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Volume 56, Issue 10 | Monday, September 13, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com

ND Forum discusses climate NBC correspondent Anne Thompson, Sen. Chris Coons address campus By ALYSA GUFFEY Notre Dame News Editor

As part of the 2021 Notre Dame Forum “Care for Our Common Home,” University President Fr. John Jenkins welcomed NBC chief environmental affairs correspondent Anne Thompson and U.S. Sen. Chris Coons to campus for a “fireside chat” on the transition to a sustainable future, entitled “Call to Action: Crossing the Political Divide to Address Climate Challenges.” To open up the discussion on the future of the environment, Jenkins announced that the University would be a carbon-neutral campus by the year 2050. He thanked leaders see FOURM PAGE 3

Observer Staff Report

ALYSA GUFFEY | The Observer

NBC chief enviornmental affairs correspondent Anne Thompson and Sen. Chris Coons sat down for a conversation on climate change and bipartisan support in the keynote event of the 2021 ND Forum.

DIANE PARK | The Observer

Remembering the tragedy of 9/11 By UYEN LE, SPENCER KELLY, CHRISTIAN CEFALU and WILLIAM KIM

The day after: Notre Dame reacts to 9/11 attacks

From the Archives Researchers

Sept. 12, 2001 | Various authors | Researched by Spencer Kelly

This past weekend marked the 20th anniversary of the tragic events of 9/11, a day that has made an indelible mark on U.S. history. Though many college students today are too young to remember that day, both local and national efforts allow us to continue to honor the lives that were lost 20 years ago. Despite our age on that day, many of us still carry the deep sorrow that 9/11 brings each year, as we mourn the loss of loved ones and friends of loved ones. In this edition of From the Archives, we confront our painful past, capturing those initial emotions of fear and shock on Sept. 11, 2001 here at Notre Dame. But we also find in these past 20 years the healing powers of community and collective memory.

Twenty years later, the events of Sept. 11, 2001 remain indelibly etched into our memories. While we now have a clearer picture of what occurred on that day, it is important to remember the fear and uncertainty that prevailed at the time. This incertitude is prevalent in The Observer’s coverage on Sept. 12. As news editor Jason McFarley (‘03) reported, Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s shut down their campuses at around 10 a.m., just over an hour after the first plane hit the World Trade Center. In lieu of classes, an estimated 6,000 students, faculty and staff gathered at South Quad for Mass led by University President Emeritus Fr. Edward Malloy. While everyone was emotionally affected, many students in attendance had been directly impacted

News PAGE 2

Fatal shooting reported

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by the events of the previous day. New York City native Michael Federico (‘04) frantically called friends and family back home, grateful to find that all were alive and well. Senior Kathy Harter (‘02), however, was unable to reach her friends in the area. “No one has heard from them.” Finally, there was uncertainty over the future. As assistant professor of government Dan Lindley wrote in a Letter to the Editor, a “war on terrorism” seemed inevitable. But senior viewpoint columnist Eric Long (‘02) questioned this course. “Is personal suffering remedied by inflicting suffering on someone else?” Long wrote. “How often do we, as Americans, lament the endless cycle of redemptive violence that plagues war torn areas around the world? Maybe praying for peace should be on every day’s agenda.” Sophomore Tai Romero (‘04) agreed, offering a message that we should take to heart on this

Viewpoint PAGE 6

The Notre Dame Police Department (NDPD) informed the campus community of a fatal shooting that occurred at a residence at the 800 block of East Washington St. in the early hours of Sunday morning. The location is three miles south of the Notre Dame campus. Investigators have said the house was rented by Holy Cross College students, according to the South Bend Tribune. Police have identified the victim as 24-year-old Montell O’Neal of South Bend, the see SHOOTING PAGE 4

Groups debate new law By MAGGIE EASTLAND Associate News Editor

Sept. 11, 2002 | Jason McFarley | Researched by Christina Cefalu The harrowing events of 9/11 continued to weigh heavily on the minds of Notre Dame students in the year following the attack. Students who were interning in Washington D.C. in the fall semester of 2001 shared their reactions and reflections a year after the tragedy with news writer Jason McFarley (‘03). Lauren Berrigan (‘03) had quit her internship at the Pentagon a week before the 9/11 attack. Upon receiving news that the Pentagon

The tri-campus community, known for its active debate over abortion, remains divided over Senate Bill 8, a new law enacted in Texas that prohibits abortions after about six weeks, or once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. The Supreme Court struck down an emergency appeal to stop the bill Sept. 1 in a 5-4 vote but remains open to future challenges. For now, Senate Bill 8 blocks many of the typical routes for legal challenge by transferring the responsibility of enforcement from legal and state officials to ordinary citizens. Under the legislation, everyday Texas citizens can sue abortion providers or anyone who aids and abets in an abortion after the 6-week mark. If they win, plaintiffs collect $10,000

see ARCHIVES PAGE 3

see LAW PAGE 4

twentieth anniversary. “From this whole ordeal, let us learn to live respect, breathe respect and breed respect,” he wrote. “Let us learn to fight violence with love.”

One year later, Washington D.C. students recall and reflect

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TODAY

The observer | Monday, September 13, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com

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On Thursday, Notre Dame’s Meruelo Family Center for Career Development kicked off its 2021 fall semester career fair series virtually on Handshake, the centralized career management platform it uses to connect students to employers across the globe. Last fall, the only option for the fall career fair was to make it virtual; this semester allows for more options in terms of meeting employers face-toface, but event organizers decided against scrapping the virtual form of recruiting altogether. This career fair week series will be Notre Dame’s first to offer both in-person and virtual options. After Notre Dame’s 2020 fall semester Career Fair was hosted virtually amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a student survey found that 46% of students preferred in-person fairs and 31% preferred the fair

to be virtual. A follow-up survey conducted after the spring semester fair found similar results. While preference was important for the organizers to keep in mind, other factors like health and schedules also played a role in leading to both an in-person and virtual event, according to the Career Center’s associate vice president for career and professional development Ryan Willerton. “Our end goal was to do our best to eliminate as many barriers as possible to increase student participation,” Willerton said. Diana Spulber, a junior majoring in physics and applied and computational mathematics and statistics (ACMS), attended the virtual career fair and will attend the in-person event Tuesday because of its convenience. “I find the virtual format very convenient because it fits into my busy schedule,”

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Spulber said. Though Spulber took advantage of the virtual opportunity, she still prefers an in-person event. Whereas an in-person fair allows for many people to stop in at different times and have one-on-one conversations, virtual events didn’t feel personal enough for her. “It’s hard to form a connection over a Zoom call as is, but it’s even harder when there are 30 people side-by-side on a screen,” Spulber said. The virtual format also is vulnerable to technological problems. “It is also a lot easier to have a conversation and ask questions without the awkward pause or lagging internet connection,” she said. The large, centralized career fair will take place on Tuesday in the concourse of Notre Dame Stadium. The fair’s set-up will feature a mixture of industries throughout the stadium, allowing students to find roles and industries

they may not have otherwise considered. Students are to dress in business casual clothes and are encouraged to do research on the employers they are interested in ahead of time. “Students should not open with ‘so, what does your company do?’” Willerton said. Handshake is available to help students see which employers will attend the career fair series events and offers many filters to help narrow down choices of which employers would be worthwhile to talk to. In conversations with employers, students should express to what makes them unique. “I encourage students to not focus on their major and GPA — focus on their values, interests and skills,” Willerton said. “The best advice: be yourself and be prepared.” Contact Liam Price at lprice3@nd.edu

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Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

“The invisibility Bargain” Lecture Hesburgh Center for International Studies 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Open to all.

McWell Open House McDonald Center 4 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. All first-year students are welcome to find ways to stay well.

“Bound up with love...” Exhibit 102 Hesburgh Library 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Honor the anniversary of the Dante Alighieri.

2021 Tocqueville Lecture DeBartolo Preforming Arts Center 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. Open to all.

Friday Night Bash Notre Dame Stadium 6:15 p.m. - 10 p.m. Tickets are $10 and the event is open to the public.

“Do Not Split” Hong Kong Film Discussion online 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Register online for virtual discussion.

Bocce Picnic Decio Commons 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Join for an hour of coffee and conversation in Italian.

“Jim Dine: American Icon” Exhibition Snite Museum of Art all-day View the collection of 238 prints.

Shrek Trivia Night Legends 9 p.m. - 11 p.m. Test your knowlede of Shrek with other Shrek fans.

Cookies and Canvas Library Lawn 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. Paint your own picture of the Golden Dome while eating cookies.

News

ndsmcobserver.com | Monday, September 13, 2021 | The ObserveR

Archives

Law

Continued from page 3

Continued from page 1

Tuesday morning, stating that he’ll “...never forget it, honestly.” Megan Doyle reported on the Notre Dame community’s remembrance of 9/11 on the day’s tenth anniversary. A campus-wide candlelight mass was held outside of Hesburgh Library, with Fr. Malloy delivering the homily. Then followed a procession from the Hesburgh Library to the Grotto, people’s hands illuminated with the faint light of candles. In a display of unity, rather than holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer, members of the congregation locked arms. During the prayer intentions, student body president Pat McCormick (‘11) read the names of the members of the Notre Dame community who had died in the 9/11 attacks. This list included four Notre Dame alumni and 25 relatives of Notre Dame graduates. Though the mass was described to be a “somber” event, Sam Bevilacqua (‘15) offered another perspective. “It was a peaceful time to reflect on the events of 10 years ago,” he said. “The whole experience, the students linking arms, was a very moving time.” Many tri-campus students today were not alive for the events wof 9/11. As we continue to remember and reflect on what happened that day, it is imperative that we keep the day’s memory alive, even in this post-9/11 world. After all, we made a vow on that day to never forget. As it is written in the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City, “No day shall erase you from the memory of time.”

in damages from each defendant. State officials are prohibited from enforcing the bill. In an opinion piece published in The Washington Post, O. Carter Snead, a Notre Dame law professor, explained the “citizen suit” approach strategically evades pre-enforcement junctions, highlighting the need for more clear laws and local power over abortion. “How did we get to this place in our national discourse on abortion where instead of arguing how to care rightly for women, children and families, we are screaming about the legal technicalities of ‘preenforcement challenges’ and ‘sovereign immunity’?“ Snead asked in the op-ed. Snead wrote overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey will clear up the legal convulsion and give American people the opportunity to govern themselves on the issue. Members of the Notre Dame Right to Life, a University club with the mission to honor human life from conception to natural death, celebrated the new Texas abortion law as a small victory, viewing it as one step towards respecting life from the moment of conception. “I love that it’s a heartbeat bill because it recognizes the reality of fetal development,“ Mary Biese, a senior and director of education for Notre Dame Right to Life, said. Senate Bill 8 defines a fetal heartbeat as “the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the fetal heart within the gestational sac.” Those in favor of abortion disagree over the term “heartbeat bill,” disputing whether the cardiac activity at six weeks can be called a heartbeat.

Contact Uyen Le at hle2@nd.edu, Spencer Kelly at skelly25@nd.edu, Christina Cefalu at ccefalu@nd.edu and William Kim at wkim3@nd.edu

According to a 2019 study compiled by a University of Oxford Cardiovascular Medicine research fellow, active fetal blood circulation begins around week four with the four-chambered heart developing by week seven. Biese considers the “Heartbeat Bill” a small victory in Texas but points out that the antiabortion movement has a long way to go, both on the nationwide legislative and local social fronts. “Woman and child are put against each other all the time,” Biese said. “Being there for these women now is more important than policy debates.” Through sidewalk counseling, family resource centers and productive dialogue, Biese hopes to dismantle the culture of fear and shame surrounding unwanted pregnancy starting with local communities. Others in the tri-campus community disagree with the anti-abortion stance, which they describe “anti-choice.” Lily Storrs, a Notre Dame sophomore and board member of Irish for Reproductive Health, said she felt sick upon hearing the news of the Texas abortion restrictions. “Banning abortions will not stop them, it will just stop safe abortions,” Storrs said in an email correspondence. “While we acknowledge that students might not agree with abortion, we would deeply appreciate students to honor the dignity of a right to choose.” Irish for Reproductive Health is a nonprofit seeking to expand sexual health resources at Notre Dame. Storrs said the University denied the group official status in the past. University spokesperson Dennis Brown said the University has not received any applications from Irish for Reproductive Health. “Our perspectives are not encouraged or welcomed to the same degree as those who are

anti-choice,” Storrs said. Megan King, leader of Smicks for Choice, a student-led club not affiliated with Saint Mary’s College, was similarly shocked and disheartened by the news from Texas. “There are a large portion of people who will not even know that they are pregnant at six weeks,” King said in an email. As anti-abortion social media accounts serving the tri-campus celebrated the Texas legislation, King’s heart sank. “No one should be celebrating the massive injustice that was done to the people of Texas,” King said. Board members for the College Democrats club said when it comes to campus dialogue on the Texas abortion law, social media disputes seem to arise more often than in-person discussion. Junior Anna Guzman said a male Notre Dame student initiated a direct message argument in response to her abortion-rights Instagram post. “Guys seem more willing to fight about it,” she said. Sophomore Alexandra Conley said the Texas abortion restrictions initiated a fearful reaction, especially given the timing of the bill nearly a year after Notre Dame Law professor Amy Coney Barret was appointed to replace late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. “This is what we were afraid of,” Conley said, reflecting on the appointment. Sophomore Sydney Dittmar believes extenuating circumstances were not taken into account in the legislation, which allows abortion when the mother’s life is at risk but makes no exception for cases of incest or rape. Conley, Guzman and Dittmar all serve on the board for College Democrats, but they have not discussed the Texas abortion legislation as a club. In order to remain affiliated with

the University, the club cannot take an abortion-rights stance, Guzman said. According to the du Lac Student Activities Policy, “No organization, or member of any organization on behalf of the organization, may encourage or participate in any activity which contravenes the mission of the University or the moral teachings of the Catholic Church.“ The three women agree that the University fosters a onesided atmosphere for the debate over abortion and reproductive rights. Dittmar said limited access to birth control on campus is one example of the culture. “Other schools practically throw condoms out the windows,” Dittmar said. “I’ve known girls here who [have] had to walk to an off-campus CVS to get birth control.” In 2018, the University began providing access to approved forms of pre-conception birth control through the Walgreens at St. Liam’s Health Center under University health insurance plans that cover many employees and some students. University spokesperson Dennis Brown said graduate students can fill a birth control prescription for any reason and undergraduate students can fill a prescription for a medical reason, whether they are covered by the University’s health care or not. Father Jenkins wrote a letter in 2018 explaining the change, emphasizing the difficulty of the decision and how the University will not provide abortifacients drugs or drugs that intend to end a pregnancy after conception. The University takes no stance on Texas Senate Bill 8, Brown said. Contact Maggie Eastland at meastlan@nd.edu

The observer | Monday, September 13, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com

By JOHN CLARK Scene Writer

Warning: this review contains spoilers. “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” is a TV adaptation of a manga that first aired in 2019, and the success of that adaptation led to a meteoric rise in the popularity of the original manga by Koyoharu Gotouge. At the height of the pandemic, studio ufotable, which is responsible for animating “Demon Slayer,” released a sequel film titled “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train.” This movie has since become the highest-grossing film of 2020. After its international release this summer, “Mugen Train” is now the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time, passing even Hayao Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away.” The first season of “Demon Slayer” was one of the most frustrating anime shows of the past five years. This isn’t to say that it was awful. “Demon Slayer,” after all, is an action anime, and it has a few strengths that set it apart from the rest of the genre. The most immediately noticeable strength, for both the manga and the anime, is manga artist Koyoharu Gotouge’s character design work. Gotouge’s designs not only look awesome but also function as a means of characterization. But this extra characterization is actually pretty necessary, because “Demon Slayer”’s writing is its weakest point. Unfortunately, the rest of the film’s strengths can be boiled down to the fact that it looks cool. The credit for this can be directed to ufotable, a studio that has spent the past fifteen years producing anime showcasing the height of digital animation with shows that prominently feature magic. Ufotable’s action animation ethos puts an equal emphasis on “coolness” and beauty. The movie’s action sequences are certainly its highlights, and what brings

By OLIVIA SEYMOUR Scene Writer

The Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City was alive with contagious energy on the night of September 2 as audience members rose to their feet, cheering loudly before the curtain had even risen. Just moments later, Sara Bareilles stepped onstage, opening her musical, “Waitress,” on Broadway for the first time in nearly 18 months. A block away, the Walter Kerr Theatre was buzzing as André De Shields sauntered onstage, shook the hands of each of his cast members, gestured to the musicians, threw open his suit jacket and asked aloud, “Aight?” Of course, a fresh bout of applause followed, for “Hadestown” was back. Musical theater has returned to Broadway, and not a moment too soon. Ever since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, 2020, actors, musicians, crew members and everyone else involved in the theatre industry have been out of work due to the temporary theater closure. Most of them have been struggling financially for over a year, trying desperately to find creative ways to generate income through their art. New York City itself was also losing steam without Broadway, an area which

them to life is ufotable’s approach and the animation of different characters’ magical abilities. This feat is best demonstrated in Tanjiro’s water-breathing techniques, around which the ufotable animators have built gorgeous sequences inspired by classical Japanese art. The stylistic contrast between the hyper-realistic backgrounds and these brightly colored animations of elemental powers is gorgeous in a way that is truly unique to “Demon Slayer.” Despite its impressive animation, “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train” is a veritable tour de force in all of the aspects of “Demon Slayer” that drag the franchise down and make its offering so frustrating. The film’s writing is by far its most prominent weakness, and having read much of the manga, I can guarantee that the arc adapted here is the worst the series has to offer. The arc focuses on five characters, protagonist Tanjiro and his two cohorts, Zenitsu and Inosuke, and their senior in Demon Slaying, Rengoku, who specializes in fire. As is the case with the series proper, Zenitsu, the cowardly demon slayer whose obsession with Tanjiro’s sister Nezuko is incredibly uncomfortable to watch, is the weakest link in the cast. That being said, “Mugen Train” contains Zenitsu’s best content in the series to date, as he spends most of the film asleep. The emotional core of “Mugen Train” is the dream sequences in which the characters find their greatest wishes granted and must abandon those fantasies to awaken and defeat the demon. This is a trope that is basically synonymous with anime at this point, and I’ve seen at least a dozen variations of it in my time watching anime. As a narrative device, it’s a perfect way to challenge a character or to cause them to realize how much they’ve changed over the course of a journey. “Mugen Train” does not do any of this. The supporting characters are

ignored, and rather than having Tanjiro come to the full realization that something isn’t right on his own, his subconscious self tells him that it’s just a dream and that he must wake up. The process of realization is what makes these sequences in anime so compelling, and while I’m always interested in seeing it done differently, the film’s approach simply eliminates any opportunity for further substance. The fact that Tanjiro must kill himself to wake up is pretty raw, though. As is often the case with “Demon Slayer,” what stuck with me most is what makes it cool. The failure of the dream sequences to deliver a compelling emotional arc caused the fight that took up most of the second half of the film to fall flat. It doesn’t help that it also contains the most garish CG that I’ve ever seen in an ufotable anime. Not even the soundtrack, provided in part by Yuki Kajiura, the best composer working in anime, could get me hyped up for the final fight. Given all of this, the fact that “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train” is the best-selling anime film of all time is frankly depressing.

is essential to the city’s flourishing. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader from New York, reportedly spoke to the cast of “Waitress” before they opened, telling them that “without Broadway, New York would never come back economically.” Though the dangers the new delta variant brings are worrisome to many, the public’s determination to return to a more normal world is only growing stronger. Broadway shows are returning to full capacity, though all audience members must wear masks the entire time and provide evidence of vaccination. Children too young to be vaccinated must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. In spite of the protective measures taken, a bump or two in the road was inevitable. An actress in “Waitress” tested positive for the coronavirus even after being fully vaccinated and was unable to perform because of it. Almost instantly, the actress was replaced by an understudy, the rest of the cast was tested and everyone involved moved forward with a sense of renewed faith in the phrase “the show must go on.” Additionally, the “Waitress” cast honored one of their original members, Nick Cordero, who passed away after a long and grueling battle with COVID-19 last July. The beloved actor’s single, “Live Your Life,” was performed onstage as a tribute by the cast and Cordero’s wife. The show’s set has also been

modified to honor the late actor: the pie menu board now includes the phrase “a big ol slice of live your life pie” in reference to Cordero’s song. It is clear while the pandemic has impacted the theatre community in more ways than one, the pieces it left for the world to pick up will serve as reminders of the struggles and newfound strength that have emerged as a result. “Waitress” and “Hadestown” seem to be the perfect shows for Broadway’s big reopening, as they both deal with themes of grief, love and hope. Audiences found themselves connecting more than ever to certain lyrics and songs, such as the closing number of “Hadestown,” “Raise Your Cup.” The world has seen much hardship and loss over the last year and a half, and Broadway is no exception. The industry is persevering nonetheless, more determined than ever to bring light to the world after theaters have been dark for so long. Audiences will be able to treasure the experience of Broadway for years to come, but it is evident that nothing will be quite like seeing the lights go down, watching the curtain rise and hearing the well-known first song of Bareilles’ musical, “Opening Up,” as if for the very first time.

Contact John Clark at jclark20@nd.edu

“Demon Slayer: Mugen Train” Starring: Natsuki Hanae and Satoshi Hino Director: Haruo Sotozaki Genre: Action, anime If you like: “Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works,” “Katanagatari” and “The Case Study of Vanitas” (currently airing)

Contact Olivia Seymour at oseymour@nd.edu DOUGLAS ABELL | The Observer

The observer | Monday, september 13, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

Expectation vs. reality Claire Kirner Graphic Designer

Will I do important research for a bio lab? Teach English to children in Uganda? Become an Imagineer for a Disney theme park? Grow ing up in South Bend, and surrounded by ND students as a kid, it’s safe to say I had prett y high expectations for my freshman year at Notre Dame. These incredible people and their experiences were ones I looked up to immensely as a kid, yet could never seem to reach. As we all know, COV ID-19 was the lead actor in the lovely mov ie that was the 2020-2021 school year. I quick ly became comfortable w ith lowering my expectations for basically ever y thing. After losing a regular prom, graduation and start to college, I was just accepting the cards that life dealt me, and tr y ing to get through classes w ithout burning out. But I still put pressure on myself to live up to these expectations that had been around since I could remember. That’s not to say that things didn’t go dow nhill from there. I dropped my env ironmental sciences major after failing the chemistr y final. I basically spent most weekends freshman year watching “Gilmore Girls” under the excuse of COV ID-19 (definitely not because of my introverted personalit y). And why couldn’t people still tell me apart from my tw in sister? I had enough of that for the past eighteen years, and thought it would be different at college. But why is this my only picture of what last year was like? For some reason, it’s easy to focus on the negative, instead of all the blessings I received from this past year. I worked for Notre Dame Vision this past summer w ith an incredibly caring, faith-driven group of people. I was finally able to live on campus, eat in the dining hall and just sit in my friends’ rooms to talk about our struggles and life experiences, but also about the superiorit y of Greta Ger w ig’s “Little Women” over all other mov ies. The little experiences of baking cookies for a friend’s birthday or pray ing in the Geddes chapel w ith others became momentous and took on a greater level of meaning after a year of isolating experiences. I found comfort in an ama zing English and design double major that inspires and challenges me constantly, and have finally accepted that being a tw in is a prett y cool thing. This semester, singing in the choir at Milkshake Mass, play ing in the orchestra inside DPAC instead of a tent and cheering on the Irish in the stadium became more than traditions, but moments of tangible communit y and hope that I had finally opened myself up to. Maybe I still have no idea what I am doing. Am I ever going to become that inspiring w riter or teacher or graphic designer? Sometimes I can’t even get out of my lofted bed w ithout falling and I still burn microwave popcorn consistently in PE’s 8B e-lounge (I’m so sorr y py ros). If you saw me eat trail mix for breakfast on more than one occasion — no you didn’t. Were Taylor Sw ift’s “folk lore” and “evermore” albums plus a ton of Kodiak Cakes waff les made in my dorm room the major things that got me through last year’s rollercoaster? One might say we w ill never know. But one thing I do know is that maybe I did rescue Pete and Chasten Buttigieg’s dog when it ran away in my neighborhood. And maybe I w ill never stop bragging that Tyler Buchner was in my Moreau class, even though I’m 100% sure we never spoke. It’s fine. I learned a lot about myself this past year and realized hope is something I am ready to accept back into my life. Even though I might never become an Imagineer for Disney, who is to say I can’t dream about it? You can contact Claire at ckirner@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Open letter to Fr. Jenkins and Jack Swarbrick Fr. Jenkins and Mr. Swarbrick, W hat has happened to Notre Dame? Just over 62,000 people attended the game against Toledo on Saturday. This represents the lowest attendance in the Notre Dame Stadium since the expansion preceding the 1997 season. For decades ever y home game was sold out. As of Saturday, only the Cincinnati game is sold out for this season. So why is this happening? The team, as of September 12, is ranked in the Top 10. September and October games in South Bend offer great chances for a beautiful day. The lost season last year when most fans were unable to attend any college football games should translate into pentup demand. As I perused the various games held this weekend around the countr y it was quite obv ious that the fans were back. Top Ten teams play ing mismatched (on paper) opponents drew huge crowds in near-capacit y numbers. So, no, people were not stay ing away from other stadiums due to COV ID-19 or presumably inferior opponents. Could it be that fans are sensing that Notre Dame has turned its back on them and what it used to stand for? Has the administration forgotten those that helped make it what it is now? Long ago, tickets that were not purchased through the ticket lotter y were easily sold to the general public. In many cases, loyal fans from South Bend would buy those. Families would attend together, enjoy ing the unique relationship that Notre Dame has fostered through the years w ith its local neighbors. Based on the ever-increasing ticket prices, I wonder how many people can afford to do that. Can the average family of four afford to spend at the ver y least $300+ for a game? Young alumni also find it challenging to pay so much for a game, and many older ones like me are questioning if we should. Well, there’s always telev ision. Not so fast! This weekend was the premiere of the Peacock streaming ser v ice coverage of a Notre Dame home game. In order to v iew the game one had to pay for premium

ser v ice on top of hav ing purchased the streaming app on a smart dev ice. My 95-year-old dad in Florida had to watch the game on a cell phone due to internet issues in his communit y. My nonagenarian aunt and uncle in Chicago did not see the game — no smart dev ice on which to watch it. These three people, in an extended family hav ing 16 current students or alums, have watched Notre Dame football religiously on telev ision since telev ision was invented and games were offered. But not Saturday. Something is w rong here. A professed Catholic universit y that has been built on the loyalt y of its local supporters, its alumni (subway and traditional) and millions of others around the countr y, has forgotten them. The Universit y has become elitist. By limiting access to only those who can pay exorbitant ticket prices or subscribe to premium access telev ision it is excluding a vast number of potential and past supporters. In politics, that is called alienating your base. In this case, it betrays a tonedeafness that you have increasingly show n towards those who have carried the Universit y through thick and thin. Notre Dame professes to be all about diversit y, equit y and inclusion — just not on Saturday afternoons when there’s more money to be made. You both should consider rev isiting the decisions about ticket prices and premium streaming of games before the free market sorts this out. It’s better to pre-emptively correct mistakes than to be show n to be w rong. It would at least show a measure of respect to Notre Dame’s supporters. Ironically, former NBC telev ision anchor Tom Brokaw gave some prescient adv ice in his 1993 commencement speech at Notre Dame when he said, “It’s easy to make a buck; it’s harder to make a difference. Go Irish!” Sincerely, Stephen O’Neil class of 1987 Sept. 12

Submit a Letter to the Editor: viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com

The observer | Monday, september 13, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com

Why you need to watch ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Andrew Sveda Church and State

People always seem surprised about the excitement on my face whenever “The Lord of the Rings” films are mentioned. Maybe it’s because I’m not the kind of person they have in mind when they imagine the standard “Lord of the Rings” fan. But I need not be to fall in love w ith this film trilog y. “The Lord of the Rings” is not just for a niche group of fans who like action and lore. It’s a trilog y that ever y college student and ever y adult should watch. Put dow n these three films on your “required v iew ing” list for the fall. I’m sure more than a few of you, however, have subconsciously thought of “The Lord of the Rings” as second-rate, as a lesser film that could not truly satisf y your taste for good filmmaking. Are these thoughts true? To this I give an emphatic no and so do the films’ many awards which stand in its favor. To the surprise of many, “The Lord of the Rings” trilog y has won seventeen Academy Awards. A ll three mov ies were nominated for Best Picture, and the last mov ie, “The Return of the King,” won this award, along w ith ten other Oscars, t y ing only “Ben Hur” and “Titanic” for most Academy Awards ever. So enough thinking “The Lord of the Rings” is a “lower qualit y” mov ie. It’s a masterpiece of moviemaking that deser ves to be watched by ever y film lover on the merit of these awards alone. But to stop there would, of course, be insufficient. An army of accolades makes a film important; it does not make it lovable, beautiful, touching or great. So what makes “The Lord of the Rings” these things? Let’s begin where our three film-length journey starts off: the Shire. It is a pleasantly old-fashioned land of emerald rolling hills w ith small fields and farms, trees and lakes, countr y paths and puffs of smoke emitting out of reclining hobbits’ pipes and the hearths of their cozy, warm and modestly

elegant homes built into the hills. It is a place of simple yet breathtakingly pure beaut y. As we hear the v iolin and the woodw inds sing and we ga ze at Gandalf’s one-horse wooden carriage making its way past the bridges and hills of the Shire, we feel almost as if we belonged there, in this place of light and life where “things are made to endure … passing from one generation to the next.” It all seems too right, as if we were truly meant to live there in that countr y — to never leave and to never grow old. The Shire seems much more like home than the place we call home. It’s as if it was our home once, as if we had once tasted of that beaut y we now desire to behold and that rest our thirsting souls long to enjoy. There is a somewhat similar desire, a similar tugging as we wait for the golden fields of Rohan to be renewed as in the ages of old and wait for the coming of the King of Gondor who w ill once and for all put all things right. The Shire, Rohan, Gondor: three realms pregnant w ith similar yet unique messages and meanings. They ser ve to remind us of something we have forgotten. It is a nostalgia for something we have never experienced yet know in an incredibly intimate way. This is how “The Lord of the Rings” w ins over our hearts, not by creating its ow n light but by being a prism through which we can catch a glimpse, or part of a glimpse, of what the light looks like and is. If we stop on the plane of the Shire, Rohan and Gondor, we w ill miss the true reason why we feel so nostalgic when experiencing these places. As C.S. Lew is said in “The Weight of Glor y”: “The books or the music in which we thought the beaut y was located w ill betray us if we trust to them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through them was longing. These things — the beaut y, the memor y of our ow n past — are good images of what we really desire; but if they are mistaken for the thing itself, they turn into dumb idols, breaking the hearts of their worshippers. For they are not the

thing itself; they are only the scent of a f lower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a countr y we have never yet v isited.” And what, do you ask, is this “countr y we have never yet v isited” ? It is not in Middle Earth, for if we were to gain the Shire or the restored and glorious Gondor, it would perhaps satisf y us for years, maybe decades. But like Bilbo Baggins, the Shire of “The Lord of the Rings” w ill eventually not be enough for us. And this is because it was not the True Shire but only a model of it that, when compared to the actual thing, looks like a crude caricature. But that does not mean we should throw away Tolkien’s Shire, for it reminds us of the True Shire, the Paradise man once enjoyed, is now banished from, and that w ill be made anew and presented to those who eagerly await the rule of the True King of the True Gondor. “The Lord of the Rings” is not a perfect series. It has its faults and things that could be added and taken away. But it speaks to us, w ith all its imperfections and foibles, of something that cuts to the core of who we are and of ultimate realit y itself. Making “The Lord of the Rings” our guide w ill undoubtedly lead us into numerous troubles, but when guided rightly, we can know what parts to glean truth from and which parts to throw out. And the truths which convey themselves in “The Lord of the Rings” are strikingly rich and sublime. It is well worth a watch — and a rewatch again and again and again. I don’t think you w ill regret it. Andrew Sveda is a junior at Notre Dame from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, majoring in political science with a supplementary major in theology. In his free time, he enjoys writing (obviously), reading and playing the piano. He can be reached at asveda@nd.edu or @SvedaAndrew on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

What are we spraying on our grass? Notre Dame means a great deal to me. I am a Double Domer, I am married to a Domer and our son literally took his first steps on God Quad. He loves to play in the grass. You may have seen him, squealing as he picks up stick after stick and tw irls them about. I’m sorr y if he hit you w ith one. Because my son loves the grass and because I loved sitting in the grass outside Keenan Hall on warm fall and spring days as an undergraduate, I am concerned about what chemicals we are applying on our campus. Have you ever seen a weed on campus? Have you ever wondered how our grass is so perfect? If you’ve ever worked in landscaping or tended to your ow n law n, you know that weeds are nearly impossible to keep away. You either need to spray or remove them by hand. Weeds, in reality, are just plants where you don’t want them to be. Recently, while walking into the south entrance of LaFun, I saw a man applying some chemical treatment to the pristine grass of God Quad. I assume, perhaps incorrectly, that this spray is why we don’t have any weeds on campus. The chemical that I am particularly worried about is gly phosate, the active ingredient in Roundup. I have it on good authority that we apply Roundup to the Warren Golf Course, similar to most golf courses. If you believe the California judiciar y, which has ruled for the plaintiffs in numerous suits against Bayer for the production of Roundup, gly phosate is carcinogenic. As

of August, Bayer had set aside over $16 billion to pay for settlements in Roundup suits and has pledged to remove gly phosate from shelves by 2023 in response to crushing litigation. If you are not inclined to trust the state of California, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified gly phosate as “probably” carcinogenic in 2015. Governments around the world have begun to question the use of chemicals like gly phosate. Montreal recently banned the domestic use of 100 herbicides and pesticides, including gly phosate. New York State w ill be banning the use of gly phosate on all state lands on December 31. Germany has passed a law requiring farmers to reduce their use of gly phosate over the coming years before it is completely banned in 2024. Regardless of the health hazards of gly phosate, we have a moral directive from the Holy Father to stop applying harmful chemicals on campus. In the papal encyclical Laudato Si, paragraph 29, Pope Francis w rote, “Underground water sources in many places are threatened by the pollution produced in certain mining, farming and industrial activ ities, especially in countries lacking adequate regulation or controls. It is not only a question of industrial waste. Detergents and chemical products, commonly used in many places of the world, continue to pour into our rivers, lakes and seas.” There is no question that the chemicals we spray on campus are draining into

St. Joseph’s and St. Mar y’s lakes and dow nhill into the St. Joseph’s River. I am not a hydrologist, but I would suspect that the chemicals on campus are also entering the aquifer that supplies Michiana w ith its drinking water. We ver y well may be polluting our communit y’s water source. I could be completely w rong. I hope that I am. I might be underestimating Notre Dame. Perhaps that was an organic herbicide or pesticide that I saw being sprayed. Perhaps we did away w ith law n chemicals long ago. I would not be surprised if the brilliant indiv iduals working in our chemical engineering department developed an innovative and env ironmentally friendly method for keeping our grass so green. But I might be right. We might still be applying Roundup and gly phosate on campus, as countless others have done since the chemical’s invention in 1970 and continue to do so today. If we are, Notre Dame should lead the way by banning the use of gly phosate on all of its properties. By doing so, we would be answering the Pope’s challenge “to protect our common home” and making our campus safe for children to play on. Either way, we deser ve to know the answer to the simple question, what are we spraying on our grass? Eric Leis third-year law student Sept. 8

Sports

The observer | Monday, September 13, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com

Sports Authority

Tom Brady: The GOAT that keeps on giving By JOHN KALEMKERIAN Sports Writer

Football is finally back, and w ith one constant comes another: the inev itable dominance of the GOAT, more commonly know n as Tom Brady. As a Giants fan, I have no love lost for Brady. Yet for as long as I’ve been follow ing football, and almost as long as I’ve been alive, an unathletic, unassuming sixth-round draft pick has maintained a v ice grip on what is one of the most difficult professional sports leagues to achieve sustained success. Entering his 22nd season at the ripe old age of 44, many have w ritten Brady off as washed-up. This is no new stor y: the same “experts” who have projected his

inev itable decline year after year have been w rong ever y time so far. And as if nothing had changed, as if age is just one more opponent that can be game-planned against, we were treated to another v intage Brady performance on opening night of this NFL season. Coming off of a seventh Super Bowl championship w ith largely the same Buccaneers team around him, Brady traded scoring drives w ith the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott for much of Thursday’s game. Dow n two w ith five minutes left, Prescott drove Dallas dow n the field one last time and a 48yard field goal off the leg of Greg Zuerlein put the Cowboys up w ith just under a minute and thirt y seconds left on the clock.

W hile the Cowboys faithful may have been elated to go up on the reigning Super Bowl champs, the average NFL fan has seen this stor yline play out time after time, season after season; we all know how this mov ie ends. Sure enough, as they headed to commercial break, the NBC cameras picked out Brady staring at the Cowboys sideline w ith a “you left me too much time” look on his face. As if scripted, Brady calmly led Tampa Bay dow n the field, meticulously picking apart the Cowboys defense as he has w ith defenses for the past t wo decades. After t wo completions each to long-time Bengal Gio Bernard (who Brady w ill absolutely LOVE as a target out of the backfield this season)

and his ever-faithful sidekick Rob Gronkowski, Brady found Chris Godw in on a may-haveb e en- of fen si v e -pa s s-i nt erference comebacker to set up the game-w inning 36-yard chip shot for Ryan Succop. Even staunch Brady critics had to lean back in their chair and give a resigned smile at the fact that despite tumultuous times like these, some things never change. And so here we are at the beginning of yet another NFL season full of uncertainties. Will the Jets finally turn the corner? Probably not. Will the NFC East send a team w ith a w inning record to the playoffs? More likely than not, yes. Will Aaron Rodgers make it through the season

w ithout filing for a divorce from the Packers organization? Your guess is as good as mine. Yet through it all, we know that the Buccaneers w ill be ready for anything and hungr y to repeat as champions because of one simple reason: their signal caller w ill stop at nothing to w in each and ever y football game to add to his already unmatched legacy. Though it may not be this year or next, Brady w ill eventually retire. Love him or hate him, at least begrudgingly appreciate the fact that you can turn on the T V ever y Sunday this fall and watch the GOAT work his magic. Contact John Kalemkerian at jkalemke @nd.edu

Notre Dame ties Boston College on the road Observer Sports Staff

On Friday night, Notre Dame men’s soccer hit the road for their first conference test of the season and came back to South Bend with a 1-1 draw against Boston College. It was Stefan Sigurdarson who opened up the scoring, drawing first blood for the Eagles in just the 16th minute. The junior forward out of Iceland did well to initially create the Boston College chance by blocking an attempted Notre Dame clearance, setting up a deft touch by Mike Suski to feed Sigurdarson the ball back. Without hesitation, the Eagles’ leading scorer then made the most of the space he had, blasting the ball

into the far bottom corner with a precise and well-driven strike and sending a raucous partisan crowd of nearly 1,000 attendees into raptures. Things went from bad to worse in the 35th minute for the Fighting Irish. Senior forward Tyler Shea was shown a red card for a bad challenge on defender Victor Souza. With Notre Dame reduced to ten men, on the road, already down a goal, the match looked to surely be all but wrapped up for Boston College. But the Irish didn’t back down. Just before halftime a pair of freshmen in defender Josh Ramsey and forward Matthew Roou linked up to draw Notre Dame level. Ramsey received a routine back pass in the

center of the defense, and with acres of space to work with, sprayed a great ball forward to the feet of Roou. Roou collected the ball, opted to cut in to create a better angle, and curled a shot of his own into the far bottom corner, before heading to the corner flag to celebrate with the Irish bench. The rest of the game was not without nerves for any Notre Dame fans in attendance or watching on the ACC Network. With the Eagles controlling the lion’s share of the match’s possession, chances for them to put away the goal to put the home side ahead for good were aplenty in the second half. With ten minutes to go before the end

of regular time, Amos ShapiroThompson rocketed a shot off the crossbar, and at the buzzer would again test the Notre Dame net, but each time the Irish and sophomore goalkeeper Brian Dowd fended off a winner. In overtime the chances continued to fall Boston College’s way — Suski got off a shot from outside the box that sailed just over the bar, and Kristofer Konradsson had a free kick in a prime location, but the Notre Dame wall held firm and blocked the chance. The final whistle blew with Boston College holding a significant advantage in shots, corner kicks and possession, but the score still equal.

A strong away result sets the Irish up nicely for an upcoming homestand in which Notre Dame will play one final out of conference match against Michigan State and then bring another ACC opponent to town in North Carolina State. And with a positive result notched in Newton, the Irish maintain their record of having their only two losses against a pair of ranked sides in Indiana and Kentucky. Notre Dame men’s soccer will return to action on Tuesday when Michigan State make the trip down to South Bend for a B1G/ACC showdown. The game can be watched live at Alumni Stadium or on the ACC Network at 7 p.m. ET.

The Observer accepts classifieds every business day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Notre Dame office, 024 South Dining Hall. Deadline for next-day classifieds is 3 p.m. All classifieds must be prepaid. The charge is 5 cents per character per day, including all spaces. The Observer reserves the right to edit all classifieds for content without issuing refunds.

Wanted TUTOR: Local ND family needs strong tutor for our HS junior, up to 10 hrs/wk. Good rate. 574-299-3896. But you look/ You look so perfect dancing next to me/ I wish the sun would look the other way/ ‘Cause I never want this night to end/ Baby, we could turn back time/ Do it all over again/ Tomorrow we can press rewind/ We’re staying at the Lotus Inn/Baby, we could turn back time/ Do it all over again/ Tomorrow we can press rewind/ I never want this night to end/ Played you this song up on the stereo (what? Yeah)/ You played it over and over again/ Before it even hit the radio, oh, whoa-ohNow they spin it over and over again/ We’ve had a few good nights and a couple of bad ones/ A few bad fights but I’m glad that they happened

DAVID CARLSON | The Observer

DAILY

ndsmcobserver.com | Monday, September 13, 2021 | The Observer

Crossword | Will Shortz

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Take your time, look at every angle, and use charm and intelligence to nudge others to follow your lead. Having the right tone, facts and figures in place will help you make progress this year, leading to a better lifestyle, favorable relationships and an innovative way to use your skills efficiently. Play by the rules, and aim to win. Your numbers are 5, 18, 26, 32, 34, 46, 49. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Look over your financial situation and talk to someone who can shed light on investment trends and areas of economic growth where you can effectively use your qualifications. A common goal you have with someone will lead to wealth and happiness. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Implement change carefully. Using force will backfire. Listen to popular demands, and find a way to compromise. Be willing to do the legwork if it will help others come on board. Offering stability will help fence sitters see things your way. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Think matters through, and you’ll come up with a plan that will set your mind at ease and give you something to achieve. Anger will never solve a problem, but an intellectual discussion will allow you to make better decisions. CANCER ( June 21-July 22): Address pending problems, and you’ll find solutions. A couple of changes at home will make your life easier and your relationship with loved ones better. A little love will go a long way. Do something nice for someone you love. LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Emotions will flare up if you act on an assumption. Get the facts before you challenge someone close to you. Keep an open mind, and you’ll realize you are as much to blame for something that happens as everyone else involved. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Stick to your original plans and keep the peace. If you venture down a path that isn’t in sync with the people you are close to, you’ll face opposition. Get along, and you’ll get things done and maintain good relationships. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Pay attention to your expenses, and budget wisely. Emotional spending will not help you balance your books. Expand your mind and your interests, and invest more time in upping your game. Educational pursuits are favored, along with lowering your overhead. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Enforce discipline when it comes to your home, family and taking better care of yourself. Put health at the top of your list, and avoid situations that might put you at risk. A healthy fitness routine and diet will alleviate stress. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Set your sights on something you want to achieve, and don’t look away until you conquer what you set out to do. Refuse to let the changes others make interfere with your plans. A steady pace forward will bring high returns. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You are in a better position than you think. Take control; get your plans up and running. A moneymaking idea will pay off if you stick to your draft and refuse to let outside meddling come between you and your success. AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Initiate your plans. Negotiate with a budget in mind. Be frank about what you want and what you are willing to offer in return. Don’t be afraid to walk away from a bad deal. When one door closes, another will open. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Pay attention to what others are doing. Watch for inconsistency and mixed messages, and use the information you gather to your advantage. Don’t buy into someone’s pipe dream. Choose to use your attributes for what you want.

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

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Capece Continued from page 12

the defense playing lights out in the redzone, there was no reason for panic just before the half. However, after cruising down the field for a score on the game’s first drive, the Irish offense was absolutely anemic for three straight possessions. Coan, of course, isn’t entirely to blame for that. The offensive line was porous for the second week in a row, with an injury to starting left tackle Blake Fisher only further exposing what’s turning into a major liability. An injury to his replacement Michael Carmody means the depth in the quarterback’s blindside may be thinning even faster. Toledo really just had to pin their ears back and bring the house against an Irish front five that struggled all game long in both run and pass protection. Much like the Florida State game last week, the Irish offense seemed to get lethargic after grabbing the lead early. When Coan was under center, for most of the game,

the Irish struggled to move the ball with any sort of consistency. Enter Buchner, the five-star phenom who lit up the California high school scene with his rocket arm and freakish speed and athleticism. The true freshman confidently took the field for his first collegiate action to start Notre Dame’s fifth possession and instantly provided a spark, scampering for a 26-yard pick up. I’ve said from the start that the Irish will have success this season if they get their playmakers at the skill positions in open space. Buchner’s running ability does just that, as defenders have to play with more of a cushion to keep the ball in front of them at all times. The threat of his legs forced the Rockets to play contain, opening space for Kyren Williams who took it 43 yards to the house a few plays later. Buchner also tossed a touchdown to Chris Tyree where the running back sprinted 55 yards untouched down the sidelines. With Buchner on the field, the Irish offense had a different dimension that seemed to bring some, dare I say, excitement

to the play calling from Tommy Rees to best utilize the speed he has at the skill positions. Coan of course displayed why the Irish still need him piloting the offense on the game’s final drive, somehow rediscovering his rhythm after struggling for the better part of three quarters to get the Irish in the endzone and squeeze out a victory. If Notre Dame trainer Mike Bean had snapped Coan’s finger back into place in the first quarter, Buchner might not even be in the conversation. But in all seriousness, the Irish also benefit greatly from Coan’s leadership and experience. Having a two-quarterback system will make defenses have to account for everything, something that Notre Dame needs to take advantage of with the offensive line as banged up as it is. Buchner provides the jump while Coan keeps the engine humming along. Buchner makes opponents defend sideline to sideline, which keeps the middle of the field open when Coan reenters the game. Buchner’s

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ability to attack defenses with his legs allows Coan to take more deep shots down the field against worn out defensive backs. Now, you may be skeptical about having a system with two starting quarterbacks. There’s always the question of how one guy will respond if the other starts to have success. But Notre Dame right now is actually in the perfect position to utilize two quarterbacks. Coan is definitely not worried about losing his job, and Brian Kelly made it clear after the game that Coan was aware Buchner was going to play on Saturday. He’s a graduate transfer who Kelly called a “high character individual,” and at this point in his career, he just wants to help his team win. Buchner is a true freshman with an incredible amount of talent. He’s well aware that his time will come to be the full-time starter, but like any five-star recruit would be, he’s also eager to help the team win. He’s not necessarily gunning for Coan’s job, but he’s also not afraid to let it rip when he gets to play. The Irish have two

guys in their locker room with not only the ability to be impact players but also the right attitudes to be in a two-quarterback situation. The key for the Irish will be to utilize both quarterbacks in a way that doesn’t make the offense too predictable. Buchner can’t just be a runner and Coan can’t just be a thrower. Having both guys play means that Coan has to improve to an extent with his legs and Buchner needs to improve his downfield passing in order to keep defenses honest. Saturday was a start for the Irish, but Brian Kelly has to continue to assess the situation. Sometimes he has to play the hot hand, while other times he’ll have to ride with Coan, especially against some of the quality opponents Notre Dame has in the not-so-distant future. Without question, though, the Irish are going to need both of their quarterbacks to keep winning. Contact Colin Capece at ccapece@nd.edu

W Soccer Continued from page 12

were able to roll up our sleeves and get back into it … Brown replicates a lot of what the Dukes, the UNCs, bring — they play with physicality, they’re looking to press and create on set pieces, and I think we’ll learn some lessons from today, which is great. You always want to learn some lessons when you win. But I think we can be pretty proud that we beat a really good team today, and I think they’ll go on to have a really good season.” The win wasn’t without tribulation for Notre Dame, however. The team lost two starters in senior fullback Brianna Martinez and centerback Eva Wirtz to injuries during the match. While Norman mentioned he didn’t expect the two setbacks to be long term, it did speak to the team’s depth that a pair of rotational players in freshman defenders Kaylie Ronan and Katie Coyle were able to play the bulk of the match and look fully comfortable among the team’s traditional starting core. Earning the start today, Naylor was given a big opportunity to prove herself as the team’s No. 1 goalie by Norman, who now has given both his sophomore keepers (Naylor and Kaylin Slattery) chances to stake a claim as now-injured starter Mattie Interian’s replacement. Though at times her inexperience showed, the Manhattan Beach, California native Naylor made multiple pivotal saves to close out the game, most notably standing tall and parrying away a one-on-one when Brown came forward immediately after Notre Dame took the lead. The Irish will look to extend their winning streak to three games on Saturday night when their first ACC opponent of the season, Syracuse, comes to town. The game can be found on the ACC Network or can be watched live at Alumni Stadium at 7 p.m. ET. Contact J.J. Post at jpost2@nd.edu

Sports

Volleyball Continued from page 12

the score to six apiece. The Irish were unfazed, and they went on a 5-1 run of their own to take an 11-7 lead and ultimately a 15-10 fifth set victory. Senior Charley Niego recorded 18 kills and 11 digs in her 40th career double-double in the Irish victory. The following day, the Irish faced off against the firstranked Texas Longhorns. Although the Irish would ultimately lose the match in four sets, they challenged the top team in the country throughout the match and arguably played their best volleyball of the season so far. In the first set, the Longhorns looked the part of the number one team in the country and dominated the Irish throughout. After grabbing a 13-6 lead, the Longhorns continued their dominance and won the set comfortably at 25-16. It looked like the Longhorns were going to dominate the second set as well when they jumped out to an early 7-2 lead. The Irish took a timeout, and were able to find a groove and go on a 4-0 run to get the Irish within two at 9-7. The Irish then used a

Toledo Continued from page 12

on their ensuing drive, however, with quarterback Carter Bradley finding wide receiver Devin Maddox wide open down the field for a 66-yard gain. Head coach Brian Kelly hopes his team can limit these big plays as the season progresses and his team becomes more comfortable with its new defense. “We’re transitioning defenses. I will tell you that we have new players on the field — younger players, inexperienced players that are going through some growing pains,” Kelly said. “We just have got to be fundamentally better. And we’ve got to keep repping it and commit to it.” A couple of plays after the long pass, it looked like junior safety Kyle Hamilton had an interception, but the play was overturned after further review. The Irish defense would stand firm, though, and hold Toledo to a 31-yard field goal to retain a 7-3 early lead. On the ensuing Irish drive, it looked like Coan and the Irish would march down the field yet again, but Coan got sacked on the blindside and fumbled the football. Toledo would take over on their own 44-yard line and march down to the 20-yard line in just two plays. The Irish defense held firm in the red zone yet again, though, holding Toledo to a field goal and keeping a narrow 7-6 lead.

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4-0 run to take a 21-19 lead a few points later. The Irish would close the set with four straight points to win the second 25-20. The Longhorns responded well in the third set to regain the lead in the match. Despite Notre Dame taking an early 9-7 advantage, the Longhorns used an 8-3 stretch to regain the lead and ultimately win the set with ease at 25-17. The fourth set was an absolute thriller, but it did not go in favor of the Irish. The beginning of the set was closely matched and both teams ended up tied at 11 apiece. After some more back and forth play, the score ended up tied at 20 apiece. The Longhorns then got the score to 24-22 and earned a match point. The Irish didn’t go down without a fight, though, as they earned the next three points to go up 25-24. However, the Longhorns ultimately prevailed, and took the fourth frame 29-27 to win the match. The Irish will be back in action next weekend against no. 4 Ohio State. They will play the Buckeyes at home on Friday, September 17th and then travel to Columbus for a game on Sunday, September 19th.

After trading possessions a couple of times, the Irish brought in true freshman quarterback Tyler Buchner. Buchner sparked the offense immediately and orchestrated a five-play, 96-yard touchdown drive where he had rushes of 26 and 11 yards and a 15-yard completion to wide receiver Braden Lenzy. The Irish then reached the end zone on a Kyren Williams 43yard touchdown to take a 14-6 lead. After getting a stop on the ensuing possession, the Irish got the ball back and decided to go for a fourth down and one. The Irish failed to convert, giving the Rockets the ball in Irish territory. After being aided by a couple of holding and pass interference calls, the Rockets found themselves at the Irish two-yard line. The defense would stand strong yet again to keep Toledo out of the end zone and keep a 14-9 Irish lead. It looked like Notre Dame would have one more chance before halftime to get points, but Jack Coan’s pass was intercepted by Chris McDonald and returned for a touchdown, giving the Rockets a surprising 16-14 lead at the end of the first half. Kelly discussed the lack of intensity his team showed throughout the game. “We lacked intensity coming out,” Kelly said, “You have to play this game with some intensity, and I did not like the way we came out. I thought we lacked intensity. That’s on me and my preparation in terms of how I

prepare our football team.” The second half turned out to be very entertaining, largely a back-and-forth affair. In the second drive of the half for Notre Dame, it looked as if the Irish were threatening to score, but the drive stalled at the 37yard line. Jonathan Doerer attempted a field goal for the Irish, but he missed the long 55-yard field goal. At the end of the third quarter, the score remained 1614 in favor of Toledo. And at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Irish drive stalled yet again in Toledo territory. This time, though, the Irish were a bit closer, and Doerer converted a 48-yard field goal to give the Irish a narrow 17-16 lead with just over 12 minutes to go in the game. That field goal seemed to ignite some energy in the Irish, as the Irish were able to stop the Rockets on their ensuing possession. The Irish then got good field position at the Toledo 45yard line. On the first play of the drive, Buchner connected with sophomore running back Chris Tyree, who took it to the house for a 55-yard score to give the Irish a 24-16 lead with just under 11 minutes to play. Just when it looked like the Irish were finally going to pull away, the Rockets responded on the first play of their next drive with a 67-yard run from Bryant Koback to put the Rockets deep in Irish territory. The Rockets would ultimately score on a Koback eight-yard rushing touchdown on third and goal. Koback

finished the day with over 100 rushing yards against the Irish. The Irish defense held strong on the two-point conversion, however, by breaking up Bradley’s pass to keep a 24-22 lead with just under eight minutes left. Notre Dame got the ball back and drove down the field, but a Kyren Williams fumble stopped the drive in its tracks. The Rockets then got the ball and got down the field quickly, and ultimately scored off a Dequan Finn 26-yard rushing touchdown to regain a five-point lead at 29-24. The Rockets left too much time on the clock for the Irish, though, as Coan marched the Irish down the field and found Mayer in the end zone to give the Irish the lead. Mayer finished the game with seven receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Mayer discussed the positioning involved in the game-winning touchdown. “[Coan] gave a little nod to the outside. He was playing outside leverage and right up the middle was wide open,” Mayer said. On that last drive, Coan dislocated his finger, but quickly popped it back into place. “He dislocated his finger and got it back in, and he felt like he could keep going,” Kelly said. A trick play on the two-point conversion led to a Kyren Williams touchdown catch from wide receiver Avery Davis, and the Irish were back up by three at 32-29. Toledo still had some time

remaining on the clock, but the Irish defense stood strong this time. On a first down deep in Toledo territory, graduate student lineman Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa caused a fumble, and it was recovered by junior linebacker JD Bertrand to seal the victory. Bertrand finished the game with eleven total tackles and three tackles for loss. Kelly discussed how the fans and atmosphere in Notre Dame Stadium helped his team. “It was a great atmosphere, and I thought that they helped us a lot,” Kelly said. “Especially when you need that jolt, which we did, it helps to have that home crowd.” The Irish finished the day with three turnovers, which Kelly said is an issue that will have to be cleaned up moving forward. “We have work to do on offense. You can’t turn the ball over,” Kelly said. “If we don’t turn the football over today, we’re going to put a lot of points on the board. If against Purdue next week, we play clean offense, don’t turn it over and really settle in on how we want to run the football, that would be a good step forward.” The Irish will be back in action next weekend for instate rival Purdue. That game will also be at Notre Dame Stadium at 2:30 p.m. EST. Contact Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu

The observer | Monday, September 13, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com

WOMEN’S SOCCER

FOOTBALL

Irish down Bears in final OOC game By J.J. Post Sports Writer

On Sunday, the Notre Dame women’s soccer team finished their out-of-conference schedule with a 2-1 win over Brown, officially ending their first stage of the season with a 6-1-1 record. Both goals came, in some form, via a combination of junior Kati Druzina and graduate student Sammi Fisher. In the 67th minute, Druzina fired in a cross from the wing, which Fisher cleverly allowed by her with a dummy, allowing senior midfielder Brooke VanDyck to get her foot on Druzina’s delivery and fire past Brown goalkeeper Kayla Thompson. Just ten minutes later, another Druzina cross would put the Irish ahead for good, as the forward out of Kirtland, Ohio beat a defender, raced to the endline, and put in a pinpoint ball across goal that midfielder Fisher hammered home. “She’s a tireless worker defensively, but you can also get her out wide in the attacking half — she’s a great 1v1 player,” said head coach Nate Norman on Druzina, who became the first Notre Dame player

Welcome to the Buchner (and Coan) zone

to record multiple assists in a game this season. “She’s got a great sense about her, knowing how to weight a pass when she hits those crosses, she picks people out, she knows when to cut balls back. She was fantastic today.” Brown did everything in its power to make sure that Druzina and Notre Dame wouldn’t head home victorious, though. The Bears opened the scoring in just the 14th minute by way of an Evelyn Calhoon header, who beat Irish sophomore goalkeeper Ashley Naylor to a flicked-on long throwin and lofted the ball into an empty net. The Bears would have several more chances to extend their lead in the first half and a couple more to equalize in the final minutes; but in the end, the final touch didn’t materialize and the away side left disappointed. Norman was impressed by the Bears’ play and remarked on how they might help his side prepare for some of the ACC’s best. “That was a tough, tough team,” Norman said. “I was proud of us that we went down a goal early and see W SOCCER PAGE 10

By COLIN CAPECE Assistant Managing Editor

ARIANNA DENNING | The Observer

Irish graduate student quarterback Jack Coan looks downfield during Notre Dame’s home opener against Toledo on Sept. 11.

Football

Heading into the 2021 season, most Notre Dame fans knew there were two capable quarterbacks on the roster in Jack Coan and Tyler Buchner. What we didn’t know, though, was that the Irish would need to play both quarterbacks to win games. That was more than apparent on Saturday’s game against Toledo, with both Buchner and Coan putting their stamp on the game in different ways. I previously hailed Coan as the savior for the Irish, the guy that could finally open up the offense with his ability to throw the ball downfield with authority. Let’s get one thing straight: He did nothing to prove me wrong on Saturday against Toledo. I’m not really concerned about his decision-making, as some people might be, after he handed the Rockets the lead with a pick-six late in the second quarter. The Irish were trying to force the issue when they probably shouldn’t have with less than a minute to go starting from their own 20. With see CAPECE PAGE 10

Volleyball

Irish use late drive to Team beats AZ, avoid upset against Toledo drops to No. 1 TX By NATE MOLLER

Observer Sports Staff

Sports Writer

The Irish (2-0) had yet another nail-biting win Saturday afternoon in their home opener against the Toledo Rockets (1-1, 0-0 MAC). In a game that went back and forth throughout, Notre Dame was ultimately able to prevail by a score of 3229 to avoid an upset. It looked as though the Irish were set to dominate the game after the opening drive with graduate transfer quarterback Jack Coan leading the Irish on a 75-yard touchdown drive off only six plays. The drive started with a 14-yard screen pass from Coan to senior wide receiver Avery Davis. After a facemask penalty, Coan found sophomore tight end Michael Mayer on a 28-yard pass down the field. The drive ultimately was capped by a four-yard touchdown pass to Mayer. The Rockets would respond see TOLEDO PAGE 11

ARIANNA DENNING | The Observer

Irish linebacker JD Bertrand takes down a Toledo offensive player during the Sept. 11 home opener that ended in a 32-29 victory.

In its first road trip of the season, the Irish volleyball team traveled to Austin, Texas to take on Arizona and topranked Texas. The Irish ended up winning a thrilling five-set match against Arizona but lost to Texas in an exciting four-set match. In the first set against Arizona, the Irish fell behind early by a score of 14-8 to the Wildcats. The Wildcats continued their early success over the next several points and held a 19-11 advantage in the first set. The Irish brought the set back, though, using a 5-0 run to bring the Irish within three of Arizona. The Irish used a 3-0 run late in the set to bring the score to 24-22, but Arizona would ultimately get the final point of the set to take the first set 25-22. In the second set, the Wildcats yet again took an early lead at 7-4. The Irish were then able to earn eight of the

next nine points to take a 12-8 advantage in the second set. The Wildcats would respond, however, and go on a run of their own to level the score at 13 apiece. The Irish were able to respond and seize the momentum at the end of the set to go on a 6-0 run and take a 19-13 lead. The Irish ultimately won the set 25-16. In the third set, the Irish carried over their momentum from the first to take a commanding 14-8 lead midway through. The Irish didn’t look back and clinched the third by a score of 25-14. The Wildcats were not about to go down without a fight, though, and they responded very well in the fourth set to easily take it 25-12 and force a decisive fifth set. In the fifth set, it was the Irish who took an early lead, as they jumped out to a 5-1 lead to start. The Wildcats would respond, though, and bring see VOLLEYBALL PAGE 11