Print Edition of The Observer for Thursday, January 23, 2020

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Volume 54, Issue 67 | thursday, january 23, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

ND admits 1,540 early action Restrictive early action decisions released, reveal statistics about class of 2024

By CLAIRE RAFFORD Associate News Editor

Notre Dame released admissions decisions to students around the world who applied Restrictive Early Action (REA) to the University on Dec. 13.

While 7,295 students applied early, 1,540 were admitted — an admissions rate of approximately 21%.

Eight more students were admitted to this year than last year, Don Bishop, associate vice president for undergraduate enrollment, said. 24 more students applied last year than this year. Bishop said these numbers represent “less than a 1% decline, so it’s about the same applicant pool” as 2018.

Bishop explained Restrictive Early Action is labeled

SMC pet policy revised Observer Staff Report

In an email sent on Wednesday morning, the Office of Student Affairs announced new rules regarding animals on campus at Saint Mary’s, including the rule that emotional support animals will not be allowed in the workplace, common areas, classrooms or other campus buildings.

The email stated that in order to address the complex issue of animals on campus, Interim President Nekvasil created a “cross-campus committee...charged with exploring the equities associated with allowing animals on campus and providing recommendations for a campuswide policy.”

The policy regarding service animals will remain unchanged and approved emotional support animals see PETS PAGE 3

NEWS PAGE 2

restrictive because students who apply REA cannot apply Early Decision to another school, meaning they would have to attend the other institution should they be accepted.

“You’re already declared that school is your top pick, and if you get in you don’t even get to consider any offer that we make you here,” he said. “And I felt when we made this change five, six years ago, that Notre Dame should feel that it is a first-choice school and act like it — and if a student’s heart is set at another school, let them apply there, but I don’t think we want to afford them the luxury of throwing away by requirement a Notre Dame offer of admission. I think we have

Assault reported Observer Staff Report

see ADMISSION PAGE 4

CRISTINA INTERIANO | The Observer

The Title IX Office notified the Notre Dame Police Department (NDPD) on Tuesday of a report of sexual misconduct in a “north side men’s residence hall,” NDPD announced in a Wednesday email to the campus community.

The male suspect “engaged in non-consensual sexual contact as defined in du Lac” with a female victim, according to the email. The email said the victim knew her attacker. The alleged incident took place Friday.

Information about sexual assault prevention and resources for survivors of sexual assault are available online from NDPD and the Title IX office.

Kroc panel discusses reparations

By TRINITY REILLY News Writer

When Fr. Edward Sorin began building what would eventually be the University of Notre Dame, he began a long history of troubled relationships between the University and minority groups.

Today, Notre Dame is still trying to make up for the events both in its past and its present.

On Wednesday, the Mediation Program of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies

hosted a panel on reparations and reconciliation at Notre Dame with speakers from the Notre Dame, Potawatomi and South Bend communities alike.

“It’s really important that we hear the stories because no one has only one story. And we don’t hear the stories. We don’t hear the experiences, and we’re continuing to perpetuate the ignorance and the lack of education about what happened,” said Susan Page, visiting professor at the Keough School and the panel’s moderator.

In an effort to make these stories known, the panel invited speakers from minority groups to share their experiences, which are not often publicized.

One such panelist was Gary Morseau, a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi.

“We sit there and we always work with them with our history,” Morseau said. “Then you turn around and look, and they change the history. They rewrite it to benefit them. And we bring it to their attention,

and they won’t discuss it. We’ve never been hostile to them. We only want to work one on one with them.”

There are many things the University does not address, including the unfulfilled promise of free tuition for the Potawatami people, Morseau said. This is one story that is not often discussed, he said.

“Whenever I speak in front of any people, I ask if there are any questions at the end, and all see REPARATIONS PAGE 3

College to host interfaith service

By GINA TWARDOSZ News Writer

While Martin Luther King Jr. is most known for his activism and involvement in the civil rights movement, he was also a proponent of interfaith dialogue and community. On Thursday, Saint Mary’s will hold an interfaith prayer service, open to the entire community, which will feature several students and faith leaders from various religions.

SCENE PAGE 5

Sophia McDevitt, a senior religious studies and social work double major and president of Better Together — a club which regularly hosts interfaith events — said this prayer service seeks to recognize some of the contributions King made towards interreligious dialogue and interfaith acceptance. “[King] worked with Mahatma Gandhi and also combated anti-semitism publicly,” McDevitt said. “So to

VIEWPOINT PAGE 7

honor and recognize [his interfaith work] in addition to the work he did with racial inequality and civil rights, we wanted to have this prayer service to bring together people of different faiths in order to try and continue his work.”

The interfaith service will host many community members of different faiths, McDevitt said.

This includes esteemed faith leaders such as Venerable Wuling (Shi

ND M BASKETBALL PAGE 12

Wuling) who is currently the resident teacher of the Buddhist Society of Elkhart and vice president of the Pure Land Learning College Association. According to her website, Wuling was ordained in Taiwan and was a student of Venerable Master Chin Kung, a Buddhist monk and founder of the Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation. see INTERFAITH PAGE 4

FENCING PAGE 12

2

TODAY

The observer | thursday, january 23, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

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“Biggby Coffee.”

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sophomore Fisher Hall

“The General Cafe.”

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sophomore Fisher Hall

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“Four Winds Field for SB Cubs games.”

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Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Lecture: “Thomas Jefferson, Race, Slavery” McCartan Courtroom 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Open to the public.

“How Have Women Shaped the Judiciary?”

McCartan Courtroom 3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Panel discussion.

31st Annual Student Film Festival Browning Cinema 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Films made by Notre Dame undergraduates.

31st Annual Student Film Festival Browning Cinema 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Films made by Notre Dame undergraduates.

Daily Mass Notre Dame Basilica of the Sacred Heart 11:20 a.m. and 5:15 p.m.

All are welcome. Open to the public.

Snite Salon Snite Museum of Art 5:30 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

Guided discussion about a work of art.

Open to the public.

31st Annual Student Film Festival Browning Cinema 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Films made by Notre Dame undergraduates.

Fischoff’s Winter Gala Morris Inn 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Featuring the Ariel Quartet.

Performance: Damin Spritzer O’Neill Hall of Music 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Featuring organist Damin Spritzer.

Post Grad Service Panel Saint Mary’s Student Center 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Panel Discussion.

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Miss Kenya USA talks passion

By MIA MARROQUIN News Writer

Wendy Oduor, Miss Kenya USA and a 2014 Saint Mary’s alumna, spoke to the importance of relationship-building and mental health in her keynote speech at the annual Martin Luther King dinner Wednesday night in Rice Commons.

Miss Kenya USA is an annual pageant held in Houston, Texas. According to its website, the organization pairs contestants with organizations working to combat inequalities Kenya and the U.S. Though she holds degrees in biology and psychology, Oudor currently works in fashion in New York City.

After graduation, Oduor spent time at home working in the medical industry before making the decision to apply to the Parsons School of Design in Manhattan.

“My acceptance to Parsons was a green light from God,” Oduor said.

Taking this sign, Oduor packed her bags and moved to the Big Apple.

Oduor attributes her four years at Saint Mary’s as the foundation for

what she has accomplished today.

“If you were to ask me four years ago, I would have told you that my degree from Saint Mary’s was a waste because I was not directly using the biology or psychology — but today, I know that it is so much more than that,” she said.

She said returning to campus and speaking to a new generation of Belles was a meaningful experience for her.

“Being back on campus is so surreal, it is a truly humbling experience,” Oduor said. “The fact that I am able to be here tonight is a testament that God is a man of his words.”

Oduor said she urges current Saint Mary’s students to curate relationships, whether it be the girl you pass in the hall or your future bridesmaid.

“It is so important to make time for relationships,” Oduor said. “It doesn’t matter how close you are or not, [if] you don’t know what they are going to be doing one year [or] five years from now and how that could benefit you.”

Odour said this mindset helped her maintain a years-long relationship with Interim President Nancy Nekvasil, a longstanding Saint Mary’s biology professor.

After losing her brother to suicide during her senior year, Oduor became an outspoken mental health advocate. ”I use a lot of the psychology that I learned at Saint Mary’s in the work that I do surrounding mental health advocacy,” she said. ”Acknowledging the grief allowed me to heal and move forward and establish where I am today.”

In addition to speaking at social events, Oduor utilizes Instagram as a platform to share stories and engage with her followers about mental health. She hosts weekly Mental Health Monday livestreams to spread awareness of the issue.

Oduor said she places a high value on finding and pursuing ones’ passions.

“It is God’s version of my vision. I would not have been able to heal if I did not find my purpose and allow God to work through me,” she said.

“Passion is for you, purpose is for others. God gives us the tools to turn our passions into our purpose.”

Contact Mia Marroquin at mmarroquin01@saintmarys.edu

News

ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, january 23, 2020 | The Observer

3

student SENATE

Senate considers effectiveness, representation

By CIARA HOPKINSON News Writer

At its weekly meeting Wednesday evening, the Notre Dame student senate focused on issues of representation and reflected on its effectiveness in serving the student body. The session began with a conversation about race and reactions to Walk the Walk Week.

“I think this is a really valuable time, especially during Walk the Walk Week, to reflect on how we can do a better job as individuals and as a senate and as a campus in combating racism, combating injustice and prejudice as it exists on our campus,” student body vice president Patrick McGuire said.

Alumni Hall senator Jack Rotolo mentioned the candlelight prayer service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. on Sunday night, at which the Carroll Hall rector spoke about a book called “Black Domers.”

“One of the students was constantly asked, ‘Are you studying abroad? Do you plan

Reparations Continued from page 1

the hands go up,” Morseau said.

“They ask me one question:

to study abroad?’ and her answer was, ‘I feel like I am abroad,’” Rotolo said. “I feel like that’s something we really, especially as senators, need to keep in mind because we’re supposed to represent not only our dorms, we’re also supposed to represent the University. ... We always have to make sure we’re going out of our way to make sure that everyone feels that this is home for them as well.”

Allan Njomo, Stanford senator, brought up the difficulty as an African American man of getting a haircut on campus and how small inconveniences can add up.

“There’s little things like that that maybe we can do more work to see if we can bring in a barber who has experience with natural hair,” Njomo said.

“There’s stuff where we can try to foster a conversation. ...

There’s little issues like that that are dispersed throughout where it would be cool if senate said, ‘Maybe we can help with that.’”

McGuire segued the

conversation into a discussion of senate’s internal conversations and whether it is fulfilling its role as representatives of the Notre Dame student body. Junior class president Sam Cannova pointed out the “self-editing” nature of senate resolutions.

“We really need to see how we can expand our roles as senate beyond writing our own resolutions but serving as a conduit for others to do that,” Cannova said. “I think one of the big misconceptions or misunderstandings or lack of understandings on campus is what Student Gov does and how it does it. ... It would be really neat to see how we can partner with students at large to sponsor resolutions and statements. So finding people who are passionate about particular issues and then empowering those voices using our roles as a conduit.”

Director of constitutional procedure Thomas Davis compared student senators to United States senators who bring the concerns of their

constituents to the table, saying club members and hall residents are those constituents.

“Your voice represents your constituency, not just yourself,” Davis said.

McGuire asked how senators engage with their dorm communities and how strong that engagement is. While Dunne Hall senator Keegan McArdle offered the example of informal and good-natured debates as a way in which he engages with his community members, other senators pointed out a sense of apathy. Lyons Hall senator Gabrielle Grant mentioned the off-campus senior exclusion policies as a key factor in that.

“There’s a big feeling that nothing can be done to change anything and that we’re all powerless as students and student leaders and the administration will just do what they will,” Grant said. “I feel like that has contributed to the lack of enthusiasm. Maybe part of it is making people more aware of what actually can be done.”

Off-campus senator Quentin

Colo added senate has not been particularly ambitious this year in the discussions it has taken on, while Fisher Hall senator D.C. Morris said senate should not be afraid to take on larger issues, even if it is just to make student voices heard in the form of statements and resolutions. Rotolo pushed back on the idea that senate is powerless, saying expressing student voices is important and powerful.

“I think it’s fair to say that we do have some power over what at least the administration is, what’s being brought up to them and what they’re seeing and really try to let them know that this is the issue students care about,” Rotolo said.

“Maybe we can’t physically change that, but we can definitely make an effort to get the conversation started and then change it.”

No resolutions were passed and the senate will reconvene Wednesday evening.

When is Notre Dame going to reinstate free tuition? And I go, ‘I don’t know, I’m not that guy,’ and ask if there are any more questions, and there aren’t.

That is the question of the day.”

The panelists asked questions that started conversations about working towards reparations and improving relationships both with the Pokagon Band of the

Potawatomi as well as African Americans, especially in light of Walk the Walk Week.

“There is always only one black person allowed in the room at the same time,” Debra Stanley, executive director of CLBC site Imani Unidad, said.

“You can’t see, in high positions, people who look like you, who can relate to you, who come from where you come from. And so the question is why is there only one black person?”

Another main problem preventing the conversation from moving forward, many panelists stated, is that there is not enough education about past actions.

“I think it’s important, the notion of education, and that we have not even been educated about our own history — which is often rewritten by the winners,” Page said. “We need to know more so we can actually understand where we’re coming from.”

The panelists did not just ask questions that are not often asked and bring light to stories that are not often discussed.

They also suggested a number of things people on campus can do to begin reparations for

the University’s actions and their repercussions.

“It’s hard to get anywhere with people who are hell-bent on not acknowledging that Notre Dame has problems,” said senior Savannah Morgan, spokesperson of End Hate at ND. “That’s why when we talk about change, I think it’s really important to note that a lot of it will have to come from the bottom, which is why student-led initiatives — kind of like grassroots initiatives — are the most productive way of going about change at this University.”

Although Morgan said the path to reparations and reconciliation seems long, the panel ended with a message of hope.

“It would be tragic enough if this was simply a matter of history, but it isn’t; it’s ongoing, it’s alive,” said Laurie Nathan, professor of the practice of mediation at the Kroc Institute. “I want to acknowledge that and acknowledge the pain. And second, I want to say that this is not simply a forum for fulcrum. I hope this is a platform for action.”

Pets

of the College are still welcome to walk their pets on the outdoor walking trails and in other outdoor areas or during athletic events.

Saint Mary’s students can access the College’s entire policy for animals on campus in the online portal.

This new policy will go into effect on Feb. 1.

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Continued from page 1

will still be allowed to live with students, as permitted under the Fair Housing Act. Dogs contracted for stress relief during finals will still be allowed on campus, said the email, and guests and visitors

Contact Ciara Hopkinson at chopkin1@nd.edu

Contact Trinity Reilly at treilly5@nd.edu

4

News

The observer | thursday, january 23, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Admission Continued from page 1

more pride in ourselves and we should, and I think the countr y respects that and we expect that.”

Bishop said the Universit y has increased their number of QuestBridge scholars accepted from 42 in 2018 to 65 this year. QuestBridge, a program which allows highachiev ing students who demonstrate high financial need, matches students w ith colleges according to preferences from both universities and applicants, and prov ides a full four-year scholarship for students accepted.

This puts the Universit y in the top eight in the nation for QuestBridge matches, Bishop said.

“These are high-need students by definition,” he said.

“They can’t be a QuestBridge applicant without qualif ying by the QuestBridge process to verif y that they’re highneed. [They are] disadvantaged in that usually a lot of them are first-gen students, so they don’t come from the normal, high-powered backgrounds that produce a lot of our top students.”

The diversity among REA applicants to the class of 2024 has also increased, Bishop said. 135 first-generation college students were admitted, as compared to 116 to the class of 2023 — which accounts for a 14% increase. In addition, 34% of the REA admits were students of color or international students. The class is also geographically diverse, as 48 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and 50 different citizenships outside the United States are represented in this year’s cohort of early admits.

Bishop said he believes the increase in QuestBridge scholars and first-generation college

Interfaith Continued from page 1

The Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership (CW IL) is also helping to sponsor the interfaith serv ice. Mana Derak hshani, director of the CW IL office, said she feels this interfaith prayer ser v ice is a great tribute to King’s legacy.

“CW IL is happy to support any event that brings together people from different cultures, races or religions,” she said. “I believe sharing in each other’s faith traditions is one of the ways we can walk w ith each other and increase our understanding of each other’s humanit y. W hat better way to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. than to pray for justice, love and peace in our various faith

students in the class of 2024 w ill increase diversit y at the Universit y.

“These are students who have outperformed their env ironments by large margin,” he said. “They’re ver y exciting. They are highachiev ing, high-abilit y students and the fact that Notre Dame is getting involved w ith getting more of them to apply is ver y encouraging. I think it w ill benefit all the students, but most importantly we want it to benefit them.”

Last year, Notre Dame had a 67% y ield rate, or the percentage of admitted students who choose to attend Notre Dame, for students admitted early, and an overall y ield rate of 58.4% , Bishop said.

Additionally, 44% of all admitted students were from the early action pool in 2018, Bishop said.

“Schools often get asked, ‘Are you concerned that you’re consuming too many offers early, leav ing not enough spots later? ’” he said. “Well, actually 56% of all the spots we offered, we offered in regular last year, and I think this year w ill be similar.”

In addition to those accepted, 933 students — approx imately 13% of the applicant pool — were deferred this year. However, Bishop said that 211 students who were deferred in 2018 were accepted in the regular decision round.

“Being deferred, there really is still a chance,” Bishop said.

Bishop said it is important for students who are deferred to continue to demonstrate interest in Notre Dame and to update their application w ith new information and accomplishments.

“W hen students are deferred, it is a setback, and how they react to that setback is always interesting,”

traditions? ” King was dedicated to bringing people together, McDev itt said, and he sought to recognize the humanit y of all humans.

“He encouraged us to recognize that just because we don’t share a common experience doesn’t mean that we all aren’t humans coming together,” she said.

“I think he would even say that as a Christian, it was part of his call to come together w ith people different from him — whether that be a religious or racial difference.”

McDev itt said King was an advocate for working together both in theor y and in practice, as much of the work he did during his life, including sit-ins and protests, was not done w ithout the help of others. Yet, McDev itt said it is important not to forget

Observer file photo

The Golden Dome may serve as a symbol of the goal that applicants to Notre Dame are striving towards. A geographically diverse pool of students was admitted to the University via restrictive early action this year.

he said. “We’re always tr y ing to see, how do students do not when ever y thing is going perfectly for them, but … w ith some adversit y, how do they respond? W hat sort of grit and determination do they have? ” Bishop said in addition to grades and academic performance, the Office of Admissions looks for students who understand the value of a Notre Dame education.

“How do they convey to us that they understand Notre Dame is different? ” he asked.

“And does that difference

matter to them? … We’re looking for mission match.

Do they get the value of an undergraduate-focused education that Notre Dame does? Do they get the value of doing research? Do they get the value of being a more active entrepreneur and social engineer of ser v ice and ser vant leadership? Do they seem to convey those things successfully in their application that this is the difference of Notre Dame? ” Judging from the REA applications, this year will present an extremely

competitive admissions pool for consideration, Bishop said.

“Our students inspire us.

I am extremely impressed with the quality of our applicants,” Bishop said. “I do believe it will be another year of being somewhat more selective than last year. … I think this will actually be a very similar year to last year, but somewhat harder to get in — and there’s more diversity in the pool and a little bit more of top, top talent in the pool.”

that many people in the ’50s and ’60s saw King as a radical for preaching about love and acceptance.

“I think it’s important that we don’t water dow n what MLK was tr y ing to do,” she said. “I feel like now he is such a public, well-accepted figure, but back then he wasn’t as accepted. He was seen as a troublemaker — I mean, he was assassinated by a person spurred by a group of people who had issues w ith him. W hat I mean is, even though what Martin Luther King Jr. was doing wasn’t accepted by many people back then, what he was doing was still right. Right is right. It’s important that we continue to pursue what is good and what is true even in the face of adversit y.”

In this, McDev itt said she feels there is still more work

to be done to carr y on the beliefs and ideals of King, like “bringing people together from different backgrounds in order to build more of a communit y that is focused on recognizing the humanit y of others.”

Thursday’s interfaith serv ice, McDev itt said, is a step towards building that communit y.

“As a Catholic college, part of our mission is to ensure that people are protected and that they have the abilit y to practice their religion,” she said. “There was a time when people tried to deny [Catholics] the right to practice our religion, so it’s important that we stand together. That’s what MLK recognized — we have to stand together, because when they come for one of us, they come for all of us.”

The interfaith ser v ice is

open to all students from the tri-campus communit y as well as people from the communit y-at-large and w ill be held in Stapleton Lounge at 4:30 p.m.

McDev itt said the event w ill begin w ith King’s “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech and continue w ith the sharing of religious prayers and traditions. She said the ser v ice w ill conclude w ith a performance from Notre Dame’s Voices of Faith Gospel Choir and a unit y ritual.

For those interested in furthering their understanding of interfaith dialogue, McDev itt said Better Together club is hosting an interfaith training day on Feb. 1 which is open to all students.

Contact Claire Rafford at crafford@nd.edu

Contact Gina Twardosz at gtwardosz01@saintmarys.edu

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The observer | thursday, january 23, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

By DESSI GOMEZ Scene Writer

Destin Daniel Cretton’s film adaptation of Bryan Stevenson’s book “Just Mercy” strikes many emotional chords through the use of thoughtful details. From joy to sorrow and everything in between, it would be best to settle in for this two-plus-hour movie that captures the realities of racial inequality on death row in Alabama.

The film opens on a quiet forest scene. Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx) minds his own business as he cuts down trees, gazing up at the peaceful canopy fringing the sky. McMillian’s subsequent drive home forms an immediate contrast to the opening scene as he is pulled over by the town sheriff and arrested for a crime he did not commit.

Meanwhile, Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) chooses to work in Alabama after graduating from Harvard Law School, much to the discomfort of his mother and family who question his decision to head

By OLIVIA BURKE Scene Writer

The first season of Netflix’s “Sex Education” was a revelation. It was filled to the brim with interesting characters who subverted stereotypes. Its premise — an unlikely duo of high school outcasts team up to give sex advice to their classmates — was just weird enough without being too weird. It presented an image of teendom that was both surreal and undeniably accurate. The show’s sophomore season manages to maintain some of these strengths, but loses a bit of its luster in the process.

As before, “Sex Education” boasts an effective soundtrack, with songs like The Velvet Underground’s “Pale Blue Eyes” adding poignancy to key scenes while endowing the series with a sense of nostalgia. Such song selections also augment the overarching aura of timelessness that already surrounds the show, due largely to its characters’ unusual sartorial choices.

Underneath their clothes, though, the characters we knew in season one are still just as witty, awkward and multi-faceted — for the most part. Their stories continue to form the crux of what makes “Sex Education” worth watching. Lily, for instance, plays a much more prominent role in season two, and her quirkiness never becomes irritating. Aimee’s arc of trauma and gradual healing stands out amidst other storylines that feel more rushed. An early-season assault suffered by Aimee

to the heart of the South. Upon arriving in Alabama, Stevenson encounters the first of many obstacles in starting his law practice along with advocate Eva Ansley (Brie Larson). When a potential renter realizes that Stevenson and Ansley aim to combat wrongful condemnations of mostly African-American inmates on death row, he denies them a room for their office.

McMillian, also known as Johnny D., doesn’t have much hope about his charges getting dropped, warning Stevenson about the rough road to justice. The relationship that develops between veteran actor Jamie Foxx and newer star Michael B. Jordan ties the film together with a tight thread.

When prisoner Herbert Richardson (Rob Morgan) is sentenced to death by the electric chair, the chorus of tin cups and pans on cell bars signals a quiet defiance from his fellow inmates. This display raises the bar for Johnny D.’s case, which sees its own very sharp ups and downs.

Tim Blake Nelson, Rafe Spall and Michael Harding build up both tension and viewer frustration as

convicted white man Ralph Myers, stubborn accuser Tommy Chapman and menacing Sheriff Tate, respectively. Their denial of a truth that becomes glaringly obvious throughout the film — the false narrative constructed by the police and court system to perpetuate racism while simultaneously ignoring its presence — kept my eyes glued to the screen.

From tears at the injustice done to Herbert to pure elation at the outcome of enduring persistence, “Just Mercy” demands to be watched by America.

The film’s navigation of the complex legal system — especially one intertwined with injustice — proves successful. A manifestation of the realization of wrongdoing occurs through Hayes Mercure’s character, a young policeman whose initial arrogance gives way to shock and shame.

With a supportive soundtrack and powerful cast, “Just Mercy” delivers the message of the true story upon which it is based.

is truly disturbing, and her eventual outburst is fully “earned,” given that we have watched Aimee struggle with the attack’s aftermath — including avoiding physical affection from her boyfriend while imagining the face of her attacker in public spaces. The care and attention shown to Aimee’s story stands in stark contrast with some of the show’s other plot points. Lily and Ola’s relationship, for instance, began so unexpectedly that it seems dangerously unprecedented. The suddenness with which Ola appears to develop feelings for Lily could be symbolic of the breakneck speed with which high schoolers careen from one emotion to the next, but the show doesn’t establish this. If Aimee’s story is “earned,” Ola and Lily’s certainly isn’t.

Season two also allows viewers a deeper look into Adam’s home life. But after a few episodes, the time devoted to Mr. and Mrs. Groff begins to feel like a waste, especially since Mr. Groff still fails to develop into a villain with real depth. The writers find more success when they lead Adam down a path of self-discovery and improvement, and it ultimately feels like a good thing when the show aligns him with Eric over Rahim. Of course, Rahim isn’t particularly interesting. The show never fully brings him to life, which is a shame, given the amount of screen time he gets.

But it isn’t just new characters like Rahim — or Maeve’s mother, whose relapse into addiction accomplishes little other than making us feel sorry for Maeve — who fall

flat. Otis, the show’s protagonist, drags the whole show down with him in his descent from charm. The way he treats his mother’s boyfriend is petty and inexcusable, and his drunken speech in the sixth episode is hard to watch. The show wastes time following him from one narcissistic impulse to the next; this decreases his overall likability, since he is at his most endearing when he is giving advice. That’s when the show is at its best, too. Season one’s clinic scenes provided a framework in which drama could unfold, as well as a sort of thematic unity. Without those scenes — as season two often is — the show feels unmoored.

Contact Dessi Gomez at dgomez@nd.edu

Contact Olivia Burke at oburke@nd.edu

“Sex Education” Starring: Asa Butterfield, Emma Mackey, Ncuti Gatwa, Connor Swindells Created by: Laurie Nunn Season: 2 Favorite episodes: “Episode 3,” “Episode 7” If you like: “Riverdale,” “Big Mouth” Where to watch: Netflix

CRISTINA INTERIANO | The Observer

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The observer | Thursday, January 23, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Mary Pope Osborne, I hope you’re reading this Evan McKenna Viewpoint Copyeditor

If you were to ask my parents to recount any memories they have of my second grade experience, they might have a tough time digging up any stories. Why, you ask? Holding back tears, my mother might explain to you why I went off the grid that year: “When Evan was seven, he locked himself in his room and dedicated his entire being to finishing all 38 entries of Mary Pope Osborne’s ‘Magic Tree House’ series. He disappeared for the entirety of 2007.”

In all seriousness, while my Mary Pope Osborne obsession did not quite drive me to hermitry, it was no question that I was absolutely enamored with books in early elementary school. Wrapped up in the worlds of “Judy Moody,” “The Boxcar Children” and the “Magic Tree House,” I tore through my 90-page novels at breakneck speed. As soon as my eyes scanned across a book’s last lines, I immediately felt compelled to start another — but not before briefly reflecting on the beautiful, poignant story that was “Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus.” I pulled another book from my bright red shelf, returned to my racecar bed, and began to peruse another set of magical pages. Life was simple. I read books — many books — simply because they made me happy.

In the fourth grade, as we walked wide-eyed through the “big kid hallways,” our budding minds reached for higher shelves — the thick spines and lengthy words of the “Harry Potter” series were still daunting but newly conquerable; the sprawling world and mature mythologies of “Percy Jackson” seemed epic and adult; even whispers of the bloody, gritty “Hunger Games” series began to make their way through our English classroom. With this mass influx of new literary options came a new reading incentive: Book Adventure. Akin to Accelerated Reading programs, Book Adventure asked students to take online quizzes on recently-read books, rewarding reading comprehension with points to be exchanged in the website’s gift shop. The fourth grade was floored — this was the future, right in front of our eyes.

But alas, Book Adventure and its shiny virtual prizes corrupted me. While I maintained my love of reading throughout the rest of middle school, no longer was literature exclusively a source of intrinsic enjoyment — with pages came points, and with points came cool new outfits for my online avatar. Books became the means to an end, not an end in itself. Book Adventure was, in fact, an adventure, but one that seemed to value the destination above the journey.

And while my Book Adventure avatar, sadly, did not make the journey to ninth grade with me, high school literature classes fundamentally changed the way I read books with the help of another point system: GPA. As grades became a considerable incentive, books became merely sources of hollow knowledge, collections of plot points to be spouted in the direction of my English teachers in exchange for potential participation points. And as required reading lists grew longer, I rarely found myself reading “for fun.”

College was just around the corner — what was the point of engaging in literature that didn’t boost my GPA or bolster my resume?

Today, believe it or not, I’m navigating my sophomore year of college as a newly-declared English major and a recovering Book Adventure addict. I am slowly rediscovering my once-lost intrinsic love for literature, with the help of great professors and great books. My heart hurts, however, for other former bookworms — the children who tore through colorful paperbacks as if their lives depended on it — who aren’t provided a platform to renew their passion for reading. My heart hurts for an educational system that turns literature into intellectual currency, merely a means to an end, and thus turns reading into labor. My heart yearns for the great year of 2007, when reading was fun and Mary Pope Osborne was my mom. Mary, if you’re reading this, I have to know — does the Magic Tree House really exist, and can it take me back to the second grade, when life was simple and your books helped me fall in love with reading?

Thank you in advance for your response.

Contact Evan McKenna at emckenn2@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

A civil engineer considers structural weakness G. Matthew Molinsky Okay, Domer

I’ve spent a lot of time in engineering classes, learning about topics such as the chemical process of manure acting as a fertilizer, bored out of my mind, asking myself, “Is this absolutely necessary to earn my civil engineering degree?” These mind-numbing classes neither advance my professional aspirations nor satisfy my personal educational curiosities. The cynical side of me thinks such classes are just a way for Notre Dame to keep engineering students working — hamsters on a wheel — and this line of thinking turns my boredom into frustration, followed by resentment; reason enough for me to put my pointless homework aside for a bit and spend some time comparing Notre Dame’s engineering curriculum to those of other, more tech-oriented universities.

I looked to Notre Dame’s Indiana neighbor, Purdue. Reading through their smorgasbord of civil engineering electives, it was hard not to be jealous. Why do the Boilermakers get to take a course titled “The Comprehensive Urban Planning Process” while I’m stuck in “Computational Methods?” How has my education prepared me for my post-graduation plans of working in construction management, when I’ve only taken one class in the field (an introductory survey) and I could have gone to another other school with 18-credit hour concentrations or even a complete major in my chosen field? To answer these questions, I dove into the numbers.

Notre Dame requires 130 total credit hours to earn a bachelor of science in civil engineering: 59 hours of civil engineeringspecific courses (43 required for all civil engineers, 10 for my structures concentration, six as civil engineering electives); 42 hours of science courses (math, chemistry, physics, courses from other engineering departments, etc.); three hours of technical electives (courses in any of the engineering departments); and, to top it all off, 26 hours of University requirements.

Purdue, on the other hand, requires 132 credit hours to earn the same degree: 63 hours of civil engineering courses (33 required and 30 elective); 51 hours of non-civil engineering classes; and 18 hours of general education requirements.

The two biggest differences are that the amount of engineering electives and university/general education requirements.

In the fall of 2018, Purdue had 9,376 undergraduate engineering students (32,672 total undergraduate enrollment) — far larger than Notre Dame in both categories. This disparity shows in in the curriculums. Fewer students means less funding which means

fewer specialized classes.

This is why Purdue is able to offer so many different electives, giving students more educational opportunities in the niche and advanced topics of engineering. The ability to offer more electives is a huge benefit of an education at a place like Purdue. A student who is able to choose his or her courses is going to be able to better fit their education to their goals, and is likely to put more effort into learning about something they’re passionate about.

Interestingly, Notre Dame’s biggest strength for engineering students might lie in all the other colleges offered at the University. Notre Dame’s ability to offer its students a holistic education allows the engineer to grow beyond basic technical skills.

My Basics of Film and Television course introduced me to a love of film, even pushing me to make a few movies of my own in a production class.

I’ve had the opportunity to pursue a theology minor, giving me the chance to enrich both my faith and mind. And, perhaps most importantly, Notre Dame has allowed me to develop friendships (and intellectual bonds) with people who’ve never taken an engineering course in their life. These relationships have made me a better human, and have possibly set me up for a more successful career.

In addition to aiding my personal intellectual curiosities, Notre Dame’s holistic education has better prepared me for a working world that is seeing an increase in the role of engineers. In 2018, 34 of the top 100 CEOs had an engineering degree, compared with 32 who had an MBA. Engineers are being asked to do a wider array of tasks than in the past: marketing, managing people and setting company strategy. These are skills that are not always emphasized at tech-oriented universities but are at a liberal arts college such as Notre Dame.

So, to the person considering an engineering major: If you’re the kind of person who loves engineering above all else and wants to work on problem solving all day, don’t come here. It’s not for you. But, if you’re like me, and you want to learn more than just structures and formulas, Notre Dame’s a pretty great place to start.

Matthew is the 3-Talley RA in Alumni Hall from Cincinnati. He majors in civil engineering with an itty-bitty minor in theology. Writing this column is the last in his long list of shortly lived passions. He can be reached at gmolinsk@nd.edu and @coltonjorge on Twitter.

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Submit a Letter to the Editor: viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com

The observer | thursday, january 23, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

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The endowment as explained by a broke student Ben Testani Off Campus, On Topic

Notre Dame has a $13.8 billion endowment, and I have 14 billion questions. That figure for the endowment comes from October of 2019, and was published at the close of the University’s fiscal year.

Notre Dame is a non-profit university, as are the vast majority of American colleges and universities.

Therefore, Fr. Jenkins and the Board of Trustees cannot pocket the profits leftover when the University calculates its operating profit. This restriction seems straightforward enough. But why can’t we take the rest of the endowment and make tuition free? Many students have wondered about this at some point during their time on campus, myself included. I have decided to try and answer my own questions and explore other aspects of Notre Dame’s finances along the way.

I saw the massive donations come in for the Duncan Student Center or new dorms and questioned why I needed to take out loans to pay for my education if the University was being given so much money. Then I learned about how earmarking works.

Certain donations, when given to the University, are donated with the stipulation that they be used for a specific purpose. So, when Mrs. Jane Billionaire gives Notre Dame millions and, five years later, we have the Billionaire Family Basketball Facility, this is not often a gesture of goodwill from Notre Dame. The basketball building may very well have been what Mrs. Billionaire requested the University construct using her donation. Some donations are generalized while some are given with a certain purpose in mind. Of course, one must have sufficient leverage to convince Notre Dame to earmark their donation for a specific building or upgrade, and that leverage comes in the form of a larger donation.

Okay, so some donations have to be put toward certain projects. I can’t sit around hoping for a new billionaire to need a tax cut with the expectation that a donation will lead to a free education. But what about

the endowment? After all, the Smith Center was a $15 million gift. That is approximately 0.12% of the most recently reported figure for the endowment. The University publishes an investment review annually on its website. Unfortunately, the most recent review is for the fiscal year ending in 2018, but its data still helps me answer some questions.

During the 2017-2018 fiscal year, spending from the endowment pool was $393 million, which represents 3% of the then-$13.11 billion in the endowment. This spending supports endowed faculty positions, the library, athletics and, yes, student aid. Notre Dame’s operating budget for the 2017-2018 fiscal year was $1.6 billion. Scott Malpass, chief investment officer for Notre Dame, said in 2019 a draw of over $400 million from the endowment represented nearly 30% of the University’s operating budget. Other sources of income, including tuition and football revenue, make up the remaining 70% of the operating budget. But what if draw from the endowment made up 100% of the operating budget and tuition was free?

Assuming the budget is nearly the same as it was in 2018, which is backed up by the comments from Malpass, Notre Dame would need to pull about $1.6 billion from the endowment to operate. That would leave the remainder of the endowment at $12.2 billion. My first takeaway is that Notre Dame could afford to take in $0 in income for 8 years and survive by eating the endowment. Obviously, however, this would be unsustainable. Luckily for my free-tuition dream, Notre Dame invests a portion of its endowment each year, allowing it to accrue further under the watchful eye of the Investment Office. Malpass reported a growth rate for the invested portions of the endowment of 12.2% in fiscal year 2017-2018. This is an extraordinary growth rate, and one that is likely unsustainable. To be fair to Malpass and avoid setting the bar too high, let’s assume 5% growth each fiscal year for the invested portions of the endowment. If the entire remainder of the endowment, after covering the entire budget, was invested at a yield of 5%, the investment would grow from $12.2 billion to approximately $12.8 billion.

Clearly that would still be an unsustainable approach. The return is far smaller than the cost of covering the entire budget. However, in defense of my “$0 tuition” proposal, Malpass does not seem to indicate that the entire remainder of the budget outside spending from the endowment pool comes from undergraduate tuition. “[Spending from the endowment pool] was 5% of the budget 30 years ago, so back then 70% of the budget was undergraduate tuition,” said Malpass. Since Notre Dame is nonprofit, it receives money from the government, as well as making money from licensing deals, apparel sales and a variety of other sources. An additional point in favor of my plan is endowment pool spending already includes spending on financial aid, and only 69% of the undergraduate student body requires financial aid of some sort. So the changes in endowment spending required to make tuition free would not be as drastic as covering 100% of the University’s operating budget.

There are 8,617 undergraduates enrolled at the University of Notre Dame. They each pay $55,553 in tuition. That totals out to $478,700,201 in tuition received by the University. As the school considers its annual tuition increase, typically announced in February, I encourage those in power to think about the numbers I laid out here. This column was even heavier than usual on math and figures to make my points, but I would like to leave off with one more piece of data. Notre Dame is one of just 30 colleges required to pay a new tax on its endowment because it has in excess of $500,000 in endowment funds per student. And I don’t know about you, but I could buy a lot of Quarter Dogs with my portion of $500,000.

Ben Testani is a senior studying international economics, Arabic and Spanish. He comes to Notre Dame via central New York and while currently residing off-campus, will always be a proud Alumni Dawg. He welcomes feedback at btestani@nd.edu or @BenTestani on Twitter.

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The change we seek When I think of climate change, I remember the life of Dr. Piers Sellers. Dr. Sellers was an astronaut, the former director of the Earth Sciences Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and a climate change leader. His life was devoted to climate science. However, in 2016, he was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. With only a year to live, he did not have to worry about climate change’s effect on his life. He could have retired, sat on a beach and blissfully ignored the rising global temperature. But he valued creation and was motivated to preserve the Earth for his children and grandchildren. So, he fought to end climate change until his death on Dec. 23, 2016.

Dr. Sellers embodies the leadership and values our country currently lacks. To avert the most serious consequences of climate change, we must limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Yet, at this critical moment in history, we have abdicated our responsibility to the world and our local communities. On Nov. 4, the United States began the process of withdrawing from the Paris Agreement,

and we have done so even as fires are raging in California, hurricanes are devastating the Gulf Coast, and floods are hampering farming throughout the Midwest. These extreme weather events will only get worse if we do not act. We are leaving our most vulnerable communities to fend for themselves, and we are conscripting our future generations — our children and grandchildren — to deal with the fallout.

In order to save our planet, we must act. It is time for the United States to reclaim its position as a world leader. Our country’s history is one of great achievements. Over the last century, we have won World War II, put a man on the moon and split the atom. We have led the world in the fight for freedom and for discovery, and we have the resources, the knowledge and the willpower to overcome any obstacle which stands in our path. But today, as we face this new test, we need a national commitment equal to this challenge.

Fortunately, our country is now ready for the fight.

Today, nearly eight in 10 Americans — Democrats

and Republicans — believe that human activity is fueling our changing climate. Despite the political rancor and polarization our country faces, climate change has emerged as a bipartisan issue, a human issue. Our political leaders must now recognize and honor the will of the people, but the impetus is not only on them.

We must be the change we seek in the world. We must call on Congress and the president to rejoin the 197 countries who signed the Paris Agreement, and we must demand policy to stave off the harmful effects of climate change. Dr. Sellers gave what Abraham Lincoln would call “the last full measure of devotion” in his fight against climate change. We owe it to him, to our children and to our grandchildren to fight for the preservation of our planet. We must not go quietly into the night. We ought to be leaders in our world.

Steven Higgins senior Jan. 22

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The observer | thursday, january 23, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | steven e. atwood

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Gather information to formulate a plan, but don’t make an impulsive move, regardless of what others do this year. Time is on your side, and building a solid foundation for your long-term plans will get you much closer to your goal than taking a shortcut or risk. Use your intelligence, experience and insight to make the best and right decision for yourself. Your numbers are 6, 17, 22, 27, 30, 37, 43.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Keep searching, and you will find what you want. Refuse to let anyone discourage you or try to push you in a direction that doesn’t offer growth, satisfaction or the mental stimulation you require to fulfill your dreams.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take the route that promises the best results. Do research rather than relying on secondhand information. Go the distance if that’s what’s required to get what you want. Say no to anyone pressuring you to be a gofer instead of a leader.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You may be mesmerized by what someone is doing, but look further and you’ll discover that you are best to put your energy into your ideas, not someone else’s. Look at the possibilities to make things happen.

CANCER ( June 21-July 22): Don’t waste time; seize the moment, and use your skills to work for you. Don’t let what others do consume you. Anger will not turn you into a winner, but discipline and hard work will. Let your success be your revenge.

LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Take the initiative to finish what you start. Use your intelligence and experience to outsmart anyone who tries to get in your way.

Change can work, but before you implement something new, make sure it’s what you want.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Share with someone you love. Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you. Don’t take a risk that could result in hurt feelings or physical injury. Stick to a plan, and don’t initiate shortcuts. Romance is favored.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): If someone is looking for answers, reveal what you know. A deal that will advance one of your ideas looks promising. Expand your mind and your faith by participating in events that test your knowledge and encourage open-mindedness.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Traveling, making educational pursuits and participating in discussions with people who have more experience will all lead to an exciting twist of fate. Being active will help alleviate stress.

Romance is in the stars and will tweak your personal life.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Stick close to home and to the people you can trust to offer you sound advice. Put more time and effort into increasing your knowledge. What you discover will help you make better decisions when it comes to health, love and happiness.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Get all your information straight and your objectives in place before you make a move. Impulsiveness will result in backtracking to avoid loss. A relationship will improve if you share your intentions or make a romantic gesture.

AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t let the past weigh you down. Look over your options, consider what’s feasible and do whatever it takes to get your plan up and running. Let go of whatever and whoever doesn’t fit into your future.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Don’t lose sight of what you want. Listen to what’s said, but don’t buy in to something that sounds too good to be true.

Create an opportunity instead of investing in someone else’s future. Believe in your dream, and make it happen.

Birthday Baby: You are lively, appealing and witty. You are imaginative and passionate.

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

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ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, january 23, 2020 | The Observer

W Tennis

Sports Authority

Stop overvaluing the quarterback Aidan Thomas Sports Writer

The stage was set. I was in the Baumer Hall 24-hour lounge, watching the first half of the NFC championship game between the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers faced a 2nd and 9 at the Packers 18-yard line, already up 20-0. One spectator said, “I just want to see a touchdown right now,” to which I responded: “If you don’t believe Jimmy G. [Garoppolo] is about hand this ball off for a touchdown, you don’t deserve to watch the game.”

The reaction to my joke is not important. What is important, however, is that on the ensuing snap, good ol’ Jimmy G. took the snap and tucked into the gut of Raheem Mostert, who burst through a hole for an 18-yard touchdown run. Standing in the lobby, getting ready to leave the dorm, I announced to anyone who was still watching the joke of the game that Garoppolo was the best quarterback of all time.

Coming after a game in which Patrick Mahomes added to his legacy with a sparkling performance in the AFC championship, this was obviously a facetious and stunningly false comment.

But my laughable cold take on Garoppolo prompted me to consider another question: What direction is the NFL truly headed in, and how do you create a regular contender in today’s NFL? Is a dynamic quarterback simply not the most important piece of a team anymore? There’s no doubt in my mind that Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and possibly Kirk Cousins are all better QBs than Garoppolo, yet it is his 49ers that are headed to the Super Bowl. Why? Because success in the NFL is becoming more based on the run, especially in the playoffs. And you don’t even need a unit of a back like Derrick Henry. Check out the 49ers again, who have Tevan Coleman and reclamation project Raheem Mostert racking up yards on the ground.

While the Chiefs are in the Super Bowl largely because of their quarterback, Mahomes is a generational talent, and most teams can’t rely on that. So what is the best way to build a perennial contender?

Once more, look at the 49ers.

They truly embraced the grind of the rebuild. After an 8-8 season in 2014, the 49ers lost 11 games, and then 14 games. During this time, the 49ers gradually put the pieces in place for their future, drafting Deforest Buckner — a major defensive contributor this year — and Solomon Thomas, who has become a solid depth piece. In 2017, the 49ers got their

coach in Kyle Shanahan, drafted playmaker George Kittle and, in 2018, a stud pass protector in Mike McGlinchey. And then when they figured they were close to contention, they traded their QB in for Garoppolo. Garoppolo came at an affordable price, and he wasn’t a star necessarily, but he has fit the 49ers system. His season-ending injury gave the 49ers one more horrible season last year, but the ’Niners got Nick Bosa out of the lost season, drafting the Ohio State star second overall. This year, San Francisco signed Coleman, Mostert and drafted Deebo Samuel. Suddenly, or rather, extremely gradually, the 49ers had a formidable defense — a solid quarterback with a bevy of weapons to work with and a young coach with a good track record. They took that potential and turned it into a 13-3 season and a Super Bowl berth.

Skill position players tend to have a short shelf life, so the 49ers — by getting the majority of their weapons right before they were ready to contend — ensured they could maximize their value. So having looked at how to correctly rebuild your team, we now look at how not to do it — presented today by the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals still have one of the worst offensive lines and a horrific defense. They’ve drafted some good skill players, using second round picks on Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd. But Mixon already showed some signs of struggling with the offensive line, and Boyd can only get the ball if there are more weapons to compliment him on offense. The Bengals are almost certainly going to draft Joe Burrow first overall, and they’ll have turned several years of losing records into a handful of good playmakers with a horrible team around them. The NFL nowadays is won in the trenches. Get your offensive line in shape, fix your defense, get some weapons and then get your quarterback. The skill positions should be the final steps. The Bengals are relying on Burrow to be a Mahomes in the coming years, when what they really need is to draft a Bosa, a McGlinchey, a Samuel, a Kittle and then find their own Garoppolo. The times are changing in the league; the 49ers recognized this and adapted, while the Bengals are putting on a clinic of what not to do in a rebuild.

Moral of the story: Don’t let your obsession with one talented player overshadow the importance of 21 others. In other words?

Be a 49er, not a Bengal.

Contact Aidan Thomas at athoma28@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Continued from page 12

matchup on a two-game winning streak after shutting out both of their most recent opponents.

The Paladins will look to build off a successful 2018-2019 season, wherein they went 26-2 overall and 7-0 in the Southern Conference before falling to Tennessee in the first round of the NCA A Championships.

Furman is led by senior Katarina Kozarov, a bona-fide star in collegiate tennis who has earned back-to-back Southern Conference player of the year honors.

The Bulldogs will be playing their first matches of the season this weekend and should be one of the toughest opponents on the Irish’s

whole schedule. Georgia may be the most complete team in the NCA A, with multiple players ranked in the top 100, and they are coming off a historic 20182019 season that ended in a loss to Stanford in the NCA A championship match.

Georgia set the university’s single-season win record with 28 in total, and they will be highly motivated to make another long postseason run this year. However, the Irish are familiar with playing against elite programs as they competed with Duke and Virginia in 2019.

Michigan State looks to improve after finishing last season with a record of 1511. The Spartans will also be eager for the opportunity of revenge against Notre Dame, who defeated them

9

4-0 in 2019. Junior Mary Lewis headlines a solid Michigan State lineup. This contest presents an opportunity for the Irish to extend their dominance against the Spartans, a regional rival.

The match against Furman will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday while both the Georgia and Michigan State games are expected to begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday. W hen the Irish return to South Bend from Athens, they will begin a four-game homestand at the Eck Tennis Pavilion, facing Akron, Kentucky, Butler and Northwestern. Notre Dame does start the season with a very high strength of schedule, but if the team can establish a rhythm at home, they should be able to gain momentum heading into important ACC matches.

allison thornton | The Observer

Irish senior Zoe Spence follows through on a swing during Notre Dame’s 4-0 victory over Purdue on Jan. 13 at Purcell Pavilion. The Irish return to action Saturday against Furman Paladins.

allison thornton | The Observer

Irish senior Bess Waldram returns a lob during Notre Dame’s 4-0 victory over Purdue at Eck Tenns Pavilion on Feb. 13. The Irish are 2-0 on the season heading into tournament play in Athens, Georgia.

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 | thursday, january 23, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

M Bball Continued from page 12

and we kept battling and going back and forth, we stuck to our game plan and did a great job, ultimately they just made more shots than we did.”

The Orange finished 47% from the field.

Notre Dame came into the game following a tough win on the road against Georgia Tech, while Syracuse had won their previous three games. The two teams faced each other Jan. 4 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. The Irish prevailed 88-87, in a game in which three Notre Dame players finished with more than 20 points.

Both teams picked up where they left off offensively. After a Syracuse layup to start the game, senior guard TJ Gibbs hit back-to-back threes to get the scoring started for the Irish. After Syracuse scored five consecutive points to retake the lead, senior forward Juwan Durham threw down an alley-oop slam from sophomore guard Prentiss Hubb.

The two teams continued to go back and forth early.

A Mooney and-one gave the Irish a 15-12 lead going into the under-16 timeout. After another Syracuse three, Goodwin banked in a corner three, and sophomore forward Nate Lazewski blocked a shot on the next possession, then drilled a three on the other end to put the Irish up by eight points.

Coming out of a media timeout, Lazewski immediately drilled another three. On the next possession, Durham sank two free throws to give the Irish a double-digit lead, but Syracuse came storming back with a 13-0 run to retake the lead, before it was finally ended by a Goodwin three.

The two sides continued to trade baskets for the rest of the half. Syracuse made two 3-pointers in the last minute of the stanza to take a 46-42 lead into the break.

The Orange opened the second half on a 9-2 run, forcing Brey to take an early timeout.

After another Syracuse basket, a Lazewski three ended the run and cut the lead to 10. After Syracuse missed a pair of free throws, Goodwin drilled a contested jumper from the elbow, bringing the crowd back into the game.

Following a Syracuse timeout, a Durham jumper cut the lead further, but Syracuse again responded with a 7-0 run, before it was ended by a Pf lueger three. After a shot-clock violation, Hubb made a pull-up

jumper to cut the lead to eight, but it was answered again by Syracuse.

Mooney blocked a three to force a shot clock violation, and Goodwin made another jumper from the free throw line to cut the lead to six. On the next possession, as the shot clock expired, Hubb grabbed a loose ball and heaved a deep three that miraculously fell in, cutting the lead to just three points.

After a timeout, a Mooney hook shot brought the Irish to within one, and on the next possession, he found a cutting Goodwin to give the Irish their first lead of the half with just under six minutes to play.

Syracuse answered with a putback layup, but Mooney split a pair of free throws to tie the game.

Brey had to call a timeout after back-to-back buckets, including a wide open dunk, gave the Orange a four-point cushion. Both teams turned the ball over multiple times down the stretch, but the Irish could not find the bottom of the net in the last few minutes of the game and were forced to foul down by six with less than a minute to play.

Notre Dame made multiple threes in the last minute to keep the game interesting, and a Hubb steal lead to a Mooney layup to cut the lead to two, but Syracuse made both free throws to seal the game.

“Our mentality has been the whole season that we’re never out of the game,” Pf lueger said. “W hen it seems like we’re out of it, our team has the tenacity to keep on fighting, and that’s why I love this group.”

Boeheim also praised the Irish after the game.

“I think Notre Dame has a tremendous team,” he said.

“They could’ve won every game that they lost. They’re right there.”

Notre Dame will head south to Tallahassee, Florida, for what promises to be another tough matchup Saturday against No. 5-ranked Florida State (16-2, 6-1 ACC). The Seminoles have won nine consecutive matchups and have not lost a game at home this season. Brey indicated he may change the starting lineup for that game.

“W hen you’re searching, you just change it up [and] change it up.”

He also knows how close the Irish have been to winning big games all season.

“I don’t have any answers other than let’s keep trying.”

Sports

nathanial george | The Observer

Irish senior forward John Mooney puts up a shot during Notre Dame’s 82-84 loss to Syracuse on Wednesday at home.The Irish are now 11-7 on the season and return to action on Saturday in Florida.

Contact Liam Coolican at lcoolica@nd.edu

Write Sports.

Email Connor Mulvena at cmulvena@nd.edu

nathanial george | The Observer

Irish senior forward Juwan Durham looks to pass the ball during Notre Dame’s 82-84 loss to Syracuse on Wednesdy at Purcell Pavilion. The Irish will compete at Florida State on Saturday.

Sports

ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, january 23, 2020 | The Observer

Fencing

ncaa basketball

Observer Roundtable: Week of basketball Aidan Thomas, Patrick Gallagher, Liam Coolican, Dominic Gibson & Nate Moller Sports Writers

This week is more of an exhibition and trial week in the Observer Roundtable, as we experiment with a format for the basketball season. After Super Bowl week, we will reset the scoreboard, and also sadly remove one member from our ranks, as David Kramer has expressed his wishes to retire on top and return next football season. Barring the addition of another writer, it will be the five of us carrying on the tradition for the next few months. The standings heading into Super Bowl week are listed here, and here are some college picks to entertain you all while we wait for the big game next week.

NBA picks along with some bold predictions for the week will come tomorrow.

CURRENT STANDINGS: David — 102 pts Patrick — 91 pts Liam — 90 pts Dominic — 89 pts Nate — 87 pts Aidan — 82 pts

NCAA Basketball Games of the Week (1 point per pick): No. 15 Kentucky (14-4) @ No. 18 Texas Tech (12-6) No. 9 Villanova (15-3) @ Providence (11-8) No. 1 Baylor (16-1) @ Florida (12-6)

Patrick Kentucky has failed to deliver on its extremely high preseason hype by losing to four unranked opponents at this point in the season. They share their most convincing win with Texas Tech as both teams defeated Louisville. The Red Raiders are 9-1 in Lubbock, and I think their home court advantage and Tech’s defense will be huge factors. Texas Tech wins.

Villanova is currently on a nice four-game winning streak and are developing solid chemistry as a team with about 15.4 assists per contest.

Providence has not earned a ranked victory all season and will be coming off a tough game against Seton Hall. I foresee the Wildcats continuing their streak and earning a key conference victory away from The Pavilion.

Ever since their loss to Washington, Baylor has been the hottest team in basketball winning 15 straight and defeating five ranked teams.

Jared Butler has begun to emerge as one of the best

guards in the NCAA, averaging about 16 points per game, and their defense gives up just 58.5 points per game. Florida is 7-1 at home, but the Bears should cruise to another victory.

Liam Kentucky hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations this year, but they have some big wins and some incredible talent. Coach John Calipari often seems to have young, experienced teams that struggle in December and early January and then turn it around heading into SEC play, and that’s what I think will happen. Kentucky turns it around and takes care of business on the road.

The Big East has been full of upsets, just like the rest of college basketball. However, I haven’t seen anything from Providence that indicates they can beat a team of Villanova’s caliber. The Wildcats have looked much better as of late, and I expect them to win another close game on the road.

Since a bad loss at Missouri, Florida has been dominant, dominating then-No. 4-ranked Auburn last week, while Baylor barely survived their first game being ranked No. 1. I’m tempted to pick the upset in Gainesville here, but I’ll go with the Bears because they have more talent than Florida and have proved adept at winning close games.

Baylor gets another scare, but survives.

Dominic Kentucky has taken their share of bumps this season so far, taking several tough losses to start the campaign. While Texas Tech did not look their best against conference foe TCU, the Red Raiders will be looking to come out strong and shoot much better against the Wildcats. I think that Texas Tech takes this one in Lubbock.

Villanova has started to gain momentum as of late, and I don’t think Providence is the team to stop their roll. Villanova will take care of business this game.

Baylor will be entering into their matchup against Florida with a little bit of confidence after downing Oklahoma with stout defense and control of the glass. The Gators have not been as consistent and will need to outwork the Bears in this game.

I think that Baylor takes this one.

Nate Texas Tech had a slip up Tuesday night against TCU, and they will look to bounce back against a streaky Kentucky team. I think this game will be back and forth the whole game, but I like Calipari’s men to come

up with the road victory. Texas Tech has to shoot better from behind the arc if they are going to win, and I don’t see them being able to do that. Kentucky gets a big win for the SEC. Villanova has looked great in Big East play so far this season, with only one loss. Their 15-point win over Butler the other night proved to me that this team is for real, and could contend for a title again this season. Providence is sneakily 4-2 in the Big East themselves, and I expect them to give the Wildcats a good fight, but in the end, Nova takes the win by double digits.

Florida was riding a threegame winning streak that included a win over No. 16 Auburn before falling by two points to LSU in a thriller, so if there is anytime you want to play the No. 1 team in the nation, now is the time. Baylor is riding a 15-game winning streak of their own, however, so Florida better be on top of their game. Baylor’s streak will eventually end, but they will hold on to grab the win against Florida in the closing seconds.

Continued from page 12

with many of our starters having limited experience at the highest collegiate level.”

This lack of experience is partly a result of a number of team members training for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and competing at the World Championships in France.

Unfortunately, many of those athletes will still be unavailable for this weekend’s home meets, and Kvaratskhelia said the team is doing all it can to accommodate them as they prepare for their competitions.

Those competitors, however, will be back and available for the team later on in the season for some key events.

“In order to accommodate our athletes’ needs to make their international teams, we will not have them this weekend,” he said. “We will have them for our later dual meets ACCs and NCA As, and that will be a great help.”

Kvaratskhelia also commented on the team’s ability to close out matches. He did say, as the team continued to perform, he saw improvement.

“It seemed that the further along we went, the better the team performed. We were in a lot of matches, but couldn’t finish,” he said. “Aside from

11

[graduate student] Amanda Sirico, we didn’t have anyone else who could close out a match for us.”

Graduate student epeeist Amanda Sirico competes in the NCA A Midwest Regional Championships on March 9 at Notre Dame.

In regards to this weekend’s meet specifically, Kvaratskhelia expressed his confidence in the team — and said his expectations remain quite high.

“Our expectations are always the highest,” he said.

“We have to adjust our psychological preparation to match our kids’ skillset, so that we can help them perform to their best level. I have confidence that we will be ready for the weekend.”

And those high expectations make sense in light of the team’s performance last year at the Decicco Duels, when both teams recorded 8-0 records and thoroughly outmatched the competition in a dominating performance on all fronts. During the meet, the women had five competitors reach double-digit wins, and for the men, five competitors recorded at least eight w ins.

Notre Dame w ill look to replicate that performance again this weekend.

Contact Connor Mulvena at cmulvena@nd.edu

Aidan Holding home-court advantage has seemed to be a big deal this year, and the Red Raiders have only lost once at home — a five-point loss to No. 1 Baylor. Kentucky has been mediocre on the road, and have needed comebacks to win twice against unranked opponents.

Give me Texas Tech over Kentucky in this one.

Villanova is relatively untested in hostile environments, having played just four true road games, but they are really hot right now, having won 11 of 12. Providence is good at home, but sometimes, your gut just tells you to pick the better, more talented team, and that’s what I’ll be doing in this game — Wildcats win one on the road.

Baylor has looked a little shaky in their past two games, shooting poorly against Oklahoma State and then barely surviving Oklahoma at home. A loss seems to be coming for this team, and this road date against a strong and probably soon-tobe ranked Florida squad seems as likely a time as any. Give the Gators in the upset!

Contact Aidan Thomas, Patrick Gallagher, Liam Coolican, Dominic Gibson, Nate Moller at athoma28@nd.edu, pgallg4@nd.edu, lcoolica@ nd.edu, dgibson@hcc-nd.edu, nmoller2@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Allison Thornton | The Observer

Irish senior Alexander Ju competes in a bout during the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships on March 3.

Allison Thornton | The Observer

Irish sophomore teammates Miriam Grady and Dasha Yefremenko sparr during the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships.

12

The observer | thursday, january 23, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

men’s basketball| Syracuse 84, notre dame 82

Squad falls to Syracuse in fourth

By LIAM COOLICAN Sports Writer

Despite hav ing multiple chances to take the lead late in the second half, Notre Dame (11-7, 2-5 ACC) fell to Sy racuse (12-7, 5-3 ACC) 84-82 Wednesday night at Purcell Pav illion.

Notre Dame headcoach Mike Brey expressed his frustration that his team has had trouble dow n the stretch.

“We haven’t been able to close them here. It’s been frustrating for me and our guys,” he said “The crowd has been great, they’ve been entertaining games, our kids are competing, we just haven’t been able to make enough plays on either end of the f loor.”

The Irish were led by senior for ward John Mooney, who scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for his 12th consecutive double-double, and sophomore guard Dane Goodw in, who

nd women’s tennis

Irish to face 3 opponents in Athens

had 15 points off the bench.

Sy racuse head coach Jim Boehim had high praise for Mooney.

“If John Mooney is not one of the top 25 players in the countr y, then I don’t know any thing about college basketball,” he said after the game.

Graduate student guard Rex Pf leuger commented on Sy racuse’s prolific shooting during the contest.

“They’ve been on a prett y good streak right now, they were aggressive. I think we were two great offensive teams tonight just going at it,” he said. “They made more shots then we did, but I don’t think that’s any thing negative on us. We definitely need to defend better indiv idually. They’re a confident shooting team. W hether or not they’re on or off they’re going to keep shooting. They made their shots tonight, see M BBALL PAGE 10

Observer Sports Staff

allison thornton | The Observer

Irish junior Ally Bojczuk returns a shot during Notre Dame’s 4-0 victory over Purdue at Eck Tennis Pavilion on February 13.

Notre Dame set to compete in Deccio Duals

By CONNOR MULVENA

Team prepares for ITA play Observer Sports Staff

Sports Editor

see FENCING PAGE 11

see W TENNIS PAGE 9

Nd men’s tennis

fencing

After competing in two challenging meets over the weekend on the road — one at St. Johns, where the women posted a record of 3-2 and the men a record of 0-5, and one at the Universit y of Pennsylvania, in which the women once more went 3-2 and the men improved to 4-1, the Notre Dame fencing squad w ill host the Decicco Duals at home this Saturday and Sunday.

A lthough the results over the weekend were largely successful against some stiff competition, Irish head coach Gia Kvaratsk helia commented on some shortcomings he saw in his squad’s difficult y handling heightened competition.

“I think the kids put a lot of stress and pressure on themselves,” he said. “That’s what can happen w ith a young and inexperienced team

After beginning the season w ith t wo straight v ictories over Bowling Green, the Notre Dame women’s tennis team w ill head to Athens, Georgia for three matches this weekend.

Notre Dame (2-0) is scheduled to face Furman on Jan. 25 before challenging No. 2 Georgia and Michigan State the next day. The Irish have a ver y experienced team w ith five out of their nine players juniors or seniors. However, their younger players stand out, as well, as freshman Page Freeman was a fivestar recruit and secured her first-ever spring season v ictor y last Sunday. The upcoming matches allow Notre Dame to gain some valuable experience against some of the top programs in the countr y.

Furman (2-2) enters the

Allison thornton | The Observer

Irish graduate student epee Amanda Sirico lunges at an opponent during the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships on March 9.

After picking up their first win on the spring season Monday afternoon against Purdue (1-2), the Notre Dame Men’s tennis team (1-1) will travel to Fort Worth, Texas to take on Arizona (4-0) in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend.

The Irish enter in as the No. 29 team in the ITA rankings and the No. 2 seed in their bracket of four behind only the host team, TCU (1-0).

The Irish will look to carry their momentum from their win last Monday into their match Friday, as they will need to perform in this evenly projected match up.

Notre Dame took the doubles point convincingly in its contest against Purdue, with the doubles team of sophomore A xel Nevfe and junior Tristan McCormick taking their match by the score of 6-3 followed by the team of junior Richard Ciamarra and senior Matt Gamble winning by the score of 6-2.

Despite the score line,

Notre Dame would need to battle hard in singles, needing a pair of three-set matches to seal the victory with McCormick winning 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 and junior William Howells winning 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

The Irish will need their No. 1 singles player and No. 5-ranked ITA Richard Ciamarra to have a bounceback performance against Arizona. After winning his first singles match of the season against Kentucky (3-0), Ciamarra dropped his match against Purdue senior Athell Bennett 6-7, 4-6. Arizona carries ITA-ranked singles players in their lineup, as well in junior Filip Malbasic and senior Alejandro Reguant.

Should Notre Dame win its match against Arizona, it will advance to face the winner of Florida Atlantic University (2-3) and TCU. Doubles play will begin at 11 a.m. at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center followed by singles immediately after.