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Volume 54, Issue 78 | friday, february 7, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Student shares summer work Notre Dame sophomore reflects on time spent assisting asylum seekers By ZIXU WANG AND MARIA LUISA PAUL News Writers
When refugees leave their countries from persecution or war conflicts, they do not directly start a new peaceful life after entering the United States. In reality, when they arrive at the border as asylum seekers, the first step upon arrival is the credible fear interview, a 30-minute-long screening with an immigration official to establish whether there is a “significant possibility” of such persecutions. If they fail to convince the official, they will be deported almost immediately. Many asylum seekers fail the interview, not because of the lack of legitimate claim, but because
of language barriers and because they do not know what information is legally relevant, according to NPR. To help asylum seekers prepare for the interview, Camila Antelo Iriarte, a sophomore studying political science and economics, participated in RAICES, a nonprofit agency that provides free and low-cost legal services to underserved refugees. Antelo Iriarte spent 10 weeks last summer in San Antonio, Texas — an experience she said “changed her life.” The refugee detention center is an hour and a half away from San Antonio. When Antelo Iriarte arrived, she left her phone outside, passed the security check, walked through the dark corridors and
met her clients in a dark, cramped room with gray walls and no windows. She received a list of her clients with only names and alien numbers beforehand, then met the asylum seekers, helping them prepare interviews and translate documents from Spanish to English. The immigrant officer will give a positive or negative result after the interview, which decides whether refugees can get out of the detention center and go to the next step of asylum, or get deported almost immediately, Antelo Iriarte said. Though the procedure is long and complicated, Antelo Iriarte said she can only help them with one step.
Saint Mary’s to host first joint parents weekend By MARY MANSFIELD News Writer
For the first time ever, Saint Mar y’s first-years and sophomores w ill come together to share a parent weekend, a perennially popular event put on by class council and the Office of Student Affairs to foster relationships bet ween students, families and
the College. The First-Year and Sophomore Parent’s Weekend w ill kick off Friday evening. The focus of the first-year and sophomore weekend tends have a more informational aspect in order to give parents a greater sense of what Saint Mar y’s has to offer its students from the ver y beginning of
their time there, dean of students Gloria Jenkins said in an email. “There are information sessions which are targeted to each indiv idual class,” Jenkins said in the email. “Junior moms and senior dads events var y and revolve around that year’s class
“I have seen my clients get a positive result, but I don’t know when they can finally go through the asylum procedure and start a normal life,” she said. The worst situation is being deported, Antelo Iriarte. She said the refugees flee their homes not because of the idea of a good life in the United States, but because they literally have no life in their home countries. “There is an armed conflict in their homeland,” she said. “They may be killed, detained, raped. They ran away from there not because of the ‘American dream,’ but because there was nowhere to go.” Most asylum seekers spend
The Election Committee of Judicial Council announced in a press release Friday that it is issuing a sanction to the IngalGalbenski ticket in response to a violation of Judicial Council’s Election Regulations. The committee determined juniors Rachel Ingal and Sarah Galbenski, candidates for student body president and vice president, violated Section 17.1(g)(6) of the student body constitution, which reads:
see ASYLUM PAGE 3
see VIOLATION PAGE 3
Theologian discusses ‘Song of Soloman’
GINA TWARDOSZ | The Observer
Theologian M. Shawn Copeland gives a lecture on spirituality and sacramentals in Toni Morrison’s novel “Song of Soloman.”
McGlinn Hall w ill hold their annual Casino Night on Friday, inv iting students to deal, gamble and practice their skills while raising money for St. Adalbert Catholic School in South Bend, the dorm’s primar y communit y partner. Last year’s fundraiser broke the dorm’s record
and raised over $3,000, junior Molly Zachlin, one of the students spearheading the event, said. A ll of the money goes directly to the school. In the past, funds have helped supply new g y m f loors and transportation for the students and teachers. Continuing their support for St. Adalbert, students from McGlinn and Fischer Hall also tutor students at the school for an hour each
week, using Casino Night to further their involvement w ith the students’ well-being, Zachlin said. “It’s a really good relationship we have bet ween t wo schools,” she said. Zachlin started planning for the fundraiser as early as October. She said the hard work of the McGlinn commissioners always pays off. see CASINO PAGE 4
Members of the Saint Mary’s community gathered in Carroll Auditorium to hear M. Shawn Copeland, noted theologian and Boston College professor emerita, speak on spirituality in Toni Morrison’s “Song of Solomon.” This talk was the first of the Center for Spirituality’s spring lecture series. Early in her lecture, Copeland
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see PARENTS PAGE 4
McGlinn Hall prepares for annual casino night By HANNAH TONSOR
Ticket violates rules
By SARA SCHLECHT Associate News Editor
explained that she wanted those who study literature to know theologians such as herself do not intend to make works of fiction suit their discipline’s needs. Dr. M. Shawn Copeland, Boston College professor emerita and a noted theologian, spoke on the spiritual significance of Toni Morrison’s novel “The Song of Solomon,” see SOLOMAN PAGE 4
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Residents of Keenan Hall perform in their dorm’s annual event, the Keenan Revue, on Thursday night. The entertainment show features members of the Keenan community acting, dancing and singing in skits with all proceeds benefiting the Dismas House.
The next Five days:
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Friday
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Code Café 246 Hesburgh Library 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. All levels of experience welcome for community coding.
Saturday Snite Sketches Snite Museum of Art 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Conversations on art followed by sketching.
Women’s Lacrosse vs Marquette Loftus Sports Center noon The Irish take on the Golden Eagles.
Discussion on Gender Equity in Business Stayer Center Commons C 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Featuring Joe Holt.
Catholic Social Tradition Information Session 234 Geddes Hall 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Learn about the minor.
Dance Company Performance DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Honoring Paul Taylor.
John Ruskin Birthday Lecture John J. Reilly Center 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Lecture given by Clive Wilmer.
Women’s Basketball vs University of Pittsburgh Purcell Pavilion 4 p.m. Irish take on Panthers.
Lecture: “The Business of Being an Artist” 215 Riley Hall of Art 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. All are welcome.
“How to Succeed at Notre Dame Without Losing Your Soul” 131 DeBartolo Hall 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Open to the public.
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BeeND collaborates with two local apiaries By Trinity Reilly News Writer
Although the flowers around campus are currently buried under snow, and there might not be a bee in sight, the BeeND club is buzzing. Senior Kateri Budo, president of BeeND, said she started the club in the spring semester of 2019 after going on a spring break trip to Appalachia, where she and a friend got to meet a beekeeper in the Ohio Valley. “[His work] was really interesting, and I knew that Notre Dame didn’t have a club like that,” Budo said. “I came back and was talking to Alice, and she said she would start a bee club too, so we started it last spring.” Back in South Bend, Budo
Asylum Continued from page 1
one year in the detention center, and the living condition is rough, Antelo Iriarte said. “You are put in rooms with hundreds of people,” she said. “You don’t get enough food. You barely can brush your teeth or take a shower. Girls don’t have sanitary pads when having a period.” In fact, this detention center is the best facility in the United States because it was also built for children, Antelo Iriarte said, adding she found it hard to imagine what the other detention centers
began reaching out to local beekeepers. She discovered two nearby apiaries: As It Should Bee and Peace Bees, an organization that employs disadvantaged workers such as the homeless, veterans and the previously incarcerated. Beekeepers from both groups have talked at club meetings, which are a mix of conversations and activities, Budo said. “Last fall, one beekeeper from Peace Bees came and gave an interactive presentation, where people dressed up and acted out the different parts of the bees’ journey through the hive,” she said. “And then we’ve also had our local beekeepers come and talk to us about harvesting honey. We actually have a meeting next Thursday — we’re going
to watch ‘The Bee Movie’ and make beeswax.” Fr. Terry Ehrman, a visiting assistant teaching professor in the department of theology, is the club moderator and teaches a course on theology and ecology, which Budo had previously taken. He said he got interested when she approached him about starting the club, he said. “I have a great love of all things natural. … I’ve always been interested in how biology, geology and theology fit together,” Ehrman said. “Learning about that specific organism that has such an important ecological role — their organization, their social life and really just their interaction with humans — is important. It has connections even with theology.”
Because the bee issue is so vast, the club tries to go beyond just educating students about bees and honey, Budo said. It also ties in theological ideas that relate to bees, as well as raise awareness about ethical farming. “I haven’t been a ‘save the bees’ person my whole life,” Budo said. “But they’re really important in terms of ethical farming. The club is just spreading awareness of the current bee issue and the importance of caring for creation in terms of doing our Catholic responsibilities.” And saving the bees isn’t only related to helping the planet, Ehrman said, as bees can have quite an impact on day-to-day life. “People take beehives,
and they truck them out to California, and they pollinate all the almond trees — if they didn’t do that, we wouldn’t have almonds, or at least we’d have very few,” he said. “They’re related to all things ecologically, just because of their functions.” While keeping bees is not yet allowed on campus, Budo said the BeeND club may want to change that. “Where I could see this club going in the future is actually having bees on campus,” she said. “That’s something that I’m not qualified for — I’m not a beekeeper — but I hope it might move towards that in the future.”
must be like. Still, she’s seen children get separated from their families — once she saw a lone three-year-old have to defend himself in court with a lawyer. Part of Antelo Iriarte’s job is listening to asylum seekers’ personal stories, which she says became extremely personal. “They are not only names or numbers — they are actual people in plight,” she said. “I would see my family, my friends in that.” Once Antelo Iriarte stepped outside of the detention center, she called her mom and started to cry. “They have been tortured, raped, detained and their houses were burning down,” she said.
“They lost their family and home. They crossed the border and still suffered every single day. They have gone through such a catastrophic life, and I have no idea how I can help them get out here.” Antelo Iriarte said she shared several of these tear-filled phone conversations with her mother. “I just needed to call my mom and cry,” she said. But Antelo Iriarte said she “never broke down in front of [her] clients.” She said she heard their pain but felt she needed to hinder her emotions. At the beginning of her work, Antelo Iriarte said she realized instead of crying to her clients, the only helpful thing she
could do was find the best way to share their stories. Some asylum seekers left important details when speaking about their experiences and she had to be cautious to find such details. Some people repeatedly asked her, “When can I get the asylum?” Antelo Iriarte said she couldn’t answer one way or another so as to not give them unrealistic expectations. “Being professional is the best help I can give,” Antelo Iriarte said. She said she struggled to reconcile the professionalism required for the job with the heart-wrenching nature of the work. “It’s so frustrating,” Antelo Iriarte said. “Their stories entirely touch my heart but I couldn’t touch them. I couldn’t hug them. I couldn’t cry with them. I couldn’t tell them things are fine and you’re going to be OK, even though I don’t know if that was even possible for them to be OK.” Nevertheless, being constantly exposed to catastrophic stories had the opposite effect on Antelo Iriarte. Instead of repressing her sorrow, she unexpectedly felt apathetic. She received many cases from the same countries of similar scenarios, and she soon learned that some experiences were “not bad enough” to pass the asylum process. “I was like, OK, what else? You have been raped. Your family has been killed. They took away your house. OK. But what else? These things can’t make you fit into the asylum,” Antelo Iriarte said. “What else?” Antelo Iriarte said this was a scary realization. “I was so hurt inside and became indifferent to so much pain,” she said.
The hardest time came when Antelo Iriarte returned to Notre Dame. In the first two weeks of class, she had six referrals to the University Counseling Center because she couldn’t stop crying. Every time people asked about her summer and congratulated her work, she felt awkward and rejected their praise. “When I saw how normal my life was in Notre Dame, I would think of the kids [who] lost their parents in the armed conflict, the girls being raped and the people being tortured,” Antelo Iriarte said. “Then I thought, ‘Why [do] I deserve it more than them?’” Antelo Iriarte is originally from Bolivia, where many asylum seekers come from. But she said she also comes from a “good background,” and hasn’t faced the same hurdles they have. She said her good fortune makes her feel sad for her clients. “I live in a peaceful life just because of pure luck,” she said. “The asylum seekers come from the same or similar places as me. When I looked at them, I found it could be my family. It could be my friends. It could be myself. I try my best to help them because when I help them, I feel like helping my friends, my family and myself.” Antelo Iriarte’s efforts have paid off. When she prepared her clients and they received positive results after the interview, she said she felt like “the happiest person in the world.” “It was the highlight of my day, like my birthday for five minutes,” she said. “It was so amazing because this result was so hard.”
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University department, office or official.” The Ingal-Galbenski ticket is required to “cease all electronic activity” for the next 24 hours, including publicly interacting on their personal or official social media platforms.
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Casino Continued from page 1
The students hope to make the fundraiser as successful as last year, not only for St. Adalbert’s, but for the Notre Dame community as well, she added. In addition to the charitable aspect of the event, Casino Night is also an opportunity for Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross students to gather and enjoy fellowship,
Parents Continued from page 1
preference. However, there are fun and social activities for all in attendance.” With approximately 100 families expected to attend this weekend’s events, class council representatives have worked with the Office of Student Affairs to plan the weekend. While events are largely planned according to the interests of the hosting class, certain
Soloman Continued from page 1
Thursday. “Quite frankly, I want to ward off any suspicions that may lurk among professors in English and American literatures — professors and students who may be concerned about theologians instrumentalizing or distorting fiction,” Copeland said. Her overview of the novel distinguished it as more driven by culture than action. “‘Song of Solomon’ really is a psychological novel,” Copeland said. “It’s much more concerned with an examination of the inner lives of its characters and their responses to historical and familial circumstances than it is with action.” Because of its focus on these themes, “Song of Solomon” encourages readers to better understand humanity, she said. “Literature teaches and tutors us, coaxes and coaches us — all of us — even theologians in the mysteries of the human mind and human heart … well-written, demanding novels challenge,” she said. “They resist reduction both to naïve literalism and overblown symbolizing. Theology and literature draw our attention to what is vital and important, turn us toward what is transcendent, toward what transcends us toward the potentialities of our own self-transcendence.” Copeland explained the novel’s major characters and their history. With the aid of a family tree, she explained the connections of the Dead family, around whom “Song of Solomon” is centered. She then gave an overview of the plot before launching into the novel’s connections to spirituality. “Some of you may find the notion of spirituality and relation to ‘Song of Solomon’ surprising, and others may think linking the novel to Catholicism or Catholic spirituality to be dubious or odd, or
food and a variety of classic casino games, Zachlin said. The games offered at the event include Texas Hold’em, Roulette and Blackjack. Zachlin said perhaps the most exciting of the games is the Texas Hold’em tournament, with students competing against each other until a first and second-place winner are crowned. The first-place winner will take home a $100 Amazon gift card, while the runner-up will walk away with
a $50 Amazon card. In addition to the tournament prizes, winning students in every game of the night can expect gift cards to the Hammes Bookstore and to a variety of local restaurants. The event works by allotting students a set amount of fake money to gamble throughout thwe night. “This fake money is then exchanged for raffle tickets for a chance to win tons of great prizes and gift cards or to purchase
mocktails,” sophomore Alisa Nguyen, a co-commissioner of the event, said in an email. The event’s fun, classy but casual atmosphere makes it stands out among other dorm gatherings, Zachlin said. “It’s pretty unique compared to other dorm events,” she said. “We try to get a little classy. The McGlinn girls definitely dress up a little more nicely, and it’s a really fun time.” Tickets went on presale for $5, but they are still available
at the door for $7. Nguyen said she urges students to consider attending. “Casino Night is a high-energy environment that facilitates community and fun,” she said. “It’s a chance to relax with friends, enjoy good food and music, meet new people and show off your poker face — all while helping raise money for St. Adalbert’s.”
events hold a permanent place on every schedule. “Every family weekend culminates with a great meal on Saturday night, then Mass on Sunday morning,” Jenkins said in the email. “The official schedule of events and the activities are planned the semester prior to the event. For this weekend, we’ll have Friday night trivia, Saturday workshops, bowling and of course, dinner and Sunday Mass.” Jenkins said the weekends are always well-received by the
families in attendance, who appreciate the opportunity to gain a closer connection to the College. “Parent weekends are meant to provide an opportunity for parents and/or guests to spend time with their student,” she said in the email. “Our guests enjoy seeing a glimpse of their student’s college life and our students enjoy meeting each other’s families. They’ve often heard a great deal about each other and it’s a good chance to really put faces to the names.”
Having a weekend dedicated to bringing together students’ families with their “college family” is just as important to the students as to their parents because it allows them to deepen their existing friendships and to make more connections with classmates and their families, Jenkins said. “It’s a great time for students to build relationships with each other and their families through fun social events,” she said. Jenkins said the weekend
also serves a practical purpose, providing a way to raise class money that is set aside to finance the flagship celebration concluding the undergraduate experience — Senior Week. “These weekends are an opportunity for each class to begin to raise money for their Senior Week,” Jenkins said. “The funds that are raised help cover costs for Senior Week, something everyone looks forward to.”
perhaps flat-out wrong,” she said. “I understand spirituality as a way of life, a way of living, a way of being in and moving with and through the world.” Catholicism is a religion, Copeland said, but also a spirituality. “This way of life and living extends the word made flesh through community and communion, in and through and beyond time,” she said. She noted several examples of characters in “Song of Solomon” who take on their own spiritual journeys. Among them is Milkman, one of the novel’s main characters. Events in his life “fundamentally and profoundly” changed him, she said. “What began as a material quest evolved into a spiritual journey. Milkman has found a treasure far more precious than gold,” Copeland said. “He has found his family’s history … a powerful and empowering spiritual gift.” Another character through whom Morrison explores spirituality is Pilate, Copeland said. “The way in which Pilate Dead lives her life — the way she is, the way in which she moves in and with and through the world — this was as a developed and developing relationality to sell others, the world and the transcendent … because human living always is fragile practice in fleshing vulnerabilities and virtues, judgements and decisions, surrender and discipline, atonement and conversion,” she said. The character of Pilate also introduces readers to sacramentals, another of the lecture’s themes. “In particular, [Pilate] introduces us to reliquaries, containers for precious or sacred objects,” Copeland said. “Sacramentals remind us of and orient us toward transcendence. … Such signs include physical objects, some candles, rosaries, medals, relics, statues and music.” These signs were among the things that helped Pilate sanctify
her time, Copeland said. “‘Song of Solomon’ is indirectly didactic,” she said. “The characters of the novel illustrate what it means to value family, venerate ancestors, cherish children and old people, honor friendship … and respect all those encountered along the way.” Following the lecture, questions from the audience revolved around the themes of Catholicism and African American culture. “This is a heavily cultural novel,
and if you’ve only thought of black culture as pathological, then you’ve really missed out on something important,” Copeland said. “There are a lot of subtleties here that black people don’t all master. Mastering your culture, really appropriating it fully, is really a lifetime project. Few people are really able to do this. This is why novelists are so important.”
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Inside Column
27 activities for 100 days Evy Stein Viewpoint Editor
At the exact moment this inside column is published online, the senior class at Notre Dame will officially have 100 days until graduation. This makes me feel a lot of things — sad is definitely at the top of the list — but that is not the point of this inside column. The point is someone needed to write an inside column, and tonight is the 100 Days Dance, so it’s on my mind. Sad is not the point! I recognize that some of these activities are inevitable and some are silly, but it’s my column so please enjoy a list of 27 to-do’s I hope to check off before I graduate (in no particular order). 1. Go inside every building on campus 2. Have an official Kraft mac and cheese postgame 3. Figure out who the commencement speaker is 4. Find two long formal dresses (yeah that’s right, Dome Dance, baby!) 5. Finish writing my thesis 6. Attend class at Saint Mary’s with Maria 7. Minimize time doing homework while engaging thoroughly in my classes 8. Maximize time watching “The Bachelor” with my roommates 9. Purchase an amazing and humongous f loppy hat for spring break 10. Witness one small-scale-viral Observer TikTok 11. Go climbing in Duncan 12. Spend an evening at Four Winds Field 13. Go to another basketball game 14. Welcome the new Viewpoint Editor :) 15. Convert aforementioned spring break f loppy hat into an appropriately high-fashion hat for the Kentucky Derby 16. Walk the St. Joe River Lights 17. Learn how to make buffalo chicken dip 18. Attend a Friday noontime concert in LaBar 19. Get asked to Observer Prom 20. Line dance at Cowboy Up 21. Host a craft night 22. Complete our house mood board 23. Hang out with my sister (and her friends) (shoutout to the quad!) 24. Visit the Indiana Dunes 25. Listen to my 5,000th hour of Philip Glass 26. Play pick up basketball in Duncan 27. Eat more Southwest Salad Please feel free to reach out at estein@nd.edu if you would like to join me in crossing off anything on this list or if you have more suggestions! I will be printing this out and adding it to our house mood board to cross off item #22 immediately. Contact Evy Stein at estein@nd.edu The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
So, what is your story? Krista Lourdes Akiki Lifestyle Nomad
“We tell stories in order to feel at home in the universe.”— Roger Bingham. Stories are what make us human. They’re the native language our minds have been w ired to understand since the beginning of time. Indeed, we love stories. As kids, we would beg for one more bedtime fair y tale. As adults, most of our conversations often include either “I cannot wait to tell you what happened … ” or “Guess what happened … ” followed by v iv id descriptions of moments, memories, conversations, fights. In an inter v iew w ith Forbes, Geoffrey Ber w ind acknowledged the power of stor y telling: “As long as there have been campfires, humans have gathered around them and conveyed their v iew of the world through the use of stories. Stories are a ‘shared experience,’ and I believe we are hard-w ired to receive information primarily through stor y telling. Stories trigger the ancient human muscle of the imagination … W hen leaders use stor y telling, I believe they bring their audiences back to a natural state of primal listening.” A ll I’m getting from this is a reinforcement of Isak Dinesen’s words, “To be a person is to have a stor y to tell.” In this column, I actually started out w ith the idea of analyzing the tricks and tactics to grab people’s attention and get them to listen to you. As I was ref lecting on that, I asked myself, “W hat does it take to grab your attention? ” The word stor y just seemed etched in my mind. I had always been fond of stor y telling. In middle school, my favorite assignments were always the ones involv ing a personal narrative. In high school, most, if not all, of my presentations included real-life stories and experiences nestled among the hard facts and data. Writing this piece made me realize the best speakers, the best w riters, the best leaders, the best teachers … they are all great stor y tellers. This love for stories is so beautifully portrayed in the novel “The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet” when Dav id Mitchell w rites, “The belly craves food, she thinks, the tongue craves water, the heart craves love and the mind craves stories.” Stories can be a powerful tool to connect w ith the audience. By sharing experiences, you show your listener your authentic and credible side; you cater to their empathy, their compassion and their social nature. W hen speakers and leaders
use this to their advantage and blend factual information w ith the right amount of inf luential and realistic stories they most probably w ill become alluring and irresistible. The listeners w ill want to hear you out, and they w ill want to hear more from you. You keep your audience on the edge as it leaves them w ith something to think about and to act upon. That’s when real inf luence occurs. That’s where real change starts. Bill Buford, nonfiction w riter and former fiction editor at The New Yorker, once said, “Stories … protect us from chaos, and maybe that’s what we, unblinkered at the end of the 20th centur y, find ourselves crav ing. Implicit in the extraordinar y rev ival of stor y telling is the possibilit y that we need stories — that they are a fundamental unit of knowledge, the foundation of memor y, essential to the way we make sense of our lives: the beginning, middle and end of our personal and collective trajectories. It is possible that narrative is as important to w riting as the human body is to representational painting. We have returned to narrative — in many fields of knowledge — because it is impossible to live w ithout them.” There are three elements that must be balanced in order to make your message more powerful and ensure it comes across and leaves a mark. Depending on the subject at hand, tr y to strike the right balance bet ween logical appeal, emotional appeal and cooperative appeal. If you engage your audience’s logic while tugging at the strings of their hearts and offering them a collaborative goal, they w ill remember you. Ever y time I have to deliver a message, I tr y to remember this funny image graciously put forth by A lan Kay, HewlettPackard executive and co-founder of Xerox PARC: “Scratch the surface in a t y pical boardroom and we’re all just cavemen w ith briefcases, hungr y for a w ise person to tell us stories.” So go out and tell your stor y. Actually, sell your stor y. Because despite all that the facts can tell, it’s the stories that truly sell. Krista Lourdes Akiki is currently part of the Mendoza College of Business. Coming from Beirut, Lebanon, she always enjoys trying out new things and is an avid travel lover. She hopes to take her readers on her journey as she discovers new lifestyles and navigates new cities. She can be reached at kakiki@nd.edu or via Twitter @akikikrista The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Join the conversation. Submit a Letter to the Editor: viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com KERRY SCHNEEMAN | The Observer
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The observer | friday, February 7, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Let’s be better neighbors You’ve seen him in the Noble Family Dining Hall on Saturday morning, bleary eyed and eating scrambled eggs, the only boy sitting in a sea of Saint Mary’s students. You’ve seen her sitting alone in her first Notre Dame course, struggling to log into a computer cluster because she keeps typing her Saint Mary’s email into the username field. You’ve seen them surreptitiously checking their snap map to make sure they’re actually at Holy Cross College and not Holy Cross Village. Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross exist underneath a tri-campus bubble — and yet, we still somehow feel uncomfortable crossing the street and venturing onto each other’s campuses. Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s have existed, quite literally, side by side since the College’s founding in 1844, and Holy Cross followed in 1966. We’ve had almost 175 years to become better neighbors, and we’ve taken steps toward becoming a true community, but we still have work to
do. It’s important to note each campus holds a unique, storied past and campus culture, and we can’t expect these identities to disappear when students cross the street. Instead of letting these differences divide us, we should celebrate them. Although academic islands such as ours are present throughout the country, none of them compare to the relationship shared by Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross. Outside of Notre Dame tailgating, football games and the parties that follow, students from the three campuses usually exist independently from one another. We grill together, cheer together, drink together, but go home separately. It’s difficult for us to build truly meaningful friendships outside of party culture, partly because other opportunities are hardly presented. One of the only major tri-campus events we have is Domerfest. W hile this Welcome Weekend “tradition” is unfortunate and a whole other topic in and of itself, this cesspool of frightened first years and transfer students is the first place we encounter the tri-campus community. This is also where we become painfully aware
of our differences, based on t-shirts and introductions. W here one may expect a name and a dorm, others supply, “Oh, I don’t go to Notre Dame” — and people make assumptions. Students go into this event armed with tales of boys trying to get as many numbers from “Smicks” as they can, stories of mosh pits and terror. W hat do they leave with? A bad case of B.O. and a warped sense of the tri-campus community. We can do better. Bitter stereotypes have been born out of this lopsided consortium. Let’s get rid of them. Let’s take some advice from the world’s most famous neighbor, Fred Rogers: “There are three ways to ultimate success. The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.” Let’s create spaces where we can meet and come together without W hite Claws clutched between us. Let’s entrench the kindness into the activities, organizations, systems and treat each other with openness, acceptance and equity. Let’s learn to feel comfortable crossing the street. Let’s be better neighbors.
Letter to the editor
Some thoughts on vocation, ‘Frozen II’ W hat is it to have a vocation? W hat is it to be called to celibate life, to marriage or to singledom? Relatedly, how does one know if one is called to be a law yer, a doctor or an artist? The verb “to be called” and the noun “vocation” (from the Latin verb “vocare,” meaning “to call”) suggest a voice who calls, who utters words. In the recent movie “Frozen II,” Elsa hears a voice calling and she follows it. At the end of the day, though this is hardly a spoiler, we learn that Elsa is the only character in the movie who hears that voice. In that sense, the voice is not real. Someone who stands next to Elsa does not hear it. But in another sense, the voice is real. It is real for Elsa and it is asking her to do something, even if in mysterious ways. The idea that a voice will tell you what to do with your life often does more harm than good. I think this is also true when it is assumed that, unlike the one Elsa hears, the voice we are supposed to hear is Divine. Measured in terms of sounds and voices, God is normally silent when it comes to our specific vocation. This is why I don’t think much of voice metaphors, especially when they are displayed outside a Disney movie. It is okay for the franchise to have the Nor wegian singer Aurora perform the voice that not only Elsa but also we, the audience, hear (even though Anna and the rest of the cast don’t). But it is a different thing altogether when people sit on a pew in church, waiting to hear a voice — God’s voice — that will tell them what to do. As I was there one time, I would like to offer those troubled souls who have embarked on
the adventure of deciding what to do with their lives a healthier way of approaching “vocation” (though by no means is this to suggest my way is the only valid one.) To begin with, if you are under the impression that God will come one day and literally wake you up and let you know what to do, you need to know that you may wait forever. He wants you to be a saint — we are all indeed called to the universal vocation of holiness — but beyond that is for us to decide. In order to decide, some things will be unquestionably necessar y, such as prayer for discernment and the significant role of the relevant community (including church, as the case may be) and of spiritual direction. Furthermore, someone might get it wrong in choosing a plan of life, because some plans of life might be imprudent for some people, given their circumstances. So God does not normally call us the way the voice in “Frozen II” seems to call Elsa. If you look again at the “Frozen” princess (or queen, rather) in the new Disney hit, you learn the reason only she can hear this voice is because she is simply hearing herself, her own “voice.” With God, too, there is no physical voice; normally there isn’t, I insist, as there have been exceptions to this, not least in the Bible. But there is always a “calling,” if this word is rightly understood. We discern our calling, our specific vocation — and we choose it — like Elsa, by listening to ourselves or, erasing the metaphor further, by inspecting closely (and generously) our own life, our past, our inclinations, our tastes, our genuine likings, our loves. In this sense, a poor or selfish inspection
(perhaps coupled with a poor spiritual life) may result in “missing” one’s vocation or getting it wrong. You could even say it is we who ought to call God rather than passively expect his calling. It could go more or less like this: “Hello, God. I have noticed in myself this and that. I have noticed you gave me these parents and this education, these talents and this position. I have also noticed that I lack some attributes and preferences other people seem to have. Maybe you gave me all this, and maybe I have been deprived of all that, because you call me to…” I tend to think that if we could actually hear God the same way we hear a friend, we would hear something like: “Yes, I have endowed you like that so that you can choose whatever calling you see fit within those possibilities and serve me accordingly! This is why I also gave you the gift of freedom. I would love for you to plan your plan — your specific vocation — and not for Me to decide your path for you.” W hat God really wants for us is for us to do his will. But his will, while different from ours, is that our will be done (ironical as it sounds). Insofar as in an exercise of prudence, aided by grace, our will respects his law and insofar as we keep in mind, with generosity, the talents and gifts we have received, what we choose will be … our vocation.
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Santiago Legarre visiting professor, Notre Dame Law School Feb. 5
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The observer | friday, february 7, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Crossword | Will Shortz
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: The decisions you face this year will change your relationship with others as well as the path you take. Reserving your energy for what’s most important will ensure that you are successful in your pursuits. The less you rely on others for assistance, the easier it will be to reach your set destination. Follow your creative dreams. Your numbers are 4, 12, 23, 28, 32, 36, 41. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Refuse to let a family disagreement damage your relationship with someone you love. Be willing to take half the blame and move on to more enjoyable pastimes. Keep the peace, and you will gain respect. Make your space more comfortable and convenient. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Get together with someone from your past. Valuable information will change your life. Travel, educational pursuits and reunions are favored. A change you want to make will be approved. Speak up and share your plans, and you’ll receive encouragement. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Question your direction, and consider your options. Put a long-term plan in place, and you will begin a journey that will lead to selfsatisfaction. Don’t feel the necessity to take care of someone’s personal affairs. Don’t take on more stress. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Take it easy. Look at the humor in whatever situation comes your way. Personal improvements, self-awareness and being true to yourself are encouraged. Change may not be your choice, but it will lead to a brighter future. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Look at your options, and consider where to put your energy. An opportunity to make extra cash will unfold if you invest in something familiar to you. Using your home as a workplace will be to your advantage. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): An unexpected change will take you by surprise. Don’t hesitate to become a participant. Love is in the stars. Plan something special, and it will have an impact on your relationship and your future. Romance and commitment are favored. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): ITake your time, think matters through and make decisions based on facts. Do your own thing, and give others the same freedom you want. Taking an unusual approach to whatever you do will provide you with the push you need to achieve your goal. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’ll be on the move. Traveling and dealing with people from different backgrounds will lead you to new possibilities. Enjoy the change of pace, and embrace the unexpected. Let your intellect lead the way. Romance will bring you close to someone special. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Go over personal papers. Changes should be considered, especially regarding domestic, financial or health matters. You can gain ground, but it will require you to take care of issues first. Refuse to let emotional situations interfere with making a stellar decision. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Question your personal life. If someone you love is not living up to his or her promises, you may want to have a heart-toheart talk. A meeting can change the way you move forward. Listen carefully, and refrain from making demands. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): BKeep the pace quick, be precise and head in a direction that shows promise; you will double your productivity. The more you do, the better you will feel and the higher the rewards. Your versatility will lead to the success you desire. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Give yourself a chance to flourish. Romance will encourage you to pay more attention to the way you present who you are, what you do and how you look to the world. Travel, entertainment and creativity are favored. Birthday Baby: You are articulate, intelligent and serious-minded. You are creative and productive.
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Sports Authority
ND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Indy 500 better than Brickyard Jimmy Ward Sports Writer
Let me start by saying in no way shape or form am I a NASCAR fan. I do not enjoy watching crashes, massive pile ups or thrilling finishes. W hen I think of NASCAR fans, well, to put it lightly, I think a lot of bad connotations come along with throwing yourself in that group. I am from Indiana, however, and when I ask myself, “W hat is Indiana known for? ” I think of corn, maybe, but Iowa has us beat there so that can’t be it. The next two things that come to mind are basketball and racing — auto racing. For this article I’ll be talking about the latter. Even if you haven’t heard of NASCAR, if you’ve lived in Indiana for any amount of time you’ve probably heard of the Indianapolis 500 or the Brickyard 400. The Indy 500 is coined “The greatest spectacle in racing” and is considered part of the Triple Crown of Motorsport. The other two races in the crown can only be seen across the pond at the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1994 the first Brickyard 400 was held, and Jeff Gordon would win his second-ever NASCAR race. In Indianapolis and much of the surrounding area the races are never broadcast on television, that is unless the race is completely sold out. It is one of the strangest things in sports. The track is named after an entire city in Indiana. But if you live in this area you are forced to either buy a ticket to the race or listen the old fashioned way, on a radio. It is truly bizarre, but some of my fondest memories were spent at the pool during the summer with everyone listening to the race on the radio. The 400 is much less popular than the 500 mile race, and for good reason. The
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purity of the race is on a different level. In the moments leading up to the race on the radio, you will hear the men in the booth preparing, “Back Home Again in Indiana” is sung, then the national anthem and you will look up to the sky and fighter jets will hurry in overhead — doing just what they had practiced days before, but this time with much more anticipation built up. Then you’ll hear the jets on the radio seconds later and someone will come on the microphone and say the famous words: “Ladies and Gentleman, start your engines.” I get chills every single time and I have never even been to the race. I’ve never even had the privilege of watching it live. The race lasts quite a long time, so many hot dogs and burgers will be grilled before a winner is crowned. But when the winner is crowned, something magical happens. He takes the winners circle and doesn’t dose himself in beer as we have seen today’s modern superstars do after winning the biggest events of their lives, but instead he pours milk all over himself. I have lived in Indiana my whole life and I have no answers to these bizarre traditions. I am sure they exist, but why do we call ourselves Hoosiers? Honestly I don’t think anyone will know why and that is part of the charm. So if you ever get the opportunity, I highly recommend not even attending the race. Just sit at a pool in the suburbs of Indianapolis with some of your best friends and crank up your ancient, non-existent radio, because I swear, as weird as it sounds, it is one of the greatest spectacles in racing and maybe sports … to listen to?
ND claims second win against Wake Forest Observer Sports Staff
The women’s basketball team landed a muchneeded win Thursday night in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, besting Wake Forest 75-71. Notre Dame (9-14, 4-7 ACC) edged out Wake Forest (12-11, 5-7 ACC) in a game that featured 12 ties and 19 lead changes. The Demon Deacons got off to a hot start in the contest. After the hosts got on the board first with a twopoint jumper, Irish graduate student guard Marta Sniezek converted on a layup to even the score. After two free throws for Wake Forest, Notre Dame junior center Mikayla Vaughn would even the score once more at 4-4 with another layup. From there, however, the Demon Deacons managed to gain some ground by knocking down back-toback three pointers to take a 12-6 lead that resulted in Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw calling timeout to regroup. From there, the Irish would respond well, closing the gap to two points behind buckets by freshman for ward Sam Brunelle and sophomore guard Katlyn Gilbert. Notre Dame would maintain a close margin, going into the end of the first quarter trailing 15-17. In the second, Notre Dame would claim their first lead of the contest thanks to two free throws by Vaughn to make it 19-18. However, the Demon Deacons would go on another run thanks to
second-chance points and three-point shooting to take a 28-21 lead. Gilbert would get her own secondchance bucket, but Wake Forest would continue to stretch the lead to 33-23 with a couple of layups. A three-pointer by Brunelle and a jumper by graduate student guard Destinee Walker would stop the bleeding somewhat, but the hosts would still go into halftime up 35-28. In the second half, both teams struggled to find an offensive footing until Walker broke the ice with an and-1 layup to make it 35-31 in favor of Wake Forest. A layup by Gilbert and another three from Brunelle would narrow the margin to three points at 39-36, but the Demon Deacons would respond with another three. Even so, the Irish wouldn’t let the contest get away from them. The teams continued to trade buckets as Notre Dame ever so gradually chipped away at the lead, maintaining a perpetual two-to-fourpoint window. With the Irish trailing 4643, Walker would convert on a second-chance opportunity, then steal the ball and make a layup to give Notre Dame their first lead of the half. Wake Forest would reclaim it by continuing to find offensive rebounds and getting second-chance opportunities, but Walker and Sniezek would not let the lead become substantial. After trailing 52-51 entering the final period, Sniezek would convert
another layup to give Notre Dame the lead back. After two free throws gave Wake Forest the lead at 56-55, Walker nailed a three to put Notre Dame up 58-56. The Demon Deacons would again gain a two-point lead with two free throws, but a three by sophomore for ward Danielle Cosgrove gave the Irish back the lead at 61-60. The lead continued to change hands as each team made several more trips to the free-throw line. However, with 2:55 left in the game, the Demon Deacons would gain their final lead of the game at 69-67 before Vaughn’s putback layup and Gilbert’s jumper gave the Irish a 71-69 lead they would not relinquish. Both teams would go scoreless for the ensuing 1:50 of play before Wake Forest was forced to foul to stop the clock. Walker sank three of four free throws and Vaughn made one of two to give the Irish in an insurmountable four-point lead with five seconds remaining. Despite being outscored 17-6 in second chance points and going 13-18 from the charity stripe to Wake’s 22-27, Notre Dame won the battle in the paint 42-30 and points off turnovers 18-4 as the Demon Deacons coughed the ball up 17 times. Walker led all scorers with 24 points while three other Irish players scored in double figures. Next up, Notre Dame will take on Pittsburgh, Sunday at 4 p.m. in Purcell Pavilion.
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.
Follow us on Twitter. @ObserverSports allison thornton | The Observer
Irish freshman guard Anaya Peoples dribbles past her defender and towards the basket for a layup during Notre Dame’s 72-69 loss to Michigan State on Nov. 14 at Purcell Pavilion. 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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The observer | friday, february 7, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Malone Award watchlist places Mooney in top 10 By HAYDEN ADAMS Associate Sports Editor
Notre Dame senior forward John Mooney is one of 10 current candidates for the 2020 Karl Malone Award. Now in its sixth year, the award, named after NBA Hall of Famer and two-time MVP Karl Malone, is given annually to the top power forward in college basketball. In his second year as a starter for the Irish (14-8, 5-6), Mooney has recorded 18 double-doubles, tied for best in the country with William and Mary senior center Nathan Knight, with Knight and the Tribe (16-8, 8-3 CAA) having played two more games than the Irish to date. Mooney is also second in the nation in rebounds per game at 13.0 behind Quinnipiac redshirt junior forward Kevin Marfo, who is averaging 13.6 boards per game. Mooney burst onto the national scene in his junior season, providing a bright spot for a Notre Dame team that limped through conference play to record a 3-15 conference record and a 14-19 overall record. Despite the rest of the team’s struggles, Mooney averaged a double-double with marks of 14.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. His production in the 2018-19 season earned Mooney a spot on the All-ACC Third Team and allowed him to finish second in votes for the ACC Most Improved Player Award, losing to Louisville guard Jordan Nwora. This season, Mooney has elevated his play not just in his rebounding, but in his scoring as well, averaging 16.5 points on the year. He has brought his career total to 39 double-doubles, 38 of which have come in the past two seasons. That makes him the national leader since the start of the 2018-19 season. Now, Mooney has become one of a select group of Irish players to have scored 1,000 career points and grabbed 800 career rebounds. In addition, he has garnered praise
from some of the competition the Irish have faced this season, including Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner. “I think Mooney’s excellent. I’m a big fan of Mooney. Too bad Billy Donovan didn’t stay in college, cause [Mooney]’s just been a Georgia Tech killer,” Pastner said in reference to Mooney’s decommitment from Florida when Donovan left the Gators for a job with the Oklahoma City Thunder. “I just think he’s really, really good. And when you rebound like he rebounds, I think there’s a place for him in professional basketball, because that stat translates. And I think he’s a really good basketball player and I just can’t wait for him to graduate and move on. Because he’s really, really good.” Mooney also received praise from Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim. “I would like to say that — I don’t get too much involved in stuff — but if John Mooney is not one of the top-25 players in the country, then I don’t know anything about college basketball. Literally nothing,” Boeheim said after the Orange (13-9, 6-5 ACC) defeated Notre Dame 84-82 at Purcell Pavilion on Jan. 22. “It’s absolutely a joke that he’s not one of the top 25. … What Mooney’s done is absolutely remarkable. He’s a great player and it’s amazing that he’s not recognized.” Now, Mooney’s prowess has at least resulted in him receiving national attention for the Malone Award. But as a power forward, Mooney has contributed to the Irish in areas other than scoring and rebounding. The 6-foot-9 245-pounder out of Orlando, Florida, is better than 37% shooting from the threepoint line for his career. His ability to stretch the court as well as play inside has allowed Notre Dame to play more small ball to improve their offensive output from last season. Perhaps most impressively, Mooney is the only player in Division I to average at least 16
points, 13 rebounds, two assists and one steal. He is the only player to boast that stat line since Oklahoma stand-out and former No. 1 overall NBA pick Blake Griffin averaged 22.7 points, 14.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals in the 2008-09 season. Past winners of the Karl Malone Award include Louisville’s Montrezl Harrell (2015), Arizona’s DeAndre Ayton (2018) and Duke’s Zion Williamson (2019). Others on the watchlist this season include Michigan State junior Xavier Tillman (10 ppg, 7.3 rpg), Maryland sophomore Jalen Smith (11.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and Mississippi State sophomore Reggie Perry (17.1 ppg, 10 rpg). Irish graduate student guard Rex Pflueger complimented Mooney for the way he has taken everything in stride. “The thing that we love about Mooney is that he’s just so humble,” Pflueger said. “He’s all about [the] team first. Individual accolades are amazing — he deserves all of them. But he’s a team-first guy. He’s one of our leaders. And I’ve just loved to see his progression as he’s just grown as not only a basketball player but as a human being.” Despite Boeheim’s comments, after Notre Dame defeated Georgia Tech 80-72 on Feb. 1, Mooney affirmed Pflueger’s claims and said he feels no slight based on the lack of national attention. “It’s cool to see Coach Boeheim say those words,” Mooney said, “[But] I really don’t care about that stuff. I truly don’t. All I want to do is just help my team win games. And … we’re on a good little winning streak. So, that’s obviously where my mind’s at, and just continue to do what we’re doing right now.” The Malone Award candidates will be trimmed to a list of five finalists in March with the award ceremony held April 10. Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu
Anthony reo | The Observer
Irish’s senior power forward John Mooney pushes past a defender for a layup en route to his 18th doubledouble during Notre Dame’s 80-72 victory over Pittsburgh on Feb. 5 at Purcell Pavilion.
Softball Continued from page 12
Notre Dame was Florida State’s ACC semifinal victim last season en route to the Seminoles’ tournament victory. The Irish lost some significant firepower from last year’s lineup, most notably Cait Brooks, who bashed her way to an All-American selection — the first in Notre Dame softball history. Brooks hit .416 with a .523 on-base percentage and walloped 20 home runs, powering Notre Dame’s offense for much of the 2019 season. The Irish also lost MK Bonamy, speedster Ali Wester and Melissa Rochford from their potent 2019 lineup. That’s not to say Notre Dame will enter this season with a barren lineup, as they still boast a bev y of strong returners, and they restocked their roster with some exciting freshman talent. Leading the returners will be senior infielder Katie Marino, an All-ACC preseason selection. Marino has been starting since her freshman year, which was highlighted by a gamewinning home run against eventual national champion Oklahoma, and a spectacular catch that earned a spot in ESPN’s Top 10 plays. Entering her fourth year as a mainstay in the Irish lineup, Marino is coming off a spectacular 2019 campaign in which she hit .344 with 10 home runs, 43 RBI, and eight stolen bases. She also posted her best defensive effort, with a .967 fielding percentage. The Irish will look to Marino to spearhead their new-look offense in 2020. Marino will not be alone in leading the Notre Dame’s offensive exploits, as sophomore outfielder Emma Clark and senior outfielder Alexis Bazos are talented
returners looking to contribute some big numbers to the Notre Dame lineup. They’ll also expect a boost from Joley Mitchell, a switch-hitting infielder who was named the 2019 All-USA High School Softball Team Player of the Year. On the mound, Notre Dame boasts another preseason ACC selection in sophomore Payton Tidd, who burst onto the scene as a freshman last year, recording a 3.01 ER A over 31 starts and 41 total appearances. She was the ACC pitcher of the week on two occasions, and at the end of the year, Tidd was named to the ACC All-Freshman squad. She’ll headline the Irish rotation this year, with junior Alex Holloway following her up after posting a 4.15 ER A last season. Junior Morgan Ryan was mainly a depth and bullpen piece last year, but Gumpf has expressed confidence in her ability to be a major contributor out of the pitcher’s circle this year. As for its season-opening slate, Notre Dame is sure to face some stiff competition at this weekend’s tournament, as the five-game schedule includes matchups with No. 23 Auburn and No. 21 Ole Miss, as well as a tough matchup against the SEC’s Missouri, who the Irish have won just two games against in eight alltime meetings. First-time opponents in Missouri State and South Alabama round out the Classic schedule for Notre Dame. Although the year is just beginning, the Irish are just three weeks away from starting ACC play against Duke on Feb. 28, making this weekend an important set of games to put their squad to the test ahead of what is sure to be a grueling conference schedule. Notre Dame’s opener will be played at noon against Missouri.
Allison thornton | The Observer
Irish senior infielder Katie Marino prepares to field a ground ball during Notre Dame’s 8-0 victory over IUPUI on Apr. 3.
Sports
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allison thornton | The Observer
Irish senior midfielder Savannah Buchanan carries the ball upfield during Notre Dame’s 9-7 victory over UNC on March 31.
W Lax Continued from page 12
wanted to be two weeks ago in terms of our very specific communication both offensively, defensively and all over the field,” she said. “It was great to be able to get back to the drawing board with that.” In the exhibition, Halfpenny said the Irish were a bit sloppy with the ball at times, as well — something they have kept in mind during recent practices. “We tightened up our ball handling the last two weeks, and we tightened up our finishing and our shooting,” she said. “We wanted to up our scoring percentage from what we are doing, and we are looking to improve that everyday.” Halfpenny said she expects Marquette to be an interesting opponent. “We don’t really know much about Marquette,” Halfpenny said. “We don’t know much except that they did graduate two of their leading scorers from last year. One of their leading scorers was also a key contributor on the draw, so we know that they are going to have some new faces.” Even so, she expects Marquette to be very competitive against her team. “We know they’re competitive. We know they’re gritty and that they’re hard workers,” Halfpenny said. “We also know that they are a little bit younger than they have been
Fencing Continued from page 12
DeCicco Duals, as well — by a score of 18-9 and No. 5 Ohio State by the same score. The men recorded one ranked w in w ith a v ictor y over No. 6 Princeton. The Irish fell in the rankings prior to the DeCicco Duals after some relatively difficult show ings for a team accustomed to dominance at the St. John’s and Philadelphia Inv itational. Over those two meets, the women went 7-3 overall and
in the last couple of years. Other than that, we are excited about the blank slate.” Aside from securing the first win of the season Sunday, Halfpenny said she hopes her team will have the upper hand in certain categories such as the possession battle. “Our goal will be to win the ground balls and the draw control,” Halfpenny said. “Getting extra possessions on shots that don’t make it to the back of the net and being able to continue and contest for a second chance opportunity will be really important.” Halfpenny also said she is hopeful her team’s communication can continue to grow from the exhibition game against Michigan. “We want to take the next step forward and see our communication build and allow our team to take the next step forward in bringing that aggressive style that we want to be known for,” she said. Ultimately, the success of Halfpenny’s team will likely depend on their ability to out-hustle the other team. “We are excited to get out there and win those hustle stats and drive our play forward,” she said. The game will take place Sunday at noon in the Loftus Sports Center. The game can also be viewed on ACC Network Extra. Contact Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu
the men 3-7, including an 0-5 record at St. John’s. Even so, head coach Gia Kvaratsk helia said his team — which has lacked several athletes who are training for the Oly mpics or were competing at the World Championships in France, of whom the latter group w ill be returning for the Duke Duals — may have been somewhat overrated due to the recent success of two-straight national championships and a third-place finish nationally in 2019. In discussing his teams’ success, Kvaratsk helia
Nathanial george| The Observer
Irish sophomore guard Dane Goodwin dribbles and prepares to pass the ball to fellow sophomore guard Prentiss Hubb during Notre Dame’s 84-82 loss to Syracuse on Jan. 22 at Purcell Pavilion.
M Bball season, as well. The Tigers have struggled occasionally against teams near the bottom of the ACC, but they have multiple w ins against qualit y opponents, including Duke and a road w in over North Carolina. They, much like Notre Dame, w ill be seeking to improve their NCA A tournament resume over the last few weeks of the season. The Tigers are led offensively by junior for ward Aamir Simms and graduate senior guard Tev in Mack, who average 13.4 and 12 points, respectively. They have lost their last t wo matchups, on the road against Virginia and Sy racuse. W hen the t wo teams faced off last season, Clemson came away w ith a narrow 64-62 w in in South Bend on senior night. Two players Notre Dame
w ill continue to rely on heav ily are seniors John Mooney and TJ Gibbs. Gibbs led the Irish w ith 21 points against Pittsburgh, while Mooney chipped in 17 points and 10 rebounds for his 18th double-double of the year, which leads all major conference players. Additionally, Mooney was named to the watch list for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Karl Malone award Thursday, which honors the top power for ward in college basketball. “I give our captains a lot of credit,” Brey said. “Gibbs, Mooney and [graduate student for ward Rex] Pf lueger have set a great tone. They obv iously know the clock is ticking on their careers. They’ve set a great tone w ith the other guys — that Februar y’s got to be our month, that’s all that’s left.” Sophomore guard Prentiss Hubb w ill likely be key for the Irish, as well. Interestingly,
Hubb plays much better on the road, averaging 19.4 points per game away from home on the season and 23.4 in ACC road games, while scoring just 8.9 per game at Purcell Pav illion. Brey praised Hubb for his offensive contributions. “I text him ever y now and then, ‘You’re my Mahomes,’” Brey said, referring to Kansas Cit y Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who was named Super Bowl MVP last week. “He has total control [of the offense].” This w ill undoubtedly be an important road trip for the Irish, as they are hoping to make a late-season push for the NCA A tournament. “I’m excited about it, especially because of how we’ve been play ing,” Brey said. “We’ve got chances, man.” Tip off versus Clemson is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday.
couldn’t single out any particular player, sharing the credit w ith multiple athletes who are shouldering the load. “It’s hard to distinguish any one person or squad. The whole team gave a sustained effort that resulted in that undefeated record,” Kvaratsk helia said. “Across the board. It was a great effort by ever yone, from regular starters, to those getting a chance to make an impact.” With several players returning, Kvaratsk helia said he is eager to see a more complete roster against
some of the tough competition in Durham. “I am ver y excited to fence great opponents such as Penn State, Temple and Duke w ith a full-strength lineup,” Kvaratsk helia said. “Obv iously, our conference rival Duke, who really give us their best effort. A lso, of course, Penn State and Temple, who have beaten us earlier. The other teams w ill be challenging, and we have nothing but respect for ever yone we w ill face.” The Irish men now boast a record of 27-8 while the women stand at 32-5, while
both are on w inning streaks of 20-plus matches. With the Duke Duals representing the last regular season opportunit y for the Irish to improve, the team is nearing its home stretch. “I have great confidence in our team,” Kvaratsk helia said. “We are working to peak at the precise moment. We want to prove that our undefeated streaks since Philadelphia are no f luke.” Notre Dame w ill look to do so Feb. 8 and 9 in Durham.
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Contact Liam Coolican at lcoolica@nd.edu
Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu
12
The observer | friday, february 7, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
nd softball
nd men’s basketball
Irish hoping to stay hot on road By LIAM COOLICAN Sports Writer
The Notre Dame men’s basketball team (14-8, 5-6 ACC) are looking to continue their positive momentum on a tough road trip, traveling first to Clemson, South Carolina, to take on the Tigers (11-11, 5-7 ACC) on Sunday. Follow ing that game, Notre Dame w ill take on Virginia on Tuesday, then No. 7-ranked Duke on Feb. 15 — both on the road, before returning home for a matchup w ith North Carolina. Head coach Mike Brey said he expects the road trip to be challenging, but v iews it as a chance for the team to grow. “The road [trip] needs to be looked at as [an] opportunit y, not ‘Oh my god, look at what is coming,’” Brey said. “I know it’s the toughest stretch we’ve ever probably played in the histor y of our program, but it’s [an] opportunit y, especially after what
Notre Dame to kick off season against Missouri
we did here, to get back to 5-6 [in the ACC].” The Irish, w inners of three straight matchups — all at home — have been play ing ver y well as of late, according to Brey. “Great w in, great homestand, and we’re w ithin shouting distance,” Brey said after Notre Dame’s 8072 v ictor y over Pittsburgh Wednesday night. They have struggled away from South Bend, however. Notre Dame has just a 2-4 record on the road, in addition to a neutral site loss. However, in their last road game, they pushed No. 5-ranked Florida State to the brink, before falling 8584. Notre Dame has been characterized this year for keeping ever y game close, no matter the qualit y of the opponent. Clemson has played in a number of close games this see M BBALL PAGE 11
Observer Sports Staff
Allison thornton | The Observer
Irish senior catcher Madison Heide prepares to swing during a 8-0 win over IUPUI at Melissa Cook Stadium on Apr. 3.
see SOFTBALL PAGE 10
ND Women’s lacrosse
Fencing
ND prepares for final duals of regular season
Irish to take on Golden Eagles
By HAYDEN ADAMS
By NATE MOLLER
Associate Sports Editor
Sports Writer
The Notre Dame fencing teams w ill travel to Durham, North Carolina this weekend to take part in the Duke Duals. The No. 5-ranked Irish men’s team and No. 3-ranked women’s team went undefeated last weekend in the Northwestern Duals in Evanston, Illinois. The Northwestern Duals saw the Irish post their second-straight undefeated weekend after recording a perfect sweep over two days of competition at the DeCicco Duals. The men’s and women’s teams each went 14-0 over competition from the Midwest. In Evanston, the Irish continued their hot streak w ith the women going 8-0 and the men going 6-0 against the competition. The women defeated t wo top-10 opponents, besting No. 9 Northwestern — who they defeated in the
The women’s lacrosse team will kick off their season this Sunday at home against the Marquette Golden Eagles. The Irish come into the season ranked No. 7 in the country, and there is a lot of anticipation for the season ahead. Head coach Christine Halfpenny said she is pleased with her team’s performance in the preseason. “We feel really prepared,” Halfpenny said. “We are coming off of a strong preseason where we were able to progress everyday, and our main focus was to get better at one thing at a time.” Halfpenny also said she was impressed with the effort shown by her team in their exhibition game against Michigan two weeks ago. “I liked our team’s hustle and how gritty we were,” she said. “I liked the pressure that we were applying all over the field … not just on defense but also on our transition game.”
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With a double-header Friday kicking off a five-game weekend, the Notre Dame softball team is preparing to launch their 2020 campaign at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida. The Irish will look to build on a strong fall campaign as they set their sights on a deep run this season. Notre Dame, coached by Deanna Gumpf, went 37-18 last year, including 18-6 in ACC play, but they failed to advance very far in either postseason tournament; the Irish won just one game between the ACC and NCA A tournaments. Having qualified for the NCA A tournament an astounding 23 consecutive years, making the tournament isn’t enough for the Irish, and they’ll turn to both old and new faces to lead them further into the postseason this year.
hannah huelskamp | The Observer
Irish junior foilist Thomas Murray competes in the 2020 Deccio Duels on Jan. 25 and 26. The Duels are the Irish’s home meet.
The team also showed promise from the draw and on offense. “I think the competitiveness that we bring to the draw circle and then the aggressive play that we were showing on offense was really great,” Halfpenny said. Halfpenny also said lots of young players got valuable playing time in the exhibition game. “We were able to show off our depth of players and utilize quite a few players,” she said. “We are feeling pretty good about continuing that look and identity for Notre Dame where we have a deep bench that we can go to.” Despite some positive signs from the exhibition game, there is plenty the Irish have had to work on over the last two weeks. Communication was one aspect that Halfpenny said she felt her team could improve vgoing forward. “We recognized that we weren’t quite where we see W LAX PAGE 11