Print Edition of The Observer for Thursday, January 30, 2020

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Volume 54, Issue 72 | thursday, january 30, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Saint Mary’s plans 2021 honors Commencement speaker, honorary degree recipient possibilities considered

By SARA SCHLECHT Associate News Editor

The office of Interim College President Nancy Nekvasil is beginning to plan for honors to be given at commencement for the class of 2021.

In an email sent to the junior class Jan. 14, the Office of the President announced it is accepting nominations for a commencement speaker and honorary degree recipients for commencement 2021. The email included a link for students to submit their nominations, which are due Monday.

A direct connection to the College is not necessarily required in order for a person to be awarded an honorary degree. see HONORS PAGE 3

Observer Staff Report

The “serious sex offender” arrested Friday on campus was identified as 70-yearold James Renick, Jessica McBrier, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office’s director of media relations confirmed in an email.

“The St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office has charged James F Renick, 70, with Unlawful Entry by a Serious Sex Offender, a Level 6 Felony, in connection with a January 24, 2020 arrest on the University of

College Mentors for Kids fosters relationships

By TRINITY REILLY News Writer

Sophomore Kaley Murday — an older sister, babysitter and godmother — said when she first arrived to Notre Dame, she missed spending time with kids.

Then she discovered College Mentors for Kids, a program that aims to show children in the South Bend community the everyday of college life and encourage them to pursue a college degree. Each Tuesday and Thursday, the organization brings first-through-sixth grade kids from St. Adalbert Catholic School to campus.

On Wednesdays, the group busses in first-throughfourth graders from Holy Cross Elementary School.

“Day-to-day for a mentor,

news PAGE 3

Known sex offender arrested

you’re just hanging out with this kid and trying to get to know them,” Murday said.

“Every week, we have an activity. We’ve done yoga, ultimate frisbee and we even made gingerbread houses for Christmas. We try to choose engaging activities that paint college in a bright light.”

However, College Mentors for Kids is not just about showcasing the college experience. Murday said mentors hope to form connections with their kids and often have the same “buddy” from semester to semester.

“I made it a point when making my schedule every semester to keep Thursday afternoons free because that’s when my buddy comes,” she said. “This is see MENTORS PAGE 4

SCENE PAGE 5

CRISTINA INTERIANO | The Observer

see ARREST PAGE 3

Engineers Without Borders travels to Ecuador

By MORGAN JOHNSON News Writer

The Notre Dame chapter of Engineers Without Borders contributed to budding engineering developments abroad in a winter break trip to Ecuador this year.

The social service organization is currently in the middle of a five-year partnership with the San Pedro de Suma community in Ecuador. With the assistance of its parent organization, Engineers Without Borders USA, and the mentorship of two engineering professionals, the club has developed a sustainable project in terms of assessment, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

President of Engineers Without Borders at Notre Dame senior Madelyn Wesoloski believes the personal relationship the club

ViewPOINT PAGE 6

establishes with the community is essential to the success of the project.

“There were two projects over winter break that we implemented,” Wesloski said. “We did chlorination at the two schools there and the town really liked it. Because the town was excited about chlorination, it will now be communitywide, which will be another assessment trip. We can extend our commitment with the community a bit, but we try to fit what we can in there. We travel there at least once a year, because if not, they can lose faith in you and you won’t seem invested.”

The club started planning for this implementation trip last year. As part of the preparation process, club members did alternative analyses work for the water chlorinator and the wall they built around the

ND M BASKETBALL PAGE 12

schools to prevent animals from getting in (and students from leaving). During the fall, students prepared designs and calculations for the projects.

Project lead and senior Jen Lies emphasized that Engineers Without Borders is focused on improving the health and welfare of those in the community. After the club’s assessment trip last year, they determined the water chlorinator was not just something the community wanted, but a pressing need and a project that the club could feasibly do.

“Water chlorination is important because there is E. coli in the water. Wastewater treatment there is poor,” Lies said. “The chlorinator hasn’t gone live yet, but we are looking to increase health and general wellbeing of the community see ENGINEERS PAGE 4

ND W BASKETBALL PAGE 12

2

TODAY

The observer | thursday, january 30, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com

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What is your favorite location on campus?

P.O. Box 779, Notre Dame, IN 46556 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556

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junior Le Mans Hall

junior Lewis Hall

“La Fun.”

“The Grotto.”

Jack Edwards

Maria D’Ambrose

junior Morrissey Manor

junior Cavanaugh Hall

“O’Neill, the music hall.”

“The Grotto.”

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Lauren Rymsza

Mary Lynn Dekold

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sophomore McGlinn Hall

junior Howard Hall

“I love Pangborn’s Chapel because of the amazing musical ministry.”

“God Quad, right in front of the Jesus statue.”

Editor-in-Chief Kelli Smith Managing Editor Natalie Weber

Asst. Managing Editor: Maria Leontaras Asst. Managing Editor: Mary Steurer Asst. Managing Editor: Mary Bernard

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HANNAH HUELSKAMP | The Observer

A student speaks at Stories of Grace on Wednesday night in the Log Chapel. The monthly event, held in both the fall and spring semesters, invites members of the Notre Dame community to share stories about how spirituality has touched their lives.

The next Five days:

Want your event included here?

Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Lecture: “Border Anxieties” 1030 Jenkins Nanovic Hall 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

All are welcome.

Higgins Labor Cafe Geddes Hall Coffee House 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Discussion of workers’ rights. All are welcome.

Men’s Basketball vs Georgia Tech Purcell Pavilion 12 p.m.

The Irish will take on the Yellow Jackets.

Women’s Tennis vs University of Kentucky Eck Tennis Pavilion 11 a.m.

Irish take on Wildcats.

Arts and Letters Career Discussion 526 Duncan Student Center 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

RSVP on Handshake.

“Environmental Cooperation” Hesburgh Center 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Covers issues in the Middle East.

Reception: “Divine Illusions” Snite Museum of Art 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Public reception for Divine Illusions.

Film showing: “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood” Browning Cinema 6: 30 p.m. & 9: 30 p.m.

Ticketed event.

Conducting Recital Basilica of the Sacred Heart 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Featuring conductor Howard Eckdhal.

Panel: “India’s Winter of Protest” 1050 Jenkins Nanovic Hall 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

All are welcome.

News

ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, january 30, 2020 | The Observer

3

student SENATE

Group talks well-being, reschedules voting

By ISABELLA VOLMERT News Writer

Student senate voted Wednesday to reschedule student body elections to grieve the loss of senior Annrose Jerr y, who was found dead on campus Friday after going missing Jan. 21.

Student body v ice president and junior Patrick McGuire opened the session by leading the senate in prayer and a moment of silence for Jerr y.

“We pray in a special way for Annrose Jerr y, a beloved member of our communit y, who we lost last week,” McGuire said. “We thank you for the gift of her life.”

McGuire then welcomed Margaret Morgan, director of the new Center for Student Support and Care, to present information on the department to the senate body.

The Center for Student

Honors Continued from page 1

“Criteria for awa rding a n honora r y deg ree include recog ni zed intellectua l a nd professiona l atta inment, sig nif ica nt cont ributions to t he en ha ncement of Sa int Ma r y’s College, a nd/or contribut ion to ot her recogni zed orga ni zat ions in t he cit y, state or world,” t he ema il sa id.

Once t he na mes of a ll of t he nominees have been collected, resea rch is conducted by severa l orga nizations w it hin t he College, according to Michelle Ega n, specia l assista nt to t he president.

“Nominees a re resea rched by t he President’s of f ice,” Ega n sa id in a n ema il. “A list is t hen sent to t he College’s f u ll academic leadership council for its membership to rev iew.”

Once t his list has been generated a nd a na lyzed by t he academic leadership council, a committee w it hin t he Boa rd of Tr ustees is

Arrest Continued from page 1

Notre Dame’s Campus (Rolf’s Aquatic Center).” McBrier said. “Charges were filed on January 27, 2020.”

In the email, McBrier said Renick’s first bail hearing was on Monday. He was arraigned the same day. His bail was set at $2,000 cash, or $20,000 surety. He remains

Support and Care was launched in Januar y by the Div ision of Student Affairs.

It encompasses the Sara Bea Student Accessibilit y Ser v ices Office and the Outreach and Support Center. The center’s goal is to offer indiv idual academic, social and well-being care to the Notre Dame communit y, Morgan said.

“W hen you aren’t sure what to do and you don’t know what you need, come to Care and Wellness and we’ll help,” she said.

At the center, students, facult y and staff have the opportunit y to stop by, share their concerns w ith staff and receive guided assistance. Morgan said the center is prepared to assist students w ith issues regarding mental health, accessibilit y ser v ices and financial problems, among others.

Visitors can also call the center anony mously. A care

consultant w ill assist them by offering tools geared toward their specific needs, Morgan said.

She said the center hopes to help students who have not found the support they need elsewhere.

“We are looking for pockets of student groups that could use a little more extra attention that maybe other offices aren’t taking care of,” she said.

The Center for Student Support and Care w ill also offer “life coaching” ser v ices for students who, for example, do not w ish to consult w ith the Universit y Counseling Center or Universit y Health Ser v ices, but want mentorship through a certain time of struggle or adjustment in their lives.

“It’s not counseling. It’s not therapy,” Morgan said. “... It’s successful case management.”

Follow ing Morgan’s

presentation, McGuire opened the f loor to senators to relay concerns on behalf of the student body.

Safet y issues were a priorit y concern.

Megan O’Gorman, sophomore and senator of Pasquerilla East, informed the senate several members of her dorm were worried about workmen in dorms.

“We’re kind of hav ing an issue w ith hav ing workmen and deliver y men in the f loors before the parietals in the morning, and it’s making some people uncomfortable,” O’Gorman said.

Six senators representing female dorms affirmed members of their communit y have expressed similar sentiments.

McGuire said he would bring their concerns to Residential Life. Inquiries into the blue light safet y systems around the tri-campus communit y and proper

lighting around St. Mar y’s Lake and Notre Dame Avenue were also made.

In wa ke of Jerr y’s deat h, senators voted to suspend t he clause of t he Const itut ion of t he Underg raduate Student Body, which sets t he dates for student body president a nd v ice president prima r y a nd r un-of f elect ions. The suspension gave t he Judicia l Counci l t he power to rev ise t he dates for bot h elect ions t his cycle.

“At the moment, we are postponing ever y thing for one week,” said Halena Hadi, junior and president of the Judicial Council.

The session ended w ith senators suggesting Feb. 11 as the primar y election date and Feb. 13 for the runoff election to the Judicial Council, who w ill later make the final decision.

g iven t he opportunit y to weigh in.

“Based on t heir feedback, t he list of recommended ca ndidates is t hen sent to t he t r usteeship committee of t he Boa rd of Tr ustees,” Ega n sa id. “The t r usteeship committee rev iews t he list a nd may add addit iona l ca ndidates.”

Follow ing t he t r usteeship committee’s rev iew a nd potentia l additions, t he matter is t hen passed on to t he f u ll Boa rd of Tr ustees.

“The Boa rd of Tr ustees t hen approves ca ndidates for honora r y deg rees during t heir April boa rd meeting,” Ega n sa id.

Though nominees ca n beg in f rom student suggestions a nd a re t hen rev iewed by t hese institut ions, t he f ina l decision lies in t he ha nds of one person.

“The f ina l select ion of upcoming honora r y deg ree recipients [a nd] commencement spea ker is u lt imately made by t he president of t he College.”

A lt hough t he process for 2021 selection has beg un,

t he commencement spea ker a nd honora r y deg ree recipients for 2020 have not yet been a nnounced.

“A n a nnouncement is t radit iona lly made following t he Febr ua r y Boa rd of Tr ustees meet ing,” Ega n sa id.

In 2019, t he College presented commencement spea ker Kelly Grier — a 1991 a lumna — a nd Sister Maureen Grady — a senior lecturer of nursing science — w it h honora r y deg rees.

The College awa rds a variet y of honora r y deg rees, choosing t hem according to each recipient’s f ield.

“Dif fering honora r y deg rees a re conferred depending on t he focus of t he person’s profession [a nd] life work,” Ega n sa id. “For insta nce, over t he yea rs, Sa int Ma r y’s has awa rded doctorates of letters, doctorates of huma nit ies, doctorates of law, doctorates of f ine a rts ... just to na me a few.”

According to a press release a nnouncing t he deg rees Grier a nd Grady

received, t he College’s “highest honor” is a n honora r y doctor of huma nities deg ree.

“Sa int Ma r y’s has honored so ma ny impressive women a nd men (lay a nd relig ious) who have made sig nif ica nt cont ributions to our societ y a nd our world,” Ega n sa id.

Ot her recipients of honora r y deg rees f rom t he College include f iction aut hor Lois Low r y in 2010, former boa rd of regents member Patricia George Decio in 1996 a nd Br uno P. Sch lesinger, who established t he depa rtment of huma nistic studies at t he College in 1994.

Junior huma nistic studies major Sa ra h Cat herine Ca ldwell sa id she believes Sch lesinger was pa rticu la rly deser v ing of a n honora r y deg ree for his contributions to t he College.

“I t hin k t hat he has cha nged so ma ny Sa int Ma r y’s women’s lives,” she sa id. “I come a live in my huma nistic studies classes, a nd I have him to t ha n k for t hat.”

Junior Br y nne Volpe sa id she didn’t k now about Low r y’s honora r y deg ree but is pleased to k now a w riter she admires so much received t he awa rd, especia lly as a n English literature major.

“Her work was a huge pa rt of my childhood a nd was rea lly formative for my love of reading,” Volpe sa id.

As for t he commencement spea ker nominations for 2021, t here a re students w it h strong opinions about who shou ld be chosen.

Ca ldwell sa id she submitted a nomination a nd k nows of severa l ot her students who na med t he sa me person.

“Persona lly, I wou ld like to have Greta Ger w ig be our commencement spea ker, specif ica lly for her work in ‘Litt le Women,’” Ca ldwell sa id.

The 2020 honora r y deg ree recipients w ill be a nnounced follow ing t he Febr ua r y Boa rd of Tr ustees meeting.

in custody at the county jail.

If convicted, “the sentencing range for a Level 6 Felony is ½ to 2 ½ years,” McBrier said.

According to a court document obtained by The Observer, two Notre Dame Police Department (NDPD) officers responded to a call last Friday after receiving “a report of suspicious individual taking pictures of participants in swim meet” at Notre Dame’s Rolfs Aquatic Center.

The officers approached the i nd iv idua l — Ren ick— a nd questioned him.

In response to a question as to why he was taking photos, Renick—who told officers he had driven to Notre Dame from Beach Grove, Indiana, near Indianapolis— responded that he “liked to take pictures,” according to the court documents.

W hen asked if he had ever been arrested, the accused

mentioned a previous arrest in Ohio. Officers then called dispatch and confirmed that Renick was a sex offender and listed on Indiana’s sex offender registry.

“Renick had been convicted in Pennsylvania of multiple counts of sexual abuse of children, corruption of minors, and endangering the welfare of a child,” the court document said.

Renick will have his first hearing before a judge on Feb. 4 at 9:00 a.m., McBrier said.

The alleged incident originally appeared on Tuesday’s NDPD crime log, where it was listed as hav ing occurred bet ween midnight and 6:20 p.m. Friday. The offense was listed as a “sex crime/unlaw ful entr y of school propert y by a serious sex offender.”

Contact Isabella Volmert at ivolmert@nd.edu

Contact Sara Schlecht at sschlecht01@saintmarys.edu

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News

The observer | thursday, january 30, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Mentors Continued from page 1

Photo Courtesy of Kaley Murday

Kaley Murday and her buddy, along with friends, celebrate after winning a gingerbread house decorating competition. College Mentors for Kids promotes bonding between college students and their mentees.

Engineers Continued from page 1

through the qualit y of water.

We got to see designs we had been working on for entire year come into realit y, which was awesome. We couldn’t have done it w ithout the strength of partners who are volunteers and communit y contractors. It was great to see teamwork despite the bumps in the road.”

Prior to the w inter break implementation trip to Ecuador, members of the club created pamphlets about water chlorination in Spanish for the communit y to address the stigma associated w ith water chlorination. They also w rote maintenance and operation manuals so that tow n members could effectively use the systems.

Wesoloski said the San Pedro de Suma communit y hav ing a hands-on role in the project w ill ultimately lead to the successful implementation and effective use of the water chlorinator.

“One cool thing is that last year the communit y was unsure about chlorine and water treatment system. Now, they’re asking if we can do it on a communit y-w ide scale. They bought into water treatment as a whole,”

my t hird semester w it h her.

She’s quieter, so she rea l ly didn’t open up to me unt il last semester, but now she tel ls me about t he boys she likes a nd cute stuf f li ke t hat.”

Senior Da niel le Koterbay, v ice president of Tuesday prog ra mming for t he club, has been a member since her sophomore yea r, when a f riend recommended it, she sa id. Koterbay sa id one of t he specia l t hings about t he club is it a ims to ref lect t he Not re Da me’s mission.

“Not re Da me students love to live out t he mission of Not re Da me, which is being a force for good. So I t hin k t hat t his is a wonder f u l oppor tunit y to do t hat,” Koterbay sa id. “It ca n cha nge t hese litt le k ids’ lives in ways t hat t hey may not see once t he prog ra m ends, but it’s nice to k now t hat students ca n have a n impact on t hem, no matter how sma l l.”

Each student meets w it h his or her buddy once a week for about t wo hours. Junior Joseph Hirshorn, president of t he club, sa id t his mea ns a nyone ca n get involved.

“I t hin k it’s a g reat oppor tunit y for people to see how sma l l act ions ca n rea l ly ma ke a big dif ference,” Hirshorn sa id. “You k now, each indiv idua l mentor by t hemselves ca n have a huge impact on t his one chi ld a nd t hen on t he communit y as a whole, especia l ly in bui lding t his communit y of suppor t for t hese t wo schools, which have been posit ively impacted f rom t hat.”

The prog ra m closes each yea r w it h a ba nquet at St. Ada lber t for mentors, chi ldren a nd t heir pa rents.

“We get to meet [t he pa rents], a nd we get to hea r how t he buddy went home each week a nd sa id how much col lege mentors had a n impact on t hem,” Koterbay sa id. “It rea l ly brings it a l l f u l l circle, a nd it’s a n a ma zing close to t he yea r.”

Contact Trinity Reilly at treilly5@nd.edu

Wesoloski said. “The wall was built by local contractors and labor was from the communit y. That’s another part of this. We don’t go in and do isolated things, but we involve local people and the economy w ith the projects. They have a lot of local knowledge that makes projects more effective.”

Looking towards the future, Engineers Without Borders is expanding their work to projects in South Bend and increasing fundraising to accommodate the grow ing club. to make sure people are comfortable and have access to the resources they need,” sophomore and treasurer Mike Marino said.

“We hope our students learn a lot about the engineering process. Not just how it feels to interact w ith the communit y, but also what it feels [like] to make an impact. It is such a fun process w ith a lot of cooperation, and we know our work has an impact. We do the numbers, help communities w ith discernment and figure out what it means to be an engineer.”

Engineers Without Borders meets Wednesdays at 6 p.m. in Duncan Student Center.

Contact Morgan Johnson at mjohns56@nd.edu

Follow us on Twitter. @NDSMCObserver

CRISTINA INTERIANO | The Observer

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The observer | thursday, january 30, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

CRISTINA INTERIANO | The Observer

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The observer | thursday, January 30, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Purity tests: the future of politics?

Inside Column

Holiness knows no boundaries

Vince Mallett Politically Ambidextrous

Tom Naatz Notre Dame News Editor

I was raised by a Catholic mother and a Lutheran father. I am the proud alumnus of an Episcopalian high school and the resident of a largely Jewish neighborhood. Needless to say, I was not raised in a religious bubble.

Accordingly, my Catholicism looks a little unconventional. It certainly is not doctrinaire. I look to the Pope for spiritual guidance but say the Lord’s Prayer like a Protestant. I’m baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church but I have also known from a young age that Oct. 31 is not only Halloween, but also Reformation Day. Though I’ve kept an overnight vigil at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the closest connection I’ve ever felt to God was praying at the Western Wall on the other side of the city.

Understandably, I have always defied easy religious classification. In high school, I always got the sense that my non-Catholic classmates saw me as the “Catholic kid.” In my first month at Notre Dame, I got caught looking like a fool at Mass as I stood still and confused while everyone else in the chapel started dramatically beating their chest and chanting “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault!” You see, most of the religious services I’d attended in the recent past were Episcopalian and — in my experience — Episcopalians don’t do that. I’ve even been mistaken for Jewish on multiple different occasions. One good friend had a Mandela moment in which she described — in great detail — my bar mitzvah that she could have sworn she attended but, obviously, had never happened. Back in Jerusalem, an Orthodox rabbinical student implored me to “come home to Israel.”

If I’ve learned anything from my experience, it is that nit-picky dogmatic details are not what matter. There isn’t just one way to holiness. Some of the most moral people I know don’t believe in a god at all. But believers and non-believers alike can always learn from others’ beliefs and practices. Maybe we absorb some of them along the way. Or maybe we don’t, but learn that, even though we think differently, we’re more alike than we realize.

I was afraid to write this column. Religion is an explosive topic; in Northern Ireland, for example, intra-Christian tensions helped cause a war. But when it comes to religions, there shouldn’t be anything to fear. After all, most people I’ve encountered follow some encapsulation of the Golden Rule as their highest moral law.

Sure, there could be some points of disagreement. Does God exist?

If so, was Jesus his son? Is the host actually the body and blood of Christ? Should priests get married? We can — and should — talk about all of that, respectfully. But I don’t think it’s the wider point.

While I do love a good rendition of “The Canticle of the Turning,” my favorite hymn is an Episcopalian tune called “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God.” One of the final refrains goes like this, in reference to Christian saints: “You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea, in church, or in trains or in shops or at tea. For the saints of God are just folk like me, and I mean to be one too.”

I like to think the saints referenced in the song are not the religious warriors, but rather the good, ordinary and holy people who love their neighbors as themselves, who help the frail elder cross the street, who greet everyone they meet with a genuine smile and a handshake, no matter that person’s background. That is the nature of true holiness, more so than any obscure point of doctrine.

Contact Tom Naatz at tnaatz@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

As I couldn’t put it better than ​CNN​: “​Bernie Sanders​is facing a backlash from some Democrats after his campaign trumpeted an endorsement from comedian Joe Rogan, a popular podcast and YouTube talk show host with a history of making racist, homophobic and transphobic comments.”

In 2018, Rogan’s podcast was the ​secondmost downloaded​podcast on iTunes; the New York Times d ​ escribed him as helping to launch the surprise candidacy of Andrew Yang, who has outperformed and outlasted many more traditionally experienced candidates.

The Sanders camp, then, and the left of the Democratic Party in general, should be happy to have him — shouldn’t they?

Evidently, not everyone thinks so. As both CNN and the Times make clear, Sanders has received significant criticism for touting Rogan’s endorsement. Various writers and media critics have spoken out against Rogan’s past, including comments attacking transgender people and hosting Alex Jones, the infamous host of InfoWars. These same critics have gone after Sanders for advertising Rogan’s endorsement, claiming it is not an achievement of which one should be proud.

This sequence follows a pattern of testing for purity on the Democratic left which has purposefully alienated politicians and voters alike.

If you do not agree with the most progressive Democrats on every policy issue, tread carefully — you will not be welcomed with open arms, if at all.

Take Tulsi Gabbard, Hawaii congresswoman and another candidate for the Democratic nomination. In the October Democratic Debate, Tulsi referenced a slogan that, as ​Vice​ points out, was quite popular only 20-to-30 years ago: “safe, legal and rare.” This catchphrase encapsulates the idea amongst certain pro-choice advocates that abortion, even if morally troublesome, can be minimized if it is also legally protected. Gabbard was ​lambasted​ for that reference. Critics claimed the phrase “stigmatizes abortion at a crucial moment” and argued Gabbard was not a pro-choice advocate, despite explicitly arguing for the legal protection of abortion.

Certain forces in the Democratic Party clearly wish to exclude individuals who express ideas they find distasteful. To think about why this wish is a problem, I’ll first put forward what I think is its best defense, and then discuss why that defense remains deeply flawed.

The American left claims to seek protection of all people from violence and oppression; as ​ Sanders’ website​puts it, “the movement we build together can achieve economic, racial, social and environmental justice for all.” That’s a tall order, one that requires a unified force willing to stand up for absolutely everybody,

including those who are drastically different than them. People who have a history of exclusion, and those with whom they associate, cannot be trusted with such an important task.

For starters, this argument would preclude nearly everyone from participation in the movement in question. In 1989, 57% of American adults responded negatively to ​a poll​that asked, “Do you think homosexual relations between consenting adults should or should not be legal?” That is, over half of all people over the age of 50 at some point thought sex between two men or two women not only was wrong, but should be illegal. The number today stands at 26%. Do the purity-testing Democrats really want to search everyone’s history for views which do not perfectly line up with the current platform? Would there be any supporters left?

Underlying that issue, though, is a more fundamental one. If a person is willing to support Bernie Sanders for president, Sanders and his supporters should be happy and welcome that person with open arms (as they did in the case of Joe Rogan). Clearly, the new supporter has weighed their own views against those of the candidate and come to the conclusion that the candidate deserves their support. The candidate need not, and should not, test the supporter’s politics for signs of disagreement. We live in a democratic system where the voters choose the politicians and craft the politics; here, they are being chosen by the politicians and, worse, the ideologies.

None of this is to say that there is no such thing as a problematic endorsement. David Duke, former “Grand Wizard” of the Ku Klux Klan, e ​ ndorsed​Donald Trump for the last election, leading to backlash when Trump refused to denounce the endorsement. Such a situation should not culminate in a rejection of the supporter by the candidate; if Trump truly thought he was the best person for the job in 2016, he should have been happy for another voter.

However, the issue in these cases becomes the reason for the supporter’s endorsement of the candidate. What did it say about Trump that he received the endorsement of David Duke? What does it say, for that matter, about Bernie Sanders that he’s the chosen candidate of Joe Rogan? These are the important questions: whether Trump’s platform supports vehement racists, whether Sanders’ uplifts people like Joe Rogan, whoever they may be.

This election should be about substance, not purity tests.

Vince Mallett is a junior at Notre Dame majoring in philosophy with a minor in constitutional studies. He is proud to hail from Carroll Hall and northern New Jersey. Vince can be reached at vmallett@nd.edu or @vince_mallett 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 30, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

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Not Catholic, need not apply Jackie O’Brien and Mary Szromba The Dynamic Duo

Fellow columnist Brennan Buhr’s piece published Monday, “The twilight zone,” is a sorry misunderstanding of what it means to be a Catholic university.

While Mr. Buhr is relatively accurate in describing the position of the Catholic Church with respect to abortion, he goes 10 steps too far in declaring that all students running for student body president must pledge unwavering support to the pro-life cause, or risk allowing the infiltration of “church’s enemies” to our University.

Apparently, according to Mr. Buhr, our identity as a Catholic university excludes from its mission those who may not themselves be Catholic or agree with every aspect of the Church. This is not the way the Catholic hierarchy, including the Pope, views the mission of a Catholic educational institution.

In a speech to members of the International Federation of Catholic Universities, Pope Francis outlined those goals of a Catholic university, including the mission of these universities to become places where solutions for common humanity are cultivated.

Pope Francis concluded with a quote from Cardinal John Henry Newman: The Church “fears no knowledge, but she purifies it all; she represses no element of nature, but cultivates the whole.” And it seems to us that Mr. Buhr is very afraid of the knowledge we have on campus.

We can’t imagine what it must be like in Mr. Buhr’s position: to believe in and be such a fervent follower of a Church that you view as vulnerable to even the most basic of counterpositions. The Catholic Church is a centuries-old institution based on the loyalty of the faithful; it should be able to handle those with differing perspectives and stand up to debate on those values.

If Notre Dame is really a Catholic University, in the

truest sense, it should be able to handle the admission and acceptance of those students who don’t follow the Catholic Catechism line-by-line. It should even be able to handle those who take stances which are antithetical to the teachings of the Church. And we have succeeded in remaining both a Catholic institution while welcoming students of diverse perspectives for decades. What’s so different now?

Additionally, there are several sources to refute Mr. Buhr’s claim that Pope Francis acknowledges abortion as the sole issue to be prioritized above all others.

In fact, in Gaudete et Exsultate, Pope Francis explains, “The other harmful ideological error is found in those who find suspect the social engagement of others, seeing it as superficial, worldly, secular, materialist, communist or populist. Or they relativize it, as if there are other more important matters, or the only thing that counts is one particular ethical issue or cause that they themselves defend. Our defense of the innocent unborn, for example, needs to be clear, firm and passionate, for at stake is the dignity of human life. ... Equally sacred, however, are the lives of the poor, those already born, the destitute, the abandoned and underprivileged.”

Of course, it is well-acknowledged the Pope asserts that every right starts with life, which he believes to begin at conception. However, there is undoubtedly room for advocates of other important and fundamental rights within the context of Catholic higher education, which are acknowledged by the Catholic clergy as well. To claim that abortion takes precedent over all other issues in the Church is quite simply a false and incomplete narrative, one Mr. Buhr indulges to silence the voices of others on campus.

There is no clear reason for Mr. Buhr’s claim our University must demand regimented anti-choice beliefs from current students. The Catholic Church disagrees with him too.

This all culminates in Mr. Buhr’s unfounded assertion that all candidates for student body president and

vice president ought to affirm their pro-life position in order to be eligible. Unfortunately for Mr. Buhr, we are a university, and one of the most important aspects of a university is embracing those with opposing viewpoints.

According to Notre Dame’s mission statement, “The intellectual interchange essential to a university requires, and is enriched by, the presence and voices of diverse scholars and students. ... Therefore, the University insists upon academic freedom that makes open discussion and inquiry possible.” We can’t imagine a university which insists its students all believe the same thing and requires them to explicitly affirm it when they run for public positions within the student body. That seems more like a Twilight Zone episode than anything else.

In response to our columns, we have both been told dozens of times that if we don’t like it here we ought to just leave. It is with pleasure that we offer the same piece of advice to Mr. Buhr. Perhaps he would be more comfortable at an academic institution that stifles freedom of thought and regiments the expression of students based on the guidelines of the Catholic Church. That certainly isn’t the mission of Notre Dame, and thank God for that.

Jackie O’Brien is a Notre Dame senior studying political science and peace studies, originally from the Chicago suburbs. When she’s not writing for Viewpoint, you can find her attempting to complete the NYT crossword, fretting over law school applications or watching RuPaul’s Drag Race. She can be reached at jobrie21@nd.edu or @im_jackie_o on Twitter.

Mary Szromba is a senior majoring in philosophy and political science, and she’s never been wrong about anything in her entire life. Questions, comments, and anonymous love letters can be directed to mszromba@nd.edu or @_murrrrrr on Twitter.

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

Guest column

Response to ‘The twilight zone’ I was deeply troubled upon reading Brennan Buhr’s Monday column, “The twilight zone.” I would like to address Buhr on several points he brings up in his column.

First, it is true that reproductive rights and safe access to abortion are one of the principles guiding the Women’s March movement. However, the Women’s March did not come about as a pro-abortion event.

The first Women’s March in 2017, the day after our president was elected, occurred because women were standing up to protect their futures. Women feared the normalization of being “grabbed by the p---y.” Women, still rising out of a long history of injustice, gathered together to call for justice and equality. To decry this movement, then, is to ignore this history of injustice perpetuated by men in power. To decry this movement is to ignore the importance of intersectionality and to ignore the fact that women are still not equal to men in our society.

You yourself state, “the name ‘Women’s March’ alone implies that this annual festival should take a bigtent approach to women’s diverse perspectives.” In its focus on intersectional feminism, this is exactly what the women’s movement seeks to foster.

Second, your use of the rhetoric of invasion presents a narrow-minded view of who belongs on this campus. Your choice of words, particularly “the church’s enemies cannot be allowed to infiltrate our University,” espouses a culture of fear and shows a lack of respect for students on this campus whose views differ from your own. As an attendee of the March for Life, you had the immense privilege of having the University’s support and funding to travel several states away, miss class and have the opportunity to fight for a cause that you believe

deeply in. While you got to do this alongside 700 other students, the trip to Chicago for the Women’s March had spots for only 80 students. While Right to Life thrives at Notre Dame, pro-choice organizations are not recognized by the campus community. Thus, to paint the pro-life stance as being “infiltrated” by some sort of subversive liberal agenda is utter falsehood.

I attended the Chicago Women’s March two weeks ago, and yes, I was able to do so because I rode a bus sponsored by the College Democrats. You attended the March for Life this past weekend, and you were able to do so because you rode a bus sponsored by the Right to Life club. How, then, can you call out student government’s offering of the opportunity to attend the Women’s March when you had that same opportunity to travel to D.C. to fight for something you believe in? Furthermore, you go so far as to refer to the Women’s March as a “quasi-liturgical festival [that] unwaveringly celebrates death as progress.”

I ask you to consider whether you have the position to make this dangerously sweeping generalization about the Women’s March, when I feel fairly safe to assume that you did not attend the event. At the March, women and men of all ages and backgrounds walked together, finding solidarity in the shared cause of justice, and we posed proudly with a Notre Dame flag. We were not by any means “celebrating death as progress”; advocacy groups passed out pins promoting LGBTQ+ rights and gun violence prevention. Yes, some people at the Women’s March were calling for reproductive rights and access to safe and legal abortion, but that is their prerogative. Just as you had the right to stand up for your beliefs at the March for Life, so too did the people who used the

Women’s March as a space for standing up for reproductive rights.

Finally, your proposal to require all student body president candidates to espouse a uniform position regarding abortion is extremely problematic. This is completely antithetical to Notre Dame’s mission to promote open dialogue and welcome diverse points of view. You describe the pro-choice movement as totalitarian, but what would truly be a mark of totalitarianism would be denying students candidacy for office based on their beliefs and restricting their opportunity to serve their fellow students on ideological lines.

I have many friends on this campus, unequivocally pro-life women and men, who fight for social justice and are ardent feminists while still espousing the Church’s views on abortion. I have many friends on this campus who fight for social justice in this same way, while believing in a woman’s right to choose. Before you continue to perpetuate the comparison between “The Twilight Zone” and a movement that celebrates women and promotes equal rights, pause to consider what message your column sends to the women on campus, to the pro-life feminists on campus and to the pro-choice members of our community who deserve to be treated with the same dignity and respect as anyone else. It saddens me that you have used this space to decry an event and movement whose wish is to further justice and equality in our world.

Bridget Kelley is a sophomore at Notre Dame. She can be contacted at bkelley8@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

8

Classifieds

The observer | thursday, january 30, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | PAULA GAMACHE

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Consider your limitations as well as your attributes in order to maintain balance. Decline if someone imposes too much and offers too little. Concentrate on what’s important to you, not how to please everyone else. This year is not the time to take a risk emotionally, financially or physically. Plan your actions, choose your words wisely and do what’s best for you. Your numbers are 2, 13, 20, 24, 28, 37, 44.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Emotions can help you, or they can cause you grief depending on how you handle situations. If you overreact, expect to pay the price. However, if you focus on opportunities and where to channel your energy, you will gain ground.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): If you want a change, make it happen. It’s up to you to execute your plans, not someone else. Invest in your skills, knowledge and ideas. Opportunity begins with you. Think big, and expand your search for success GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Offer help, information and connections. Get together with people you have worked with in the past; a new opportunity will arise. Look for the good in everyone, but don’t give someone a second chance to hurt you.

CANCER ( June 21-July 22): Look for the positive in everyone and everything.

Refuse to let emotional matters get in your way. Concentrate on what you want to transpire, and do your best. A creative idea can change your life if handled correctly. Romance is featured.

LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): A short trip will encourage you to pay closer attention to the people around you. A change someone makes will affect you more than you expect. Take care of your responsibilities. Be cautious with money, possessions and your physical well-being.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A change will perk you up. What you learn will convince you to expand your knowledge, skills and friendships. Participate more, and you’ll discover that you have more options than you realize.

Romance is on the rise.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Emotional matters will surface if you have been putting up with situations that are less than adequate. Don’t let anger set in when an intelligent solution will do the trick. Do your best to get along with everyone.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Leisure time spent with someone you love or doing something that brings you great satisfaction or joy should take priority.

Distance yourself from situations that are only going to upset you or stop you from fulfilling your dream. Romance is in the stars.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Take care of your responsibilities. Set your house in order, and take care of relationships that matter to you. How you treat others will reflect who you are. If someone treats you poorly, don’t let him or her get away with their actions.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Be careful how you treat others. Don’t let an emotional situation escalate into something unmanageable. Let your intuition guide you, and keep your temper under control. A change you make to the way you live should be well-thought-out before executed.

AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Think before you make a move or spend a penny. Give yourself time to assess the situation, and consider what’s doable.

Use your intelligence to avoid a costly mistake or an argument with someone you love.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You can offer your help, but don’t let anyone take advantage of you. Offer what’s doable and will benefit you as well.

Someone you’ve worked with before will offer an alternative. Focus on peace and love.

Birthday Baby: You are creative, opinionated and spontaneous. You are funloving and carefree.

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

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sports

ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, january 30, 2020 | The Observer

W Bball

Sports Authority

Continued from page 12

Time to end one-and-done Hayden Adams Associate Sports Editor

Being a Kentucky basketball fan, I am acquainted more with the NCAA’s one-and-done policy than most. Wildcats head coach John Calipari was the originator of the one-and-done era during his time at Memphis when he made a national championship game with freshman Derrick Rose in 2008. Soon after that, he made his way to Lexington and has garnered great success as an advocate of the one-and-done philosophy.

For a while, I didn’t have a problem with it, because it was working really well. But now, I’m in favor of its dismissal. Here are my reasons why.

Degrading Academics I know, I know. I sound like an old fart right now, but I can’t help it that this is the way I was raised. College is about getting an education, or at least it should be. Guys coming to college for one year and using it as a stepping stone to the professional league isn’t good for academics or for them, and it feeds a poisonous mindset.

Look at Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons, who attended Louisiana State University for one year before going pro.

Simmons unashamedly quit going to class in his second semester at LSU, as the school required only a meager GPA in the first semester, then dropped out immediately after his season ended. I get having a singular focus like going to the NBA, but you need a backup plan when it comes to professional sports.

Simmons is 6-foot-10, and big guys are more injury prone.

God forbid he gets a careerending injury. What’s he to do?

Hopefully he is wise with his finances while he’s healthy, but a lot of guys are unwise with their investments. Look at former Kentucky player Antoine Walker, who filed for bankruptcy in 2010 despite earning more than $100 million over his NBA career. I would go so far as to say players should be required to take financial literacy classes while in college, even the ones who don’t have professional ambitions, because everyone involved in sports should be able to take care of their earnings.

Inability to Connect I understand fans have to put some effort in get to know new players, and I’m willing to do it.

However, many are not as amiable as me. It becomes difficult for people to research and relate to several new players every season. Granted, Kentucky is an extreme example, but it does

happen.

Part of the appeal of college basketball is watching and growing with the players on your team, learning their strengths and weaknesses and buying into the identity of the team. It makes it more enjoyable for the fans when they can have some sort of connection with the players, and I know it isn’t all about the fans, but you need their interest to keep college basketball profitable.

Dreams and Sentimentality

who averages 14.4. Four of Lousiville’s five starters are upper-classmen, including three seniors.

On the f lip side, Notre Dame is a very young and inexperienced team. The Irish are led by freshman forward Sam Brunelle, who has scored more than 20 points in each of her last two games, and sophomore guard Kaitlyn Gilbert.

Additionally, the Irish feature graduate transfer guards Destinee Walker and Marta Sniezak prominently, leading to a group that has very little experience playing together, something that has likely contributed to Notre Dame’s struggles

this year.

After last season’s loss in the national championship game, all five of Notre Dame’s starters were selected in the first two rounds of the WNBA draft, including two players in the top five picks.

The Irish are heading into this matchup looking to shake off a 90-60 loss on the road to Virginia. The Irish let the Cavaliers, also near the bottom of the ACC standings, shoot over 47% from the field. They will certainly have to play much better defensively against a Louisville team which averages more than 75 points per game.

The Irish have also been plagued by injuries this year, losing sophomore guard Abby Proshka to

9

blood clots in her lungs before the beginning of the season, and freshman guard Anaya Peoples was ruled out for the season last week after suffering a torn labrum. Junior center Mikayla Vaughn was also out for much of the season with a right knee sprain before returning for ACC play, forcing head coach Muffett McGraw to use a thin rotation.

The Irish lead the all-time series with the Cardinals 166, and have won 6 of 8 games at home. They defeated the Cardinals 82-68 during the regular season last year, and once more, 99-79 in the ACC tournament championship game.

Thursday night’s game tips off at 7 p.m. at Purcell Pavilion, and will be televised on ESPN News.

Call me a romantic, but I grew up dreaming of playing basketball for the University of Kentucky. Sure, it was a bit of stretch, and I’m not too proud to admit that dream lasted well into my years riding the bench on my high school team.

However, not a lot of guys playing today share that dream.

Many guys now simply dream of making it big in the NBA, and to that end, they’ll go to whatever school they think gives them the best chance of it. That’s all well and good, but it takes the passion out of the game. And it may be great for teams like Duke and Kentucky, but for everyone else it isn’t, which is bad for college basketball as a whole.

I want to see the whole thing flourish with competition.

Worse Quality of Play Plain and simple, freshmen just aren’t usually that good in college. There’s a select few who become high draft picks, but many of those are based solely on potential. Very rarely do more than one or two freshmen take the NCAA by storm. Look at what’s happened to college basketball this year: AP top 5 teams have combined for record losses, and teams played hot potato with the No. 1 ranking to start the year. Sure, the playing field is pretty level, but that’s because there is no great team, and that’s pretty much how it’s been for the last few years. Sure, if the best high school talent goes to the draft, then the college game will miss out, but the guys who do enroll would be staying in college for longer and develop more, making the game not only competitive, but actually good.

I know the days of Pat Ewing, Chris Mullin and Michael Jordan staying for three to four years are long gone, but I pray we can get some quality guys to stick around a little longer and develop some real powerhouse teams.

Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Allison thronton | The Observer

Irish graudate student guard Destinee Walker dribbles the ball down the court during Notre Dame’s 94-105 loss to DePaul on Dec. 11 at Purcell Pavilion. The Irish are now 7-13 on the season overall.

Allison thronton | The Observer

Irish freshman forward Sam Brunelle defends an opponent during Notre Dame’s 56-90 loss to North Carolina State on Jan. 12 at Purcell Pavilion. The Irish return to the court Thursday at home.

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.

10

Sports

The observer | thursday, january 30, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Super Bowl Continued from page 12

arsenal of linemen pressured the quarterback in ways that I liken to the 49ers.

Two defensive forces collide this Sunday, a true test that boils down to the respective dominance at quarterback. Mahomes feels born for this global stage, and the role-playing Jimmy G. will prove just as irrelevant as his matchup against the Packers.

Give me Kansas City, 38-30.

Patrick: Super Bowl LIV could represent the beginning of a new era in football. W hile Tom Brady, Drew Brees and other traditional talents are approaching the twilight of their careers, a new generation of quarterbacks has burst onto the scene. Patrick Mahomes may be the most dominant player in this young group, and, since he is the first of these players to become an MV P, it is only fitting that he is the quarterback that formally ushers in the end of the old guard by winning the Super Bowl. The Chiefs’ offense will best a stout 49ers defense 26-21 en route to their first championship since 1970.

Liam: The Chiefs offense is explosive, will prove simply too quick for the 49ers defense to contain all game. They’ll contain them at times, but Mahomes and the offense will score enough points to get the win. I doubted the Chiefs defense, but after seeing the way they contained Derrick Henry by forcing the Titans to throw in the AFC championship game, I believe in that unit now. Raheem Mostert is no Derrick Henry, and the Chiefs will shut down the 49ers offense to win 31-14.

down to how well the 49ers defense can limit Mahomes’ offensive production. I think they will do enough, and I expect the 49ers offense to move the ball against a mediocre Chiefs defense to take home the ring. 49ers win by a score of 34-31.

Aidan: Aidan: This game reminds me a lot of the AFC championship. The 49ers will want to lean on the run, but, if this goes anything like the Titans game, the Chiefs will not let them do that. The 49ers have been dominant defensively in the playoffs, but their dominance has caused many to forget they have struggled against mobile quarterbacks. Mahomes will beat the 49ers with his legs and his arm, and the Chiefs defense will make a few key red zone stops.

Chiefs win 31-23.

The 49ers have been one of the biggest surprises for me week after week. I often thought they were an overrated team but looking at them now, I think I was mistaken.

While Mahomes and the chiefs will put up points, I think the Niners defense, led by their dominant defensive line, will hold them just enough to give Jimmy G. and George Kittle some breathing room. I think that if Garoppolo has an average game, he will put his team in good position to win. The key for them is to get the run game established. 49ers win 31-24.

Nate: I am taking the 49ers. I doubted them throughout the first half of the season and at the beginning of the playoffs, and they just keep proving me wrong. I think they are the better overall team for sure, and the game will come

Tom Brady may yet have a season or two left in him, but the new generation of AFC quarterbacks has arrived, led

by Mahomes. If the Chiefs win on Sunday, it’ll likely because of his dynamic play; Mahomes passes for two touchdowns and rushes for another and claims the MVP honors in Miami.

Stat per)

Over/Unders

(2pts

Mahomes 300 pass yds Over: David, Patrick, Dominic, Nate, Aidan Under: Liam

The MVP (4 points) Williams 50 rushing yards David: After an abysmal offensive showing last year, America deserves an explosive display commanded by the game’s best passer. Patrick Mahomes enters Super Bowl LIV with over 600 passing yards and eight touchdowns in spite of a nearly impenetrable Packers defense. I see no reason for his MVP-caliber playoff performance to falter in Miami.

Over: Liam, Dominic, Nate, Aidan Under: David, Patrick

Kelce 85 receiving yds Over: David, Patrick Under: Liam Dominic, Nate, Aidan

Jimmy G. 245 pass yds Over: Liam, Aidan Under: David, Dominic, Nate

Patrick,

Patrick:

Mostert 75 rushing yds

With an average of around 300 passing yards per game, Patrick Mahomes has been the most impressive player this postseason. I expect another spectacular performance out of Mahomes, as he will likely record at least two touchdowns. The last couple of winning quarterbacks to do this, Tom Brady and Nick Foles, both earned MVP honors, and Mahomes will continue this trend.

Over: Liam, Dominic, Nate, Patrick Under: Aidan

Liam: Dominic:

Bowl MVP. The 49ers have put up a whopping 186 yards and 285 yards in their respective playoff games, and I don’t anticipate that changing Sunday.

Tevin Coleman will also likely not be 100%, meaning Mostert should see high production.

More often than not, the Super Bowl MVP is not a quarterback. While Mahomes is undoubtedly the best player on the field, he won’t win MVP because Chiefs go up early and run the ball. I already predicted the Chiefs defense would have a big game, so I’ll double down and take Tyrann Mathieu as my MVP.

Dominic: The key to winning this game for the 49ers is establishing their run game and with Raheem Mostert finding his groove at the right time, he is bound to have another stellar game on the biggest stage. For Mostert to win the MVP here would be an incredible story as well, after being cut by six other teams before finally emerging.

Nate: The Chiefs have one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, so I’ll take red-hot Raheem Mostert as the Super

Kittle 80 receiving yds Over: Liam, Dominic, Aidan Under: David, Patrick, Nate

Prop Bets (1pt per) Heads Or Tails Coin Toss?

Heads: Patrick, Liam, Aidan Tails: David, Dominic, Nate

Color of victory Gatorade shower?

Orange: David Red: Patrick, Dominic, Nate Blue: Liam Green: Aidan

Doritos or Snickers — which commercial airs first?

Doritos: Patrick, Liam, Nate Snickers: Aidan, Dominic, David

Demi’s anthem — over/under two minutes?

Over: Patrick, Liam, Dominic Under: David, Nate Aidan Contact David Kramer, Aidan Thomas, Patrick Gallagher, Liam Coolican, Dominic Gibson, Nate Moller at dkaramer2@nd.edu, 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.

M Bball Continued from page 12

that the Irish win the games they’re supposed to. Hosting the cellar-dwelling Demon Deacons qualified as one of those games, as the Irish tipped off a three-game home stand at Purcell Pavilion.

Throughout the first half, the Irish played down to their competition. Notre Dame looked sloppy in the early going, allowing the visitors to build a 9-2 lead in the first four minutes. During the stretch, the Irish went 0-5 for the field and committed multiple turnovers. After the game, head coach Mike Brey commented on his team’s early struggles.

“They are a good, very athletic team, and we struggled with that in the early going,” he said.

Substitute sophomore forward Nate Laszewski slammed home a dunk to break the drought for Notre Dame, but the tone was set, as the Irish would play from behind throughout the entire first half. Notre Dame shot better throughout the rest of the first half, with a three-ball from senior guard T.J. Gibbs bringing the Irish ahead with one point at 27-26 with 7:10 to play in the first half.

Although the Demon Deacons never pulled away, consistent shooting from senior Brandon Childress, sophomore Isaiah Mucius and junior Olivier Sarr gave Wake Forest the edge. The Irish pulled within a single point on three different occasions in the half, the last with 4:40 to play as sophomore guard Dane Goodwin drained a jumper to close the gap to 31-30. But Childress put the Demon Deacons on his back for the remainder of the half, scoring eight of their final 10 points to keep the Irish at bay.

His layup with four seconds left sent the visitors to the locker room up 41-36.

After demonstrating a complete inability to go on a run in the first half, the Irish finally put together consistent stretches of dominant basketball after returning from the locker room. Over the first nine minutes of the half, Notre Dame outscored their counterparts 24-10.

With 16:32 to go in the game, graduate student guard Rex Pflueger, normally a defensive stalwart, came up with a clutch shot, burying a three to hand Notre Dame a 4645 advantage. Minutes later, Goodwin made another long range shot to push the advantage to eight points. From there, the Irish led for the rest of the game, but the victory was not stress-free.

Despite a sophomore-laden roster, the Irish leaned on their seniors to help their young squad pull out the crucial win. Forward John Mooney did Mooney things, notching

19 points while cleaning the glass to the tune of 13 rebounds, leading the Irish to 18 second-chance points.

“He started a little slow, but he hung in there, and he really was a man for us on the boards,” Brey said of Mooney.

Meanwhile Gibbs elevated his game to another level, hitting several clutch shots to help the Irish survive down the stretch.

“He’s a fearless young man right now. Any time they threatened, it was a T.J. Gibbs play,” Brey said of his senior guard.

The first of Gibbs’ big threes came with under 10 minutes to play, when, after a huge three drew Wake Forest within 63-56, Gibbs took the ball and pulled up for a deep three and swished it, restoring Notre Dame’s 10-point advantage. With precisely five minutes on the clock, Gibbs did the same thing, nullifying a Wake Forest triple with a long-range bomb of his own, drilling a 25-footer with ease.

The Demon Deacons closed within 77-74 and 80-76, but first it was Laszewski draining a trey, and then Gibbs converting an old-fashioned 3-point play — dropping in a layup and converting the ensuing free throw — to keep Notre Dame’s advantage slightly more comfortable.

Wake Forest never seriously threatened in the final minute and a half of play.

Wake Forest was paced throughout the game by Childress (24 points) and Sarr (18 points). Mucius finished with 13 points off the bench.

Notre Dame got 23 points from Gibbs — 15 in the second half — and another double-double from Mooney.

Laszewski was 3-5 from long range on his way to 18 points as a substitute, while Goodwin chipped in 14 points.

Sophomore Prentiss Hubb was kept quiet on the whole, but he still hit a few key shots in the second half. Brey complimented the trio of sophomores after the game, citing Laszewski’s breakthrough as a potential pivot point for his team.

“Between Nate, Dane and Hubb, if we get those three guys going together from night to night, we’re going to make this really interesting down the stretch,” Brey said.

“Stay tuned.”

As a team, the Irish shot 2225 from the free throw line, as they locked down the game at the charity stripe in the final minutes.

“We needed that one,” Brey said. “We love one-game winning streaks. Let’s get another one-game winning streak on Saturday.”

Notre Dame will host Georgia Tech on Saturday at Purcell Pavilion with a 12 p.m. tip-off.

Contact Aidan Thomas at athoma28@nd.edu

Sports

ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, january 30, 2020 | The Observer

11

Swim & Dive Continued from page 12

pre-race or pre-dive routine is really important. … For the divers, it’s especially important for them to learn how to hone their focus a little bit better, because as you go through the rigors of a championship level meet, you can’t afford to miss one dive.”

Speed and endurance w ill also be key this weekend, Litzinger said.

“I want us to be able to get to the wall w ith some urgency,” he said. “I want us to work on things like kick counts off the wall.”

Litzinger said the team is buck ling dow n for the ACC championship meet, which takes place Feb. 19 through 26 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

“It’s all rehearsal for the conference [championships],” he said. “The ACC is one of the deepest and toughest conferences in the countr y. … For us to even compete at that level we have to be at our ver y best at all times.”

The Shamrock Inv itational begins at noon Saturday at the Rolfs Aquatic Center.

Contact Liam Coolican at lcoolica@nd.edu

allison thornton | The Observer

Irish junior Lindsay Stone prepares to swim freestyle during Notre Dame’s victory over Northwestern on Jan. 17 at Rolf ’s Aquatic Center.

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ALLISON THORNTON | The Observer

Irish senior Lauren Heller swims the freestyle during Notre Dame’s victory over Northwestern on Jan. 17 at Rolf ’s Aquatic Center.

12

The observer | thursday, january 30, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

swimming & diving

nd women’s basketball

Teams prepare for key competition

By LIAM COOLICAN Sports Writer

Notre Dame is preparing for a second consecutive weekend of home meets. Last weekend, both the No. 16 men’s team and the No. 12 women’s team finished first in a four-team Shamrock Invitational. The field featured two other ranked squads in Iowa and Ohio State.

“Our energy has been really outstanding,” head coach Mike Litzinger said. “As individual as swimming and diving can be, they’ve swum and dove like a team, and it’s been really fun to see them come together. At the end of the day, we’re seeing a lot of our training pay off.”

Multiple Notre Dame athletes earned ACC honors for their performances last weekend.

Freshman Coleen Gillian was named ACC women’s swimmer of the week after setting three pool records and winning eight of her nine events. She set a pool record in the individual medley, helped set a pool record in

Notre Dame set to host No. 5 Louisville

the women’s 400 medley relay, and set a program record in the women’s 100 fly.

Senior Erin Isola also earned honors, being named the ACC women’s diver of the week. She was the highest performing Notre Dame diver last weekend, finishing first in the three meter event and third in the one meter.

“The key for us this weekend will be about team depth,” Litzinger said. “Since it’s against multiple teams, it will be an opportunity for a lot of our athletes to get some races in that they normally wouldn’t get to compete in, and also have some of our other athletes that don’t get a first string opportunity to get some swims in as well.”

He said wants his team to continue to improve on their focus, as well.

“The devil is in the details,” he said. “Focus and concentrating and going through your see SWIM&DIVE PAGE 11

Observer Sports Staff

Allison Thornton | The Observer

Irish graduate student guard Marta Sniezek guards a defender during Notre Dame’s 94-105 loss to DePaul on Dec. 11 at home.

Brey says Irish not done after 90-80 home victory

By AIDAN THOMAS

Roundtable: Super Bowl Style

By DAVID KRAMER, PATRICK GALLAGHER, LIAM COOLICAN, DOMINIC GIBSON, NATE MOLLER, AIDAN THOMAS

Sports Writer

see M BBALL PAGE 10

see W BBALL PAGE 9

NFL

nd men’s basketball| Nd 90, wake forest 80

It doesn’t appear to matter who Notre Dame plays. No matter the quality of opponent, the Irish (12-8, 3-6 ACC) will play them close. Whether it’s the No. 5 Florida State on the road, or hosting ACC bottom feeder Wake Forest, Notre Dame is bound to find themselves in a tight final few minutes. That was again the case Wednesday. The Irish trailed by five at halftime, and, even after establishing a large lead, they had to fend off several pushes from the Demon Deacons (9-11, 2-8 ACC) before finally holding on for a 90-80 victory.

Notre Dame entered Wednesday’s home game against Wake Forest at 2-6 in ACC games, but the Irish still harbor hopes of making a run towards an NCA A tournament berth. With a favorable slate of games ahead of them, it has become absolutely pivotal

Notre Dame women’s basketball team (7-13, 2-6 ACC) w ill return home Thursday night to face Louisv ille (201, 9-0 ACC). The Irish, who have lost five of their prev ious six games, are still seeking a signature w in this season, and a v ictor y against the Cardinals would certainly prov ide that. Ranked fifth in the nation, Louisv ille has dominated in ACC play this season, w inning their nine conference games by an average of nearly 18 points.

The Cardinals are coming off a 83-49 drubbing of Pittsburgh. Six Cardinals scored in double figures, showcasing the team’s balanced offensive attack.

Louisv ille is an experienced group, led by junior guard Dana Evans, who averages 18.8 points per game, and senior guard Ja zmine Jones

Sports Writers

nathanial george | The Observer

Irish sophomore guard Dane Goodwin shoots the ball during Notre Dame’s 82-84 loss to Syracuse on Jan. 22 at home.

At long last, we’re down to just one game separating us from the kickoff of the XFL regular season. I know I speak for most of us when I say that’s really the season we’re all excited for. However, for now, we’re stuck with a matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, a potent offense against a great defense, one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in recent NFL history, two explosive and emotional tight ends, a running back with an underdog story for the ages, just to name a few storylines.

Sigh. I guess that’ll have to do as our XFL placeholder. With that being our only option, the Observer Roundtable takes one more swing at football season, and also one more shot at dethroning David Kramer from the top of the standings.

We even added some prop bets to try and throw the man off.

Here are the standings followed by our game and MVP predictions, over/under stats bets and, of course, the everimportant prop bets. See you all next week for our official basketball season picks tipoff.

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

San Francisco 49ers vs.

Kansas City Chiefs (-1.5) — over/under: 54.5 Two points for result, two points for the spread, two points for the over/under, and six points for predicting the exact score.

David: The Chiefs looked like a fresh team in January. Their run defense stood its ground against two of the most lethal backs in the game, and the invigorated see SUPER BOWL PAGE 10