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Volume 54, Issue 85 | tuesday, february 18, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
College celebrates black history Events highlight women’s, scholars’ contributions to American past, progress By GINA TWARDOSZ News Writer
Black History Month is an important time to celebrate the achievements of black people while adding to a renewed sense of visibility and awareness for the black experience in America. Two Saint Mary’s organizations, the Black Student Association and the History Club, held events on Monday night to celebrate the historical and cultural contributions black people have made throughout history. History club president and senior Elizabeth Ferry said that while Black History Month is important, there should be a celebration of black achievement every day. “We should be amplifying black stories all year round,” she see HISTORY PAGE 3
By MAEVE FILBIN Saint Mary’s News Editor
GINA TWARDOSZ | The Observer
Junior Healy Keenan presented Monday in Spes Unica Hall on black women who have made history. Various groups are hosting similar events to empower and educate students throughout February.
Course explores Harry Potter films, medievalism By ANNA HURT News Writer
When Susan Ohmer, professor of film and television, was approached about teaching a new course titled “Harry Potter, Medievalism and Transmedia Narratives,” she said “it didn’t take me more than five seconds to think about it before I said ‘yes.’” The class, which focuses on author J.K. Rowling’s popular fantasy book series and subsequent film adaptations, was conceived by Ph.D. student Jake Coen and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Medieval Institute Linda Major. Coen said that once he and Major “realized the untapped potential of Harry Potter at Notre Dame, [they] immediately reached out to Dr. Ohmer.” Ohmer has previously taught other courses covering a wide range of topics, including presidential elections, Disney, Alfred Hitchcock and Peter Pan. Ohmer and Coen co-teach the course,
Scene PAGE 5
SMC election begins
alternating weeks of giving lectures and hosting film labs. The class was first taught in the Spring of 2019, and this is only the second time it has been offered. “There is a special focus on the films, and the class examines how elements such as camerawork, lighting, costume, set design and acting are used to create the characters and settings,” Ohmer said. “The films and books were created during a time of profound change in film and in publishing. In the early 2000s, the period when the films were released, studios were moving from special effects that use physical elements to digital effects. We can trace that change in the films.” In addition to focusing on the film aspect of the Harry Potter universe, the class also allows students to explore the medieval aspects of the series. Coen said there were plethora of connections between the Harry Potter series and medievalism. “There are just too many
connections to count,” Coen said. “Some of my favorite connections are how Rowling plays with medieval bestiaries and literary wild men archetypes, as well as how her work — especially later in the series — subverts critical elements of medieval and medievalist quest literature.” For one class activity, students participate in a “Medieval Field Day,” in which they can try out medieval forms of entertainment and see how these forms’ legacies persist in modern culture. Coen said that teaching this course is a “dream come true,” and his students share in his enthusiasm for the material. Senior Claire Stanecki, an Anthropology and Spanish double major, says that she would absolutely recommend the class to other students. “I love being able to study something that I’m interested in personally in an academic setting,” she said. “It has allowed me
viewpoint PAGE 7
see MEDIEVAL PAGE 4
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Two tickets officially announced their candidacy for the 2020 Saint Mary’s Student Government Association election at midnight Sunday. Juniors Giavanna Paradiso and Kelsey O’Connor announced their bid for president and vice president, respectively. “I’m Giavanna Paradiso, and I’m running for Student Government Association president with Kelsey O’Connor,” Paradiso said. “We would like to encourage the student body to check out our social medias, to look at our platform and our campaign material. And if they see ELECTION PAGE 4
Puerto Rican students raise funds, awareness By MARIA LUISA PAUL News Writer
The heavy winds started around 4 a.m. on Sept. 20, 2017. An hour later, sophomore Alvaro Carrillo’s house lost power as Hurricane Maria tore through Puerto Rico. A high school senior at the time, Carrillo had to witness the destruction the storm wrought on his native land. His family’s house endured the 155 mile-per-hour winds. However, complications rose in the aftermath, as Puerto Rico was left in the shadows due to months-long power outages. “The bad things started to happen after Maria,” Carrillo said. “I live in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, and we were the first to get power three months after the hurricane. You can imagine the people who live in the rural areas of Puerto Rico, where they did not receive electricity even a full year after Hurricane Maria.”
Puerto Rico’s problems did not end — or start — with Hurricane Maria. A financial crisis was already crippling the island’s economy before Maria struck. Almost three years after the storm, Puerto Rico is now facing a different kind of natural disaster: earthquakes. “The problem is that Puerto Rico has not fully recovered,” Carrillo said. “So, you have a country that is $72 billion in debt and you hit them with a hurricane with a damage assessment surpassing $100 billion, and then with a sequence of earthquakes.” Since Dec. 29, the Caribbean island has been rattled with daily earthquakes. Hundreds of temblors have rocked the island, including Puerto Rico’s most destructive quake in a century — a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that jolted the whole island awake in the early hours of Jan. 7. In the face of these issues, a group see PUERTO RICO PAGE 4
Bengal bouts PAGE 12
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The Bengal Bouts Quarterfinals took place Feb. 17 in the Dahnke Ballroom in Duncan Student Center. The Semifinals will be held Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the Bouts are still available online and all proceeds benefit the Holy Cross Missions in Bangladesh.
The next Five days:
Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Art Exhibition: Slow Looking Snite Museum 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m. Take a break and enjoy a selected artwork.
Engaged Learning Forum Geddes Coffee House noon - 1:30 p.m. Professors discuss Inside-Out program.
“How it Began: Origins of the ArabIsraeli Conflict” C103 Hesburgh Center 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Book discussion.
Women’s Tennis vs. North Carolina State Eck Tennis Pavilion 5 p.m. Irish take on the Wolfpack.
Ella Wood (21’), Junior Honors Viola Recital LaBar Recital Hall 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Open to the public.
Basilica Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 5:15 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
Rosario en Español Coleman-Morse Chapel 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. Brief fellowship and sweet bread to follow.
ND Theatre NOW Philbin Studio Theatre, DPAC 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Two new one-act plays directed by students.
Collegiate Jazz Festival Dahnke Ballroom 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Free entry with student I.D.
ND Theatre NOW Philbin Studio Theatre, DPAC 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Two new one-act plays directed by students.
News
History Continued from page 1
said. “But using February to focus on the contributions of black people and get their stories out there is really important.” The concept of a single month being devoted to black history has been debated for years. Junior Jazzlyn Kwapong said that while black history should be integrated with other U.S. history teachings, Black History Month forces all Americans to focus on the contributions of black Americans until they become as well known as those contributions from white Americans. Senior Hannah Simpson, president of the Black Student Association, said she feels that Black History Month is crucial, especially since the history classes she took in high school barely covered history pertinent to the black experience like slavery or the Civil Rights Movement. “When I grew up, I took AP U.S. History and talking about slavery took a week, max,” she said. “We’d breeze through it like it was nobody’s business. And I didn’t understand why — maybe it’s a difficult discussion from the educator side or maybe people just didn’t care enough to have the discussion. But we’re going to have these discussions now during Black History Month and make it
ndsmcobserver.com | tuesday, february 18, 2020 | The Observer
a spectacle — we want you to see just how important these people are to American history because they affect our lives today.” Simpson said Black History Month is a celebration of those who struggled to advance the rights of black people in America. “The reality is that we get to celebrate those who came before us and have done so much to pave the way because they didn’t have the same rights as we do now,” she said. Kwapong emphasized that the struggles of black individuals are not over just because Black History Month has become mainstream in popular culture. “I think it’s important to take into consideration that a lot of people think racism is dead or that injustice was so long ago,” she said. “Racism is a systematic thing and it doesn’t change just because it’s 2020.” In honor of Black History Month, the Black Student Association hosted a trivia night Monday evening in Regina Hall. The questions were full of history about the achievements of black people and the contributions they have made to American society. Sophomore Akpedze Balo, who serves as treasurer for the Black Student Association, said that she planned for the trivia night to educate students about black scholars. “I’m really focused on black intellectuals or scholars and scientists
that people may not know at all because our history and textbooks are almost all whitewashed of all these famous people,” Balo said. “There are all these black people who have had great contributions to our intellectual thought within society — but not many people know about them.” Kwapong said she feels these events are relevant because even though Black History Month has become popular, many who do not take part in the celebration of black history during February remain ignorant about the issues affecting black people in America. “People who don’t show up to events during Black History Month are not getting educated, so I feel that we should continue to host these events during Black History Month until people start to educate themselves on black history,” she said. On the other side of campus, history club hosted its own event Monday evening in honor of Black History Month. Junior Healy Keenan presented on the contributions of black women in Spes Unica Hall in order to educate and empower the students of Saint Mary’s. “This was actually inspired by a rector at Fisher Hall who pointed out to me that black women aren’t really known for their accomplishments as we often study black men during Black History Month, so
I figured it would be a good idea to represent black women in history,” she said. “I’ll be talking about the first established poet, the first nurse, the first college graduate, the first fastest women in the world and the first bank president.” Because women are often removed from the historical narrative, Keenan said that through this presentation on representation, she wants to remind students they have the ability to do anything, despite the challenges and obstacles they may face. “I want students to take away from the presentation that we, women, are empowered and we can do anything we set our mind to through passion,” Keenan said. Ferry said that students who study history have a responsibility to advocate for the teaching of black history and the black experience. “It’s the historian’s job to listen and record the stories of underrepresented groups and make them known,” she said. Senior Mary Stechschulte, secretary of History Club, said that as an education major, she said celebrating black history is an important way to facilitate discussions between black people and white people. “History is so whitewashed — I want my students to see history as something that represents them as well,” she said. “Not a lot of schools really talk about non-European
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history, so I think having events where we really do focus on the history of black people is important because a lot of the time their historical contributions are skipped over.” Representing black people accurately in the classroom is also a crucial part of being an educator, Stechschulte said. “I’ve taught history to fifth graders who are black and showed them black historical figures and they’ll tell me that that’s the first time they’ve seen someone from history who looks like them,” she said. The takeaway from all these events, Simpson said, is that all people are encouraged to educate themselves on black history, regardless of their race. “We want people who aren’t black to show up to Black Student Association events because these conversations must happen and must continue to happen,” she said. “Come out to our events because we want to share our knowledge with you and socialize with you and engage in conversation and dialogue. Whether you agree or not, we understand that there are different perspectives in the world, that maybe you didn’t understand something then but you do now — if anything, you can learn.” Contact Gina Twardosz at gtwardosz01@saintmarys.edu
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The observer | tuesday, february 18, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Medieval Continued from page 1
to engage with a series that I love in new, interesting and challenging ways.” “[I hope] that students come away with a deeper appreciation of their favorite books and novels, and an understanding of how writers and filmmakers rework elements from other forms of literature and art to craft their stories,”
Puerto Rico Continued from page 1
of students from Puerto Rico decided to create the Notre Dame Puerto Rican Student Association in order to raise funds for disaster relief and increase awareness about Puerto Rico’s situation and culture. “With these recent events that have happened in Puerto Rico, I saw a lot of Puerto Rican student associations all around the nation moving and raising a lot of money to help Puerto Rico,” Carrillo, who serves as the Puerto Rico Student Association’s president, said. “So, I talked with my best friend, Adolfo Serbia, and we decided we had to do something.” The club was approved in December, and since then, the association has mobilized to raise funds, hosting two fundraising events in LaFortune Student Center and Five Guys at Eddy Street. “People were really receptive to our campaign,” Carrillo said. “We recently had a fundraiser at LaFortune. In only two hours, we raised $500 in cash and are still waiting for the University to tell us how much we raised in Domer Dollars. The one in Five Guys was very successful as well, we gained 20% of all the sales’ proceeds.” The funds raised through these events will be donated to local nonprofits Casa Pueblo and Instituto Nuevo Escuela. Carrillo said the association chose these organizations due to their success and education initiatives in Puerto Rico. Even though the Puerto Rican Student Association’s immediate focus has been on raising funds, a core part of its mission is to increase awareness of Puerto Rican culture on campus. “Unfortunately, this is a campus that lacks a lot of diversity, so the best way to tackle this is by hosting events, bringing speakers, doing fundraisers, really everything that can expose our culture to students here on campus,” Carrillo said.
‘We are Puerto Rican, but we are also United States citizens’ Freshman Amaury Amador already realized there are many misconceptions surrounding Puerto Rican culture at Notre Dame. “There’s a lot of misinformation about what people perceive about Puerto Rico versus what we grow up to believe,” Amador said. The main misconception Amador notices is the widespread belief that Puerto Ricans are international students. “Sometimes they see us as strangers, but, even though we
Ohmer said. The syllabus lists some of the goals of the course as “identifying and describing the role of medievalism in the Harry Potter franchise” and “discussing some of the issues involved in adapting literary texts across different media platforms,” “At its heart, this is a class about community building,” Coen said. The course provides the “opportunity not just to explore this generation-defining cultural moment
are not a state, we are part of the United States and we definitely still get treated like second-class citizens,” Amador said. The political situation between Puerto Rico and the United States is historically complex. The island is considered an unincorporated territory which is under U.S. control, which means the country’s constitution only partially applies to Puerto Rico. However, the territory is still under the jurisdiction of the federal government. “We are U.S. citizens, we have fought in the army and have fought in all the wars the U.S. has been involved in after the 18th century,” Carrillo said. “We can’t vote for the president even though we are a U.S. territory. We don’t have a vote in Congress even though we get taxed and regulated by Congress. So you can say Puerto Rico is a colony.” Puerto Rico’s political situation has given rise to contentions between the territory and the federal government, especially in regards to the government’s response to natural disasters on the island. “You would think it was preposterous if New York City stayed without electricity for six months, but then you have San Juan spending almost a year without power, and no one batted an eye,” Amador said. Even though Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico almost three years ago, federal aid has been slow in entering the island. In January of 2019, President Trump
in a deeper academic way, but also to get students from many different backgrounds and levels of experience to talk about something that they share,” Coen said. As for their own Hogwarts Houses, Coen, Ohmer and Stanecki are split. Coen said he is “Ravenclaw, of course.” Ohmer is “Gryffindor all the way.” And Stanecki is “100% Hufflepuff.” Contact Anna Hurt at ahurt3@nd.edu
released billions of dollars in aid to Puerto Rico. The $8 billion allocated through the Department of Housing and Urban Development was supposed to be released months ago, according to Reuters. However, Carrillo noted these efforts have been painfully slow and long overdue. “After Hurricane Maria, the response by the federal government was horrible,” he said. “We didn’t receive even 10% of the recognized damage assessments. When you compare this reaction to the one the federal government had with Hurricane Harvey in Texas, it was completely different. “You hope the government can bounce back, but they don’t have the financial tools. Then you hope the federal government responds and sends money, but they don’t.” The Puerto Rican government has not been able to deal with the natural disasters’ aftermath appropriately either, Amador said. “The [Puerto Rican] government has not done much to fix the situation because of the political problems,” Amador said. “It’s like ‘let’s not help the people. Let’s put a candidate’s name in the water bottles so the people know who they should vote for.’” Consequently, distrust for both the federal and local governments has grown over the years. As a result, Puerto Ricans have learned to “take matters into their own hands” when it comes to solving problems, Carrillo said.
Election Continued from page 1
have any questions, they can contact us.” For the second ticket, juniors Deirdre Drinkall will run as presidential candidate and Brianna Kinyanjui as vice president. “We are excited to announce that we are running for student body president and vice president of Saint Mary’s College,” Drinkall
When the earthquakes began devastating the island’s southern region, Puerto Ricans rushed to aid their suffering countrymen. “Now with the earthquakes, huge traffic jams started to form from the northern part of the island to the south because people were taking food, water and baby formula to them,” Carrillo said. For Carrillo, this act of solidarity is a clear reflection of the Puerto Rican character. “These natural disasters make us come closer and bring out the best in everybody,” Carrillo said.
Study first. Give back after In September 2017, both Amador and Carrillo witnessed Hurricane Maria’s devastation. Almost three years later, they — like many in the island — were woken by the earth’s shaking. “My house literally started shaking around 5 a.m,” Carrillo said. “I was terrified because we couldn’t understand what was happening.” A week later, they bid farewell to their families and friends to come back to Notre Dame, fearing the uncertainty brought by the series of earthquakes. “It’s definitely hard because the earthquakes were in January and we left for college right after, so it was like leaving all your family over there without knowing what was going to happen,” Amador said. Yet their country’s mishaps have inspired them to continue studying in order to return to Puerto Rico upon graduation.
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said. “Brianna and I are thrilled to celebrate the spirit and sisterhood of Saint Mary’s this week. We have a platform full of ideas to make Saint Mary’s more Saint Mary’s, and the practical experience and unparalleled passion to make it happen.” The two tickets will campaign on campus this week, and the student body will vote Thursday. Contact Maeve Filbin mfilbin01@saintmarys.edu
“We want to use this opportunity of receiving a higher education to come back and work towards improving what the government has been unable to do,” Amador said. For the moment, the students are focusing on helping their country from across the sea. “We are using all the tools at our disposal, and that’s what the Puerto Rican Student Association stands for,” Carrillo said. Marisel Moreno, associate professor for Latinx literature, serves as the Puerto Rican Student Association’s faculty advisor. A Puerto Rican herself, Moreno said she admired the drive and initiative the students showed. “I am just so happy this is finally happening,” Moreno said. “I have been teaching at Notre Dame since 1998, and I have always dreamt of having a Puerto Rican Student Association — but all the effort truly comes from them.” Whether through raising funds or hosting events on campus to increase awareness, Carrillo said the group aims to continue to increase Puerto Rico’s presence on campus. “We are definitely going to be hosting more events in the years to come and this is not a one-year thing,” Carrillo said. “We are going to keep moving forward so that, if anything happens to Puerto Rico, we are able to stand up and help our island.” Contact Maria Luisa Paul at mpaulran@nd.edu
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The observer | TUESDAY, february 18, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
CLAIRE KOPISCHKE | The Observer
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The observer | Tuesday, February 18, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Questions about the elections
Inside Column
Midwestern pizza — abysmal at best Mannion McGinley Sports Writer
This past Friday I had a math midterm, after which our math TA provided us with pizza. Now, since I got here in August, I have not had a slice of pizza. Not because I don’t like pizza as a whole, but I like real pizza. Yes, I said it. Real pizza. Allow me to explain. I am from Rockland County, New York. It is a suburb of New York City, 25 miles from Manhattan. Some days those 25 miles take 20 minutes and some days they take an hour and a half, but the point is, I live in very close proximity to what I would call real pizza, high quality pizza. From Patsy’s on 74th Street to John’s on 42nd and Brooklyn’s Finest, all the way down on Staten Island, even the cheapest slice of pizza in the five burrows is high quality pizza. With not a single piece of deep dish in sight. Because of this, I have not wanted to consume the extra carbs and calories from pizza that could not even hold a candle to what I find at home. Thus was born the decision that, while at school, I would not eat pizza. For a while, this worked out great. All I had heard from friends was that the dining hall pizza was a slice of grease which was only good with ranch on it (a heinous decision in its own right but that’s another story), Blaze pizza’s sauce was too watery and the crust was too thin and Pizza Pi — well, everyone agrees Pizza Pi is bad. This led me to box out the consideration of trying or eating other chains here too. Domino’s, Papa John’s and any other pizza that was ordered to campus for an event I also avoided. I was taking no risks in my pizza-eating, and I was getting no advice to do otherwise. It was simply a waste of calories if it wasn’t going to be good. That is, until math tutorial this past Friday. It was 12:50 in the afternoon on Valentine’s Day, February 14. I had just finished a math midterm that, all in all, could have gone better but definitely could have gone worse. Having been in class all morning, I hadn’t eaten, so I went upstairs to my tutorial class and, at the front of the room, lined up on 5 different desks, framed by empty plates and full sodas, were five different pizza pies. I don’t know what came over me, but I quickly put down my things, grabbed two slices of plain cheese and a sprite as I sat at a desk. I looked at the melty cheese laying over the hot sauce on the soft crust with a crunchy bottom and I picked up the slice. I took one bite and as my teeth sunk into the cheese and broke through the crust, my eyes grew wide and I ultimately realized: That I was right all along. If you’re going to eat a slice of pizza and you want it to be any good, it has to be from New York. Contact Mannion McGinley at mmcginl3@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Join the conversation. Submit a Letter to the Editor: viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com
Julianna Conley In My Own Words
Turn off your TVs. Stop streaming The Bachelor. There’s no need for satellite reality programming: it’s campus election time. No, I am not a poli-sci major, nor do I play one on TV, but I still have a vested interest in the way the affairs on campus are being run. And as a bystander, I can’t help but realize that the events of student elections are consistently, dare I say unnecessarily, complex. This election, for instance, there were four separate sanctions, one appeal to the Election Committee, 26 votes invalidated, and an entire ticket removed from the ballot. What happened? Why all the red tape? Unfortunately, due to confidentiality clauses in the Student Constitution, any and all press releases read more like vague riddles advertising for a movie synopsis. Since, precedents would discourage the student body from expecting further information, little is left to do but wonder. And wonder I do. 1. Why must the candidates acquire 700 signatures before running? More importantly, why are they forbidden from telling the signees about their platforms? I discovered the irrational rule when one of the candidates came petitioning through my dorm but was barred from answering any of my follow up questions. As someone whose mother warned her early on to never sign anything that she didn’t understand, I take issue with stamping my John Hancock on a cause I know nothing about. How can I endorse a candidate if I don’t know that their values align with mine? How can I say, “Sure, take a gander at governing the student body,” without having the slightest notion of which issues matter to them? For all I know, these strangers roaming around my dorm could be racist heroin addicts. As a girl who had dozens of lined papers thrust under my nose in the last month, I’d appreciate the opportunity to ask some questions about the campaigns which I’m enabling. 2. What qualifies as “unethical behavior”? The Student Union Constitution gives examples of unethical behavior ranging from “monopolization of limited board space” to harassment of election officials. That’s a rather broad definition, ranging from “aw, rats” territory to offenses worthy of police intervention. As a student voter, I believe we have a right to know the unethical behavior transgressed by candidates. Are we talking professors putting their own book on their required materials list, or more along the lines of an underground ring of assassins? I understand why the details of the alleged crime are kept under wraps, but as a voter, I’d like to know if a candidate has laundered money in an offshore account or if she simply added tomatoes to her sandwich in the grilled cheese maker in North Dining Hall. According to my Fundamentals of Journalism class, the wrongdoings of public figures are fair game. Once you’ve wandered campus hunting for signatures from unsuspecting students, like it or not, you’re a public figure. The public has a right to know what shady activity you’re up to, whether it’s drawing phalluses in the snow, or cheating on an economics exam. And once some specification is offered regarding unethical behavior, I’d like to clarify the meaning of “highly” as well. For an arbitrary adverb, that word was the difference between one ticket being removed from the ballot this year and another simply facing sanctions. At what
threshold are tickets completely obliterated? How unethical could college elections be? Why is everyone acting so blasé about the fact that not one, but two, campaigns were mixed up in nefarious business? That apparently Notre Dame students have educated their minds at the sake of their hearts, and morals have been lobbed out the window in a quest for an office on the second floor of LaFun?! I, for one, am quite concerned. 3. Does the Election Committee strategically enact policies that create the most drama? As the Student Union Constitution Article XVII.5.a.3 — and the email that class council sent to the class of 2022 last year — states, “in the event that neither ticket receives a majority of the valid votes in the run-off election, the ticket/ candidate which wins the most amount of Senate constituencies shall win the election... (B) The Student Senate shall convene a special meeting for the purpose of observing the Judicial Council President announce the run-off election results from the individual Senate constituencies.” In other words, the electoral college comes into play, but without population adjustment: each hall gets one vote. Ignoring the fact that instituting the electoral college for halls is wildly unrepresentative — why should a Badin resident’s vote count be worth twice as much as a Lewis resident’s — I’m more confused by the line of reasoning that necessitates a public vote unveiling: “The Student Senate shall convene a special meeting for the purpose of observing the… [announcement of] the run-off election results.” This is essentially a glorified live viewing party for student senators! Why must each dorm announce their results live, in an America’s Got Talent-esque fashion? Why can’t we simply look at the Google form results and send out an email, as is done in all other situations? I realize these practices are likely rooted in reason, but I also realize that over the last four years, every election has resulted in sanctions and delayed results. In the 2017 election for student body president, the Election Committee delayed release of the results due to misconduct allegations. In the 2018 election, five rounds of sanctions and four requested appeals slowed that announcement. Last year, the student body presidential election was blissfully drama free, but sophomore class council faced sanctions, runoffs and special Senate meetings, and this year’s election results were suspended by election appeals as well. I understand the delays occur in order to minimize hasty and erroneous results, but it often feels as if the Judicial Council simply relishes their 15 minutes of fame the election offers every year, dragging out the few weeks the student body remembers they have power. Yes, many of these questions could be answered by talking to my hall senator or doing a thorough read of the Student Union Constitution, but the average Notre Dame student is not conducting thorough examinations of the precise details of the constitution. The average student is speculating with her roommate and jumping to conclusions as exaggerated rumors reach her through the grapevine. By limiting students’ access to information, the Judicial Council creates an open niche for students’ wildest imaginations. Julianna Conley loves cereal, her home state of California and the em dash. A sophomore in Pasquerilla East, if Julianna can’t be found picnicking on North Quad, she can be reached for comment at jconley4@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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The observer | tuesday, February 18, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
LETTERs TO THE EDITOR
Personable, passionate and present To the Student Body of Notre Dame and the Greater Notre Dame Community, My name is Noble Patidar and I am a junior from Florida currently living in Keough Hall. I am a political science and finance double major and have been incredibly active in student life throughout my time at Notre Dame both inside and outside of Student Government. In Student Government, I have worked in multiple departments oriented towards both policy and university-wide programming. I carry my Indian culture with pride as part of the South Asian Student Association. Connor is a freshman from Albany, New York living in O’Neill Family Hall. While technically an undecided major, he is considering pursuing a double major in Music and Peace Studies. He is involved in many activities on campus, including Gospel Choir, Brazil Club, Polish Club, GreeND and he teaches at St. Adalbert’s in South Bend on Sunday mornings. Additionally, Connor and I are both our dorms’ Diversity and Inclusion Commissioners. So why are we running? We have a vision for a Notre Dame that is universal in its goodness. This means a Notre Dame that is diverse AND welcoming to all students regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, gender identity, sexual
orientation and ability. This means a Notre Dame that is sustainable and accessible in its resources. This means a Notre Dame that is transparent about its policies. Our platform aims to both address and solve an array of issues through actionability and feasibility. These include: Powerful and practical programs that instill safety on our campus beyond Blue Lights, namely the Sexual Aggression Peer Advocacy program (SAPA) and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) Civil discourse and organic political dialogue Equitable amenities: subsidized feminine products in public spaces; ethnic hair-related services Empowering Clubs: Financial support and event spotlight of all clubs Residential life: Senior inclusion into our residential culture Awareness: Mental health and disability resources and programming; Parietals Amnesty and Title IX initiatives Sustainability: Reusable coffee tumblers, incentivizing sustainable dorm events Inclusion: Financial inclusion to those that are marginalized, religious inclusion across all faiths
Our platform fights for students who can’t fight for themselves. Our platform stands against an administration that doesn’t include but rather excludes individuals, including seniors, who should be brought back to our residential culture. Our team allies with all students by making our presence known: this means going to your Hall Gov’s, attending the events you perform at on campus, meeting with clubs that you’re a member of and even individually getting to know you. It’s easy to tout policies but it’s much harder to implement them and actually know the students they are affecting. Connor and I actually want to know the student body before we get elected. It’s why we run on being “personable, passionate and present.” Either all of us are Notre Dame or none of us are. We wear gold on our helmets and have gold on top of the dome. Let’s also fight for the same standard. Gold standard or no standard. Noble Patidar presidential candidate, junior Connor Patrick vice presidential candidate, freshman Feb. 17
Amplify, advocate, accompany If we’re being completely honest, none of us expected the election to drag on this long. However, maybe the multiple Observer staff reports and various Election Committee press releases have at least made some more people aware of the fact that student government exists. We’ve spent the past two weeks campaigning for student body president and vice president alongside some great tickets. We’ve appreciated the opportunity to engage in dialogue with them and envision the best path forward for the university that we all know and love. While we can’t promise to outlaw crime or climate change like the brave gentlemen of Zahm House did, we do hope to work on various opportunities for growth at this school. This election season has opened our eyes to new perspectives and has challenged the way we think about Notre Dame. As exhausting as this process has been, the excitement surrounding this journey has energized us as we work to foster a better Notre Dame for every person. During his time as University President, Father Ted Hesburgh said Notre Dame is a place “where differences of culture and religion and conviction can co-exist with friendship, civility, hospitality, respect and love; a place where the endless conversation is harbored and not foreclosed.” This is our vision: to build a Notre Dame for all, so every student on this campus is recognized as a member of our family: no matter their race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, political ideology, religion, socioeconomic class or nationality. We recognize that working on these issues is not just a job for the student body president and vice president, and this drove us to collaborate with
students from every part of campus to develop our platform. Our campaign focuses on three pillars: we seek to accompany, advocate for and amplify students. Amplify We are committed to listening and learning from our peers so that we can work to amplify their voices and the causes that matter to them. In the future, we hope these dialogues could occur in a Multicultural Center that celebrates diversity and inclusion, and we are committed to taking the first steps by building a task force to identify donors who can make this space a reality. Additionally, we are excited about the opportunity that the upcoming Presidential Debate presents to foster civil discourse and encourage voter registration on campus. Advocate Based on our dialogues with student change agents, we identified four principal causes that demand our tireless advocacy: health and wellness, sexual assault prevention and resources, sustainability and university policy reform. Student demand for the services offered by the University Counseling Center has been on the rise, and we must advocate for greater allocation of funds and resources towards mental health services. When it comes to sexual assault prevention, we will do everything in our power to stand in solidarity with and pursue resources for survivors — ranging from support groups to Title IX awareness to technology like Callisto. In terms of sustainability, we will offer incentives for student groups and clubs who design events and programs in environmentally friendly ways. Finally, we
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will advocate for the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the University’s NonDiscrimination Clause so that no student can be discriminated against due to these integral aspects of their identity. Accompany Student Government is fortunate to be able to walk with two key communities: the student body and South Bend. We propose to create grant opportunities for student groups so that we can financially support them as they pursue endeavors that positively impact campus. Additionally, we will actively work to “break the bubble” between campus and the South Bend community by promoting service partnerships, internship opportunities and community strengthening events. We encourage you to check out our full platform and more information about us and our team at our website rachelandsarahfornd.com. Join us for the debate tonight in Midfield Commons at 9 p.m. and be sure to vote tomorrow! Together, we know that we can continue to build a Notre Dame for all and we hope you will walk hand in hand with us in this pursuit. In Notre Dame, Rachel Ingal presidential candidate, junior Sarah Galbenski vice presidential candidate, junior Aaron Benavides campaign manager, junior Feb. 17
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Classifieds
The observer | tuesday, february 18, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Crossword | DAVID QUARFOOT
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Check out all possibilities, but don’t try to take on too much. Your strength will be in using your skills masterfully to make a substantial leap forward. Concentrate on what will pay the highest return emotionally, financially and intellectually. Time spent nurturing a partnership will encourage stability as well as help you maintain confidence and freedom to follow your dreams. Your numbers are 3, 14, 17, 23, 28, 34, 42. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take the initiative to get things done. Look for ways to physically overcome whatever you don’t like about your life. Whether you choose to change your vocation, appearance or how you live, it’s up to you to take charge. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t wait for someone to do things for you. Whatever you achieve or receive should be your responsibility. Believe in what you have to offer, stick to your plans and partner with people who share your vision. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Show your competitive side when it comes to personal and professional opportunities. Leave nothing to chance, and play to win. Know when to say no, and focus on your success instead of helping someone else get ahead. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Consider a partnership opportunity. Discuss your intentions, share your vision and see who contributes the most. Don’t let fear hold you back. Avoid indulgent behavior or overspending. Monitoring how and when to make a move will help you stabilize an unpredictable situation. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Personal improvements and gains are within reach. Straight talk will help you avoid getting mixed up in someone’s business. A trip or creative pursuit will lift your spirits and inspire you to put more effort into achieving your dreams. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Pamper yourself. Enjoy what life has to offer. All work and no play will not be an incentive to get ahead. Some balance will be required if you want to establish a lifestyle that leads to happiness and longevity. Emotional deception is apparent. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Too much of anything will lead to uncertainty. Consider what you want, and do your best to make it happen. Your happiness is your responsibility, not someone else’s. Aim to feel good about yourself, your life and your future. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Share ideas, and expand your interests, friendships and plans for the future. A unique connection will encourage you to try something new. Travel and personal growth are favored. Invest more time and money in honing your skills. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Meddlers will slow you down. Be secretive regarding your plans until you have everything in place and are ready to present. Expect someone who is threatened by you or jealous of you to cause an emotional scene. Keep your distance, and do your own thing. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Ask, and you shall receive. You don’t have to do everything on your own to prosper. Use what’s already in place, then add your fingerprint. A creative idea will lead to greater prosperity. Trust your gut, not your emotions. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Look for alternatives when faced with a setback. Using your intellect and your imagination will help gain ground. Do what comes naturally, and you will find it easier to get ahead. Embrace the unknown instead of running away. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Be open to new ideas, people and unfamiliar places. Consider the risk factor involved in any situation you take on, and make decisions that will not compromise your integrity, beliefs or a relationship that is essential to you. Think before you take action. Birthday Baby: You are aggressive, fearless and playful. You are curious and helpful.
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
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Warren. After Astronomo got his shoelace fixed, he continued his strategy of closing the space and barreling into Warren with his head down. Warren was more patient and looked for opportunities to throw several punches at once. Astronomo continued looking to counteract Warren’s height advantage by attacking the body while Warren attacked the head. Warren looked visibly worn down with the second round coming to a close, but he still threw strong punches. Both fighters probed in the final round, until Warren caught one of Astronomo’s punches and briefly wailed on his midsection. Still, Astronomo would not relent and fought valiantly to keep competing. Warren landed more shots to end the round, but fighters were on the brink of exhaustion as the fight ended. Ultimately, Warren overwhelmed with speed and power and won unanimously.
Kieran “Mr. Wurlwide” Wurl (Siegfried Hall) def. Alex “ATV” Trahe-Valencia (Carroll Hall) Both fighters took little time to get started in this match, both coming out aggressively and clashing in the middle of the ring. Trahe-Valencia, a senior representing Carroll Hall, did find himself against the ropes as time dwindled down in the first round as Wurl, a junior in Siegfried, landed a combo on the head of his opponent. Wurl was patient in the second, dodging Trahe-Valencia’s punches early on, but soon the senior from Orlando landed a few. Wurl responded with a series of quick two jabs followed by a retreat. Both fighters came out swinging hard in the third and final round and Trahe-Valencia wrapped up Wurl immediately but caught a breath and continued to land blows after the referee separated the two. Wurl responded with a huge series of combinations in the closing seconds of the third to seal the deal and was declared winner by unanimous decision.
Kyle “Nemo” Mettler (Alumni Hall) def. “Lion” Judah Maxwell (Zahm House) Both fighters traded blows and at one point Maxwell, a graduate student, slipped onto the mat. Mettler, a junior, continued to try to exploit Maxwell’s aggressive style. Maxwell landed a huge series of punches in the second, but Mettler responded with punches of his own. Both fighters traded huge shots to the head but Mettler’s seemed to be stronger. Neither fighter had been dropped, save for Maxwells slip in the first round, but both fighters landed massive shots on the other. Midway through the third round the referee paused the fight after Mettler landed a combo on Maxwell and opened a cut on his nose. Maxwell came back swinging after the blood subsided, but after the final bell it was determined Mettler was the winner by unanimous decision.
Will “No Tarps” Jones (Off Campus) def. Nolan “Schwef”
ndsmcobserver.com | tuesday, february 18, 2020 | The Observer
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Schwefler (Knott Hall) Both fighters were circling the other in the first round of this fight between Schwefler, a sophomore, and Will Jones, a senior. Jones was able to land plenty of shots on the sophomore in the first once he figured out Schwefler’s defensive strategy. At the beginning of the second, Jones landed a shot that sent Schwefler stumbling backwards, and he landed a few more after the referee checked on Schwefler. Jones landed a few more and the referee paused the fight, ultimately ending it right there. Jones was declared the winner with plenty of time remaining in the second round of the fight by a referee stoppage.
Anthony reo | The Observer
Two Irish boxers battle it out in the Bengal Bouts quarterfinals held Monday in Dahnke Ballroom.
Ryan “Hoodie” Melotik (Carroll Hall) def. Jack “Shicfil-a” Schichtel (St. Edward’s Hall) This fight between Schichtel, a freshman, and Melotik, a junior, saw both fighters come out swinging and landing but with neither establishing clear dominance. This changed at the end of the first when Melotik connected on huge body shots that led Schichtel to lose his guard. Schichtel came out as the aggressor in the second but it seemed to backfire as Schichtel got Melotik against the ropes. Melotik responded with blows that sent the freshman retreating. Schichtel came out swinging for a knock-out in the third and this time was able to connect on a few of his attacks. But Melotik replied, and for the better part of the third and final round, the junior was able to keep his opponent at bay. After the final bell was rung, Melotik was declared winner by unanimous decision.
“Northside” Nick Fahrney (Dillon Hall) def. Zach “Mahmoud” Austin (Dillon Hall) This Dillon Hall showdown saw Austin, a sophomore, and Fahrney, a junior, get to swinging on the canvas quickly. Austin landed a few punches in the first but Fahrney responded. Austin kept his composure and was patient with his attacks. Fahrney landed some more before the bell to conclude the first round sounded. Both fighters were swinging heavy in the second round and Austin connected early, but Fahrney was not phased and continued to unload on Austin. Austin wrapped his opponent up early in the third round, and was able to land some punches after the referee separated the two. Fahrney kept his foot on the gas until the end, however, and Austin was far too gassed to come away with a lucky late round big shot. Fahrney was declared winner by unanimous decision.
Luke “Big Chunky” SheridanRabideau (Keenan Hall) def. Ethan Meyer (Dillon Hall) This fight between two sophomore fighters started out with both swinging hard. Sheridan-Rabideau was able to get the crowd on their feet after he landed a huge blow on his opponent. Meyer hit the deck quickly but got up just as fast. The referee checked Meyer and the fight continued. Sheridan-Rabideau was able to land some more big combos
at the start of the second but Meyer was able to land a few in response. Sheridan-Rabideau did get the better of his opponent in the second, but he made a mistake in the third swinging at the head of a spun around Meyer. Sheridan-Rabideau was able to land some clean shots after this but the dirty blow seemed to give Meyer an extra edge. Meyer unleashed a flurry of punches on Sheridan-Rabideau, and although the exchange provided a good argument for Meyer to be declared winner, Sheridan-Rabideau was declared winner by split-decision.
Parker “High Gear” Revers (Off Campus) def. Kevin “Blood and” Gore (Off Campus) This high energy matchup saw the president of the club, Parker Revers, a senior, and Gore, a graduate student, face off in one of the most anticipated fights of the evening. Revers got off to a good start and it looked like he would have no trouble holding off Gore. Revers did end up getting knocked a couple times as the clock ran down in the first, but after returning to the mat from his stool, Revers seemed to have caught a second wind. Revers was able to land a series of combos in the second and was able to dodge Gores attack for the most part, right up until the end of the round when Gore caught Revers napping and was able to stun him with a few big jabs. No fighter had a clear advantage going into the third and final round and this would likely be the round which would decide it all. The third round played out much the same way the previous two rounds had went with Revers holding off his opponent right up until the closing moments. Revers was declared the winner by unanimous decision.
final round and was thus declared winner by unanimous decision.
Dean “(Sug)ar)” Maloney (Fisher Hall) def. George “I Want Chocolate” O’Sullivan (O’Neill Family Hall) Both fighters came out swinging as soon as the first bell sounded. O’Sullivan, a senior, was landing on nearly every combination he threw. By the end of the first, Maloney, a sophomore, had some ground to make up. O’Sullivan sensed this and started the second round on the defensive. This strategy did not pay off for O’Sullivan as Maloney connected with a series of his own big hooks. At the end of the third it seemed each fighter had dominated one round a piece and the third and final round would be the deciding factor. Maloney started on the attack, and although O’Sullivan was able to land some shots of his own, Maloney kept on the offensive. Maloney was declared winner by unanimous decision.
Chasen “Gumdrop” Brutocao (O’Neill Family Hall) def. Mitch “Dirty Birdie” DeBoskey (Alumni Hall) This match between two juniors saw both fighters come out aggressive. Both DeBoskey’s and Brutocao’s arms were flailing in the first, but by the time the bell rang Brutocao had established a clear dominance after landing several combinations on DeBoskey. Brutocao continued this trend into the second round and landed another series of heavy shots. DeBoskey attempted to respond but never with the same energy as Brutocao. Brutocao’s attack was enough to establish him the winner by unanimous decision.
Luke Slahor (Duncan Hall) def. Nico “All-Business” Young Robles (Dunne Hall)
Fr. Nathan “Last Rites” O’Halloran (Off Campus) def. Carson “Moosejaw Smash” Lee (Zahm House)
This fight between a pair of underclassman saw Robles, a sophomore, square off against Slahor, a freshman. Both fighters traded punches in the first and the referee ended the round having to check on Robles. Both fighters came out swinging hard in the second. Robles and Slahor both connected on their combinations; still, after a lot of good fighting in the second, no one held a clear advantage over the other. Slahor land a handful more of his combinations in the
This heavyweight bout saw Fr. O’Halloran, a graduate student, facing off against Lee, a sophomore. O’Halloran came out swinging; after landing a solid combination, he was able to send Lee stumbling to the floor. Lee bounced back up, but when the bell ended to conclude the first, O’Halloran had established a clear advantage. Lee would take the mat with cloth in his nose to stop the bleeding. Lee came out throwing haymakers in the second round,
but O’Halloran slipped through cracks in Lee’s defense and was declared winner by referee stoppage after the cut on Lee’s nose opened again.
Diego Silva-Cruz (Stanford Hall) def. Colin Gutzmer (O’Neill Family Hall) The second heavyweight match of the night saw a pair of sophomores squaring off. Sparks were flying early as both fighters traded early haymakers. Silva-Cruz found himself tangled up in the ropes in the first after a dominating series of combos by Gutzmer. But Gutzmer had dropped his mouthpiece in the onslaught and the referee was forced to pause the action, a time loss that disadvantaged Gutzmer. Gutzmer forced his opponent up against the ropes on two more occasions in the first round and held a clear lead heading into the second. Gutzmer continued his attack in the second and forced Silva-Cruz against the ropes several more times. The referee stopped the fight in the second round and Gutzmer was declared the winner.
Fouad “The Foreign Fury” El Zoghbi (Sorin College) def. Emmet “The Punisher” Flood (Dunne Hall) The final fight of the evening saw El Zoghbi, a sophomore, come out landing punches early against Flood, a senior. Flood slipped through the cracks in El Zoghbi’s defense, and Flood forced his opponent against the ropes on multiple occasions in the first round. El Zoghbi had ground to make up if he wanted to win the fight, but nonetheless he was cheering on the crowd before the bell sounded to start the second. Flood snuck through El Zoghbi’s defense even more in the second; he forced his opponent up against the ropes several more times during this round. El Zoghbi came out as the aggressor in the third and final round, but when he got inside the range of Flood, he stood no chance. El Zoghbi was declared winner by unanimous decision. Contact Connor Mulvena at cmulvena@nd.edu, Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu, Liam Coolican at lcoolica@nd.edu, Aidan Thomas at athoma28@nd.edu and Jimmy Ward at wward@hcc-nd.edu
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The observer | tuesday, february 18, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
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right hook to the side of Campbell’s head, giving himself a decisive edge heading into the final minute. Unfortunately for Campbell, his patient and defensive style played into the hands of Ortiz, who launched himself into several combinations to secure victory in the third round via unanimous decision.
Patrick “The Collector” Donovan (Off Campus) def. Kevin “Bad Intentions” Bhatt (Off Campus) After an even start to the round, it was Donovan who got the early edge with a right hook followed by a jarring left uppercut that nearly lifted Bhatt off his feet. Seconds later, “The Collector” sent Bhatt backpedaling into the ropes with a vicious right hook that ensured his advantage at the end of the first round. Bhatt came out more aggressive in the second round, but his variety of hooks and jabs were largely evaded by Donovan. He finally landed a clean right jab late in the second round, but Donovan matched the effort with a strong right hook, dazing Bhatt enough for the referee to temporarily stop the bout, bringing the second round to a close. Donovan met every attack with a combination of his own, steadily pounding Bhatt’s gloves and body throughout the final round. “The Collector” saw out his win by unanimous decision.
Jaimie “Greek Freak” Marines (Morrissey Manor) def. Greg “The Leg” McKenna (St. Edward’s Hall) Marines controlled the pace of the first round, and after initially running into a brick wall of defense, the Morrissey sophomore found gaps in the later portion of the first round, shooting a couple hard jabs through McKenna’s gloves. The second round followed a similar pattern to the first, as McKennna held strong defensively, but “The Greek Freak” responded with a couple strong hooks to glean a strong advantage heading into the final round. Marines did not let up and avoided major damage by evading several of “The Leg’s” attempts. Although the fight was competitive throughout, Marines never suffered any decisive blows, and thus he saw out a victory by unanimous decision.
Thomas “Tex” Edwards (Knott Hall) def. Glenn “Where’s the Gabagool?” Fiocca (Zahm House) Edwards came out fast in the first round, landing several combinations to the head and body of Fiocca, tossing him around in circles in the process. Fiocca found his feet, and in the middle of the ring, he launched an attack of his own. Edwards caught one to the head, but he managed to block most of Fiocca’s efforts, and he assumed the offensive once again with his fast hands. Edwards backed Fiocca into a corner, landing two vicious crosses to the head of Fiocca, who appeared in need of a rest as the
bell rang. In the second round, it was much of the same, as Edwards came out with a powerful hook to the head of Fiocca, who was forced to wrap up for a break. As the fighters came back to the middle of the ring, Edwards took a moment to pause before coming at Fiocca with a series of combinations which sent him to the edge of the ring. But after such an attack, Fiocca took advantage of Edwards’s fatigue and landed a series of his own. Nevertheless, Edwards held the advantage heading into the final round. As the bell rang for the last round of the match, Edwards charged once again, and after pushing Fiocca around in the ring for a few seconds, the official gave Fiocca a standing 10. Edwards charged once more as the fight resumed, which prompted another stoppage in the fight after Edwards landed a mean cross to the face of Fiocca. In the end, Fiocca was declared the winner by unanimous decision.
Johnny “The Missing” Link (O’Neill Family Hall) def. Hayden “Heaters” Hoekstra (Morrissey Manor) Link came out with a purpose in round one, landing a combination to the body of Hoekstra. Hoekstra responded with a cross, but Link ducked under and caught his feet, following with a combination attack. Link commanded the round from there, ducking and dodging as Hoekstra came with a number of ambitious crosses and picking his spots when appropriate to send Hoekstra backward. In round two, Link continued to display his impressive quickness, evading virtually all of Hoekstra’s efforts in the first half of the round. Then, as the two fighters found themselves back in the middle of the ring, Link paused, loaded and landed a ferocious straight that nearly sent Hoekstra to his feet, prompting a stoppage in the fight. As the bell rang, it was clear that Link held the advantage heading into the final round. And the final round was much of the same. While Hoekstra did manage to land a few shots here and there, Link continued to connect with Hoekstra on some powerful shots, prompting another stoppage in the action. The round ended with Link in clear command. He was declared the victor by a unanimous decision.
Alex “Jack” Potts (Duncan Hall) def. Evan Molka (Keough Hall) Both fighters were a bit cautious as the round began, surveying the opponent from a distance. Soon after, both came with some attacks of their own, but no significant shots were landed. Then, Potts loaded up and hit Molka with a devastating hook that send him to the ground and prompted a stoppage in the fight. Potts remained on the offensive for the first round, and one of his combinations prompted yet another stoppage in the action. He held the clear advantage after the first round. Molka managed to back Potts up to the corner of the ring at the start of the first round, but Potts ducked and evaded Molka’s hold. But
Molka came back with more, hitting Potts with a combination that prompted a stoppage in the action, leveling the momentum. The two fighters attacked each other with combinations, but they both appeared fatigued. It was a key round for Molka, who was clearly on the disadvantage after the first. In the final round, Molka came with a combination to the face of Potts, but Potts ducked, backed up and managed to land a cross to Molka’s face, which prompted another stoppage. As the action continued, Potts continued to duck under Molka’s combinations, but Molka managed to land a few shots before the final bell rang, as Potts’s fatigue prevented him from assuming the offensive. In the end, Potts was declared the winner by split decision.
Terrance “Slinker” Cameron (Sorin College) def. Mike “Duck” Everett (Morrissey Manor) Both fighters were cautious at the start of this 148-lb. bout, touching gloves several times before any real shots landed. Everett came with a straight to Cameron’s face, but Cameron responded strongly from there on out, hitting Everett with two solid hooks and a few other jabs. Everett caught his feet quickly, and he managed to land a combination to Cameron’s body as the round came to a close. Everett and Cameron were quicker to attack in the second, but Cameron landed a solid straight which sent Everett’s head gear into a frenzy, prompting a short stoppage. Everett bounced back, hitting Cameron with a solid shot to the body, but Cameron responded with vigor. He hit Everett with three solid shots to the face, prompting a stoppage in the action. The shot seemed to have given Cameron the edge heading into the final round. Cameron came out composed in the third round, and he hit Everett with two solid hooks to the head, as had been his tendency in the bout. Everett caught his feet and responded with a combination. Cameron backed up, evading Everett’s efforts, but he gained a second wind and backed Everett to the edge of the ring as the bout came to a close. In the end, Cameron was declared the winner by split decision.
Ryan “Short Stack” Smith (Morrissey Manor) def. Ryan Campbell “‘s Chicken Noodle Soup” (Dillon Hall) The fighters squared off in the middle of the ring at the start of the fight. Morrissey junior Ryan “Short Stack” Smith quickly made the first strike, diving under his opponent, Dillon freshman Ryan Campbell “‘s Chicken Noodle Soup”’s, reach and landing a combination. Both fighters had a similar short and stocky build. Smith, the more experienced fighter, timed his attacks well. Campbell did a very good job of jabbing and keeping a perimeter throughout the first round. At the start of the second, Campbell tried asserting himself more. Smith did not allow him, matching every punch with a shimmy and volley of his own. Campbell was consistent with his jabs, not showing signs of fatigue at all. Both fighters charged
into the third round. Smith brought the heat, not allowing Campbell to comfortably land his jabs. This round, Campbell seemed to be dancing to the rhythm of Smith’s drum. Looking to gain points, Campbell abandoned his strategy and got closer to Smith’s body. The victor by unanimous decision was Ryan “Short Stack” Smith.
Lenny “Typhoon” Calvo (Keough Hall) def. Hector “Bueno” Juarez (Fisher Hall) At the start of the contest, the fighters were quick to engage each other. Keough junior Lenny “Typhoon” Calvo quickly asserted his strategy of getting low and sneaking under Fisher freshman Hector “Bueno” Juarez’s range. Calvo was forceful early in the fight, pushing Juarez around the ring as he pleased. With that, Juarez did not relent, matching every one of Calvo’s volleys with a punch of his own. At the start of the second, Calvo came out of his corner hard. He was met by a better-adjusted Juarez, who started throwing more uppercuts. This did not dissuade Calvo from keeping the pressure and landing plenty of body shots. In the middle of the second, Juarez forced Calvo into the ropes, showing some signs of an offense. Both fighters were fatigued at the end of the second. In the third round, everything was left out on the canvas. Calvo, clearly tired, no longer dominated the contest. Instead, Juarez traded punches with him more comfortably. At the end of the fight, it was clear that Juarez had earned Calvo’s respect. The winner, by unanimous decision, was Lenny “Typhoon” Calvo.
Barry “Big Hoss” Lee (Dillon Hall) def. Mike “Magic Mike” Shannon (Keenan Hall) At the first bell, the fighters were hesitant to make contact. Both had long reaches and appeared to be applying similar strategies. Keenan junior Mike “Magic Mike” Shannon, gaining confidence, made early advances on Dillon junior Barry “Big Hoss” Lee. The fighters kept each other at bay for the majority of the first round. Going into the second round, both fighters were eager to gain points. The pair exchanged blows in the middle of the ring. Lee had more confidence this round. The same middle distance was kept between the fighters throughout the second round. The decision of this fight surely appeared to come down to the third round. Lee came out of his corner swinging in the third round. Shannon, shaken by Lee’s sudden burst of energy, had to adjust his stance and strategy. With renewed confidence, Shannon landed a series of punches of his own. With a bloody nose, Shannon pushed through to the end of the fight. The crowd went wild as the pair fought until the end. The winner, by unanimous decision, was Barry “Big Hoss” Lee.
Conor “Con Con” McConville (Keenan Hall) def. Brendan “Wavy” Gage (Dunne Hall) The fighters rushed to the center
of the ring at the sound of the first bell. The pair was slow to get started, feeling each other out before engaging. Keenan junior Conor “Con Con” McConville landed the first series of combinations as Dunne sophomore Brendan “Wavy” Gage attempted to retaliate. At the start of the second, Gage came out swinging. McConville retaliated with a dodge and series of punches. McConville seemed to pride himself on his ability to dodge and block all of Gage’s punches. Looking for an opening, Gage did not let up the pressure at all. At the start of the third, Gage once again looked to bring the heat from the start. McConville, in response, swung more in the third than he had in the rest of the fight. The pair were intense until the end, at which point both appeared to be worn out. The winner, by unanimous decision, was Conor “Con Con” McConville.
Aidan “Ace” Becklund (Dunne Hall) def. Ryan “The Barnimal” Lokhorst (Morrissey Manor) The fighters were quick to engage. Morrissey senior Ryan “The Barnimal” Lokhorst was aggressive from the start. Dunne sophomore Aidan “Ace” Becklund, not showing signs of hesitation, started off aggressively as well. In the middle of the first, Becklund forced Lokhorst into a corner and landed a brutal combination. The referee paused the fight to check on Lockhorst. Once resumed, Lokhorst showed no fear as he jumped back into action. In the second, Lokhorst chose to dance around the ring more. With that, Becklund still landed some heavy blows, forcing the ref to stop the fight. Through the rest of the second round, the pair exchanged blows and wrapped each other up on multiple occasions. Both fighters left it all in the ring by the end of the third round. The competitors exchanged blow after blow, with neither showing signs of slowing down. Lockhorst had a headgear malfunction that haunted him and slowed the fight down dramatically in the third round. The winner, by unanimous decision, was Aidan “Ace” Becklund.
Will “Manly” Hanley (Stanford Hall) def. Jamal “The Arabian Prince” Hourani (Siegfried Hall) Both fighters began probing, hitting each other’s gloves, before Hourani landed the first shot to Hanley’s head. “The Arabian Prince” landed successive shots, but “Manly” Hanley countered with a few hits of his own. Hourani leaned into his punches, looking to connect on a haymaker; in doing so, Manly was able to dodge and score to the head as Hourani exposed himself. In the second round, Hourani looked to advance first, but Hanley continued to counter. The competitors found themselves body to body, as Hourani looked to close the distance as much as possible to give Hanley no space to build up an attack. Hanley landed a strong series to begin the final stanza, and he managed to keep Hourani at bay as the round see BENGAL BOUTS PAGE 11
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Bouts Continued from page 10
progressed. “Manly” Hanley won by unanimous decision.
Sam “The Hammer” Miller (St. Edward’s Hall) def. Ben “Bengineer” Fitzgerald (Alumni Hall) “Bengineer” looked to be the aggressor from the outset, with his brute strength being met by the Hammer’s precise counterattacks. Eventually though, Fitzgerald managed to assert himself somewhat, forcing “The Hammer” back. However, Miller did land a few more shots to close the round. Fitzgerald continued using his overwhelming strength against Miller, but the latter still found openings from Fitzgerald’s aggression. However, Fitzgerald forced a stoppage as he drew blood from Miller. As the fight resumed, little changed with Fitzgerald briefly forcing Miller into the ropes. Miller had desperation in his eyes coming into the final period, and he fought valiantly to avoid Fitzgerald’s wailing attacks. In the end, Miller managed to block and counter enough to emerge victorious by split decision.
Elton “Rocketman” Zhang (Dillon Hall) def. Connor “The Milkman” Tsikitas (Duncan Hall) Tsikitas came in out of control, closing the distance and swinging wildly around Zhang’s head before immediately falling on his rear. After coming back in, “The Milkman” continued his all-out aggression, willing to take any hit
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Zhang threw at him. Eventually, however, “Rocketman” connected on a big headshot that stunned Tsikitas and caused the referee to check him as the round ended. There was an extended break between the first and second rounds, as Zhang’s shot was so fierce that Tsikitas was inspected for a concussion. After resuming the fight, Zhang came out looking to match Tsikitas’s ferocity. “Rocketman” closed the space and would not let Tsikitas charge at him to build momentum, effectively countering “The Milkman”’s strategy. After further shots to Tsikitas’s head, the referee put a definitive stop to the fight, awarding Zhang the win by referee-stopped contest.
Matt Hardiman (Morrissey Manor) def. Max “The Ukrainian Stallion” Chuma (O’Neill Family Hall) Chuma took a vertical approach while Hardiman took a lateral one initially. Eventually, Hardiman closed the gap and looked to duck and counter Chuma. Both competitors landed several shots to the other’s head, but Hardiman won the battle of strength by continually forcing Chuma back. “The Ukrainian Stallion” looked to be the aggressor from the outset, but Hardiman again put his strength to good use, landing a brutal headshot that caused the referee to check Chuma. Hardiman began to tire and pulled back on his aggressive strategy, as he and Chuma fought to keep trading blows. Chuma caught a second wind and forced his opponent into the ropes in the last round. Hardiman woke up and looked to counter, while Chuma continued landing shots. Paid Advertisement
However, Hardiman landed three consecutive hooks to the head that caused Chuma to be inspected. The war of attrition finally ended with Hardiman’s brute force paying off in a split-decision victory.
Dan “Pilgrim” O’Brien (St. Edward’s Hall) def. Josh Williams (St. Edward’s Hall) In an intra-dorm matchup between two St. Edward’s Hall gentlemen, it was the junior O’Brien looking to find an opening with some preliminary jabs. Both fighters looked to be technicians, but “Pilgrim” was soon looking to land big hits with his power punch. Williams managed to block and counter some, but received a headshot that caused a referee check and headgear fix. O’Brien landed some solid body shots to close the opener. Williams began the second looking to find a rhythm. He connected a few times and continued trying to expose any openings, but he found himself being chased by more than pursuing O’Brien. Even so, the freshman still held his own. The third round began with Williams biting too much and being countered by O’Brien, but the former remained aggressive and looked to score as many points as possible. Ultimately, O’Brien’s approach won out as he received the unanimous victory.
Chris “tmas” Lembo (Dillon Hall) def. Eddie “Push Me to the Ed, All My Friends are Ed” Prein (Alumni Hall) Lembo fought with aggressiveness, swinging wildly at Prein, while Prein responded with a more tactical approach. In between rounds, Lembo’s coach gave him
a pep talk and he received a boost from a strong contingent of fans in the crowd. Lembo proved more cautious in the final round looking for an opening, but Prein remained cautious. Eventually however, both exchanged a barrage of headshots. Chants of “let’s go Chris” were met with cheers of “Eddie” as the crowd came to life. Lembo was forced into the ropes in the final round, but he shoved Prein off him, causing the latter to fall to the floor, but the fight concluded before any more fire could be exchanged after the stoppage. In the end, Lembo’s initial assertiveness created enough separation to give him the win by unanimous decision.
Andrew “The Irish Goodbye” Turzai (Off Campus) def. Rogba “The Bug” Ayoola (Morrissey Manor) Chants of “Rogba” rang to start, as “The Bug” came out with a ferocious attack. He swung wildly with hooks and used his strength to drive Turzai back. However, “The Irish Goodbye” responded with his own series and landed a head shot that caused the referee to check Ayoola. Ayoola responded with his own strong series, landing a headshot and pushing Turzai to the ropes. Turzai wrapped up the round with a couple more blows to the head. Both fighters seemed more tentative in the second, but they got entangled as Ayoola threw multiple body shots in close quarters. Turzai tried to approach, but Ayoola countered with a headshot that sent him back. The latter found a defensive rhythm, blocking and dodging before landing a solid series to close the second. Ayoola was fueled in the final by cheers of “Bug” as he looked to use his strength. However, he backed off and tried to use the quick series and retreat strategy employed in the second. Turzai took advantage and fought desperately to score points in the final round. The momentum swung Turzai’s way until Ayoola threw a few more punches in the final seconds. Chants of “Turzai” and “Rogba” competed after the bell, but the judges awarded Turzai the win by split decision.
Eric “Cristero” DeVilliers (Off Campus) def. Mike “Bing Bong” Breslin (Siegfried Hall) Two Virginias squared off in this bout, with the Fairfax native Breslin circling the ring and looking to find an opening. However, the Fredericksburg native DeVilliers wouldn’t seem to offer one. Eventually, though, Breslin used his strength to force DeVilliers back. However, in the very opening sequence, Breslin took a shot that seemed to injure his shoulder, and the referee quickly brought the bout to a stop for it to be tended. The injury proved too serious to continue. The victory was awarded to DeVilliers by referee-stopped contest.
Matt “Money” Cyrs (St. Edward’s Hall) def. Maxx Hamm (Off Campus) Hamm landed the first blows of the match, and he leaned into Cyrs through the latter’s punches. Cyrs
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was briefly forced to the ropes but quickly escaped, yet Hamm would not relent in his pursuit. “Money” landed a few jabs before Hamm pushed him back, but Cyrs found an opening and landed a shot that caused the referee to fix Hamm’s headgear. Hamm continued his aggressive approach, but Cyrs managed to find an opening to expose. Cyrs opened the second with a few quick shots while Hamm pursued, with the latter losing his balance and stumbling into the ropes as the official inspected him. Hamm quickly fell back to instinct and was knocked into the ropes again. Cyrs began looking to land a devastating blow, but Hamm parried and forced Cyrs into the ropes as time expired in the second. The third round played out similarly to the first two, with Cyrs continuing to find chances and landing blows to Hamm’s head. After the referee stopped the contest to check Hamm, the fight resumed, and Cyrs landed a haymaker that visibly concussed Hamm. The referee ended the contest then as Hamm stumbled to his feet and a stool was brought to him at center ring so he could be evaluated. Cyrs won by referee-stopped contest.
Kevin “The Wild One” Sanchez (Off Campus) def. Andrew “Razor” Sharpe (Knott Hall) Both fighters tapped gloves to begin, with Sharpe rapidly backing Sanchez into a corner. Sanchez desperately wrapped Sharpe up, but Sharpe continued to pound Sanchez’s obliques. Coming out of the wrap ups, Sanchez tried to find an opening, but Sharpe blocked the high shots, with Sanchez only managing to connect on body shots in close quarters. Sanchez looked to stay light on his feet to begin the second, avoiding getting cornered by Sharpe, and even managing to force Sharpe back. The fight evened out some as the tight space allowed both fighters to land shots. It became a wrestling match as the fighters continued to get tangled and give and take multiple hits. Sanchez came out violently in the third, throwing hooks and again looking to close the space. He backed Sharpe into the ropes once more and would not relent in blocking Sharpe’s attacks and looking to keep scoring hits. Sharpe mustered every last drop of energy he could in a final push to end the bout. However, to even Sanchez’s surprise, he himself was awarded the victory by unanimous decision.
James “The War Machine” Warren (Off Campus) def. Remi Astronomo (Carroll Hall) Astronomo looked to get low and land a few body shots to start, but Warren countered with a vicious series of blows. “The War Machine” clearly had the speed advantage and went from body to head in quick repetition. Astronomo was knocked down as the referee stopped the fight to evaluate him, but competition resumed as Astronomo kept his head down and kept pumping his fists against see BENGAL BOUTS PAGE 9
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The observer | tuesday, february 18, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
BEngal BOUTS
Bengal Bouts narrows again with quarterfinal winners advancing
Anthony reo | The Observer
Irish boxers sophomore Terrance “Slinker” Cameron of Sorin College and junior Mike “Duck” Everett of Morrissey Manor were both acknowledged at the end of their bout before Cameron was crowned the winner of this quarterfinal matchup by split decision. Cameron will move on to the semi-finals to face another opponent on Monday. By CONNOR MULVENA, HAYDEN ADAMS, LIAM COOLICAN, AIDAN THOMAS and JIMMY WARD Sports Editor, Associate Sports Editor and Sports Writers
Luke “Cool Hands” Fraser (Alumni Hall) def. Steve “Certainly” Provencher (Sorin College) The fight started very aggressively, both fighters battering each other in the first round. Provencher pinned Fraser against the ropes multiple times, seemingly the stronger of the two in the first round, but Fraser landed some solid punches as well. Fraser opened the second round well, but Provencher countered with multiple blows to the head as the round wore on. After a brief stoppage, Fraser landed multiple shots towards the end of the round. He carried that strong momentum into the the third round, as Provencher seemed to tire. He caught Provencher off balance multiple times towards the end of the bout. Fraser’s strong finish was enough to earn him a split-decision victory.
Tim “Dirty T” Mikulski (Duncan Hall) def. Zach “Big Z” Zarzaur (Stanford Hall) Mikulski opened the fight on the front foot, appearing to catch Zarzaur off balance on multiple occasions, even pinning him on the ropes, forcing a stoppage in the
action. Zarzaur did land punches on the counter attack as the first round ended. The fight was more even in the second round, as Zarzaur landed headshots early in the round, but Mikulski continued to throw a barrage of punches, catching his opponent with multiple uppercuts late in the round. The boxers maintained their aggression into the third round, each landing hits to the body, but Mikulski did not take nearly as many hits throughout the bout, and he was awarded a unanimous-decision victory.
Marcelo “Iron Liver” Castellanos (Alumni Hall) def. Louis “The bad scientist” Caves (Off Campus) Castellanos began aggressively, throwing punch after punch, but Caves was able to parry most of them away, and he took advantage, landing hits of his own. Caves began the second round on the attack, making up for his early defensive play. Castellanos continued to be aggressive, and each fighter landed many shots on his opponent in the round. The fighters appeared to tire towards the end of the round, but Castellanos landed a resounding uppercut just before the bell. The fight continued to be competitive, with Caves landing hits to the body, but Castellanos landed hits as well. In a close bout, Castellanos earned a split-decision victory.
Pat “Good Guy” Rafferty (Duncan Hall) def. Jack “E for Everybody” Concannon
(Dunne Hall) Both boxers came out swinging in the first round. Rafferty landed the majority of the early hits, pinning Concannon on the ropes multiple times, but Concannon was able to counter with some shots of his own near the end of the round. Rafferty continued his dominance into the second round, battering his opponent early before knocking Concannon down, causing a stoppage in the action. Concannon was able to continue and landed punches of his own right before the bell. The third round was much more evenly matched, as both fighters were tired, but Rafferty landed another major shot to the head near the end of the bout. Rafferty dominated the bout throughout, and he took home the unanimous decision victory.
Austin “Automatic, Still Is” Derrick (Dunne Hall) def. Dominick “EverestAuto motiveMarket.com” Oddo (Off Campus) The fighters each dodged punches for much of the first round, but both were very aggressive and landed blows. After a stoppage in play, in which the referee appeared to admonish Oddo, he controlled the end of the round, landing a flurry of punches on his opponent. Derrick gained momentum in the second round, as continued stoppages from the referee appeared to help him. He landed the majority of blows, but Oddo continued to land shots as well. Both fighters
continued to be aggressive in the third, each landing punches to the head and body. It was a competitive fight throughout, but Derrick’s second round dominance led him to a unanimous-decision victory.
Drew “Mr. Nice Guy” Nicely (Off Campus) def. Colin “Can’t Touch This” Capece (Dunne Hall) The pace was quick from the start, with both boxers dancing around the ring, but it was the older Nicely who controlled the pace of the round, pushing Capece up against the ropes on several occasions. “Mr. Nice Guy” split his opponent’s gloves several times to land clean blows on the headgear. In the second round, Nicely came out even more aggressive and dominated the first few seconds before Capece settled in to land some counterstrikes. Nicely’s stamina held up throughout the round and he landed several more strong blows before the second bell. Capece was more competitive in the third round, but he struggled to land more than a few hooks, which was not enough to turn the tide of the bout. Nicely took the victory via unanimous decision.
Matt Muliadi (Off Campus) def. Connor “Juice” Roncagli (O’Neill Family Hall) The first round was hotly contested and featured boxers of contrasting styles. Muliadi, boxing at an almost unsustainable speed, stayed low and tried to get under his
opponent’s gloves, while Roncagli tried to block Muliadi’s body shots and land shots to the headgear. Although neither gained a decisive advantage, Muliadi’s quickness opened up some space for a few shots near the end of the first round. The second round saw Roncagli become the more aggressive fighter, but he only landed a few of his efforts, while Muliadi, who settled his pace considerably, stayed defensive and composed and landed a few shots on the counterattack. Feeling a need to stay aggressive, Roncagli landed his first major combination at the start of the three round, but Muliadi responded in kind, canceling out the O’Neill junior’s efforts. Although Muliadi won by unanimous decision, the bout was a highly competitive quarterfinal.
Arthur “Rice Cage” Ortiz (Off Campus) def. Pat “Yellow Hat” Campbell (Knott Hall) In an action-packed first round, Ortiz utilized a patient and highly efficient approach, dancing around the taller Campbell. “Yellow Hat” kept up his defense, but “Rice Cage” managed to control the pace and land some powerful right hooks. Much of the same transpired in the second round, as Campbell struggled to handle Ortiz’s uppercuts. The match stopped twice for the referee to check on the Knott Hall sophomore, but the round ended with Ortiz delivering a ringing see BENGAL BOUTS PAGE 10