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Volume 53, Issue 101 | Thursday, march 21, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
McGavick reflects on administration Outgoing student body president closes term with State of the Student Union address Wednesday By MARY STEURER Assistant Managing Editor
With student government turnover on the horizon, student body president senior Gates McGavick reflected on his administration’s accomplishments in a State of the Student Union address Wednesday evening in the LaFortune Ballroom. In an effort to promote student government transparency and student body engagement, McGavick and student body vice president senior Corey Gayheart opened the event to the public for the first time. McGavick opened by noting improved student government accessibility as a particular focus of his administration. To encourage greater student body engagement, McGavick said he, Gayheart and
chief of staff senior Briana Tucker met with groups around campus once a week over lunch. “It quickly became the favorite part of our week,” McGavick said. “We feel it’s important that student government’s connected to more of its students.” The administration also pushed for a greater presence on social media, he added. “We posted more frequently on every platform than any previous administration in Notre Dame’s history,” he said. McGavick said these efforts, as well as his team’s commitment to live streaming student senate and other public meetings, have made strides in improving student government’s online visibility. “More student are getting information from student government than ever before,” he said. “More
Notre Dame hosts conversation on sustainability
students are interacting with student government online than ever before.” The McGavick-Gayheart administration also collaborated with the University on several of their initiatives this year, McGavick said. The team worked closely with Campus Dining to make changes at the dining halls as well as at retail dining locations. Most notably, McGavick said, their work with Campus Dining helped bring Pizza Pi, a new restaurant expected to open in May, to campus. “We were thrilled to work with [Campus Dining director Chris Abayasinghe] on Pizza Pi, the restaurant replacing Reckers in the spring, which will offer alcohol to students over 21,” McGavick said. Partnering with the Notre Dame Police Department,
Rachel Kyte, CEO of Sustainable Energy for All and U.N. representative, speaks on affordable energy in a talk in McKenna Hall on Wednesday. By MAX LANDER News Writer
Rachel Kyte, CEO of nonprofit organization Sustainable Energy for All and special representative of the United Nations SecretaryGeneral and co-chair of UNEnergy sat down with Ted Fox, executive administrator in the Office of the Provost and host of Notre Dame podcast “With a Side
NEWS PAGE 3
of Knowledge,” on Wednesday evening in the McKenna Hall Auditorium for a conversation revolving around sustainable energy and climate change. The talk was hosted by the Center for Sustainable Energy at Notre Dame and covered topics including the importance of sustainable energy, Kyte’s see KYTE PAGE 4
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importance that Notre Dame be … committed to fostering a more diverse, more inclusive culture,” he said. McGavick commended student senate for its work this year, which he said passed a number of significant resolutions. “The senate recently passed resolution recognizing Notre Dame as being built on Potawatomi land,” he said. The resolution was “an important sign of respect” to the Potawatomi people, McGavick added. Senate also passed a resolution to include a module on sustainability in the Moreau First Year Experience as well as a resolution calling for professors to include mental health resources in their syllabi. see STUDENT GOV PAGE 3
College IT department and library to merge By CALLIE PATRICK News Writer
Saint Mary’s College is currently undergoing the long and complex process of merging their Library and Information Technology departments. The merger, which began in the spring of 2018 under the leadership of former College President Jan
MAX LANDER | The Observer
student government also held its first Campus Safety Summit last fall, where students were able to speak with a panel of campus safety representatives. McGavick said student government plans to host a similar event later this semester. McGavick said he considers promoting diversity on campus to be another one of his administration’s greatest accomplishments. The Diversity Council helped to organize and co-sponsor a number of events promoting multiculturalism and inclusion, including Walk the Walk Week and Race Relations Week, he said. He and Gayheart also recently met with the Board of Trustees to discuss the results of the Inclusive Campus Climate Survey, he added. “We believe it is of utmost
Cervelli, hopes to modernize and streamline the library system. Librarian at CushwaLeighton Library Catherine Pellegrino said she is confident that the merger will make the library an even more valuable asset to the College. “We’re very optimistic about this being an
opportunity for both groups to work together more productively and in ways that allow us to combine our strengths and use those to better serve primarily the students, but also the faculty, the staff and the community,” Pellegrino said. The process of merging see MERGER PAGE 3
ND student named gentleman of the year By CL AIRE R AFFORD News Editor
When senior Jim Martinson first heard that he had been nominated for a Gentleman’s Showcase award from the Network of Enlightened Women (NeW), he said he thought the award would be a modest accomplishment. “It was kind of funny, because
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I thought at first that this thing would be something that just my family’s going to know about, and maybe I’ll tell a few of my friends, but then a lot of people started voting,” he said. But after Martinson won the showcase and was named the 2019 College Gentleman of the Year, the experience took a turn for him. “I was really humbled by the
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whole thing,” he said. “I really didn’t think it was going to be a big deal. I really didn’t think I was going to win, because there were 85 different entries and I didn’t think that people were going to get too excited about it. But I was really overwhelmed by the amount of support and the amount of people that were see GENTLEMAN PAGE 4
ND softballPAGE 12
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An advertisement for Hallow, a guided prayer app, stands outside of Campus Ministry in Coleman-Morse Hall. This Lenten season, Campus Ministry is sponsoring several special events, including a concert by Christian rock artist Matt Maher.
The next Five days:
Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Artist Lecture: Eric W. Stephenson 214 Riley Hall of Art 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Free and open to the public.
Lecture: 10 Years Hence Jordan Auditorium 10:40 a.m - 12:10 p.m. Director of Google Analytics to speak.
Performance: Senior Voice Recital LaBar Recital Hall 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Opera performance by Aileen Markovitz.
The Work of Our Hands Various venues all day Exhibition of liturgical vestments.
18th Annual Mellon Colloquium Medieval Institute Main Reading Room 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Seminar discussion.
Lecture: “How Democracies Die” Hesburgh Auditorium 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Part of the World Politics Series.
Seminar: “Climate Vulnerability” 1050 Jenkins Nanovic noon - 1 p.m. Part of the 2019 Sustainability Series.
Big Ten Hockey Tournament Finals Compton Family Ice Arena 8 p.m. ND to host Penn State.
Hesburgh Libraries Hackathon 2019 231 Hesburgh Library all day Competition for Notre Dame students.
Cortright v. Resor: A Reenactment Patrick F. McCartan Courtroom 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m. Historic reenactment.
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Mendoza releases new app to assist students By ASHTON WEBER News Writer
For the past two years, the Mendoza College of Business has been building and testing a mobile app for undergraduate advising. The application, called Mendoza SMART, allows students to explore a breadth of opportunities and aims to help with the major discernment process. Alison Levey, Mendoza’s associate director for advising services, said many students enter the college with predisposed ideas about what they might be interested in. “We feel like a lot of students come in with a very predetermined idea of what they want to major in … and we often feel like they are under-informed about all of their possibilities,” she said. “Then they
Merger Continued from page 1
the two departments is complex and requires lots of communication between those involved. Pellegrino said she meets weekly with chief information office Todd Norris. Norris said the size of the merger means that faculty from across the College’s departments have been involved in the process. “We have a working group that’s collaborating. It’s IT folks, library folks and some folks from around campus that aren’t in either group that are helping us plan,” he
self-select out of events where they might hear the thing that makes them [consider other options].” Levey said she hopes Mendoza SMART will encourage students to explore other disciplines within the college so that they enter fulfilling work after graduation. “We wanted to try and find a fun way for students to get exposed to more things — both for making their major decision … and for doing things to prepare them for the recruitment process,” Levey said. “Really, this is about broadening our students’ horizons and getting them to look at all of their options so that they make an informed, intentional decision when they choose their major.” The app presents students with challenges such as attending lectures, meeting with professors,
updating LinkedIn profiles and engaging with student organizations. Upon completing these challenges, students receive points, which can later be redeemed for prizes. One of the most popular prizes that students can earn is preferential registration for one business course. In addition to challenges, the app also features advising alerts, Mendoza news and campus updates. Mark Kimmet and Diego Wang, the app’s developers, said that a mobile app seemed like the best way to reach students who are already inundated with emails. “Mobile apps are better in today’s world. … Students have smartphones in their hands that they always check, so we think this is a better tool to communicate with students [than email],” Wang
said. Levey echoed the sentiment that many students feel overwhelmed by the number of emails they receive, to the point that they may begin to avoid them. She said she hopes the app will give students a more streamlined way to receive information and that it will improve dialogue between students and advisors. “[The app] is very user-friendly and straightforward and it keeps information out of email and in a compact, easy way to [access],” she said. Kimmet said the app’s communication features have been updated so that the most recent version will strengthen students’ access to advising tools. “This time around, we’ve added more availability for
communication through push notifications,” he said. “This gives the undergraduate advising office the ability to send out some news about general advising and the challenges.” Kimmet and Wang also designed the app so that it is integrated with the platform “YouCanBook.me”, which will allow students to easily book advising appointments. Mendoza intents in the class of 2022 will be joining the app next week following meetings with their advisors. Levey said that, with next year’s dissolution of the First Year of Studies, the app will be used by the class of 2023 in the Fall to begin their discernment process even earlier than previous classes.
said. A major step in the process of merging the departments will be taken on April 1, when Joseph Thomas assumes the role of Library Director. Even when Thomas does arrive, the merger will continue on a long-term basis, with changes possibly not being completed in time for the 20192020 school year. Norris, who travelled to Kalamazoo College and has consulted over 20 other colleges who have undergone similar mergers, said the purpose of this steady pace is to minimize disruption within each department. The combination of the Library and IT departments provides for
exciting possibilities in the realm of helping students. Of the many changes being considered, Norris said everything from the hours the library is open to the location of student help services are on the table. “We’re still looking at space in the library and how it will best be used,” he said. “One of the things were looking at, hoping for, planning toward would be 24-hour study space. That would include individual study space and group study space.” Other ways the College is looking to improve the library involve advancements in technology, Norris said.
“[Some ideas] would be some screens where students can use an iPad or iPhone or Mac-book to share their screen on the larger screen and be able to practice presentations, podcasts and those types of things students are being asked to do occasionally in classes,” Norris said. The guiding principle in all these improvements, Norris said, is student input. “It’s just stuff students have identified that they want. If [students] want it, then I want it,” Norris said. “I’m here to support [students], I’m here to support the faculty and the staff. That’s my entire job.”
Norris said that all these changes to the library services seek to be positive additions to, not subtractions from, the library experience. “Is there a possibility that we would change the way services are delivered? Maybe. It’s a possibility. But only in the way that would make them more technology friendly, more accessible, more often,” Norris said. “It’s just a shift. We’re not planning on taking anything away as far as IT services, library services [and] the content you get at the library.”
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“Students who need help, especially those who have just arrived at college, should be able to get it,” McGavick said. McGavick said he was especially proud of his administration’s “fiscal prudence.” “Our budget this year was tens of thousands of dollars lower than the last student governments’ budgets,” he said. He also noted his team’s commitment to political neutrality, particularly their policy to not comment on national political events not directly related to the University, encouraging future administrations to do the same. “A partisan student government is inherently liable to value the opinions of some students over others,” he said. “To avoid this unfair outcome, we believe it is absolutely imperative that student government continue to be an apolitical organization.” Despite this, McGavick said he felt it was important for his administration to take a stance against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was accused of sexual abuse last June and officially defrocked by the Vatican via a canonical trial in February. Since allegations against McCarrick surfaced, several members of the Notre
Dame community urged the University to revoke the honorary degree awarded to him in 2008. Student government joined those voices in February with an Observer Letter to the Editor calling for the removal of the degree and holding meetings with Campus Ministry and other University organizations on the matter, McGavick said. Though the University revoked the degree following the results of the canonical trial, McGavick criticized the University for not acting sooner. If the University is to celebrate its past as a moral leader, McGavick said, it must continue to act in accordance with its Catholic mission. “Our moral victories cannot exist only in the past,” he said. McGavick and Gayheart’s term will end April 1, when president and vice-president elect junior Elizabeth Boyle and sophomore Patrick McGuire will officially take office. McGavick said though he and Gayheart leave the student union in “strong” condition, he looks forward to what Boyle and McGuire will accomplish. “If you don’t know Elizabeth and Pat … know this: they’re passionate, hard-working and deeply devoted to the well-being of this community,” he said. Contact Mary Steurer msteure1@nd.edu
Contact Ashton Weber aweber22@nd.edu
Contact Callie Patrick cpatrick01@saintmarys.edu
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NEWS
The observer | Thursday, march 21, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Gentleman Continued from page 1
interested in getting me nominated, and so I was just very impressed but also very surprised by the whole experience.” Karin Lips, founder and president of NeW, said the organization seeks to award this honor to someone who has been wellrounded throughout their college experience. “The Gentlemen Showcase celebrates young men who are polite, act with integrity and treat everyone with the respect they deserve,” Lips said in an email. “Selflessness, respect and kindness are common themes nominators use. The men nominated stand by their values, fight for good in their communities and advocate for positive change. We want to honor these young men — and encourage more of them.” Martinson said the award seeks to recognize men who exhibit
Kyte Continued from page 1
experience working in the private and public sector on the national and international level and achieving the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals for renewable energy. The conversation started on the topic of the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), primarily goal number seven, which focuses on developing affordable clean energy. According to the U.N.’s official website, goal seven is divided into three main objectives: ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services, sustainably increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix and to double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. The U.N. aims to meet these goals by 2030. Much of Kyte’s work involves the promotion of goal seven, which she said is important because of the importance of energy and energy access in the world, especially in relation to other U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. “I can only call SDG seven, or energy, the golden thread,” Kyte said. “Without it you’re going to have a hard time achieving the other goals that you’ve set for yourself.” While renewable energy on the whole is growing, Kyte said some areas of the world are not meeting the quotas necessary to meet the U.N. goals. “It’s one of those bizarre parts of the human condition that that which makes sense and would make us better off we don’t do,” she said. Much of Kyte’s work involves showing people an achievable way forward toward renewable, accessible energy, she said. “If you can’t imagine what it looks like, it’s difficult to imagine that you can build it, and it’s
respect towards others on a dayto-day basis. “It’s basically promoting modern-day chivalry, I guess you could say,” he said. “Basically, the premise of it is a lot of people think that chivalry’s gone and it’s dead and it’s not coming back, but their goal is to highlight the fact that there are still guys out there that hold doors open for women and take people out on dates and are nice to their sisters.” As his prize, Martinson received $1,000 to donate to the charity of his choice, according to a press release. Martinson said he chose the Love and Fidelity Network as the beneficiary of his donation for their work advocating for marriage and family values. “It just basically promotes the idea that marriage is the fundamental building block of society, and so just all of their ideas and their conferences and their funding goes towards promoting events that live out that message — whether that be talking
very difficult to imagine that you can build it in a short period of time,” she said. In this vain, Kyte also said that a lot of the work she does involves showing different political leaders not only that the U.N. goals are achievable, but also the specific ways that they might be achieved through demonstrating what has worked in the past in comparable situations and why. “There’s a huge power in that comparison,” Kyte said. “People want to know what works, they want to know what doesn’t work, they also don’t want to be left behind, they don’t want to be embarrassed and they don’t want to be shamed. So, we spend a lot of the time trying to work out what is it that’s working and what are the ingredients in that which are replicable.” Kyte’s talk with Fox went on to cover not only the work Kyte and her organization do, but also the effect that sustainable energy and increased energy access can have. Kyte said the past few years have seen steps forward in clean energy technology. “You see the transformative effect of this technology which has dropped in price by 80 percent in just a few years,” Kyte said.“The things that people need and want need energy.” The effects of increased energy access go beyond simply being able to refrigerate food or being able to switch from a wood-burning to an electric stove, Kyte said, as these energy tools provide people with economic opportunities they did not have access to before. “The people that don’t have energy are often voiceless within their country,” Kyte said. Kyte said her personal experiences have shed light on the relationship between clean energy and economic mobility. Contact Max Lander at mlander1@nd.edu
about adoption or talking about how to be a good parent, how to prepare yourself for a family life,” Martinson said. “In the society that we live in today, I think family life has taken a backseat to a lot of people’s careers,” he added. “I think careers are extremely important, and something that both men and women should absolutely strive to be successful, but at the same time, I think our society has really sacrificed the family for career a lot of the time, and this is something that the Love and Fidelity Network tries to say; ‘Those two things are compatible.’” Martinson also serves as the president of Students for Child Oriented Policy (SCOP), a campus organization that aims to protect the interests of children through legislation both at Notre Dame and in the world. The Gentleman of the Year award corresponds with SCOP’s mission and pillars, he said. “I think it’s very fitting for SCOP,
because the Students for ChildOriented Policy just promotes the policy that helps the [nourishment] and development of children,” he said. “SCOP has five pillars — they are family, adoption, education, anti-pornography and anti-drug abuse. But all those things are centered around the child, and making sure that the child’s development and well-being is protected. I think this award fits in really well with what we’re trying to do with SCOP, which is just basically promoting that same idea — that family life is so fundamental to society and it’s the only way for society to continue and function and thrive — by promoting the family unit.” Lips said the award is important in light of conversations taking place about women’s rights nationwide. “At a time when we are having a national discussion about how women are treated in the workplace and relationships, this contest adds an important element
by showcasing men who respect women and demonstrate kindness to all,” she said. “NeW encourages equality and mutual respect between men and women. By praising gentlemen, we hope to inspire more of them.” After receiving the award, Martinson said he is going to continue trying to be the best friend and man he can be. “I plan to just keep doing the things that I’m doing, treating all men and women that I meet with respect and the dignity that they deserve,” he said. “I think being a gentleman manifests itself in the little things that you do in daily life. … You want to always be thinking about others and thinking about people that you care about and how you can help them. A lot of being a gentleman is being a good friend to men and women, and to challenge people to be better people as well.” Contact Claire Rafford at crafford@nd.edu
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The observer | Thursday, march 21, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
By MATTHEW KELLENBERG Scene Writer
“Take Me to Church” is one of the great pop songs of our time. The anthemic blues-gospel track tugs expertly at strings of devotion and disillusionment. Earnest “amens” juxtapose biting premonitions: “I’ll tell you my sins, and you can sharpen your knife.” The song’s key fluctuates between major and minor, evoking visceral agitation. Yet, Hozier’s voice may be the song’s greatest weapon. Plenty of songs on Andrew Hozier-Byrne’s 2014 debut translated Irish folk tropes into fresh, palatable chart music. But “Take Me to Church” alone had the gripping drama and propulsive anthemicism to make Hozier a bona fide folk star. What could that term actually mean: “folk star?” Written in his family attic, Hozier’s debut speaks to the everyman’s personal turmoil and a homegrown feeling of political discontent. But commercial success changes an artist’s perspective. On Hozier’s sophomore LP, “Wasteland, Baby!” the singer-songwriter revisits the folk trappings of his early work. However, he does so with a more triumphant, lavish attitude than we have ever seen from him. On “Nobody,” the fifth song on his latest album, Hozier reveals, “I’ve been fed gold by sweet fools in Abu Dhabi / And I’ve danced real slow with Rockettes on dodgy molly.” It is an ironic line, with a grain of truth.
By Ethan Utley Scene Writer
Perth Australia’s Pond, one of today’s most popular psychedelic pop bands, is currently rekindling the style of the band’s 70’s psych-rock counterparts. Having released eight full-length albums since their debut with 2009’s “Psychedelic Mango” Pond has been awfully prolific over the course of the past decade. Unfortunately, the volume of Pond’s studio output pales in comparison to that of the band’s former drummer, Kevin Parker — who reached psychedelic stardom as the man behind indie rock behemoth Tame Impala. Parker’s popularity far exceeds that of his former band. His current band, Tame Impala, has become synonymous with modern psych-rock. Though Parker and Pond still collaborate — Pond members perform in Parker’s touring lineup and Parker co-produces Pond albums — the two projects are by no means equivalent. Pond’s latest LP “Tasmania,” which Parker co-produced, attempts — yet again — to raise the band’s profile in the psychrock community. But, despite Parker’s help, the attempt falls flat. On “Tasmania,” Pond’s eighth full-length release, maturity of production and variety of sound are quite evident. Much like Tame Impala, Pond has evolved from a rock-focused, heavily distorted, psych band to
For better or worse, “Wasteland, Baby!” speaks to a different folk’s experience than Hozier’s debut. Hozier’s new, self-assured attitude first jumps out on the album opener, “Nina Cried Power.” The audience, Hozier boldy presumes, is on his side from the get-go. Thus, his political crusade needs no preface — just one song in, Hozier cries power. It is a sign that the artist believes to know his audience, and moreover, that the artist believes his audience knows him. Only an artist with Hozier’s universal charm could make such an assumption. Yet, even for him, it is a shaky step. Launching into an extrospective political anthem, Hozier skims over the inner turmoil that made his early work so engaging. The next 13 tracks, however, give Hozier plenty of room to weave thoughtful musings and entertain his own creative impulses. On “Shrike,” Hozier uses the metaphor of a bird and a thorn to navigate a failed relationship. On the album’s self-titled closer, he frames political disarray as a grand backdrop for his own intimate expressions. Many small, delightful bits make this album pop. There is the thrilling buildup on “Dinner & Diatribes;” the funky bassline on “Noise Making (Sing);” the swaying melody on “Movement.” For any shortcomings, Hozier’s work is overbalanced with moments of sparkling ingenuity. It cannot be easy for an artist to reconnect with his or her audience after a four-year hiatus, especially an artist
with a primarily teenage audience. It would be dishonest for Hozier to pretend he has not matured and naive for him to assume his original audience members have not either. Yet, if Hozier were to swing too far towards selfreinvention, his work would disappoint countless fans long awaiting a true-to-form sequel to his first album. On “Wasteland, Baby!” Hozier strikes a firm balance between backward-looking songwriting and complete artistic transformation. The voice on “Wasteland, Baby!” is distinctly Hozier’s own, but with enough twists to reflect four years of artistic growth. “Wasteland, Baby!” is a well-maneuvered sophomore album by an artist whose career may have peaked at its inception.
a synth-based electro-pop outfit. The musical intelligence on Pond’s last two releases, “Tasmania” and “The Weather,” has far exceeded anything the band put out previously. “Tasmania” discards simple chord progressions and predictable song structure in favor of cosmic exploration. Many of the album’s tracks have no structure at all, only a drum line to tie the sound together — see “Burnt Out Star.” Pond’s sonic evolution is not necessarily positive. The band has not perfected its ability to unwind rock songs into sprawling psychedelic journeys. The album’s ninth track, “Shame,” is terribly difficult to endure. The song bombards listeners with a structureless and bubbling stream of ghoulish ambience, underpinning Nick Allbrook’s whispering and whining vocals. The album’s closing track, “Doctor’s In,” is similarly malformed. The song never seems to settle into any sort of rhythmic consistency until the last minute, which features an excellent — though maddeningly familiar — guitar solo. The album has all the elements of a truly good record, but it lacks cohesion. “Daisy” and “Burnt Out Star” are masterpieces of their respective genres. “Daisy” is a wellwritten electro-pop song and certainly an earworm, provided you don’t listen to it too often. “Burnt Out Star” is a psychedelic ballad, complete with a five-minute-long space-time excursion of sound. Both “Daisy” and “Burnt Out Star” stand out for their definition, embracing their
respective genres. Other songs miss the mark, awkwardly toeing the line between pop and rock, losing their strength in the process. Pond’s genre-bending psych-pop fills a unique niche in today’s alternative rock scene. The band aspires to Tame Impala’s mastery but lacks Parker’s clarity of vision. Furthermore, Allbrook’s vocals are near unbearable, casting a shadow over Pond’s unparalleled instrumental flare. Many listeners struggle through Allbrook’s nasally pouts and wonder whether the exceptional instrumentals are worth the screeching. With “Tasmania,” Pond sets out to produce a Tame Impala-esque album, but fails to do so.
Contact Matthew Kellenberg at mkellenb@nd.edu
“Wasteland, Baby!” Hozier Label: Rubyworks Records Favorite Tracks: “Shrike,” “Movement,” “To Noise Making (Sing)” If you like: Vance Joy, The Head and the Heart, Vulfpeck
Contact Ethan Utley at eutley@nd.edu
“Tasmania” Pond Label: Spinning Top Records Favorite Tracks: “Daisy,” “Burnt Out Star” If you like: Tame Impala, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Unknown Mortal Orchestra
CRISTINA INTERIANO | The Observer
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The observer | thursday, March 21, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Because we care
Inside Column
I’ll be seeing you Colleen Fischer Saint Mary’s Editor
John F. Kennedy’s boyish good looks and natural charisma helped him to defeat Nixon in the 1960 presidential election. Some thought that the candidate was born to be president. What was not known was that for most of his life he played second fiddle to his smarter, more dedicated, dark-haired older brother. The Kennedy family groomed Joe Kennedy Jr. to be president his entire life. Little focus was given to their sickly second child. The story of the Kennedys is one of constant irony and tragedy. Joe Jr.’s death was the first in a long line of demises. Rose Kennedy sent a letter to her children in 1942. Following a joke about her eldest son Joe’s fondness of his new mustache, she writes about the future president: “He (John F. Kennedy) is quite ready to die for the U.S.A. … He also thinks it would be good for Joe’s political career if he died for the grand old flag.” This shows the Kennedy family’s dedication to Joe’s success and the lack of interest that was awarded to Jack. Having a Kennedy in the White House was a crusade passed from one brother to another, ending in three deaths and an overturned car in the Poucha pond off Chappaquiddick Island. It also shows the grand irony of a family plagued by tragedy. Though Jack was willing to die for Joe, it was Joe who would become the political sacrifice. Jack Kennedy was considered a hero following the PT 109 incident. Being over-shown by his younger brother caused Joe great emotional distress. There are stories about him lying in bed muttering to himself about how he was going to prove to the world he was braver than his brother. These feelings led him to volunteer for arguably a suicide mission following the end of his 25th mission tour, ultimately causing his death. Back in Hyannis Port, the Kennedy family was gathered listening to the song “I’ll be seeing you” when notified of the death of Joe. Joe Sr. walked into the room where they were gathered and reportedly said, “Joe’s dead. Kennedys don’t cry.” As evident in Rose’s letter, much of the Kennedy family’s energy was focused on making Joe president. This energy was quickly transferred to Jack without a word spoken. Jack quickly gathered the family to go sailing in his brother’s honor. Years later, Robert Kennedy, commonly known as Bobby, wrote a letter to his brother Jack expressing his desire to serve on a ship named after their late brother. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, one of the ships that went to confront the Russian ships was named after the Attorney General and President’s eldest brother, unbeknownst to them. Joe lived on through the political careers of his brothers. He was the first of the Kennedy martyrs. His death was used throughout the Kennedy campaigns. The fact that John F. Kennedy was never groomed to be president gave us one of the most intriguing figures in American history. He was more relatable and laid back than his older brother could ever be. The deaths of the Kennedy boys redefined American history in so many ways. Joe’s death gave us America’s most intriguing president and Jack’s gave way to a renowned view on American idealism and fueled his younger brother’s campaign. Bobby’s death symbolized the end of an era and Ted’s death helped to pass the Affordable Care Act. In an interview, Grace Kelly was asked if JFK died in vain. Not only did Jack not die in vain, none of the Kennedy boys did. They simply passed a torch that one day will be picked up again, no matter how idealistic and naive it may be. Contact Colleen Fischer at cfischer01@saintmarys.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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Submit a Letter to the Editor: viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com
Julianna Conley Fresh Impressions
Over spring break, a neighbor asked me what section of the newspaper I write for. W hen I answered that I was a Viewpoint columnist, she smiled but looked wary. “Ah,” she said. “You’re part of the complainers. You guys are always angry with the world.” Throughout the mere four months I’ve been writing, this has not been an uncommon reaction. At the beginning of the semester, a visiting high schooler read one of my articles and emailed me because he was excited about its optimism. I often think back on the end of his message: “Too often, I find that the opinion section in our paper talks about why ____ is unfair or why _____ needs to be changed. W hat we really need is more [positive] editorials.” Of all my friends, I am usually the least cynical, the most blindly optimistic, so his message should be right up my alley, but this condemnation of critique struck a chord with me, and not just because I’m loyal to Viewpoint. I’ve found that in the past few years, a new narrative has arisen that brands criticism as synonymous with hate. This demonization of activism holds us back as a society. W hen Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players kneeled for the first time during the national anthem, many Americans spoke out in disgust. To quote The Observer’s very own Eddie Damstra, people worried that America was “setting a very dangerous precedent if we allow reckless demonstration.” Somewhere in recent history, people determined that protesting or speaking out is “reckless,” completely motivated toward disorder. Demonstrations have become associated with a complete lack of respect toward the subject in question, but this could not be more wrong. The opposite of love is not hate; it’s indifference. If we didn’t care about America would we waste our time making signs to draw attention to immigration laws? If we didn’t care about America would we spend an afternoon calling our representatives to let them know we take issue with the way gun control is being handled? If we didn’t care about America would we bother trying to make it a more inclusive place for people of all religions? If Kaepernick didn’t care about America would he risk his career drawing attention to an error for improvement? The rhetoric that equates speaking up with tearing down is ridiculous. It is because we love our country that we care to make it better. It is because we love our country that we are willing to endure the backlash we will receive from people who disagree with us. It is because we love our country that we recognize it is not operating at its best and because we love our country that we know it can. Every few weeks my seminar professor gives us feedback on our performance in class. Sometimes it can seem harsh, but I realize that the criticism hardest to hear is often the most important. It provides a much needed reality check. My professor does not compile this critique because he’s evil or has nothing better to do; he does so because he realizes it would be a disservice to let us remain stagnant. It would be a disservice to allow us, full of potential, full of opportunity for growth,
to stay at the status quo. The notion that calling for change is disrespectful misses the point of change. We change things to improve them. People can feel opposed to “reckless demonstration” because it represents a movement that upturns the sanctity of tradition, but I find this to be a non-issue. I love tradition as much as the next person — probably more so, as my weary family will attest — but tradition is meant to uphold and cherish what makes something special. Tradition is meant to provide an opportunity to celebrate greatness, not shackle us to mediocrity. We as human beings have the wonderful capacity for growth. To be dynamic, evolving individuals that can change their mind and improve. Our nation even from its birth has been rooted in upturning traditions and creating better alternatives. The tradition, up until 1967, dictated that people of color couldn’t drink from the same water fountain as white people. The tradition, up until 1920, dictated that women couldn’t vote. Times have changed. There is no shame in laws changing as well. New Zealand suffered a heartbreaking, unthinkable tragedy this past week at the hands of gun violence. In response, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has vowed to change gun laws. The country’s situation changed and thus its policies ref lect that. Does the prime minister hate New Zealand? Does she lack respect for her country’s customs? No. Instead, she realizes that just because something is does not mean it ought to be. As she explains, “reforms… make our community safer.” In his article discussing the Kaepernick kneeling, Damstra explains that he finds the kneeling disrespectful because, “we should all feel compelled to stand during the national anthem, not as a proclamation of American perfection but out of a dual sense of gratitude and readiness to make positive change.” Though I admire his openness for improvement, his statement begs the question: How can we know to make change if we keep doing the same thing? It’s no different than resolving an issue with a friend who is oblivious to an inconsiderate habit. She isn’t a mind reader. You have to tell her what’s bothering you so something can fix the problem. And therein lies the real reason for protests, for activism, for Viewpoint columns. If we keep standing, how can people know that something needs to be fixed? If we keep trucking along, not making ripples, how will people realize there is injustice? If Viewpoint columnists keep writing about why Kevin is the best Jonas brother, how will the Notre Dame community understand we need to take active steps to improve our diversity? I challenge the idea that challenging an idea makes me a pessimist. I think criticism is the highest form of optimism. It means I look at the world we have now and I see a future where it can be even better. Julianna Conley is a slow eating, loud talking and fast-walking freshman from Southern California. She endorses hot glue, despises mint and strongly believes the cookie is the best part of an Oreo. Julianna can be reached 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 | thursday, march 21, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The problem with high corporate pay In 2016, CEO of Amazon Web Service Andrew Jassy made $35.6 million; Amazon CEO worldwide consumer Jeffrey Wilke took home a total of $32.9 million; Diego Piacentini, senior vice president of international consumer business, made $23.7 million. Excluding founder and CEO Jeff Bezos’ $ 81.8 million dollar beneficial ownership stake as of 2017, the median annual compensation at Amazon was $28,446. Greater context reveals where specifically these large sums are coming from. Apple’s Angela Ahrendts, senior vice-president of retail and online stores, earned $24.2 million in 2017; Luca Maestri, senior vice president and chief financial officer, made $24.1 million. Both of these annual income stats compose an identical official salar y of $1 million, with the rest coming from $20 million worth of stock awards and a bit more extra from their non-equity incentive plans. The company’s well-known CEO Tim Cook made $12.8 million, with $3 million being his salar y and the rest largely coming from his own non-equity plan. Differences in income are a natural and arguably beneficial part of society. Not ever y person has the same skill set or the same level of education, and those with higher levels of personal investment tend to be more valuable as a resource. Workers with higher education tend to produce higher levels of advanced output. Disparities in income encourage the pursuit of education by rewarding skill development with higher salaries. Consider a professor at Notre Dame who may make around $100,000. The market produces that number by intersecting their education, experience and skill set against the needs of competing employers. But is there a point where the annual income of an individual exceeds his own reasonable output? It’s questionable to argue that the
aforementioned exorbitantly high annual incomes are the result of the market’s value of their labor alone. If Amazon’s top executives made a fraction of their current income, it’s reasonably certain that they would remain in their same jobs, and would continue operating at the same level of output. At that reduced income, they would be making an incredibly well-off living. They certainly wouldn’t be incentivized to slack off, relocate or stop working. If their decision to work would not change as a result of an income reduction, then that original income was not a ref lection of the market’s value on their labor. The problem is that top corporate executives are abusing their executive inf luence by independently considering the value of their own labor. It’s the Progressive “Name Your Price” tool, only this time it’s your own income. By simultaneously being part of the leadership of their company while also collecting the highest paychecks, it’s almost like they are giving the money to themselves. After all, salar y decisions are decided (or at least heavily inf luenced) by a corporation’s board of executives. The top earning executives of Amazon are also conveniently part of that same executive board. The board members participate in a back-rubbing circle that sets aside high salaries for fellow board members in order to set pay precedence and mutual alliances. This helps ensure high salaries for the executive and ensure the longevity of their position. “Say, Jim, we were thinking that you’re worth about $20 million. How does that sound? ” “That sounds great, John. Looks like here it says you’re worth $20.7 million, how about we make that $21 million even? ” “Seems fair to me !” The principle agent problem is a market failure where the interests of the management are not aligned with those who own the company.
Corporate executives by definition answer to their shareholders, who are in essence the owners. Their concerns are primarily for the business’ continual growth so that the value of their shares appreciate. After all, the shareholders, acting in their own self-interest, bought into the company directly or into their stock portfolio believing that their holds would eventually rise in value. However, corporate executives, who are also acting in their own self-interest, seem to be collecting larger and larger sums of the company’s revenue into their own pockets rather than reinvesting it back into the company’s operational expenses. Can you blame them though? It’s practically just sitting there. Top corporations have such resounding market power that their annual profit is in the billions. W hat’s a million out of a billion? Moreover, it’s counted in the books as a business expense, so a company’s announced annual profit would not include the salaries of top executives. Those are instead being factored into the “operation costs.” The problem is that that money is not rightfully theirs, and they have a duty to their owners to take a reasonable salar y. Doing other wise wrongs the owners, who are the shareholders, as well as the smaller lower-earning workers that helped generate those sales to begin with. A 70 percent marginal ta x rate is a Band-Aid at best and a foolish idea at worst. Setting that rate wouldn’t make these problems go away. Problems should not be solved by implementing problem generators. The causes of these issues run far deeper. Perhaps the first step is to reconsider the relationships between managers and owners. Peter Brown sophomore March 15
Let it roar My heart burns, aching and quivering, Like a child in the hands of their abuser. The fire rips my heart out, discards it As if my heart is weightless … worthless … lifeless.
Odalis Gonzalez Show Some Skin
Let it roar. The fire within me burns. It is alive and breathing It flickers, feeding of the gray and heavy air. It grows in my lungs My veins reaching out, gasping for air. They contract and constrict with every flicker Yelling out. It spreads upwards, up my trachea. You see, it is sneaky, the fire. It creeps behind and into my heart. Takes my dainty heart within its hot, red hands.
I’m lifeless. My heart can no longer palpitate. It shrivels And piece by piece, tissue by tissue, Sheds off the debris. The fire roars Still with hunger for my life, my happiness. It’s taken my heart What else could it take? It creeps back into my head. Dancing its way into my ear And it continues to dance its red dance
As it molests my mind. My mind. The last living piece of me. The only part of me that keeps me sane. All I have, now it is all I have. But with just one spark, One flicker, one droplet, Of the gray and heavy air And it gives in, my heart gives in. I give in. Contact Odalis Gonzalez at ogonzal3@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Show Some Skin. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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DAILY
ndsmcobserver.com | ThursDAY, MARCH 21, 2019 | The Observer
Crossword | Will Shortz
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Take relationships seriously, and do your part to help keep the momentum flowing. Working with others to accomplish something important will lead to opportunities. Don’t share personal information. Offer only what will help you get ahead. Keep your opinions to yourself to avoid opposition and setbacks. Channel your energy into situations and projects that will bring the highest returns. Your numbers are 3, 16, 23, 29, 32, 36, 40. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take time to assess your situation before making your next move. Consider who is sincere and who is asking for too much. Using your time wisely will help you avoid getting worn out. If someone chooses to argue with you, take a pass. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Dedication and drive will help you get your point across. Don’t jeopardize your physical, emotional or financial well-being or let anyone take advantage of you. Charity begins at home, and investing in yourself is encouraged. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): An emotional situation will escalate if you or someone else makes assumptions or isn’t truthful. Joint ventures should be avoided or monitored carefully. Stick to people you trust and activities you enjoy. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Make adjustments at home or at work that will encourage you to spend less and earn more. A partnership, gift or investment you make will encourage better cash flow. Home improvements are featured. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Getting out more doesn’t have to be costly, but it should encourage you to make changes that will improve the way you live and how well you take care of your health. Don’t get involved in something outlandish or excessive. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Do your best to relate to friends, relatives and youngsters. You will be offered all sorts of interesting thoughts that can help you bring about positive change. The insight given regarding a personal relationship will help you move forward. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Do what’s best for yourself. Taking care of your health, protecting your financial position and discovering new ways to use your skills and experience will help you see things differently and encourage you to strive to be and do your best. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Address problems by opening a dialogue that will help you understand how those around you relate to your plans. It’s OK to be different, and anyone who interferes should be questioned regarding his or her motives. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Take better care of yourself emotionally and physically. If someone prompts you to do things you shouldn’t, be strong and walk away. Don’t believe everything you hear, especially if it involves someone who isn’t present to defend himself or herself. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Change is overdue. Consider what you want to see unravel in order to make it happen. Don’t wait around for someone else to take over. A money opportunity looks interesting, but don’t go into debt or take a gamble. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Offer to help others, but refuse to take on the brunt of the work or cost involved. Be clear about what you will do and what you expect in return. Keep the peace, but live within your means and by the rules. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Participate in events or organizations or volunteer for something you believe in. You will connect with someone who will brighten your day. A change in attitude will encourage others to support your efforts as well as pitch in. Birthday Baby: You are entertaining, helpful and caring. You are ambitious and intense.
wingin’ it | olivia wang & bailee egan
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
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SPORTS
ndsmcobserver.com | thursday, MARCH 21, 2019 | The Observer
Sports Authority
MLB
Free agency is NFL’s new M.O. Will Richard Sports Writer
Last NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams showed that acquiring foundational players through free agency or trades such as Ndamukong Suh, Aqib Talib, and Marcus Peters can pay dividends — albeit to the tune of a competitive loss to the long-standing New England Patriots dynasty in Super Bowl LIII. The free agency period of 2019 thus far has affirmed just that, with a multitude of teams doling out record-breaking contracts to prominent, highly talented players. The notion of remaining dormant and attempting to improve purely through the draft seems preposterous at this point, though the Patriots are in the midst of a dynasty where they have largely avoided expensive and/or big-name players. To provide some perspective to the frenzy of spending, here is a list of my three best offseason acquisitions.
RB Le’Veon Bell, New York Jets Bell signed a four-year, $52.5 million contract with the New York Jets following a season on the sidelines due to contract disputes with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Comparatively, Bell’s contemporary Todd Gurley recently signed for $57.5 million on a four-year deal. Bell, 27, will presumably come to the field incredibly fresh, as he has not played in a game since Jan. 14, 2018. Additionally, the conference championship teams from last season (Patriots, Chiefs, Rams and Saints) all had pass-catching backs as an insurance policy in White, Hunt, Gurley and Kamara/Ingram, respectively. In 2017, Bell was 10th in the NFL in receptions, while playing on a team with Antonio Brown, who also garnered passes. The Jets bring back Sam Darnold under center in his second NFL season, and the signing of Bell will unquestionably aid Darnold immensely as he continues to develop and learn.
DE Michael Bennett, New England Patriots
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Fresh off of a one-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, Bennett once again takes his talents via trade to the defending Super Bowl champions. Bennett is due $7.2 million this year, making him the 17th highest-earning player at his position. After a season in which he tallied nine sacks and 34 tackles, Bennett unquestionably performs above his monetary value. The Patriots, on the other hand, replace a glaring hole in the defense following the loss of defensive end Trey Flowers to the Detroit Lions. Bennett has experience and veteran savviness which is synonymous with the culture the Patriots remarkably sustain. Though he may not be a league leader statistically, Bennett will certainly make a crucial set of plays in the Patriots’ pursuit of a consecutive Super Bowl berth.
RB Mark Ingram, Baltimore Ravens Many were confused when the New Orleans Saints let Mark Ingram go to Baltimore on a three-year, $15 million deal, only to sign Latavius Murray on a four-year, $14.4 million deal soon after. Like the New York Jets, the Ravens will continue to support second-year quarterback Lamar Jackson with a seasoned, multi-faceted option coming out of the backfield. Just two years ago, Ingram was second in the NFL with 12 touchdowns playing in a pass-heavy offense in New Orleans. The Saints no longer hold the great asset of having two starting-caliber players to interchange out of the backfield, with Drew Brees set to start the 2019 season at age 40. Baltimore has made it clear they plan to orchestrate a run-heavy offense, with Jackson never eclipsing 25 pass attempts in a regularseason game in his rookie season. Signing Ingram will be immensely beneficial to the raw-talented Jackson, and comes with an especially affordable price as the 13th highest-paid back in 2019. Contact Will Richard at wrichar2@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer
Red Sox’s Betts expects shift in career
Associated Press
FORT MYERS, Fla.— Don’t expect AL MVP Mookie Betts to agree to a long-term contract with the Boston Red Sox before he can become a free agent in late 2020. Despite Mike Trout’s pending $432 million, 12year agreement with the Los Angeles Angels, Nolan Arenado’s $260 million, eight-year deal with the Colorado Rockies and Alex Bregman’s pending $100 million, six-year contract with the Houston Astros, Betts is content to remain on track for testing the market. “That’s exactly what I expect,” he said Wednesday, the day after Trout’s deal became widely known. “Didn’t expect anything to happen until I’m a free agent. So, it’s just one of those things where you just got to go out and play. Can’t worry about the economics of the game
right now. They have to take care of what they have to take care of. I’m going to take care of what I have to take care of. But the common thing is to win a World Series, and I think that’s definitely what we both want to do.” Manny Machado joined the San Diego Padres as a free agent on a $300 million, 10year deal while Bryce Harper signed with the Philadelphia Phillies for $330 million over 13 seasons. Betts, 26, one of the best players in baseball since making his major league debut in 2014, has a $20 million, one-year contract and is eligible for arbitration again next winter. “I’m under no pressure to do anything,” Betts said. “It’s OK for two sides to disagree. That’s perfectly fine. It’s normal. I got two more years, going to make the best of them. Got to worry
about Year 1 right here. I’m going out and doing my best to help the team win, and also next year. It’s just one of those things where it’s all right to disagree.” Betts said he loves Boston and playing for the Red Sox. But he also has other things in mind. “I’ve definitely grown to love going up north in the cold and all those type of things,” he said. “But it definitely doesn’t mean I want to sell myself short of my value. “Everybody values different things — what do you value, where you’re going to be in five years. “I definitely don’t pay that much attention to it that far in the future. I kind of worry about what’s going on now and just being treated fairly. I think that’s just kind of the main thing. “The biggest thing in my mind is just to be treated fairly.”
Ncaa | March Madness
March Madness promises to be memorable Associated Press
Izzo time.
The NCAA Tournament somehow seems to be getting better every year, almost as if each bracket is extending from the previous one. Surely it can’t get any better, right? Don’t bet against it. To get you ready for what’s sure to be another memorable March, we’ve got a rundown of some things to look for:
Star Players
Top Teams Duke. No. 1 overall seed is knocking down its 3s, everyone else could be playing for second. Virginia. Still plays great D, has a guy named Guy who’s a star and redemption on its mind after last year’s early flameout. North Carolina. Ol’ Roy has the type of team that could win another national title. Gonzaga. The Zags may have more talent than the national title-game team of two years ago. They also have Killian Tillie back. Michigan State. Sparty won the difficult Big Ten tournament and March is
Zion Williamson, Duke. More powerful than a locomotive, able to leap taller defenders with a single bound. Markus Howard, Marquette. Like points? He’s got a lot of ’em. Had 53 in one game this season, 40 in one half of another. Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga. Watched the 2017 national title game from the bench. Could be cutting down the nets this year. Ja Morant, Murray State. Ya, Ja is going to dunk on someone no matter how long the Racers are in the bracket. Book it. Grant Williams, Tennessee. Was the SEC player of the year in 2018, expanded his game this season. Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech. A projected top-10 NBA pick, he carries the offense for the defense-minded Red Raiders.
Great Games Murray State vs. Marquette, West Region. Ja Morant vs. Markus Howard? All day, every day. Louisville vs. Minnesota,
East Region. Sure, the NCAA Tournament selection committee didn’t purposely match Richard Pitino against the school that fired his dad. Oregon vs. Wisconsin, South Region. If you like lowscoring games, this one’s for you. First one to 50 wins. Buffalo vs. Arizona State. The Sun Devils still have to get past St. John’s in the First Four, but Bulls coach Nate Oats facing Bobby Hurley, his former boss, will be fun. Well, maybe not for them. Syracuse vs. Baylor, West Region. The Orange’s zone is tough to decipher. The Bears can hang with anyone.
Cinderella Potential Buffalo. The Bulls pulled off an upset after beating Arizona in the NCAA Tournament a year ago. Pretty much everyone is back. Murray State. Any team with Ja Morant has a chance to make a deep run. UC Irvine. The Anteaters not only have the best nickname in the bracket, they play superb defense and have won 16 straight games.
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M Lacrosse Continued from page 12
out-of-conference game the Irish play before having back-toback ACC games with Syracuse and Duke. Coming into the game, both teams have posted incredibly efficient offensive performances. Notre Dame is currently averaging 12.3 goals per game while holding their opponents to an average of 9.5, while for their part Ohio State is averaging 13.83 and 9.3, respectively. The Irish are winning .556 percent of their faceoffs and converting on .357 percent of their man-up opportunities, and the
Softball Continued from page 12
allow only three hits. Notre Dame pitchers Alexis Holloway and Morgan Ryan could not silence the Seminole bats, who erupted for 10 hits, and five walks. With the assistance of two Notre Dame fielding errors, Florida State put up 11 runs in three innings, marking a dominant victory for the heavily favored Seminole team. The second game of the weekend, however, was an entirely different story. Florida State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first off of a two-run shot
ndsmcobserver.com | Thursday, march 21, 2019 | The Observer
Buckeyes are in similar form with .600 percent faceoff victories and .316 percent success on their power plays. Both teams are shooting similarly as well, with Notre Dame finding the net on .564 percent of their looks and Ohio State on .693 percent of theirs. As similar-caliber programs, the game should be a gritty matchup, but fortune may favor the Irish as they come into the contest with significantly more competitive experience. In six games, they have seen four teams ranked in the top-15, while the highest-ranked opponent Ohio State has faced has been No. 20 UMass (5-3, 0-0 CAA). Beyond the Minutemen, the Buckeyes have not seen any
ranked opponents so far this season, nor have they played any inconference Big Ten games. Ohio State, however, holds the advantage in points-per-player, as three of their current starters have season point totals over 20. Notre Dame, on the other hand, has no players totaling 20-plus, and their highest individual point possessor is senior midfielder Brendan Gleason, who has recorded 18 on the season behind his 12 goals and six assists. On the other end of the field, both squads are fairly evenly matched. The Buckeyes have an advantage in their starting goalie’s save percentage, but the man in the same spot
for the Irish has been stopping more looks per game. For Ohio State, redshirt sophomore goalie Josh Kirson has stopped .593 percent of the looks opponents have fired his way, while Irish sophomore goalie Matt Schmidt is sitting just about a percent behind Kirson at .476 percent. On the other hand, Schmidt has saved an average of 9.37 shots per game, while his Ohioan counterpart has blocked an average of 8.76 shots per game. The matchup between No. 11 Notre Dame and No. 7 Ohio State will undoubtedly be a competitive one. The game is scheduled for noon Saturday.
to center field by sophomore third baseman Sydney Sherrill, but freshman pitcher Payton Tidd managed to control the damage, and did not allow another run until the bottom of the sixth. Tidd’s performance gave the Irish plenty of time to tie the game in the fourth inning on a two-run blast from senior Caitlyn Brooks (the designated player for the game). Notre Dame then took the lead in the fifth, as freshman right fielder Emma Clark scored on a wild pitch. The Irish then added insurance runs by way of sophomore center fielder Abby Sweet’s 3 RBI performance, and an RBI single by senior first baseman MK Bonamy in the 7th. The Seminoles
responded in the 6th and 7th, putting up a run in each inning, but Tidd shut the door on the way to a complete game victory in a big conference upset for Notre Dame. The third game had clear parallels to the Irish’s performance on Friday, as a dominant performance by Florida State star pitcher Meghan King absolutely devastated Notre Dame’s offense. King was one error away from a perfect game, allowing no hits or walks for the entire game, and struck out three over a complete game performance. Irish sophomore slingers Morgan Ryan and Alexis Holloway, along with freshman Payton Tidd all tried to counter King, but
ultimately to no avail as Florida State put up five runs for the game. The game ended 5-0, a frustrating regression from the unlikely victory a day earlier, but an understandable one as King tossed her third career no-hitter. The Fighting Irish follow up their weekend in Florida with their home opener against Louisville (19-8) as part of a three-game series at Melissa Cook Stadium. Notre Dame could be challenged by a Cardinals offense that bats a collective .296 and averages nearly six runs per game, but as they’ve proven, the Notre Dame softball team does not back away from any challenge.
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M Tennis Continued from page 12
break,” Sachire said. “Obviously, we were down a couple of our key players, so guys were playing at a higher position than they’re used to. Despite that, I thought we did a good job of … putting ourselves in position to win, but we just didn’t finish the deal.” This Friday, Notre Dame will match up against Wake Forest before playing in Sunday’s doubleheader against NC State and Toledo. Sachire said he wants the Irish to focus on one match at a time and to gradually improve their level of play. “Every match we play … for the next two months will be against really good opponents,” he said. “I think the goal is to get better every single week. We’ll take it one match at a time … because, if we get ahead of ourselves, we won’t perform at our best. We want to see each week leading up to the match as a chance to improve a little bit. You can’t overhaul someone’s game in two or three days of practice, but improving on a few key areas of each guy’s game each week is important.” Contact Patrick Gallagher at pgallag4@nd.edu
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The observer | Thursday, march 21, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
ND men’s lacrosse
ND men’s tennis | ND 3, FSU 4
ND falls on road against FSU By PATRICK GALLAGHER Sports Writer
The No. 11 Irish fell to then-No. 44 Florida State 4-3 on Sunday in Tallahassee. It was a tough and extremely competitive contest in which three of the six singles matches lasted until a third set. Florida State (13-5) has only lost once at home this year, but Notre Dame (10-8) was prepared to give them one of the most challenging matches of the season, despite playing without their star player, senior Alex Lebedev, on court one. The win catapulted the Seminoles to No. 19 in the most recent NCAA rankings. The match began with a dominant performance from the Irish’s doubles pairs. Junior Matt Gamble and senior Grayson Broadus quickly beat their Seminole opponents senior Lucas Poullain and freshman Bryn Nahrung 6-3 while junior Guillermo Cabrera and sophomore William Howells clinched the doubles point with
Notre Dame prepares for matchup against OSU
a 6-0 shutout of Chase Wood and Richard Thongoan. Florida State evened the score as junior Enzo Le Seguillon defeated Grayson Broadus in two sets. Sophomore Tristan McCormick regained the lead for the Irish by beating Richard Thongoana 6-4, 6-3. Poullain led the comeback for Florida State with an impressive two-set victory over freshman Axel Nefve. The Seminoles took a 3-2 lead when junior Alex Knaff outlasted Irish junior Matt Gamble in a hard-fought three-set match. Howells kept the Irish’s hopes for victory alive by completing a third set comeback against Wood and tied the score at 3-3. However, freshman Juan Martin Jalif was able to win the overall match for Florida State by beating Cabrera in the third set. Notre Dame head coach Ryan Sachire noted his team’s high level of play in the match. “I thought we played well in all three matches over spring see M TENNIS PAGE 11
Observer Sports Staff
KENDRA OSINSKI | The Observer
Irish sophomore midfielder Morrison Mirer runs with the ball during Notre Dame’s 14-13 win over Maryland on March 3.
see M LACROSSE PAGE 11
Rowing | OAK RIDGE CARDINAL INVITATIONAL
ND softball | ND 1, FSU 11; ND 7 FSU 4; ND 0, FSU 5
Irish look to bounce back after split road series
Squad posts strong opener
Observer Sports Staff
Observer Sports Staff
The Notre Dame softball team came back from Tallahassee, Florida this weekend after their first three games of conference play against No. 3 Florida State. Despite heading back to South Bend with a 1-2 record on the weekend and having broken their nine-game win streak, the unranked Irish again showed they have the capacity to play with any team they come across — an encouraging sign from the now 16-9 team on the brink of a top-25 ranking. Coming into the weekend, Florida State (29-3, 2-1 ACC) was 25-2 and recently dropped from their No. 1 ranking — posing as a clear challenge for the Irish. On Friday, the underdogs came out of the gate quickly, scoring in the top of the first off of a fielder’s choice by senior third baseman Melissa Rochford. However, that accounted for the entirety of Notre Dame’s offense, as Florida State pitchers Meghan King and Kathryn Sandercock combined to
The women’s rowing team began its 2019 season this past weekend at the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitational, earning six wins over 15 races between the two days of competition. Saturday’s morning session saw Notre Dame face off against Louisville and Alabama. The Irish got off to a slow start, as the Varsity Eight team placed third with a time of 5:48.789. The Varsity Four and the Second Varsity Eight teams did a little better, each finishing in second behind Alabama with times of 6:26.561 and 5:58.850, respectively. However, the Second Varsity Four (6:54.004) team finished third, and the Third Varsity Eight (6:02.835) team couldn’t catch Alabama, and the Irish finished the morning session having earned no victories. In Saturday’s afternoon session, the Irish finally began to win some races. Competing against Wisconsin and Clemson, the Varsity Eight, Varsity Four and Second Varsity Eight squads all finished second behind Wisconsin, but the Irish began
see SOFTBALL PAGE 11
After posting a winning record on the road in their last three games behind a 10-7 win against No. 13 Denver, a 13-11 loss at No. 9 Virginia and a 12-9 win against Michigan, the No. 11 men’s lacrosse team will return home this weekend for a top-15 matchup with No. 7 Ohio State on Saturday in Arlotta Stadium. The undefeated Buckeyes (60, 0-0 Big Ten) will be the fourth ranked opponent the Irish (4-2, 0-1 ACC) have seen so far this season, and the game will mark their transition into the back half of the season. With the matchup, Notre Dame will look to preserve their perfect record of 2-0 at home, which they achieved behind a season-opening, resolute 19-6 win over Detroit Mercy and a 14-13 overtime thriller victory at the beginning of March over then second-ranked Maryland (now No. 4). The match with the Ohio State will also be the the last
Observer File Photo
Irish junior outfielder Alexis Bazos steps up to the plate during Notre Dame’s 6-1 win over Eastern Michigan on March 27, 2018.
to find success due to their team depth. The Second Varsity Four team finished first with a time of 6:23.175, while the Third Varsity Eight squad also comfortably crossed the finish line ahead of the pack, recording a time of 6:01.877. The Irish carried some momentum with them onto the river Sunday, winning four of the five races during the morning session competition to end the invitational. Competing against Tennessee and Miami, the Varsity Eight started the day strong by crossing the finish line with a time of 5:46.098, earning first place. The Varsity Four followed suit, winning its race 14 seconds ahead of the field with a time of 6:24.242, while the Second Varsity Eight was barely edged out by Tennessee to earn second place. In the final race of the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitational, the Third Varsity Eight team capped off an impressive day for the Irish by pulling away to cross the finish line first in 6:04.893. The team will travel across the country to compete at the Lake Natoma Invitational in Folsom, California, on April 13 and 14.