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Volume 54, Issue 30 | wednesday, october 9, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Rajmohan Gandhi talks India, politics Kroc and Liu Institutes host biographer to discuss religious tensions and legacy of his grandfather By ALVIN KRAJA News Writer
Rajmohan Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, gave a lecture called “Is the Dream Alive? Ref lections on Race, Nationality and the Legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. King” at the Hesburgh Center for International Studies on Tuesday. The lecture was part of a joint event hosted by the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. Gandhi is a biographer and research professor at the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has written numerous books, including “A Tale of Two Revolts: India 1857 & the American Civil War” and “Mohandas: A True Story of a Man, His People and an Empire.” Gandhi started his talk about the current situation in India with the recent government and its policies. He said he is “tremendously troubled of what is happening in India.” According to Gandhi, he has always tried to answer the question “Why the world today is the way it is.” see GANDHI PAGE 4
ALVIN KRAJA | The Observer
Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, spoke about contemporary political issues and his grandfather’s legacy on Tuesday at the Hesburgh Center for International Studies.
Sustainable farm Students react to talk of to move forward presidential impeachment at Saint Mary’s By JOHN SALEM News Writer
By HANNAH THOMAS News Writer
A sustainable farm is in its preparation stages for the Saint Mar y’s communit y by a campus group know n as the Going Green Committee, which has been working on the project w ith numerous opportunities for the communit y to get involved. “The Going Green Committee … engage[s] in consciousness-raising on sustainabilit y initiatives, assist[s] in implementing green initiatives and identif y ing sustainabilit y needs for strategic planning,” Judith Fean, the College’s v ice president for mission and chair of the Going Green Committee, said in an email. ”We also address matters of env ironmental concerns.” The two acres of land set aside for the farm were acquired through a land purchase of 40 acres from the Sisters of the Holy Cross
NEWS PAGE 3
three years ago w ith approval and designation for the farm use over that period of time. After significant efforts were made to groom the land for this farm, it is now in the final stages of preparation to begin growing crops. “We started remediating the soil, but it had all been in field crops for decades … so that tends to lead to the soil deteriorating in certain respects … there’s a loss of organic matter, and there’s a loss of certain micronutrients, especially calcium tends to get leached out of the soil,” Chris Cobb, an English and env ironmental studies professor and member of the committee, said. The ‘farm group’ of the Going Green Committee, which includes Cobb, has been working to take the soil to a more fruitful state. “We had the soil limed see FARMING PAGE 3
SCENE PAGE 5
After an anonymous whistleblower reported a concern in August to the House of Representatives and Senate Intelligence Committees about U.S. President Donald Trump soliciting foreign interference
to better his chances in the 2020 election, the complaint was eventually passed along to the Justice Department. On Sept. 24, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced an impeachment inquiry into Trump for his dealings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The anonymous whistleblower claims Trump threatened to cut off Ukraine’s foreign aid if the government did not cooperate in the investigation of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. The possibility of impeachment see PRESIDENT PAGE 4
Pro-woman, pro-choice club gains interest at SMC By MAEVE FILBIN Saint Mary’s News Editor
In an Oct. 1 post to the Saint Mary’s College Class of 2021 Facebook page, a student posed this question: “If someone made a pro-woma n/pro-choic e club, would you become a member? ” Since then, 29 students have voted in support of joining the proposed group, and nine have voted
VIEWPOINT PAGE 7
against membership. Junior Rebecca Ward voted in favor of joining a future pro-woman, prochoice club, but said in a Facebook comment that she did not think the group would be allowed to operate on a Catholic campus. “I would love to have [a pro-choice club], but I’ve heard from a friend that in the past it’s been proposed
ND M SOCCER PAGE 12
and denied [because] this is a Catholic college,” she said in the comment. Ward said she’s always felt passionate about starting a pro-choice group at Saint Mary’s since her freshman year, but did not pursue creating an official club after learning about a past failed attempt made by another student. see CHOICE PAGE 3
ND W GolF PAGE 12
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On Sunday, Dance Marathon hosted a 5k at Saint Mary’s. Dance Marathon is a compilation of events throughout the year to fundraise, including an annual 12-hour event where students work to raise funds for Riley’s Children Hospital.
The next Five days:
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Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Lecture: “Storming the Wall” 106 Bond Hall 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Journalist Todd Miller speaks.
Free Professional Headshots Snite Museum 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Open to graduate and post-doc students.
Concert: “A Musical Evening” Leighton Concert Hall 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. The Notre Dame Symphony Orchestra.
Lecture: “Saturdays with the Saints” Geddes Hall 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. A Notre Dame tradition.
Performance: Merz Trio O’Neill Hall of Music 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Pianist, violinist and cellist ensemble.
Science Sunday St. Patrick’s County Park in South Bend 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Free and open to the public.
“Get the Scoop from Grad Students” 512 Duncan Student Center 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Mingle and learn.
Football, Civil Rights and Doing Justice 1130 Eck Hall of Law 12:30 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. A conversation with Justice Alan Page.
Exhibit: “Looking at the Stars” Snite Museum of Art All day Featuring a wide collection of Irish art.
The Fornés Festival Debartolo Performing Art Center 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Celebrates playwright María Irene Fornés.
News
ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, october 9, 2019 | The Observer
3
Student group hosts programming with Snite By EMILY HUNT News Writer
Stop by the Snite Museum of Art this Friday for the “The Professor’s Pick,” sponsored by the Snite Student Programing Committee (Snite SPC) and featuring professor and Irish scholar Diarmuid Ó Giolláin. The free event will run from 1-2:00 p.m. and is one of several events the Snite SPC organizes to foster student engagement with the Snite. Rachel Heisler, the assistant curator of education and academic programs at the Snite, said she recently reformed how Snite has been run to increase its outreach to students. “We’re broadening our reach
Choice Continued from page 1
“I remember, although not super clearly, my freshman year an upperclassman friend told me that she had inquired about starting a pro-choice club but had been told that she would not be allowed,” Ward said in an email. ”Obv iously, this wasn’t my ow n experience so I can’t say for sure if it’s true.” Tena Johnson, coordinator of student organizations, said such a club has never ex isted at the College. “To the best of my knowledge, no student has ever tried to start a pro-choice club here at Saint Mar y’s College,” Johnson said in an email. Ward said the pro-choice movement doesn’t necessarily have to be considered to be in opposition to the v iews of the Catholic Church.
Farming Continued from page 1
to restore the calcium levels, and then we’ve been planting cover crops in the fall and the spring, and then … mowing them and plowing them as a way of increasing the organic matter in the soil to make it suitable for growing highquality food crops,” Cobb said. Students and faculty have also been aiding the process with the composting program in the College dining hall, as it has been built up and ready for use as the crops will be planted. As of right now, there is
... you don’t need to know anything about art to be involved,” she said. The Snite SPC is run through the museum and is composed of 20-25 students devoted to helping connect students to the plethora of opportunities the museum has to offer, Heisler said. “We have 90-100% attendance for every meeting,” Heisler said. “The members [of Snite SPC] are creative. They think about how to use space and objects as a way to get people to engage and use them in new ways. They have a passion to connect and bring the museum beyond its role as a museum.” The Snite SPC is composed
of students from diverse majors, backgrounds and years, Heisler said. They meet every Tuesday to brainstorm new ways to get students involved or improve past events. Sophomore Marie Latham, one of the two SPC coordinators for the group, has been involved in Snite SPC since her freshman year. As a coordinator, she helps lead weekly meetings and handle logistics of SPC events. In her time in SPC, Latham said she has seen how the committee has successfully increased student engagement with the museum. “The ‘Anyone Can Art: Bob Ross’ event has been our most successful event so far,”
she said. “… We gave people free reign of the event and let people design their own experience.” Latham said the “DIY” art event, inspired by painter and television host Bob Ross, recently attracted approximately 300 visitors to Snite in September. Latham and the committee are in the midst of planning “Snite Fright,” the group’s signature and most popular event, she said, scheduled for Oct. 31 — Halloween night. The night’s activities will include screen printing, a Halloween-themed tour and a “mystery-themed game.” Senior Scott Somers, a member of SPC for three
years, said he is also excited about the committee and its members. “It helps that the group is so diverse,” he said. “We have a lot of art majors but a wide array of others like physics, business, english and anthropology.” Before becoming an active member of the Snite SPC, Somers said he was not aware of all the opportunities Snite had to offer. “I wanted to learn more about it,” he said. “One thing led to another, and I have been involved ever since. Give the Snite a chance.”
“W hile some people who are pro-choice do support the right to abortion, there is of course a diversit y of opinions as there are in any group of people,” Ward said. “There are many pro-choice indiv iduals who don’t personally support abortion, but support people’s right to make choices for themselves, so I don’t necessarily think that a pro-choice club would be against the teachings of the Church or against the interests of the College.” As an academic institution that welcomes students and staff of all backgrounds, Saint Mar y’s should not discourage the expression of v iews outside of Catholic doctrine, Ward said. “I believe that because Saint Mar y’s advertises itself as a place that welcomes ever yone despite being a Catholic college, it has at least some responsibilit y to allow its students
to assemble to represent their v iew points, even if they could be in opposition to the teachings of the Church,” she said. “I also think it’s important to point out that College Democrats could also be seen as hav ing v iews in opposition to the church — pro-choice opinions being one such v iew for some members, but not all — and yet it was approved as a club and continues to run today.” Junior Chido Moyo said she would join the prowoman, pro-choice group because she thinks Saint Mar y’s, which in the past has hosted pro-life groups such as Belles for Life, could benefit from introducing a new perspective on the issue and prov iding students w ith the opportunit y to ser ve women w ithin the greater South Bend communit y. “I think that Saint Mar y’s has a lot to offer for the pro-life clubs, which include
great activ ities and programs,” Moyo said in an email. “However, hav ing a pro-choice/women club would help the school be more open to the students who are not necessarily prolife. My hope for this club is that students are able to empower themselves through volunteer work at local shelters for single mothers/ women.” Junior Emily Emerson voted against joining the proposed club, but said she believes a pro-choice group should have a place on campus. “We tr y to have ever yone represented on campus and clubs are no different,” Emerson said in an email. “However, I would not be a part of this club mainly because I am pro-life. I do not agree w ith the v iew that abortion should be readily available for just any reason. I believe that it must
be a special circumstance for a baby to be killed.” Emerson said she is uncomfortable w ith the idea of framing the proposed pro-choice club as “pro-woman,” as she believes the label encompasses many aspects of the pro-life movement. “I also have a difficult time w ith the title of the club being pro-woman, prochoice because I feel like being pro-woman can apply to more than just people who consider themselves pro-choice,” Emerson said. “A large part of theprolife movement is protecting women. The movement tries to protect women from going through the emotional trauma that accompanies abortions many times. The movement also strives to protect the lives of future women by advocating to their right to life.”
a working plan in place for how the farm will be organized and tended. “The farm will be operated by a local sustainable grower who is going to be leasing the land from the College,” Cobb said. ”W hat the grower is going to do with the food that is grown on the farm is going to be up to her or him in terms of what makes sense … to earn their living.” There will also be a term of their lease that will promote educational resources for students to interact with the farm. “The sustainable farm, not only will it be caring for the earth, but also provide a wonderful learning opportunity for the students
and professors,” Fean said. The Going Green Committee already has ideas of how students might be able to interact w ith the food grow n on the sustainable farm. “That may well involve … a farm stand on campus, it may involve some food going into the dining hall,” Cobb said. ”But we hope that things w ill develop in a way that w ill lead to the farm being brought entirely inside the educational mission dow n the road.” A long w ith the benefits for students, the env ironment w ill remain the core of the project, as the College can partake in an
env ironmentally conscious process of obtaining and consuming food. “We want Saint Mar y’s students to be able to see … a closed and coherently managed food cycle, seeing the food grow n, going from field to table, from table to compost, from compost back into the soil … this site could … develop and strengthen and promote agricultural practices that that sequester carbon that are carbon negative,” Cobb said. The farm is set to begin in the 2020 grow ing season, and next month leasing negotiations w ill begin. Options for how the farm w ill be put to use might evolve as
students are encouraged to get involved and share their ideas. The abilit y for students to combine their interests w ith sustainable activ ities on campus w ill be easily accessible, Cobb said. Fean said the farm offers an opportunit y for a variet y of students to get involved. “I hope that students continue to learn more about what sustainabilit y is in its various forms and how, regardless of their major, [they] can be partners in making Saint Mar y’s a more green communit y,” Fean said.
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NEWS
The observer | wednesday, october 9, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
President Continued from page 1
has elicited strong responses throughout the political world, not excluding Notre Dame’s campus. Though the charges facing the president are serious, Dominic Ferrante, senior and president of Notre Dame’s College Republicans, said he is not worried for Trump. “It’s going to come to nothing in the end. I don’t think the House will even end up taking an impeachment vote on it,” Ferrante said. ”On the off chance that the House does vote on it, I think the vote will fail.” First year John Ferletic, a College Republicans officer, said he doesn’t see the recent attempts to impeach the President as legitimate or threatening to his presidency. ”Even if the President is impeached by the House, I don’t see an outcome at the moment where the Senate would remove him from office,” Ferletic said. Before voting on impeachment articles, the House of Representatives must investigate the claim regarding the president’s alleged misconduct and determine whether an impeachable offense was committed. If the House votes to impeach Trump, he will then be tried in the Senate. While former U.S. Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were both impeached by the House of Representatives, both were acquitted by the Senate and thus remained in office. Though no official vote has been held on the matter, the House Intelligence Committee is currently conducting an official investigation into the whistleblower’s claims. The impeachment process is long and complicated, and requires both the majority of the House and two-thirds of the Senate to support the action. Ferrante said he is unconcerned about the allegation having a negative effect on Trump’s chances in the 2020 election. “It certainly won’t do any harm. It could potentially ignite the President’s supporters,” Ferrante said. ”I think most of President Trump’s supporters see this as more of the same, more constant attacks by the Democrats to delegitimize President Trump in any way they can.” Ferrante criticized Pelosi and the Democrats for initiating the impeachment inquiry. “They are afraid that none of their candidates can beat President Trump in the 2020 election,” he said. ”I think this is just an attempt to weaken the President and make him vulnerable in that year.” Senior Sheila Gregory, president of Notre Dame’s College Democrats, believes
the investigation will reveal damning evidence against President Trump. “Any number of actions President Trump has taken could have been impeachable offenses” Gregory said. ”I think we are on the verge of an avalanche of information.” Gregory said she believes the impeachment inquiry could negatively affect the President’s chance of re-election. “I think an investigation like this will only serve to hurt the president,” Gregory said. ”He is incapable of staying on message in situations like these and when what people see on the news every night is that the President of the United States committed crimes, that will not bode well for his chances.” Gregory said the Democratic party opened the investigation not to gain any advantage in 2020, but instead to “uphold the laws of this nation, and investigate and punish wrongdoing when they occur.” “The House Democrats are fulfilling their duty to this country by holding the President accountable for his crimes,” Gregory said. Sophomore Brigid Harrington, vice president of College Democrats, said the issue of impeachment is of grave importance. “As such, any action must be taken with considerable caution,” Harrington said. ”At the same time, the American people deserve to know what transpired during President Trump’s phone call with the Ukrainian President, and if there was any potential wrongdoing. I believe that Speaker Pelosi has been effective in taking both of these important considerations into account.”
Gandhi Continued from page 1
Gandhi argued that the norms of society have shifted from peace and mutual respect for each other to hierarchy and domination. He said his grandfather saw future India from a different perspective from the current leaders of the governments. “[Mahatma] Gandhi saw people together. India in his vision belongs to one another,” he said. ”All Indians are human beings that share the same space.” Gandhi said the discrimination of the Muslim Indians still continues, and the government has not taken the right measures to fix this issue. “[There is a] polluted landscape in India right now,” he said. ”Free India should not belong to the majority of the religion, but to all.” Since 79.8% of Indians are Hindu, they have gained more privileges and despise the Indian Muslims, he said. According to Gandhi, this
behavior of Hindus is not right because “Hinduism teaches to return good from evil.” He also cited a quote from his grandfather regarding the segregation of religion, supporting the idea that everyone is welcomed in India regardless of their religion. “God is one even if addressed by different names,” he said. Gandhi further discussed the discrimination of Muslims in India by comparing the United States with India. “A second-generation Indian American is able to run for president, but in India, Muslims should prove their loyalt y to the countr y in order to vote,” he said. The lecture also mentioned the current situation in Kashmir. According to Gandhi, Kashmir has only eight million citizens, but it is speculated that the Indian government has sent more than 500,000 soldiers to patrol this area. He said this high concentration of soldiers is a result of the
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Kashmir population being 95% Muslim. “Histor y does not prov ide roadmaps for what happens in the future,” he said. “Gandhi and King prov ided roadmaps for different situations. So what do we do? ” To Gandhi, the solution to these problems is to express our opinions and actively protest for our rights. “We must speak out, we must inform, pass the new when we can,” he said. “Each of us should search for the next step.” To end his lecture, Gandhi mentioned the lack of knowledge of other cultures as ver y critical today. “We have neglected to know our fellow human being,” he said. If people were to learn more about a different culture, they would understand each other more, and this knowledge would solve the problems he mentioned throughout the lecture, Gandhi said. Contact Alvin Kraja at akraja@nd.edu
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The observer | wednesday, october 9, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Todd Phillips’ “Joker” is the sound of one hand clapping. It is a self-congratulatory, faux-introspective mess that draws a queasy connection between mental health and violence while appearing blissfully unaware of the cultural and social climate into which it has been borne. In more adept hands, the latest take on DC’s Clown Prince of Crime could have had something important to say; instead, writer-director Phillips commits one of the cardinal sins of comedy. He spends the whole movie laughing at his own joke. “Joker” offers a largely Batman-free take on the most famous villain in comic-book history, with a dilapidated Gotham City serving as a stand-in for Ed Koch era New York City. In a town left filthy by an ongoing garbage strike, clown-for-hire Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix in a typically sweaty performance) lives with his ailing mother while desperately trying to make it as a stand-up comedian. Two major obstacles stand in the way of Arthur’s dream: first of all, he isn’t funny. More importantly, he is suffering from a debilitating set of untreated mental illnesses, implied to stem from severe narcissistic personality disorder. A brutal episode of childhood abuse leaves Arthur suffering from pathological uncontrolled laughter, further separating him from a society that he desperately wants to fit into.
Beset on all sides, Arthur finally snaps in a shocking display of violence that inspires Gotham City’s underclass to don clown makeup and brings the city’s tensions to a simmering head. As his alter-ego’s notoriety increases, Arthur maneuvers for a chance to appear on a late-night television show hosted by his hero, Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro, who is hopefully financing a very nice beach house with this paycheck). Phillips has repeatedly cited the influence of Martin Scorcese’s films on “Joker,” but this seems like a cheap ploy to add a sheen of prestige to his picture. Counting “Taxi Driver” as an inspiration for a film this bad is akin to a finger painting evoking “Guernica.” Where those Scorcese films offered a damning look at how ignorance of society’s downtrodden can lead to violence, “Joker” has no such interest. Far from condemning the depraved acts performed by its title character, Phillips shoots them in a light that is at once celebratory and voyeuristic. Whenever we may feel sympathy for a man like Arthur, the audience is instead forced towards unearned worship by Phillips’ hand. By the time Arthur is laid out into a Christlike pose at the film’s denouement, we’re already subservient to a character who doesn’tdeserve our praise. Much of the controversy around “Joker” is well-earned. While it seems highly unlikely that a movie about a comic-book character would be the impetus of real life violence, both Phillips and Phoenix have shown in this film’s press tour that they neglected to consider the
implications of their movie. In 2019, a film about a lonely, angry white man who self-actualizes through violence has obvious parallels outside the cinema. Instead of addressing these, Phillips has outright ignored them. As a filmmaker, Phillips is not responsible for the impact of his creation; he is, however, responsible for creating a work that is at least aware of its own themes. All of this extra-textual discussion would have more weight if the film were a worthwhile piece of art in the first place. Outside of Phoenix’s languid turn, almost nothing about “Joker” makes it worthy of recommendation. Any apparent depth the film may offer is illusory, carrying as much thematic weight as one of the balloon animals Arthur blows up at his day job. A comparison to his dream occupation of stand-up may be more apt, however. At the screening I attended, parts of the audience did indeed laugh during the film. I don’t know why — after all, the joke was on us.
By RYAN ISRAEL
“Combat” - Danny Brown
“Power” - Nickelus F
Despite being critically acclaimed since the release of “XXX” in 2011, Danny Brown has remained on the fringes of popular rap music, in part due to the potentially alienating quality of his strangled, distinctive voice. His newest album, “uknowhatimsayin?,” layers that voice over glitchy, immersive beats, most courtesy of master producer Q-Tip. “Combat” features not only a Q-Tip beat but also some vocal contributions, as he and Brown paint a bleak picture of some tough city streets.
Nickelus F has been making music since 2004 but has been criminally overlooked by most outside of his local Richmond, Virginia rap scene. His songs are reminiscent of old-school hip-hop, and “Power,” off his newest album “The Gold Mine Volume 1,” is a classic. The production is led by a piano and violin but still hits hard, emblematic of the way Nickelus celebrates himself and all his power.
By JAKE WINNINGHAM Scene Writer
Scene Writer
2019 has been a strange year for rap music. Drake and Kendrick Lamar, two of the genre’s most prevalent artists, have yet to release any new music. Kanye West’s recent “Jesus Is King” debacle has garnered plenty of attention but has yet to yield any actual music. So instead of the usual players dominating the scene, a variety of new artists have emerged to stake their claim. Tyler, the Creator’s “IGOR” blurred the line between rap and pop while establishing him as a star. The J. Cole-led “Revenge of the Dreamers III” introduced rap fans to the entire cast of Dreamville rappers and their friends. Young newcomers like Lil Tecca and NLE Choppa have made waves by capitalizing on the genre’s newest trends. To help condense the vast canon of new rap releases, I’ve compiled a list of songs worth listening to. They come from a variety of artists and (mostly) from the past three months, ensuring that they’re fresh finds and will keep you in the know when it comes to rap music.
“HIGHEST IN THE ROOM” - Travis Scott Travis Scott began teasing his new single, “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM,” long before its official release last Friday, first performing it at Rolling Loud Miami back in May. Now that it’s finally arrived— only a few days after news broke of the rap artist’s split from celebrity girlfriend Kylie Jenner— fans can rejoice. Relationship status aside, the track is a low-key trap banger with classic Travis Scott Auto-Tune and a transcendent outro.
“BOP” - DaBaby DaBaby is, without a doubt, rap’s breakout star of the year. His March album, “Baby on Baby,” featured the hit “Suge” and introduced many to his unique style of rapping. On his newest album, “KIRK,” the song “BOP” emerges as a standout, mostly because it sticks to DaBaby’s signature formula. Over a bouncy, hard-hitting beat, DaBaby delivers breathless, highenergy verses, proving once again that he can rap really well.
“Hell Raiser” - Dee Watkins Dee Watkins emerges from a long line of Florida rappers who have been pushing the region’s unique rap sound out to the nation in recent years. On “Hell Raiser,” he’s mischievous and rebellious, listing all the ways he wreaks havoc and raises hell. The beat provides a heavy synth bounce while Watkins delivers a non-stop flow of rap.
Contact Jake Winningham at jwinning@nd.edu
“Joker” Director: Todd Phillips Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro If you like: “Taxi Driver,” “Suicide Squad
“Epic Fail” - Duwap Kaine Duwap Kaine’s “Epic Fail” is a sign of the times in rap music. The beat is a masterpiece of spacey, hip-hop production, the type of beat over which you’d expect to find Playboi Carti’s signature baby voice. Duwap raps at a barely audible pitch, lending even more credence to the term “mumble rap” and creating a hazy track that emerges from and returns to the ether in its brisk, minute-anda-half runtime.
“BIG” - Young M.A. Brooklyn-bred Young M.A.’s 2016 release, “OOOUUU,” put her on the map. With the release of her debut album, entitled “Herstory In The Making,” she’s staking a bigger claim in the New York rap-mosphere. “BIG” finds Young M.A. delivering crisp verses and braggadocious flexes over a gritty beat courtesy of producer Mike Zombie. Contact Ryan Israel at risrael1@nd.edu JOSEPH HAN | The Observer
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The observer | Wednesday, October 9, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Inside Column
Are you two twins? Allison Thornton Photographer
I’m sitting at work tr ying to come up with ideas to write for this article. I have never written any thing that may or may not be published in a newspaper, so bear with me on this ever yone. Don’t judge too hard. Any ways, I’m sitting at work tr ying to think about what to write and I start thinking about how ever y time my sister and I go out into public people think we are twins. I thought this idea was so clever I had to write about it. Enjoy. I am older than my sister by about three years, but yet when we go out in public with each other people think that we are identical twins. W hen people made those claims it used to annoy us. Now we have embraced those comments and, almost, created a brand. We are known in our grade and high schools as “The Thornton Sisters.” To clarif y, we did not come up, chose or trademark this title. It was given to us without consent. We don’t mind it, but it sort of sounds like we are lounge singers from the 1950’s or we might break out into song any minute. W hich does happen ever y once in a while in my household. Any ways, staying on topic, if you look at my sister and I, you would say the same thing ever yone else does, we have accepted our fate. We are both tall, brunette, volleyball girls from the Midwest. It’s our brand. We blend into our surroundings when we aren’t together, yet when people see us standing next to each other, they act like we are out of the ordinar y in our own land. People are so excited to ask us if we are twins, they almost seem disappointed when we tell them we are three years apart. I remember there was one time were she and I went to Target and during the first hour of us being there we were approached by three different people, at random times, and asked if we are twins. Ever y time someone asked us this, we forced a laugh and said “Nope, we are sisters about three years apart.” We hated it at the time. Now our view has changed — we now embrace it. No matter where we go, we are always asked by the cashier, random old ladies or even some distance family friends if we are twins. You would think that the semi-distance family friends would remember, but you’re wrong. W hen I was younger teachers would always call me Talia Thornton instead of my own name, A llison Thornton. I thought the teachers would be able to tell my sister and I apart because I looked older. Well, this was proven wrong one day when my family was out to dinner one night. We were about to leave, and the waitress was saying good-bye and asked my sister and I if we were twins. We told her we were just sisters, and she said that my 12 year-old sister looked older than me (when I was 15 years old at the time). I knew in that moment that my sister would hold that over my head for the longest time. As life goes on we hope one day we will never hear the words “Are you two twins? ” again. Contact Allison Thornton at athornton01@saintmarys.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Understanding the Louisiana abortion case Blake Ziegler News with Zig
Last week, Respect Life Week brought abortion to the forefront of campus discussion. As seen through a series of campus events and view points in The Obser ver, abortion is a heated topic at this university. However, regardless of one’s opinion, one must recognize that panels, opinion pieces and debates on social media are not enough to enact tangible change. Obviously, these dialogues are important. Our democratic republic thrives on discourse. However, there is a lack of understanding towards the judiciar y process. One’s beliefs does not certif y the legality of those beliefs. Our nation operates under a system of law and order. Governed by a constitution, laws must follow the guidelines set in our nation’s founding documents. Thus, we should consider how the judiciar y system is currently approaching abortion. On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled to take up a Louisiana abortion case. The case, June Medical Ser vices v. Gee, concerns a state law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges for patients to a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic. The stated purpose of the law is to maintain safety for the patient. The case is likely to be heard early next year. This means a decision will be released in summer 2020, months before a presidential election where abortion is guaranteed to be a hot-button issue. However, to understand the constitutional context of the law, we must examine earlier cases. In 2016, the Supreme Court ruled on a Texas law similar to the Louisiana case. That law also required admitting privileges to a hospital within 30 miles, but also a series of regulator y standards for abortion clinics. In W hole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, the Supreme Court struck down the Texas law, citing a precedent from Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey. Here, the Supreme Court established a test to determine if an abortion regulation creates an “undue burden”, defined as “placing a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion of a nonviable fetus.” Under this test, courts are required to weigh the state’s interest in protecting patients versus the burden it places on patients. If the potential benefits are outweighed by the hindrance it causes, the law is unconstitutional. This burdens test recognizes that the state has a vested interest in the wellbeing of its citizens, but that interest cannot circumscribe citizens’ ability to express their rights. Now, many argue that the Texas and Louisiana cases are similar and thus should be treated with the same outcome. I will not comment on how an
ongoing case should be resolved. However, I will provide the reasoning the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals used to uphold the Louisiana law for the sake of providing information. The appeals court noted that while clinics would close under the Texas law and the difficulty doctors experienced in attaining admitting privileges, that was not the case in Louisiana. Furthermore, there would not be a significant increase in the distance patients would have to travel in Louisiana, while in Texas, “the number of women forced to drive over 150 miles increased by 350% .” These will be the circumstances the Supreme Court will have to consider when oral arguments begin. It is important to note the distinguishing factors between this case and Roe. This case, stemming from Casey, pertains to the extent of regulating abortion and related medical procedures. Roe, on the other hand, concerns the right to abortion itself. This case is not about whether or not women are entitled to an abortion under the Fourteenth Amendment. Rather, it questions how far the law may go in regulating that right. This is an important distinction, as proponents of abortion fear this case will remove the right to abortion. That is not the issue in this case. Another factor to consider in the Louisiana case is a petition filed by Louisiana officials. In this petition, the government argued that abortion providers should not be allowed to challenge abortion restrictions. The petition was granted and will be one of the topics the Court considers in the case. If approved, this means that abortion providers can no longer sue on behalf of their patients. Instead, individual women would have to file constitutional violations on their own. This challenges the precedent set in Singleton v. Wulff, which enables abortion providers to litigate on behalf of their patients. This column’s purpose is to provide information on the Louisiana case, the most pertinent abortion case in 2019. Information on legal precedents, similar cases and the issue at hand is key to creating an informed opinion, as well as understanding the legal process. There are procedures to follow that the media often glances over in favor of stirring up controversy. My hope is that this piece provides insight into the judiciar y process and the true implications of this case. Blake Ziegler is a freshman at Notre Dame from New Orleans, Louisiana, with double majors in political science and philosophy. He hopes his writing encourages others to take an interest in politics and government. For inquiries, he can be reached at bziegler@nd.edu or @NewsWithZig on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The patron saint of campus debate? In the recent f lurr y of v iew points, lectures and signage displays, it seems that world- and nation-w ide controversies are play ing out at Notre Dame in a spicier way than usual. I am not some sage alum who has achieved enlightenment and v iews campus controversies from 40,000 feet. But here are a few noncontroversial truths: 1. American societ y is currently quite polarized and our means of communication w ith each other brings controversial, emotional and extreme content to the fore. This is just as true at ND, for better or for worse. 2. Notre Dame is deeply marked by its character as a Catholic universit y, notw ithstanding all the inconsistencies that accompany apply ing that term to a large swath of diverse indiv iduals. Cultural and political discussions at Notre Dame are inf luenced by #2, whether you like it or not. 3. You w ill be hard pressed to find an indiv idual on this earth whose cultural or political opinions are deeply inf luenced by tweets, op-eds or campus displays. Again, Notre Dame is no exception. W hat this means is threefold. First, it means that rhetoric from all sides is
tending toward the low end of the qualit y spectrum. Even well meaning, well educated, special “Notre Dame people” are often guilt y of crappy rhetoric when making cultural and political arguments. Second, it means that Notre Dame is equipped with a tradition and a lens for viewing these controversies that most other institutions and schools don’t have, so it should use them conscientiously and w ith the nuance befitting its status as an elite universit y. The mission statement is prett y lucid on this point. Third, it means there’s lots of room for improvement. There’s no reason Notre Dame has to be the best at any thing. Like our academic departments and our sports teams, we as a body of Notre Dame people have to keep striv ing to improve, or else our qualit y w ill sink and our abilit y to affect the world w ill be impaired. Let’s not forget that minds and hearts are changed first and foremost through relationships. No one gives a damn what you say if they don’t trust or at least respect you. In his novel about a young man’s conversion to Catholicism, soon-to-be-saint John Henr y New man portrays the culture of dialogue at Ox ford at great length. (New man is well know n for his book “The Idea of a Universit y”; the novel “Loss and
Gain” is like an illustration of some of the ideas in that book.) It might seem crust y on the surface — did these guys ever do any thing but drink tea, stroll through meadows and talk about Christianit y? — but it contains all the fer vor, emotion and high stakes that we see in our debates today. The main character is constantly pulled into intellectual and deeply personal conversations w ith his teachers, friends, acquaintances and family members about his doubts about the Anglican church. Because of their relationships, they actually inf luence each other. Literally all but one think he is absolutely w rong, dishonoring his family and sinning to the point of damnation by even considering becoming a Roman Catholic — and yet they all have extended conversations w ith him and continue to live and study and pray and work w ith him for years while he forms his opinions and discerns his course of action. Let’s be more like that and less like ideologues w ith megaphones on street corners. It’s the idea of a universit y, after all. Saint New man, pray for us. Rebecca Devine class of 2016 Oct. 5
Massive accumulation of wealth cannot be justified Mary Szromba Banter from the Bend
In 1989, there were 198 billionaires in the world. Ten years later in 1999, that number increased to 465 – that’s about 2.3 times more. Today, there are 2,153 billionaires. That’s 4.6 times more billionaires in the same number of years. Meanwhile, almost 600 million people live in extreme povert y around the world. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum politically, it is hard to argue that these numbers ref lect an ideal world. W hile global povert y is a complex issue that won’t be solved just by abolishing billionaires, it is at the ver y least problematic that more and more wealthy people achieve billionaire-status each year while millions of people struggle to put food on the table. That said, the problem of billionaires is not exactly a hidden issue, and it is usually discussed ever y campaign cycle by both the right and the left. Here at Notre Dame, it is likely a relatively uncontroversial idea that it would be better to allev iate millions of people from povert y than it would be to add the 2,154th billionaire to the list – we just disagree on how to do it. W hile different people may draw the line in different places, most people on this campus can agree that at a certain point there is such a thing as too much wealth, and that point likely comes sometime before one reaches billionaire-status. The more troubling idea rests beneath the surface: how many Notre Dame families have crossed that line? It’s no secret that most students here come from wealthier-than-average families. Take into account the fact that most of the student body is Catholic, and this becomes an issue. Perhaps the most conv incing ev idence for this idea comes from the Bible itself. In the stor y of Jesus and the rich young man, Jesus says, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you w ill have treasure in heaven.” W hen his disciples express their dismay, Jesus utters his famous line, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” These quotes have been repeated so often that I’m sure you already know what I’m going to say: you cannot call yourself a Christian if you are consistently amassing an inordinate amount of wealth. Putting aside the biblical anecdotes about the dangers of wealth accumulation, there is ample ev idence to suggest that any modern Catholic should feel uncomfortable about amassing large amounts of money. In 2017, Pope Francis argued that the worship of money is an “idolatr y that kills,” especially when it occurs in the face of other’s hardship. He continued on to say that “This idolatr y causes so many to star ve.” In its Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching and the U.S. Economy, the United States Conference of Bishops wrote, “Support of private ownership does not mean that anyone has the right to unlimited accumulation of wealth,” and, “The Bible castigates not only the worship of idols, but also manifestations of idolatr y, such as the quest for unrestrained power and the desire for great wealth.” Later, the Bishops make their point even more explicit, saying, “All of us could well ask ourselves whether as a Christian prophetic witness we are not called to adopt a simpler lifestyle, in the face of the excessive accumulation of material goods that characterizes an aff luent society.” From a moral standpoint, I believe any wealthy student on this campus should think critically about their fortunes and question how much is too much, but I think this point is especially important for students who consider themselves Catholic. Both the Catholic Church and the Bible argue that hoarding wealth while others are
suffering from poverty is sinful. This is not just directed at the students with billions to their names, but to anyone who knows they have more money than they could realistically need. Just because you may know someone wealthier than you does not mean you absolved of your Catholic responsibility to live frugally. How many cars does your family have? How many houses? How many vacations do you take a year? To where? Is your wealth helping anyone in need? Your answer to the last question may be the most telling. Many people believe that accumulating massive amounts of money can be justified, as wealthier people are more able to help others due to their increased capital. In reality, poorer Americans donate a larger proportion of their income to charity than richer Americans. Are you the exception to this data? Is your wealth actually helping anybody? Could it be helping even more? These questions may be difficult and the conversations they lead to may be uncomfortable, but it’s important that we discuss the problem of wealth accumulation. The fact of the matter is, when you have amassed a great amount of wealth and the majority of that wealth remains with you and your family, it isn’t helping those in need. The quality of education we receive at Notre Dame means we all have the potential to accumulate wealth, even if we aren’t right now. As we prepare to enter the workforce, we need to ask ourselves whether or not this accumulation can be justified in light of our faith and our morals. If the answer is no, we have work to do. Mary Szromba is a senior majoring in philosophy and political science, and she’s never been wrong about anything in her entire life. Questions, comments, and anonymous love letters can be directed to mszromba@nd.edu or @_murrrrrr on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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Classifieds
The observer | wednesday, october 9, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Crossword | Will Shortz
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Don’t settle for less. Look over prospects, and choose the one you want, not the one you think you deserve. Where there is a will, there is a way; with effort, you can overcome any obstacle you face. Energy and charisma are your secret weapons, and how you handle those you encounter will determine your fate. Your numbers are 2, 14, 18, 23, 29, 38, 44. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Open up and experience something new and exciting. Look for the positives in whatever situation you face, and you’ll come up with a way to turn setbacks into advantages. Make changes to reflect new-found freedom and multiple choices to explore new horizons. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Just when you get settled, something will change that disrupts the dynamics of the situation. Bide your time until life around you settles down and allows you to see clearly. The priority should be stability. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Breathe life in, and learn to enjoy everything you’ve been given. Living in the moment will help ease stress and prepare you to gravitate toward positive people and situations. Use what you already have to its fullest, and good things will transpire. CANCER ( June 21-July 22): Do your part. Helping others will build character and give you the strength to help yourself. Change may not be your thing, but if it enables you to discover your true potential, it can lead to beautiful prospects. LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Treat yourself to something special, or plan to spend time with someone you love. Broaden your outlook by engaging in something that will educate and prompt you to make positive lifestyle changes. Set goals, and start heading in a progressive direction. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Seeing is believing. Go directly to the source, and you’ll discover a host of information that can help shape your next move. Knowing what you are up against will make your journey easier to conquer. Don’t let the past defeat you. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t hesitate, even if you are figuring things out as you move forward. There is no time for rest, just assessing, calculating and heading in a direction that shines brightly. Positive thoughts and actions will lead to the adventure you’re looking for. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Look past any confusion or setbacks you face and toward what you are grateful for. What’s done is done, and what’s to be depends on you. Let change inspire you and lead to new beginnings. Love conquers all. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Share your vitality with people who have similar interests or concerns. Working in a collaborative group can help you bring about positive change. How you embrace the future counts. Stop talking, and start doing. Romance is encouraged. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Invest in what you want to achieve. Use your connections, knowledge and experience to help put all the pieces in place. Change happens because you take action, not because you daydream. A personal change will lift your spirits. AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): How you portray yourself will influence the way you are treated. Look over your personal papers, and make needed updates. An emotional matter can be dealt with if you look for alternative ways to reach your objective. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Be reasonable, and you will reach your goal. Take a closer look at what you’ve already accomplished, and revise the way you are going to move forward. Sticking to a set budget and living a healthy lifestyle will encourage personal success. Birthday Baby: You are sparkling, energetic and outgoing. You are determined and confident.
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Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
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Sports Authority
Death of NBA’s Big Three Hayden Adams Associate Sports Editor
Some say it began with the Boston Celtics in 2008. Others say with the Miami Heat in 2012. You could even make an argument for the San Antonio Spurs in 2007, or the Chicago Bulls in 1996 if you want to get frisky. In any case, the “Big Three” era of the NBA seems to have met at least a temporary end, solidified by the fire sale that was the 2019 NBA free agency period. As Kevin Durant elected to leave (chickened out on) Oklahoma City to join the Golden State Warriors in the summer of 2016, and the Cleveland Cavaliers traded Kyrie Irving, at his request, to the Boston Celtics in the summer of 2017, the NBA began an odd transition period. The league began to move away from forming elite trios of stars and have now reached a “Dynamic Duo” era. It was a strange time during the transition period, as teams tried to scrounge up as much talent as possible in order to combat the Warriors quartet of Durant, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. The Philadelphia 76ers acquired Jimmy Butler and made a Big Three with him, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, eventually making their own quartet by adding Tobias Harris in a trade with the Clippers. The Boston Celtics tried to stack their team Warriors-style by pairing Gordon Hayward with Irving, Al Horford and a host of young talent. Even the Thunder experimented with a trio of Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, which quickly turned into a mere (better) pair of Westbrook and George, as everyone (except Melo) realized that Carmelo Anthony was past his prime and irrelevant as an iso scorer in today’s NBA. Still, some teams went wwith duos earlier than others and the results have helped to bring the NBA to where it currently is. Harkening back to the days of the Jordans and Pippens, the Kobes and Shaqs, the NBA has reached another Dynamic Duo phase. Chris Paul and James Harden joined forces in Houston in 2017 and narrowly lost to the Warriors in the 2018 conference finals. Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to game seven of the Western Conference Semifinals in their first playoff appearance; the Portland Trailblazers team that beat the Nuggets, led by Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, are still
chipping away at the Western Conference Playoff rounds one explosive offensive season at a time. And, Lebron James offered his whole supporting Lakers cast to the New Orleans Pelicans for Anthony Davis (though the Lakers did try to get a third star in free agency and fell short). The Milwaukee Bucks rose to be the NBA’s winningest team last season as reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has emerged as a superstar and Kris Middleton has developed into an all-star caliber player alongside him. There are even young pairings looking to build up their franchises, like Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton on the Phoenix Suns, or Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis with the Dallas Mavericks. Now, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant have joined one another in Brooklyn of all places, essentially solidifying the Nets as THE team in New York (though admittedly not that difficult a task with the Knicks’ persistent incompetence). On the west coast, Paul George and reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard will be playing their first season with the Los Angeles Clippers, hoping to re-dethrone the now Jamesand-Davis-led Lakers as THE team in Los Angeles. Westbrook and Harden have reunited in Houston since their days in Oklahoma City and will have to find a way to balance both of their ball-hog tendencies. Lastly, DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge are still keeping the Spurs in the playoff picture as they seemingly remain the last team unwilling to tank for lottery picks (God bless Gregg Popovich). Still, some teams are hanging on to the Big Three formula. The 76ers, after losing Jimmy Butler in free agency, paired Al Horford with Simmons and Embiid, leaving essentially no big men in the Eastern Conference capable of guarding Embiid. The Warriors, on the other hand, are “handicapped” by Klay Thompson’s ACL injury to a trio of Curry, Green and D’Angelo Russell. Whether or not the Big Three formula will ever return to the NBA is yet to be seen. However, this shift from three stars to two took some time, and with it becoming evident that the shift has indeed occurred, NBA franchises should remember that those who don’t keep up with change are often left behind by it. Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Continued from page 12
at 33-over-par, which edged them past Wisconsin, who finished with a final score of 37-over-par. Despite the shaky scores coming from the Irish early this season, they have had performances to look up to and strive towards at nearly all their matches. Junior Abby Heck and freshman Lauren Beaudreau had good showings at the Schooner Classic where they both shot scores of 66. Heck shot it in the third round and Beaudreau shot it in the second. However, both the girls still seemed to struggle throughout the Illini Invitational. Three of their combined six rounds went for scores of 78 on the par 72 course, and only Heck would be able to break below a 75 with a 74 in her third and final round. Despite the lackluster performance there was one golfer that remained a constant throughout the tournament. Freshman Madelyn Jones had one of the best tournaments of her young collegiate career, shooting a
72 in the third round of the tournament. She finished in 28th place and was able to maintain her play throughout the tournament, picking up some of the slack left by her teammates. Jones shot a 74 in the first round and a 73 in the second, able to finish with a final score of 219, leaving her three-over-par, the leader in the clubhouse for the Irish by five strokes. W hile the Irish haven’t been able to put together any good tournament runs thus far in their fall season, the team has had an array of individual performances that are of note. In addition to Heck and Beaudreau’s performances at the Schooner Classic, Jones also shot a career best round at the tournament with a 69 in the second round of the event. The t wo non-scoring members of the Irish squad put up good rounds in the Illini Inv itational, possibly due to the lack of pressure to produce qualit y scores. Senior Mia Ayer competed as an indiv idual in the tournament and posted a final score of 224, matching the score of sophomore Claire A lbrecht, while freshman
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Jessica Meyers was able to finish her final round w ith a total score of 228. Next up for the Irish is the Texas State Jim West Challenge. The Irish w ill head dow n south to compete in San Marcos, Texas on October 20th and 21st at the Kissing Tree Golf Club. The event marks the conclusion to their fall season. The Irish w ill pick up match play again in late Februar y and w ill be hoping to compete on their home course when NCA A Regionals starts up in the second week of May 2020. In regards to her team’s recent performances, Irish head coach Susan Holt expressed confidence in the squad’s talent. “We’re a young team, play ing three freshman and one sophomore,” she said. “We just need to manage our games better because the talent is here. We are beating ourselves more than the competition is beating us. But we’re learning and grow ing each time out, which w ill pay div idends dow n the road.” Contact Jimmy Ward at wward@hcc-nd.edu
ann curtis | The Observer
Irish sophomore Claire Albrecht follows through her putt in an exhibition game at Warren Golf Course on Oct. 24. Albecht played in eight tournaments last year with her strongest finish coming in at 14th. The Observer accepts classifieds every business day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Notre Dame office, 024 South Dining Hall. Deadline for next-day classifieds is 3 p.m. All classifieds must be prepaid. The charge is 5 cents per character per day, including all spaces. The Observer reserves the right to edit all classifieds for content without issuing refunds.
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Sports
The observer | wednesday, october 9, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
M Soccer Continued from page 12
another goal in the top-left post, upping the score to 2-0 for the Irish. Following a substitution — sophomore midfielder Ben Giacobello in for Lynn — Giacobello pounded the ball into the goal off the assist from senior forward John Rea, making it the third goal for the Irish, and his second goal of the season. Minutes later, Rea scored the first goal of his career, securing a four-goal lead for the Irish against the Mastodons (3-8-0) in the first half of the match. Notre Dame head coach Chad Riley highlighted the team effort of all the players and their strong perseverance throughout the game, especially those with firstseason and career goals. “I think overall [the win] was part of the group. I think it’s nice for guys to open their account to and scoring goals. I do think a lot of the guys that came in as substitutes really brought a good level and a good attitude in the game and so it was nice to see them rewarded with goals,” he said. The team’s dominance continued into the second half as the Irish added another four
goals to the score. Following a shot attempt by sophomore defender Patrick Coleman, sophomore midfielder Mohamed Omar handed the Irish a 5-0 lead in the 51st minute through the legs of Purdue Ft. Wayne goalkeeper Tor Erik Larsen. After a strong attempt by Lynn to head the ball into the goal, Rea scored his second goal of the match, and second goal of his career in the 72nd minute. Riley highlighted the team’s attitude and approach to the game. “I think every chance you get to compete as a group, as a team, you don’t take that moment for granted and I think they did a good job at competing tonight. he said. Following a strong save by Irish junior goalkeeper Keagan McLaughlin, senior defender Spencer Farina joined the offensive campaign, scoring his first goal of the season and powering the Irish to a 7-0 lead over the Mastadons. Minutes later, sophomore forward Tyler Shea was able to score the first goal of his career in the top-right corner of the net. It was a rewarding shot that handed the Irish an 8-0 victory. Riley was impressed with the way the team handled its opponent and continued to bring the pressure for the
allison thorton | The Observer
Irish senior midfielder Jack Casey hustles down the field in a 1-0 victory over Denver at Alumni Stadium on Sept. 8th. Casey has appeared in at least 18 games every season, starting since his sophomore year.
entirety of the game. “They kept focus and what I like is we competed for 90 minutes. Sometimes when you score, maybe you’re up 2-0 and it’s easy to lose focus, but I think they kept playing the game we know how to play,” he Paid Advertisement
said. Hoping to continue this strong play and in need of a conference win, the Irish will be competing against Duke at home on Friday at 6 pm. “I think it’s just a different game,” Riley said. “So I think
we should take each game as its own. But I think from this, we just enjoy it for the night and get back to work for Duke tomorrow”. Contact Angela Overlack at aoverlac@nd.edu
Sports
Swim & Dive Continued from page 12
sophomore Josh Bottelberghe (breaststroke) on the men’s side. On the women’s side, senior Abbie Dolan, who competes in multiple events, and freshman Coleen Gillilan will be competing. “[Gillilan] is outstanding already and has the fastest time in the country in the 200 meter individual medley right now which is really nice,” Litzinger said. “We are looking for those particular people in those events to step up and contribute pretty hard for us.” Litzinger also said that the women’s dive team is strong across the board. “We probably have one of the strongest dive teams on the women’s side since I’ve been at Notre Dame competing this Wednesday,” he said. Litzinger is also excited to see some of the talented freshmen compete at the meet. He is excited to see how they will adjust to the college level competition.
ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, october 9, 2019 | The Observer
“The speed of everything is very intimidating, and they have to adjust to that,” Litzinger said. “In high school, you may have the opportunity to swim some off events and not put forth your very best effort all the time because you can easily beat a team. In college you have to be on your game every time. I think they found that out at last week’s meet. I think they have learned how to put some pressure on themselves, and take those steps forward.” The swim and dive teams have lofty goals set for themselves this season. Litzinger said that dual meets like this one are treated as steps along the way to the championship meets. “The goal is to perform at our highest level at the NCAA championships,” Litzinger said. “Beyond that we have already had 15 athletes qualify for the US Olympic trials, and we want to keep adding to that number, and prepare for that meet in late June.” Contact Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu
Walsh Continued from page 12
national power rankings. “That was when we realized we achieved more than we could have imagined,” Walsh said. However, having achieved his goals for high school, Walsh left North Carolina in favor of South Bend, Indiana, where he has made an instant impression with the Irish. “We actually first saw Chris play on a live-stream of high school nationals in June. He was probably the most talented and experienced player on that roster; we could see how he was the go-to guy on offense and how he was getting blocks or shutting his man down on defense,” Irish co-captain and senior Sebastian Miner said, “Now that he’s on a college team, he’s not slowing down at all. The level of play is higher, but he’s clearly fitting into the role well, still getting open and making plays against some of our top players in practice.”
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Miner also referenced Walsh’s club team. “Many of the set plays on offense ran through him, and that’s a pretty elite position to be in on the national stage,” Miner said. Making plays against some of Notre Dame’s top players is a noteworthy accomplishment, as the Irish boast a strong core of returners led by captains Miner, Oliver Hirn and Austin Walter. Former Notre Dame pole vaulter and senior Landon Shank, along with Tommy Lawton and Joey Oswald contribute to the strong senior class. Junior Steven Wagner, who burst onto the scene as a handler last season, is also an exceptional talent for the Irish. However, while finding a university with an established Ultimate program was important to Walsh, it wasn’t necessarily the talent of the Irish roster that drew Walsh to Notre Dame. “When I went to applied to colleges, Ultimate was a big part of my decision. I came up and visited [Notre Dame], and I got to practice with the team, and what
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really struck me was the people,” Walsh said. “The people on the team are the most incredible thing. They’re such a fun group of guys and girls, and they all support each other. Regardless of how well they do in actual tournaments, the spirit is always there. That was something that was really cool to me, and something I could tell was really unique and I really wanted to be a part of.” Miner also referenced the team’s spirit and camaraderie. “ND Ultimate has a very goofy, spirited and fun mentality, and Chris seems to get such a kick out of it. We’re obviously really glad that he and other new players love the atmosphere,” he said. While maybe not considered a powerhouse, Notre Dame Ultimate has high goals for this year. The addition of an impact player like Walsh highlights the growth this program has seen in recent years. Recently, Notre Dame has constantly knocked on the doorstep of nationals, falling short in the Great Lakes regional championship three of the past five years. Last season, the Irish again showcased their potential, their talent shining through in a gutsy victory over UCF, who was ranked No. 8 in the country. In that game, the Irish were down two before ripping off four straight points to take the upset victory. This season, the Notre Dame men’s team has its eyes on qualifying for nationals for the first time in 19 years, while the women will try and secure their third berth in five years. Historically, Notre Dame’s rival Michigan has enjoyed the most success out of the Great Lakes region, and, while he may be a freshman, Walsh is well aware of the rivalry and Notre Dame’s goals for the season, and Miner and the other captains are excited at the prospect of what Walsh can add to their squad. “He brings a lot of ultimate knowledge to the table. We think he’ll be a great addition to the talent and athleticism on our roster based on how he’s been playing so far,” Miner said. Individually, Walsh has high goals this year, goals that only became bigger with his invite to the USA U20 tryouts. On the college level, Walsh hopes to qualify for the Great Lakes All-Freshman team. If he accomplishes that goal, he would be the second straight Notre Dame Ultimate player to attain that honor, after current sophomore Maddie Galvin achieved the feat for the Irish women’s team last year. Nationally, Walsh’s goals have evidently shifted as he now focuses his goals towards making the U20 Team. If he does so, Walsh earns the opportunity to compete at the world championships next year in Sweden. “I’m training really hard for this, and it would absolutely be an honor if I make the team,” Walsh said. Contact Aidan Thomas at athoma28@nd.edu
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The observer | wednesday, october 9, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Nd Swimming and Diving
Men’s soccer | ND 8, Purdue fort wayne 0
Notre Dame posts 8 goals against Purdue Fort Wayne
Irish prep for upcoming meet
By ANGELA OVERLACK
By NATE MOLLER
Sports Writer
Sports Writer
The Irish defeated Purdue Fort Wayne on Tuesday 8-0. It was a memorable match considering the last time eight points were scored by the Irish (6-4-1, 0-4 ACC) was Sept. 3, 1995 against DePaul. Right from the start, the Irish dominated possession of the ball, totaling 29 shots on goal and 15 corner kicks. Irish sophomore forward Jack Lynn dribbles the ball downfield during Notre Dame’s 4-2 win over Seattle on September 6th. Within the first minute of play, sophomore forward Jack Lynn gave the Irish an early lead, assisted by graduate student forward Ian Aschieris. This was Lynn’s fifth goal of the season, leading the team into a strong start. Following two corner kicks for the Irish, junior midfielder Aiden McFadden found Lynn, who shot yet
The swimming and diving squad will face off against Indiana and Kentucky this Wednesday in Lexington, Kentucky in what marks the second competition of the season. Last week, both teams took care of business against ACC foe Florida State. Head coach Mike Litzinger says the team will look to build on its first win. “It is always great to open up with a win, so you want to continue the excitement and momentum from that win from one to the next,” Litzinger said. The meet will take place at 10 in the morning, an unconventional time for a meet. Litzinger stated that having the right attitude leading up to the meet is key, especially for a meet like this. “Usually our kids are in class at 10 a.m. The key is to have a really good mindset. We need to walk into the meet feeling really positive and turn on that competitive switch,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what time it is or where the meet is at, we have to compete. It’s really
see M SOCCER PAGE 10
junya kanemitsu | The Observer
Irish sophomore forward Jack Lynn rushes down the field during a 4-2 victory against Seattle at Alumin Stadium on Sept. 6.
Walsh set for U-20 Ultimate tryouts Sports Writer
When moving from the East Coast to attend the University, trips back home can be few and far between, but Notre Dame freshman Chris Walsh has earned himself an extra trip via an invitation to tryouts for the USA Under-20 Ultimate Frisbee team, which are to be held November 16-17, in North Carolina, just miles from where Chris grew up. “It’s really cool to be able to do it close to home because of the people I’ll get to see there,” Walsh said, “When the tryout list was released, it was cool to see the amount of names I recognized. It’ll be great to compete back home and be part of the North Carolina Ultimate scene again.” Walsh applied for this opportunity, working through a lengthy process that included essays and coach recommendations over the past summer, and he heard the good news just over a week ago. Many of the players Walsh
see SWIM & DIVE PAGE 11
ND women’s golf | Illini Women’s invitational
Ultimate frisbee | Chris Walsh
By AIDAN THOMAS
important to put that mindset to use.” Although every meet is important, the team will use this as a build up race for future postseason meets. Coach Litzinger said this race, among other dual meets this year, will be treated as a race rehearsal for the bigger competitions. “Everyone of our dual meets is a lead up and practice for the ACC Championships and the NCAA Championships,” Litzinger said. “Of course there is strategy involved. There are a certain number of points needed to win the meet. We will all take a look at that, but at the end of the day, we’re trying to practice race strategy, put our great training into use and put together a great team effort.” The team will be bringing many of its top athletes to the meet. Some of the top competitors include sophomore Zach Yeadon (distance), sophomore Austin Flaute (diving), senior Jack Montesi (backstroke), freshman Max Miranda (butterfly), and
will compete with are familiar faces, due to his multiple trips to national tournaments over the past few years. Walsh competed for Tri-Force, a premier club team that finished third in the country this past summer. However, his proudest achievement involves his high school squad, Durham Academy (DA). After picking up the sport in sixth grade, Walsh and many of his friends became committed to Ultimate throughout middle school, only to realize their freshman year that there was no team at the high school. “My class was committed to the sport and wanted to start a program. That first year we played, we played three games, and lost all of them. It was more of a pickup club than anything,” Walsh said. “Our goal by the end of our four years was to be competitive with some of the stronger teams.” With Walsh leading the charge, DA achieved just that, winning its spring league, finishing third at states and earning a spot in the see WALSH PAGE 11
ND struggles to overcome slow September start By JIMMY WARD Spor ts Writer
ann curtis | The Observer
Irish junior golfer Abby Heck drives the ball down the green in an exhibition round at Warren Golf Course on Oct. 24.
The Notre Dame women’s golf team is tr y ing to bounce back from a rough stretch of fall matches. The Irish finished 10th place at their first match of the season at the Minnesota Inv itational on September 10th after weather cut the match short. Next, the Irish headed out to Ok lahoma to compete at the 2019 Schooner Fall Classic where they would finish 14th out of 15 teams. This week the Irish were able to avoid a last place finish at the 2019 Illini Women’s Inv itational. At the end of the first round the Irish found themselves in 15th place w ith a team score of 25-over-par, but they were able to bounce back w ith solid second and third rounds that added up to a score of eight-over-par. They would finish the tournament see ND W GOLF PAGE 9