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Volume 54, Issue 11 | tuesday, september 10, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Climb to honor first responders Duncan Hall residents organize signature event to benefit Heart 9/11 charity
Shots reported
By NATALIE WEBER Assistant Managing Editor
Observer Staff Report
Having lived in New York during their childhoods, sophomores Conor Milligan and Patrick Creaven were both directly impacted by the events of 9/11. Creaven’s dad, who lived in New York at the time, watched the plane fly into the south tower and had friends who were killed in the tragedy. Milligan’s family knew a police officer — Ramon Suarez — who died while rescuing people. So the two Duncan Hall residents came together last spring and started planning a new dorm signature event to honor first responders — particularly those who sacrificed
Gunshots were heard east of Notre Dame early Saturday, the Notre Dame Police Department (NDPD) announced in an email. This is the second report of gunshots near campus in eight days, with the first on Aug. 30. The shots were heard at approximately 2:32 a.m. near the Remedy bar, just west of the intersection of Ironwood Road and South Bend Avenue. There were no reported injuries, the email said. NDPD advises individuals to leave areas where there is a fight or disturbance and seek shelter. Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact the South Bend Police Department, the email said.
see CLIMB PAGE 4
Johnson family donates Observer Staff Report
The University announced the Johnson family — Todd, Susan, Matthew and Hilary Johnson of Minnesota — made a large donation that will go towards the construction of a women’s residence hall that will be located east of Flaherty and Dunne Halls, Notre Dame announced in a press release on Friday. “The Johnsons, an exceptionally generous family, have exhibited that generosity in making possible this hall at Notre Dame bearing their name,” University President Fr. John Jenkins said in the press release. “We are extremely grateful for this residence hall, a place for building community and see JOHNSON PAGE 4
NEWS PAGE 3
CLAIRE KOPISCHKE | The Observer
SMC Moreau Center for Arts hosts theatre picnic By MADELINE LAW News Writer
Saint Mary’s Moreau Center for the Arts will host its annual theatre picnic on Tuesday, Sept. 10 from 5 - 6:30 p.m. on O’Laughlin Green. The department plans to emphasize collaboration, giving back and teaching the community about the importance of theatre at the event at the showcase for its new events, activities and opportunities this school year. Professor Michaela Duff y, technical director of the theatre department, explained the department’s goal for the picnic. “The main goal is to have anybody on campus interested in theater, come to the picnic, share food, introduce themselves, get to know the faculty a little bit and each other,” Duff y said. “This could be
SCENE PAGE 5
anybody who is interested in any aspect of performing arts, not just majors or minors, anyone who is interested in auditioning, working in the scene and costume shops, or even being part of the back-stage crew. It’ll be an old fashioned cookout with lots of desserts, all the fixings for brats, hamburgers and hot dogs, as well as lawn games, and of course, some theatre games.” There will also be a $5 early-bird special for the new Moreau Center tshirts, Duff y said. The Moreau Center will also hold their second annual series of “Makers’ Meetings” where the scene shop, costume shop, music program and dance program coming together once a month to create opportunities to inspire creativity. Students are also invited to participate in
VIEWPOINT PAGE 7
master classes. The first two master classes include an Artistic Fencing Workshop on Sept. 20 and a trip to downtown South Bend for Octoberfest on Oct. 4. Sandie Schooler, who works in the theatre department at Saint Mary’s, shared some of the Moreau Center’s plans for giving back to the environment. “We’re trying to find a need and fill it,” Schooler said. “We’ll be making reusable washable feminine hygiene products for women that don’t have them readily available.” They will also be making clothing protectors for the sisters in the convent later in the year, Schooler said. Schooler said fun is a major goal of the theatre department this year. “We really, really, see PICNIC PAGE 4
ND WOMEN’S SOCCER PAGE 12
Schools receive ratings Observer Staff Report
Saint Mary’s received national rankings from U.S. News and World Reports and Money Magazine, the College announced Monday in a press release. Saint Mary’s placed No. 102 in the U.S. News’ annual survey and ranking of the top 1800 liberal arts colleges in the country. This ranking considers factors such as student excellence, economic and ethnic diversity, awarding of merit aid, graduation and retention rates, the number of classes with fewer than 20 students and alumni giving. The College also ranked No. 31 out of best small colleges and No. 149 of 500 colleges see RATINGS PAGE 4
CROSS COUNTRY PAGE 12
2
TODAY
The observer | tuesday, september 10, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com
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What was the show you most recently binge-watched?
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
Molly Cutter
Michelle Moufawas
junior Le Mans Hall
junior Ryan Hall
“This Is Us.”
“Fleabag.”
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Waseem Thabata
junior Le Mans Hall
freshman O’Neill Family Hall
“Lucifer.”
“Black Monday.”
Kat Esguerra
Cristina Riojas
junior Le Mans Hall
freshman Ryan Hall
“Atypical.”
“Game of Thrones.”
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EMMA FARNAN | The Observer
Luciano Castilla describes how plans for an energy corridor along the US-Mexico border could improve the region and increase border security on Monday at Bond Hall. Castilla is a professor of renewable energy and power systems at Purdue University.
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Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Presentation: “Notre Dame Moves Toward Decarbonization” 104 Bond Hall 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Open to the public.
“Hong Kong in Crisis” Hesburgh Auditorium 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Panel will discuss causes and potential effects of HK protests.
Brown Bag Lunch Discussion: “Open Wide our Hearts” Geddes Coffee House noon - 1 p.m. Bring your own lunch.
Discussion and Q&A with former Speaker Paul Ryan Leighton Concert Hall 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Free, ticketed event.
2019 Game Day Chase Eddy St. Commons 8 a.m. - 9:35 a.m. 5K run and 5K family walk.
Concert: “The Sound and the Fury” LaBar Recital Hall 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Free concert featuring violin and piano.
Theater: “Twelfth Night” Washington Hall 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Featuring Actors From The London Stage.
Lecture: “Bringing Power to Native Americans” 136 DeBartolo Hall 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Open to the public.
Better Together ND Launch Dinner Geddes Coffee House 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. Open to all students. RSVP online.
Saturday Scholar Series: “Listening to Puerto Rico” Snite Museum of Art 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Faculty discussion.
News
ndsmcobserver.com | tuesday, september 10, 2019 | The Observer
Campus Ministry to work with University centers By CIARA HOPKINSON News Writer
W hile Campus Ministr y’s div isions fulfill a range of needs across campus, they are united by their shared purpose of walking w ith students as they grow in communit y and as indiv iduals. “Campus Ministr y w ill be focusing on moments of encounter - meeting students where they are and learning their stor y,” Danielle Collins, Campus Ministr y’s communications director, said in an email. Retreats and pilgrimages can prov ide the space needed for students w ith constantly changing lives to ref lect on their spiritualit y and discover a v ital part of their identit y. Campus Ministr y kicked off the year w ith two weekends of first-year retreats to help students find their place in a new and unfamiliar env ironment. Spiritual discover y events do not end w ith first year but continue for older students. Designed for sophomores, juniors and seniors, the “Becoming” retreat focuses on the questions that arise as post-college life looms. “Often these questions are riddled w ith the fear of, ‘W hat in my life might change if I ask the questions that I feel called to ask? ’ How do we nav igate these questions that ultimately allow us to recognize that what we deeply fear is oftentimes what we deeply long for? ” Christian Santa Maria, assistant director of retreats and pilgrimages, said. Santa Maria said the inspiration for the retreat, which is in its second year, came from spiritual needs expressed to him by students in conversation. One of the retreat’s goals, he said, is to bring v ulnerabilit y and comfort w ith
uncertaint y into students’ spiritual lives. “These questions that are really about purpose, about, ‘How am I supposed to love and engage in the world? ’ It’s a retreat that simply gives people the space and inv ites them to have the courage to actually ask that question,” Santa Maria said. “Not to find the answer, but just to live the question.” The retreat’s motto, “Discover what makes your heart come alive,” points to Campus Ministr y’s mission to assist students in their search for self and purpose in a chaotic world. This year, Campus Ministr y’s collaboration w ith the Center for Social Concerns to run a seminar-pilgrimage (“seminage”) to the southern border of the United States brings that spiritual discover y off campus. “It’s taking a look at … how we recognize that Catholic Social Teaching isn’t necessarily just rules for us to follow, but a fruit of a spiritual life. It’s looking at, how does an understanding and relationship w ith God have any thing to do w ith our understanding of justice, solidarit y and ser v ice,” Santa Maria said. The course, which is called, “The Spiritualit y of Justice,” w ill examine faith and love’s intersection w ith social issues. The class w ill travel to McA llen, Texas, where Sister Norma Pimentel of Catholic Charities works w ith Border Patrol to assist immigrants and asylum seekers on a daily basis. “You have this sy mbiotic relationship where faith interacts w ith the social structures of our countr y in ser v ice of the poor, which I think is a hopeful outlook in an oftentimes deeply div isive conversation,” Santa Maria said. Vital to the seminage is the idea of creating hope
through love in a seemingly intractable situation. “The heart of the class looks at a scripture passage, ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ There’s nothing private about that; it’s inherently social,” Santa Maria said. “W hat does love look like in public? I would go so far as to say that’s what justice is.” In addition to the public manifestations of students’ faith, Campus Ministr y seeks to assist students in their more private and dayto-day spiritual struggles. Tami Schmitz, the associate director of pastoral care, said simply being w ith students and reminding them of God’s love is a rewarding part of her role. “We prov ide a welcome space for students to talk about matters of the heart and to know they are not alone. We can prov ide guidance for their prayer lives and help them in deepening their relationship w ith God,” Schmitz said in an email. Schmitz added that Campus Ministr y w ill be working more closely w ith the McDonald Center for Wellbeing (McWell) and the Universit y Counseling Center to better ser ve students in need of guidance. Both Schmitz and Santa Maria discussed normalizing prayer and transforming it from a series of words memorized by rote into a personal and rewarding experience. “In an age where prayer can be hard to articulate or even confusing at times, especially in the midst of all the demands of our life … prayer can almost become another expectation,” Santa Maria said. “How do I come in contact w ith God’s inv itation to fall deeply in love? That’s what makes me excited.” Contact Ciara Hopkinson at chopkin1@nd.edu
ANN CURTIS | The Observer
Father Pete McCormick, director of Campus Ministry, talks with students at the organization’s annual Feed Your Faith event in August. The event featured food trucks and booths for various groups.
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College hosts panel to discuss dating apps
ANNA MASON | The Observer
H.R. Jung (left) and Elizabeth Coulston speak at the Swipe Right: A Panel on Dating Apps event hosted by BAVO on Monday night. By MARYKATE DEMPSEY News Writer
The Belles Against Violence Office and Cushwa-Leighton Library co-hosted Swipe Right: A Panel on Dating Apps on Sept. 9 to discuss the usage of Internet dating applications. Librarian Ula Gaha, who created this event, explained how the panel originated. “I think the idea originated in one of our meetings on the President’s committee on sexual violence, and there was talk amongst some of the members of the committee that students were commenting that they used dating apps,” Gaha said. “One of our students was talking to a young man, and he told her that he was a student over at Notre Dame, and it turned out that he wasn’t. ... She couldn’t believe that somebody would say that they are something they are not.” Gaha explained her intention for the panel to serve as a safe opportunity for students to ask questions. “I really wanted to keep it positive and not like, ‘Don’t date, you’ll get murdered,” Gaha said. Liz Coulston, coordinator for the Belles Against Violence Office (BAVO), spoke to the formation of the panel. “We were able to team up and figure out who our panelists were going to be and create a clear vision for the event itself, to make sure the students were getting the right information,” Coulston said. The panelists for the event
included Coulston; Lori Smith, special victims outreach advocate for the Family Justice Center of St. Joseph County; and H.R. Jung, executive director of the LGBTQ Center in Mishawaka. The panelists discussed the importance of safety not just while using the application, but also if a user decides to convene with someone who they meet on a dating application. Smith discussed the idea of waiting a comfortable amount of time to meet up with this person. Whether that be two weeks or seven, wait to meet up until you know more about them. It is important in these situations to keep everyone aware of what is going on, especially if this match is new, Smith said. Jung said to never venture off and go to a second location. He encouraged dating application users to always stay at one public location. When asked about maintaining self-confidence, the panelists emphasized it is important to be realistic when it comes to dating applications. They encouraged users to try an application tailored to people that users hope to connect with if they aren’t getting the desired results. “Don’t get bogged down with rejection,” Smith said. The panelists concluded the event by encouraging dating application users to be cautious but to also have fun, as long as personal safety is maintained. Contact MaryKate Dempsey at mdempsey01@saintmarys.edu
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NEWS
The observer | tuesday, september 10, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Climb Continued from page 1
their lives in the aftermath of the terrorist attack. On 9/11, this Wednesday, Duncan Hall will host ND 110, a “9/11 Tower Climb,” to raise money for Heart 9/11, a charity founded by New York first responders. “There’s a lot of talk going on now about how the police are terrible and disrespecting them, but they put their lives on the line every time they go on the clock [and] even if they’re off the clock, because [they] keep our communities safe,” Milligan said. Participants will climb 110 flights of stairs, the number that firefighters had to climb in the Twin Towers. The event will be held in Jordan Hall, and organizers estimate it will take about 45 minutes to complete the 24 laps of the front, south-side staircase which equals 110 flights of stairs.
Johnson Continued from page 1
contributing to the education of our students’ minds and hearts.” The dorm will be home to the Valkyries, a community of women currently living in Pangborn Hall. It will house approximately 225 residents. Todd Johnson is the CEO of Capstan Corporation, a family business. He earned his bachelor’s degree in construction engineering management from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1981, according to the release. Susan Johnson is a
Picnic Continued from page 1
really tr y to have fun here,” Schooler said. “The goal this year is to promote the building and encourage more people to join and have fun w ith us.”
Ratings Continued from page 1
and universities surveyed in Money Magazine’s “Best Colleges in America, Ranked by Value” list. This list assesses college qualit y and affordabilit y by ranking academic institutions on 19,000 data points, including tuition fees, family borrow ing and career earnings. In a press release, Saint Mar y’s Interim President Nancy Nek vasil said she was happy the College was recognized for its achievements. “W hile rankings are only
“It’s not a race — it’s in honor of the firefighters,” Milligan said. “Not everyone starts at 5 o’clock. People come in and it takes about 45 minutes, but you come and do it at your own pace.” The event will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with participants staggered in waves of up to 100 at a time. The event took inspiration from Storm the Stadium, an annual University event sponsored by the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs. Milligan and Creaven met with firefighters who said they felt the event was more focused on honoring members of the military and wanted to create an event specifically geared towards recognized first responders. “I know a decent amount of them went to Storm the Stadium but … it’s not for them specifically,” Creaven said. “So for them to have something for them [specifically],
they appreciate it a lot.” Milligan said he and Creaven discussed the event with firefighters from the South Bend Fire Department in April and began looking at ways to recognize first responders in particular on campus. ”We met with them and sort of asked them, ‘Do you guys feel like an event like Storm the Stadium really accommodates first responders?’” Milligan said. “And they mentioned that, especially in a community like South Bend, there’s sort of a disconnect between the community and first responders, and then also that divide between campus and South Bend. So they were like, ‘Yeah, Storm the Stadium is great, but it’s for military and veterans.’ “So a first responder event was something that they really wanted. ... We thought this would be a good way to bridge the campus-community divide and sort of unite us with
first responders.” About a dozen first responders have already signed up for the event, amongst 55 pre-registered participants. Creaven and Milligan said they hope to have at least 200 participants in order to raise around $2,000 for Heart 9/11. Milligan said the tower climb is the only event of its kind within a two-hour radius of campus. As such, he said he hopes the event will have even more of an appeal in the local area. “The closest one might be in Chicago,” he said. “So, it’d be a good draw to get an event in the Michiana area. And Notre Dame is really good at hosting large events, with football and everything so [it] can very easily tack on something like this.” Creaven and Milligan spent months planning the event, submitting their SAO request during the summer. This is the first year Duncan Hall will
host the tower climb. In past years, the dorm considered the Bald and the Beautiful to be its signature event, though the popular event is now run through a club. Milligan said he looks forward to honoring firefighters and first responders at Wednesday’s event, as the community comes together to remember 9/11. “It’s a defining moment for our country,” Milligan said. “A lot of us on campus now were very, very young when it happened, but it shaped our daily lives, so we never forget that it happened.” Participation in the event is free for first responders and costs $15 for other members of the community. Event tshirts can also be purchased for $15. Registration is available online and at the time of the event.
speech-language pathologist, and earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her master’s degree in speechlanguage patholog y from the University of NebraskaOmaha in 1987, the release said. Together, the Johnsons are members of Notre Dame’s Cavanaugh Council, Badin Guild and Boldly Notre Dame campaign cabinet. The Johnson children, Matthew and Hilary, each graduated from Notre Dame. Matthew Johnson graduated in 2012 and 2019 as part of the one-year accelerated MBA program. W hile on
campus he was a tour guide and served as a a weekly reader to University President Emeritus Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, the release said. Hilary Johnson graduated in 2015 from the University, and is attending Midwestern University to get her masters degree in biomedical science. She was a resident assistant in Lyons Hall while attending the University, and she also served as a weekly volunteer at Saint Mary’s Convent. Johnson Family Hall will be the 32nd residence hall on Notre Dame’s campus, and the 15th women’s hall. The dorm is expected to be opened in the fall of 2020, and will be nearly 70,000
square feet, the release said. The design of the building will be “unique, integrating elements of campus architecture and Notre Dame residence hall traditions, including a chapel, courtyard and various spaces for studying and socializing,” the release said. “We are deeply honored to share our family’s blessings with the University of Notre Dame for being the lead gift for the new women’s residence hall on campus,” Todd and Susan Johnson said in the release. Additional benefactors contributed to the construction of Johnson Family Hall. They include Celeste and Kevin Ford of Portola Valley,
California, Carol and Bill Hoffmann of Minnetonka, Minnesota, Molly and Geof Meyers of Ottawa Hills, Ohio, Clare and Jerry Richer of Southborough, Massachusetts and Shayla and Chip Rumely of Atlanta, Georgia. “As the University continues to invest in strengthening our undergraduate residential communities and improving the quality of hall life for our students, we are extraordinarily thankful to Todd, Susan, Matthew and Hilary for the addition of Johnson Family Hall,” vice president for student affairs Erin Hoffmann Harding said in the release.
The 2019-2020 performing arts season w ill open w ith the fall show, “A Part y to Murder,” which w ill run Nov. 7-9 at 7:30 p.m. It w ill conclude w ith a matinee on Nov. 10 at 2:30 p.m. Later performances in the season include the Madrigal dinner in December, “A Family
Affair: An Evening of Opera Scenes” in Februar y, which w ill return after a few years on the shelf and “A lice in Wonderland” in March. The season w ill conclude w ith DanceArts 2020 in April. In addition to the on-stage and communit y engagement opportunities, there are also
many behind-the-scenes jobs available to students as well. Sophomore Caroline Mages, who works in the scene shop, said she learned about different tools, how to build different things and developed skills she didn’t think she would need
to learn but w ill use in the future. “It’s a nice escape bet ween classes, but still a learning experience about all the different aspects of theatre,” Mages said.
one measure of a college’s success, our students, facult y and staff are pleased to see Saint Mar y’s recognized as a premier destination for young women seeking a personal, challenging and supportive learning env ironment,” Nekvasil said in a press release. “We’ve practiced our core values of learning, communit y, faith/spiritualit y and justice for 175 years, and we look for ward to many more years devoted to the development of strong women.” Notre Dame and Holy Cross are also ranked, w ith Notre Dame named the the fifteenth best national
universit y in the nation and Holy Cross designated 29 on the list of best regional colleges in the Midwest, as well as 31 for best value and 47 for top performance in social mobilit y. According to the ranking, the Universit y places 11th for best undergraduate teaching, is tied for 77th in the most innovative school categor y, ninth for ser v ice learning and 45th in study abroad. It was also ranked as the 24th best value school in America. Neither Notre Dame nor Holy Cross released a statement regarding the rankings.
Contact Natalie Weber at nweber@nd.edu
Contact Madeline Law at mlaw01@saintmarys.edu
JOSEPH HAN | The Observer
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The observer | tuesday, september 10, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
By JAKE WINNINGHAM Scene Writer
Gurinder Chadha’s new film “Blinded by the Light” is marked by an artificial joyfulness that is infectious in the same way that the common cold is. Like the Bruce Springsteen song from which it takes its name, the picture has some passages that are thrilling in the moment — but seem hazier the second you turn away. Protagonist Javed Khan (played with genuine charm by newcomer Viveik Kalra) is a repressed teenager living with his Pakistani family in Thatcher-era England. On top of dealing with all of the fiscal and discriminatory struggles such a situation entails, Javed must also contend with his own father’s expectations — namely, for him to put down his beloved poetry and focus on a ‘real’ education like economics. As pressure mounts on all sides, Javed begins to wish he were someone else, somewhere else. In other words, he wants to change his clothes, his hair, his face. If only he could stumble upon a songwriter who knew a thing or two about that. Javed’s sudden obsession with Springsteen forms the crux of the movie, but Chadha and screenwriter Sarfraz Manzoor, who based the movie on his own adolescence, don’t trust the audience to believe such
By JACOB NEISEWANDER Scene Writer
If you asked a film buff to explain the meaning of the term “elevated horror,” they would probably start off by listing a smattering of critically acclaimed horror films from the last decade. Movies like “The Babadook” and “It Follows” are elevated horror. “Get Out” and “Us” are certainly elevated horror. What about the “The Witch,” “Mother!” and “Hereditary?” Absolutely elevated horror. Our film buff friend would likely revel in categorizing such films according to this vaguely-defined hierarchy. What a happy time for this unique and totally legitimate sub-genre! And recent events seem to indicate our film friend is right. Just last weekend, film production and distribution company A24 released an extended cut of Ari Aster’s summer release “Midsommar”— with an added 25 minutes of footage for all those die-hard elevated horror fans to feast upon. But what exactly is elevated horror and why should anyone but pretentious film nerds care about it? Perhaps you yourself have stumbled across the term ‘elevated horror’ in Youtube video essays or on Reddit threads, or maybe your annoying FTT friend wouldn’t shut up about how the monster from “It Follows” is actually a metaphor for STDs. Maybe you’ve never heard of the term before and just want me to offer a definition already. To this last group, I apologize. I cannot provide you with a definition because the genre of elevated horror
at face value. It is not enough that we see the steadily increasing number of Springsteen posters on Javed’s wall; we must also be privy to the repetitions of the same conversation where he constantly reiterates just how important Bruce’s songs are to him. In one particularly groan-inducing scene, the lyrics of “The Promised Land” are emblazoned across the screen, giving off the uncomfortable impression of an inner monologue via PowerPoint. Therein lies one of the film’s many issues: any insight the audience may gain about how Javed thinks and feels is instead substituted with Springsteen’s lyrics. It doesn’t help that the best two scenes, both involving Javed’s woefully underwritten family, have nothing to do with Springsteen or Javed. In one sequence, Javed’s sister sneaks into an underground club and dances to the bhangra track “Maar Chadapa;” in the other, Mr. Khan’s financial and family problems are set against the Punjabi music he listens to. Both scenes depict a character’s interest in music and allow the audience to draw a connection between the two, whereas Javed’s scenes bludgeon the viewers over the head with affected depth. The beauty of Springsteen’s best albums come from their interplay between loud and quiet moments. Think of the asinine teenage poetry of “Born
To Run” giving way to the noir-inflected “Meeting Across The River,” or how the seething, sensual “I’m On Fire” eventually leads into the gratingly ‘fauxstalgiac’ “Glory Days.” “Blinded By The Light” has far too many loud moments, and not enough quiet ones. A sequence where Javed charms a girl by singing “Thunder Road” to her is winning enough — but racial violence set to “Jungleland?” Not so much. Even though it’s obsessed with his music, “Blinded by the Light” learns all the wrong lessons from Bruce Springsteen’s songs. As the Boss himself may put it, the film is like a river that don’t know where it’s flowing — it takes a wrong turn and just keeps going.
doesn’t exist. That’s right. There is no such thing as elevated horror, and I henceforth decree any further discussion of elevated horror to be the subject of buffoonery and idiot-speak. When our film buff friend raves on and on about how “Midsommar” or “Get Out” is ‘elevated’ all they really mean is that they saw a horror movie that included the use of metaphors and maybe had an ambiguous ending. This isn’t to say “Midsommar” and “Get Out” don’t rock — they do and you should go see them — but classifying horror films (or any film for that matter) as ‘elevated’ simply for including metaphor and possessing basic characteristics of art house cinema is not only snobbish, but also silly. Any high school English student can tell you what a metaphor is and recognizing metaphor doesn’t elevate a horror film above the rest of the pack. There are heaps of slasher f licks (“Psycho,” “Halloween,” “Scream,” etc.) with plenty of merit. Lest we also forget psychological thrillers (“Silence of the Lambs”) or body horror films (“The Thing,” “The Fly,” etc.) that are classics in their own right. We could include these movies in the “elevated horror” sub-genre for the sake of argument, but such an inclusion would make the category meaningless. The whole genre would then function simply to mean “horror movies which we generally hold to be good” which isn’t done in any other genre of film. We don’t refer to “Up” or “Ratatouille” as elevated
animation. We don’t refer to “The Dark Knight” or “Black Panther” as elevated hero epics. We correctly identify those films as belonging to the animation and superhero genres respectively and then discuss their merits as genre films and as films in general. Thus, horror fans should reject the pseudointellectual term ‘elevated horror’ and not overly glorify the use of metaphors in film for the sole purpose of sounding intelligent when discussing the merits of horror movies. Instead, we should all celebrate the great quantity and quality of horror films being produced today. Moreover, we should appreciate how the genre continues to serve as a place for filmmakers to experiment and express themselves on the big screen in unique and provocative ways. So go see Jordan Peele’s next movie. Rent “Midsommar” when it’s out on DVD. Grab your annoying film friend and flock to the silver screen for Robert Egger’s “The Lighthouse” when it comes to theaters this October. Get out there and experience the unique voices at work in the horror genre today. Their films may be disturbing and oftentimes genrebending, but they’re not ‘elevated’ and they’re not exclusive. They’re just weird and seriously fun alternatives to the increasingly homogenous offerings at your local cinema. So let’s go see them before Disney buys A24. See you at the movies!
Contact Jake Winningham at jwinning@nd.edu
“Blinded by the Light” Gurinder Chadha Based On: Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N’ Roll Starring: Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir If you like: “Bend it Like Bekcham,” “Sing Street”
Contact Jacob Neisewander at jneisewa@nd.edu CLAIRE KOPISCHKE | The Observer
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The observer | thursday, September 5, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
The self-regulated spiritual upper-class
Inside Column
You’re invited: Slightlyguided dance party Maeve Filbin Saint Mary’s News Editor
I fell in love at the Homecoming dance. Barefoot in the center of the high school gym, the f loor littered with pink and white petals from corsages torn to bits in the frenzy, I spun in circles with my closest friends. We jumped around with our hands in the air. We dropped it low and took it to the top. We shuff led and shimmied and slid around. We twisted and tangoed and tossed our hair. We danced to every song we recognized and didn’t stop until we were sweating in our fancy dresses, clutching invisible microphones as we sang along at the top of our lungs. If anyone was watching, we didn’t care because we didn’t even notice, so caught up in our own choreography. We were feeling ourselves in every sense, having left all inhibitions and our high heels at the door. I fell in love with the space we created, where we could dance freely and badly without being embarrassed or shy, and while it’s been hard to replicate the same energy as a high school dance, I think I’ve found the next closest thing. “The L.A. City Municipal Dance Squad is a group of women who encourage each other and inspire others to let go of any dancing insecurities,” dancer and founder Angela Trimbur said, and an opportunity to “give yourself permission to feel like a teen again.” Trimbur created the squad in 2014, after taking to social media and offering to teach anyone interested some dance moves to perform at halftime for her community basketball league’s games. Before this, Trimbur had released a video series titled Dance Like Nobody’s Watching, filming herself doing just that in a laundromat, an airport and other public places. The squad has grown since their first performance, with women of all skill levels joining. “I created the L.A. City Municipal Dance Squad to give a group of women a place to be weird,” Trimbur said in a “Time” series featuring women across America. Over the past year, the squad has hosted monthly workshops or “Slightly Guided Dance Parties,” providing cis and transgender women with the space to be brave, build strong female friendships and explore the benefits of dancing like nobody is watching. The squad embraces the glam of Jazzercise in the ’80s, wearing graphic leggings, bright leotards and tall socks. At workshops, they strap on kneepads and bust out intricate f loor work. They hype each other up and shout affirmations during solos, experimenting with movement and trust all while cracking jokes and making mistakes. They’re not afraid to mess up. These women are confident and fun and effortlessly cool (L.A. cool), and I want to be friends with them. I want to dance with them. L.A. City Municipal Dance Squad have yet to take their workshops out of state, but I look forward to the day they bring the party to South Bend. Until then, I’ve got a studio reserved in Angela Athletic & Wellness Complex and a playlist full of bops. Anyone down for a slightly guided dance party? Contact Maeve at mfilbin01@saintmarys.edu. The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Ashton Weber Welcome to Ashtown
On the first day of July 2009, exactly 49 days after I turned nine years old, Fr. Geoffrey Drew was named the new pastor of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, my parish since I was nine months old. Almost immediately, he became my favorite priest. The way he preached was bold and provocative. He was unafraid to call out the congregation and often proposed radical moral change. Although my obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was not diagnosed until age 13, I realize in hindsight that it manifested in my childhood as an obsession with Catholicism and a compulsive devoutness to traditional morality and capital ‘T’ Truth. So, naturally, the priest whose messages were the most in-your-face was my favorite. No frills, no grey area. Just the cold, hard, Catholic Truth. Outside of his intense moments at the pulpit, Fr. Geoff was friendly. He knew my name and the names of my six younger siblings. We shook his hand after mass each Sunday. He patted my brothers on the back and asked if they were doing their job of annoying their big sisters. He often joked about which member of our family was “the ugly duck.” All around, Fr. Geoff seemed like a good, perfectly safe guy and an admirable priest. As it turns out, he is none of those things and the capital ‘T’ Truth that I loved so much was preached from a mouth of lies. Because, on August 19, my favorite childhood priest was indicted on nine counts of rape. I served Mass with an accused rapist. I received communion from him. I was confirmed in his presence. I took his advice on matters of morality. I listened to him preach nearly every Sunday for nine years of my life. I confessed my sins to him. Over the past weeks, I have relived every interaction I or one of my siblings had with him. Every behavior I recalled as his friendliness was cited as “concerning”, which gives me all the more reason to spend copious amounts of my time in recollection. I wonder not only who he hurt, but also how many people he would have gone on to hurt if it weren’t for the testimony of one incredibly brave man who has lived with the painful, lonely torture of Fr. Geoff’s abuse for over 30 years. The abuse in question began in 1988, 16 years before Geoff Drew became Fr. Geoff. This means, by the time he was ordained in 2004, the nine instances of rape he is now charged with had already occurred. How this man was even able to become a priest is baffling to me. That he remained a prominent one for 15 years before his Truth was revealed shocks me even more. In 2013, Bishop Joseph Binzer, the man who conf irmed me, was notified of Fr. Geoff’s concerning behavior toward minors in my parish. He passed the information to our local authorities but failed to report up and out when the authorities returned that they found no criminal behavior or evidence thereof. Binzer, also the head of priest personnel, failed to share the complaints with other members of the priest personnel board. More allegations were brought to Binzer’s attention in 2015, but these were also declared not criminal by local officials, and thus never brought to the attention of the priest personnel board or the Archbishop. It was reported that the allegations were never even included in Fr. Drew’s personnel report, so when he applied in 2018 to become the pastor at the parish with the largest elementary school in our Archdiocese, the concerns about his interactions with children were not known, and he received the position.
I remember the announcement that Fr. Geoff was leaving St. Max for St. Ignatius. It was made less than two months before I would move from Cincinnati to South Bend. Since my junior year of high school, I have been in a state of spiritual limbo — deeply concerned about the leadership structure and moral superiority of the Catholic Church, but also deeply devoted to spirituality and the values instilled by my family. I felt negatively about many priests, but Fr. Geoff supported me through my concerns about the faith since I was nine years old. In my mind, he was one of the few priests worth listening to. One of the “good ones.” When I heard he wouldn’t be our pastor anymore, I decided to stop attending St. Max. “What’s the point?” I asked and went to Mass at a different local parish out of respect for my family until I arrived on campus and stopped attending mass altogether. When I was informed of Fr. Geoff’s indictment, I spent five minutes gagging over a sink, positive I would throw up. That night and the two following it, I slept with the lights on, knowing that the darkness would inundate me with questions I wasn’t ready to ask and answers I didn’t want to face. As I completed my research for this column, the pictures of his mugshot at the top of every article have made me queasy. Fr. Geoff played such a major role in the development of my faith. Even when I came to terms with the fact that the obsessive nature of my childhood spirituality led to an inauthentic experience of God and that strict adherence to Catholic codes of morality led me to become closed-minded and hateful, I still found value in the lessons of ‘Truth’ he taught me. Stepping into his Mass on Sunday was one of the constants in my life for nine years and hearing his voice boom from the altar gave me comfort. I trusted him. I stopped adhering to the Church because I took issue with the hierarchy and the way that its “boys’ club” nature perpetuated violence against women, young children and even nuns. I struggled with its institutionalized cisheteropatriarchy and, to be honest, I was tired of being reminded of how immoral we are as human beings. Priests are not better than laypeople. Wearing a collar does not make you a saint. Sure, respecting people with greater knowledge about any topic is important, but I firmly believe members of the Church need to stop putting leaders on a pedestal, worshipping priests like false gods. We give them so much power, so much authority, so much forgiveness. We assume that they never do anything wrong, and we have allowed them to be a self-regulated-spiritualupper-class for too long. I know how hard it might be to read that. It took me a long time to be able to say it, but I must call the structures of the Church what they are. If I don’t, if we all don’t, men like Fr. Geoff will continue to hide in the shadows. The Bishop Binzers of the world will continue to enable them and the little girls like me will continue to accept moral advice from people who least deserve to give it. I don’t have the strength to love the Church anymore, but I am begging those who do to fix it. Demand that laypeople sit in spaces of leadership alongside the ordained. Ask for the most radical structural changes. If transparency continues to be nonexistent, violence will continue to perpetuate and people will leave the Church until there is no one left. Ashton Weber is a sophomore with lots of opinions. She is majoring in economics and film, television and theatre with a journalism, ethics, and democracy minor. Making new friends is one of her favorite things, so feel free to contact her at aweber22@nd.edu or @awebz01 on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The observer | thursday, September 5, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
7
Notre Dame’s football carnival Oliver Ortega News con Fuego
Football. If you’ve been around Notre Dame long enough, the word evokes the image o f blue-and-gold-clad gladiators streaking through the opposing end zone in the nick of time. Or two opposing lines of burly young men locked in various forms of pushing and grunting under the eyes of tens of thousands of fans. Football is big business at Notre Dame. To the initiated, such a statement might prompt a “well, duh” or even seem to be an insult to their intelligence. But it wasn’t until several weeks into the past school year — my first year on campus — that I learned, quickly, that people here are really, really, really into football. Perhaps the alumni, townies and random fans moreso than actual students. I mean, I had watched “Rudy” as a kid. I bawled my little eyes out in my grandparents’ living room when, in the last scene of the movie, Rudy magically comes on the field to sack the opposing quarterback before being gloriously led off on his teammates’ shoulders. Yes, I saw the big and shiny stadium during prospective students’ weekend and noted how the nice new student center and even nicer gym were attached to it. Presumably, I was told, that these moves were made so the University could tap into donor money linked to football. Still, I wasn’t prepared to watch campus turn into a carnival on home game days. All right, maybe not a carnival, but some weird hybrid of a Labor-Day-weekend-tourist attraction and a megachurch picnic. Not even in my 11th floor library carrel was I safe from the marauding packs of the green-clad fandom, their eyes darting from the walls of my study room to the stacks of dusty books as if they were making the rounds of some must-see foreign museum. On non-game days I’ve had people come up to me
wide-eyed and jittery to ask if I had tickets to sell. Personally, I can’t sit through a game of football. Too many breaks, too many bodies on the field at the same time and, without the visual aids you get on TV, I invariably get lost. More interesting to me, though, is the boatloads of money football makes for Notre Dame. According to The Business Journals, in 2017 football brought in roughly $4.64 billion in profits for U.S. colleges, based on an analysis of financial data submitted by approximately 885 institutions with school-sponsored teams. Notre Dame has the “crown-jewel” of college football programs. At $89.6 million in profits, Notre Dame ranked fifth in total operating profits. But on a per-student basis, thanks to its relatively meager undergraduate student population of around 8,500, Notre Dame has no equal, raking in almost double the profits of second-ranked Texas Christian University at $10,571. Notre Dame’s football team is responsible for 73.42 percent of the University’s total athletic department revenue. Much of that is thanks to a television contract with NBC, which is reportedly worth $15 million per year and runs through 2025. Because Notre Dame is independent of any football conference, they get more juice out of selling broadcasting rights than other teams. Can you imagine if Notre Dame actually started winning championships? Touchdown Jesus would jump off the library wall and walk across the pool to get a better look. The English Department would get its own building, complete with state-of-the-art massage therapy chairs and a top-security mausoleum with the remains of Edgar Allen Poe. Mendoza would install two helicopter pads on its roof connected to a five-star penthouse for top donors. The university would strike down its bogus six-semesteron-campus requirement and end parietals. You could feel the excitement in the air last year when
the Fighting Irish came closing to bringing home a title following an undefeated season. And the money, I was told by an acquaintance who worked in fundraising, was pouring in. How much hasn’t been reported, though, and we probably won’t know for at least a few months. But amid the football extravaganza, and its grandiloquent contributions to the $13.1 billion endowment, my graduate stipend hasn’t budged. Still just above the poverty line for a household of three. Still deferring my undergrad loans. Notre Dame undergrads still graduate with $25,860 in student loans, on average. Of course, it’s not like the players are getting their fair shake, either. University President Father John Jenkins has been a vocal opponent of paying players for bringing in the big bucks. Sure, they get to enjoy the social status of demigods for as long as the ride lasts, and a shot at making big money in the pro-leagues. Yet, one crippling injury can end all that, and the accumulation of subconcussive blows can lead to serious neurological problems down the line. No, I’m not salty about this whole situation. I’m too jaded a-la-millennial to be salty. OK, maybe a little. Maybe I’m just trying to find something provocative to write about that doesn’t involve leggings or the yet-to-be-covered racist Columbus murals in the Main Building. Maybe my next column will be a peaceful meditation on yoga and beer, which apparently is a thing in certain hipster neighborhoods of Chicago. Go Irish! Oliver Ortega is a Ph.D. student specializing in Latinx Literature and Politics. Originally from Queens, New York, he has called the Midwest home for almost a decade. Through boundless cynicism he keeps trying. Reach him at oortega1@nd.edu or @ByOliverOrtega on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Letter to the editor
The haves and have-nots: Two perspectives Editor’s Note: The full version of this letter is published on The Observer’s website. “You don’t know what you’re missing.” “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.” “Those who don’t have something others have don’t know any better.” These are all variations on the concept of the “haves versus the have-nots.” We often think of this in terms of physical attributes such as better houses, cars, clothing, food or access to quality education. All of us are very aware of who has more in our communities. Despite this recognition, equity often appears more like a dream than something that truly can be achieved in our current situations. This topic was the subject of a roundtable discussion at the Play Like a Champion Today (PLACT) conference held on Notre Dame’s campus in June. PLACT, now in its 14th year, brings together leaders in youth and high school sports from across the country to create a community committed to developing children socially, emotionally and physically through sports. As youth coaches, we all work with children from a variety of backgrounds and our primary objective is to build a team that shares common goals, and supports, respects and accepts each other unconditionally. A team in this way becomes a family – one that suspends judgment and has fun playing together. This is “kinship.” Kinship is also the foundation and fundamental guidepost of Homeboy Industries. Recognizing this strong connection, this year’s PLACT conference centered around the kinship initiative and included two people from Homeboy – Javier, a senior staff navigator and former gang member, and Alegria, community outreach manager. I also consider myself a part of the Homeboy family, having spent the past two years developing and implementing a running, hiking and yoga program for the trainees. What better way to end our time in South Bend but to celebrate with some of the local favorites. Brothers Bar and Grill just across the street in the Eddy Street Commons has some of the best so we continued our walk in that direction. When we arrived at Brothers just after 9:30 pm, the
establishment was mostly empty, yet eight or 10 red-shirted bouncers stood near the entry door, all with their heads down buried in their cell phones. As we entered the restaurant, me first, then Alegria, and lastly Javier, the bouncer at the door leaned over to Javier and spoke in his ear, “No tattoos above the neck after 9:00 pm,” denying his entrance. I was unsure what I had actually just heard, baffled that Alegria and I could enter but that our brother Javy was left standing outside. Not one of the bouncers looked up or made eye contact with us. Apparently, Javier is not the first person to be denied entry based on his appearance at Brothers, a place whose tagline is “Everyone is family at Brothers Restaurant.” Suddenly, kinship no longer existed. Compassion for each other did not extend across the street from the place where 150 lives had just been transformed by listening to Javier tell his story. He shared a story of childhood, gang-life, prison, addiction, of being shot three times – the third time bullets entered his skull, neck and shoulder as he shielded a Homeboy trainee he was teaching to drive, caught in the crossfire. It was a story of redemption, of making choices each day to live intentionally, to be educated and to be a force for good in his community. All that mattered was that a remnant from his former life, a tattoo, labeled him as an outsider, someone to fear and keep out. Brothers’ policy or dress code is not advertised. It is arbitrarily, inconsistently and selectively employed but their exclusionary reputation is well-known. Bouncers at nearby O’Rourke’s Public House confirmed this when I asked if a tattoo would prevent entry into their establishment. They offered a lengthy commentary on their opinion of Brothers’ procedures and said Javier is welcome anytime. Students echoed their own similar experiences and observations. A quick survey of Yelp and Trip Advisor includes numerous comments about potential patrons feeling discriminated, profiled, humiliated and subjected to sexist comments from the staff at Brothers. An article in the South Bend Tribune from April 2015 tells a story startling similar to ours. A local resident taking some out-of-town guests out to the bar was denied entrance
because of a neck tattoo, a small cross surrounded by the words “Lord watch over me.” Like us, he was extremely upset and embarrassed, felt discriminated against, and also had no problem entering O-Rourke’s down the street. The Tribune article continued, stating that Brothers is a private business and is well within its rights to make customers follow a dress code policy. Despite this, no other establishment at Eddy Street Commons has a dress code. Discrimination or not, Brothers continues to make judgement calls based on the appearance of people with no evidence that this is solving any of their crime problems. These actions foster the separation of community, further creating a divide and atmosphere of privilege based on nothing more than a visual perception. At first, I wished I had known all this about Brothers so that I could have avoided the embarrassment and emotional turmoil. But after reflection, I was grateful to feel firsthand the sting of rejection, the resulting humiliation and the burning outrage, emotions that many among us feel every day, yet invisible to others. I tried to take my cues from Javier’s response, his calm, “OK, it’s cool, whatever, man” while shaking his head and walking away, wondering what my friend was feeling. Javier shared later how his mind processed the incident. He said he has a list of choices on a scale of one to 10, and his first and easiest response is always to react with the old gang mentality. But now, he willfully and consciously makes the better choice, and it feels good. It was a powerful admonition that we all have a choice, as Father Greg Boyle says, “To close both eyes; see with the other one; to free ourselves of the burden of our persistent judgments, our ceaseless withholding, our constant exclusion.” As students filter back to campus and football season begins again, let this be a reminder that there is much work to do to find kinship, the elusive solidarity where we stand together, the circle expanded, and the margins erased. And this includes Brothers, where everyone is family. Joanna Cote Thurman PLACT participant Sept. 6
8
DAILY
The observer | tuesday, september 10, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
Crossword | Will Shortz
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Embrace change. Live your dream. Use your imagination, and you will discover a world that excites you. Set high goals this year. Go on an adventure to regain confidence. Forge into the future with optimism. Don’t let your past or people who don’t support you stand between you and what you want. Your numbers are 8, 14, 21, 28, 33, 37, 46. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Keep an open mind, a closed wallet and a compassionate attitude. How you handle others will make a difference in the way others perceive you. Listen carefully, and offer only what you know you are capable of doing. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Look at the possibilities, and make your move. You’ll have impeccable timing and excellent insight into how to move forward. Trust your judgment, and don’t worry about what others choose to do. Romance is on the rise. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Trust your intuition, not what someone tells you. A deal is useful only if you come out ahead. Don’t make a purchase you don’t need. Joint ventures are best left alone. Walk away from unpredictable people and situations. CANCER ( June 21-July 22): Express your feelings, and share your ideas. A partnership will play an important role in the outcome of a project you want to pursue. The input you receive will help you stay within budget. Romance will improve your personal life. LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Explore new possibilities, but don’t make an impulsive decision. Take your time, and consider every option. Time is on your side, and making a practical choice will set you up for success. Taking on debt, more work or additional responsibility should be avoided. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Refuse to give in to someone using manipulative tactics to stop you from doing things your way. Follow your heart and your dreams. It’s your life, and you have to do what’s best for you. A positive change is encouraged. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You’ll require an open mind when dealing with close-minded people. A positive attitude will help you plant seeds that will encourage those less accommodating to consider what you think will be an excellent opportunity. Offer incentives and compliments. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Embrace change. What you discover will help you make an important decision regarding the people and groups you rely on for support. A close friend or relative will offer sound advice. Love, romance and a commitment are encouraged. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): If you take on too much, you will fall short. Find out what’s expected of you before you get involved in a joint venture. Someone you trust will disappoint you. Don’t rely on others or take part in a dispute. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Update personal documents. Take note of what others say, but when it comes to making a decision, go directly to the source for facts and figures that can determine how you should move forward. A partnership should be considered carefully. AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Consider the possibilities as well as the downside of any proposition you are offered. Doing your own things will have advantages. An emotional situation should be handled with compassion and understanding. Physical improvements will lift your spirits. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Listen to what others say, and consider how best to use your skills to gain acceptance from your peers. Stick to the facts, and you’ll avoid giving a false impression. It’s best if the competition underestimates what you are capable of doing. Birthday Baby: You are inquisitive, changeable and ambitious. You are dedicated and loyal.
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Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
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Sports Authority
An apology to Bury from an American EPL fan Greg McKenna Sports Writer
Dear fans of Bury FC, After 125 years, it is all suddenly over. Though perhaps not world-renowned (you spent much of your recent history in the third and fourth tiers), your proud club was a founding member of England’s Football League, but that has not saved your city’s pride and joy from being officially expelled from the English Football League (EFL) due to impending bankruptcy. As one of you remarked to The Guardian, “the heartbeat” of your tiny industrial city is gone. The blame, of course, falls mostly on former owner Stewart Day, who financed a team your club could not afford with shares from his now insolvent property company, and Steve Dale, the businessman who was permitted by the EFL to buy your financially stricken club for a single pound last December even though he did not provide adequate evidence that he could actually save it. Your fate, however, threatens to be far more than an isolated incident. As the Premier League continues to provide unprecedented revenue to the county’s biggest clubs, the foundation the most watched league in the world rests upon is slowly collapsing. Why? The blame might actually lie partly with me (and the millions of fans throughout North America who also watch the EPL), and for that, I am deeply sorry. Football may be the world’s game, but you certainly deserve a primary stake. Clubs both big and small add so much value to cities and communities like yours because you are the descendants of those who birthed the game. Club football, rather than the steam engine, might actually be the invention that best defines the Industrial Revolution. Increasing commercialization and globalization of the game, however, coincided with the post-industrial decline that hit cities like Bury hard. Almost thirty years after the Premier League broke away from the rest of the EFL in 1992 to open the door to more lucrative TV and sponsorship deals, football is your game no longer. It is now the domain of sheiks, oligarchs and demagogues, and while
they claim to love bringing England’s game to the world, they seem to care very little about the grassroots football that crumbles in their wake. Let me clear, the ability of Premier League clubs to take advantage of emerging markets such as North America and East Asia and attract many new fans like myself has had its benefits, especially for players. Before England’s big clubs became extremely successful business ventures, hooliganism was rife, stadiums crumbled, and the actual games were usually about as enthralling as last week’s Packers-Bears snooze fest. Thanks to massive TV deals with broadcasters around the globe, especially in the United States, many of the best players in the world flock to England to receive wages that would have been incomprehensible just three decades ago. This economic boom, however, has put massive costs on the social value traditionally generated by both the sharks and minnows of the English game. The steady rise in ticket prices has been a problem for years, as corporate boxes and tourists have replaced traditional supporters in the stands. Further down the pyramid, the negative effects have been particularly acute. Premier League wealth has not trickled down in terms of revenue. Rather, it has simply inflated the pay scale, causing many owners like Day to overspend in order to stay competitive, or as in the case of your Bury, chase the dream of promotion. Regulations meant to prevent this have clearly not worked well enough, in part because giants like Manchester City, for example, have little incentive to comply. City, who suddenly rose to prominence over the last decade thanks to the backing of Abu Dhabi’s royal family, might consistently face vague “investigations” or even the threat of a Champions League ban under the suspicion of breaking Financial Fair Play rules, but for clubs like Bury, the consequences can be far more severe. Without virtually infinite financial backing, staying alive in a country dominated by the Premier League is a tremendous challenge. That is why the prospect of a breakaway “European Super League,” consisting
of the continent’s richest clubs, is so frightening. Most people realize that it is a horrible idea, but preventing immensely rich and powerful figures such as Abu Dhabi’s royal family or Chelsea owner, and close buddy of Vladimir Putin, Roman Abramovich from having their way could prove extremely difficult. As fans of Bury, you would probably not wish your predicament on any other supporter, but such a “super league” could prove disastrous for the vast majority of clubs throughout Europe. Thinking that a club with the stature of Everton, for example, could go under might sound crazy now, but one of your main rivals, Bolton Wanderers, would most likely disagree. They were members of the Premier League as recently as 2012, but they narrowly escaped your fate themselves last week. Clearly, the enormous revenues generated by attracting new fans around the world, like myself, to clubs run by ridiculously wealthy foreign owners has not been beneficial to all, especially those affiliated with football’s roots in industrial England. Sadly, I do not know how to make amends. I certainly can not bring Bury back. Perhaps the best thing I can do is to stop being a part of the problem. If a European Super League ever does come to pass, I hope my fellow American fans and I will refuse to watch and support such a contamination of your game. If the situation in England fails to improve, maybe Americans will have to switch their focus to Germany, where sustainable clubs, low ticket prices, and thriving lower tiers are matched by a product just as, if not more, exciting than that of the EPL. To put it simply, I no longer want my enjoyment of the English game to come at the expense of its heart and soul, and so I hope you can accept my apology. I wish you all the best in getting your club back. Yours Truly, An American Fan of the English Premier League
Brian Griffith (18:32) taking third. Junior Vincent Zona (18:53) and sophomore Jack McNabola (18:54) were the other two scorers for the men. “Zach Kreft had some decent races as a freshman but really looked comfortable this time leading the way for us,” Sparks said. Sparks was impressed by Kreft and Denner’s ability to lead and win their races. “A lot of times you see kids that are leading a race and they feel a little awkward in those positions,” Sparks said. “Especially when they are a freshman or sophomore, they don’t know if that’s where they’re supposed to be. [Denner and Kreft] were very assertive and natural where they were. They knew that’s where they should be and they were very comfortable in those leadership spots for us.” Sparks said that Friday’s event was used somewhat as an exhibition contest to see how the team would race without some of its veteran leadership and to allow some younger, less experienced runners a chance to race. The race will also be used to make redshirt decisions on
younger runners. “It’s early in the year, so there are still a lot of pieces of the puzzle to put together over the coming weeks,” Sparks said. The race did show, however, that the top two or three finishers for the men’s and women’s team will likely be contributing to the varsity team in the near future. “The big theme on both sides was prevailing,” Sparks said. “There were a lot of uncertainties with lots of freshmen and sophomores. There were a lot of kids running in their first competition as a member of the team.” Sparks said one other thing that stood out to him from the race was the team chemistry and support among runners for one another on the course. “A lot of kids drove over that weren’t competing to support everyone else that was there,” Sparks said. “Everybody is just in it for each other.” The next race on the schedule for the Irish is the National Catholic Invitational on September 20 at Burke Golf Course. Sparks said that the same runners will be racing at that meet and a few veteran runners will be added on. Contact Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu
Contact Greg McKenna at gmckenn2@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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ANNA masoN | The Observer
Irish junior Yared Nuguse sprints in the Meyo Mile competition during the Meyo Invitational on Feb. 2 at Loftus Sports Center.
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one season at the University of Washington over a decade before, and saw this invitation as an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. “If you had asked me fifteen years ago if I could coach anywhere in the country, I would have named three schools – and one of them was Notre Dame,” Johnson said. “This is a place where you can win at the highest level, but are challenged to hold yourself to the highest standards of integrity and academics. If it hadn’t been Coach McLaughlin and it hadn’t been Notre Dame, I would have said no.” Johnson added that his years as head coach made him more willing to learn as an assistant. There were questions, he said, that he would not have even known to ask before his experience in running a program. Johnson began playing volleyball in his home state of Hawaii in seventh grade,
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controlled possession frequently in the first half, and had a good chance to pull ahead in the 28th minute when junior midfielder Sarah Stratigakis nearly scored from seven yards out. Sophomore midfielder Raleigh Loughman fired the rebound toward the net, but Irish sophomore goalkeeper Mattie Interian was able to knock the ball out of play. Notre Dame had an opportunity just a few minutes later when sophomore midfielder Brooke VanDyck raced down the field, appearing to have just the goalie to beat. However, Wolverines
where the sport was extremely popular. Though he never seriously considered playing in college, McLaughlin’s mentorship led him to highlevel coaching directly after graduating college. When McLaughlin stepped down in 2018, Johnson began looking at his own vision for the future of the Irish. “I believe that Notre Dame should be in the national title hunt every year,” Johnson said. “We are one of the best schools in the country and our volleyball team should ref lect that. We’re not there yet, but we’re taking steps to get there, and it’s going to happen.” Johnson and his program took a big step towards becoming national title contenders in his first year at the helm, as the Fighting Irish went 16-12 overall and 10-8 in conference. The team had a record five players named to the Second All-ACC Team, and their senior libero Ryan DeJarld won the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award. Johnson also believes that
the recruiting classes coming in are strong and will be able to take the program to the next level. College volleyball starts recruiting very young – usually when players are in eighth or ninth grade – so when Johnson talks about the future of the program, he’s not just looking at next season, but years ahead. Johnson also hopes to increase student involvement in the crowd by upping game attendance and participation. “For those who haven’t experienced the game of college volleyball, there is a level of athleticism and power that you don’t see in your backyard game,” he said. “We have several players on the team who can hit the ball close to 60 miles per hour. There are swings of momentum and emotion that the crowd can really get caught up in.” Notre Dame returns home Wednesday, September 18 to take on Michigan at Purcell Pavilion at 7 p.m. Contact Grace McDermott at gmcdermo@nd.edu
Irish graduate student middle blocker Kristin Baer, left, and sophomore setter Zoe Nunez leap for a block in a match Wednesday.
defender Janiece Joyner sprinted back to stop her and regain possession for the Wolverines. The game ended up being evenly matched, as each team controlled possession for exactly 50% of the match. The Irish held possession more often in the second half, but the Wolverines defense stood firm. Finally, with less than five minutes to play, junior defender Jenna Winebrenner sent a cross into the box that was headed past Michigan junior goalkeeper Hillary Beall by freshman forward Kiki Van Zanten for her first career goal. The Irish continued to showcase their versatility on offense, as Van Zanten is the seventh Notre Dame player
to score this season. Norman credits this to the depth of the team and its playing style. “We have a really deep team with a lot of players on offense that have a great ability,” Norman said. “We’ve also gotten goals from players on our back line. We push a lot of people forward at different points in the game. It makes it difficult for other teams to cue in on a specific player to deal with.” On Sunday, Notre Dame prevailed against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (2-2-1) in Rochester, Michigan. The Irish handled Oakland from the opening touch and had plenty of opportunities early, but Jaimie Leas, the Grizzlies
goalkeeper, made some tough saves to deny them. Then, in the 31st minute, junior forward Eva Hurm scored her teamhigh third goal of the season on a volley off a deflected cross to give the Irish the 1-0 lead. Hurm’s goal was all the Irish would need, as Notre Dame smothered Oakland on defense for entirety of the game, not allowing the Grizzlies to take a single shot. Defense continues to be a common theme on this opening stretch of the season, as the Irish have allowed just one goal through their first six games. The win against Oakland was their third-consecutive shutout and their fifth of the season. Norman explained that players knowing
CHARLIE ORTEGA GUIFARRO | The Observer
ALLISON THORNTON | The Observer
Irish freshman forward Kiki Van Zanten dribbles down the field during Notre Dame’s 4-0 win over St. John’s on Sept. 1 at Alumni Stadium. Van Zanten scored her first career goal against Michigan on Friday.
their roles when the Irish don’t have the ball is key to shutting down opposing offenses. “We are trying to be organized once a team gets into our defensive third, and clarifying everybody’s role.” he said. “We’ll try to press teams in their defensive half, and if they break that press, we have to figure out how to get back, and put them under pressure, and keep them in front of us, and be ready to get our opportunities.” The Irish are preparing for a tough road game against seventh-ranked South Carolina. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Thursday. Contact Liam Coolican at lcoolica@nd.edu
ALLISON THORNTON | The Observer
Irish sophomore midfielder Brooke VanDyck passes the ball during Notre Dame’s 4-0 victory over St. John’s at Alumni Stadium on Sept. 1.
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they were challenged this week physically and mentally, and as we go into our preparation for New Mexico, which we got a little bit of work on, New Mexico last week, it is about living up to a standard. A standard we have set here at Notre Dame and then playing to that standard against New Mexico.” Former Notre Dame head coach and current New Mexico head coach Bob Davie will not be on the sidelines come Saturday as he is currently recovering from a “serious medical incident” he suffered following the team’s seasonopening win over Sam Houston State on Aug. 31. Kelly said the uncertainty of the Lobos provides a unique challenge in his team’s preparation. “You know, certainly with an interim coach in [Saga Tuitele] is now going to be charged with bringing his football team here, they will be excited about the opportunity to play against us. They have got some talented players on the offensive side of the ball, three quarterbacks that we have to prepare for, and all of them are extremely capable. You know, I really like the wide receiver corps, they have a transition going on defense with a lot of new faces that we’re trying to on film watch in one game, a new defensive coordinator, so there is a lot of things that we have to, you know, manage there. More importantly, it is about, you know, what we do and how we do it. So that’s been the focus for us relative to the standard of play that we have to live up to.”
ndsmcobserver.com | tuesday, september 10, 2019 | The Observer
Kelly went on to offer updates on several significant injuries the Irish have faced this season. On junior tight end Kole Kmet’s prognosis, Kelly appeared optimistic. “[Kmet’s prognosis looks] really good. He was involved in practice last week, seven-onseven drills, some teamwork,” Kelly said. “You know, we’ll make a decision, you know, at what level we want to engage him this week, but his X-rays looked really good, significant growth relative to his injury. That’s going to be a day-to-day situation as to how we see how far we want to accelerate him. He’s been cleared to do quite a bit of the football related work within the practice.” Kelly said there is even a chance Kmet could see the field on Saturday at some point. Kelly also spoke on junior running back Jafar Armstrong, who will be out for an extended period of time due to a groin injury. “Certainly we’ll be without him for a few weeks,” Kelly said. “You know, that’s an injury that, you know, again I think requires some time, but to put an exact time on it, you know, it’s hard to say. Julian Okwara did not have surgery but had some similarities in terms of the injury. He was about four weeks.” The changes to the depth chart have sparked Kelly and his staff to make some personnel changes as they try to find the best unit to take the field. “We moved [junior cornerback] Avery Davis back over to the offensive side of the ball to give us another complement to that piece,” he said “You know, Avery again can catch the football for us, [he] has the ability to
EMMA FARNAN | The Observer
Former Irish defensive tackle Jerry Tillery leaps forward to block a kick during Notre Dame’s 30-3 loss to Clemson on Dec. 29.
do those things that Jafar did. He gives us another piece at that position that we think can fill in nicely.” Kelly then went on to specify that Armstrong’s injury is a “torn rectus abdominis,” and Armstrong has already undergone surgery. Kelly then commented on graduate student cornerback Shaun Crawford, who has struggled with a number of injuries throughout his career, expressing his confidence in the graduate student’s mindset and physical health. “Physically he came out outstanding,” Kelly said. “I think mentally is where he feels really good. He did a lot of really good things for us at corner and at safety. Moving forward, he continues to, you know, obviously get back to where he was after a year of fighting through the injuries. So an important piece to what we’re doing in the back end of our defense.” Despite the injury concerns after only one game, Kelly said the team practiced hard and physically during its time off before the New Mexico game. “They were long practices, they were two practices. It was a physically demanding and mentally demanding week for our team,” he said. Lastly, Kelly talked about the numerous advantages that come with playing at home. “Well, it’s always great playing at home,” Kelly said. “I mean, sleeping in your own bed, we have got a great routine, the home-field advantage is real with our fans. It has gotten better and better in my time here in terms of, you know, just the support that we have. Our students are great at the games,
a part of it. Certainly the video graphics, the Jumbotron, just all of those things add to the game day experience that we’re feeling.” While the fan engagement is essential to the team’s performance, Kelly talked about how his team hopes to give back when they take the field at home. “At the end of the day, you have to play exciting football and you’ve got to play good football to get everybody enthusiastic,” he said. “So it is our job to put a great product on the field, one that’s exciting,
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one that people want to see and our players recognize that. It’s important for them to play well at home. They talk about we talk about protecting our house and quite frankly, it is part of the things we do in our summer work that they want to be in our stadium and they want to play their very best in front of the crowd.” The Irish will face off against New Mexico at Notre Dame Stadium this Saturday, with kickoff at 2:30 pm. Contact Connor Mulvena at cmulvena@nd.edu
Ann Curtis | The Observer
Former Irish cornerback Julian Love attempts to break up a pass during Notre Dame’s 30-3 Cotton Bowl loss to Clemson on Dec. 29.
ANN curtis | The Observer
Irish junior running back Jafar Armstrong tries to break a tackle during Notre Dame’s 36-3 victory over Syracuse on Nov. 17 at Yankee Stadium in New York. Armstrong will miss several weeks with a groin injury.
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nd women’s soccer | nd 1, michigan 0; nd 1, oakland 0
nd volleyball
Johnson looks to keep improving By GRACE McDERMOTT Sports Writer
Luck, grace, circumstances. Define head volleyball coach Mike Johnson’s path to Notre Dame however you would like, but he chooses a quote by Albert Einstein to describe how he came to be in his second season as head coach of the Irish: “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” Johnson, whose team is now 4-1 after a home win on Monday over No. 18 Purdue, credits much of his coaching success to former Notre Dame volleyball coach Jim McLaughlin, who held the position from 2015 to 2018. Johnson first met McLaughlin at the University of Washington, where Johnson was a member of the club volleyball team and his mentor was coaching the women’s team at the time. McLaughlin invited Johnson to be a practice player, and thus began
Irish move to 6-0 after pair of shutout road wins
the student-teacher relationship that has guided Johnson’s career. “My true passions have always been teaching and coaching,” Johnson said. “To have a shot at this profession, you have to learn from people who are very good. It’s not always something you can figure out intuitively. [McLaughlin] taught me not just the methods and mechanics, but the principles of teaching, the focus it would take to be at the highest level. I was very fortunate I got my start under someone I consider the best coach and teacher in the country.” Johnson, who spent one season at Austin Peay State University and five seasons at Xavier University as head coach, took a demotion when McLaughlin invited him to coach at Notre Dame as an assistant in 2015. He had previously assisted McLaughlin for see VOLLEYBALL PAGE 10
By LIAM COOLICAN Sports Writer
ALLISON THORNTON | The Observer
Irish junior midfielder Sammi Fisher fights for the ball during Notre Dame’s 4-0 win over St. John’s on Sept. 1 at Alumni Stadium.
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nd cross country | crusader invitational
Football
Kelly discusses injuries, prep for New Mexico
ND cruises to win in opening meet
By CONNOR MULVENA
By NATE MOLLER
Sports Editor
Sports Writer
Ahead of No. 7 Notre Dame’s home opener Saturday, head coach Brian Kelly addressed the media in his weekly press conference. Before taking questions, Kelly addressed the team’s mindset being idle in week two, and he talked about New Mexico’s team coming into Saturday. “New Mexico, for us is, you know, when you have a week off, you look at certainly this early in the season, at yourself and what you need to do to continue to build on your football team,” Kelly said. “We spent the last week in working on ourselves in terms of things necessary to continue to build our football team. It was a good week.” Kelly emphasized that Saturday’s matchup is about continued progress that he hopes his team carries throughout the season. “I think if you ask our players,
Notre Dame began the season in winning fashion with both teams taking first at the Crusader Classic Invitational at Valparaiso University this past Friday. Despite holding out top veteran runners from the race, both teams had all five scoring runners finish in the top-10. The women won by 28 points and the men by 18. “This obviously gives us a lot of confidence going forward into the next meet and when we bring in the rest of our veteran leaders to the team to complement the younger kids that are starting to gain confidence,” head cross country coach Matt Sparks said. “We are feeling really good about the direction we are headed.” The women were led Maddy Denner and Jocelyn Long, who crossed the finish line for the 5K in 17:03 and 17:40, respectively. Other notable
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Notre Dame (6-0) secured a pair of 1-0 wins on the road this weekend, continuing their undefeated streak. This is the team’s first six-game winning streak since 2015, when the Irish also won six-consecutive games to start the season. Although the Irish have struggled slightly away from home this season, head coach Norman wants his team to prepare the same way. “They may not have all the comfort and familiarity of being at home, but we’re still going to go out there, play our game, control the tempo, try to put pressure on teams,” Norman said. On Friday, the Irish defeated Michigan (4-2) in Ann Arbor. Defense dominated the game early, as both goalkeepers denied a number of scoring opportunities. Michigan
EMMA FARNAN | The Observer
Irish senior wide receiver Chase Claypool cuts to the right after a catch during Notre Dame’s 35-17 victory over Louisville on Sept. 2.
performances included graduate student Kelly Hart, who placed third with a time of 17:42. Hart, who typically focuses more on middle distance training for track, is not as accustomed to competing in cross country and usually uses the fall season to stay fit for track. Sparks was impressed by her race and her improvements. “She told us this morning at practice she ran three minutes faster today than she did in the same race freshmen year,” Sparks said. Senior Erin Archibeck (17:56) and sophomore Meghan Scott (18:18) rounded out the scoring five for the women. Freshman Olivia Markezich (17:56) also had an impressive race running unattached. The men’s side dominated the 6K race in a similar fashion with sophomores Zach Kreft (18:09) and Matthew Carmody (18:25) taking the top-two spots and junior see XC PAGE 9