.” Jaglowski said users get an email after they complete a transaction with the number of pounds of carbon they helped offset and the exact location of the project. “There’s also coupon codes
at checkout so you can save some money while saving the planet,” she said. UCapture is partnering with GreeND to launch a competition in which the dorm with the most students to sign up by the end of the month will receive Rise and Roll donuts. Before the competition started last week, Jaglowski said there were 100 Notre Dame students signed up. Now, there are over 200. Jaglowski first heard about UCapture from a friend who goes to University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). “I went on [UCapture] and saw that Notre Dame didn’t have a program and there’s
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a lot of other schools like University of Michigan and UCLA and Arizona State and all these other schools that had a program, so I just made a page for it,” she said. “The person that actually founded UCapture emailed me and got me in touch about it and asked if I wanted to spread it around campus. … I’m super passionate about it.” Before the dorm competition started, Jaglowski said she spread the word by visiting classes, talking to people about the program and asking them to sign up. Now that the dorm competition has started, Jaglowski has used other means of promotion.
“I emailed my own dorm and put out table tents and posters and emailed all the sustainability commissioners so that they can tell people in their dorm to sign up,” she said. Jaglowski said the platform is continuing to expand. “They keep coming out with new, cool developments,” she said. ”It’s still forming but it’s getting bigger and bigger.” Jaglowski said she wants to get as many people signed up as possible. As an environmental science major and a sustainability minor who also enjoys the outdoors, Jaglowski said she is passionate about helping the environment. “Anything I can do to help the planet and kind of mitigate the negative effects of climate change and human development, I just like to make a better difference in the world rather than polluting it and harming it more,” she said. For others who may not be as passionate about the environment, Jaglowski said they are still able to participate in the program because it is easy. “This is a cool way and people are really excited about it because it’s free and doesn’t require any work on their part, which is always good for environmental programs,” she said. So far, Jaglowski said she has seen a broad range of people signing up for the platform, across all majors. “It’s cool how it reaches and is applicable to everyone,” she said. Contact Alexandra Muck at amuck@nd.edu
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News
The observer | tuesday, december 4, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com
Santa Continued from page 1
of athletes and more highprofile Notre Dame figures, accounting for more Santas than ever before. For the first time, the event was hosted in the Dahnke Ballroom and included raff le items by Fighting Irish men’s coach Mike Brey, explained senior Abe Mansour, president of Irish Fighting for St. Jude. “This year we definitely have amped it up quite a bit […] This is the biggest year yet,” Mansour said. Santa impersonators included football players junior quarter back Ian Book, graduate student punter Tyler Newsome, senior linebacker Jerr y Tiller y and senior wide receiver Chris Finke, as well as professors Chris Stevens, Eric Sims, André Venter and Fr. Joseph Corpora. Book said he was inspired by the event’s objective. “Like two weeks ago I got an email, and once I found out what it was for, it was a no-brainer. I knew I could help out in any way, so I was down to do that,” he said. Finke said he was excited to embrace his role as Santa. “I’ve never been Santa, so I hope I’m alright at it,” he said. “It will be fun to sit here with the kids and ask them what they want for Christmas. Hopefully they’re not too scared of me.” Many people went to the event to support their favorite athletes. Such was the case of junior Brandon Hardy. Participating in Snapshots with Santa for the first time, Hardy said he was looking for ward to taking a picture with his friend, Tiller y, as well as to get into the Christmas spirit of giving back. “This is what Notre Dame is about, about making a positive difference in the world. It’s cool to give back to your community,” Hardy said. Freshman Juliana Salvatierra, who is from Bolivia, said she was eager to take a picture with Venter, her psycholog y professor. She also referenced the prospect of helping others as her main reason for
coming to the event. “I was really aware of the cause, and I really wanted to help too because in my countr y I don’t have the opportunity of doing many of these things,” Salvatierra said. For his part, Venter, a veteran of the event, said he was pleased to reprise his role as Santa. He has participated ever y year since Snapshots with Santa began, and said he truly enjoys meeting the children and students, and he describes the experience as “wonderful.” “It’s really cool to see little kids who still think that Santa’s real ... it’s magical to them, and that’s really cool,” he said. “The other thing that I really like is seeing students outside of the classroom. It’s nice.” Another professor who took on the role of Santa Claus was business professor Chris Stevens. As the faculty advisor to Irish Fighting for St. Jude, Stevens said he was happy to undertake a different role to advance the club’s mission. “Santa is about spreading joy, and about bringing joy and happiness to others. And so, it’s the holiday season — Christmas is upon us — and it’s just a wonderful opportunity to really get into the Christmas spirit early in the season,” Stevens said. Stevens said he knows the poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by heart, and said he may recite it for the children. He said he was approaching his role as Santa with an air of excitement and responsibility. He recognized the power of the role of Santa. “This is the time of giving, and 80 percent of the population in this world lives on less than $10 a day, and we’re all ver y, ver y blessed to be able to be here at Notre Dame, and do what we do,” he said. “So I think that during the holiday season, [students should] do things that bring happiness. It is impossible for students to sprinkle happiness on others and not get some on themselves.”
Maria Leontaras | The Observer
Bella Acapella sings at a vigil hosted by the Belles Against Violence Office, or BAVO. BAVO is a group that aims to prevent relationship violence and sexual asault at Saint Mary’s, as well as support survivors.
BAVO Continued from page 1
sexual assault, sexual violence and relationship stalking and how to maybe help those who have been a victim, or a survivor,” she said. Hill explained that Green Dot “focuses on trying to prevent red dot situations.” Red dot situations include any form of sexual assault, sexual violence or relationship stalking. “We stand by survivors and offer our support to those that we can. By spreading awareness, we hope to make the warning signs more apparent and inform as many people as possible,” Hill said. In doing so, red dots can become green dots as more people become prepared and knowledgeable for when a red dot situation occurs, Hill said. With several resources on campus, BAVO offers confidential resources where students can discuss their story with a peer without any obligation to report their
Taskforce Continued from page 1
Contact Maria Paul Rangel at mpaulran@nd.edu
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the task force as a whole, really to begin processing through both the processes from campus and recommendations.” The task force is working under a tight schedule, Mason
Counsel Continued from page 1
University South Bend, according to the release. She also served as general counsel to Lincoln Memorial University, a private, liberal arts university in Tennessee from 2011 to 2015. McCampbell attended the
experiences. Massey added other confidential resources at Saint Mary’s include Campus Ministry, as well as Health and Counseling. She said BAVO is a point of contact for anyone who has experienced sexual assault, sexual violence or relationship stalking. BAVO puts on several events throughout the academic year. Last week was Green Dot Activism Week, which included events to spread knowledge to the students and faculty about BAVO and Green Dot. Another event BAVO put on was called “Guac and Talk.” “We just had an open space for people to discuss any issues on campus regarding sexual assault, sexual violence and relationship stalking, and things maybe BAVO can do better,” Massey said of ‘Guac and Talk.’ Coming up in the spring semester is a public event called “Take Back the Night.” The event is designed to support survivors, Massey explained. “It’s a candlelight vigil that starts here at Saint Mary’s and ends at the Grotto at Notre Dame, and it’s a place where
people can either share their experience or just show support for all the survivors,” she said. “It’s not just students that take part in it, it’s faculty and staff … It’s a nationwide event that happens every year.” Hill and Massey also encouraged students to participate in Green Dot training sessions that will be held in January, in order to teach participants different skills about how to handle difficult situations. Massey said there are numerous ways to get involved with BAVO. “You can become a BAVO ally, and you can either of course be a part of Green Dot awareness and outreach or events and campaigns,” she said. “You can show your support by coming to events just throughout the year … BAVO is really about helping our students. So that’s what we are trying to do, so if you really just want to watch out for your Belles and just make sure everybody is safe, then I would highly encourage Belles Against Violence.”
McAward said, with a goal of formulating its recommendations for the University by the beginning of next semester in January. “I think the most important thing that we can communicate at this point is our profound gratitude to everybody who took the time to provide
feedback,” she said. “It was a really powerful and profound thing for our task force to be trusted with the thoughts and feedback that we received and we feel so fortunate to have had so much thoughtful feedback.”
University of Tennessee for both undergraduate and law school. McCampbell also served as trial counsel for the Knox County, Tenn. Law Director’s office. This role enabled her to serve as inhouse counsel to Knox County Schools, “a district with 88 schools and nearly 60,000 students,” the release said.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the Saint Mary’s tradition of educating women with a sense of purpose and social responsibility,” McCampbell said in the release. “The values of community, faith and justice that infuse the College w ill be a continual source of inspiration.”
Contact Hannah Thomas at hthomas01@saintmarys.edu
Contact Natalie Weber at nweber@nd.edu
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DOMINIQUE DeMOE | The Observer
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Inside Column
LepreCOUNT me in Hannah Thomas News Writer
I, Hannah Thomas, should be the first female leprechaun to walk Notre Dame’s grounds. All drama aside, has anybody wondered why there has not been a female leprechaun? That is pretty much all I think about day and night. I would like to address the fact that I have red hair, freckles, blue eyes and I am average height, some may even say “short.” While that is not mandatory, I still think this would be a plus for the job. I understand that I would need to perfect my school spirit, but that can come with practice. I have been thinking about this for some time now, but I do not know how to even try out. I would love to be able to understand the process and practice until I am up to the leprechaun standards. Also, if I am going to be picky about it, the basketball leprechaun would be an ideal scenario in case anybody asks. In all seriousness, I am curious as to why there have not been any female leprechauns yet. I am wondering if tryouts should be more accessible for students, or if other people, especially women, do not see themselves as a viable option. I am also wondering if the student body would be accepting of a female mascot. There are underlying issues present in this seemingly unimportant topic. Growing up going to Notre Dame sporting events, I always wanted to have as much fun as the leprechaun. Once I started school, I would search and search to try out. But alas, no luck. Maybe information has been hiding in plain sight, the world may never know. Even if the opportunity has been present, I still wonder why no female leprechauns have come before. I hope I am not the only one thinking our sideline experience for all the fans would have an added dynamic to an already fantastic team of leprechauns. I would love to be able to have a blast on the sidelines making sure all spectators are having as much fun as I would be. Supporting the team members and exciting the crowd through the wins and losses would be a great experience! I think my spryness and aura would make for an overall energetic fan experience. My hope is to give everybody some food for thought knowing that some topics should be talked about. Some aspects that are overlooked — like the leprechaun being male dominated — may seem insignificant. However, someone, somewhere (that someone somewhere being me) may toss and turn day and night longing for the opportunity for this beloved position. Contact Hannah Thomas at hthomas01@saintmarys.edu The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
A house lit from the inside Gabriel Niforatos The Road Less Traveled
If I had to sum up a theme that links all of my articles for The Observer this semester, I would sum it up in one word — change. This article is not meant to provide the casual reader with solutions to overhaul the problems and divisions in the political, economic and social spheres. Rather, it’s a plea for us to step outside the ways that we are used to seeing and dealing with things. This country seems to be at an important crossroads this holiday season. The G20 Summit could define the relations and global economics between the United States and impact the entire sphere of international relations. It seems like now, more than ever, the dialogue between both political parties is fractured and monodimensional. Every week, it is with great worry that I check the headlines of the major news networks expecting to see another tragedy or disaster. There is no argument that we need change. The point is not what those concrete changes are, but rather the mechanism of how we get there. Fundamentally, the only way we will exact change is if we escape the customary way of doing things and, in the simplest language possible, break out of the comfort zone. I guarantee you that my house will be the darkest when I return for Christmas break. Bear with me for a moment. Walking down my street, my house will look like a black hole swallowed it, bookended between houses that look like winter palaces bedecked in lights. This is not the complete story. People who know my family and I know that when they step inside our house, as if entering a geode rock formation, you will be greeted by the borderline-extreme radiance of Christmas and Hanukkah decoration that we set up on the inside. Today happens to be the third night of Hanukkah. It always seems like school is deliberately constructed to make me miss chocolate shekels and the lighting of the candles, and I am disappointed that I won’t come home in time for the kitchen to be filled with the scent of homemade latkes and play dreidel below the glow of our menorah. But every year without fail, when the holidays and breaks align perfectly, my family and I will set up our Christmas lights and have a menorah on our table. Recalibrate and change what you know. Come together and think of new ways to the problems that undeniably exist in society today, and maybe we can walk past the dark alleyway and into the radiant geode. Start from the inside and it doesn’t matter if it looks like a house swallowed by a black hole, bookended by glossy decoration
but nothing inside when you open the door. On a much more local level, Notre Dame was chosen as the third seed in the College Football Playoff only a couple of days ago. While it might seem like a far-fetched connection to the idea of how change and opening up oneself to an overhaul can make positive difference, it is fundamentally connected to the ideas I am putting forth. Two years ago, after a disappointing 4-8 season and dysfunction from the top to the bottom in the football team, many were wondering whether or not Coach Brian Kelly would even return for another season. Recognizing that change was needed, Coach Kelly instigated top-down personnel changes and implemented modifications in practice and training camp. Kelly even switched quarterbacks midseason, realizing that flexibility would be the key to success. The result has been tremendous success and an undefeated season, something Notre Dame has not accomplished since 2012. I end with another abstract example. As a Jew who celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas, lights have a particular importance to me. Of course, there is the connection to family, good memories and the holiday season. To a Jew, this significance means even more, branching into the historical. Hanukkah, or “festival of lights,” commemorates the courage and tenacity of the Maccabees in ancient times as they reclaimed the Jewish Holy Temple from those who had desecrated it. Using a one-day supply of oil, they lit the menorah in the temple and it miraculously remained lit until they received new oil. Hanukkah lasts eight days to memorialize each day that the oil lasted. This holiday season, let us be the lights that cannot be extinguished. It is only those who dare to be different and dare to do something that upends the norm that define what the new norm looks like. Whether you set up your lights on the outside of your house, on the inside or not at all, make it so that the odds do not define your decision. Do something different over break and use the tools we are learning here at Notre Dame to rethink convention. Make the new convention. Because then the lights won’t just last eight days, they’ll change the headlines and rework the political, economic and social spheres. Gabriel Niforatos is a sophomore who has diverse interests ranging from political science to music. When he’s not at school, he is busy hiking and running in the New Mexico mountain range. His email is gniforat@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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The observer | tuesday, december 4, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com
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‘Is yoga really an Indian thing?’ Vaishali Nayak Diversity Council
Over Thanksgiving break, like most students, I finally got to catch up with folks from back home. My friend, a fellow Indian-American, was telling me how one of her college buddies had asked — with genuine surprise — “Is yoga really an Indian thing? I thought it was an American city workout studio thing.” We both laughed at the notion of yoga being anything but an Indian art, having both grown up with it in capacities beyond just a workout routine. My friend went ahead and did her part — not only did she explain to her friend what yoga meant to her, but he was soon practicing it with her on weekends, with Sanskrit words and all, just like our grandmothers taught us. At a friend’s holiday party this weekend, someone asked me the same question — “Yoga’s Indian?” with the exact tone of genuine surprise. While I gave the same explanation my friend had given her buddy three weeks ago on a different college campus, I began thinking — where is this misconception coming from? For those curious, yoga’s roots came from India, more than 2000 years ago, during the era of the Indus Valley Civilization. But if you Google the word, or see magazine covers and advertisements,
you don’t see a brown person in a pose of tranquility, you see a white female in an intricate pose, dressed in expensive pants at a chic location or beach. It wasn’t difficult to see where the misconceptions were coming from. Yoga is an art — who practices it is indeed independent of race, ethnicity and gender. But the more I explored how yoga is marketed to people, the more I realized it was farther from the art I knew and began feeling more like a case of mistaken identity. Yoga isn’t just a trendy workout practice, it is a philosophy that guides how we live our lives. It is something that families pass down through lectures combined with practice and is seen in the subtleties of the way we live our lives. Asanas (poses) are glorified by the fitness industry, while the seven other limbs, or branches, of yoga are ignored. People walk into yoga studios expecting a workout, usually accompanied by music — and while this isn’t wrong, it just isn’t yoga anymore. True yoga is much more about ancient Indian spirituality and mental strength as it is about physical stability. So, has my little dive into Google and the American experience of yoga led me to believe that the fitness industry has culturally appropriated yoga? If cultural appropriation is borrowing aspects of another culture because it is considered trendy without understanding its history and
significance in another culture, then yes, it has. However, I believe it does this not through the practice of asanas — whose health benefits should indeed be explored by all. It is more through the use of statues of Indian deities outside of studios, something that is sacred, used as props or on tshirt designs; through sprinkling glitter at the end of a practice to resemble akshatha, or a spiritual blessing that is given in Hinduism; and a subtle nonchalance and rudeness for words and their significance in another culture. So is yoga an Indian practice? Yes, it very much is. But to some extent, our friends were right — the yoga you and I practice in studios, undoubtedly is something else. Vaishali Nayak is an absent-minded neuroscience major junior at Notre Dame. She dabbles in things that matter to her — equality, medicine, Harry Potter — not necessarily in that order. The Diversity Council of Notre Dame advocates for awareness, understanding and acceptance on issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and other intersectional identities in the Notre Dame community. The viewpoints expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Diversity Council, but are the individual opinions of the author. You can contact Diversity Council at diversnd@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The problem with sanctions When you were in grade school, did someone in your class get everyone in trouble unfairly? And did the teacher, failing to find the culprit, simply decide to punish everyone for something that almost none of you did? You probably hated the punishment and harbored some temporary resentment towards the teacher for imposing an unfair punishment. Instances like this seem confined to child’s play, as we assume that adults can cooperate to solve problems. However, American foreign policy seems to engage in this child’s play when it comes to imposing punishment on states. Economic sanctions essentially punish a group for the actions of an individual or small group. Though the offenses are usually much more significant than a simple prank or joke, the response by the authority figure employs a similar strategy and similarly engender resentment and distrust. Now, the latest target is again Russia for election interference, where these sanctions are producing unsurprisingly negative reactions. In light of my general antipathy for economic sanctions, I reject the idea that economic sanctions are the solution to coercing good behavior from Russian leaders. In September, the United States imposed yet another round of sanctions on Russian firms and individuals in response to their supposed engagement in American election interference. President Trump left out gas companies working on a Baltic pipeline, but these types of sanctions could be a future devastating strategy for the United States. Regardless of this possibility, the Kremlin and the Russian state media have incorporated these sanctions into their narrative of American aggression against not only the Russian economy but also the Russian state and people. In a time of strained relations, sanctions such as these are turned against the American agenda by the Russian media. Given Russia’s recent capture of three Ukrainian naval ships near Crimea, the possibility of future and harsher sanctions seems very probable. The media narratives and popular perception of the United States in Russia are important for all of us to understand, because upon close inspection we see why economic sanctions will not effectively
inf luence Russian behavior. Russian mentality has long focused on a constant struggle against the Western world, which intends to subdue and inhibit Russia from reaching her goals. In a Sept. 21 broadcast, Russian state network Channel One plays into this mentality of Russia against the world, describing the sanctions as a “blow to the Russian economy” and the “attacks of Washington” that intend to destroy Russian economic stability and ambitions. Furthermore, a separate article from Channel One even goes so far as accusing the investigation team of basing the sanctions on evidence they see as sufficient, instead of any definitive proof of Russian interference. Essentially, Channel One clearly displays its contempt for and lack of trust in American foreign policy towards Russia for its 50 million daily viewers. Unsurprisingly, the media narratives trickle down to the public, and I can attest to this from my summer in Russia living with a host family. Throughout the summer, when my host family and I would discuss politics, we would talk about sanctions and how these impeded the development of Russian-American relations. In response to the sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and Crimea, my host mother stated very bluntly, “Crimea is ours” and cited that Crimeans wanted to join with Russia instead of Ukraine. In this regard, she believed that Russia had lost a rightful piece of land and that the United States was interfering in state-building ambitions. As a result, while she likes to interact with Americans and is incredibly friendly and hospitable, she simply does not trust the United States government. Given these reactions and mentality, reinforced by Russian media and government, sanctions will likely only cause future tension and distrust between the American government and the Russian people. Furthermore, we must consider the ethical issues and possible impacts surrounding the latest round of sanctions. The economic consequences have been and can be severe, as shown with previous sanctions in Russia. Russian President Putin’s confidence betrays the economic reality: foreign investment is massively declining, and previous sanctions devalued the Russian ruble by 55
percent. Vladimir Milov, an economic advisor to the prominent Kremlin opposition politician Alexei Navalny, explains the effects: “They’re [the Russian government] not working toward the goal of growth. They’re working toward the goal of very tough fiscal consolidation” that prevents economic development in the country and instead protects and hoards the government’s resources. As a result, further sanctions promise to make life very hard for the average Russian, increasing inf lation and unemployment while fostering mistrust and resentment of the United States. Perhaps it is no coincidence that the UN Special Rapporteur on the effect of sanctions on human rights stated that “[t] here is a need for differences between States to be resolved through peaceful means … while avoiding exposing innocent civilians to collective punishment.” Given an already unstable ruble and a weak economy, further sanctions could be disastrous for ordinary Russians and their hopes of economic prosperity. Should Russia be punished for any interference in American elections? Of course, but should this come at the expense of the citizens who did nothing wrong? I would argue no. Supporters argue economic sanctions stir popular discontent and force governments to respond to their citizens, but true popular accountability is absent in Russia. Presidential elections give the impression of a government that legislates by and for the people, but in practice the Russian government tolerates little opposition to the Kremlin’s political agenda. As a result, it is not the government that chokes under the economic hardships of the sanctions — instead, only the citizens. In punishing an innocent group of people for the actions of elites, American foreign policy has truly resorted to childish games that do not actually solve the problems in an adult manner. The sad irony is that this policy hurts the very citizens who the United States claims to support by attempting to curtail the power of the Putin government. Matthew Wisneski senior Dec. 3
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DAILY
The observer | tuesday, december 4, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com
Crossword | Will Shortz
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Trust in what you know, not what someone tells you. You’ll have plenty of opportunities, but this is not the year to cut corners or rely on others. Only take on what’s important to you; see it through. You may be tempted to take a risk, but that will tie up time, causing you to miss better prospects. Your numbers are 8, 19, 22, 27, 31, 35, 44. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Check out opportunities, but don’t take a gamble on something that isn’t a sure thing. Know what’s required and what you’ll get in return. Negotiate on your own behalf and make changes based on common sense, not what someone else does. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Positive change will tweak your relationships at work and at home. Personal physical improvements will lead to compliments and a feeling of accomplishment. Focus on fitness, health and diet. An event will bring you in touch with someone from your past. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Look for the good in everyone, but don’t be too trusting. It’s important to question what’s uncertain or to back away from a situation that has a weak foundation. Look out for your interests. Refuse to let anyone take advantage of you. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Plan to do something that you find relaxing or inspiring. Attend a function that is geared toward a fun time with children or romance with your lover. A day spent with someone you love will bring you closer together. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Problems at home will leave you wondering what to do next. Don’t let an emotional incident turn into a no-win situation. Kindness and diplomacy are always better routes to take if you want to find a solution. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Stick to your plan. Don’t spend one penny more than necessary. If someone exaggerates or is indulgent, walk away. Don’t feel you have to give in to someone pressuring you. Positive change should start within. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t feel obligated to take on too much. Set boundaries when dealing with people who tend to be pushy or critical. Concentrate on making personal changes that will improve the way you handle or earn your living. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Spend more time with people who pump you up, not those who bring you down. Trying new things will be uplifting. Allow yourself to let your imagination wander and your ideas to unfold. Romance is highlighted. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Think big, but don’t lose sight of what’s practical. Having a sense of trust and belonging will be important while collaborating with others. Don’t let someone’s charm deceive you. Question and fact-check before you proceed. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It’s OK to change your mind or to say no to someone who is trying to entice you into something you don’t want to do. Put your efforts into personal gains, physical improvements and jobs you enjoy doing. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You can make a reasonable change, but don’t disrupt your world trying to reach the unattainable. Expect someone to use emotional meddling in order to twist your way of thinking or to get you to overspend on something you don’t need. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Put some muscle behind your plans. How you handle your cash or take care of your responsibilities will have an impact on others. Living within your means and doing what’s right and best should be your prime concerns. Romance is encouraged. Birthday Baby: You are insightful, passionate and graceful. You are changeable and proactive.
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
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Sports
ndsmcobserver.com | tuesday, december 4, 2018 | The Observer
Sports Authority
NFL | Philadelphia 28, Washington 13
Preserve the purity of football Troy Pride Jr. Sports Writer
One area I feel very passionate about is head injuries in football. With the recent surge of information and knowledge about the significance of repeated head injuries in football, there has almost been a mass scare of what to do about this issue. While the idea of concussions and CTE are very real and have major consequences, I feel some of the specific rules in the NFL has created to prevent concussions are dramatizing the game and taking money from players because of what they deem illegal hits. The NFL has no right to do so. The best part of turning on a football game is the brutal hits laid from one team to the other. The physicality of the sport is what makes it so popular. With the new information on brain damage being caused by playing football, the sport has attempted to be less violent and so much more speculated, and it is changing the essence of the game. I have played football my entire life and I have seen great hitting technique and I have seen the worst of it. The issue that must be addressed is the technique. Instead, the NFL is doing things like overexaggerating the hits against a quarterback or focusing solely on the crown of the helmet. Now, everything about the new rules is not bad. I would rather change be made than to continue to let former players suffer, but there comes a point where the “targeting” rule is so far-fetched and out of line that it ruins the game. New technology is also being patented to help with brain trauma from vicious hits to the helmet area. While I like where our technology will go
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to find a solution to the issue, I do not believe that making football a 7-on-7 passing league game will be effective. Taking out hitting will destroy the game. If every big hit has to be reviewed, fans will stop tuning in and going to an overly-refereed game of football. Football has changed so many lives and I am happy that player safety has become paramount, but my main concern is that it is going a little overboard and getting to a point where defensive players cannot truly play the game. In my opinion, the issue mainly stems from how one would handle the offensive and defensive lines and how they fight in the trenches each play. The only remedy to this issue would be new technology in helmets and ways to protect the neck and head — not targeting calls or phantom roughing-the-passer calls. I love the game of football, and when played correctly I believe no other game is like football. To play football correctly, the game must be taught correctly and adequate equipment must be distributed to help with overall protection. Allowing the referees to impact the game in this way is getting far away from the issue and instead is creating an even bigger problem moving forward. Making the game into a passing league and not allowing football players to play football would be a disservice to the game. So, while head injuries are such a scary part of football and sports, to destroy the game so many people love would be even worse. Contact Troy Pride Jr. at tpride1@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Write Sports. Email Joe Everett at jeveret4@nd.edu
Wentz returns to form as Eagles defeat Redskins Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — Carson Wentz was at his best back on the move again. Wentz tossed two touchdown passes, Darren Sproles ran for a score and the Philadelphia Eagles stayed in the hunt for the NFC East title with a 28-13 victory over the depleted Washington Redskins on Monday night. The Eagles (6-6) won consecutive games for the first time since Nick Foles led them to a Super Bowl victory over the Patriots. The Redskins (6-6) lost backup quarterback Colt McCoy to a serious right leg injury in his second game replacing Alex Smith, who broke his right tibia and fibula on Nov. 18. Mark Sanchez took his place. Redskins coach Jay Gruden said after the game that, from what he understands, McCoy fractured his fibula and will miss the rest of the season. Adrian Peterson ran 90 yards for a touchdown on Sanchez’s first play under center, giving the Redskins a 10-7 lead. It was
the longest run Philadelphia has allowed in franchise history but Washington’s lead didn’t last long. Wentz, who hasn’t scrambled much since returning in Week 3 from surgery to repair two knee ligaments, didn’t run for any yards. But he ran around and made big plays when he improvised and on designed rollouts. “Anytime he can extend plays with his legs, he’s such a great athlete, that’s an advantage to the offense,” coach Doug Pederson said. “Being able to do that allows us to stay on the field. He’s gifted in doing that. It comes natural to him.” Sproles put Philadelphia up 14-10 on a 14-yard TD run in the second quarter. Wentz tossed a 4-yard TD pass to Jordan Matthews and connected with Golden Tate on a 2-point conversion to extend the lead to 22-13 early in the fourth quarter. The Eagles twice failed to score inside the red zone and still managed their secondhighest point total this season.
They had a first down at the Redskins 2 in the second quarter, but Josh Adams was stopped for a loss on fourth down from the 1. They had a first down at the Redskins 5 in the third quarter, but Wentz threw an interception right to Josh Norman. Wentz finished 27 of 39 for 306 yards. He came out firing and led the Eagles to a score on their opening drive for only the third time season. First, he scrambled out of the pocket, motioned Tate to go deep and lofted a 19-yard pass down the left sideline on a first-and-15. Wentz finished the drive by firing a 6-yard TD pass on the run to Tate. “Play-action, bootlegs, nakeds, getting me on the edge, gives me a chance to make plays and we used that effectively,” Wentz said. Dustin Hopkins kicked field goals of 47 and 44 yards for Washington. “We have to get a plan ready for Mark moving forward,” Gruden said. “We’ve got to play great football around him, which we didn’t do tonight.”
nba
Bulls fire Hoiberg after tough start to season Associated Press
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls came into the season thinking they would start to climb in the wide-open Eastern Conference with a promising group of young players. A coaching change wasn’t part of the plan. The skidding Bulls fired Fred Hoiberg on Monday and promoted associate head coach Jim Boylen in hopes of turning around a miserable season. Chicago is averaging 103.4 points — 28th in the NBA — and is getting outscored by 9.6 per game. They are a woeful 5-19, better only than Cleveland and Phoenix. Hoiberg, who had to deal with a veteran roster that didn’t fit his style early on and then injuries to key players starting in training camp, never found his footing in Chicago. It added up to a 115-155 mark with one playoff appearance in threeplus seasons.
Executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson insisted the decision went beyond wins and losses, citing a lack of “energy and spirit.” “We were in a similar situation last year at this time,” Paxson said. “But the entire energy about this group was different back then. We felt that here in the last several weeks, that something’s different. What we’re lacking ... is a spirit about our team.” Paxson also said the Bulls are committed to Boylen as their long-term head coach and that general manager Gar Forman is “absolutely safe.” “What I hope we can do is own ‘Bulls’ across our chest better,” said Boylen, who will be serving as an NBA head coach for the first time. Boylen becomes the sixth coach hired by the current front office. He spent four years as the head coach at the University of Utah. Over 20 years in the NBA, he
also has been an assistant in Houston, Golden State, Milwaukee, Indiana and San Antonio. Hoiberg was in a tough position this season with four of the team’s top players getting injured, a painful run that started early in training camp. Forward Lauri Markkanen, the centerpiece of the Bulls’ rebuilding plan, missed the first 23 games after spraining his left elbow at practice in late September. His first appearance this season — a loss at Houston on Saturday — came in Hoiberg’s final game for Chicago. Guard Denzel Valentine will miss the entire season because of a left ankle injury. Forward Bobby Portis (right knee) has played in four games and point guard Kris Dunn (left knee) has appeared in one, though both are expected back soon. Hoiberg replaced Tom Thibodeau, who was fired after five seasons.
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Sports
The observer | tuesday, december 4, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com
nd Men’s soccer | Indiana 1, ND 0
Notre Dame’s season ends as Irish fail to reach semifinals of NCAA tournament Observer Sports Staff
Aiming to advance to the College Cup for the first time since 2013, as well as hoping to avenge an earlyseason loss against No. 2 Indiana, No. 7 Notre Dame came up short on Friday, losing 1-0 at Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington.
The postseason exit marked the end of Chad Riley’s first year as the head coach of the Irish (11-7-3, 4-3-1 ACC). The first half saw a relatively even battle, with Notre Dame’s majority of the possession resulting in one clear opportunity on goal. After 27 minutes of action, the Irish crossed the ball
into the box. Senior for ward Sean MacLeod headed the cross, but his shot was denied by Indiana sophomore goalkeeper Trey Muse. The rebound fell to the feet of sophomore midfielder Aiden McFadden, who quick ly took a shot right in front of goal. His attempt, however, was blocked by Indiana’s
CONNORy McFADDEN | The Observer
Irish freshman midfielder Mohamed Omar dribbles the ball during Notre Dame’s 2-1 overtime loss to Indiana on Sept. 11 at Alumni Stadium. Omar had one assist and eight shots on the season.
Mulvena Continued from page 12
situations, side w ith the fan frustrated by the f luctuation at a certain position, especially a position like the goaltender — the last line of defense, a position that can take you to a national championship or end your season far earlier than expected. But here, I side with Irish head coach Jeff Jackson, who has consistently emphasized that he wants to continue to get St. Cyr reps throughout the season, no matter how stellar Morris’ play may be. For one, Jackson is one of the all time great college hockey coaches, recording over 300 wins in his time at Notre Dame alone, so I think it’s reasonable to trust his scheme for the season. However, I understand that reputation alone is not enough for those who may be unsettled by the rotations, especially since St. Cyr’s minutes have increased as of late, playing
almost three periods in two of the last six games for the Irish. Really, I think this goaltending situation is quite different than, for example, the decision between junior quarterback Ian Book and senior quarterback Brandon Wimbush on the gridiron. It’s a unique scenario, in that Morris has beyond all doubt proved himself the starter with last season’s resume alone. No matter how well St. Cyr might play throughout this season, I would have a hard time believing he will ever be the go-to guy in a tough situation over Morris, who has been to a Frozen Four, played in a national championship and won a Big Ten Conference title as the starter. And for Morris, that ability, that consistency, doesn’t just go away. The reigning Mike Richter award winner who made a national championship run doesn’t just have a few rough games and fade into oblivion. W hether the stats show it or not,
Morris is still among the best in college hockey, and few would have a hard time accepting that idea. So, certainly there is no harm in getting St. Cyr full game appearances in the middle of the season. The only harm could be a loss, and college hockey is a long, trying season, so there can be no way of affirming that a worn out Morris would give the Irish a better shot at victory than a fresh St. Cyr, especially since the sophomore has done a fantastic job in his three full length appearances this season, recording a 3-0 record with three goals allowed and a total save percentage of .965. It isn’t as if Morris won’t be fresh after St. Cyr takes a few games, it isn’t as if the level of skill between Morris and St. Cyr would make the different between an NCA A tournament appearance and an early end to the season, and it certainly isn’t as if a rotation would disrupt the team’s f low or momentum. That’s just not how the
freshman defender Jack Maher. Both teams went into the locker room during halftime in a scoreless tie. The Hoosiers (20-2-1, 8-00 Big Ten) took control of the game in the second half. In the 64th minute, Indiana senior defender Andrew Gutman found his teammate, senior midfielder Austin Panchot, open for a header. Gutman’s cross connected with Panchot, who converted two yards from goal and put the Hoosiers up 1-0. From then on out, the Irish were unable to break through the Hoosier defense. Despite pushing forward, Notre Dame would fail to tie the game up and reach the NCA A semifinals. Indiana now holds a record 20th College Cup trip and will face No. 11 Mar yland in Santa Barbara, Calif. As for the Irish, the team finished the season with an almost identical record as the 2017 campaign, in which its final record stood at 11-72. W hile the 2017 Irish team made it to the semifinals of the ACC Championship, whereas the current Irish squad lost in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament this year, the Irish made it to the fourth round of the NCA A Tournament this season, compared to a second round ex it last year. Irish first-year head coach
Chad Riley, who was hired back in Januar y and replaced longtime coach Bobby Clark, relied on a great defense for much of the year. Notre Dame shut out its opponents in the opening 45 minutes in all but one of its game this season. The Irish also held other teams to one or no goal in 17 of its 21 matches. Offensively, Notre Dame was ver y team-oriented on the year. Of the 30 goals scored this season by the Irish, 25 of them came off assists. In addition, the offense averaged 1.43 goals per game, and held opponents to 0.95 goals per game. The Irish also relied a lot on their seniors all season. Graduate student defender Patrick Berneski and senior for ward Thomas Ueland led the team with six goals each, followed by senior for ward Ian Aschieris, who scored five goals. Senior defender Felicien Dumas led the team in assists with six, followed by MacLeod with three. The Irish are set to lose Berneski and midfielder Blake Townes, who are graduate students, but will look to build upon a plethora of talented underclassmen, including freshmen midfielder Mohamed Omar and for ward Jack Lynn — who both got playing time this season. A lthough the 2018 season is now a wrap, the Irish are expecting a bright future under Riley.
goaltender operates in hockey — it’s not the quarterback position or the point guard position. All in all, I say giving Morris a better chance to stay healthy in the long run while offering a solid sophomore who could come in clutch later on some real
reps simply cannot be a negative for the Irish. Contact Connor Mulvena at cmulvena@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
ANN CURTIS | The Observer
Irish sophomore goaltender Dylan St. Cyr guards the net during Notre Dame’s 3-0 win over RPI on Dec. 1 at Compton Family Ice Arena.
Sports
ndsmcobserver.com | tuesday, december 4, 2018 | The Observer
M Bball Continued from page 12
head coach Mike Brey praised the UConn transfer for his play and believes the game can be a key building block for the Notre Dame big man moving forward. “I think he’ll be very levelheaded,” Brey said. “He’s a very steady personality, but I do think it’s a big confidence builder for him. He has never had an impact on a college game like this tonight — he just never has — so I’m certainly going to sell that he’s arrived.” With the five rejections, Durham became just the sixth Mike Brey-era player to block five or more shots in a game multiple times - joining a list of former Irish stars that includes current Irish assistant coach Ryan Humphrey, Jordan Cornette, Luke Harangody, Torin Francis and Bonzie Colson. Against Illinois, freshman guard Prentiss Hubb also chipped in 10 points for Notre Dame — a team that has seen contributions from all over and is still figuring out its identity, according to Brey. “We are building this thing, and we’re trying to figure out more about them,” Brey said after the win over Illinois. ”I’m learning about them during the game. This is new for me … we’ve learned a lot through this seven-game home stretch.” With so many new faces to figure out and question marks to answer, Brey explained that he and his staff are treating this team like a puzzle — trying to see what pieces fit together best — and therefore contributions can come from anywhere on any given night. So far this year, finding where production can consistently come from has been the key question for Brey and his staff.
“It’s kind of night to night,” Brey said. “More than ever before do we talk about ‘what about this group?’ or ‘do we downshift?’ — that’s our challenge as a staff to find that right mix at different parts in the game to help us.” Brey and the Irish will have to push all the right buttons Tuesday night against the Sooners (6-1) inside the famed venue of Madison Square Garden. This will be the first meeting between Notre Dame and Oklahoma in the history of both men’s basketball programs, but is the 110th time the Irish have played at the Garden (Notre Dame is 59-51 all-time, 42-42 in the current venue). While the combination of a young team at the start of the season playing inside ‘The World’s Most Famous Arena’ might normally be a recipe for disaster, Brey believes it’ll be a good experience for the Irish no matter the outcome. “Nothing like taking your young guys to Madison Square Garden for the bright lights and the first [big] stage, but what the heck, we’re going for it and let’s go play next Tuesday,” he said. The Sooners enter the matchup during a season in which the program will look to sustain the success it achieved last season led by now-Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young. Now, the Sooners are led by senior guard Christian James, who is averaging 19.1 points per game this season. Seven games into its campaign, Oklahoma has already beaten Florida and Dayton, suffering its only loss of the season thus far to Wisconsin on Nov. 22. The Irish and the Sooners will tip-off at 7 p.m. ET inside Madison Square Garden. Contact Joe Everett at jeveret4@nd.edu
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EMMA FARNAN | The Observer
Irish sophomore distance runner Brian Griffith competes in the Men’s Ryan Shay 3k event at the Meyo Invitational on Feb. 3 at Loftus Sports Center. Griffith set a personal best of 8:20.16 in the event.
T&F Continued from page 12
Altman took first in the long jump with a jump of 6.92 meters. Sophomore Samuel Volz, a transfer from DePauw, finished first for the Irish in the 800-meter race, recording a time of 1:52.8, and was followed by three other Notre Dame runners to complete a sweep of the top four spots. Freshman Dylan Jacobs won the men’s 3000-meter race for Notre Dame. Other notable performances include senior Kyla Lewis, who finished first in both the women’s 60-meter and 200-meter races,
sophomore Laura DeVito winning the women’s 400-meter, freshman Matthew Vietzen winning the men’s mile, senior Zachary Zajdel taking the top spot in the men’s 200-meter dash, and junior Logan Kusky triumphing in the men’s weight throw. While the track and field units competed well, Sparks stressed that the team was not at full capacity yet, as many of the long distance runners were still recovering from the recently-concluded cross country season, while a couple football players were absent. “We just had a lot of the cross country kids finish the national meet a couple weeks earlier so we’ll feel like a very
complete team once we get them out there and a few football players in January … for the sprints,” Sparks said. “We’re still a little bit short in some of the sprinting events on the men’s side but the football team will hopefully help us out there once their season winds down. We’ll be looking at a complete roster at that time.” The Irish will participate in their next indoor meet in January when they travel to West Lafayette, Ind. to compete in the Gene Edmonds Open on Jan. 12. Contact Mike Everett at meverett@nd.edu
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EMMA FARNAN | The Observer
Irish sophomore distance runner Yared Nuguse runs in the Meyo Mile at the Meyo Invitational on Feb. 3 at Loftus Sports Center. Nuguse took first place in the competition, his first in college, with a time of 4:02.44.
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The observer | tuesday, december 4, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com
Hockey
Jeff Jackson knows how to choose a goalie Connor Mulvena Associate Sports Editor
Fluctuation at any position can be unsettling at the least and infuriating at its worst for any av id fan of a particular team. The beginnings of Notre Dame’s football season this year was underlined by such a discussion as uncertaint y arose at the quarterback position, and a w ide spectrum of opinions made themselves ev ident even before the season began. For the Notre Dame hockey team, the discussion this season concerning who the goaltender w ill be is certainly not at that same level, but the rotation between junior goaltender and reigning Mike Richter Award w inner Cale Morris and sophomore goaltender Dylan St. Cy r can understandably bring on similar feelings in the average fan. Backup Dylan St. Cy r has gotten a number of reps this season, far more than he had at this time last
year, including a full 60 minutes in goal against RPI last Saturday and on Oct. 19 against Omaha, along w ith 59:57 in goal against Michigan on Nov. 11. At first glance, one could easily question the decision to give St. Cy r as many reps as he has gotten this year. Morris was undoubtedly one of the best, if not the best, goaltenders in college hockey last year, as the Mike Richter Award proves, and his superb play in net was, let’s be honest, probably the main reason Notre Dame got a chance to play for a national title in the first place. Morris played in 37 games and gave up 77 goals, averaging 1.94 goals allowed per game, went 278-1 in net and recorded an mind boggling .944 save percentage, tied for the best save percentage in college hockey. W ho would think of giv ing St. Cy r a shot considering Morris’ resume in 2017-2018? I would, in most see MULVENA PAGE 10
ANN CURTIS | The Observer
Irish junior goaltender Cale Morris protects the net during Notre Dame’s 5-1 victory over RPI on Nov. 30 at Compton Family Ice Arena. Morris won the Mike Richter Award for most outstanding goalie last season.
nd track & Field | Blue & Gold Invitational
nd Men’s basketball
Irish prepare for trip to New York City for Classic
ND opens season with strong start
By JOE EVERETT
By MIKE EVERETT
Sports Editor
Sports Writer
After seven straight home games to start its 2018-19 campaign, the Notre Dame men’s basketball team will hit the road to play three straight top-tier Power five programs over the next two weeks, starting Tuesday night against Oklahoma in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City. After suffering a 63-60 loss to Radford on Nov. 14, the Irish (6-1) have ripped off four straight wins in Purcell Pavilion, most recently holding off Illinois 76-74 this past Tuesday in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Against the Illini (2-6), junior guard T.J. Gibbs and sophomore forward D.J. Harvey paced the Irish with 19 points apiece (a careerhigh for Harvey), while junior forward Juwan Durham produced a breakout game with a career-high 10 points to go along with five blocks. Irish
Notre Dame started off its 2018-2019 indoor season this past weekend as the program hosted the Blue & Gold Invitational in the Loftus Sports Center. The Irish found success in many areas Friday night, the most notable success coming from junior Abbey Kapitan, who threw for a school record in the women’s weight throw. Kapitan threw for 19.91 meters, breaking the previous record of 19.6 meters. Irish head coach Matt Sparks said Kapitan’s record-setting performance provided a spark for the team. “Kicking off the night with a school record in the women’s weight throw is always a positive thing whenever you can do that to start the year,” Sparks said, “I think it jumpstarted the energ y for our team throughout the rest of the meet.” Throughout the weekend, the Irish enjoyed many
see M BBALL PAGE 11
CONNORY McFADDEN | The Observer
Irish freshman guard Dane Goodwin drives to the basket during Notre Dame’s 67-56 victory over Duquesne University on Nov. 20.
instances of success in what looks to be a strong start to the season for the group. Sparks said he was pleased with the overall performance put out by the athletes and coaches, saying that it was an all-around effort. “I think it was a great meet, with three new coaches on the staff and quite a few new freshmen there was a lot of uncertainty about what was gonna happen but I think from event group to event group we had a lot of positive things happen,” he said. “Several freshman on the men’s side stepped up … from Colton Crum to Conner Altman to Samuel Volz and Dylan Jacobs all won their respective events with pretty impressive marks for a first competition for the freshmen. Was a great start to the season.” Freshman Colton Crum finished first in the pole vault, clearing 5 meters while fellow first year Conner see T&F PAGE 11