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Volume 54, Issue 91 | WEDNESDAY, february 26, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
New fund to aid Native students Native American Alumni Board to establish scholarship, foster diversity By GINA TWARDOSZ News Writer
The Native American A lumni Board is looking to award its first-ever scholarship in 2020 thanks to generous donations from alumni and others in the Notre Dame communit y. The scholarship fund is one of a few initiatives the board and the Universit y have undertaken in order to foster a more inclusive env ironment for Native students and show reverence for Native culture. The scholarship fund has raised $7,964.79, which is ver y close to the $10,000 needed to sustain the scholarship, said Anthony Holt,
chair of the alumni board and a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. “These specific scholarship funds require $10,000 of deposited money before the scholarship can be awarded — that can come through any number of donations,” Holt said. “The Universit y puts the money into investment funds [so] as it comes in it’s gaining money.” Holt said the market value of the $7,964 is actually much higher, amounting to around $11,000. The Native American A lumni Board started working w ith the Office of
Observer Staff Report
Stefanos Polyzoides was appointed to be the new dean of the Universit y’s School of Architecture by Universit y President Fr. John Jenkins effective July 1, a Universit y press release announced Tuesday. Polyzoides is currently cofounder of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) and a partner in Moule & Polyzoides A rchitects and Urbanists, which has
see SCHOLARSHIP PAGE 3
SMC celebrates Mardi Gras
THERESA TULSIAK | The Observer
News Writer
A few Knott Hall residents have come up w ith a Grab ‘n Go initiative for students to allev iate some of the pressure surrounding what to do w ith extra dining hall sw ipes. “I only go once, t w ice, three times a week,” sophomore Dre Contreras, one of
Students gathered Tuesday at Saint Mary’s Rice Commons for Mardi Gras celebrations. The festivities included king cakes from Louisiana. By SARA SCHLECHT Associate News Editor
Feathers, sequins and king cake drew students to Rice Commons on Tuesday evening for a Mardi Gras celebration hosted by the Student Activ it y Board (SAB) Traditional Committee. Junior Mar y Grace Noteman, chair of the traditional committee, said SAB worked hard to plan
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activ ities and prov ide refreshments for those who attended the event. “We have some coloring activ ities and things to help de-stress before Lent kicks in,” Noteman said. “It’s for people to hang out and have fun and have something to eat after dinner.” Throughout the room, tables were scattered w ith see MARDI GRAS PAGE 4
VIEWPOINT PAGE 6
see DEAN PAGE 3
Knott Hall sets forth food donation initiative By KIMANI KRIENKE
SARA SCHLECHT | The Observer
New dean selected
the Knott residents, said. “I have some other friends that go only four or five times. We just decided let’s put these sw ipes to good use.” The residents lead a walkover from Knott Hall to North Dining Hall on Fridays for a Grab ‘n Go trip, on top of collecting snacks to donate throughout the week. They then deliver
the snacks themselves using their ow n transportation. The group works w ith the club Irish for the Ronald McDonald House to prov ide snacks for the Ronald McDonald House in South Bend. Since the initiative was started four weeks ago, the program has grow n. see GRAB N’ GO PAGE 3
Snite showcases work of artist Chao Shao-an By ALEXIS MARTIN News Writer
A new ex hibit at the Snite Museum of Art, titled “Chao Shao-an: Moments Bet ween Worlds,” gives v iewers a brief glimpse into the expansive life and work of Chinese artist Chao Shao-an. The ex hibit contains 17 paintings that “capture the
VIEWPOINT PAGE 7
essence of subtle moments in nature through v ibrant brushwork and coloration,” according to an article released by the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. Chao Shao-an lived a “truly momentous life,” curator Fletcher Coleman said in his talk to open the ex hibition. Shao-an saw the fall of China’s last imperial
Track & Field PAGE 12
dy nast y and the birth of Republican China. He surv ived t wo world wars, the Chinese Civ il War and other adversit y during his almost 80-year career. “[Chao Shao-an] endured, thrived and developed an artistic philosophy that was deeply rooted in Chinese tradition but incorporated see ART PAGE 4
m BASKETBALL PAGE 12
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The observer | wednesday, february 26, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
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Corrections An in-line title in Tuesday’s Bengal Bouts wrap said Austin Derrick defeated Ryan Smith. In reality, Smith won the bout. The Observer regrets this error.
HANNAH HUELSKAMP | The Observer
Freshman Cian Conroy spoke to BridgeND in LaFortune Student Center on Tuesday about the basics of social security. BridgeND is a multi-partisan political club committed to bridging the partisan divide on campus through respectful and productive discourse.
The next Five days
Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Stories of Grace Howard Hall 7 p.m - 8 p.m. Featuring student, faculty, and staff speakers.
PEMCo Musical Performance: “The Wild Party” Washington Hall 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Ticketed event.
Women’s Investing Summit Dahnke Ballroom 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Free for students with lunch provided.
Saturday Snite Sketches: Interiors Snite Museum 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Conversation about works of art.
ND Theatre NOW Philbin Studio Theatre, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Two one-act plays.
ND Theatre NOW Philbin Studio Theatre, DPAC 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Two new one-act plays directed by students.
Women’s Basketball vs. North Carolina Purcell Pavilion 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. The Irish to take on the Tar Heels.
ND Symphony Orchestra Concert Leighton Concert Hall 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. Featuring student soloists.
Irish Theatre of Chicago’s “Doubt, A Parable” DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Organist Concert Basilica of the Sacred Heart 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Free event featuring Michel Bouvard.
News
Scholarship Continued from page 1
Financial Aid in 2011. In 2012, the board officially learned the scholarship had been approved and that it could start taking donations in October 2012. “We already had a number of Native American alumni and others who had basically donated money,” he said. Charitable days of donation at the Universit y, such as Notre Dame Day, also help to fundraise for the scholarship. “ND Day has been really helpful for us year after year,” Holt said. “It’s a great day of fundraising for us that we hope w ill maintain attention towards our alumni board and the work that’s been done.” Holt said the undergraduate work of architecture students in Navajo Nation has greatly impacted the
Grab n’ Go Continued from page 1
Contreras estimated the initiative has collected 600 to 700 snacks this past week, while overall it has collected around 2,000 snacks. “At first, the idea was it was just going to be our friend group and then we decided, ‘Why not get everyone in Knott involved?’” Contreras said. The initiative is not affiliated with Campus Dining, but the Grab ‘n Go workers are responsive and supportive of the initiative, Contreras said. Junior Robert Garrett is another Knott resident behind the movement. Garrett said the group was given a tour by one of
ndsmcobserver.com | WEDNESDAY, february 26, 2020 | The Observer
amount of donations the scholarship has received. The projects gained even more v isibilit y through the W hat Would You Fight For series, which aims to showcase the work and impact of communit y members. Deswood Etsitt y, director of alumni relations for the board, was essential in realizing the partnership, which gave Notre Dame architecture students realworld experience while helping a school fund a new g y mnasium. The Native A merican A lumni Board is overseen by the Notre Dame A lumni Diversit y Council. The board began around 2005 and Holt said it is the youngest and smallest of the multicultural alumni boards. The board has been working closely w ith the Office of Financial A id to ensure the scholarship w ill be sustainable in the future and w ill be awarded to students
the Grab ‘n Go workers to see “how they operate and how it works.” The Knott residents are looking to slowly spread this movement to a few dorms before eventually reaching the entire campus community. “We definitely want to encourage other dorms to do the same and not let these swipes go to waste,” Contreras said. “Because all across campus, it’s gotta be hundreds m a y b e even 1,000 or 2,000 swipes wasted each week.” As more dorms begin to get involved, the group also wants to inspire these dorms to pick their own organization and charity with which to work. “Ronald McDonald does really good work, but I’m
w ith the most need. “The financial aid office wants to ensure that the market value stays over $10,000 for the first couple of years until it can gain more market value,” Holt said. “Initially, the scholarships awarded w ill be small, in the $ 500 range, but this can help take care of books and smaller essential things. The office has a pool of applicable candidates, t y pically students who have financial need and are Native students.” Holt feels the scholarship is a way to acknowledge both the histor y of the Pokagon Potawatomi in the area and the Native students who attend the Universit y. “We are on the Pokagon Potawatomi’s traditional land and it’s important to maintain the acknowledgement of that histor y,” he said. “This scholarship is an acknowledgement
sure there are a lot of places we haven’t even really looked into that could also use the snacks,” Garrett said. The group has already reached out to Flaherty Hall and also plans to reach out to Dunne Hall to see if they’d be interested in the project. Representatives from Welsh Family Hall have reached out to the creators of the initiative themselves. “We’ve been taking a lot of stuff over there, but we figured if we can get four or five dorms involved even, we can make even more of a difference and get a lot of snacks over there,” Garrett said. Contact Kimani Krienke at kkrienke@nd.edu
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there are still Native students coming to Notre Dame and there are things the board and the Universit y are doing to encourage students to come to Notre Dame. We do have Natives here in the student population and the alumni population and we do care about this communit y.” But cultural specialist and Pokagon tribe activ ist Jefferson Ballew IV said he feels the Universit y is still doing little for the Pokagon Potawatomi. He spoke of the early days of the Universit y, and the transference of land bet ween Peter Pokagon, Leopold Pokagon’s grandson, and Fr. Stephen Badin. “Peter gave it all to Fr. Badin so [the Pokagons] wouldn’t have been forcibly removed from their homeland,” Ballew IV said. Ballew IV said the Universit y offered the Pokagon Potawatomi food, clothing and education in exchange for the land,
but Notre Dame was “supposed to be doing that work any way.” “That kind of charitable work is nothing extraordinar y,” he said. “Those are things that the Catholic Church already does — where is the above and beyond? The sacrifice? The atonement? None of that was given to us.” Holt believes there are many at Notre Dame who are working to make the Universit y “a positive place for students.” “Folks out there w ithin the Notre Dame communit y are improv ing relationships w ith the Native American communit y and [Universit y President] Fr. [John] Jenkins has been a huge part of furthering this positive momentum and fostering necessar y conversations,” Holt said.
Dean
in 1991. “The 15 principles — which stress walkabilit y, sustainabilit y, diversit y and neighborhood and district design — laid the groundwork for the 1993 founding of the CNU, which today includes more than 3,000 members who promote integrated development through education, legislation and planning,” the release said. Earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from Princeton Universit y, Polyzoides has lived in Southern California since 1973. He is a registered architect in California, A rizona, New Mex ico, Florida and Texas. Polyzoides said he is deeply honored to be ser ving as the next dean in the School of A rchitecture. “In recent years, I have come to believe that this may well be the single institution in our countr y that prepares its students to address the diverse acute needs of our time,”Polyzoides said. “Not satisfied w ith teaching skills alone, the school professes an architecture and urbanism that is centered on human values, personal responsibilit y and communit y contribution.”
Continued from page 1
completed more than 700 projects since 1990. “Stefanos brings to Notre Dame an international reputation for architectural work informed by tradition and moral purpose,” Jenkins said in the release. “He brings together design, the realities of urban liv ing and sustainable development to produce buildings that ser ve communities and humanit y. His leadership w ill enrich our School of Architecture.” A long w ith several colleagues, Polyzoides developed a set of standards for communit y land use and architectural planning know n as the A hwahnee Principles
Contact Gina Twardosz at gtwardosz01@saintmarys.edu
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Art Continued from page 1
techniques and subject matter that sy nthesized the ever-changing historical landscape he experienced over nine decades,” a script of t he curatoria l ta lk sa id. The ex hibit features “deta i led yet poet ic images of t he world for which t he a r t ist developed a n internat iona l reputat ion,” a Snite Museum press release sa id. The ex hibit is housed in the museum’s Work on Paper gallery, a small and intimate space. “It’s very contemplative,” said Gina Costa, Snite marketing and public relations manager. The director of the Snite Museum, Joseph Becherer, described the space as “very calming” with dim lights to protect the artwork from fading. “The works measurably aren’t huge,” Becherer said. “So I think you really feel just how monumental something can seem even when it’s measurably very small.” Chao Shao-an’s artwork is not the only part of his legacy at Notre Dame — two
Mardi Gras Continued from page 1
craft supplies to decorate masks. A fter-dinner treats came in the form of about 15 king cakes — oval-shaped cinnamon cakes w ith sugar frosting in colors of gold, green and purple. These cakes are a Mardi Gras staple. Junior Sara h Cat herine Ca ldwell, SAB v ice president, said t he group tried to get k ing ca kes from Mobile, A labama, but shipping t hem across t he countr y proved diff icult because t he cit y’s Mardi Gras celebration is lesser k now n t han t hat of New Orleans. “Our k ing ca kes are from Gambino’s ba ker y in New Orleans, Louisiana,” Ca ldwell said. “They’ve been shipped from Louisiana and overnighted by FedEx.” Ca ldwell, who hails from Mobile, is particularly interested in t he histor y of Mardi Gras celebrations in t he United States, as t he f irst occurred in her hometow n in 1703. She noted t hat most people associate Mardi Gras w it h New Orleans but might not be familiar w it h t he holiday’s histor y and presence in ot her parts of t he countr y. “Not hing shuts Mobile dow n like Mardi Gras — except for a hurricane,” she said. During her f irst year at Saint Mar y’s, Ca ldwell wasn’t particularly
generations of Shao-an’s descendants have attended the University. His grandson, KY Chiu, is an alumnus, and his great-grandson is currently a junior. This connection adds another dimension to the exhibit, Coleman believes. “Chinese ink-painting represents one of the most important aspects of Chinese artistic heritage, and the close relationship between Notre Dame and the legacy of Chao Shao-an makes this exhibition a rare opportunity to engage with Chinese art through a direct connection to the University community,” Coleman said in an email. Shao-an’s family does not seem to have followed in his artistic footsteps, Becherer said. His son became an engineer, his grandson became an engineer and now his great-grandson is studying engineering. The exhibit will be at the Snite until June 20, and was made possible by Shao-an’s family, the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies and Coleman, who is a visiting teaching professor in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design at Notre Dame. “Given the ever-increasing
impressed w it h t he Mardi Gras celebrations on campus because t hey didn’t feel like home. She t hought t he celebration was over t he top. “Bigger isn’t a lways better,” she said. This philosophy g uided Ca ldwell in her v ision for f uture celebrations, which occur annually at the College. Through her involvement w it h SAB, she tries to ma ke sure cultura l events on campus do justice to t he people who associate t hem w it h home. W hen it comes to Mardi Gras, getting t he k ing ca ke right is important, she asserted, as t here are students who come from places like New Orleans and t he Mississippi Gulf Coast who are familiar w it h t he ca ke’s traditiona l role in t he celebration. “Grow ing up, k ing ca ke was an integra l part of my Mardi Gras experience,” Ca ldwell said. “We k new we had to have k ing ca ke for t his event.” Because of her role on SAB, Ca ldwell said she has a unique priv ilege to plan an event t hat brings part of her home to Saint Mar y’s. “Not ever yone gets to plan an event t hat brings t heir home to Sout h Bend,” Ca ldwell said. “I’m just so happy t hat I get to do t hat. I love Mardi Gras. It’s one of my favorite t hings.” In addition to its connections to her home, Ca ldwell emphasized t he importance of Mardi Gras for Saint Mar y’s as a
Photo courtesy of Gina Costa
This painting is called “Pomegranate; Seeds of an Open Pomegranate.” The art piece is one of multiple works by Chao Shao-an in an exhibit at the Snite Museum and will be on display until June 20, 2020.
importance of East Asia to the global world, it is important that Notre Dame continue to expand and engage with China and its cultural production,” Coleman said. Becherer pointed out one of Shao-an’s paintings titled, “Pomegranate: Seeds of an Open Pomegranate.” He found the fruit’s symbolism of fertility and abundance in
Cat holic institution, as t he annua l holiday anticipates t he start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. “It’s one of t he ways we prepare for Lent for t hose t hat are practicing Cat holics,” Ca ldwell said. “You load up on t hose carbs and t hen you fast [on Wednesday].” The communit y aspect of Mardi Gras is somet hing SAB tried to emphasize in Tueday’s event, Noteman said. “Mardi Gras is ama zing,” she said. “Ever yone comes toget her, enjoy ing it and ta k ing part in t his celebration … it’s such a happy time.” For Ca ldwell, t he religious signif icance surrounding Mardi Gras is a lso important to consider. “You celebrate … and t hen you go into Lent immediately after t his big part y,” Ca ldwell said. “Lent is such a somber time of self-ref lection.” Because SAB aims to engage t he campus communit y w it h its events, t he organization is open to students suggesting t hemes for celebrations or gat herings. Ca ldwell said she would be happy to discuss SAB doing events like t he Mardi Gras celebration for students interested in planning cultura l events. “We want to help you bring your home to Saint Mar y’s, our home,” she said. Contact Sara Schlecht at sschlecht01@saintmarys.edu
various cultures particularly interesting, and admired another painting featuring a cicada. “I think that’s just such a masterstroke when an artist gives you just a teeny, teeny little bit of information that really makes the picture whole,” Becherer said about the clear wings depicted in the painting.
Costa said students should stop by the Snite between classes or to take a break from studying, even if they have no knowledge about art whatsoever. “You don’t need knowledge,” Costa said. “You just need a set of eyes.” Contact Alexis Martin at amarti56@nd.edu
SARA SCHLECHT | The Observer
Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, takes place the day before Ash Wednesday every year as Catholics prepare for the beginning of Lent. Paid Advertisement
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The observer | WEDNESDAY, february 26, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
By CAROLINE LEZNY Scene Writer
It’s the fairytale proposal that romantics grow up dreaming about: these couples get engaged without ever seeing each other’s faces. Netflix’s new reality series “Love Is Blind” presents 10 men and women with the challenge of meeting their soulmates. The catch? They have to make their decisions based solely upon “blind” conversation. The first episodes of this series, which was created by Chris Coelen, features contestants meeting and talking in isolated “pods” that remove any potential physical elements from their burgeoning relationships. As they try to discern which other contestants interest them, they eliminate all but one and eventually propose, leading to a tropical vacation, wedding planning and the inevitable challenges of meeting family and moving in together. The question an audience member must ask of “Love Is Blind” concerns its reverence (or lack thereof) for the institution of marriage. Marriage, in the context of ”Love Is Blind,” is merely a deadline. From the first episode, the contestants make clear they are taking part to find a spouse. These people are not trying to find love or perfect companionship — at least, neither of those things seem to be a priority. Above all, they are preoccupied with the desire to
By NICOLE BILYAK Scene Writer
There isn’t much to consider when it comes to amusement parks in Indiana — which is due to the state just not having very many parks to begin with. Sure, you have Deep River Water Park in Crown Point, Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus and the Richard Petty Driving Experience in Indianapolis. But the one Indiana amusement park with any sort of prominence was Indiana Beach in the Lake Shafer area of Monticello, Indiana. This only makes it all the more depressing to see the once-popular park closing its doors. This amusement park was opened in 1926 under the name Ideal Beach by Earl Spackman, who was an accountant for the Ideal Furnace Company. It first consisted of a small bathhouse, a drink stand and 10 rowboats. A hotel, rental cottages and a toboggan water slide were added the following year. Given the proximity of the park’s opening to the Great Depression, it may not have been a great time to invest. Despite this, Spackman impressively managed to get a loan and purchase the entire Indiana Beach peninsula. This gamble, however risky, really did pay off. The shoreline, which is known for its crystal-clear water and great fishing, became home to the White Point
become wives and husbands. This leads to many surprisingly antiquated sound bytes where men discuss which women they feel would be “good wives” and vice versa. From a contemporary feminist perspective, it feels extremely regressive to celebrate the idea of marriage as a social necessity that must be fulfilled, and to approach dating as making a selection. One of the greatest weaknesses of the show is that the people involved are all beautiful. Characteristic of typical reality television? Yes. Interesting in a show that claims to be a social experiment examining blind attraction? Not at all. They are also largely insufferable; it is not hard to imagine how many of these people have been unable to find spouses outside of a dating show. They are emotionally manipulative and, for the most part, shallow, despite their claims to be otherwise. Unfortunately for the series, “Love Is Blind” is not only sickening with regard to the people it features. It also has the distinction of being terrifically boring. Couples have the same conversations multiple times in different contexts: in the pods, on tropical beaches, even in the bedroom. This is certainly the show’s worst offense. Even if reality television is not quality media, it should at least be grippingly entertaining. “Love Is Blind” lacks what many quality television-seekers consider to be the real heart of reality TV: the “car crash so bad I can’t tear my eyes
away” factor. “Love Is Blind” is trash television at its worst. It is absolutely horrendous. The show claims to operate from the premise that love and marriage should be based on blind, emotional connection, then instantly and invasively sexualizes their experience outside the pods. The show needed to make up its mind — should love be idealized as an emotional, rather than physical, connection, or should it be fabricated as is inevitable in “reality” television? Unfortunately, the producers never seemed to figure out where they land on this important question, and viewers, no matter which way they lean, should expect nothing but disappointment. Netflix would be wise not to expect critical success from its new reality series. Love may be blind, but viewers are not.
Resort, Ideal Beach Resort, cottages and, eventually, a casino and dance pavilion. When Big Band music became popular, the Shafer Lake Ballroom hosted the likes of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. In 1945, Earl’s son, Thomas Spackman, became the CEO of Ideal Beach, and he changed the park’s name to Indiana Beach seven years later. During the ‘40s and ‘50s, there seemed to be huge competition among Northern Indiana towns to attract tourists (and their vacation money). Locations such as Cedar Lake, Bass Lake, Lake Manitou, Winona Lake, Lake Webster, Lake Wawasee, Sylvan Lake and Lake Maxinkuckee all offered summer resort living. The younger Spackman saw his ownership of Indiana Beach as an opportunity to create a miniature Coney Island in the midwestern United States. He added a variety of amusement rides, which included a Ferris wheel, a merry-go-round and a Roll-O-Plane, as well as a roller rink and a facility for horseback riding. Spackman often referred to the park as the “Riviera of the Middle West.” While the Shafer Queen paddleboat, launched in 1972, became the iconic trademark of Indiana Beach, the signature crow cawing the theme park’s slogan, “There’s more corn in Indiana,” was what stuck in Hoosiers’ minds for years to come. By the late 1990s, the resort and complex attracted approximately 700,000 visitors each year and
raised an estimated $50 million annually. Spackman and his family sold the theme park in 2008 to Morgan Recreation Vacations of Saratoga, New York, and in 2015, California’s Apex Parks Group purchased the area, adding it to the group’s collection of amusement and water parks. But on Feb. 18 of this year, Apex announced it would be closing Indiana Beach and three of its other parks permanently for financial reasons. Despite — or maybe because — of its popularity, the park attracted a slew of controversies throughout its 94year history. In 2011, both former and current employees staged a protest due to working and safety conditions at the park. As a result, a worker from the state division of Homeland Security investigated the park and found no major safety violations. However, in January of 2013, local news affiliates reported that Morgan RV Resorts LLC, the park’s parent company, owed about $347,000 in unpaid paying property and innkeeper taxes to White County, where Indiana Beach was located. Indiana Beach will be remembered by all who live in Indiana, especially those who grew up attending the park.
Contact Caroline Lezny at clezny@nd.edu
“Love is Blind” Director: Cathy Yan Watch it on: Netflix If you like: “The Bachelor” franchise, “Love Island,” “Married at First Sight”
Contact Nicole Bilyak at nbilyak01@saintmarys.edu THERESA TULSIAK | The Observer
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The observer | Wednesday, February 26, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Inside Column
Nothing compares to Christmas break Lina Domenella Graphic Designer
As spring break approaches, students excitedly talk about their plans and trips, myself included. I can’t wait for a week off from school in warm, sunny Florida. But as I think back to all of the other times that we’ve had off school, there is nothing like the memories of Christmas break: The snow crunches under the heav y car as we pull up to the log cabin that we know so well. Ever y thing is covered in a thick blanket of snow from the ground to the lake up to the cabin. The loud hum of the snow mobile fills my ears and the familiar smell of the snow mobile gas creeps up my nose. The cold and crisp air hits my face, immediately turning my nose red. Greeted first by Amber, an excited golden retriever who always runs up to us and almost knocks us dow n, my family and I step out of the car and stretch our legs after the eight-hour ride. Amber’s family follows her out to hug us before helping carr y in all of our bags in addition to the coolers of food that we brought. The closest tow n is a 30-minute drive away and we hope to only have to go there once during our busy week. The warmth encompasses me as I walk up the stairs and into the cabin. The crack ling sound of the fire fills my ears and the carpet beneath my feet comforts me. The log cabin gives a homey feel and the Christmas tree in the corner a festive one. The f loor-to-ceiling w indows next to the Christmas tree are filled w ith the dark starr y night sk y; even though the house is heated, the w indow is cold to the touch. W hen I pull out my phone, I am not surprised to see that there is no ser v ice, as there never is up here. Follow ing our arrival is a week-long adventure of la zy wake-ups, long and cold snow mobile trips through the snow-covered forests to and from lunch, family dinners and games. There is occasional sledding, snow-angel making, ice skating and ice fishing. The latter two I choose to skip out on as I don’t know how to ice skate, I don’t like fishing and I get cold really easily. Instead, I choose to sit by the fire, read a book and sip hot cocoa. Soon enough it is time to pack up our bags, pile in the car and head home, snow crunching under the tires as we pull out of the driveway. Contact Lina Domenella at ldomenel@nd.edu The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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The Democratic Party should disqualify Bernie Sanders Blake Ziegler News with Zig
Imagine the quarterback of Notre Dame did not wear a Notre Dame jersey on the field, called his own plays without consulting the coach and refused to support other players on and off the field. Meanwhile, he benefits from the use of Notre Dame facilities and the glory that comes with being a member of our University’s football tradition. That would be ridiculous, right? Any sensible fan would be outraged, insisting that the player be cut from the team. You simply cannot use Notre Dame while refusing to endorse it. Well, now imagine Bernie Sanders as the quarterback and Notre Dame as the Democratic Party. Sanders is an independent running for the Democratic Party’s nomination for president. Despite claiming to be a Democrat when he filed his presidential campaign, he still claims to be an independent on his Senate re-election campaign forms. He benefits from the (D) label and national attention the primary grants him without paying party dues or assisting the party’s platform. This inherently exploits the Democrats without any benefit for the party, and no organization should allow this situation to unfold. The Democratic Party should have the right to only allow party members to seek the nomination for president. This nominee will be the face of the party, hold large control over the party’s platform and have access to an innumerable amount of party resources, particularly funding. It makes sense that party leaders would expect that nominee to be loyal to the party, and that is best expressed through membership. Nominating a non-member essentially hands the party off to an outsider, opening the possibility of radical changes that does not align with the views of party members. Sure, Sanders’s plans may be progressive or align with some Democratic platforms, but they largely do not appeal to the Democratic base. For instance, his healthcare plan is popular among his base, but not Democrats themselves. Democrats running for other offices have even distanced themselves from Sanders, attempting to escape backlash for the Vermont senator’s progressive views. This shows the danger of Sanders’s progressiveness infecting the Democratic Party’s platform in a way that does not appeal to actual party members. Additionally, Sanders’s latest campaign strategies indicate his reliance on independents, not Democrats themselves. Under current party rules, independents in California must request a Democratic ballot to participate. Yet, Sanders criticized the California Democratic Party’s process, suggesting it locks out millions of independent voters that are vital to his victory. Paul Mitchell, vice president of Political Data Inc. (a corporation collecting statistics on the primary), explains that the failure of independent turnout will harm Senator Sanders. Sanders’s insistence on an open primary shows his reliance on outside inf luence to win the Democratic nomination. He is not focusing on building a coalition within the Democratic Party, but on drawing voters from outside. W hile that may be a good strateg y for the general election, it repeats the notion of outsiders inf luencing the events of a political party. Allow Democrats to decide their nominee, not the rest of the country. Now, Sanders did sign a statement stating he would act as a Democratic president if elected. However, there are a number of loopholes and lack of enforcement mechanisms that makes the
signature worthless. He could very easily reject the Democratic Party’s leadership and platform if he becomes president. He has already done so in Vermont. Each time Sanders has been elected to the Senate, he ran in the Democratic primary, won the nomination, rejected it and won the election as an independent. W hile this may seem innocent, it is dangerous for other Democrats. Sanders winning Vermont’s Democratic primary makes it impossible for another Democrat to run in the general election, as they do not have the party’s nomination. Essentially, Sanders exploits the Democrat label to get votes, silences his opponents and then wins not for the Democratic Party, but for himself. Some may suggest that this time will be different, and Sanders will change his party affiliation to Democrat. However, there are a few issues with that. If Sanders is committed to the Democratic Party, why did he file his 2024 Senate re-election campaign as an independent? W hy did he only change his affiliation on the form to run for the Democratic nomination? It appears that Sanders’s affiliation is only for his personal benefit, not the interest of the Democratic Party. If I was a Democrat, that would make me concerned. In many ways, Sanders is holding the Democratic Party hostage. Democrats require energ y and turnout to defeat President Trump in November, and Sanders holds a strong hold over the party’s progressive wing. Any slight against Sanders could fracture the party’s support, hurting the Democrats in the general elecKerry Schneeman I The Observer tion. A similar reaction already happened in 2016, where 12% of Sanders’s supporters backed President Trump, while less than 80% voted for Hillary Clinton and almost 10% stayed home or voted for another candidate. Those events contributed to a Republican victory, especially in key states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Sanders’s actions exploit the Democrats for their national news coverage and resources while contributing little to the party. In fact, what he does contribute is dependent on the party’s support of himself, someone who does not support the party. Let me be clear. This column is not an indictment on the Vermont senator’s platform or appeal to voters. Rather, it is a criticism of Sanders’s refusal to partake in party membership while benefitting as if he was a member of the Democratic Party. This is highly unethical and unfair to other Democrats who support the party. Democrats should not be forced to accept the nomination of someone who, if it even happens, reluctantly joins their party. Instead of propping up the party, Sanders uses the party to prop himself up. My view comes from the standpoint of the integrity of the Democratic Party, and an outsider calling the shots distorts that. It is time to cut Bernie from the team. Blake Ziegler is a freshman at Notre Dame from New Orleans, Louisiana, with double majors in political science and philosophy. He hopes his writing encourages others to take an interest in politics and government. For inquiries, he can be reached at bziegler@nd.edu or @NewsWithZig on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The observer | Wednesday, February 26, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
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A nation of entitlement Mary Szromba Banter from the Bend
“We’re an entitlement nation. We were born that way. We’re a country that came to another country with people on it and went, ‘Yeah I think we’ll have that. Yeah that’ll be nice.’” In 2012, Jon Stewart said the above quote during a debate with Bill O’Reilly. He was making a joke, but the statement gets to the heart of a very contentious question in our country: What exactly are we entitled to? Certain people in this country have this strange notion that we are entitled to nothing. That whatever you have, you earn, and if you have nothing that is because you have earned nothing. This idea is wrong and it is harmful. First, because as stated above, we are a nation built on entitlement. We wouldn’t be here if our founders believed that they were entitled to nothing. They believed they were entitled to representation if they were to be taxed, they believed they were entitled to self-governance and to equal protection of the laws (for some, at least). These things are what the Founding Fathers believed they were entitled to when they built this country. No one would argue that they didn’t fight for these ideals, but the reason they worked so hard to win them is because they felt they were owed these rights. Why do we deem the founders’ belief in and fight for entitlements heroic, but the modern struggle for entitlements dishonorable? Second, because the belief that you are entitled to nothing is rooted in the mythic “bootstrap culture” — the idea that if you simply work hard, you will get what you want. It’s this bootstrap culture that underpins the belief that taxation is theft or that the social safety net is disastrous, because taking from the rich and giving to the poor is simply redistributing the hard-earned money of the 1%. Ignoring for a moment the fact of inherited wealth and assets, this way of thinking is simply not rooted in reality. Economic mobility in the U.S. has been plummeting, and for most, the idea that
you could escape the economic class that you were born into if you just “work hard” is fiction. Worse, bootstrap culture leads people to believe there are villains lurking around every corner, just waiting to take advantage of the welfare state. This is not true. In fact, less than 1% of benefits associated with SNAP were fraudulent in 2016, and less than 2% of unemployment insurance claims were fraudulent. There will always be people ready to take advantage of any system. The solution is not to dismantle that system, but to create better ways of protecting it against bad actors. If we lost faith in every network that allowed for instances of fraud, we would have dismantled the housing market, banking system and our electoral structure years ago. That would be absurd. No one is arguing that the ability to defraud voters will make politicians lazier and less willing to put in the work to win elections, so why do we think the ability to commit welfare fraud is making people indolent? Part of this anti-entitlement belief system is rooted in classism. Many people are appalled at the idea that a bus driver should earn as much money as an attorney, mostly because they think the attorney works harder (I challenge any of these people to operate a CTA bus on St. Patrick’s Day in the city, but I digress). These people think that if the bus driver wants more money, he should simply work harder and get a new job. But why doesn’t he? What’s the difference between the attorney and the bus driver? Is it really just work ethic? Say the attorney is more ambitious. Where did her ambition come from? If it isn’t due to where she was born, who her parents were or the amount of wealth she inherited as it can’t be for bootstrap culture to make sense, from where did she get it? Did God love her and consequently despise the bus driver so much that He blessed her with enough ambition in the womb to become an attorney, and withheld just enough that he became a bus driver? Or is something else going on? If people refuse to admit that the unearned privileges that we are born into play a role in where we end up, then they must admit that certain people
are just born better than others. The attorney was just better than the bus driver. Even if one were to make this claim, he or she would still have to admit that bootstrap culture can’t account for this difference. Bootstrap culture only works if everyone starts on an even playing field, and the winners are the ones that work the hardest. But if certain people on that playing field are born with more ambition than others, then it wasn’t even to begin with. Personally, I don’t think we can chalk up the difference between the bus driver and the attorney to whomever God liked more in the womb. I believe there are other factors in play, and these factors are outside of our control. The fact is, if you are born into a wealthy family to two parents in a safe neighborhood, you will have an advantage in life. I worked hard to get where I am, but I know for a fact it wouldn’t have been nearly as easy if I didn’t have all of those privileges from the start. So, life isn’t fair. That we can agree on. What should we do? We obviously need to make economic mobility a reality again instead of a dream, but that will take work and we may not agree on how best to do it. In the meantime, the very least we can do is stop begrudging those who ask for help when they need it. There is no reason to cut funding for food stamps, slash disability funds or cut Medicaid. We should also stop labeling the desirable things we have as privileges, and therefore not something to which other people are entitled. Sure, your Louis Vuitton heels may be a privilege, but your healthcare is a right. Food is not a privilege. Everyone is entitled to an education. It’s time to reframe the debate about entitlements and throw out the mythical bootstrap culture. Reality demands nothing less. 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.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Lent: perfection need not apply A ll it takes is a little spark. Just the beginning of belief. A belief that God is actively at work, even when chaos seems to be the dominant narrative of our lives. Hell, Lent itself can be a bit chaotic. Each year the Catholic Church sets the dates for Ash Wednesday, the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday) and Easter Sunday based on the first Sunday after the Vernal Equinox, which is the first full moon on or after March 21. That was the best they could come up w ith? I literally had to do a Wikipedia search on the specifics for when Lent w ill arrive each year. As I w rite this, I’m realizing that I’m more of a Christmas person who wants a set date like Dec. 25 year over year. You can plan for Christmas accordingly, there are no w ide variances like Easter. Just to make my point clear, take a look at the past Easter Sundays since 2015: April 5, 2015 March 27, 2016 April 16, 2017 April 1, 2018 April 21, 2019 Like I said … chaos. But maybe there is a method to the madness. W hat does it take for us to consider how a maverick season like Lent could meet us not where we’d expect to find it; rather, right when we need it? A season that
intends to knock us out of our normal routine. A season that hopes, even prays, that w ith a few changes to our routines we may begin to see ourselves, our purpose, our family, our friends, the opportunities placed before us, just a little bit differently. One understanding of Lent that often overwhelms people is the belief that you need to have a perfect Lent. How do we often define a perfect Lent? It means that you’ve fulfilled ever y thing that you said you’d do when you started on Ash Wednesday, but before you were impacted by the practicalities of not eating meat, sugar or both, giv ing up caffeine while also w riting a letter to a loved one each week, etc., etc., etc. Sometimes, in those moments, we realize that we’ve been a bit too eager or didn’t plan for the unexpected complex ities of life. I’ve heard too many people talk about how their Lent went south in a hurr y so they just returned to their old habits and practices. W hat then is the purpose of Lent? To perfectly accomplish some list of stated goals for the mere sake of accomplishing them? If your answer is yes, here’s my adv ice: don’t start w ith a lenten practice. However, if you believe Lent to be a time to give faith another shot, to deepen your understanding of who you are and what God is calling you to at this phase of your life, then dust
yourself off after a lenten fail and get back to tr y ing. Lent has never been about perfection. It’s always been about learning that we are called to something more in the midst of our imperfection. That the chaos of our lives does not intimidate God in any way, shape or form. If you’ve made it this far, here’s my pitch. Each week of Lent, Campus Ministr y w ill make an effort to help you out. Right outside of the marble ball in CoMo we have created an interactive space that w ill showcase a different theme each week and offer some suggestions for ways to practice pray ing, fasting, giv ing alms, ser ving and inv iting. Further, there w ill be an image w ith a question intended to prompt some deeper ref lection as you travel around this beautiful campus of ours. Come by, check it out and most importantly live it out. This season of Lent can be an ama zing time of insight and perspective. One w ith personal insights about faith, hope and love. Are you w illing to take the next step? Are you w illing to trust God just enough w ith the chaos of your life? A ll it takes is a little spark. Just the beginning of belief. Fr. Pete McCormick, C.S.C. Director, Campus Ministry Feb. 19
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The observer | WEDNESDAY, february 26, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Crossword | DAvid steinberg
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Embrace what life has to offer. Put the past behind you. Savor only what’s important to you, and offer what you don’t want or need for those who would benefit from your charitable donation. Turn this into a do-good, feel-good year, and the personal reward will bring you satisfying results. Pay attention; your intuition will guide you. Your numbers are 7, 18, 24, 29, 31, 38, 43. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Listen carefully; if you act too quickly, you will make a mistake. Observe what others are doing, and follow each possibility from beginning to end before making a move. Choose civil action over a force play; you’ll excel. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A long shot will pan out for you today. Don’t neglect to see that you are in a good position. Work or financial matters will turn in your favor. An older reliable source will offer stellar information. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Sit tight, even if someone tempts you with something that appears to be a sure thing. Take steps to make a positive change to the way you look, your attitude or your relationship. CANCER ( June 21-July 22): Adjust whatever isn’t working for you. Added discipline will help you follow through with your plans and encourage others to step up and join in whatever it is you are trying to achieve. Personal and professional gains are within reach. LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Love is in the stars, but don’t let jealousy kick in and cause a problem. Affirmative and loving action will bring out the best in you. Get involved in humanitarian activities, and you will make a valuable connection. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Plan to do something you enjoy with people you feel comfortable with, and you’ll get good results. There will be substantial gains financially and professionally if you pay close attention to detail. A positive change at home will improve your personal life. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t put up with meddling, interference or pushy behavior. Take the initiative to remove yourself from any situation causing you grief. Deal with responsibilities quickly, and move on to selfcare and pampering. Walk away from bad habits and poor influences. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): There is some uncertainty regarding doing things with family or pursuing an outside interest. Consider whether it’s worth it to neglect personal responsibilities. Offer to split your differences and share your plans to avoid hurt feelings. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Keep your promises within reason. Don’t exaggerate or lead someone on, or it will come back to haunt you. Don’t set yourself up for a fall or let anyone back you into a corner. Words matter and truth counts, so do what’s right. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Success is within reach. Money and recognition will put you in a good position to dictate what you want to happen. Take the high road, be a humanitarian and speak the truth. Do your part, and be proud of your accomplishments. AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Stick to what makes you feel good. Nurture your emotional and physical well-being. Give yourself a chance. Rediscover what you enjoy most in life, and challenge anyone or anything that stands between you and your happiness. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A firm stance, knowledge and intuitive guidance will help you make a wise decision. Follow through with speedy action, and you’ll see a remarkable change that will benefit you as well as others. Put the past to rest, and move forward. Birthday Baby: You are competitive, refreshing and innovative. You are precise and proud.
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Sports Authority
Examining tanking in MLB Liam Coolican Sports Writer
As spring training gets underway, I, like every other fan, am hopeful my team will make it to the World Series. As much as I want to believe that, however, I have to realize that my team, the Detroit Tigers, is “rebuilding” — or in language the team won’t use, tanking. Tanking — losing games on purpose for a high-draft pick — has been successful in other sports, but baseball is different. The MLB Draft, is a crapshoot, and players won’t reach the MLB for at least two seasons. To examine this, I’ve compiled a list of teams who had multiple top-four draft picks in a row, from 2005 to 2015.
No. 1. Kansas City Royals Selections: Alex Gordon (second pick, 2005), Luke Hochevar, (first, 2006), Mike Moustakas, (second, 2007), Eric Hosmer, (third pick, 2008), Christian Colon, (fourth, 2010). The Royals were one of the worst teams of the early 2000s, and earned five top-four picks in six years. They drafted very well, as Hosmer, Moustakas and Gordon were all integral contributors to two World Series runs, first losing in 2014 before winning it in 2015. However, they couldn’t replicate their success. In 2017, multiple stars left for free agency, and the Royals are currently in tank mode again. Verdict: Success
No. 2. Tampa Bay Rays Selections: Evan Longoria (third, 2006), David Price, (second, 2007), Tim Beckham, (first, 2008) The Rays were another team that drafted well, ending up with future stars Longoria and Price, and Beckham became a valuable role player. However, due to the small market, they struggled to attract free agents. While they made one World Series in 2008, they fell in five games, and made the playoffs three times over the next four years but failed to advance past the division series. Verdict: Failure
No. 3. Washington Nationals Selections: Stephen Strasburg (first, 2009), Bryce Harper (first, 2010) The Nationals, unlike a lot of the teams on this list, only had two top-four draft picks, but both were first overall. Both Strasburg and Harper turned into future stars, with Harper even winning MVP. The Nationals won the World Series in 2019, but it is far removed from their tank, and Harper had already left in free agency. However, Strasburg was World Series MVP. They made the playoffs four times before this year, falling in the division series each time. Verdict: Neutral
No. 4. Pittsburgh Pirates Selections: Daniel Moskos
(fourth, 2007), Pedro Alvarez (second, 2008), Tony Sanchez (fourth, 2009), Gerrit Cole (first, 2011) The Pirates are a dubious inclusion here, because unlike the other teams on this list, it is not clear they were bad on purpose, and may have been a result of consistently poor front-office decisions. Of their four picks here, only Cole and Alvarez made significant contributions, and Alvarez is a career 0.236 hitter. Cole became a star, but the Pirates couldn’t figure out a way to win around him. Verdict: Failure (if it was a tank)
No. 5. Houston Astros Selections: Carlos Correa (first, 2012), Mark Appel (first, 2013), Brady Aiken (first, 2013). Setting aside recent events, the Astros are the team most noted for a successful tank. Only one of their three top picks worked out (Correa), and Aiken didn’t even sign with the team, but other, lower, draft picks were successful, and smart free agent signings gave them a World Series win in 2017 and a perennially contending team. Verdict: Success (although not entirely resulting from tank)
Continued from page 12
Sam Voelz, who ran the 400m and 800m legs, respectively. “We were in second-tolast place at the first exchange, and those guys put us back in the position where we could run for the w in,” Sparks said. “Both of them ran personal bests. Credit to those guys for making those things a lot easier on Yared than it could have been.” The women’s DMR also recorded a time that put them just outside of the national list. Sparks said he hopes the women w ill be able to record a national qualif y ing time at the ACC Championships. The other highlight of the day was the success of the throwers. In the women’s weight throw, junior Rachel Tanczos and senior Abbey Kapitan took the top places, and senior Logan
Kusk y took second for the men. Tanczos’ throw of 23.31m was good for a new program record and the top performance in the countr y so far this season. A lthough Sparks was impressed w ith Tanczos’ performance, he discussed how excited he was that Kapitan was able to set a personal record on Saturday. “Abbey is the heart and soul of the throwers group, and we have been waiting all year for her to have a throw like that,” Sparks said. “To see Abbey do that energized the throws group and the entire team. To see someone’s hard work pay off like that made the day that much more special.” Sparks also mentioned his ama zement that Kapitan and Tanczos are both walkons that have emerged as t wo of the top throwers at the national level. Another notable performance came from sophomore Danny Kilrea, who
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took first place in the 5000m race. Sparks added the race to the schedule late w ith the hope that Kilrea would qualif y for the fast heat of the conference meet, which he accomplished w ith his time of 14:14.10. A lthough Kilrea struggled a bit at Iowa State last week, Sparks was happy to see him bounce back on Saturday. “He’s been an A llAmerican for us before, and he’s training well,” Sparks said. “We just need to get him a positive race under his belt. I think he felt ver y comfortable on Saturday, which I think should lead to bigger and better things at the conference meet.” The Irish w ill go easy in training this week in preparation for the ACC Championships, which w ill take place Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Loftus Sports Center. Contact Nate Moller nmoller2@nd.edu
No. 6. Chicago Cubs Selections: Kris Bryant (second, 2013), Kyle Schwarber (fourth, 2014) The Cubs, like the Astros, are always brought up in discussions of tanks. Both these picks turned out to be stars, but much like the Astros, a smart front office was also a major factor for their success. They won one World Series (2016) and made the NLCS three straight years, but they look to be on the decline after missing the playoffs last year. Verdict: Success Four of the six teams listed have won a World Series, which points to the conclusion that tanking is effective. However, none of the teams have won more than one championship (the Astros and Nationals could win another with the same core), and based on the trajectory of the Cubs and Royals, tanking does not seem to build long-term contenders.The teams that won multiple World Series in the last decade (Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants) did not employ a tank, and retooled rather than rebuilt. Additionally, for tanking to be successful, it requires a smart front office (something the Pirates lacked) and money to retain free agents (which the Rays didn’t have). Tanking is very risky in baseball, and other factors are necessary for success, but if all the pieces fall into place, it can be effective. Contact Liam Coolican at lcoolica@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Nathaniel George | The Observer
Irish distance runners Brendan Fraser, Zach Kreft and Matthew Carmody compete in the 3000 meter race at the Meyo Invitational on Feb. 2, 2019 in Loftus Sports Center. Carmody came in fifth place. The Observer accepts classifieds every business day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Notre Dame office, 024 South Dining Hall. Deadline for next-day classifieds is 3 p.m. All classifieds must be prepaid. The charge is 5 cents per character per day, including all spaces. The Observer reserves the right to edit all classifieds for content without issuing refunds.
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Sports
The observer | WEDNESDAY, february 26, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
W Golf Continued from page 12
the rest of her young career. W hile the rest of the Irish squad lagged behind Beaudreau, they did not play terribly. Sophomore Claire A lbrecht
M Bball Continued from page 12
near as good offensively then, or understood who we were.” Boston College’s backcourt overmatched Notre Dame’s in that game. Senior Derr yck Thornton scored 19 and freshman Jay Heath added 16, including a three-pointer w ith under a minute left to seal the game. “[I’m] concerned about them guarding us w ith ball pressure, which at times has bothered us,” Brey said. Heath and Thornton are likely to be a major factor again Wednesday, Brey said. “[They’ll] challenge our guards,” he said. “They got the best of us last time … so it’s a great challenge for our perimeter [defense]. Those t wo guys really make them go.” The Irish were able to come back against Boston College last time in part because they sw itched to a zone defense. Brey addressed whether that strateg y would figure into the game plan. “We went zone to tr y and save our lives, and that helped us a little bit. We’ll play some zone up there,” he said. The Eagles are are a prolific three-point shooting team, averaging over 28 attempts per game, converting at a 30.1 percent clip. Additionally, Boston College was play ing w ithout senior big man Nik Popov ic, who is averaging 11.1 points per game this season. “He is a threat,” Brey said. “He can score and he is good w ith the ball.” The two teams have been trending in opposite directions. The Irish have won their last two games and six of their last eight, while Boston College has lost three of their last four games, including an 18-point defeat to Clemson in their last outing. The Eagles have an 8-8 home record, while the Irish are just 3-6 in road games. “It would be a heck of a w in for us, to w in up there,” Brey said. With just four regular season games left and w ith an 8-8 conference record, Notre Dame is looking to make a
finished in 50th at three over par (76-71-72 — 219). Freshman Madely n Jones followed just behind in 53rd place w ith four over par (75-68-77 — 220), w ith that 68 in the second round marking Jones’ career-best round. Heck tagged along
at five over (76-73-72 — 221), good for 56th place. Freshman Jessica Meyers also showed improvement in each successive round, coming in seven spots dow n, although she was just one stroke dow n at six over (7972-71 — 222). Senior Mia
Ayer rounded out the field for the Irish in 76th w ith her score of 11 over par (79-73-75 — 227). Beaudreau was the clear leader throughout the tournament. She recorded 14 birdies throughout the three rounds and conceded just four
bogeys while also adding an eagle in the fifth hole of the opening round for good measure. The Irish w ill return to competition in t wo weeks when they compete in the Clover Cup at the Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona, on March 13-15.
statement before the ACC tournament. W hile many doubt Notre Dame is in a position to make the NCAA tournament, Brey remains hopeful. “We’ve got one game on our schedule, that’s how we’ve got to think about it,” Brey said. “If you keep w inning dow n the stretch, you start to get into the mix, and it kind of works itself out. That’s the goal. General rule of thumb, whether a league is up or it’s dow n … if you have a w inning record in a Power Five league, you’re going to be on the board somewhere.” The Irish w ill have multiple opportunities for the rest of the season, but it remains a long shot. Most media outlets are projecting the ACC to only have four teams in the field, but Brey thinks other w ise. “[The ACC] is going to have more than four [teams in the tournament],” he said. “We could grab one of those. I love where we’re at, and our guys firmly know where they’re at. … I’m thrilled we’re in the position we’re in.” The game tips off Wednesday at 9 p.m. in Conte Forum and w ill be broadcast on the ACC Network. Nathaniel George | The Observer
Contact Liam Coolican lcoolica@nd.edu
Irish senior forward John Mooney drives in the key during Notre Dame’s 82-84 loss to Syracuse University at home in the Purcell Pavillion on Jan. 22. Mooney achieved 1,000 career points in early February. Paid Advertisement
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ndsmcobserver.com | WEDNESDAY, february 26, 2020 | The Observer
M Lax
ND men’s GOlf
Tournament cut short due to weather in Puerto Rico Observer Sports Staff
The No. 6-ranked Notre Dame men’s golf team had an unusual start to their spring season this weekend. The Irish started their spring slate at the TPC Dorado Beach Collegiate in Puerto Rico on Sunday. The Irish got off to a strong start, finding themselves in first place through six holes before hitting a few bumps and ending the day tied for ninth. After a sunny first round, the clouds took over and rain came thundering dow n, forcing tournament officials to call off the second and third rounds and declaring the event a oneround tournament. Sophomore Taichi K ho had the best outing throughout the first round for the Irish, carding a 70 at -2 to come in at 15th. Senior Dav is Lamb was a stroke behind him in 33rd place, tally ing four birdies, including two back-toback. Junior Dav is Chatfield, who recovered from a
triple-bogey hole four by eagling on the 12th hole, and freshman Patrick Kelly, who shot five birdies in total on the day, were sitting at even par through the first round. Sophomore Andrew O’Lear y had a consistent day, posting 14 pars on the way to a one-over day.
Freshman Palmer Jackson and senior Hunter Ostrom were 58th at t wo over, w ith Jackson also adding an eagle. Next up, the Irish w ill head to the Colleton River Collegiate in Hilton Head, South Carolina, at the Colleton River Club to play March 2-3.
Observer File Photo
Irish senior golfer Hunter Ostrom completes a clean putt during the Fighting Irish Classic at Warren Golf Course on Oct. 8, 2018. Paid Advertisement
Continued from page 12
rout of Cleveland State, Notre Dame’s t wo highlytouted freshmen — attacker Pat Kavanagh and goalie Liam Entenmann — picked up where they left off against the Spiders. Kavanagh, who hails from Rock v ille Centre, New York, again led the team in points, recording an assist and four goals to notch his second successive hat trick. Entenmann, meanwhile, was again formidable bet ween the pipes. The Point Lookout, New York, native, who conceded just t wo goals and made eight saves against the Vikings, again recorded eight saves against Richmond and became the first goalie this season to hold the Spiders attack to single-digit scoring. Entenmann was aided by a stubborn defensive effort led by senior Jack Kielt y. He was placed — along w ith senior midfielder Br yan Costabile — on the watch list for the Tewaaraton Award, the most prestigious indiv idual honor in college lacrosse. Kielt y’s defense caused 10 turnovers and held Richmond to just 13 shots on target, allow ing the Irish to outshoot the Spiders 57-26 overall. Sophomore Griffin Westlin recorded his first collegiate hat trick and got the scoring started in the first quarter. Senior midfielder Tommy McNamara weaved his way through the Spider defense and dove while tr y ing to force the ball past Richmond goalie Jack Rusbuldt. The rebound was snatched out of the air by Westlin, who kept his composure and faked high before firing a low shot to give the Irish the lead. Richmond scored the only other goal of the quarter through their t wo most prolific attackers. Senior midfielder Mikey Dav ies gave the Spiders a man-up opportunit y after being called for a pushing penalt y w ith 2:45 to go, and freshman Richie Connell, Richmond’s leading scorer, equalized off the feed from team points and assists leader junior Ryan Lanchbur y. The low-scoring first half temporarily gave way to some back-and-forth action at the start of the second quarter. The Spiders brief ly took the advantage as Lanchbur y and Connell reversed roles, w ith the senior grabbing the first of his t wo goals for the afternoon. Sophomore midfielder Quinn McCahon hit back in less than three minutes for the Irish, however, before Kavanaugh put the Irish up for good w ith nine minutes to go. W hile dow n a man, Richmond committed a
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careless error in their ow n defensive area. A wayward pass was easily intercepted by Kavanagh in front of Rusbuldt’s net, and Kavanagh promptly converted the one-on-one opportunit y. Notre Dame grabbed a huge momentum goal off the stick of Westlin, who scored w ith just one second remaining in the half. The unanimous 2019 A ll-American Costabile, last year’s ACC offensive player of the year and one of the most prolific midfielders in Notre Dame’s histor y, made a sharp pass across the goal to Westlin, who finished from a tight angle. The Irish and Spiders began the second half by trading a pair of goals. After another Leonard w in off the face off, junior midfielder Daniel Cassidy was off to the races, finding the net for the first time this season just nine seconds into the third quarter. Senior midfielder Tate Gallagher equalized for Richmond before Spiders junior midfielder Mitch Savoca responded to junior attacker W heaton Jackoboice’s second goal of the season for the Irish, but Notre Dame put the game away late in the third w ith an offensive salvo led by Kavanagh. The run began w ith less than five minutes to play in the quarter, w ith t wo unassisted goals just six seconds apart. After McNamara notched his third goal of the season, Kavanagh capitalized off more exemplar y work from Leonard in the face-off circle, picking up the ground ball and bursting for ward before putting the Irish up 8-4. After McCahon’s fourth goal of the year, Kavanagh completed a third-quarter hat trick. A nother unassisted goal put the Irish up 10-4 as Kavanagh duped his defender w ith a spin before firing a long-range effort to Rusbuldt bottom right. Two and a half minutes later, Kavanagh added Notre Dame’s fifth goal in four minutes off an assist from Drake. The Irish added t wo more unanswered goals in the fourth. Westlin fed senior midfielder Brian Willetts for his second goal of the season before Westlin completed his hat trick w ith 6:15 left. With 31 seconds to go, Lanchbur y finally ended the run for Richmond w ith a late consolation goal, but the Irish ran out 13-5 w inners. The now No. 5/5 Irish w ill face their first away test of the season when they take on perennial powerhouse and seventh-ranked Mar yland at College Park. The top-10 matchup is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start on Saturday.
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The observer | WEDNESDAY, february 26, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
TRack and Field | ALEX WILSON INVITATIONAL
Distance medley relay sets record By NATE MOLLER Sports Writer
Among a number of notable Irish accomplishments at the A lex Wilson Inv itational at Loftus Sports Center this past Saturday, the men’s distance medley relay made a statement by w inning the race and recording the second-fastest time in NCA A Indoor Track histor y. With a time of 9:25.80, the Irish distinguished themselves in the relay despite the stiff competition for which it is know n. The accomplishment was good for both the program and Loftus Sports Center records. The Irish finished just 0.04 seconds in front of secondplace Wisconsin. Irish head coach Matt Sparks gave much credit to junior Yared Nuguse, who ran the 1600m anchor leg and secured the v ictor y for
ND Men’s Basketball
Irish prep for BC rematch with tournament hopes
the Irish. “He’s got that innate abilit y to know exactly how much he needs to push and how much of a lead is too much to allow someone to have,” Sparks said. Nuguse won the 1500m during 2019’s NCA A Outdoor Championships in a similar fashion to Saturday’s DMR race. Sparks said he feels luck y to have someone like Nuguse on his team. “He just knows exactly how much he needs to push on the gas to w in, and that’s a skill that I w ish we could coach,” Sparks said. “It’s a skill that some kids are just born w ith, and he’s got it. We are thankful that he has that internal fortitude to know what he needs to do to w in.” Sparks said the unsung heroes of the DMR were graduate student Edward Cheatham and junior
ANTHONY REO | The Observer
After w inning t wo games at home last week, the Notre Dame men’s basketball team heads to Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, to take on Boston College. The Irish (17-10, 8-8 ACC) were defeated by the Eagles (13-15, 7-10 ACC) at home on Dec. 7 by a score of 7372, after Notre Dame’s comeback attempt fell short. “Watching the film of us, we weren’t ver y good back in December. I think we’re a lot better [now],” Irish head coach Mike Brey said. “[Boston College] played small and guarded us w ith their athletic abilit y, and it almost knocked us back on our heels like a Louisv ille or Florida State kind of defense. We weren’t any where
see TRACK&FIELD PAGE 9
Irish senior guard Temple “T. J.” Gibbs takes a jump shot during Notre Dame’s home win over the University of Pittsburgh on Feb. 5.
see M BBALL PAGE 10
By LIAM COOLICAN Sports Writer
ND Women’s Golf | Westbrook Invitational
nd men’s lacrosse | Notre Dame 13, Richmond 5
No. 5/5 squad improves to 2-0 after Richmond win
ND places 10th to open season
Observer Sports Staff
Observer Sports Staff
Then-No. 6/6 Notre Dame rode a strong defensive performance and a devastating offensive f lurr y in the third quarter en route to a comfortable 13-5 w in over then-No. 18/17 Richmond on Sunday afternoon at Arlotta Stadium. The v ictor y avenged last year’s 9-8 road defeat to the Spiders (2-2), and marked the first of nine matchups against currently ranked opponents on the Irish’s (2-0) 12-game regular season slate. Notre Dame’s dominance started in the face off circle, w ith senior face-off-get-off Charles Leonard w inning 19 of 20 face offs, just one w in off his career high. The Highlands Ranch, Colorado, native also picked up 10 ground balls and notched an assist to earn player-of-thegame honors. After last Saturday’s 17-7
The Notre Dame women’s golf squad tied for 10th place out of a field of 16 teams in their first match of the spring season last weekend at the Westbrook Inv itational at Westbrook Village Golf Club in Peoria, Arizona. Last year Notre Dame shot under par as a team at the Westbrook Inv itational last year (288-286-286 = 860) at 4 under, but just fell shy of the mark this year carding an even par in the clubhouse (295-283-286 = 864), t y ing Missouri for 10th place. The best performance for the Irish on the weekend came from Lauren Beaudreau, the freshman from Lemont, Illinois, who has proven to be a worthwhile addition to the Irish roster. She finished the tournament sitting at 10 under par w ith 206, which was good enough for a fifth place indiv idual finish. The 206 was the best
see M LAX PAGE 11
EMMA FARNAN | The Observer
Irish senior LSM Eric Restic breaks away from a defender during a 12-10 win over the University of North Carolina on April 20, 2019.
54-hole score both in stroke total and relation to par in program histor y, beating junior Abby Heck’s 207 and -9 at the Moon Golf Inv itational last season, cementing another spot in the record books for Beaudreau. Her last best 54-hole score to beat was 217. Beaudreau has had a strong start to her career at Notre Dame, even though she has just competed in five tournaments to date. She is currently tied w ith Heck and five others for the second-lowest stroke round in program histor y at 66. Her performance at Westbrook saw her come one stroke shy of t y ing that record w ith her final round of 67 (-5), which rocketed her up three positions throughout the day into fifth place (68-71-67 — 206). She is already among the top 10 in career stroke averages, setting high expectations for see W GOLF PAGE 10