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Volume 54, Issue 9 | friday, september 6, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
SUB aims to promote inclusion Student leaders to provide opportunities to connect with others on campus By MARIAH RUSH Associate News Editor
The second f loor of LaFortune Student Center is home to Notre Dame’s ow n Student Union Board, or SUB for short. In a large room w ith walls decorated w ith posters from SUB’s past events, from “Dogs and Donuts” to “Cuddles and Cocoa,” students plan free events taking place on campus. SUB’s mission statement is to “enhance undergraduate student life by prov iding undergraduate student ser v ices and social, intellectual and cultural opportunities” for students on campus, but this year their main goal is to focus on diversit y and inclusion, executive director Eric Kim said. Kim, a senior, said the
inclusion aspect is especially important to SUB going for ward. “We tr y to really tr y to incorporate the themes of diversit y and inclusion,” Kim said. “Many people get confused ... the idea is that it’s great to have a diversit y of events, but people forget about the idea of inclusion. We want to make sure that all of our events have intentionalit y behind them, and we want to make sure that ever yone feels included in all events, because our all our events are for the student body, and not just specific people.” In the last year, SUB prov ided a packed audience w ith a talk by Karamo Brow n, one of the stars of hit Netf lix series “Queer Eye.” The group partnered w ith PrismND to sponsor
Conference to discuss diversity By GENEVIEVE REDSTEN News Writer
Members of the tri-campus community will join together Friday in conversation at the “2019 Diversity and Inclusion Conference” at the Morris Inn from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.. The conference is open to students, staff and faculty, and will explore ideas about race, gender, sexual orientation and identity. Eric Love, director of staff diversity and inclusion, said the event offers a unique opportunity to participants. “I think this will be an excellent opportunity for students, faculty [and] staff to come together [and] engage in those conversations in a way that doesn’t usually happen on campus,” Love said. The event’s keynote speaker Robin DiAngelo is the author of the New York Times bestseller “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism.” According
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to the conference agenda, DiAngelo’s speech “Seeing the Racial Water” will examine how white people can “develop white racial literacy” to push for “greater racial equity.” Love, who is organizing the event, said DiAngelo’s speech has attracted interest from many faculty and staff who have held book clubs over the summer discussing her ideas. DiAngelo raises important critiques without pointing fingers, Love said. “I don’t think she attacks or blames white people,” Love said. “I think that she points out some patterns that oftentimes white people get uncomfortable when we talk about race or racism.” In the four years Love has worked at Notre Dame, the University became a far more inclusive environment, he said. “I think that every institution has work to do, and see DIVERSITY PAGE 3
Scene PAGE 5
Phone fraud reported Observer Staff Report
unique perspectives. “[Brow n] does prov ide a really interesting
In a campus-wide email sent Thursday afternoon, Notre Dame Police Department (NDPD) cautioned students against answering fraudulent phone calls that “[appear] to come from the main NDPD number (574-631-5555) or the South Bend Police Department.” According to the email, NDPD has gotten numerous reports of callers scamming Notre Dame students and asking for credit information or photographs. “The caller has warned the victims that they have been implicated in one of several
see SUB PAGE 4
see FRAUD PAGE 4
ERIC KIM | The Observer
Students gather on North Quad for a film screening last year, one of several free events hosted by Notre Dame’s Student Union Board.
Brow n’s event. Kim said SUB wants to continue these partnerships in the upcoming year, in order to give students
Artist presents ‘Legacy of Loss’ at Saint Mary’s
SARA SCHLECHT | The Observer
Visiting artist Jenny Yurshansky, a refugee from the former Soviet Union, found inspiration in her family’s hisotry while creating “A Legacy of Loss,” telling the story of a family torn apart over time. By REBECCA STELLA News Writer
Saint Mary’s welcomed fall 2019 visiting artist Jenny Yurshansky to speak to students about her exhibit ”A Legacy of Loss” at its official opening in Moreau Art Galleries on Thursday. Ian Weaver, assistant professor
viewpoint PAGE 7
in the Art Department, introduced the artist by explaining her diverse background and detailing his own personal experiences in working with Yurshansky. “I was super impressed by her work,” Weaver said. “She works exceptionally hard — I felt like a slacker comparatively.” Yurshansky said she refers to
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herself as a conceptually-based research artist and researched her current project three years before she even knew what the pieces would be. Her complicated family history inspired her current exhibit and required extensive research, she said. see LEGACY PAGE 4
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TODAY
The observer | FRIDAY, september 6, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
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P.O. Box 779, Notre Dame, IN 46556 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556 Editor-in-Chief Kelli Smith Managing Editor Charlotte Edmonds Asst. Managing Editor: Maria Leontaras Asst. Managing Editor: Mary Steurer Asst. Managing Editor: Natalie Weber Notre Dame News Editor: Tom Naatz Saint Mary’s News Editor: Maeve Filbin Viewpoint Editor: Evelyn Stein Sports Editor: Connor Mulvena Scene Editor: Mike Donovan Social Media Editor: Mary Bernard Photo Editor: Anna Mason Graphics Editor: Diane Park Advertising Manager: Landry Kempf Ad Design Manager: Ruby Le Systems Administrator: Mike Dugan Office Manager & General Info
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A student band plays at the Graduate Student Union’s annual Welcome Picnic and Faith Fair on Thursday on Bond Quad. The event featured free food, local faith organization representatives, games and tours of the new Graduate School Offices.
The next Five days:
Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Diversity and Inclusion Conference Morris Inn 8 a.m. Day of learning and community-building.
Seminar in American Religion Morris Inn 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Kathleen Sprow Cummings to speak.
Basilica Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 10 a.m. or 11:45 a.m. Celebrate Mass with the community.
Peer Consulting Panel Duncan Student Center 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Open to all undergrads.
Presentation: “Notre Dame Moves Toward Decarbonization” 104 Bond Hall 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Open to the public.
Memorial Mass for John Copeland Nagle Basilica of the Sacred Heart 12:45 p.m. Service for professor.
Exhibit: “Looking at the Stars” Snite Museum of Art All day Explore collection of Irish art.
Film: “At Eternity’s Gate” Browning Cinema 3 p.m. Film about Vincent Van Gogh and his artwork.
Engineering Presentation 104 Bond Hall 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. “An Energy Corridor on Our Southern Border.”
Concert: “The Sound and the Fury” LaBar Recital Hall 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Free concert featuring violin and piano.
News
ndsmcobserver.com | friday, september 6, 2019 | The Observer
Hymn festival to celebrate Saint Mary’s 175th anniversary By SARA SCHLECHT Associate News Editor
As Saint Mary’s celebrates the 175th anniversary of its founding in 1844, events commemorating the College’s history have been occurring throughout the calendar year. The next in the series, an ecumenical Marian hymn festival titled “Mary, Bearer of the Eternal Word,” will take place at 3 p.m. in the Church of Loretto on Sunday. “A hymn festival is designed to highlight a lot of hymns,” said Trevis Young, campus minister for liturgical music at the College. “In this instance, there are 12 hymns.” While most Catholic Masses and Protestant services feature three or four hymns alongside other forms of celebration, this event is primarily focused on the hymns, he said.
“These hymns serve as an anthem for us about something we believe,” he said. “All the hymns in this festival are about Mary, the namesake of the College.” According to Young, the hymns come from different Christian denominations and explore the many views of Mary. “Usually at a hymn festival, the congregation sings,” he said. “There is a lead choir, which in this case is the South Bend Chamber Singers.” This soprano, alto, tenor and bass (SATB) choir consists of singers from the Michiana area and is the ensemble in residence at Saint Mary’s, according to its website. “They will help the congregation to sing, but they will not sing any one hymn as a solo performance,” Young said. He said hymn festivals often have music interspersed
with other actions, such as liturgical actions or conveyance of information about the music’s history or composers. “In this instance, our readings are related to the text but don’t speak specifically about the hymn,” he said. “We chose things that highlight Mary through a variety of different voices.” Among the readings will be words of Pope Francis and Sr. Madeleva Wolff, a former president of the College. Musical accompaniment will be either organ or piano, Young said, and brass instruments will accompany a few of the hymns. “It’s a unique experience, and it’s a fun way to think about a theme — in this instance it’s Mary — through word and song,” he said. Contact Sara Schlecht at sschlecht01@saintmarys.edu Paid Advertisement
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Notre Dame is no different,” Love said. “I do think we’ve come a long way in a very short period of time.” When it comes to diversity and inclusion, Love said Notre Dame needs to continue shifting its campus culture and becoming more open to differences across the board. The conference will devote a workshop specifically towards improving LGBTQ allyship. Love said LGBTQ inclusion aligns with Notre Dame’s Catholic values, despite the Catholic Church’s opposition to same-sex relationships and transgender identities. “We are a Catholic institution,” Love said. “We follow Catholic doctrine [and] Biblical teachings, but one of the major premises of Catholic
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doctrine is to treat each individual with human dignity and respect. You might not agree with everyone, you might not understand, and you may not endorse someone’s lifestyle or every choice that people make or who they are. But we have to treat each other with dignity and respect.” Love said Notre Dame administrators and student government officials have recently been pushing diversity and inclusion initiatives on many fronts, and he is hopeful this conference will be a step in the right direction. “I think that this conference helps really illustrate how seamless social Catholic teachings, the mission of Notre Dame and diversity and inclusion work really go together,” Love said. “It’s a natural fit.” Contact Genevieve Redsten at gredsten@nd.edu
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NEWS
The observer | friday, september 6, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
SUB Continued from page 1
SARA SCHLECHT | The Observer
Jenny Yurshansky accompanied her mother on a visit to her hometown where she found inspiration for some of her gallery pieces.
Legacy Continued from page 1
“I am a refugee,” Yurshansky said. “My family comes from what was the Soviet Union.” While her immediate family fled to the U.S., Yurshansky’s extended family on her mother’s side was forced to disperse throughout the world, she said. “A whole section of my family fled the Soviet Union to Argentina” Yurshansky said. “The immigration of a whole set of sons ended up being the reason why my great-great grandmother committed suicide because she was so devastated that her family was torn apart in this way. So again, we see these legacies of loss.” Her family was further separated throughout the events of World War II, she said. “My family is Jewish so in order to escape being murdered, my grandmother, her sister and eventually her mother fled all the way to Uzbekistan, 3,000 miles making the journey on foot, train and on hopes,” Yurshansky said. “Not everyone made it back.” Yurshansky said she often needed her mother’s help to fill in some of the missing puzzle pieces and teach her more about her family history, though she was not always willing. ‘Part of what makes these histories so difficult to share amongst ourselves is that because there is so much pain attached to them, it’s difficult for those who have gone through it to speak openly about it, it’s really difficult to bring up and dredge up all that pain,” she said. Eventually, her mother opened up and began sharing her story more freely, Yurshansky said, even accompanying her daughter on two visits to her hometown.
“It has loosened something between us and now conversations do happen unprompted,” Yurshansky said. “At least between us I think it has been a healthy thing and I can say as her daughter there has been some sort of healing that has happened for her.” While on these trips, Yurshasky said she visited her great grandfather’s grave for the first time and rubbed an etching of it, inspiring one of exhibit’s biggest pieces, a large hand-embroidered muslin sheet outlining the etching of the grave. She said she stumbled upon some precision blanks, the lenses used to make glasses before they’re ground down, and had the idea for the main piece in her exhibit: 13 hanging branches with 1,000 pieces of glass on them, expressing so many families’ migrations. ”The lenses are just an incredible way to speak about memory,” Yurshansky said. “You think you would have clear access to your own memories but when you have layers of trauma and pain that can be blocks against that, then you have a situation where you can become precisely blank.” Yurshansky said she wants her piece to spark conversations and allow people to make connections. “One thing that I worry about as an artist is if the work becomes completely about me,” she said. “The function that I really want it to have and serve is that I want this work to become a place where dialogue can happen. Us sharing these stories and finding connections with one another and seeing that we are all connected in some way through history, that’s what I want this to open up.” Contact Rebecca Stella at rstella01@saintmary’s.edu
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perspective that I would say a majority of the student body would benefit from,” Kim said. “We want to continue bringing that theme to this year, and providing a different perspective that a majority of students could benefit from.” This is director of operations Siena Gruler’s first year working in SUB. Gruler, a junior, said she and Kim want to brand SUB in a more recognizable way. “It’s my first year in SUB, and I didn’t really know what it was before I applied,” Gruler said. “We want the whole student body to know it. I’ve had people ask me like, ‘Oh, what do they do besides the concerts?’ So we want to expand that, and we want people to know what we are besides just the concerts.” Although SUB does host similar events yearly, Gruler said they do try to change up the kinds of events offered. “We try to make sure that they’re different from semester to semester from year to year, just to appeal to a different group on campus,” Gruler said. “We don’t want it to be too repetitive, even if we are programming the same types of events.” SUB differs from other student groups such as the Student Activities Office (SAO) in that SAO primarily offers
activities during the weekend that act as an alternative to partying, Kim said. SUB is already beginning the year with a ‘Standup Bash,’ a free event showcasing different comedians and featuring Saturday Night Live cast member Melissa Villaseñor, this Friday night. Aside from their unique events, SUB also hosts reliable events that happen weekly and monthly — including Acousticafé every Thursday night in Duncan Student Center and movie screenings in Debartolo Hall. Although the fall concert has not been announced yet, Kim and Gruler said plans have been in the works since this summer. “Usually, if it’s a bigger name and event, like the concert, speakers, comedians, magicians and others, we work that out two to four months in advance,” Kim said. Kim and Gruler urge students who have suggestions or ideas to contact SUB directly. “Ultimately, we want to do our job,” Kim said, “We want to make sure our jobs done correctly and efficiently. That can only be done through student input, so if students have ideas, don’t hesitate to contact us at sub@nd.edu. We’re more than willing to listen to whatever it is, because these events are for them.” Contact Mariah Rush at mrush@nd.edu Paid Advertisement
Fraud Continued from page 1
scenarios including; their name has come up in a drug investigation; their bank account was used to launder money; or someone has stolen their identity,” NDPD said in the email. In the email, NDPD said the department does not call students or ”make notifications in this manner and would never ask for a credit card, money transfers, gift cards or other personal information over the phone or to meet in a remote location.” Scammers posing as NDPD officials may use titles and fake badge numbers, as well as false information, NDPD said in the email. Scammers also may offer a variety of false information in order to gain people’s trust, the email said —they may pose as someone in a position of power, demand pay without a bill, leave a voicemail message and threaten to bring in other law enforcement officers. According to the email, people who should receive a call like this should verify the claims the person has made with someone from the University, talk to a trusted individual or just hang up immediately. NDPD advises the campus community to report any suspicious calls.
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The observer | friday, september 6, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
By RYAN ISRAEL Scene Writer
To “go sicko mode” is to go off, to go crazy, to reach a level of performance, excitement, joy or fanaticism that could be defined as “sicko” — the definition is fairly open. In “Look Mom I Can Fly,” the new Travis Scott documentary on Netflix, Travis goes “sicko mode” when first playing Drake’s contribution to the song “SICKO MODE,” which birthed the phrase, for his friends. He starts running around his kitchen, screaming, shouting, ie. going sicko mode. And that’s just one of many instances. “Look Mom I Can Fly” follows rap superstar Travis Scott from May 2017 to early 2019, through the creation, release and subsequent reception of his 2018 hit album “ASTROWORLD.” Home video of Scott’s childhood is interspersed throughout, but the focus is on the past two years of Scott’s career. In those two years, Scott moved from burgeoning rap artist to certifiable rap star, thanks to two elements of his stardom that are highlighted throughout the documentary. First, there’s the footage of Travis Scott concerts. Professional videography mixed with amataeur Snapchat videos captures the raw energy at what Rolling Stone called “the greatest show on Earth.” His fans, mostly male teenagers repping stylish streetwear, rage, mosh and “go sicko mode” at his command. He stops security
By JAKE WINNINGHAM Scene Writer
In the 30 plus years he’s been a fixture in cinemas around the globe, Spanish writer/director Pedro Almodóvar has gained a reputation as one of the few artists in any medium whose own name represents a genre unto itself. “Almodóvariano” has become shorthand for the themes and symbols running through the director’s oeuvre. Strong female characters, vibrant colors, camp (real camp, not the Met Gala version), Catholic guilt and the power of performance are just a few of the trademarks Almodóvar has collected for himself over his illustrious career. It is impossible to explain Almodóvar’s appeal to those who haven’t seen his movies. He mixes high and low culture as though he’s running our guilty pleasures and high school English curriculums through a Cuisinart. To Almodóvar, the only difference between soap operas and Tennessee Williams is a matter of staging. “Dolor y Gloria” finds Almodóvar regular Antonio Banderas playing depressed film director Salvador Mallo in a register of self-pity and reticence that is leagues away from the suave roles that made him famous. Stranded in his spacious Madrid apartment, Salvador is unable to make any new films while contending with a
from removing fans who rage too hard, pulls them up on stage, raps alongside them and then encourages them to stage dive, giving them what one fan sporting a Houston Rockets jersey called “the best day of my life.” Early into the documentary, we see Scott literally get arrested for inciting a riot at one of his concerts, although nothing comes of the charges. It’s these electric, raucous shows that make Scott a must-see performer. Second, there’s the celebrities associated with Scott who appear throughout the documentary, most notably, reality-TV star and business mogul Kylie Jenner. They’re shown together as Jenner gets an ultrasound and eventually we see Scott in the hospital room after the birth of their daughter Stormi Webster. Scott’s newfound role as a father and the theme of family run throughout the documentary, painting the bad-boy rapper in a new light. Other music celebrities make appearances as well. Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker collaborates in the studio on the psychedelic “SKELETONS” while Toro y Moi watches on. Sheck Wes, the genius behind “Mo Bamba” and a member of Scott’s Cactus Jack record label, gets his own time to shine. Kanye West, another notable part of the Kardashian-Jenner family, appears briefly, included only to remind everyone that he’s a part of the picture. While “Look Mom I Can Fly” offers a great glimpse into the past two years for Travis Scott, it fails to stand out as an exceptional music documentary. It could have
centered around one amazing performance, like his Madison Square Garden show featuring Kendrick Lamar and Kylie Jenner or his homecoming show at Houston’s Toyota Center, similar to Beyonce’s “Homecoming” doc or the rock classic “The Last Waltz.” Or it could have focused more on the truly character-revealing moments, like the scenes when Scott visits his grandma’s home or when he returns to his high school to share a special moment with his principal and guidance counselor. Or, true to Travis Scott’s musical style, it could have bent genre conventions and delivered an energetic, psychedelic experience. Instead, there’s a little bit of everything, scratching the surface of Travis Scott but failing to go much deeper.
litany of personal and physical pains, laid out for the audience in a first-act exposition blast cleverly disguised as a 3-D rendering of Salvador’s ailing body. When a local film society decides to remaster one of his earlier classics, Salvador reaches out to his estranged star Alberto (Asier Etxeandia, perfectly cast as Guns N’ Roses-aping burnout) in order to reconnect and present the film. In return, Alberto offers to perform a oneman play his former director wrote — and, as though Salvador doesn’t have enough going on, Alberto also single-handedly inspires and furnishes the older man’s newfound heroin addiction. As Salvador gains confidence and returns to the world, he undergoes a chance encounter with a long-lost flame — in the film’s most breathtaking scene — and flashes back to his youth in parochial Spain with his mother Jacinta (Penelope Cruz in a far-too-small role). As always, Almodóvar and his usual crew of filmmaking associates — most notably cinematographer Jose Luis Alcaine and composer Alberto Iglesias — create cinematic gold. Only Almodóvar, a master of shot composition since the very beginning of his career, could make the keys on a piano burst with color. Graphic matches move the story between past and present. In a nifty feat of editing, the adult Salvador’s dive in a swanky pool switches seamlessly to a childhood memory of his
mother washing clothes in a river. Almodóvar’s interplay between Salvador’s youthful innocence and the pained reservations of his older age closely resembles Federico Fellini, his greatest antecedent in the pantheon of world cinema. Fellini’s classic “8 1/2,” also about a struggling film director, is an obvious influence on Almodóvar here — though the homespun feel of the growing-up scenes in “Dolor y Gloria” recall the Italian director’s under-seen 1973 film “Amarcord.” The true power of “Dolor y Gloria,” is not in its similarities to other great films, but how it cements Almodóvar in the highest echelon of the directors who make them.
Contact Ryan Israel at risrael1@nd.edu.
Documentary: “ Travis Scott: Look Mom I Can Fly” Starring: Travis Scott, Kylie Jenner Director: White Trash Tyler Where to watch: Netflix If you like: Travis Scott, Rap music, Kylie Jenner
Contact Jake Winningham at jwinning@nd.edu.
Title: “Dolor Y Gloria” Starring: Antonio Banderas, Penelope Cruz, Asier Etxeandia Director: Pedro Almodóvar Genre: Drama If you like: “La Dolce Vita,” “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,” “The Artist”
DIANE PARK | The Observer
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The observer | friday, September 6, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Inside Column
Introducing The Observer’s new social media team Mary Bernard Social Media Editor
As a journalist, my mission is to serve the organization’s audience. To do that, I listen to news consumers for the answers to two questions: what do they need to know that I (or my colleagues) can tell them, and how do they want to know it? This year, The Observer is responding to the needs and desires of its audience in a new way, and that’s where I come in. My position — Social Media Editor — has never existed before. Neither have the positions of my nine-person team. The Observer has used Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for years, but has lacked a group dedicated solely to that effort until now. Looking at how many of our online readers come from these platforms, we decided it was time to have a team that would not only be deeply acquainted with the stories we publish, but also with the trends of the digital age. Knowing that many people get their news primarily or exclusively from social media, we take that responsibility very seriously. As a news organization, our mission is to uncover the truth and report it accurately — a statement we display prominently on our website. Social media has the power to aid in both efforts, if used with good intent, caution and conscientiousness. To that end, we work to use social media to best serve our followers. A misleading or confusing shareline does not help the reader. In language that has length restrictions, it’s difficult to include the full complexity of the story, but our posts must still be true, complete and clear. It’s also our responsibility to help you understand what is opinion and what is fact. We do so by differentiating between “reporters” and “columnists,” and by denoting what comes from the Viewpoint section. Above all, we strive to give you the news in an interesting way, without compromising the integrity of the story or the organization, in order to reach our current readers better and to engage new readers. I am very passionate about social media, but I wasn’t always. In fact, I signed up for my current Twitter and Instagram accounts in my sophomore year Fundamentals of Journalism course. Since then, social media has become more than a way for me to follow my friends. It’s how I get my news, how I connect with people in my field and how I share my own and others’ accomplishments. I see social media as integral to the work I do and to journalism at large. So this year, keep an eye out for the efforts of my team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, and in two newsletters we launched this week. People and trends are constantly changing, and, often, it’s up to the field of journalism to change with it. This initiative is a substantial change to help The Observer serve the tri-campus community even better. At the end of the day, the more we engage with the audience, the better our work will be. That’s why I want to hear from you! I’m eager to hear your thoughts and discuss how we can best use social media to promote quality journalism. Mary Bernard is The Observer’s Social Media Editor. She is majoring in Anthropology, minoring in Journalism and desperately trying to bake the perfect loaf of bread. She can be reached at social@ndsmcobserver.com or @mbernardreports on Twitter. The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Thoughts and prayers: An undermined response to mass shootings Blake Ziegler News With Zig
In wake of the El Paso and Dayton mass shootings, Americans are reminded of a grim cycle: a shooting occurs, social media responds, no action is taken. Angered by these events, individuals often criticize the infamous, yet well-intentioned, phrase “thoughts and prayers”. As social media floods with meaningless arguments and shouting matches, a common criticism towards government officials is their offering of “thoughts and prayers” for the victims. In a column at The Washington Post, Dana Milbank asks if Republican lawmakers “realize that ‘thoughts and prayers’ has become a meme, a cynical punchline conveying inaction to guns?” Twitter and Facebook are an endless supply of demonization of these officials. However, the assault has gone too far. The mere mention of the phrase garners vicious responses. The endless stream of articles criticizing the phrase proves this. Although it is justified to criticize inaction, the assault on thoughts and prayers undermines the value they provide to our nation in times of crisis. Thoughts and prayers are necessary for a nation in need of healing, and the United States has been ill for a long time. Joining as a community to mourn the loss of innocent civilians allows a moment of reflection. It provides the chance to step back from life’s uncertainty into a solemn moment of silence. It forces us to break away from politics to recognize the suffering of the victims and their families. Most importantly, thoughts and prayers tear down the barriers that politics and society construct to divide Americans. This ability to dismantle discord between civilians grants the comfort needed when a crisis strikes home. The biggest example of this is the nation’s unity after the 9/11 attacks. As Americans joined together in mourning the losses of their fellow countrymen, petty rivalries were forgotten in the interest of the community. That is the feeling America needs now more than ever. Thoughts and prayers provide the opportunity for that unity. Moreover, reflection is necessary in search of a solution. Thoughts and prayers bring humanity to politics. By encouraging an atmosphere of mourning lives lost and consoling the suffering community, lawmakers and citizens become familiar with how close these massacres hit home. The care for one another incentivizes a civil discourse towards a common goal: the safety of American citizens. Moving straight forward towards political action does nothing to heal the nation’s disdainful political divisions. However, a moment of reflection grants
the opportunity to see past differences. Even if it is only for a short time, that time matters. That time creates bridges that are crossed in search of a solution. Even if a solution is not reached, the experience shows the country and world that the United States is able to set aside its petty differences when it truly matters. However, thoughts and prayers are not enough. While they may alleviate the pain for a short time, the nation only truly heals when the illness is cured by action. In a post on his blog, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee claims that thoughts and prayers are “the only thing that’s ever really going to help.” That is far from the truth. Think of thoughts and prayers as preparing the body for a shot, and the injection is legislative action. One does not work without the other. Performing a shot too early can harm the patient or diminish the injection’s effectiveness. Not performing a shot leaves the illness to grow. Likewise, ending the discussion at thoughts and prayers does nothing to fix the problem. Thoughts and prayers prepare the solution, but action must be taken to ensure success. Now, while it is justified to criticize individuals who do nothing, there is no justification in attacking someone simply for offering their condolences. In fact, instantly politicizing the event and demanding a solution does nothing but devalue the lives lost for political gain. It robs the nation of a chance to mourn for the sake of legislation that likely would not even be submitted for weeks, if at all. Judaism offers insight on this topic. In the Jewish tradition, there is an intense mourning period after the loss of a loved one. This involves a series of prayers, actions and guidelines spanning months that must be taken before moving on from the death. The reasoning for this is to provide those mourning solace and the opportunity to reflect on their loved one. Through this process, the mourners feel more refreshed and accepting of the death and can move onto a fulfilling life. Just as the Jewish people respect their mourning period, so must America in times of crisis. As a nation, we must certainly address our problems, but there is a time for action and a time for healing. 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 the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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Time for transparency Transparency is becoming increasingly rarer. This is a realit y found in many cities, states and nations in today’s world. It’s also a truth in our ow n communit y — and recent events show it’s only getting worse. The Notre Dame administration needs to fundamentally reform the way it goes about implementing major changes in our communit y. Making unforeseen, hushed decisions in the Main Building and standing idly by while a confused uproar f lares across campus cannot be the way our leaders respond to student’s concerns. The latest residential life change illustrates this point. On Aug. 19, the Office of Residential Life announced to the campus communit y that it had stripped student ID cards of access to all dorms. Students were given no more explanation than “greater safet y and securit y” despite the controversy that erupted in its wake. This was only the most recent installment in a series of abrupt changes to residential life policy. First came the six-semester mandate, which was unexpectedly announced in an early morning email w ith a “presentation and questions” scheduled less than 24 hours later. Then came follow-up changes announced this past April — the most controversial of which excluded off-campus students from many significant oncampus dorm activ ities. Taken together, these announcements stirred student participation to an extent we haven’t seen in our communit y in quite some time. At least 1,000 students protested in front of and inside the Main Building. Petitions urging policy reversals collected
thousands of signatures. Student Government leaders pledged to advocate on behalf of students to find a compromise or clarit y on these issues. But just like w ith so many other issues, the protests and advocacy eventually died out. The fur y wore off. Students got tired. And we saw our communit y left in the dark on the mechanics behind major policy changes. We could focus on the lack of continued student participation, as we did in March. But the manner in which campus-w ide changes continue to be made in our communit y shows there is another issue at the heart of this problem. Students are unaware of the power their voices have on our campus — in part due to the lack of transparency w ithin the Universit y’s decisionmaking process. So far, protests don’t appear to have swayed a single administrative mind or brought about any further campus-w ide clarit y. Our leaders ignore petitions. There is little information given about the “student-led focus groups” that are said to justif y some of these changes. We invest our time and money in this institution in the hopes we’ll leave better educated, informed and equipped to venture into the real world. Creating an env ironment conducive to conversation and participation is v ital to this goal. But w ith the way our administration has responded to our concerns, student participation only seems to be hindered. With changes like the student ID card restrictions, we have seen little indication our leaders truly listen to our voices, thoughts and concerns on issues students have clearly said matter to them. There are concrete ways the administration can ensure greater trust among the student body
— many of which have been sporadically utilized in the past. Meeting w ith student groups, holding listening sessions and analyzing campus sur veys are all practices the administration has employed to handle certain issues. But it must go further. These should be established standards for all major Universit y decisions that impact students — especially those that result in mass confusion and frustration. Maybe then students w ill truly believe our voices are being heard.
Nope, you can’t navigate life by yourself Krista Lourdes Akiki Lifestyle Nomad
Tr y not to laugh too hard as you imagine me sitting in my tight dorm room developing a passive aggressive relationship with the extension cord I just bought simply because I couldn’t figure out how to use it. There I was tired, homesick and offended that after f lying 6,118 miles from Lebanon to attend Notre Dame a mere extension cord was prohibiting me from charging my laptop and submitting my assignment. Extension cords are ver y different back in Lebanon. A lot of things are ver y different back in Lebanon, and truth be told I was not navigating this change as gracefully as I thought I would. Yet, I told myself repeatedly that ever ything was perfectly fine. I could do all of this by myself. I didn’t need to call my mom when it was 3 a.m. back home because the laundr y frustrated me. I didn’t need to ask my roommate what bubble tea was. I thought I could figure it out by myself. I’ve always thought of myself as the “do it by yourself until you ultimately and painfully hit a brick wall.” I had always had a strong sense of self-reliance. It was right there on that cold tile f loor that my over whelmed self reluctantly admitted that things were not perfectly fine. I always thought that pride made me reluctant to ask for help. Yet, in this ver y moment I realized it wasn’t just pride. My reluctance to ask for help stemmed from a fear of being v ulnerable. I did not want to admit that I couldn’t do it myself. A year ago, I experienced the painful repercussions of being too dependent on an unhealthy
relationship. It took me quite some time to pick myself up, to believe that not ever yone around me was unworthy of my trust. Maybe it was the insecurities. Maybe it was the fatigue. Maybe it was the frustration. I picked myself up and went out to the common room shared with my roommates. I mustered up my most chirpy casual voice, “I’ve had this extension cord for two weeks now but I have no idea how to use it” “Really? W hy didn’t you say that earlier! There, let me show you how!” was the friendly response I received. Well, it wasn’t that hard. Damn, I could have saved myself 45 minutes. To some this may seem like a pretty basic uninteresting stor y. But for me, that 15-word statement I uttered to a person I met two weeks ago and barely knew was a little success stor y. Life can be messy and chaotic. It’s complicated. It often blindsides you with twists and turns and ironies. Life is so confusing that some days I feel like God always gets a good laugh as we tr y to climb over the walls only to come tumbling back down. I know that sometimes it’s tricky to ask for help. Author M. Nora Klavere so powerfully stated in her novel, MayDay! Asking for Help in Times of Need, “Most people have never been taught how to ask properly…We solicit pity when we want assistance, or we ask the wrong person. We might have felt humiliated doing it in the past, so we fear doing it in the future.” I am well aware that there are no hordes of people out there dying to do your laundr y or do your homework. Yet, this past week, I have challenged myself to find help in the smallest of
ways. And trust me I have found it. I have found it in the people who held the doors open for me when I was obviously carr ying more than I probably should. I have found it in the people who returned my keys to my dorm after I had dropped them in math class. I found it in the people who gave me quarters to do my laundr y. I found it in the people who got as excited as I did when I tried my first fortune cookie. I found it in the people who saved me a seat in class. I found it in the people who loved to hear about Lebanon and Arab culture when I felt homesick. Help doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. Asking for it shouldn’t be either. Don’t let guilt lurk around as you contemplate asking someone for help. Dear confused international students, dear over whelmed college students, dear introverted young adults, help comes in so many divergent ways. If you find yourself in a tricky situation tr y not to hesitate when debating whether to ask for help or not. Notice here that I used the word tr y because at the end of the day I’m just a confused international student, an over whelmed college student and an introverted young adult (do not let the word adult mislead you) who recently found out that it was perfectly okay to ask for help. Krista Lourdes Akiki is majoring in management consultancy and global affairs. Coming from Beirut, Lebanon, she always enjoys trying out new things and is an avid travel lover. She hopes to take her readers on her journey as she discovers new lifestyles and navigates new cities. She can be reached at kakiki@nd.edu or via Twitter @kristalourdesakiki. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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Classifieds
The observer | friday, september 6, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Crossword | Will Shortz
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Think big, but when it comes time to initiate your plans, take one small step at a time. Everything will eventually fall into place as the year progresses, allowing you to meet your mark in every way without setbacks, losses or regrets. Give yourself time to enjoy the ones you love as well as each accomplishment you make. Your numbers are 4, 12, 18, 23, 27, 36, 40. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Look over your personal finances and medical records, and check lottery tickets that you’ve stashed away somewhere safe. Make a to-do list, and flesh out ideas that you think have the potential to bring in extra cash. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Have a good reason and a plan in place before you make a move. Confidence will be more prevalent if you have done the legwork and have left nothing to chance. Make plans for someone you love. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Pay attention, listen to what’s being said and make decisions based on what’s most practical. Refuse to let your emotions take over or temptation overpower you. The less you commit to, the better. A frugal lifestyle will spare you unnecessary stress. CANCER (June 21-July 22): The changes you make personally or to your living arrangements or surroundings will lift your spirits. Keeping up with trends, technology and how you present who you are and what you do will end up being beneficial. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Separate what is possible from what isn’t. It’s best to have a plan in place and to put your effort where it will bring the highest return. Be secretive about your long-term plans until you are confident you can make them happen. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Get together with people who make you think. Change happens when good ideas are shared and promises are made. What you accomplish now will make a difference in the way you move forward. Dump dead weight, and move forward with precision. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Being friendly and doing too much for others will encourage someone to take advantage of you. Strive for equality in your relationships. Rethink friendships with people who make a fuss when you ask for something in return. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Make a point to reconnect with old friends. The memories you share will encourage you to revisit a goal that used to excite you. With a little effort, you can reinvent your plans to suit trends and markets. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Refuse to let your emotions take over. If you give in to someone who takes advantage of you, it will lower your self-esteem. Keep your life simple, your bank accounts healthy and your relationship with others evenly balanced. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A change at home will take you by surprise. Do your best to organize and plan your next move. Staying on top of whatever situation unfolds will lead to personal gains. Contracts and medical issues should be handled with moderation. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): If you don’t like the changes someone is making, let him or her know that you don’t plan to take part. Being honest will put an end to manipulative tactics that play on your emotions. Do what’s best for yourself. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Stick close to home. Don’t trust anyone trying to talk you into overspending, participating in indulgent behavior or signing up for something you don’t want to do. Set your sights on personal growth, romance and helping a worthy cause. Birthday Baby: You are intuitive, meticulous and outspoken. You are curious and observant.
SOrin Elementary | Ian Salzman
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
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Sports Authority
EA must remake NCAA games Colin Capece Sports Writer
As I normally do when I return from class each day, I turned on the TV yesterday and flipped to ESPN. And that’s when the idea for this column basically slapped me in the face. “Raiders plan to suspend WR Antonio Brown after altercation with GM Mike Mayock,” was the headline that flashed across the screen. To be frank, while preseason drama like this is a major reason why the NFL remains so popular among viewers, I am sick of hearing about the antics of the former Pittsburgh Steelers star wideout. Everyone who watches football is aware of how talented and productive Brown is, but the negative sentiments created by his diva personality far outweigh anything he could do on the field for the Raiders this season. As radical as it may sound, the time has come for the Raiders to cut their biggest offseason acquisition. There are a couple of reasons why Oakland should part ways with the Brown, the first being that this Raiders team just can’t afford to have his personality in the locker room setting a terrible example for younger players. A rebuilding team like Oakland that hasn’t won a whole lot in recent memory needs to establish a culture where players are willing to sacrifice for the greater success of the team. The players of course need to buy into creating that type of culture, and as Mayock said in August “[Brown] is either all in or all out.” It’s clear that Brown is not all in on doing things the team’s way, and he’s displayed that he is more than willing to be a distraction in order to make his point. From his helmet grievance with the league to freezing his feet in a cryotherapy chamber and skipping practice, Brown has been nothing but a headache for the Raiders up to this point. While the team could certainly benefit from having the most dynamic receiver in the game as the focal point of its offense this season, it’s just not worth sacrificing the long term locker room chemistry that’s essential for any team to contend for championships.
Additionally, the quarterback situation in Oakland makes it difficult to justify keeping Brown. As Derek Carr enters his fifth season with the team, the Raiders are still trying to figure out whether he will be their quarterback of the future. While Carr has shown promise in previous years and played exceedingly well at the end of last season, he still hasn’t shown he can lead the Raiders on a deep playoff run. It’s really now or never for Carr to prove he can develop into the quarterback the Raiders thought he would become when they drafted him in 2014. However, it’s more likely that the addition of Brown actually hinders Carr rather than helping him grow. While the two seem to have a solid relationship off the field, Brown caused numerous disputes with two time Super Bowl winner Ben Roethlisberger. If Brown wasn’t satisfied with a quarterback of Roethlisberger’s caliber, what makes the Raiders think he will cooperate with their unproven signal caller? If things don’t work out between Carr and Brown on the field this season, the Raiders may pick a quarterback in the loaded 2020 draft. Any prospect taken will likely experience some growing pains, which will frustrate Brown even more. If the Raiders aren’t experiencing buyers remorse now, consider the fact that the NFL season only started yesterday. This marriage has plenty of time to get even worse, and it’s difficult to see the relationship between Brown and the Raiders mending itself over the course of the season. While I’m sure the Raiders wouldn’t want to let Brown go for nothing, I’m not sure any general manager wants to deal with the circus he has created. If the Raiders were to cut Brown right now, they would owe the receiver 30 million in guaranteed money. Considering the team only surrendered a third and a fifth round pick to get Brown in the first place, it’s a small price to pay to right a ship that has already begun to sink.
Norman Continued from page 12
nutritionists, sports psychologists, the administration,” he said. “I think everyone’s just absolutely amazing.” This year, Norman hopes to use that support to continue to take the program in the right direction — something he’s managed to do so far in the team’s 4-0 start. But Norman needs to remain cautiously optimistic; after his squad started 4-1 in his inaugural year, they fell on a four-game skid and found themselves unable to win back-to-back games for the remainder of the fall, ending 8-10 for the first losing season in the program’s history. Still, Norman insists on letting dead dogs lie, using last year’s struggles as a learning experience as opposed to a source of negativity. “I think the biggest things that I learned [from last season] have to do with the way we manage our team, not only individually, but in how hard we can really push,” he said. “I think also, what are the most practical ways we can play to get results? I don’t know if we always put our teams in the very
best situations last year as a coaching staff to win certain games. We’re trying to be more practical about how we go in and do that, which I think is going to be important as we go through this season.” Another critical part of Norman’s success in 2019 will be replacing an extremely productive senior class, having lost his two leading scorers in Karin Muya and Jen Westendorf, as well as graduating four starters. “The goal is always, every year, to have a productive senior class, and last year wasn’t any different than any other,” Norman said. “I think for us, we hope to continue to develop the players within our program and make sure they become the best versions of themselves, and obviously bring in recruiting classes that continue to strengthen our program.” For Norman, an important part of attracting strong talent is creating the right culture — something he hopes to continue to do this season. “We want a group that is very resilient: one that can handle adverse situations and knows how to recover,” he said. “Whether it’s
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actually inside of a game — if we give up a goal, we want to make sure that we’re able to roll up our sleeves and rally and stay focused. If we have a tough loss, we want to hopefully grow stronger from that. “Our goals are really simple. Every single game, we believe we have enough talent to win and we’re trying to take it one game at a time to come out of each game with a win. We continue to push our players, trying to help them understand how great they can be and help them reach their ceiling.” But for Norman — whether it be on the playing field or off — success always comes back to one thing. “My relationship with God hopefully is guiding my decisions and I’m trying to follow and serve him,” Norman said. “That’s a big piece of my life and that’s guided me through my life.” Norman will have the chance to take his undefeated squad on the road for just the second time this season Friday, when Notre Dame visits Michigan in Ann Arbor. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. The match will mark the first of three straight away games for the Irish. Contact Ellen Geyer at egeyer1@nd.edu
Contact Colin Capece at ccapece@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
ALLISON THORNTON | The Observer
The Notre Dame women’s soccer team celebrates a goal during its 4-0 victory over St. John’s on Sunday at Alumni Stadium. The Irish have started their season strong, winning their first four games.
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Sports
The observer | friday, september 6, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Volleyball Continued from page 12
libero Kiara Schmidt, who entered the game w ith 19 digs in 3 games, racked up 20 in the match, giv ing her 39 digs on the season. Notre Dame’s core group of sophomores were also major factors, w ith Sydney Bent, Charley Niego and Lauren Wenzel accounting for 22 of the home team’s 72 digs on the night. Meanwhile Baer came up w ith several momentum changing plays, chipping in six kills to go w ith three blocks. The Crusaders are coming off a 27-w in season in which they reached the quarterfinals of the National Inv itational Volleyball Championship. Out of the gate, they looked to be a little sharper than Notre Dame, claiming the first three points of the match before the Irish got their feet under them. However, trailing 6-7 in the first set, the Irish f lipped a sw itch, erupting for a 13-6 run. After t y ing the score on a Valparaiso error, Baer and sophomore Zoe Nunez rose up for a decisive block at the net, giv ing the Irish their first lead of the match. With crisp passing, thanks largely to Nunez (43 assists), and aggressive defense, the Irish steadily increased their lead. Outside of freshman Kara Cooper, Valparaiso couldn’t muster much offense in the spurt. “I thought we passed the ball a little bit better today,” Johnson said. “I thought our back ward defense applied heav ier pressure today, which I liked.” Up 16-13, Notre Dame ripped off three straight points to complete their run, w ith Bent rising up for a huge kill before Baer recorded a block and kill on back-to-back points to open up a game-high 6-point lead. Up 22-16, the Irish
Soccer Continued from page 12
ways. You learn a lot by just being patient, just learning how to ref lect in a lot ways before making a decision, look at the situation, listen to them and what they have to say.” The Saints return to South Bend for their home opener this Saturday at Wilbur and Fern Ganger Field at Holy Cross College at 3:30 p.m.
Women’s Soccer After finishing last season with a 3-12-1 record the Holy Cross women’s soccer program is looking to make a turnaround this season, bringing in 17 new athletes to overhaul the roster. The
watched the Crusaders storm back w ith five straight points to close w ithin a single point. Johnson called timeout, which seemed to settle the Irish. They returned w ith poise, eventually closing out the Crusaders on a Wenzel kill. Johnson expressed his confidence in his team’s abilit y to buck le dow n and secure the v ictor y. “I think as our team matures, we learn to play pointto-point really regardless of the score,” Johnson said. “The message at that point is no different than the message at any other point. It’s about what we have to do to make a play.” Set two featured a seesaw affair, w ith Valparaiso threatening to pull away at several points, but Notre Dame hung tough. Finally, dow n 14-12, the Irish rallied for ten straight points, essentially putting away the set. Bent tied the score at 14 w ith a strong cross-court kill. Follow ing that, Wenzel came up w ith a huge block to give Notre Dame the lead, and, on the ensuing point, an outstanding dig from Meuth, who ser ved throughout the 10-0 run, kept the point alive and allowed for yet another Irish w inner. The Crusaders called timeout but Notre Dame continued w ith six more points for a 22-14 lead. Valparaiso would close w ithin six points but never truly threatened the Irish in the 25-17 defeat. On Saturday, the Irish took a 2-0 lead against Bowling Green before struggling through a lethargic third set and eventually claiming a four-set v ictor y. They had no such struggles in closing out Valparaiso despite a valiant effort from the Crusaders. Again, the v isitors often threatened to pull away, but Notre Dame staved off any major runs, never trailing by more than t wo points. Dow n 15-17, the Irish ripped off one more decisive run, a
6-0 spurt spurred by several overpowering kills, to put themselves in control. Meuth prov ided a jolt for the Irish, coming up w ith consecutive kills to even the score, pav ing the way for Bent’s powerful kill on the next point to give the Irish the lead for good. After a Valparaiso error, Junior libero Madison Cruzado made her mark, lay ing out at the back end of the f loor for an outstanding onehanded dig that would
lead to another Meuth kill. Wenzel finished off the authoritative run w ith a strong kill on the next point, giv ing the Irish a 21-17 lead. They would lead 24-20, giving themselves four chances to close out the Crusaders for good. They needed all four points. Valparaiso grabbed three straight points to close w ithin a point once more, prompting Johnson to again call a pivotal timeout. The Irish returned to the f loor and played a clean point, culminating
in Niego’s match-clinching kill. Johnson again praised his team’s abilit y to respond to a little bit of adversit y and secure the w in. “W hen you have a lead, you just make a play. I was proud that we responded when it got tough,” Johnson said. The Irish improve to 3-1 w ith a huge home matchup against No.18 Purdue coming up on Friday.
Saints have already jumped to 2-1 on the new season. The women’s captains from last season will remain on the squad. However the Saints have found a new leader in Eleanor Boothman. The junior midfield transfer from Lake Tahoe Community College hails from Peterborough, England and will ser ve as one of the Saints‘ captains alongside junior for ward Marijka Lynch-Pastoor, and senior midfielder Jhade Avila. Gallo gave his reasoning for sticking with Marijka and Jhade as captains. “With both those girls they have dealt with adversity, our women’s program has dealt with adversity and I think in their personal lives they were able to deal with
adversity,” Gallo said. “We knew there were going to be growing pains as we wanted to implement the new culture and philosophy. We needed two girls that could kind of keep the girls believing and whatnot and those were the two girls that we felt were fit for the job.” Gallo went on to praise Boothman and explained how the junior transfer earned a captaincy right away. “Eleanor, honestly has been a tremendous captain,” Gallo said. “Just the leadership role her presence on the field, how vocal she is, how much she holds the girls accountable. She is never complacent.” He explained how a brand new transfer could earn a
captain‘s spot. “We had fitness tests at the beginning of the year and she passed them all,” Gallo said. “She didn’t have to run again, but she chose to run with the girls who didn’t pass, just to encourage them. … That’s something that I think this program has been missing.” Both the men’s and women’s teams are diverse, representing nearly 10 different countries. Gallo spoke on the importance of this diversity. “Learning about their culture I think is ver y important for us,” Gallo said. “Learning the styles of play on the field is a lot different. So we are learning how maybe a player from Brazil might come in and want to play compared to a player that is coming in
from England, compared to how a player coming in from Ireland likes to play. ”We have to learn how to adapt to those skill levels and tr y to put ever ything together so in a way it is unique but in a way it is difficult. So the patience not only ref lects what Coach Duma is saying, but also patience in regards to the style of play we want to create here at Holy Cross College and being able to put all those kinds of different cultures of soccer together.” The Saints return to South Bend for their home opener against Indiana University East this Saturday at Wilbur and Fern Ganger Field at 1:00 p.m.
CHARLIE ORTEGA-GUIFARRO | The Observer
Irish sophomore hitter Charley Niego leaps to bat the ball during Notre Dame’s 3-0 victory over Valparaiso on Wednesday at Purcell Pavilion. The squad has won three of its first four matchups this season.
Contact Aidan Thomas at athomas@nd.edu
Contact Jimmy Ward at jward@hcc-nd.edu
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The observer | friday, september 6, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
ND volleyball | ND 3, VALPO 0
ND Women’s soccer
Young Irish squad wins three against Crusaders
Connery McFadden | The Observer
Sophomore hitter Sydney Bent, right, spikes the ball during Notre Dame’s 3-1 win over Wake Forest on Oct. 6 in Purcell Pavilion.
For Norman, it’s not just a job
By AIDAN THOMAS
By ELLEN GEYER
Sports Writer
Sports Writer
Even though Notre Dame has four sophomores and t wo freshmen in its starting lineup, Irish head coach Mike Johnson is not about to use his team’s youth as an excuse to lower expectations. “[Notre Dame] has a standard,” Johnson said. “It is a place that prides itself upon excellence. I keep hearing that we have a young team, and I’m not interested in that. The standard is the standard, and these kids are going to grow up in a hurr y.” Certainly, the Irish’s youth didn’t seem to slow them dow n in a crisp 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-23) v ictor y over the Valparaiso Crusaders on Wednesday night. Freshman outside hitter Caroline Meuth led the team w ith 11 kills and also contributed 15 digs. Freshman
Though it’s only his second season at the helm of the program, Nate Norman has settled into his role as head coach of the Notre Dame women’s soccer team with a quiet poise. Norman, a former Fighting Irish student athlete himself, is the latest through what seems to be a revolving door at the position, replacing Theresa Romagnolo (2014-2017) after she took the place of two-time National Champion head coach Randy Waldrum (1999-2013). But for Norman, it’s more than a job — and it’s about more than just winning games. “I don’t think Notre Dame is a place that people just come to do a job. I think ever yone almost has a little bit of sense of a higher calling,” Norman said. “Obviously [we] want to win games — but we also want to make
see VOLLEYBALL PAGE 10
sure we develop them as people, care about them when they do make mistakes, help them out of those valleys and get them back up because that’s only going make them stronger.” In many ways, Norman hopes the experience of his current players echoes the one he himself had in South Bend. “W hen I made mistakes, I wasn’t cast aside. Someone helped me through those times — they held me accountable, but also helped me grow to become stronger,” he added. Norman emphasized that another unique part of Notre Dame is that such support comes from all sides, not just from a single coach or position. “The support staff — that we get such support not only from our coaching staff, but from the athletic trainers, see NORMAN PAGE 9
holy cross soccer
Revamped soccer teams begin seasons strong in turnaround from previous years By JIMMY WARD Associate Sports Editor
Men’s Soccer The Holy Cross men’s soccer team has gotten off to a strong start on this season. The Saints are 2-1 thus far and are still looking to improve as they continue to prepare and train for their home opener matchup against Indiana University East this Saturday. The Saints have named 2 out of 3 of their captains for this season. Junior goalkeeper Lewis Tomlinson and senior midfielder Nate Mendez, will return as captains after serving in the role last year. Saints head coach Omar Gallo spoke about his decision making process when it came time to choose the captains. “First and foremost we want individuals who are going to be leaders off the field first, so in the community and in the classroom specifically and both Nate and Lewis do a tremendous job
volunteering their time in the community,” Gallo said. “All of our captains present good character. Now from a soccer standpoint you don’t necessarily need a captain that is very skillful. It’s more of just a leadership role but we have captains that are very talented on the field which does go a long way at times as well. ”I think that they earn their respect by being quality soccer players. That being said based on their character, their personality, their academics, their involvement in the community and just how serious they take soccer, you know it is a passion for them and that is one of the reasons we chose them as our captains.” The Saints associate head coach Duma Magagula spoke about some of the lessons the staff tries to teach their athletes. “We are just trying to teach them to be human beings first,” Magagula said. “Human beings come in a
lot of ways. We just want to teach them that life is so much more than soccer, and we want them to be a person in the community, in the classroom and on their team. I think it helps if the person can be just a human being coming on to the team. It helps with a lot of things.” Gallo added that he tries to teach his athletes to maintain a positive attitude. “Understand it is never going to be easy,” he said. “Always stay humble, appreciate what you have and it is important to put others first.” Magagula also ref lected on what lessons his athletes have taught him over the years. “We have to be patient with those kids,” he said. ”At times we kind of forget how old they are and then we look back like ‘Wow, we were doing the same things when we were these guys‘ age.‘ So we always try to ref lect in a lot of see SOCCER PAGE 10
ANNA MASON | The Observer
Millenium Arch welcomes visitors to Holy Cross’ campus. The men’s and women’s soccer teams are a combined 4-2 in their seasons.