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Volume 54, Issue 2 | tuesday, august 27, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Student leaders discountinue bus route Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame move to cancel South Bend Transpo’s Midnight Express service indefinitely By MAEVE FILBIN Saint Mary’s News Editor
The South Bend Transpo’s Midnight Express will no longer run within the tri-campus community, as this summer, the student governments of Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame moved to cancel the service indefinitely due to an increase in costs. Aaron Benavides, who serves as the press secretary for Notre Dame’s student government, said both administrations were involved in the decision to stop the Midnight Express. Transpo alerted Notre Dame Student Government of a 50% increase in operation costs on June 18, communicating through Student Affairs. “After being notified that South Bend Transpo was
going to increase costs of the Midnight Express service by 50%, an increase of nearly $30,000, the student governments of Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame re-evaluated the program,” Benavides said in an email. “Due to declining usage, both administrations collectively determined it was most effective to cancel the service, and immediately began working on a solution for an alternate service.” This year, Monday through Friday, the final South Bend Transpo bus will leave the Grotto at 9:13 p.m. before completing that route at 9:30 p.m. by dropping off passengers at Saint Mary’s Regina Hall. With the cancellation in effect, no Transpo buses will run past 9:30 p.m. on Fridays, see TRANSPO PAGE 4
DIANE PARK | The Observer
University welcomes 9 new rectors to campus By MARIAH RUSH Notre Dame Associate News Editor
As the school year begins, Notre Dame is welcoming nine new rectors to the community to lead residence halls and build dorm community: Kayla August of Lyons Hall; Robby Francis of Zahm House; Sarah Jesse of Farley Hall; Anna Kenny of Howard Hall; Fr. Joe Pedersen of Siegfried Hall; Clarice Ramirez of Lewis Hall; Libbie Steiner of Ryan Hall; Laurie Svatek of Pasquerilla East Hall; and Jay Verzosa of Alumni Hall. August, a native of New Orleans, spent the last few years in South Bend working for Campus Ministry at Notre Dame following her graduation from Loyola University in New Orleans. She said she was drawn to becoming a rector because she wanted to expand her Notre Dame experience. “My work in Campus Ministry has been a gift,”
News PAGE 3
August said in an email. “But I wanted the chance to live out the mission of Notre Dame in a new way. I know work in ministry is as diverse as the ways God moves in our lives, and I am looking forward to seeing how he moves in this new context. Getting to know the incredible students of Notre Dame has been one of the biggest blessings of the past three years, and being a rector is a wonderful opportunity to see them through a different lens as they change, learn and grow.” Playing on the idea of a group of Lyons residents being a pride, August said she wants to increase pride in the Lyons community. “I hope that the wonderful group of Lyons women show their pride’s pride. The amazing women of Lyons have spirit, talent and diversity that the campus of Notre Dame has and will continue to benefit from,” August said. “This year, I want to make sure we show our pride
viewpoint PAGE 8
in new ways and let the ND community know just how great it is to be from under the arch.” August also said she wants to increase a sense of belonging within the hall. “The second [goal] is growing the sense of belonging,” August said. “It is my experience that many of the Notre Dame community don’t always feel that they belong. The truth is that they do and that what each person brings makes our community better. I hope to embed this truth in my role with the women of Lyons that they are each a gift to this community just as they are. They belong here and the Pride would be less without them.” Francis joins the Notre Dame community following his departure from Saint Louis University, where he was a campus minister and minster for students living in the university’s residence see RECTORS PAGE 6
Scene PAGE 10
SMC embarks on facilities updates By MAEVE FILBIN Saint Mary’s News Editor
Saint Mary’s began a major multi-year series of facilities updates this summer, spending over $2.5 million in the months leading up to fall semester. These renovations were made possible after the Board of Trustees designated up to $3 million to be added to the current fiscal year’s
capital budget, vice president for strateg y and finance Dana Strait said. The College also has approval to issue a bond of up to $51.5 million, with almost $20 million to be used to refinance existing debt at a lower rate, Strait said. “This is really just the beginning of what the College see FACILITIES PAGE 7
ND remembers Chris Westdyk By TOM NAATZ Notre Dame News Editor
Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online July 1.
The class of 2019 alumnus was a devoted member of the Stanford Hall community, Justin McDevitt, Stanford Hall’s rector, remembered. “He lived and breathed Stanford, waved the flag at events, led walkovers to games,
Chris Westdyk was “a huge Stanford guy.”
see WESTDYK PAGE 5
ND W basketball PAGE 20
ND Men’s soccer PAGE 20
2
TODAY
The observer | Tuesday, august 27, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com
Have a question you want answered? Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com
What is your favorite part about being back on campus?
P.O. Box 779, Notre Dame, IN 46556 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556 Editor-in-Chief Kelli Smith Managing Editor Charlotte Edmonds
Asst. Managing Editor: Maria Leontaras Asst. Managing Editor: Mary Steurer Asst. Managing Editor: Natalie Weber
Notre Dame News Editor: Tom Naatz Saint Mary’s News Editor: Maeve Filbin Viewpoint Editor: Evelyn Stein Sports Editor: Connor Mulvena Scene Editor: Mike Donovan Photo Editor: Anna Mason Graphics Editor: Diane Park Social Media Editor: Mary Bernard Advertising Manager: Landry Kempf Ad Design Manager: Ruby Le Systems Administrator: Mike Dugan
Johnny Welsch
Caleb Grieser
junior St. Edward’s Hall
freshman Morrissey Manor
“Fr. Ralph.”
“Making some friends for life.”
Zach Welsch
Brendan Copp
freshman Duncan Hall
junior Morrissey Manor
“Meeting new people”
“Being in community.”
Ethan Wickham
Ana Diederich
freshman Morrissey Manor
junior Lewis Hall
“Being at ND.”
“Having all my friends within a 10 minute walk.”
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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 All reproduction rights are reserved.
Today’s Staff News
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Cate Von Dohlen Colleen Fischer Marirose Osborne
Hayden Adams Jimmy Ward Charlotte Edmonds
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Claire Kopischke
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Volunteers help first year students move in to McCandless Hall for the 2019-2020 school year. McCandless, along with Regina Hall, offers on-campus housing for incoming students. The class of 2023 will add 385 new students to the Saint Mary’s community.
The next Five days:
Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Art Attack 2019 DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 4:30 p.m. Student performances to promote the arts.
Snite @ Nite: Sample the Snite Museum Snite Museum of Art 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. Museum open for student exploration.
Pizza Pi grand opening Pizza Pi 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Grand opening celebration.
Final Vows Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Holy Cross welcomes new members.
HoCro Nation James Hall Quad 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Inflatables, food trucks and yard games followed by fireworks.
Feed Your Faith South Quad 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Campus Ministry hosts food trucks.
The Best of Duncan Duncan Student Center 9 p.m. Games and prizes.
Flick on the Field Notre Dame Stadium 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. University to show the 1993 film “Rudy.”
“Avengers: Endgame” North Quad 8 p.m. SUB movie screening.
First aid course Rockne Memorial 109 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. RecSports offers Red Cross certification.
News
ndsmcobserver.com | tuesday, august 27, 2019 | The Observer
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Welcome Weekend greets new students By ANDREW CAMERON News Writer
Sunday marked the end of this year’s Welcome Weekend, a three-day slew of hall programming and events designed to welcome all first-year and transfer students to Notre Dame, orient them to life on campus and acquaint them with their fellow Domers. From the roar of countless spirited interhall serenades to Domerfest to the silent candlelit procession to the Grotto, campus bustled as incoming students met and mingled with their peers and settled into their new home. Groups of Welcome Weekend ambassadors from each residence hall helped incoming students move into their residence halls and led them through the many events of the weekend. After receiving their ID cards and moving into their halls, incoming students were officially welcomed by University President Fr. John Jenkins in the Purcell Pavilion on Friday. Saturday’s events included the
class photo, a kick-off session for the Moreau first-year experience, residence hall programming and Domerfest — a carnival full of games, food and music. Students were invited to the Purcell Pavilion on Sunday for the new student Mass. The day concluded with a candlelit procession to the Grotto, where students joined in prayer. Junior Mary Lynn Dekold, one of two captains for Howard Hall, said Welcome Weekend serves two purposes. “I think the first goal of Welcome Weekend is to welcome the first years and to give them an introduction to Notre Dame and the kind of community we have here,” Dekold said. “I think our second purpose is to help them transition into life at Notre Dame, life in their halls and life in college.” Giana Fallara, a first-year student in Howard Hall, said the weekend was a success regarding these goals. “I feel like I’m less nervous now, and I know where I am and where
SAB hosts ‘sweet’ returning bash By EMMA AULT News Writer
Saint Mary’s Student Activities Board (SAB) hosted Belles Bash, a tri-campus community event put together at the start of every school year, on Sunday. SAB president and senior Emma Freund said the organization prepared for the event over the summer., which meant much of it took place online. “We had to plan a lot over the summer because everything had to be done in advance, because it’s before the school year,” Freund said. “Basically, we had to reach out to vendors and work with our board to work on themes and get our ideas ready and our giveaways ready.” The theme for this year’s Belles Bash was “Sweet to be SMC.” The t-shirts given out at the event were designed by Giavanna Paradiso, a junior at the College. SAB also had multiple vendors at the event, who provided food. “Doughnuts from Rise’n Roll, Gigi’s Cupcakes, inflatables from Xtreme [Fun Party Co.], fried Oreos … from Herbkoe Fun Foods, and our DJ is from D&T productions,” Freund said. Treasurer Maria Bruno, a junior, said the event helps to usher in the new school year and to introduce SAB to students. “I think since this is our first event and we put a lot into it, the girls see what SAB does and then they come back for more events,” Bruno said. “And this is a good way to start off on the right foot, showing everyone this is what we provide for people during
events and this is the fun we can have.” Bruno said the event is also a good way to meet new people and reconnect with old friends. “It’s always super fun to see the students get excited about t-shirts. But there’s the huge bustle that comes right away and everyone’s going around the see the free items and stuff to do,” she said. “After that, it’s much more laid back, so it’s cool watching everyone meet each other, or those first interactions once they’re back with friends.” Freshman Erin Bennett said she was happy to have an event that included students from multiple grade levels. “We’ve had the orientation stuff and Saturday we had Domerfest, but it helps us see that everybody is here,” she said. “For a while, when it was just us, I forgot that the upperclassmen were here, but now that they’re all here it’s kinda real.” Freund also said SAB has worked to improve the event and said its organizers strive to make their events about the students. “Belles Bash is always really fun because it’s one of our most heavily themed events, so we get to do different things. We’ve had a circus, last year was ‘under the sea,’” she said. “One of the biggest things we did to change is shortening our events from three hours to two hours. We felt it was more helpful for students to all be here together and that creates more of a sense of community with everyone.” Contact Emma Ault at eault01@saintmarys.edu
I’m going and how campus life works,” Fallara said. “I feel like I can see [myself] having a future here and having a home here.” Another first-year student in Howard Hall, Abby Brita, said the packed nature of the weekend’s programming helped her transition to campus life. “I really liked how there was always something to do so you were never just sitting alone,” she said. “You don’t know anyone yet, so when there aren’t any organized events and you don’t know what to do, it makes you feel lost or more alone, but I didn’t feel that at all. I always felt like I was with a group of people and always meeting new people.” Senior Anya Lindholm, a Welcome Weekend captain for Cavanaugh Hall, also complemented the busy nature of Welcome Weekend. “I think that keeping them doing activities, while it might feel a bit campy at times, helps them get their mind off of being nervous about coming to school and being sad that their families are
leaving,” Lindholm said. While many of Welcome Weekend’s events — such as residence hall serenades and Domerfest — remained from past years, some residence halls instituted some changes this year. The Howard Hall Welcome Weekend staff, for example, introduced “flocks” this year — small groups of incoming students led by ambassadors who get to know the students in their group more closely, Dekold said. Lindholm said the events in general felt more well-planned and relaxed this year than during her own Welcome Weekend experience as a first year. Fisher Hall rector Richard Mazzei said Notre Dame has been working over the past few years to be more welcoming and inclusive of everyone during Welcome Weekend and progress was visible this year. “I think it really just started to show that we are, as a University and as a hall community, just welcoming,” he said. “I just felt a more welcoming spirit, and I think that
comes from all the training that our Welcome Weekend ambassadors and captains get.” Mazzei also spoke to the role of the rectors in Welcome Weekend events. “I think rectors work extremely hard to make sure that Welcome Weekend is welcoming, and I credit all my colleagues,” he said. “You can see it in our faces — we’re tired, it’s been a long weekend, but that’s because we care so much.” While Welcome Weekend was full of fast-paced activities, Mazzei said for him, the reflective gathering at the Grotto was the most memorable. “You walk with them with the lighted candles to the Grotto, and you look at all these young faces just starting their career at Notre Dame, and you’re looking at the Blessed Mother, and you just think, ‘Wow, this is so special,’” he said. “It just makes Notre Dame the special place it is.” Contact Andrew Cameron at acamero2@nd.edu
University provost to step down next summer Observer Staff Report
Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online Aug. 1. University provost Thomas Burish will step down July 1, the administration announced in a press release Thursday. The date marks the end of Burish’s third five-year term in the position. As provost, Burish is charge of all academic operations at Notre Dame, placing him at the head of all colleges, schools and institutes, as well as admissions, financial aid and advising. Provost is the second highest-ranking administrative role at Notre Dame, behind only University president. During his 14 years at Notre Dame, Burish has expanded the University’s academic offerings, with a particular focus on its research and graduate programs, the release said. From 2006 to 2017, investment in research rose from $79 million to $212 million. Need-based aid has also grown from $60 million to $154 million under Burish. The student body has become more diverse, as well — the number of undergraduates who are either international students or students of color has risen from less than a quarter to more than a third. In addition, Burish’s tenure saw the establishment of the Harper Cancer Research Institute in partnership with Indiana University-South Bend, as well as the creation of Innovation Park. The University also underwent a series of efforts to expand its
global reach with the creation of Notre Dame International in 2010 and the Keough School of Global Affairs in 2014. Global Gateways were opened in Beijing, Dublin, Jerusalem, London and Rome, as well. The release named the Inspired Leadership Initiative, an academic program for retirees, as another notable achievement under Burish. The program graduated its first class in May. Board of Trustees chairman John Brennan said Burish was instrumental to a number of University initiatives during his time at Notre Dame. “It is difficult to overstate the positive impact Tom has had on our University as provost,” Brennan said in the release. “For nearly 15 years, he has guided the strategy and investments that enhanced our faculty and strengthened our scholarship to the great benefit of our undergraduate and graduate students, created new research programs and partnerships and significantly advanced Notre Dame’s academic reputation among the nation’s leading universities.” As provost, Burish has helped make the University’s mission manifest, Jenkins said. “Words cannot adequately express my gratitude and respect for Tom’s outstanding leadership, his visionary leadership of the academy, his commitment to our Catholic mission and his tireless efforts to make Notre Dame a truly great and truly distinctive university,” he said in the release. “Tom has been a transformative provost for Notre Dame, and for 15 years an invaluable colleague.
He and his wife Pam have become dear friends. We have all benefited tremendously from his intellect, judgment, determination and selfless devotion to Notre Dame and its mission.” Originally from Peshtigo, Wisconsin, Bush graduated summa cum laude from Notre Dame in 1972. Before returning to the University, he served as provost at Vanderbilt for 10 years and as the president of Washington and Lee University for three. In the release, Burish extended his gratitude for the opportunity to serve the University. "It has been a great joy and privilege to return to my alma mater as provost and to be a part of Notre Dame’s distinctive excellence as a Catholic research university,” he said. “I have been honored to work with and learn from Father John and the Trustees, and with faculty, staff and administrative colleagues who have displayed everrising standards of service and excellence. “And it has been a labor of love to work with students whose inspiring talent and principled goals constantly renew my hope in the future. In a career filled with countless blessings, serving the Notre Dame family is a gift which has given great meaning to my life.” According to the release, the University will soon launch an international search for Burish’s replacement. A committee, chaired by Jenkins, will create a pool of potential candidates. The committee will feature faculty members and a student representative from the Academic Council.
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NEWS
The observer | tuesday, august 27, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Notre Dame limits Irish1Card dorm access Observer Staff Report
Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online Aug. 19. Notre Dame students now only have Irish1Card access to their ow n dorms, director of residential life Breyan Tornifolio announced August 15 during a hall staff training, according to multiple people present at the meeting. The Universit y eliminated student ID card access to all dorms starting this academic year, restricting students’ abilities to access any residence halls but their ow n. The announcement sparked angr y reactions and a f lurr y of questions from resident assistants (RAs) present at the training, who were told by Tornifolio not to say any thing until the
Transpo Continued from page 1
and no Saturday services will be offered at all. The Saint Mary’s Escort Van Service (Blinkie) will continue to operate Monday through Thursday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., with hours being extended until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. However, Blinkie will only make pickups at the Grotto once per hour, from the hours of 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday, with pickup times extending to 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The Midnight Express was a safety initiative established in a partnership between Student Affairs, South Bend Transpo and Notre Dame Student Government in 2009, Benavides said. It provided Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s students free transportation to and from both campuses and into downtown South Bend on Friday and Saturday nights between 9:00 p.m. and 3:30 a.m. After learning of the price hike, Notre Dame Student Government met with advisor Karen Kennedy on June 25 to discuss the program and its funding, and alerted members of the student senate of the cost increase. “In the meeting with our advisor, we discussed utilization of the program, and noted that (based on recorded use), the program was utilized more frequently by SMC students than by ND students,” Benavides said. “Thus, we decided that though this was an ND-run program, it would be irresponsible and uncourteous to not include SMC student leadership in our discussions.” On July 2, Notre Dame
administration informed the communit y. According to one hall staff member, who asked to remain anony mous because of concerns regarding disciplinar y action for discussing the issue, the Universit y said the new policy was meant to increase safet y and other schools had a similar policy. The meeting was mainly an alcohol safet y session, the hall staff member said, before Tornifolio “sort of just dropped that [announcement] at the end.” Several RAs stayed after the session to discuss questions w ith the administration. Currently, students are allowed entr y into any residence hall starting at 9 a.m. and extending until midnight on SundayThursday nights and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
Associate v ice president for residential life Heather Rakoczy Russell and Notre Dame Police Department chief Keri Kei Shibata released a joint email August 19 announcing the policy change to Notre Dame students. In the email, Rakoczy Russell and Shibata confirmed the decision was made for securit y reasons and said it follows a national securit y trend in academic institutions. “Beginning w ith the fall semester 2019, student access to undergraduate residence halls w ill be limited to current residents liv ing in the hall,” the email said. “This change w ill not only be in keeping w ith national best practices but also ensure greater safet y and securit y for those liv ing in the residence halls.” Non-student access to
resident halls w ill be limited to “essential staff only” starting this semester, Rakoczy Russell and Shibata said in the email. “The quantit y and variet y of outside vendors, facult y and staff permitted residence hall access w ill be drastically reduced,” the email said. “Essential staff w ith residence hall access must use sw ipe cards issued to them; residents should not assist staff w ith entering halls, and they should notif y NDPD if anyone attempts to enter halls w ithout sw ipe card access.” Hall staff members w ill discuss these policy changes at section meetings during the first week of school, the email said. Notre Dame student government issued a statement follow ing The Obser ver’s report of the new policy.
“The decision by the Office of Residential Life is ver y upsetting, and we have heard many concerns from students over the past 24 hours since the policy was announced during RA training,” the statement read. “ ... We were not included in discussions on this issue and look for ward to meeting w ith the administration to express the concerns of the student body.” Notre Dame’s announcement comes not long after the Office of Residential Life mandated incoming students would now be required to live on campus for six semesters. In April, the office introduced a number of new housing updates as additions to that policy, including one that sparked outrage in the communit y and prompted a petition w ith more than 6,000 signatures.
Student Government reached out to the Saint Mary’s Student Government Association to explain the situation and ask for feedback, Benavides said. “At this time, we explained that we were considering eliminating the program, but would not do so without consulting them first,” he said. “We provided some background to them that usage of the program had been dramatically decreasing in recent years (approximately 25% over the last 3 years), presumably due to the increased use of ride sharing apps like Uber and Lyft.”
Benavides said Saint Mary’s Student Government responded July 7, saying they believed the best option would be to eliminate the program and move forward with a replacement service. Both groups then notified Student Affairs with the decision to eliminate the program on July 8, as the team was in conversation with Transpo, who requested a decision as soon as possible. “We are working with Saint Mary’s Student Government and are in conversation with the university administration to find a suitable alternative that will meet the needs
of our campus communities and ensure the safety of every student on our campuses,” Benavides said. Some potential alternatives include a program to alleviate the costs of transportation for students of low socioeconomic status and a partnership with a ride sharing app to provide safe night rides, Benavides said. “We encourage students to reach out and provide any suggestions for programs to ensure students’ safety, especially while traveling on weekends,” Benavides said. “We are cognizant of the gap left by the absence of this
program, and will be moving any available funds to the creation of a suitable replacement.” Saint Mary’s Student Government Association did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the cancellation of Midnight Express services by the time of publication Sunday night. W hen asked to comment on this change, vice president for student affairs Karen Johnson directed The Observer to contact Notre Dame Student Government.
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Contact Maeve Filbin at mfilbin01@saintmarys.edu
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Westdyk Continued from page 1
and was just all about the life of the hall,” McDevitt said in an email. “He would also do anything for anyone. He was always known as an all-in [kind of ] guy.” Westdyk died June 3 after a long battle with cancer. He was 22 years old. Throughout his four years at Notre Dame, Westdyk filled a series of roles within his dorm, including a twotime Welcome Weekend ambassador, designer of the Stanford f lag and resident assistant (R A), among others. His fellow R A and former roommate Joe Everett (’19) said Westdyk was skilled at developing a sense of community. (Editor’s Note: Everett is a former Sports Editor for The Observer.) “Chris was extremely loyal to the places and people he cared about and would dedicate himself to them in any way he could,” Everett said in an email. “He found a home in Stanford Hall, and therefore gave of himself constantly to cultivate community. … Chris built community in a lot of small, ever yday ways, whether through kind gestures or a willingness to help any way he could. He held ever ybody to the same standard he held himself to, and that was a pretty outstanding and inspiring goal for us all to live up to.” Liz Jakubowski (’19), a friend who got to know Westdyk through a series of shared classes, said it was impossible to think about Westdyk without immediately associating him with Stanford Hall. “I don’t think it’s possible really to separate Chris from Stanford,” she said. “It was so important to who he was and what he stood for which I think is really unique and it was really beautiful that he cared so much about the men there, and he would just mention that at different moments or show that through what he was talking about doing with his section and spending time investing in the people there. It was just such a gift.” In addition to his presence within Stanford, Westdyk was deeply engaged in the wider Notre Dame community. He interned at the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) and completed multiple Appalachia service trips. Lydia Piendel (’18) met Westdyk on an Appalachia trip she led. “It turned out we had a lot in common, and we became pretty good friends throughout the trip,” Piendel said. Outside of his academic and service commitments, friends also remembered Westdyk as an avid sports fan. Everett said the two
ndsmcobserver.com | tuesday, august 27, 2019 | The Observer
once spontaneously drove to Buffalo, New York from campus to attend the Notre Dame men’s basketball team’s second round NCA A tournament game against West Virginia in 2017. “Chris called me out of the blue to say that he had a burning desire to watch the men’s basketball team play against West Virginia in the NCA A Tournament in Buffalo,” Everett said. “’W hy not? ’ I thought, ‘Let’s go on an adventure.’ The game was a day away, so we made plans quickly. I picked Chris up from Main Circle at three in the morning, and we drove seven hours to get to Buffalo on time for the game. ... In terms of Notre Dame men’s basketball homes games, I don’t think Chris missed one throughout his four years.” Liam Gannon, a rising senior who knew Westdyk since the two were both students at Morristown, New Jersey’s Delbarton School, said Westdyk was also a dedicated baseball fan who loved the New York Mets. Piendel, too, said she will always associate Westdyk’s memor y with his Mets cap. “He always wore his Mets hat,” Piendel said. Westdyk was a dedicated runner. Gannon said their friendship developed when they were cross countr y teammates at Delbarton. “We were both on the [cross countr y] team, but he was a year above me,” Gannon said in an email. “He was in the midst of a breakout season, and I was still tr ying to learn the ropes, but he was a ver y friendly guy, good to know in the class above. … We got to know each other pretty well.” Westdyk battled melanoma throughout both high school and college. He underwent various treatment regimens, though he largely kept it to himself. Piendel said she first learned about Westdyk’s fight with cancer during their Appalachia trip one night at a ref lective campfire. “We got to a point in the ref lection where we were talking about tough things we were going through, and when we got to Chris’ turn, he told us — and this was like half way through the week — he told us he was battling cancer,” she said. “We were all shocked because we had no idea. He had not said that at any point; it was not disclosed to us when we were learning about any of the Appalachia members or anything like that. It was shocking, but he also clearly didn’t want it to be a big deal, so we didn’t really make it a big deal.” Westdyk’s choice to keep his fight to himself largely originated from his sense of humility, McDevitt said. “Chris was tough. You heard it again and again in the memorials of him, at his
5
Photo Courtesy of Joe Everett
Chris Westdyk, class of 2019, was an avid runner and enthusiastic Stanford Hall resident assistant for the 2018-2019 school year. Westdyk passed away June 3 after a long battle with cancer. He was 22.
funeral, in conversations with the guys after the fact,” he said. “ ... He didn’t want to be exceptional or seen as a hero. He just lived his life with grit and hard work. W hen Chris finally told ever yone, people were blown away not because he had kept it a secret but because of all he managed to do while also living with this secret. It was incredible.” Westdyk kept up all of his activities and hobbies throughout the course of his treatment — including running, and completing the New York City Marathon in fall 2018. Jakubowski recalled Westdyk taking his intense training regimen in stride as he prepared for the marathon. “He’d be like ‘Oh, I’m tired this morning,’ and I’d be like ‘I’m tired too,’ and then ask about his morning,” she said. “He’d say, ‘Oh I actually ran 20 miles in preparation for this marathon,’ and he’d show up to class and participate and ever ything and be fully present there and chat with me after wards and then go to work in the afternoon. He was just so fully invested in it and ever ything. It was just so fun, he just invested himself in what he loved and invested himself in people.” Piendel ran with Westdyk on a handful of occasions and said she admired him for his accomplishments. “I mean going through a variety of treatments is not easy on someone’s body, but he’s still running and running fast,” she said. “You’re sitting there struggling to keep up and breathing hard, and he’s just ahead of you saying, ‘Come on, let’s go.’ He stayed with me the whole time and was ver y encouraging. It felt weird because it felt like it should have been
the other way around, like I should be the one encouraging him, but it didn’t go that way.” Gannon also fondly recalled running with Westdyk. “Most of all though, my favorite memories are just running with him on the running traiIs, boardwalks, or on campus,” he said. “Even when it had been a while since we had seen each other, it was never hard to have a fun conversation during the run that continued for hours after, when we’d go to the bagel shop or the dining hall. It was impossible to run out of things to talk about with Chris.” Even as Westdyk’s battle reached its final stages, he was able to receive his Notre Dame degree from University President Fr. John Jenkins in a ceremony held in his hospital room, attended by family and Stanford Hall staff. “It was clear that the entire University was dedicated to seeing Chris through to the end, and he made it,” McDevitt said. ”... Chris is Notre Dame.” Westdyk’s friends said they hoped he would be remembered for his unassuming and humble nature, his positive impact on other people and the inspiration he provided throughout his health struggle. “He will be remembered for his perseverance, his dedication, his love, his commitment, and his running the race as well as anybody has,” Everett said. “To witness his strength in the face of adversity was life-changing.” Gannon echoed that sentiment in his ref lections on Westdyk’s life. “He was always smiling,” Gannon said. “Things were hard for him a lot, especially near the end, but he had such an amazing energ y
and positive presence that was infectious. Chris always lived in the moment and gave all of himself to the people he was with, and I’m sure that ever yone who knew him will remember him in that way.” Piendel said she hopes others draw inspiration from the fullness with which Westdyk lived his life despite his circumstances. “I hope that ever yone who knew Chris or has heard about him can feel inspired to go out and still accomplish amazing things regardless of what you’re going through, but also be there to build other people up to accomplish what they want,” Piendel said. “It’s really amazing what he was able to do while also undergoing just horrible treatments and pain and worr y. A lot of people would’ve just broken down in worr y and dropped out of school, but he didn’t and he just continued. I think that it’s really inspiring for sure. He was ver y quietly inspiring.” Jakubowski said she hopes Westdyk understood his positive impact on the Notre Dame community. “I think his impact on this campus rippled, and I don’t think he would’ve ever predicted how far. And I think he deserves so much gratitude … for the way that he has contributed at so many different levels and different arenas,” she said. “… He was just ver y loved by a wide variety of people here and I’m not sure he knew the way he could make people smile, the way that he could make people’s days a little better, and that aggregated effect is something that is such a beautiful, beautiful thing.” Contact Tom Naatz at tnaatz@nd.edu
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Rectors Continued from page 1
halls. Francis said the role of being a rector appealed to him because it combined many things he enjoyed. “The role of the rector really is a combination of so many of the things I enjoy doing,” he said in the email. “It’s ministry, it’s community building, it’s being present to guys as they walk through life.” Among Francis’ goals for Zahm House is to build on the relationships in the dorm, he said. “I’m a big believer in the importance of relationships, and my goal is to be as intentional as I can in forming those relationships,” he said in the email. Jesse is from Ohio, but is already familiar with Notre Dame’s campus — she graduated from ND with majors in theology and psychology. After receiving her diploma, she went to work at a university in Ireland as a ecumenical chaplain before becoming Farley’s new rector. Kenny rooted her career in residential life, from her undergraduate degree at Aquinas College to her graduate degree at Central Michigan University. She served in some capacity as a residential assistant at both schools. In an email, Kenny said she was drawn to Notre Dame by “the welcoming and genuine care of and for [the] community by faculty, staff and students.” After growing up in Waterloo, Iowa, Pedersen graduated from Notre Dame and then went on to work at an Indianapolis parish for two years doing young adult and college campus ministry. Following his time in Indianapolis, Pedersen taught high school religion for two years in Minneapolis and recently has been in formation with the Congregation of Holy Cross. “Since I first began as a student at Notre Dame in 2005, I have admired rectors and the work they do,” Pedersen said in an email. “When my superiors in Holy Cross invited me to this position, I was excited to have the opportunity to follow in their footsteps.” A native of Los Angeles, Ramirez has past experience at Notre Dame. She has worked in Notre Dame’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Office of Residential Life and Office of Student Success, which assists students who are at high-risk of dropping out of college. Ramirez said in an email she was drawn to rectorship in a unique way — through word of mouth. “A really great friend of mine that I met in grad school is an alum and lived in Lyons,” Ramirez said. “During our classes, she would often talk about her experience at Notre Dame, especially about her rector and the profound effect she had on her formation throughout undergrad.” Ramirez said she is excited to embrace Lewis in all its traditions and community. “I’m extremely excited to build great relationships with all of my Lewis chicks, especially my freshmen,” Ramirez said. “Also, I’m
excited to wear a chicken suit!” Steiner is an Oregon native and graduated from Boston College before completing her master’s degree in theology at Notre Dame. Following graduation, Steiner worked at Saint Gabriel Parish in Indianapolis. Steiner said in an email she wants to “continue to emphasize and expand Ryan Hall’s charism of accessibility and inclusion.” Svatek, a Wisconsin native, served in the higher education field and university ministry for over 15 years before joining Notre Dame. Svatek previously served as the director of campus ministry at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, according to the University’s residential life webpage. Hailing from Baltimore, Verzosa received multiple diplomas from Boston College in multiple fields — a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy and master’s degrees in counseling psychology and pastoral ministry. He served for several years in various campus ministries, advising
DIANE PARK | The Observer
students and helping undergrads find homes on their campus. Svatek declined to interview due to time constraints.
Jesse and Verzosa did not respond after initial email correspondence. None of the nine responded to a request for comment about the
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University’s new ID card policy. Contact Mariah Rush at mrush@nd.edu
News
Facilities Continued from page 1
is putting for ward for a two to three-year improvement plan,” Strait said. “We received resounding support from the board earlier this summer for making some improvements in campus spaces w ith a focus on improv ing ex isting buildings and the env ironment. … It’s really time to focus on tending to those buildings that are beautiful, historical parts of our campus and really emblematic of who we are – think LeMans Hall, Holy Cross Hall – but that really need some love.” Strait said much of the work completed this summer is deferred maintenance accrued over the years, and w ill go largely unseen. “So things like sewage ejector pumps, drainage, gutters and roofing repairs
ndsmcobserver.com | tuesday, august 27, 2019 | The Observer
… things ver y t y pical to maintaining buildings like ours,” she said. Other updates, such as aesthetic enhancements made to key academic and student spaces, w ill be extremely v isible to students returning to campus, Strait said. Cushwa-Leighton librar y is currently undergoing major renovations, w ith special attention paid to creating useful and accessible student spaces that cater to all needs, she said. “The librarians are currently hard at work clearing out the journal space that used to be adjacent to Trumper, and by fall break they w ill have half of those journals removed,” Strait said. “… Group study spaces and single study spaces w ill be installed throughout that space to prov ide our students w ith 24/7-hour study spaces. We’re ver y excited
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Observer File Photo
The College was recently approved to issue a bond of up to $51.5 million and has been renovating its facilities. Saint Mary’s plans to focus on updating older buildings such as Le Mans Hall, featured above.
about that.” To facilitate true 24-hour accessibilit y, even in the
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w inter months, the tunnels leading from LeMans Hall to the librar y w ill be
re-opened, Strait said. “We also have to ensure that they’re accessible, so that students who are in wheelchairs or who need a little bit more physical assistance … [are able] to get through,” Strait said. “So, part of opening that tunnel this fall w ill involve installing accessibilit y ramps so that they can really be used by all students.” Additionally, Sodexo serv ices has prov ided an automated Starbucks coffee machine for the front of the librar y, Strait said. “It’s no longer that free coffee machine that used to be there, but it’s good coffee,” Strait said. “And as an alternative, we’ll still be prov iding that free coffee on the lower level in Trumper. We really wanted to meet that desire for higher qualit y drinks, while also prov iding open access coffee for those who don’t want to use their munch money or their credit card.” Strait said student perspectives w ill play a large role in future facilities updates. “In terms of a plan mov ing for ward, when the College makes decisions about big projects, it’s always made as a communit y,” she said. “So this fall, I w ill be hosting the facilities tow n halls to prov ide facult y, staff, administration and … students w ith opportunities to share w ith us what they would like to see happen.” The updates made to academic buildings and recreational spaces have been made w ith changing student needs and preferences in mind, Strait said. “We need to be able to make sure that we’re meeting those interests w ith state-of-the-art facilities,” Strait said. “So, keeping pace w ith that instead of falling behind.” Contact Maeve Filbin at mfilbin01@saintmarys.edu
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The observer | Tuesday, August 27, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Inside Column
Say hi Charlotte Edmonds Managing Editor
Where are all the Latinx Catholics at Notre Dame? Oliver Ortega News Con Fuego
The brain is funny in what it chooses to retain. Ask anyone who knows me well and they’ll likely confirm that my memory is nothing to write home about. I’m frequently forgetting key pieces of stories or frantically running from class to class in desperation after forgetting an assignment or meeting. But as I walked around campus this past weekend, greeting old friends and meeting new faces, I couldn’t ignore the intense nostalgia I was experiencing. More than just general feelings of nerves and excitement that are typically associated with Welcome Weekend, vivid memories came rushing back as I started to recall my own Keenan Karaoke, Mod Quad Luau and Day of Community. I remember standing by the tree between Siegfried and Pdub wiping a single tear as my parents hugged me goodbye. I remember waiting anxiously outside of my advisor’s office because “I just had to change my schedule that day or else I wouldn’t be able to graduate on time.” I remember returning to my dorm room after Domerfest just relieved that I had survived the very event that had given me so much anxiety from the moment I decided to go to Notre Dame. The thing I’m learning about memories made throughout such a major milestone in one’s life is that they’re typically not constricted to a singular weekend. While Welcome Weekend stands out as a defining point in my transition from high school to college—and essentially, the early stages of my transition into adulthood—that power of recollection extends throughout my freshmen year. With each memory that comes rushing back—the first class I walked into, first football game, first dance—so too does the guilt that is a side effect of regret. Don’t get me wrong, I have some incredible memories—the first time I saw my name published in The Observer, the first time I realized I had a “go-to” person in college—and I’m so grateful for those and what they’ve led to in the two years since. But I can’t help but shake the opportunities I missed because I was afraid. Afraid of rejection, afraid of embarrassment. I find myself thinking about the number of people I met throughout freshmen year who I now pretend not to know, simply because they probably don’t remember me. Just the other day I was complaining about how someone I know never says hi to me and always acts like they don’t know me. My much wiser friend asked me if I say hi to the person to which I sheepishly responded “Well, no.” I can’t help but wonder if there’s someone on this campus who thinks the same of me simply because I was too scared to say hi. This isn’t a promise that I’ll never shy away from saying hi or introducing myself. I know myself too well and I know my social tendencies. That said, this is a commitment to fight against the fear that’s keeping me from experiencing the full potential of those relationships in college. Every time I feel the urge to look down at my phone or turn my back I’ll remind myself of the friendships I’ve made over the past two years that likely wouldn’t have been possible if not for one of us making the extra effort. Having officially surpassed the halfway point of my time in college—and even more so of my time on campus—I’m realizing how much more precious the time I have left is. College is not the peak of existence but when in the right place at the right time it has potential to be a special experience, one filled with independence, discovery and growth. I’m excited to discover what my next step after Notre Dame is but I can’t deny that I’ll miss these days. If I could go back and meet myself two years ago, I’d tell myself the same advice someone gave me four years earlier as I took my first steps into high school—say hi and call people by their names. Contact Charlotte Edmonds at cedmond3@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The headline of this article isn’t meant to question the piety of Domers. Or reinvigorate last year’s leggings controversy. (Though here I am wondering whether Ms. Maryann White saw the light after getting repeatedly torn down in Viewpoint opinion pieces in both seriously articulate and hilariously petty ways — hallelujah.) Instead, I’m kicking off the year with another of those “Notre Dome is too white” pieces, this one lasering in on Our Lady of the Lake’s stated mission to “provide a forum where, through free inquiry and open discussion, the various lines of Catholic thought may intersect with all the forms of knowledge,” one “enriched by the presence and voices of diverse scholars and students.” After a year here in Rudy-land, my response is, “Well, does it?” It would seem to me to achieve such a goal, the Notre Dame community, as a Catholic institution, would, at the very least, have to somewhat represent the demographics of U.S. Catholics. But if we take a look at the numbers, it appears this isn’t the case. In the United States, 34% of Catholics are Latinx, according to a 2015 Pew Research Center report. Among Catholic millennials, a larger share are Latinx (46%) than are white (43%), meaning that that proportion of Latinx Catholics across age groups may eclipse non-Hispanic whites in the near future. Meanwhile, among Notre Dame students, only around 10% identify as Latinx, according to datausa.ioa, about 3% lower than the average for doctorate-awarding universities. I haven’t been able to find faculty numbers, but I would guess it’s as low or even lower. Gasp, gasp, surprise, surprise. When I spoke to professor Luis Fraga, director of the Institute for Latino Studies at Notre Dame (ILS), he noted the challenges in increasing not just offers of admission to Latinx students but also enrollment. (Full disclosure: I work part-time at the ILS.) “There’s a clear gap between the percentage of Catholics who are Latinos and the percentage of Latino students who are undergrads at Notre Dame,” he said. Professor Fraga told me he thinks the administration should do more to negotiate its dual commitments to being a selective institution and fostering the future of the Catholic Church, which definitely looks browner than what you get here at ND. Of course, you don’t need stats to tell you that Catholic POC are vastly underrepresented at Notre Dame. A quick walk around campus would suffice. As would a peek at NDWorks, the bimonthly newspaper published by the University for staff and faculty. Among the six new executive administrators profiled in the latest issue, there was a notable melanin-deficiency — four white guys, one white woman and a black guy. None Latinx. I’m sure they’re all wonderful people, but if aliens somehow managed to get their hands on that newspaper and it was all
they knew of Catholicism, they would think Catholic Latinx didn’t exist or were so insignificant so as to not merit a mention. Yes, yes, I know what you’re going to say. As professor Fraga noted, it’s hard — really hard — to get into Notre Dame. This year’s admission rate was 15.8%, a record low. And there are myriad structural issues keeping mi gente from getting the good grades and the test scores and the extracurriculars to even get a foot in the door. Pero, Notre Dame has money. Lots of money. “Di-ne-ro,” to quote DJ Khaled in my least favorite JLo song. An endowment clocking in at a whopping $13.11 billion, and an operating budget of $1.6 billion. Notre Dame has built an ethos centered on its football — I mean Catholic — identity, so I would expect it to take off the sparring mitts and put on the 16-ounce gloves. It should switch up its admission process to be more holistic, and provide students who might not have the academic capital to make it on their own with extra help once they do get in. Beyond merely representing what Catholic communities in the United States actually look like, roping in more Latinx students and faculty might help stem the steep decline of Catholicism. Another Pew Research Center piece, this one from 2018, notes that Catholicism has experienced a “greater net loss due to religious switching than has any other religious tradition in the U.S.” It’s not just here in Gringolandia that the Catholic faithful are diminishing. The former pontifical stronghold of Brazil has seen the population of Evangelical Protestants explode from 6.6% of the population in 1980 to 22.2% in 2010. Other sects, like Jehovah’s Witnesses, have set up shop in Latinx communities in the U.S. as well as throughout Latin America. Personally, I can attest to seeing JW outposts in small villages in Jalisco, Mexico, as well as around the Colombian metropolis of Medellín. The JW are there when I do my Saturday morning coffee run in the majority Latinx suburb of Chicago where my in-laws live. And they’re there Sunday afternoon when I’m hustling down the steps of Chicago’s Millennium Station to catch the train back to the Bend, smiling and immaculately dressed alongside the panhandlers and tourists waiting for their Uber or inspiration to strike. Back to my point: Notre Dame needs to recruit more Latinx students and faculty. Not just because of Notre Dame’s ethical commitment to diversity, but for the future of Catholicism in the United States and around the world. Fostering a more vibrant community of thinkers and doers that captures the true scope and variety of what it means to be Catholic would be a step in the right direction. Oliver Ortega is a Ph.D student specializing in Latinx literature and politics. Originally from Queens, New York, he has called the Midwest home for almost a decade. Through boundless cynicism, he keeps trying. Reach him at oortega1@nd.edu or @ByOliverOrtega on Twitter.
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Eat toast ... alone Ashton Weber Welcome to Ashtown
The preface of Michelle Obama’s memoir includes an anecdote about life after the White House that centers around the line, “I ate my toast in the dark, feeling alone in the best possible way.” I may not have any toast, but I’m currently connecting with Mrs. Obama’s sentiment on a spiritual level. It’s 11:30 p.m. and I’m sitting unaccompanied on the rooftop of a hostel in Portland. Up here, I’m encircled by trees, twinkly lights and empty wooden tables. Music from the surrounding nightclubs drifts through the air, followed by euphoric laughter and the occasional, “LET’S GOOO!” of a DJ. Amid the hustle and bustle, I feel completely content. Alone in the best possible way. As someone who consistently scores 93% extroversion on online personality quizzes, I’m naturally uncomfortable with solitude. In the past, I would’ve been up here with major FOMO, probably peering over the edge of the rooftop, longing for companionship or instead retreating down the elevator to avoid the silence. Perhaps I would’ve stayed in my bunk and watched Netflix instead of ever venturing up here, opting to forge e-connections with characters rather than seeking an individual adventure. However, back then, I hadn’t experienced freshman year. I was still under the impression that it was possible to define yourself by the things you did and the people you knew instead of uncovering an individual identity. I believed that I could surround myself with others and hide from myself and it would be enough to keep me happy.
Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. Freshman year hit me like a pound (or a hundred) of emotional and mental bricks. I had to come to terms with the fact that being your own person is okay and that maybe huge, surface-level friend “squads” aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Maybe the most important friend you can make in college is yourself. After all, you’re the only one who will go everywhere with you after graduation. As the oldest of seven, I’ve never had to be alone. I’ve always had people around me and a family identity to cling to. But when I moved into Flaherty Hall last year, my family didn’t come with me. And neither did the identity that I was assigned by everyone who knew them. Because, well, nobody here knew them. I had to start fresh and define myself. So, what did I do? Immediately, I found a new “family.” I became part of a massive group of loosely connected friends and adopted that mega-squad as my college identity. Until, eventually, I had to come to terms with the fact that the real Ashton, that sneaky 7% introvert, was unfulfilled, and she was making it impossible to assimilate. I took a few steps back from the group and finished the year feeling lonely. I came in with this perception that the first year of college is amazing and you walk out with a spouse, an entire wedding party and the godparents of your children. It was amazing, but I walked out with only a handful of solid friends — a male soul-sister, the best random roommate ever and some crazy guys who have become my brothers. It’s been a long process, but this summer, I’ve come to include myself on my list of friends. That’s because this summer, I’ve been living alone. I’m in Seattle for a two-month internship and, through
a series of spontaneous decisions, I have been getting to know myself. A few weeks ago, I took a walk around the city at night and ended up sneaking my way into a Lizzo concert. Today, I thought it would be fun to take a bus to Portland and book a bunk in a random hostel. I’ve explored alone, I regularly eat meals alone, I’ve mastered city navigation alone and — much to my surprise — I’ve enjoyed my company. Spending a summer with none other than me, myself and I has made me more comfortable and confident focusing on my own happiness and I am prepared to place less pressure on myself to please others when I get back to campus. If I could go back in time, I would urge my freshman self to take more moments to enjoy some metaphorical toast in solitude instead of trying to fit the mold of others. This year, I resolve to claim adventurous alone time. We need others to survive, but sometimes we just need to be by ourselves, so why not make individuality enjoyable? I have plans to venture solo to dinner at South Dining Hall, into the freshman student section and maybe even to karaoke night at Legends. By spending quality time alone, I hope to become more perceptive of my feelings and the world around me. Check back here every two weeks to hear what’s going down in Ashtown! Ashton Weber is a sophomore with lots of opinions. She is majoring in economics and Film, Television and Theatre with a minor in Journalism, Ethics and Democracy. Making new friends is one of her favorite things, so feel free to contact her at aweber22@nd.edu or @awebz01 on Twitter.
LETTERs TO THE EDITOR
To off-campus students: Access denied Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online Aug. 19. On Monday, the University continued in its pursuit to estrange off-campus students from the Notre Dame community. In addition to the deeply unpopular policies that exclude off-campus students from social events, the University has adopted yet another policy of exclusion. This time, the University is barring students from entering dorms they once called home. To the University, offcampus students no longer represent members of a dorm community; we now represent a “security risk.” Previously, off-campus students enjoyed access to their former residential homes. Our IDs allowed us to remain easily connected with the friends and support networks we had formed within the tangible barriers of a dorm. As of August 2019, this important access will be severed. This new policy will grant swipe dorm access only to on-campus students. The message is clear: Off-campus students are no longer part of the dorm community. The stated intent for this policy is safety. I understand
calls for increased security; everyone wants to live and study in an environment safe from intruders. However, this policy is an ineffective means to achieve that end. Particularly, preventing off-campus students from accessing our prior homes will do absolutely nothing to ensure a safer campus. We simply do not pose any threat to those on campus — trust us, being off campus does not render us inherently predisposed to violence. Instead, this policy attempts to erode the connection between on- and off-campus students. This policy makes it more difficult for us to return to our prior homes and more inconvenient for us to spend valuable time with friends. We understand we can text or call a friend to open the door for us, but this added effort is not what we protest. It is the disregard for off-campus students that trouble so many of us. Our Catholic tradition has taught us to be inclusive and accepting of all. For the University, that tradition apparently goes out the door when it comes to off-campus students. Off-campus students serve as role models for underclassmen, fill important mentorship roles for nervous first
years, and contribute to the veracity of dorm unity. Put simply, off-campus students are essential members of the dorm communities; we deserve our place at the table, especially for policies that adversely affect us. Yet, before the University released this decision, we were never considered or consulted. We were kept completely in the dark. The University is now attempting to backdoor this policy right before the semester begins, right when students are paying the least amount of attention. We off-campus students no longer need to be told that we are not welcome — the actions of the University speak for themselves. The University has given up on inclusion and has instead chosen to take the road of exclusivity. We respectfully ask the University to reconsider its actions, consider the viewpoints of all its students and open up a dialogue with the off-campus community. Quentin Colo off-campus senator senior Aug. 19
A broken world We live in a broken world. According to the United Nations, 783 million people live in extreme poverty. Many of them would do anything to become Americans. With more than 2,000 illegal immigrants crossing the U.S. southern border every day, how should our government react? Some think we should let people enter freely. Others think deportation is the solution, while many would prefer a middle ground. Whatever you believe, one fact remains. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detains immigrants in facilities once they are caught entering illegally. Back in April, students here at Notre Dame called for divestment from private prisons and detention centers. They referenced two companies, GEO Group and CoreCivic, which they stated have “a strong incentive to
fill each bed and keep people locked up for longer.” This is ludicrous. As private contractors, they are providing a service requested by the government. They have nothing to do with sentencing criminals or choosing who gets detained. They simply do what the government asks of them. Private prisons also have greater incentive than public prisons to maintain clean, safe conditions. If they do not provide sufficient results, they will lose their government contracts. That is why 100% of GEO Group and CoreCivic facilities have air-conditioning. This is not true of public prisons. That is why 100% of GEO Group’s ICE processing centers have soccer fields and flat-screen TVs. Profit motives lead to better inmate care. Capitalism works. We live in a broken world. I wish people did not live
in extreme poverty. I wish criminals and illegal immigrants did not have to be jailed or detained. But divesting from private prisons would hurt these people more than anyone else. These people deserve the best care our government can provide. We have all seen the images from detention centers and it is easy to react emotionally and argue no one should profit from detaining people. But the U.S. government should do everything possible to give inmates and detainees the best possible care and service and this is accomplished by public-private partnerships through the free market. Dylan Jaskowski class of 2019 Aug. 26
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CLAIRE KOPISCHKE | The Observer
DAILY
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Crossword | Will Shortz
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Set high standards and put a practical strategy in place. Positive change can be yours if you go about it the right way. Show compassion and understanding, and you will gain support and respect in return. Reconnect with people you are sorry you lost touch with, and reinstate interests that fell by the wayside. Reclaim your dreams, hopes and wishes. Your numbers are 7, 11, 20, 24, 31, 38, 43. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Do your own thing. Don’t share personal secrets, plans or ideas with your peers, relatives or anyone who may hinder your progress. Refuse to let an emotional confrontation lead to a permanent change that you don’t want. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A change will lift your spirits. Take a day trip or get together with someone you respect or look to for advice. Share your plans for the future with someone you love. Don’t overspend or give in to anyone trying to manipulate you. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Choose your friends wisely. Get involved in ventures that are within your means and based on tangible facts and figures. Walk away from people who are excessive and situations that are explosive. Protect against insult or injury. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Channel your emotional energy into something that counts. Keeping the peace, looking for love and taking better care of your mind, body and soul will encourage better relationships with others, as well as enhance your personal life. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Think outside the box. Look for solutions that will encourage you to recycle, repair and reuse what you already have. Change doesn’t have to cost a bundle. What you save can be put toward something you long for. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Get together with people who are heading in the same direction. Share ideas, and plan your next move. Personal and physical improvements will be good for your mental, emotional and physical state of mind. Romance is favored. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Think matters through carefully before making a move or saying something that will back you into a corner. Someone you have gotten along rather well with in the past will offer you sound advice. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Sort out your next move, put your strategy in place and take a passionate plunge into the future. Go after what you want; put to rest what is no longer part of your vision. Strive for peace, love and happiness. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Cut to the chase, say what’s on your mind and keep moving forward. If someone is mendacious, know enough to walk away. Trust in what you know and what you are capable of doing. Enjoy the journey you chose. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Size up whatever project you want to pursue, and get this party started. Change begins with dreams, plans and actions. Turn on the charm, and pull in the best of the best to help you reach your goal. Romance is favored. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Think your way through each step of any dilemma or decision you have to make. Ask questions, look for opportunities and choose to motivate those around you. Your action can and will make a difference. Follow your heart. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Keep your life simple, and avoid exaggeration, indulgence and people who want too much from you. Focus on personal health, relationships and how you can improve your life and the lives of those you care about most. Love is in the stars. Birthday Baby: You are diligent, persistent and convincing. You are engaging and charismatic.
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
The observer | tuesday, august 27, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
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M Soccer
Sports Authority
Don’t blame Luck for retiring early Jimmy Ward Sports Writer
In the 2011 NFL season, the Indianapolis Colts began to drift towards mediocrity. Fresh off of a Super Bowl appearance at the end of the 2009 season and a promising future on the horizon, I sat at home every weekend that year wondering if the Colts would ever be as good as they once were with a healthy Peyton Manning. Manning seemed to be aging and aging fast. Manning had surgery on his neck in May of 201. Manning was not back to full health by the time the regular season rolled around, and the Colts would sign Kerry Collins out of retirement to take the role of starting quarterback. The Colts would go 2-14 on the season. Colts owner Jim Irsay would go on to fire president Bill Polian, ending his 33-year professional football tenure.The Indianapolis Colts had never been this deep in the dumps. Irsay had some tough decisions to make. He brought aboard Ryan Grigson as general manager. Jim Caldwell was let go and Chuck Pagano took his position at head coach. Irsay also released older once elite players including Joesph Addai, Dallas Clark, Gary Brackett and Anthony Gonzolez. Irsay’s biggest looming problem was the upcoming draft pick. He had essentially two choices — to go against the grain and take Robert Griffin III, the incredibly talented scrambler out of Baylor, or the more well rounded dual-threat quarterback out of Stanford, Luck. Irsay chose the latter, and just as Colts fans thought their miseries were behind them, they were slowly boiling back up beneath them. Pagano would battle Leukemia that year. The Colts fanbase and the whole of the NFL would rally around Chuck and his family in support. Luck would show little to no lack of productivity on the professional field save for a few interceptions, but the blame for these turnovers could easily be placed on the offensive line who gave up a whopping 41 sacks on their rookie quarterback during his first season. This didn’t seem to bother Luck too much, a man who loved and respected the game so much that he would regularly congratulate defenders who had just laid him out. The sportsmanship Luck displayed throughout his entire career was almost laughable, as more and more players around the NFL were going for the alpha approach. After inheriting a 2-14 team, Luck would lead the 2012 Colts to the playoffs where they would lose to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens, finishing the season with an 11-5 record. Luck would go on
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throughout his career, proving himself worthy as an elite NFL quarterback. In the 2015 season, Luck’s body had had enough of the beatings. He suffered a shoulder injury early on in the season but returned after just two weeks. The team player would refuse to abandon his squad. After Luck’s return, the Colts lost their next two games but would bounce back by beating the previously undefeated Denver Broncos. Luck suffered a lacerated kidney and a partially torn abdominal muscle in the contest. What did he do the play after? He threw a touchdown. Luck even took the blame for his injury, saying he needed to improve upon his sliding. Luck was benched for the rest of the season due to his injury, and the Colts would miss their first playoffs with him on the roster. Luck’s shoulder injury would plague him throughout the 2016 season, and he underwent surgery immediately following the end of the season. Luck would miss the 2017 season and even travel to Europe to seek further treatment for his right shoulder. He returned in 2018 to lead his team to a divisional playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Colts lost 31-13 to the Chiefs in what would be Luck’s final game as a Colt. Luck made the Pro Bowl roster and was given the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award by the Pro Football Writers Association. I returned home this summer with Colts training camp just a few miles down the road from my house. The buzz around Luck was undeniable. It was all anyone talked about. Would we be okay with Brisset and Kelly? Will Luck even start this year? As the days of training camp wained on, it became more and more evident that Luck may have some more serious issues. The suspicions of Colts fans were true, and just as training camp closed to the public, their worst nightmare came true. Luck will be departing the NFL, leaving a hole that nobody will be able to fill. I am deeply saddened by the actions of the Colts fan base following his announcement. I would even go so far to say that shame should be felt by any Colts “fan” who booed Luck out of Lucas Oil Stadium. We should all be thanking Andrew Luck for what he has done for not just the city of Indianapolis, but for the whole state of Indiana, and even the entirety of the National Football League. Thank you Mr. Luck. Contact Jimmy Ward at wward@hcc-nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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test your back line. I think for the most part we stood up well. … I was pleased with about 60 minutes of it. I think the last 30 could have been a little bit better.” The match began with both teams trading possession and the Irish attempting to build an attack from their territory. However, the Broncos came out aggressive and managed to get some opportunities in the Irish box. The Irish also had their fair share of chances but were turned away by the Broncos defense. The first real opportunity for the Irish came 17 minutes into the first half when sophomore forward Jack Lynn spun off his defender and took a left-footed shot that Broncos sophomore keeper Isaac Walker saved. Four minutes later, the Irish managed the first breakthrough of the game, as Western Michigan lost the ball and Irish junior midfielder Aiden McFadden gave a lead pass to Lynn, who chipped the ball over Walker and into the back of the Broncos net to take a 1-0 lead. Lynn and graduate student forward Ian Aschieris, the two leading returning scorers for the Irish, will be counted on offensively for the Irish, but according to Riley, the roster is not short on contributors. “You’re always in search of more goals, and I do think those two will get some,” Riley said. “I think Aiden McFadden will get some, I think [sophomore forward] Tyler Shea’s done a good job off the bench, [sophomore midfielder] Ben Giacobello’s done a good job, [senior forward] John Rea’s gotten good spots. So I think there’s a lot of guys that can contribute.” The Broncos would respond however, as a foul on Irish sophomore midfielder Mohamed Omar gave Western Michigan a chance to set up. After an entry pass by the Broncos, an errant clearance attempt by the Irish sent the ball high into the air. As the ball came down, Broncos freshman midfielder Brennan Creek managed to head the ball over the last line of Irish defenders and sophomore forward Mike Melaragni put the ball past Irish senior goalkeeper Duncan Turnbull to knot the score at one apiece. With two minutes left in the first half, the Irish dodged another bullet as the Broncos had an opportunity
ALEXIS HERNANDEZ | The Observer
Irish freshman forward Jack Lynn chases down the ball during a 3-0 victory against Valporasio on March 23 at Alumni Stadium.
to score with a cross that passed directly in front of the goal. However, the ball was narrowly missed, and the teams went into the half still tied at one. Both teams finished the half with five totals shots and two on target. The Broncos controlled the start of the second period, keeping the ball in the Irish half and racking up numerous scoring opportunities off corner kicks. The Irish eventually found a rhythm and showed their aggressiveness, looking to thread several lead passes past the defense. However, the game would remain a back-and-forth affair and neither team would be able to capitalize on their opportunities as both teams stayed stout defensively, bringing the match to a close with a draw. Riley was happy with the way his players competed, and specifically had praise for Turnbull’s performance in the net. “I think there were a lot of good performances,” Riley said. “I think it was good for Duncan in goal to get 90 minutes for the first time, so I think he had a good solid game, but I think overall there were quite a few good performances.”
W hile failing to come away with a win, Riley believes his team accomplished what they wanted to coming into the game. “I think the one thing we wanted to kind of improve upon was our mentality and reaction to mistakes, and I thought we did a good job,” Riley said. “Soccer’s a game that never stops except for a couple of moments during the game but [only] really at halftime, and so I thought that was really good. I thought overall there were a lot more positives than negatives.” Now with three exhibition matches under their belt, the Irish are set to open the season against Saint Louis. Riley said the preseason presented an opportunity for the team to grow. “I think you learn every day,” Riley said. “I think we’re a competitive team, you know, and I think, to me, I love the mindset that we’ll continue to grow. I think they’re competitors and I think they’re hungry just to get better.” The Irish will play their season opener Saturday at 8 p.m. in St. Louis. Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu
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The observer | tuesday, august 27, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
W Soccer Continued from page 20
to the back of the net courtesy of an assist by sophomore defender Brianna Martinez. Hurm delivered the dagger with a low corner shot after Wood came off her line to put the Irish up 3-0. Delgado added one final goal in the 60th minute to seal the 4-0 victory. With Hurm and Delgado the obvious stars of this matchup, Norman emphasized the importance of reinforcing their confidence heading into their conference schedule. “I think these first couple games we’ve seen a few different people really step up,” he said. “You’ve talked about Eva Herm has been very good, Sammi Fisher had a fantastic game against Saint Louis. We also had some great performances from some of our back line. … It’s really good to see those players to have a good amount of success this early in the season and I’m sure that’ll give them the confidence to really build on.” While Norman was certainly pleased with the offensive performance in the second half, he acknowledged that his team can still learn a lot from Sunday’s matchup. “There were some things that we could’ve done a little bit better in the first half that we addressed a little bit in the second half,” he said. “I think a lot of was we came out with a lot more energy in the second half and really got the ball down and play. …We kept the ball more during possession and moved quickly. I think that really our challenge is can we do that a little better or earlier in the game? Can we not let it go until the second half? But there was a lot of good things that happened at the Northwestern game and they’re a very good opponent. So to be able to have a good performance like that against a good opponent was exciting to see.” He also acknowledged that the offensive show his team put on in the second half is not a sustainable model to build their season on. “I don’t think you can expect to score four goals in 13 minutes on a consistent basis, I mean I think that was really good,” he said. “I think we have a lot of really good, fun, dynamic attacking players that can really make plays and I think when they’re feeling good about themselves, when they’re confident, when they’re playing in a way where they’re not worried about making mistakes and they’re playing in ways where they’re willing to take risks, you see things like that happen. I think for us it’s just continuing to try to encourage them and build their confidence because the players have such talent in their ability and we have to get them to believe that they can play like that on a consistent basis.” The Irish will take on Western Michigan on Thursday in Kalamazoo, Michigan, before hosting St. John’s on Sunday. Norman’s team will then travel to Michigan to take on the Wolverines and Oakland as they round out their first week of competition in September. Following
those four matchups, the Irish will face what is expected to be their toughest opponent yet — No. 15 South Carolina on the road. While the Gamecocks are anticipated to be a major challenge to Notre Dame, Norman said the schedule is considerably different from last year’s where they faced off against perennial powerhouses such as Stanford and Santa Clara. “When we’re making schedules I think a lot of what we’re trying to do is balance a few things. I think one … when you come to Notre Dame being an academically challenging place, so I’ll be really blunt I didn’t love that California trip, more because just the time it takes to go there. You know you’re leaving on like a Wednesday, they’re missing school on Wednesday, Thursday … going all the way across the country and then we’re always going to have travel trips because we’re a little bit of an outlier because on geography in our conference so we’re going to have to make the trip to Miami or Boston College or North Carolina or Virginia, which can
be quite the travelling,” Norman said. Norman also said one of the objectives when designing their nonconference schedule was to focus their search on programs closer to the region while still maintaining a high level of competition. “They’re still really good competition, but I think part of the goal was just reflecting on last season, that California trip took a good amount out of us in terms of just the travel,” Norman said. While their non-conference schedule might have been adjusted to ease travel complications, the Irish can still expect a tough road ahead of them with four top10 opponents awaiting them in the ACC alone. Kickoff for Thursday’s game is schedule for 5 p.m. in Kalamazoo, Michigan.she was especially thankful to Irish head coach Muffet McGraw for the opportunities she provided her. Contact Charlotte Edmonds at cedmond3@nd.edu
Observer file photo
Sophomore Irish goalie Mattie Interian looks to pass after she made a save during Notre Dame’s 4-1 victory over the Mexican U-20 team.
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The observer | tuesday, august 27, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
ND Men’s Basketball
Irish players break in new practice facility By HAYDEN ADAMS Associate Sports Editor
Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online July 18. Several former Notre Dame men’s basketball players visited South Bend on July 15, to tour the newly dedicated Rolfs Athletics Hall, the new practice home of the men’s and women’s basketball teams. Guards Pat Connaughton and Demetrius Jackson and for wards Bonzie Colson, Jerian Grant and Zach Auguste were in attendance and helped introduce the facility, w ith several commenting on its impressiveness. “It’s great. This is an NBA facilit y, honestly — this is like unbelievable,” Grant said. “It’s cool for the guys to be able to come here and get some work in.” Colson agreed w ith Grant on the qualit y of the facility and the effect it w ill have on the program going for ward. “This is beautiful,” Colson said. “I think this is probably the best practice facility in the countr y. They have all the resources they need to be great.” For Jackson, a native of South Bend, this building takes on a whole new meaning. “I’m here a lot, obviously, because of [this] being my hometow n,” Jackson said. “I’ve been utilizing this g ym as my summer training grounds. … I’m ver y thankful to have a g ym like this. This is an NBA-level facility, if not better than a lot of NBA [ones].” Grant and Connaughton both graduated in 2015 after finishing as the first- and third-leading scorers on the team, respectively, and leading the Irish to a 32-6 record and an Elite Eight appearance. Grant was selected w ith the 19th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards before finding his way to the New York Knicks. He posted career highs of 8.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game w ith the Chicago Bulls in 201718, but saw his numbers decrease this past season w ith the Orlando Magic. However, he remains optimistic and is committing himself to improving by adapting to the modern NBA. “It was good. I didn’t get to play the way I wanted to, but I had a great experience,” Grant said. “I loved Orlando and it was pretty fun. [I’m working on] some ball handling and shooting. Obv iously, the league has changed a lot now — where
it’s a lot of [3-pointers] — so just making sure I’m staying in shape and staying on point.” Connaughton was taken in the second round by the Brook lyn Nets w ith the 41st overall selection but made his NBA debut w ith the Portland Trail Blazers. He joined the Milwaukee Bucks this past season as a free agent and averaged career highs of 6.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and two assists per game. Colson, a 2018 graduate, went undrafted after suffering a broken foot his senior season and reaggravating it in the team’s NIT tournament games, but signed w ith the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Summer League. After being waived he joined Cleveland’s NBA G League affiliate, the Canton Charge. In Januar y 2019, he joined Connaughton as he signed a two-way contract w ith the Milwaukee Bucks to play for them and their G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd. Colson expressed what it means to him to be able to play alongside his old Notre Dame teammate. “It’s been great. He’s been like a big brother to me, being a leader,” Colson said. “He’s helping me learn the ropes on and off the court. And it’s just been great relying on him when I have a question, calling to go out to lunch, dinners, things like that. It’s been a great run.” Colson averaged 12.3 minutes of action in eight appearances w ith the Bucks and recorded 4.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He commented on his first year and what he is looking to improve in his game. “I’m on a two-way [contract] now so hopefully [I’ll] legit get a contract, but [my goal is to] continue to just mold and shape my body, continue to just get better, shoot better from the [3-point line and] free-throw line, defend multiple positions and just understand the game more as best I can,” Colson said. “I think those are some of the goals I have.” Auguste graduated in 2016 after helping the Irish make the Elite Eight for the second straight year, while Jackson elected to forgo his senior season and enter the NBA draft early. Auguste signed w ith the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Summer League after going undrafted but was waived by the team before seeing NBA action. He played last season w ith Galatasaray S.K. in Istanbul, Turkey, but joined the Trail Blazers Summer League roster.
Jackson was selected by the Boston Celtics w ith the 45th overall pick. He spent one season in Boston, one w ith the Houston Rockets and played for the Philadelphia 76ers this past season. He joined Philadelphia on a two-way contract and saw action in six games last year but joined Auguste on the Portland Summer League roster as a free agent. “It was fun,” Jackson said of reuniting w ith Auguste. “It made me comfortable right away to have a former teammate, a guy that I’m really close w ith and be able to compete w ith him at a high level. It was cool. I think in the first game we had an alley-oop and we almost got a couple more, but we had the one, so that was good.” Jackson expressed what it meant for the five former teammates to get together once more. “To have this group together is ver y special,” he said. “It just brings back a lot of great memories. A nd now we can bring back all the things we’ve learned over our professional years and challenge each other and tr y to make each other better, so this is ver y special.” Grant echoed the sentiment.
“Obv iously when you first see the guys it’s all fun. You’re glad to see them [because] you haven’t seen them in a while,” he said. “But once we step on the court, we know it’s time to work, because that’s our job is to play basketball and we’re here to get better, and to have this t y pe of facilit y, it’s amazing.” For Grant, his Notre Dame basketball ties run deeper than most, as he maintains a relationship w ith former Irish women’s basketball star Sk ylar Diggins-Smith. “It’s been great,” he said. “You know, the crazy part is, her best friend is my fiancee, so that’s actually something that’s been prett y cool. I’ve been able to spend some time w ith her, talk to her and just have that relationship. It’s prett y cool since we both went to Notre Dame. … We’re pros so we get to talk about the pro game, and just talk about Notre Dame, things like that.” The pros also said they would offer the current Irish players adv ice from their experiences. “[I would tell them to] just stay the course, stay patient,” Colson said. “They can just work and grind, that’s all you can really do. Paid Advertisement
If you continue to just work on your game and understand that it’s a long season — there’s a lot of ups and dow ns. If you stick to it, … ever y thing w ill kind of work [out], and that’s what I kind of live by. Just working on ever y day getting better, getting better ever y day, sticking to it, being a pro, on and off the court.” Grant prov ided similar adv ice in the context of the team‘s long-term v ision. “You always gotta keep working,” he said. “Just because you get there doesn’t mean that it’s the end of the road. You’ve got to play to stay, and play to get better and actually make your mark on the league.” He also had high praise for the performance of head coach Mike Brey. “He’s been huge,” he said. “Obv iously, most players that come here aren’t the high recruits, so just the knowledge that he gives you, the confidence he gives you to work hard, to become a pro, an NBA player, is amazing.” The 2019-20 NBA season begins Oct. 22. The Irish w ill open their season Nov. 8 at North Carolina. Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu
Sports
ndsmcobserver.com | tuesday, august 27, 2019 | The Observer
ND Men’s Basketball
Irish add Stanford transfer to squad Oberver Sports Staff
Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online July 18. Notre Dame men’s basketball added to their already promising sophomore class with the addition of Stanford transfer Cormac Ryan. Ryan was first reported as entering the transfer portal on June 5 and officially committed Friday to the Irish. A graduate of Milton Academy in Milton, Massachusetts, Ryan was highly touted throughout his prep career, entering Stanford as a four-star commit and the sixth best high school shooting guard in the class of 2018, according to ESPN’s rankings. In high school Ryan averaged 23.5 points, seven rebounds and 5.5 assists. He scored 1,423 points throughout his threeyear career at Milton. With the Cardinal, Ryan posted a solid rookie season, averaging
8.7 points and shooting 73.7% from the charity stripe. He struggled at times from long distance, shooting just over 30% from the 3-point line. Ryan is the second player to transfer out of the Stanford program this season and the fourth to do so in two seasons. Stanford finished 10th in the Pac-12 and struggled to close out many conference matchups. Additionally, their leading scorer — KZ Okpala — was recently selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 32nd pick in the NBA Draft, before getting traded to the Miami Heat after his sophomore season with the Cardinal. Meanwhile, the Irish are coming off two of their worst seasons in the head coach Mike Brey era. Since joining the ACC six seasons ago, the Irish mounted three-straight top-five conference finishes, including an ACC Tournament title. However, they‘ve struggled recently, finishing 10th in 2017-2018 and 15th this
past season. The struggles of 2017-18 can be attributed to injuries that plagued the Irish, including the loss of forward Bonzie Colson for most of the year with a broken foot and guard Matt Farrell for a handful of games with a sprained ankle. However, last season’s difficulties were due to a depleted and inexperienced roster. Brey and his staff did pick up a strong recruiting class in 2018 with key four-star commitments from sophomores Robby Carmody, Dane Goodwin, Prentiss Hubb and Nate Laszewski. While Carmody sat out the majority of this past season due to a torn labrum in his shoulder, the other three earned significant time in the rotation and will likely see increased responsibilities this upcoming season. Ryan will sit out this upcoming season and is expected to be eligible for the 2020-2021 season. Paid Advertisement
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The observer | tuesday, august 27, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Mabrey Continued from page 18
made three Final Four appearances and was tw ice the national runner-up. As a freshman, her numbers weren’t spectacular, averaging only 3.0 points per game and 1.3 assists, but she broke out w ith an 18-point, seven-assist night against St. Francis. W hile never a volume scorer, her output peaked at 8.6 points per game as a sophomore. W hile her scoring declined as her career went on, she averaged a career high 2.4 assists per game in both her junior and senior seasons. Mabrey’s leadership and importance to the team was ev idenced by her being named a captain in both her junior and senior campaigns, making her the first such player since former Irish guard Brittany Mallor y. Mabrey said the biggest lesson she was taught from McGraw was to be strong. “You can tell from her Final Four speech last year that she is a strong woman herself, and that is what she portrays for us,” Mabrey said. “She is always going
to give us a platform for whatever we want to talk about. There are a million things, but I think that’s the strongest lesson I have learned. She’s taught me so much more off the court than on the court, honestly.” McGraw also touched on the newest addition to her staff. “Ever ybody that has played here appreciates the program and where it is right now, the level that we are at, but it is nice to have somebody that the recruits can relate to,” McGraw said. “Somebody who they have just seen her play, they know Marina and they know Michaela because of that. I think she’s got the energ y. “She’s someone who has played in this system exactly the way we are play ing now. She’s been to three Final Fours, so she understands the stress, she understands the academic pressure, she can really relate to the players.” Indiv idual workouts begin for the team Tuesday, so Mabrey w ill be jumping right into the mix to kick off this upcoming season. Contact Jimmy Ward at wward@hcc-nd.edu
Sports
Observer File Photo
Former Irish guard Micheala Mabrey braces to take a three pointer during Notre Dame’s 87-70 victory over Indiana University at Purcell Pavilion on March 21, 2016. The victory sent the Irish to the Sweet Sixteen. Paid Advertisement
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ndsmcobserver.com | tuesday, august 27, 2019 | The Observer
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Men’s Cross Country
Carlson promoted to head coaching position By CHARLOTTE EDMONDS and JIMMY WARD Managing Editor and Sports Writer
An unlikely ascent is an understatement. Ask Sean Carlson to describe his transition into a powerhouse men’s program, and he’d probably choose the word “w ild.” In his nine years of coaching, Carlson has gone from volunteer to assistant coach and finally, as of this past July, head coach of the Notre Dame men’s cross countr y squad. Throughout it all, Carlson has built an impressive resume of v ictories and distinguished himself as a leader in men’s middle distance racing, all while keeping a holistic focus at the center of his approach. “I think this is a prett y special place to be named a head coach — a place like Notre Dame, it’s a prett y cool experience,” Carlson said. “To be able to lead a men’s cross countr y team is a prett y cool turnaround.” Furthermore, the promotion to men’s head coach doesn’t change much in Carlson’s eyes, in part because of his unique approach to both indiv idual and team opponents. “I’ve been coaching men’s distance for a while now. This title change is more of a ref lection of the work that I’ve already been doing,” he said. “I think the big part of my coaching st yle — you talk about indiv idual and team — is just making sure that those guys know that you love them and making sure that they love this Universit y and this team. I think that shows in their results.” More specifically, Carlson said that his athletes’ indiv idual successes — such as junior Yared Nuguse’s 1,500-meter national championship run and sophomore Danny Kilrea’s Pan Am championship — is ref lective of more than just those performances. “I think a lot of coaches maybe have a better coaching st yle for indiv iduals or a better coaching st yle in a team setting. Maybe they have a strength or weakness w ith one or the other. I keep
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them ver y similar,” Carlson said. “It’s still about the team because they’re representing something bigger than themselves. I think that’s kind of the cool thing about our guys is that they’ve really bought into that team concept, and I think it’s a lot easier to give up when you’re only doing something for yourself. W hen you’re doing something for something bigger than you and for people that you love and care about, you’re going to give an effort that maybe you didn’t know you had inside you.” Carlson joined the program near the end of the 2011 season and has consistently contributed to its grow th, experiencing a major breakout year this past season. The Irish broke into the rankings for the first time since 2012, even going so far as to earn a top10 ranking follow ing their four-point conference w in over Sy racuse. Despite the considerable success he’s enjoyed in contributing to the rev ival of the program, Carlson insists that the team’s development is about so much more than their physical state. “This fall, our standards for our program have just risen. I guess it’s not just an expectation of maybe this season, but an expectation for us going into the future in general,” he said. That marquee year for the program ended in a 14th place finish at the national championship. This strong finish, combined w ith the impressive roster of runners the team is building, leaves Carlson ver y optimistic. “I’d like to think we could do better than we did last year,” he said. “I don’t know that I necessarily want to put a place on it, but our goal is always to improve upon where we were and to keep grow ing.” A major contributor to the recent success of the Irish has been impressive recruiting, something Carlson attributes to the good relationship he has w ith head cross countr y coach Matt Sparks. “We’re close personal
friends which makes it a lot easier. And obv iously we’re close work friends,” Carlson said. “He’s the one that has promoted me into this position, and I think that speaks to our relationship that he has that confidence in himself and me to elevate me to this position. He’s just a great mentor, great friend, great boss and I’m just ver y fortunate.” That dy namic has proved crucial as the Irish have managed to land some of the biggest commitments of recent years. The incoming freshmen class includes Jake Renfree, a second-place finisher at Footlocker national, Carter Cheeseman, who finished 31st at the World U-20 meet, and Nick Mota, a premier runner out of Canada. “I think all three of those guys are really kind of the future of our program,” Carlson said of the young corps. “Take some points and guidance from our upperclassmen and progress. We’ll see if some of them can make the top-seven.” Those veteran leaders have proven themselves over time and have prompted Carlson to name captains for the first time in his Notre Dame career. “Anthony Williams and Kev in Silvano are captains on our team, and they’ve really kind of stepped up in their leadership roles over the past season and just made it a really easy decision. I’m really excited about them being more vocal leaders w ithin the team and kind of help us,” Carlson said. “Obv iously Danny’s returning as an A ll-American in cross countr y, Yared’s returning as a national champ in the 1,500[-meter run]. You’ve got Dylan Jacobs w ith the high school national champ.” Carlson’s for ward-thinking focus is not unusual for the 2010 graduate of North Central College in Naper v ille, Illinois. In fact, even when describing the success of this past season as “fun,” Carlson maintains that his team can “keep this rolling.” But w ith Carlson at the helm, expectations of
ANNA MAson | The Observer
Junior distance runner Brian Griffith strides along the course at Trey Burke Golf Course during the National Catholic Invitational in 2017.
progress w ill extend well beyond race times and places. “Grow ing isn’t always necessarily a result. It’s how we do things,” he said. “The goal is to be better than last year and not just from a results standpoint, but ever ything — our team culture, our bond, our grades and all of those things. I think if you kind of focus on that process and continue to tr y to be better, results take care of themselves. The national meet w ill take care of itself if we just focus on being better than we were last year and how we conduct ourselves.” W hile results aren’t the only goal Carlson has in mind when developing his team, don’t be mistake — he has ever y intention of w inning. “Our focus for the meet is
our conference and national meet. Obv iously, those are the t wo most important meets of our year,” he said. “This first meet coming up we’re going to tr y to run some different guys to get some more experience. Maybe some of those more experienced guys that are focusing on the conference and national meets, we might hold a few of them back and let them continue to train. I think this first meet is going to be really important for the future of our program to get some of those younger guys that are still at their developmental process and experience.” Contact Charlotte Edmonds at cedmond3@nd.edu and Jimmy Ward at wward@hcc-nd.edu
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The observer | tuesday, august 27, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
ND Women’s SOCCER | nd 4, Northwestern 0
Irish prevail against Wildcats Oberver Sports Staff
Notre Dame continued their winning streak with a dominant win over Northwestern on Sunday, besting the Wildcats 4-0. This home victory came on the heels of a 1-0 win over Saint Louis on Thursday to open their regular season. Head coach Nate Norman said these two games are reflective of his team’s mission to improve each and every day they take the pitch. “We’ve been fortunate enough to win our first two games but we have to stay focused and do that,” he said. “I’ve been happy with how we’re playing … we’ve been very solid defensively, haven’t given up a goal yet so all that has been very good so far.” Against the Billikins (1-1), the Irish (2-0) were paced by junior midfielder Sammi Fisher, who attempted three goals, landing one to secure the Notre Dame win. However, when Sunday rolled around it was all Eva Hurm and Luisa Delgado. The junior forward and sophomore midfielder helped lift the Irish from a slow first half to
ND MEn’s Soccer | nd 1, WEstern MIchigan 1
Notre Dame records draw versus Western Michigan
each score two goals in the span of just over 12 minutes. While the game was relatively even throughout the first 45 minutes of play, Notre Dame brought the heat coming out of the halftime break, outshooting the Wildcats 5-3. However, the greatest difference came in fouls, where Northwestern committed 10 in the second half in comparison to Notre Dame’s three. Northwestern had a quality look midway through the first half with the Wildcat’s getting several attempts on the goal line off a corner kick. However, 5-foot-10 sophomore goalkeeper Mattie Interian stood tall and made the save. After struggling to find their shot in the first half, the dynamic duo of Hurm and Delgado got to work. Hurm started things off with an arching corner that avoided the reach of the Wildcat’s goalkeeper, sophomore Mackenzie Wood. Just over three minutes later, Delgado got in on the action, earning her first career goal with a low pass see W SOCCER PAGE 14
By HAYDEN ADAMS Associate Sports Editor
ALEXIS HERNANDEZ | The Observer
Irish sophomore defender Aiden McFadden clears out the ball during a 3-0 victory against Valporasio on March 23 at home.
On a rainy evening in South Bend, Notre Dame squared off against Western Michigan in an ex hibition match Monday at A lumni Stadium, ending in a draw. The Irish, hav ing lost last season in the quarterfinals of the NCA A Championship to Indiana, falling just short of qualif y ing for the College Cup, are ranked No. 9 nationally in the preseason by the United Soccer Coaches poll. Irish head coach Chad Riley spoke of how his team handled the challenging opponent. “I thought we grew from our game against Marquette,” Riley said. “I think Western Michigan is a really tough team, I think they’re really good on set pieces. They’re ver y direct in getting chances and really see M SOCCER PAGE 13
nd WOMEN’s BAsketball
Micheala Mabrey named new assistant coach By JIMMY WARD Sports Writer
The Notre Dame women’s basketball program has named former Irish guard Michaela Mabrey as their new assistant coach. This comes after former Irish assistant coach Niele Ivey announced she was accepting a new assistant coaching position w ith the Memphis Grizzlies. Coach Mabrey spoke about her decision to return to Notre Dame during a press conference Monday. “I love this place,” said Mabrey. “I had the best four years here. I have so many memories and I’m still friends w ith almost all of my teammates. “It was just an incredible four years that I loved — and my sister was here, so that was an eight-year run for us. It is a place that I truly love, and I love coach [McGraw]. She’s incredible in so many different ways, I’m just so excited to be back.” Follow ing her graduation, Mabrey did not know where her path would take her
next. She credits McGraw in helping her get back into the game from another perspective — as a coach. “W hen I was done play ing, I kind of really didn’t know what I wanted to do,” Mabrey said. “I was going to go play overseas for a little bit, and then I kind of changed my mind, and coach [McGraw] is actually the one who told me, ‘You would be a really great coach.‘” Follow ing Coach McGraw’s adv ice, Mabrey took the position of coordinator of program and player development at Miami Universit y. Tr y ing to get her feet wet in as many areas of the game as she could, Mabrey moved to Miami, Ohio where she would work as an assistant gaining experience on the bench and continuing to learn about the scouting processes. Last season, Mabrey accepted a position at LSU as director of recruiting. Mabrey finally returns to South Bend follow ing a two-year absence. She left Notre Dame in 2016,
follow ing a solid four-year career. Mabrey and her younger sister Marina, the 19th overall pick in the 2019 W NBA draft, were both deadly outside shooters. Marina, hav ing graduated this past season, finished her career fifth in career 3-point percentage at 40.0% and as the all-time leader in 3-pointers made at Notre Dame w ith 274. The elder Mabrey was also a constant shooting threat. The sisters share the honors of being the only players to make 60 3-pointers in three different seasons and, along w ith former Irish guard A licia Ratay, are the only players w ith at least 70 made 3-pointers in t wo separate seasons. Michaela, at the time of her departure, was fourth in program histor y in 3-pointers made w ith 228 and seventh in school histor y in career 3-point percentage at 39.6% . A steady leader at point guard, Mabrey was a member of the w inningest class in Notre Dame histor y that see MABREY PAGE 18
Observer File Photo
Former Irish guard Micheala Mabrey makes a move towards the hoop during Notre Dame’s 90-84 Sweet Sixteen loss against Stanford in 2016.